In the Name of Love

The bewitching hour has arrived, cloaking the prison in a velvety shroud of darkness. As the clock strikes twelve, the warden goes down the hall to check on the prisoners.

Es: "Prisoner number 10, Kotoko. You should be in your cell at this hour."

Kotoko: ignores them

Es: Es sees a cup of black coffee on the dining table. "Are you having trouble sleeping? You have bags under your eyes. What are you reading?" Kotoko closes the book before Es could take a peek inside. She stands up but Es holds her hand, making her stop midway. "You look troubled."

Kotoko: "I'm not up for a midnight chat. I shall leave."

Es: "Anger. Sorrow. Regret. I can see it in your eyes.*

Kotoko: "Let me go." Es loosens their grip.

Es: "Who is she? The hat girl. She appears in the music video we extracted from your mind."

Kotoko: "I don't have to tell you. It's none of your business." Kotoko turns her face away.

Es: "You knew that kid?"

Kotoko: "Stop calling her this or that kid. Her name is Keiko and of course I knew her well because she is my litlle sister." 

Silence falls between them for a few moments, before she speaks again.

Kotoko: "It was a normal sunny afternoon. My father dropped Keiko and I at the park to play hide and seek while he went to the office. Little did anyone know, that this seemingly ordinary day would be the prelude to a horrid event."

We played for an hour or two when Keiko started to get bored. So, she got some rest under the big tree in the middle of the park while I went to my favorite spot, the monkey bars. As I was swinging from bar to bar, challenge myself to daring feats of agility and strength; I was late to notice a stranger talked with my little sister and managed to lured her in a van. I chased them but lost track of them after five minutes running. I was crying and out of breath. There was this woman who approached me and took me to police office. They asked me questions, called my parents and all but no one was out there searching for my sister. We were told to patiently wait.

With every minute passed, my head was filled with eerie thoughts on what would he did to her. So, I sneaked out of my room at night and came back to the park. I traced the path and found myself in an intersection. I started to lose hope. That was until I found a keychain near the lamp post. It was Keiko's. With a new lead, I took a left turn that lead me to a dark alley. At the end of the road stood a one story warehouse. The front door was guarded by two German Shepherds. The same white van that they use to kidnapped Keiko was there. I took some pictures of the warehouse, the van and its license plate and sent it to the police. My heart was pumping. I could safe her. I followed my instinct and went to search a back door. There was none but a big dumpster was placed underneath the window so I climbed it. 

The sight before me was enough to make me lose my grip. There were three men and a group of naked little girls tied up in one corner. In another corner, a guy wearing white sleeveless hoodie was touching my sister's body. I shrieked when I fell down. Not long, a bald man found me and dragged me inside the warehouse. I was tied up to a column, witnessing the kidnapper tortured and sexually harassed my little sister.

Onee-Chan, help me.

Her plea was like a jab to my chest. It made my blood boiled but I was powerless. 

Koto-Chan, it hurts. 

Keiko looked at me with tears streaming down on her cheeks. I was supposed to safe her, be the long awaited hero not a weakling who turned her face away when her little sister asking for help.

It was half past eleven when I heard the siren of police car. They arrested the kidnappers. Keiko and the other girls were sent to the hospital. My parents patted my shoulder "good job" before following the ambulance. 

Days turn into weeks, which turn into months, Keiko was as cheerful as ever. Mother was so glad because she thought her youngest daughter might have forgotten the traumatic incident. The hiccups I heard in the night and her wet pillow showed otherwise. Our parents just chose to ignore it and moved on. 

When I entered university, my sister's rapist got released from prison. I wanted him to rot in there but with his influential father, he got away with his crime. So, I began my own investigation, gathering information and clues to track him down. With my newfound hobby, I spent less and lesser time with my sister.

Onee-Chan, can we go to the zoo this weekend? 

I'm busy. 

Well, maybe next time, then. I love you. 

I never replied. I just walked out the door and drove my bike to meet my informant. I wished I agreed to take her to the zoo. I wished I said  "I love you too". That afternoon, Keiko committed suicide by frowning herself in the bath tub. 

I lift her with care

Blind stare in her eyes 

The agony in her face 

I close Keiko's eyes 

Little Keiko cried at night 

Hoping someone cared 

To feel her despair 

But nobody's there

Es: "I'm sorry."

Kotoko: "It was ten years ago."

Es: "Do you regret what you did?" 

Kotoko: "I regretted for leaving Keiko alone, neglecting her. I didn't regret killing that guy." Kotoko smirks. "Because there's not a line in the world that I wouldn't cross for her." 

Es: "Kotoko, you're a murderer." 

Kotoko: "I'm also a sister." She laughs bitterly and leaves the room. 

Es was lost for words. They stood there in the dining room, processing Kotoko's story. To believe or to not believe is the question.

Jackalope: "Es, your night shift ends an hour ago. Go to your room and get some rest. Also, please clean up the table before you do." 

It's scary how the rabbit can erase their presence aura, that's what Es thought. 

Es: "Yes, I will. Oh. What is this?" 

They pick up a wrinkle paper underneath the chair. It was a photo of younger Kotoko and the hat girl. Both of them wear matching hats. They were smiling. Kotoko was happy.

Es read the handwriting on the bottom ~It's all in the name of love~