The Cursed Iris

Sprout 4: My Fate and 16th Birthday

Ayame and Atsuko were both walking from the store after they picked up supplies for Ayame's party, "So, Atsu what did you get me for my birthday?" Ayame asked with a smile.

Atsuko got nervous at the question, and she began to whistle, "I can tell by that response that you didn't," Ayame said with a blank expression.

"No, I got one, you idiot," Atsuko replied.

"That's a lie, and you know it."

"I assure that it isn't," Atsuko snapped, but she had a bead of sweat trickle down her neck, Man, what do I do? I thought that she wouldn't have wanted anything, because she usually never asks, Atsuko thought to herself.

Ayame giggled, "I was just kidding Atsu," she said as she rubbed her head. "I'm just happy to have all of you there to be honest. I'm still scared and confused, but I'm putting on a brave face for you all."

Also, myself.

"Still though, some things just aren't adding up. No matter how much I think about it..." Ayame voice trailed off, and then her eyes glazed over as if she were in a trance.

Atsuko looked at her worried, "What's wrong Ayame?" she asked, but Ayame couldn't hear her. All Ayame could hear were screams of someone else.

She dropped the items she was holding, and she grabbed her head in pain, "Make it stop," she mumbled. A vision played through her mind; she saw a forest, there were multiple shards of ice around, burned trees along with frozen ones, there was also two people in the center of the destruction. Ayame recognized one of them; it was Katsumi, he had stabbed the man in the chest with his bare hands.

Katsumi Nakajima, you will never know happiness, the man said with his last breath. He had a maniacal smile on his face.

Katsumi pulled his hand away, and he stared at them, "I'm not a monster," he mumbled to himself.

"I'm not," he continued to say. "I'm not!" he yelled, and then he grabbed his head.

When he did, he let out a loud scream. He then collapsed, which also caused Ayame to scream on her side as well and she collapsed. But Atsuko caught her. "Ayame, Ayame what's wrong?"

She continued to try waking Ayame up, but her eyes were completely white. Atsuko knew she couldn't panic, so she picked Ayame up, and decided to carry her home.

*****

Atsuko ran into Ayame's house where everyone was gathered, "Someone help!" she yelled as she ran inside.

Everyone ran out of the dining room, and saw an unconscious Ayame, "What happened? Akane asked as she put her hand to Ayame's forehead. It was cold, and it continued to get colder, and her pupils were white as if she was possessed.

"I don't know, but we have to help her. It's almost like Ayame is dying right now."

She was sweating profusely, "Ayame, what is going on? What exactly did you see?" Atsuko whispered.

*****

"Ayame, Ayame, wake up," a voice echoed.

She recognized it, and it was her other self, "How did I get back here?" she asked skeptically.

"Your guess is as good as mine to be honest, it may have something to do with that tied around your pinkie."

Ayame didn't know what she meant, but she looked at her hand. There was definitely something there; it looked like a red string. "What is this?"

"How should I know?"

"Because you're me, I thought you would've known more. I wish Kikyo were here..."