Corpse Party: Damaged Souls

Chapter 1: Before the Incident

  Everything had been fine before. 

I remember when the others laughed at me because I was playing one of Ruka's horror games.  There was a bet that I had lost to Ruka, causing me to freak out during the game. Akahana and Aoi couldn't join us that day and Haru was knew at the time, not knowing about our regular activities. As I fell on my back, Ryu pulled me back up in order to continue playing, causing me to freak out even more. 

" No way in hell am I doing anymore!" I shouted. 

" Come on, you're almost done with the game," Ruka encouraged, " About...one more hour." 

" No way!" 

" Then how about you play Ruka?" Ryu suggested to his twin. " You've played this game before right?" 

" Yeah, but it's not as fun once you played it before. I already know all the jump scares and the clues in order to get the true ending. It's only fun when someone else plays." 

" Not really," I muttered. 

On the bed, Jun crossed his arms, " Anna, just keep playing or she'll continue pouting." 

"How about you play then?" I asked him. He shook his head with a small smile on his face. " No, because Ruka challenged you to a bet and you lost. This is your game." 

" I don't want to die from a heart attack!" I turned to Haru. She jumped a little when I turned to her. " How about your play?" 

" Well-" 

" She can't," Jun answered for her. " Haru is the newest member and you're the leader. Now, how about you finish playing fearless leader?" 

Ruka handed me back the controller, ignoring the fear on my face. They all enjoyed me jumping out of my skin and running to a corner. I managed to finish the rest of the game as the others laughed at me. 

I had gotten the bad end. 

" I can't believe you didn't catch that," Ruka said, containing her laugh. " It was right in front of you." 

" If you played it before then you should have told me!" I shouted. There was a knock at the door, having Ruka get up and open it. Hana looked inside the room before looking up at her elder sister. 

" Mom said it's time to eat," she said, " and Auntie is coming over." 

" Which aunt?" Ryu asked his younger sister. 

" Mom's sister. Aunt Miki is busy with work, so Nagisa can't come over today since she has to stay home."

" Alright, then we will take our leave," I said, standing up. My legs were still shaking a little as I walked out the door. Haru and Jun followed me and we left the house. 

~

My birthday was at the end of the week, signaling the last day of school. I was taken down town with the others. As they looked around the store, I sat down with Haru. I was the one who invited her into the club, but I didn't know that much about her. 

" Are you alright?" I asked her. Her form was hunched over as she looked at the ground. It looked like she was thinking about what she told us the day before. When she noticed that I was looking at her, she gave me a small smile and nodded. 

" Yes, I'm fine." 

" You're bothered by what you explained the other day," I said. " We understand your situation." 

" How? My father is always drunk and my mother recently left me to take care of him. How do you guys know how I'm feeling?" 

"Some of us have had someone leave our life suddenly. It doesn't have to be because of something like a drunk husband happened. Remember what happened to my grandparents last month?" 

Haru nodded as she looked down at her lap. " They got into that car accident. Neither of them survived right?"

I nodded. That month was hard for my father, Aunt Yuka, and I. Dad had always taken Souta and I over there during vacation when my parents went to work. My grandmother was always helping me with cooking and played with me, while my grandfather took care of Souta, who was suffering at the time from a sickness. Losing them made it hard on everyone. 

" Anna, you already know they're in a better place, correct?" 

" I do know that, but sometimes you just happen to miss them so much that it pains you." I sighed and put my face in my hands. I understand she was trying to make me feel better, but her words were stung a little. 

" Why are you crying Anna?" I looked up to find Ruka, holding a stuffed animal. She turned to Haru with a frown, " Are you making her upset?" 

" What? No, I-" 

" She wasn't doing anything," I answered for her. Ruka wasn't on best terms like Haru, even though she explained why she's always moody. But I guess it can't change anything. Ruka glared at Haru before turning back her attention to me, showing the stuffed animal. " Anyway, I found this and I think you might like it. You had something like this when we were younger, remember?" 

The stuffed animal was a snow owl, something similar to what my mother had given me. My old one was beat up from all the times when I was upset and it was losing it's color. I gently took the animal from her hands, examining it. " I want it." 

" Then I'll buy it for you. Think of it as an early birthday gift. After everything, you deserve a break." 

" Thanks Ruka." 

~

 Everyone had always said that they choose me as club leader because I was enthusiastic. I rushed to thought, thinking why couldn't Ruka be club leader. Even Akahana and Aoi could have been the leaders, but for some reason they all picked me. 

" It's because you care about certain things and details," Ruka told me once. " Almost like you're an artist." 

" I don't think that matters," I said sheepishly. 

" Well, we usually help out when it comes to festivals and holidays, like how our parents used to. Your mother usually helped out with the decorations along side my mother, but each of them always paid attention to detail. That's how important it is." 

" Your speeches always make me tired," I said. 

She frowned at me before changing it into a smile. " Well, get used to them because it's part of who I am." She jumped from the table and offered her hand to me. " We should be getting to my house now. I think my cousins would like to meet you." 

" I thought Nagisa already knew who I was." 

" My mother's sister. She has four children and they're all older. Sometimes, I wish they didn't act like they ruled everything really." 

I chuckled nervously before taking her hand. Even though everything has been fine for the last couple of weeks, we have suffered the horrors of that school. 

She was still watching me all this time.