Hikigane

P r o l o g u e

I was in deep sleep. All I can remember was the painful blow delivered at the back of my head. When I opened my eyes, I saw dimmed lights slowly flickering.

Where am I?

I had realize I was laying on the floor and my body couldn't move. My eyes roamed to at least get a quick glance on my surroundings. I suddenly felt a cold, metallic thing around my wrist.

A bracelet...?

I felt uneasy and bothered by it. I still don't know what's happening to me. My body felt so heavy that I couldn't even move an inch.

What is this thing doing on my wrist? why am I here? what happened to me?

I also felt my head spinning like crazy and a throbbing pain made my eyes twitch for a second. Judging from the interior of this place, I am no doubt inside a church. I slowly moved my head and saw scattered flower petals on the altar. Flowers as white as snow and petals as red as blood.

''It seems you are awake, Ms. Fujiwara Miharu.''

I was surprised enough to hear a strange robotic voice coming from my head. The voice continued to talk.

"I'm sorry to have you collected in a violent manner. I wanted to speak to you in private.''

What is this? why is there a voice inside my head?

I gathered all the energy I regained to finally speak. ''Who is speaking? what are you? just what is this-'' before I could even finish, the voice cut me off.

''I am not going to answer everything at this time. Regardless, I expect you to eventually come to our humble sanctuary.''

''What do you mean...?''

''I chose you to be an experimental subject. From now on, we will be monitoring your actions until the preparations for C-E is complete. When you finally carry out your own form of justice, I promise we will meet...in person.''

I felt really angry and vexed. What is this? what does this person want from me? and why 'we?' there are more of them? so many questions are going through my head right now.

''What are you talking about? what kind of experiment?! WHY DID YOU DO THIS?! What are you trying to-''

''Keep quiet. Or else...you'll die, you know.''

''Huh...?''

''I had planted a microchip inside your head. A microchip that contains chemicals that will slowly destroy every nerve of your brain until it no longer functions.''

''M-microchip?!''

''That bracelet on your wrist, carries a deadly bomb that is twice as powerful than the Hiroshima bombing in 1945, and it will never come off until you discover the secret codes to unlock it.''

Hearing what the person behind the voice had send shivers on my spine. It's no wonder I can hear a voice inside my head. I was attacked on my way home before this happened. If the person behind the voice had planted a chip inside my head, I must've undergone a surgery and hadn't wake up for hours or even days, which made me feel scared.

''I can easily activate it. But, it would be a problem if you died here.''

If their goal isn't to kill me, then what do they want with me? I have no clue as to what they are thinking or what they're up to. All the information made me scared. But this person said something about 'C-E' which is a term I'm all familiar with. As a police officer, I won't sit idly and take this. If they are somehow related to C-E I have to inform my superiors right away but I need to draw out more information.

''I strongly suggest you should not speak of this to the police. We'd like to avoid undesirable circumstances, and surely, you will be greatly saddened if you lose the people who are important to you, right?''  the voice sounded very cold.

I gasped. This criminal might've looked me up before. I don't know how much information he has on me, but if they are going to threaten the people I hold dear...I will never forgive them.

''I will never...forgive you.''

''We have no interest in impotent self-righteousness. This world is full of sorrow and injustice. Thus, we need to show you the real evil that's tainting this world and the real reason behind C-E incidents. You, Fujiwara Mahiru, are one of our sympathizers---a person who share our sentiments.''

I can't help but feel a little confused as to why they called me as one of their 'sympathizer' now I am convinced that the person who planted this chip and made me wear this bracelet is a part of the terrorist group that's behind all the C-E incidents.

''Will learning the truth open your eyes?''
''Will you come and lead the reconstruction of justice with us?''

''We look forward to your future actions.''