Akari kneeled over the bloody mess that was her stepfather. She hated him so, so, so much, but at this exact moment, she could only weep.
Mr. Chesterton decided he needed to step in. A catatonic, emotionally broken acolyte was no acolyte at all. With a snap of his fingers, everything froze into place again. He walked over to Mr. Kagawa's body. Chesterton's eyes glowed blood red and suddenly the body disappeared. He then walked over to Akari and placed his right index finger on her forehead. Her eyes rolled briefly in the back of her head. With that, Chesterton snapped his fingers again.
Akari looked at the floor confused. "What...what happened? I remember walking in, my father insulting me, and then nothing."
"Mr. Kagawa and I discussed a contract...he disagreed on the terms, and left, but not before saying that he wanted nothing more to do with you."
Akari sighed. "I figured that was coming. I've always been a disappointment to him." Chesterton placed his hands on her shoulder. "I think his judgment is...clouded to say it kindly. Ms. Kagawa, I think you have a lot of potential, and I'd like to bring you on as an apprentice."
Akari was very confused. She had known this man for all of a grand total of 20 minutes, and yet he was offering her a job?? Nonetheless, Akari wasn't in a position to turn him down; she had graduated high school only two months earlier, and was taking a gap year to save up money for an art academy.
"I accept sir." Akari said meekishly. "I'm sorry, I don't know your name."
"You can call me Mr. Chesterton." He started rummaging his hands through his pockets. He pulled out two set of keys and a piece of paper with writing on it. "Here, for your new apartment and car Ms. Kagawa."
"Wha...why are you doing this for me?"
"I invest in things I feel have potential, and Ms. Kagawa...you and I are going to do great things together."
As Akari was walking out, Chesterton stopped her. "One more thing...when you go home tonight, I want you to ask yourself what is it you want for yourself. Let me know your answer."
Akari, still barely processing this series of events, walked out with saying a word.
===========
Akari knew she had to pick up some things from her father's house, which was only a 20 minute drive from her new place.
As she drove back over, she felt an overwhelming sense of relief. Akari had been under her stepfather's thumb for a decade, and it had gotten especially bad after her mother died three years prior.
Akari walked in. The house was pitch black; she found that odd as her father was always home at night. She went up to her old room, and picked up her art easel and some of her old paintings. One of the things that had created friction between Akari and her father was her artwork. Her imagination was...vivid. She stroked her latest painting, a depiction of a giant conflagration of fire quickly overwhelming shadow figures trying to escape. Akari couldn't place what inspired her; whenever she drew, she would simply get lost in the imagery.
Putting her things in her car, Akari looked out into the distance and saw the local punk rock bar. She had always found the place so cool, but she always felt out of place whenever she walked in. She would kill to be as cool as the people there.
Akari made the drive over and found her new apartment. As she stepped inside with her things, she was astonished. The place was immaculate; oakwood floors, futurist inspired furniture, an 80 inch television. Akari set her things down and went to the bathroom. She looked around, and then found herself staring straight into the mirror.
Akari gradually grazed her cheek with her right hand. She thought about what Mr. Chesterton had asked her earlier in the night. "I want...I want to be new."
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Mr. Chesterton looked at his watch. 7:30 on the dot. He promptly locked the front door and blew some ashes on it. "Not a sound." He went to his desk and pulled out a tattered piece of cloth. He quickly started chanting. "Da vitam vermibus" (Give life to the worm)
In a flash, Mr. Kagawa's bloodied body appeared in front of him. Chesterton, with a cartoonish grin, snapped his fingers. Mr. Kagawa's eyes suddenly opened. "What? Where the hell I am"
"Ah, Mr. Kagawa...think of this as limbo. You should be dead, and for all intents and purposes, you are."
Mr. Kagawa started getting panicked. "I remember now! Akari, that stupid cow, stabbed me. Where is she?"
"She's fine. Without you and with my guidance, she will thrive. Now...time to settle an important matter: did you actually think you could get one over on me Mr. Kagawa? That was a mistake you will regret for all of eternity,:
Mr. Chesterton's eyes turned black and his skin started took on a pale, white color. "The dead have no voice, because their wails go unheard."
Mr. Kagawa started screaming.