Chapter 102 - The Butterfly And The Bears: Part 5

(Disclaimer: This Chapter contains mild violence and graphic content some viewers may find disturbing.)

"Come on! Another shot!"

"Pah!" I threw the shot glass down and stuck out my tongue, "Gone!"

The girl with brown stylish hair threw another shot back and shook her head forcing her to swallow the burning liquid. She stuck her tongue out, "Ugh! That's so gross!"

It was another night of the Kuma family celebrating. After a long week, we found ourselves going to the bar to relax and catch up with each other.

The girl sighed and wrapped her arms around me, "I can't believe you managed to close that deal today!"

"Fufu~" I chuckled playfully, "It was too easy. All I had to do was compliment him and I had him wrapped around my finger!"

She clicked her tongue, "What?! Easy? He came looking for a compact economy car and you sold him our most expensive sports car!!"

"Fufu~ I am awesome. Aren't I?"

She gave a playful grin, "Stop being so arrogant. That's exactly why you don't have a boyfriend."

"What? Who needs a boyfriend! Phooey! I could get one if I wanted."

"Have you even had a boyfriend before?"

"Fufu~ I have not." I responded with a large grin, "I'm 100% virgin baby!"

The girl chortled, "I can't believe you. You really are too honest when you're drunk."

"I'm not drunk! Just highly tipsy."

Okay, I'm drunk. Teehee~ Room spinny spinny~

Another co-worker asked, "Why don't you want a boyfriend?"

I thought about it with flushed cheeks, "Hmm. Because I have trust issues. Oh! Not to mention I have commitment issues out the a**!"

The rest of the group laughed merrily. "Wow! She really is honest."

A man around my age with dark hair and freckles smiled, "Why don't you date me?"

I stuck my tongue out, "No way! You aren't my type."

He deflated, "Aw... I was shot down..."

They gave him a reassuring pat on the back. Another asked, "Who is your type?"

"Hmm." I thought in my drunken stupor, "One that I'd like to bully. Like a proud emotionless man! Oh yeah... Seeing a man like that cry would be soo nice~"

"Ai! Who would have thought Leia was so sadistic?!"

"Come on. Even I could have pointed that out."

"Yeah! Did you forget that time when she bought that orphanage just to tear it down and turn it into a casino?"

"Or that time she purposely made those two bikers fight each other just because she was bored."

I pouted, "Hey! You make me sound like a bad person..."

"Are you not?"

I chuckled, "Good point!"

We all laughed and shared more drinks together. After a while, the bar kicked us out and we all drunkenly made our way outside.

"You're not driving that pretty red sports car home tonight right?"

I waved them off, "No, no! I'm getting a taxi. Besides I know better than to drive to a bar with you lot!"

We said our goodbyes as we all went into our own taxis. When I got into my three story home, I was too drunk to even attempt to climb up my stairs. Luckily I had a room on the level floor specifically for sleeping drunk.

I collapsed on the bed ignoring my urge to puke from the spinning room. I hugged my pillows tightly and gave a large smile.

"Ahh~ I can't believe I'm 26 already. This is going to be a good year. I can already feel it. I have friends, every day I get to experience something new, I'm as rich as I've always wanted to be, and not to mention I get to eat great food everyday! This truly is paradise..."

I whispered one last thing into my pillow, "I can honestly say I'm glad I chose to live all those years ago...."

The next day I nursed my hangover and ordered food to be delivered. In my giant house, I watched dramas alone while laughing aloud at the funny parts, and crying at the sad parts. I then had to work out for several hours because unfortunately my body gets chubby easily.

The next day at work, I was completely ignorant of the careful stares behind me. I managed to sell three cars today. I am really on a winning streak.

I whistled as I walked out to my car. I felt a sharp pain in my back and my body seized up. I collapsed and felt my muscles ache, but return to normal. There was still a burning pain in my back from where I was shocked.

I panicked. I noticed the tazer immediately. I attempted to run away, but slipped. I felt someone hold onto my ankle.

"F*ck! Help me hold her down!"

I looked back in horror to see freckles holding me down with a nasty expression. Two other co-workers appeared out of nowhere and held me down. I thrashed in their grasp, but it was no use. I may work out, but there was little I could do to fight back. It was one against three.

One covered my mouth and I sunk my teeth into their flesh. He screamed in pain.

"Get the shot! Hurry!"

A girl ran over and stabbed it into me. I felt my vision blur as my body stopped listening to my commands. The girl with stylish brown hair came out since she heard the commotion.

I whispered in a ragged voice, "Help... Me..."

Before my vision disappeared, all I could see was her smirk.

______

When my eyes fluttered back open, I could vaguely see that I was in some dark cramped area. My hands were tied behind me and my legs were tied together. I felt myself being thrown around slightly and recognized the feeling of being in a car. I realized that I was in someone's trunk.

I don't understand... What's happening?! Why was I suddenly attacked by my coworkers? My friends?

No. I can't think about that now. I need to escape. I looked around for something to pull. Cars are built with emergency trunk openers on the inside just in case something like this were to happen.

I felt around in the dark with my hands behind my body. My eyes winced from the pain, but I ignored it.

Why isn't there any emergency lever?! Whatever. I can try to kick out a taillight and get someone's attention.

As I felt around, I broke into a cold sweat...

Why are there no taillights?! It feels like that's been covered up too! Of course my only escape routes would be cut off. If it was someone who sold cars, it only made sense that they knew how to tinker with them.

Does that mean... This was planned out?

But... Why? I don't understand. We were out drinking and having fun just a few days ago... But everything was so well orchestrated... They had to have been planning it before then...

I felt my breath quicken.

No. Calm down. Panicking won't help.

F*CK! I CAN'T STAND THIS!

LET ME OUT!

I kicked with all my strength to vent my fury. I heard a cold voice even when I was in the trunk.

"Oh. You're awake. That's alright. It's not like you can escape anyway. We all carefully planned this out. And don't even think about screaming. We are in the countryside and there's no one around for miles."

I recognized that voice. F*cking freckles.

"You're probably wondering why? Why did my friends and coworkers attack me?" He broke into laughter, "That's exactly why we hate you so much!!!"

They... Hate me? I stopped kicking the car.

He continued, "You always thought you were so awesome didn't you? You thought that the rest of us were just idiots who should bow down to you. Hah! What a joke. There's nothing special to you at all. We all know where you came from. We all know what you are. You're. Just. Trash."

I felt my heart clench in pain. My chest stiffened and I begged myself to ignore it.

I'm not trash. I'm not.

I won't listen to him. I won't.

"No one's even going to notice you missing."

My thoughts immediately stopped. I tried to prove him wrong. I tried to think of one person.

There was none.

I didn't talk to my friends from my bookstore days anymore. It's not like I didn't try, they were just too busy. I didn't want to be a pest... So I just stopped trying...

"Even old man Kuma won't care. He will just assume you left because you were bored. He won't even question your disappearance. You should just give up now."

He's right. I should just give up.

Like hell I will!

He may be right, but I won't let myself die like this! If I'm going out, I'm going out on my own terms!

I brought my knees to my chest as much as I could. I struggled to reach into my shoe. I pulled out a small pocket knife. Thankfully I have a weird attachment to this knife.

I began to use it to cut the rope. I winced as my hand slipped and the knife hit my flesh. I ignored this and kept trying to cut off the rope. After I was free, I undid the rope around my legs. I felt the car slow down and come to a stop.

He got out of the car and I heard his slow footsteps as they hit the rocky ground. I held my knife and glared at the opening of the trunk.

"I'm going to have fun with you." His cold voice echoed outside.

When the trunk opened, I kicked my feet out and hit him below the waist. He fell backwards and gasped in pain. I sprang out and dived that knife into his shoulder.

It was harder than I imagined. I winced as I felt the blade strike bone.

I had done a lot of awful things in this world, but I've never tried to kill a person. I hesitated from this thought.

And that hesitation was all it took for him to gain the upper hand. He gave me a hard shove and I felt myself falling backwards. I looked behind me and saw the cliff side with jagged rocks sticking out.

My arms flailed as I fell down the side, hitting a few rocks that were sticking out. I landed feet first and felt the force snapping my bones. My body collapsed on a ledge, stuck between two sharp rocks.

"Hah... Hah..." I struggled to breath. It felt as if my lungs were filled with concrete.

Freckles looked over the edge, holding his knife wound. He smirked, "Serves you right."

I heard him get into his car and drive away. I struggled to breath and finally got up the courage to look down at my legs. What I saw made me gag and wail out in horror.

I collapsed onto my back and screamed in agony. I tried to get the image of my mangled legs out of my mind.

Ignore it. Ignore it.

I can't... It hurts... It hurts so much.

I wailed out, "Someone!!! Please someone help me!! HELP ME!!"

I screamed, but no one came to my aid. I begged for mercy, but only the sound of crickets greeted me.

I shouted for two full days until my voice gave out. I glared at that burning sun that made my lips chap. Each breath was a struggle.

I want this to be over...

But my wounds weren't bad enough to kill me... At least not immediately... The blood had already stopped and dried up with that sunlight that shined down upon me so mercilessly.

I was thirsty... So thirsty...

Is this how I'm going to die?

But... Why...

My tears poured down my face. Depleting my body of my last remaining water.

I don't understand... Why would my friends do this to me? I've never hurt them... It's not like I've ever done anything bad to them... So why? Wasn't I good to them?

No... Now that I think about it... I wasn't... Did I ever even compliment them? Did I ever go out of my way to help them?

... I never did...

I was too self absorbed to notice. No... Maybe I did notice.

They would always scowl behind my back, only to smile when I turned around. Of course I noticed. I've been observing people's faces my entire life.

But I just couldn't accept it... I really wanted that friendship. I craved it. It made me feel like my life had meaning.

My tears dried up, but I still cried in sorrow. I recalled the bookstore owner.

My raspy voice echoed off of the rocks, "You... You lied to me... You promised me you would be here for me... You promised me that I would never be alone."

I gave a pitiful scoff, "Well I feel pretty alone right now..."

Everybody leaves. Whether willingly or not... Eventually I will be all alone.

I can't say I blame him. Why would anyone want to stay by my side?

But I don't want to be forgotten... I want to be remembered somehow...

I took a jagged rock by my side and carved into the cliff side. I wrote:

Leia's final resting place.

I gazed at the moon in front of me. I had many wishes in this life. But now I realized I only had one true wish.

With my final breath, I whispered,

"I wish.... I wish..."

It took me nearly six days to die.