Chapter 24: A Harsh Reality

Everyone shivered at Ai's words. They left the area of the house which was their safe zone and began slowly walking down the street. They had only been walking for a few minutes, getting about four houses down when they heard cries for help. "Someone help me! No! Don't touch me!"

Ai sighed as this was a sound she heard a lot in her past life. Girls of all ages were kidnapped and turned into slaves, some forced to work at brothels. Their cries would fill the night as they were forced to do things against their will. Normally she would not poke her nose into the dealings of others but since it was so close to her house it was considered a threat. If this were to happen to her mother, aunt, or Mai, she could never live with herself if such a thing happened all because she did not take the intuitive to kill these scums.

"Dad give me the axe." Ai showed no expression upon hearing the noises that someone her age did not need to be hearing. "You should all follow and get used to this sight. We may take care of a situation like this today but that is only because it is happening near us. In the future, it is best to ignore it and look the other way. You will see things like this in the future that will become commonplace. It will be considered the norm so numb up to it now. Follow me."

Everyone looked at each other, their faces grim as they silently followed behind Ai. They knew what she was about to do.

This house was not as bad off as the others on the street. The first floor was still intact and only the second floor seemed to have caved in. After pushing the door open a horrid stench hit their noses causing everyone but Ai to almost lose their breakfast. To her, it was a familiar smell she had long gotten used to. Everyone was amazed at how unperturbed Ai was even when dealing with such a stench. It was the stench of blood, urine, and feces.

As they made their way through the first floor the sounds of muffled grunts could be heard coming from not too far away. When they entered what looked to be the living room area there was a girl around twenty years of age being forced upon by two men. They had tied her up and were having their way with her. Ai still no expression seeing such a scene. Mai had to cover her mouth from almost screaming out. It was the first time she had ever witnessed such a thing. Mai's parents and her own parents all looked away. Ai looked at them and whispered: "You need to watch."

After saying this she raised the axe in her hand and walked over to the man that was on top and slammed the axe down on top of his head. He had no time to even shout out in pain before dying instantly, splattering blood all over the girl that was sandwiched between the two men.

"What the fuck!?" The man underneath the girl yelled out visibly startled as to what had just happened. He quickly tossed the girl to the side and tried to stand up and run away but ended up tripping on his own pants that were hanging around his ankles, falling to the floor. He looked at Ai who had no expression on her face and fear filled his eyes as she raised the axe above her head again. "Wait!" Was his last words before Ai split his head open as well.

Ai then walked over to the girl who was on the floor shivering. Blood stained her face. The girl's eyes were dull, it seemed she had given up when she realized no one was going to save her. Ai turned and looked at her family who watched the whole scene. Blood was splattered on Ai's face, her hair, and her clothes. The axe in her hand was soaked in it as well.

"This is what becomes of those who get captured. This is why I say never trust anyone. People will treat you kindly and the next thing you know you're being forced to service men or women, whether you like it or not." Ai grabbed the girl's hair and turned the girl's face towards everyone. "This is what you will end up looking like. A soulless body with no hope."

Ai then looked at the girl, her eyes showing a bit of sadness as she whispered softly into the girl's ear. "I will give you freedom from the horrors of this world."

The girl's eyes turned towards Ai and under her breath, she softly said: "Thank you..."

Ai knew this girl did not want to live anymore from the look on her face. But she was too afraid to take her own life. It was a look she had seen many times. The only salvation for people who have such a look is killing them so that they can be free. Ai took a knife she had on her side and slid it across the girl's neck. She sat beside the girl holding her hand until she finally passed away. She ran her hand down the girl's face closing her eyes before getting up and finding some clothes to cover the poor girl with.

"If you think my actions are cruel, then there is nothing I can say. But let me remind you, this is our world now. Everywhere you go from now on there will be monsters in human skins. We will not only need to fight the machina but humans as well in order to survive." When Ai said this she mainly looked at both Kazumi and Shizune. She had hoped this incident would hit home with them.

"Ai, I think you did the right thing." After a moment of silence Mai spoke up. "If it was me I would have wanted to die. I could tell from the look in that girl's eye that she felt the same. From now on no matter what, I will follow your lead. You tell me to kill. I will kill. I do not want to end up like that. I want to one day fall in love. If a day like that ever comes."

"I feel the same." Shizune also spoke up which surprised Ai. "I came very close to being the same as this girl. From now on I will no longer hesitate to pull the trigger if need be."

"I agree as well. If I need to kill, I will kill." Kazumi also spoke up.

Ai let out a sigh of relief before saying: "Let's check the kitchen for supplies."

But what awaited them when they reached the kitchen was something they never expected.

"Oh my god!"