Zataria's Last Light Chapter 80: The First Clue

As everyone gathered at the house, Hana provided a detailed account of her relationship with her brother.

Zodiac: So let get this straight... Your brother doesn’t like you or your little sister because Aimi has powers, and he thinks she’s a freak. He doesn’t like you because you’re on her side?

Hana: Yes, that’s correct. He also despises the fact that Aimi believes our father will return, particularly since Riker has always held a grudge against him for abandoning us.

Akira: Do you hate your brother?

Hana: What?

Akira: I asked if you hate your brother.

Hana: I an, no... but he makes really mad sotis. The things he does frustrate , and he doesn’t like it when I try to talk to him because he doesn’t want to acknowledge as his sister.

Daru: Wait a second... Does that an no one at school knows you’re related?

Hana: No, they do know. Every ti I try to get close to him or talk to him, he just hits .

Akira: Why don’t you just kill him?

Himitsu: Akira!

Akira: What?

Zodiac: That’s what I was going to say—just end him.

Hana: Kill him!? I could never kill my brother!

Daru: And you won’t. I might not like him, but were not going to kill him.

Hana: Well, when you had him on his knees, it looked like you were going to.

Daru: No. I was going to break his arm and a few other things, but I didn’t.

Hana: Well, I guess that’s good to know.

Himitsu: Being at this school is a lot harder than I thought.

Zodiac: What the hell are you talking about?

Himitsu: We’re here to find out what’s going on with people at the school, but everyone keeps getting in our way. Not to ntion, Ohma’s not here because he has detention.

Akira: I hate to say it, but he’s right; we haven’t found anything yet, and it’s been—

Daru: It’s only been two days at this school. We still have ti to figure things out.

Hana: That’s what I’m afraid of—ti. How much ti do we really have?

Daru glances at Hana, noting her worried expression. Monts later, Ohma walks through the front door.

Ohma: I hate detention! They make you fill out all this stupid paperwork, and then you have to wipe down all the dirty lockers in the school. It’s not that bad since it’s a pretty clean school, but it’s just ridiculous.

As Ohma continues, he notices Hana’s somber expression.

Ohma: Did I miss sothing?

Himitsu approaches Ohma and places a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

Himitsu: Yeah, we’re okay. Hana was just telling us about her situation with her brother.

Ohma: Oh, I see. I’m sorry for interrupting.

Himitsu: It’s all good, Ohma. Sotis you just need to vent.

Ohma: Oh, okay, cool!

Hana: I need to rest, and you guys should too. Goodnight, see you in the morning. And don’t forget, it’s picture day tomorrow.

Akira: What the hell is picture day!?

Hana: It’s for your ID cards, so people know you attend this school.

Zodiac: I thought we already did the ID cards!

Hana: That was just to get into the school. This one is for the school.

Daru: All this ID card nonsense.

Everyone heads to their respective rooms to prepare for bed. Hana proceeds to the bathroom, where she finds Akira inspecting a brush.

Akira: What the hell is this thing? Is it a weapon?

Hana: It’s a brush.

Akira glances at Hana as she enters.

Hana: Have you never seen a brush before?

Akira: I thought you were smart... If I asked what this was, obviously I don’t know what it is.

Hana: Okay, okay, look.

Hana takes the brush from Akira’s hand.

Hana: Sit down.

Akira: What are you—

Hana: Akira, just sit down!

Akira is taken aback by Hana’s firm tone.

Akira: Fine! But if you do sothing I don’t like, I’ll burn you until all you taste is blood.

Hana: (nervously) Understood... I won’t.

Hana retrieves a stool from the corner of the bathroom and places it behind Akira. She sits down as Hana begins to brush her hair.

Hana: I have a question.

Akira: Great, now we have to talk to each other?

Hana: Oh, sorry, okay, I’ll keep quiet.

Akira: Good.

A few monts pass as Akira notices Hana appearing uneasy and lancholic.

Akira: Ugh! Fine, just say what’s on your mind.

Hana: Say what?

Akira: You have sothing on your mind that you want to share, so just say it.

Hana: (Sighs) Okay... I wanted to ask you about what you said earlier.

Akira: Sure, which part are you referring to?

Hana: When you said I should just kill my brother.

Akira: Yeah, if he’s really bothering you or did sothing terrible! Then just kill the bastard.

Hana: I can’t kill my brother because, well... he’s my brother. Would you kill yours?

Akira: In a heartbeat!

Hana: (Shocked) Really?!

Akira: Absolutely!

Hana: Sounds like you’re speaking from experience.

Akira: Because I am. I tried to kill him once, and I had him! But he slipped away because of a stupid portal. When I find him, I’m going to tear him apart piece by piece and burn the remains!

Hana: (Scared) Oh, wow... I guess you really don’t like your brother then.

Akira: No, not just dislike... I hate him with every fiber of my being!

Hana: Okay! Got it. You completely hate him.

Akira: Exactly!

Hana: Well, we’re all done.

Akira: Huh?

Hana: Look in the mirror.

Akira glances into the mirror and notices her hair appears stunning.

Akira: I—I— it looks terrible!

Hana: What?!

Akira shakes her hair, and it reverts to its previous state.

Akira: That looked awful!

Hana: I—I’m sorry. I thought it looked good.

Akira takes the brush from Hana.

Hana: Ah.

Akira exits the bathroom but glances back at Hana.

Akira: It didn’t look that bad.

Hana smiles as Akira heads to her room and closes the door.

Hana: Wait! She took the brush.

The scene transitions to Akira on her bed, brushing her hair.

Akira: Damnit! How’d she do it again?

Everyone goes to sleep, and the next day arrives.

Hana prepares for the day while brushing her teeth, changing clothes, and heading downstairs to find everyone waiting for her in their school attire.

Hana: Wow... You all look ready for school and up early!

Daru: We need to find out what’s going on, so I thought if we go earlier in the day, we might discover sothing.

Hana: That’s a good idea! But I haven’t eaten yet.

Ohma: Oh! I made you an olet! Here you go. (smiles)

Hana takes the olet from Ohma and begins to eat.

Hana: (with food in her mouth) Okay, let’s go!

Daru: Do a favor and stop talking with your mouth full.

As everyone is preparing to leave, Akira descends the stairs, her hair styled and looking impressive.

Himitsu: Uhhh! Akira, your—

Akira: Yes? What about it?

Ohma: It looks aweso!

Akira: Whatever!

Hana: Ohma’s right; it really suits you.

Hana glances at Zodiac and Daru.

Hana: What do you both think?

Daru: I don’t care.

Zodiac: She looks worse than before.

Akira becos irritated.

Hana: Zodiac!

Zodiac: What? Do you want to lie?

Akira: Everyone shut up and get moving!

Akira walks past everyone, bumping Zodiac on the shoulder.

Zodiac: Watch yourself.

Daru chuckles.

Zodiac: What are you laughing at?

Daru: Oh, nothing. Let’s go.

Everyone exits the house and begins walking toward the school. After five minutes, they arrive to find a small group of people gathered.

Himitsu: W- There are people here?

Daru spots Sam.

Daru: Great, and she’s here.

Sam looks over her shoulder, sees Daru and the others, and approaches them.

Hana: Okay, she’s coming over; just let do the talking.

Daru: With pleasure.

Zodiac: I don’t like talking anyway.

Sam approaches them.

Sam: Well, look who it is... Hana and her little new friends.

Hana: Hi, Sam.

Sam: Hi, Hana. Why are you guys here so early?

Ohma: Oh, it’s because we’re trying to find—

Himitsu inadvertently hits Ohma in the chest, causing him to gasp for air.

Himitsu: Sorry about that.

Sam: What was he saying? Sothing about trying to find sothing?

Hana: Oh, he was just saying he was trying to figure out where his next gym class is. You know how Mr. Ben is; he always switches things up. (awkward laugh)

Sam: Hmm... Yeah, I guess you’re right; he does like to change things. My dad doesn’t like that, though.

Hana: Yeah, maybe your dad should talk to her about it because it gets confusing.

Sam: Are you saying my dad doesn’t know what he’s doing?!?

Hana: WHAT? NO! I didn’t say that!

Sam: You better not be, because I have the authority to have you expelled from school.

Daru: Are you done yet?!

Sam: Ugh! You!

Daru: Yeah, it’s . Are you done talking so we can get to what we’re looking for?

Sam: Fine, go ahead, but if I find anything weird about any of you, I’m telling my dad.

Hana: No worries! Nothing strange is happening here.

Ohma: Well, you ntioned there was sothing wro—

Himitsu strikes Ohma in the chest once more.

Ohma: (In pain) Yes, nothing going on here. Have a nice day.

Sam: Don’t ss anything up!

Sam walks away, leaving everyone looking at Ohma.

Ohma: What? Did I say sothing wrong?

Akira: I can’t believe how clueless everyone is here.

Hana: Okay, let’s search around the school.

The group begins to disperse: Zodiac and Daru together, Himitsu and Hana together, and Ohma and Akira together.

Akira: I can’t believe I got paired with you.

Ohma: ? Do you hate or sothing?

Akira: I don’t know. I hate a lot of things and people, but if you give sothing to hate about you, I’ll hate you!

Ohma: I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but you’re a very angry person.

Akira: Ohma, just keep moving.

Ohma: (Smiling) Yes, Ma’am! Ohma taking the lead!

Akira rolls her eyes.

Zodiac: What are we searching for?

Daru: I don’t know, anything strange, I guess.

Zodiac: There’s been nothing strange about this place except that Riker doesn’t want anybody seeing Hana as her sibling.

Daru: Yeah, that is weird.

Zodiac: But I get it. If we went to the sa school, I wouldn’t want anyone knowing we were brothers either.

Daru: Yeah, I agree. I wouldn’t want them to know my brother is weaker than a ladybug.

Zodiac: Look who’s starting now.

Daru: You brought it up first.

Zodiac: You know what? I wouldn’t want people knowing my brother is slower than a turtle!

Daru: You know what? When we’re done with this stupid school thing, we’ll settle this, and I’ll show you that you’re beneath .

Zodiac: I accept. When we settle this, you’re going to eat nothing but my blade and dust!

Daru: Bring it!

Daru and Zodiac search, both filled with determination.

Daru & Zodiac: Asshole.

It now shows Himitsu and Hana together.

Himitsu: Do you see anything?

Hana: No, not yet. How about you?

Himitsu: Nothing here either.

Hana: (Sighs) I don’t even know what to look for. Everyone seems fine.

Himitsu: Wait, Hana.

Hana: Yes?

Himitsu: The people who looked dead, like your friend Lisa. Where is she?

Hana: She’s at ho. Mrs. Soya says not to visit them because we could catch whatever they have.

Himitsu: I see, so everyone notices.

Hana: It’s not hard to tell when soone seems off.

As they converse, they notice Willy approaching the doors.

Himitsu: Oh look, it’s Willy from science class!

Hana: (Yelling) Hey, Willy!

Willy does not respond and continues walking.

Hana: What the heck? Willy!

Willy remains unresponsive as he walks away.

Himitsu: That’s not like him, is it?

Hana: No, it’s not.

Himitsu and Hana pursue Willy until they reach him, his back turned to them.

Hana: Willy.

Himitsu: Willy, it’s Himitsu from science class.

Willy still does not turn around.

Himitsu: Willy!

Himitsu grabs Willy’s arm and turns him around; Willy appears disoriented.

Willy: (In a monotone voice) Uhh!

Hana and Himitsu recoil in surprise.

Himitsu: Ahh! What the—what’s wrong with him?

Hana: It happened to him too.

Himitsu: Wait! Is this what you ant when you said it’s as if they’re dead?

Hana: Yes, this is precisely what I was referring to.

Himitsu: I have to get the others.

Himitsu goes to assemble everyone, and they all co to see Willy.

Zodiac: Is he even alive?

Daru: Can he speak?

Akira: Is he a zombie?

Ohma: Can he sing?

Himitsu: Sing? Really, Ohma?

Ohma: What? He looks like he has a nice voice.

Hana: Guys, I don’t know. I never actually been this close to one of them.

Daru: What! This is your first ti?

Hana: Being this close, yes. See, when Lisa got drab—

Akira: Drab?

Hana: Oh right, sorry. We call them "drab" when they look like this; it’s easier than saying "dead" or "zombie." When she was turned, I saw her, and then people ca and took her to the hospital.

Akira: Move out of the way, Hana.

Hana: Huh?

Akira: Just move.

Hana steps aside as Akira approaches Willy, who looks up at her. Akira places her hand on Willy’s head and perceives the last ten seconds of his experience.

Daru: What the hell is she doing?

Akira sees Willy running through a forest, panicking as sothing calls his na. (Willy: Leave alone!) Willy continues running and spots an ominous-looking house. Akira releases her grip; that is all she could gather from his mind.

Akira: Ugh!

Hana catches Akira as she stumbles.

Zodiac: What was that?

Himitsu: Are you alright, Akira?

Akira: Get off !

Akira stands and explains.

Akira: He was running from sothing. I don’t know what it was. I couldn’t see it, but he was definitely fleeing.

Ohma: So, you can see the future?

Akira: What! No, you idiot. It’s a dragon thing; I can see the last 10 seconds of soone’s past.

Daru: That would have been good to know.

Akira: Yeah, well, you never asked.

Himitsu: Akira, you said he was running from sothing, but did you see anything else?

Akira: Uh... Oh, there was an eerie-looking house he saw.

Ohma: A house? Wait, was it located in a forest?

Akira: Yes, he was in a forest.

Zodiac: Ohma, did you see anything?

Ohma: Yeah! When Dex and Brett told gym class was in the forest, I went there and saw this strange house with a strong aura.

Daru: Ohma!

Ohma: What?

Daru: Why didn’t you tell us this before!?

Ohma: Oh, I forgot (laughs).

Zodiac: (sighs) I can’t be a part of this team.

Hana: Okay, let’s head there!

Ohma: But what about Willy?

Hana: I’ll take him to the nurse’s office while you all investigate.

Himitsu: Okay!

Hana takes Willy with her to the nurse’s office while Himitsu and the others head into the forest to locate the house. A few minutes later, we see Ohma leading the way.

Ohma: Alright, I was here, and then I turned this way.

Zodiac: Do you even rember where the house is?

Ohma: Yes, I do. I just need to recall my steps.

Akira: I found it!

Everyone turns to Akira as she points at the house.

Ohma: Then turn right, and OH! There it is, guys! It’s right th—oh, you’re already walking to the house.

As they approach, they all sense a strong aura emanating from it.

Ohma: There it is, the sa aura I felt yesterday.

Daru: Well, let’s see what’s inside.

Daru opens the door, and they all enter. Inside, they discover deceased animals: pigs, rabbits, foxes, dogs, and cats.

Akira: This slls terrible!

Himitsu: I think I’m going to throw up.

Zodiac: Suck it up.

They begin to examine their surroundings and see nothing but knives, blood, and dead animals.

Akira: There’s nothing here.

Zodiac: Yeah, I got nothing.

Himitsu: Sa here.

Ohma: Guys, do you think pancakes are cakes? Or just pancakes?

Himitsu: What!?

As they continue searching, Daru notices a piece of paper.

Daru: I think I found sothing.

Everyone gathers around the table in the center of the room as he unfolds the paper; it reveals a list of nas.

Zodiac: What is this? It’s a list of nas.

Akira: No, not just a list; so nas are crossed out.

Ohma: Guys, what was the na of the guy who got dragged?

Akira: Willy... why do you ask?

Ohma: Because his na is crossed out.

They all turn to confirm his na is marked off.

Daru: Guys, this isn’t just any list; this is a hit list.

Himitsu: Oh my gosh!

Ohma: What is it, Himitsu?

Himitsu: H-Hana’s na is on here!

As he says this, we see Hana sitting in the nurse’s office.

???: Only five more, Hana...

Hana quickly glances around, alard.

Hana: Who said that? ... Five more? What does that an?