Chapter 7

7

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The pilots were well off and obviously came from prestigious families. They'd bribed their way out of the investigations. They may even have been part of this conspiracy to make Mrs. Akahoshi disappear. These negative thoughts came from a place of resentment and despair on Chise's part. That fateful meeting with Casterline had ruined her career. Destroyed her life. Unintentionally or not, Caste had taken the will and passion to live from Chise. Being optimistic all her young life gave Chise just enough energy to seek help from a renowned psychiatrist. But on the tail end of her seventh session, the voices and visions began to torment her from out of nowhere. "Jump, Chise. You killed me. You know you did. Just jump. The guilt will go away. But you have to climb. You have to jump." The voice of Casterline was an echo in her mind that grew stronger and stronger with every action. Chise hid in a supply closet surrounded by all types of medical instruments. Among all the shining, sharp objects she chose to tie several Gurney belts together to form a makeshift noose. She positioned a bath chair beneath the overhead light fixture, threw the noose around one of the solid white pipes built into the ceiling for ventilation and stood there. She tried to kick the chair away but she just couldn't do it. She removed the noose from her neck, hopped down to the floor and walked back out into the main hallway until she came to stand in front of the nearest open window. She began to fantasize climbing to the top of the highest building in the center of the city. In the dead of night she could see cameras blazing in her direction. Ah, stardom. Oh, fame. Finally, everyone was looking at her with eyes of concern instead of accusation. She would make the cover of every magazine. Every big news outlet in the country would know her name. Maybe her jump would garner worldwide acknowledgement. Just like she'd always wanted. And she wouldn't be overshadowed this time. Not this time. Or maybe there was another way to get that delicious obsessive attention she craved. One she could enjoy and relish in and stay alive to witness. It would surely cement her unproven guilt but a few days after her secret attempt in that little cramped hospital closet, Chise checked herself into a mental ward against her psychologists advice anyway, claiming she could fly. Only hours into her stay in the ward, Chise started seeing Casterline everywhere. Silent at first. No words, just a finger to her lips and a beckoning smile. Her other hand ever pointed upward. Eventually her voice would call Chise's name late into the night. "No more medication, silly. You can't be drowsy during your big debut."

"Chise." "Chise." The voice became so constant, the visions so frequent in the daytime, that Chise couldn't resist her curiosity anymore. So she snuck out and headed to the roof of the new establishment. Casterline gingerly beckoned her to stand on the roof's edge. What a radiant and charming smile. Who could resist? And so Chise moved toward the ledge, her white gown flowing dream-like in the wind. "Now face me." Casterline pulled Chise into a motherly embrace. So warm. So gentle.

"Bliss awaits you," Casterline whispered into the young idol's ear before shoving her out into the chilly night. Chise snapped to her senses but when she blinked, the face of the culprit had changed to a child wearing crows' feathers and a blood soaked crown.