Incident Zero

“No! Don’t touch me!” Hana stumbled back, clutching her stomach. “Onee-Chan! What’s wrong?” Come inside and I’ll get the first aid-” Tsubaki frantically grabbed her sister’s arm. “NO!” The scream that ripped from Hana’s throat sounded so aggressive; that wasn’t her big sister! She slapped Tsubaki’s hand away, further shocking the younger sister. Hana never hit her! “Ugh!” A moan tore loose from Hana and she stumbled.

Ignoring her sister’s protests, Tsubaki ran to Hana's side, though she didn’t touch her. “What’s happening? They said you still had a few weeks left! ” Hana raised her head, blood trickling down from her eyes. “Oh my God!” Tsubaki felt utterly helpless. “I...I’m so pathetic...and weak...” Hana murmered sadly . “My compatibility is too good and it’s moving too fast. The worm is eating away at me; I can feel it. My control was already slipping but I can’t hold it back anymore.”

Tsubaki stared in horror at her elder sister, finally processing how much blood was on Hana’s frilly dress. “What did it make you do now? Who did you hurt?” Hana winced and grabbed her head. “Arg! It wasn’t...not the worm. Them. The agents. They’ve been using me to kill people.” Tsubaki’s mouth fell open in horror. “But that-! They promised they’d contain you so you’d never hurt anyone else!” “They lied to you and I did, too. I knew what was going to happen but...ugh...” Hana stumbled. Tsubaki tried to help support her, but her sister swatted her away. “It was better than being free with no guardrails. After Momma...I didn’t want to hurt you, Tsu. And they said they’d make sure you were supported. I just wanted...to make sure you were safe.” Tears burned Tsubaki’s eyes. “Onee-Chan...!”

“But they lied to me, too. Made it sound like I’d be an emergency resort, but ever since I went with them, they’ve been making me kill nonstop.” Tsubaki covered her mouth in horror. “Cleaning up the trash...extra judicial killings. The Yakuza, low level thugs, government whistle blowers, people who know government secrets...anyone whose continued existence seems like an injustice or inconvenience.” Tsubaki covered her mouth in horror. “There’s been so many, so much killing...they never planned to contain me or research how to stop the worms! They just want to use magical girls who’ve been completely taken over as mindless weapons. We’ll kill anyone they want and won’t talk back or need to be taken care of.”

“Oh, Hana, what have they been doing to you?” Tsubaki let out, unable to imagine how much her warm, loving sister suffered under such sadistic orders. “I was so stupid.” Large tears fell from Hana’s eyes as she smiled pathetically. “All I wanted to do was help people. I thought it would be like an anime. But the worm tricked me and used me. I let them in and all the people I hurt, everyone and everything I killed, Momma Mio, the people the government pointed me at...it’s all my fault. No one would be dead if I hadn’t been so damn gullible.”

“Don’t say that!” Tsubaki screamed. “It’s not your fault! You just wanted to live out a fairytale story, and there’s nothing wrong with that! Your mind is being erased and those things are taking you over! You’d never choose to hurt anyone if it was really your choice!”

“Tsu.” Hana’s voice became honey-sweet and gentle. “Thank you. I’m sorry I’m leaving you all alone.” Shuffling, she moved towards her little sister and threw her arms around her. “Hana?” Tsubaki was surprised by the gesture, given how insistent her sister had been about not touching, butt she didn’t care. She buried her face in Hana’s chest and hugged her so tightly that her knuckles went white and numb. Both girls were crying now. Tsubaki felt pathetic, but she had no clue what to do. She’d been so lonely and scared; like a cornered mouse in a maze. There had been no one to help once Hana had gotten infected and, after what happened with Momma Mio and the government having to intervene, she’d been truly alone with no one to confide in. Who’d even believe her?

“Tsu...I’m so glad I was able to be your big sister.” Hana smiled through her tears. “I knew I was going to be erased soon so I eloped after my last mission. I wanted to see my baby sister one last time. And I don’t want to let either the worm or the agents win. I don’t belong to them.” She gave Tsubaki a last squeeze and took a few steps back. “I don’t regret my choices. It was stupid and I hurt people but, for a little bit anyway...I was able to help others. I don’t know if that evens the scales or not, but all lives are precious. It’s not a small thing that people are alive right now that wouldn’t be otherwise. All the people who I killed should still be alive but...it means something that the people I saved are still alive.”

“Hana...” Tsubaki rubbed her eyes. Even until the very end, her sister was like a living angel, always looking for the positives and seeing the best in everyone. “You’re important, Tsu. I want you to keep living.” Hana smiled widely. “I want you to be happy. I’m sorry I’m leaving you alone, but you’re a strong girl. You’ll be okay, I promise. I don’t want to hurt anyone anymore and I can’t wait until there’s so little left of me that I can’t even control my own body anymore. I want to protect others one last time, and I want to die as myself.” She stepped back further and summoned her magical stick, causing Tsubaki’s stomach to lurch. “I’m me and I’m not going to let anyone choose for me.”

“Wait, Hana!” Tsubaki shouted, realizing what her sister intended to do. “It’s okay. I’m happy with my choices.” Tsubaki lunged for Hana, trying to close the distance between the two of them quickly. “I love you, Tsubaki.”

With a wide smile, Hana touched her stick to her head. Tsubaki let out a feral cry and reached out for her sister as a beam of light shot straight through Hana’s head. All she could do was gape in horror as her sister’s blood spattered her and Hana’s body crumpled to the ground.