Chapter 14:

Bianka and Mochi

Escape:Witch Volume 1


Going back in time 30 minutes...

The rain began to pour as Moribe and Jimmy finally arrived at the airport, and pulled up to a cargo plane located on the far side of the tarmac.

“Looks like we got lucky! We didn’t encounter a single cop on our way over, and with this typhoon-like downpour, the airport is practically deserted,” Moribe chuckled.

Jimmy gazed down at him with a confused glance.

“Wait!? You don’t understand Japanese, do you?”

“Sorry, I don’t speak Japanese. Do you speak English?”

Moribe shook his head no, as the two men sat in awkward silence before they both opened the doors and got out as a man in a raincoat drove up to them in a baggage cart.

“Kept me waiting, Moribe, I got worried when you called me hours ago and said something about taking the back roads. I assume the big guy’s our client’s representative. Anyway, let's load everything up then hightail it before anyone's the wiser. Then when the storm clears, we takeoff with no issue,” the man grinned.

He then opened the plane hatch while Moribe and Jimmy ran to the back of the truck.

“Madam! It’s OK to come out! Toki’s here and there’s no cops in sight, though it's pouring rain,” Moribe called out as he opened the doors to the back.

When he heard no reply, he motioned for Jimmy to come inside with him.

“1, 2, 3, 4, 5… HEY! There are TWO coffins missing! I counted SEVEN when your boss hopped in! Why are two of them missing!?” Jimmy roared as he ran up to the first sarcophagus and opened it.

The sarcophagus was empty much to Jimmy's anger. Moribe looked in horror as Jimmy opened a second and a third one and found they were empty as well. Moribe ran to the back and opened the remaining two, as Jimmy hovered angrily behind him. They were all empty. Jimmy then angrily hoisted up Moribe by the scruff of his neck as he called Carl.

“Jimmy! Are you-”

“Sir! Bad news! The girls are gone, and so is Sayuri!” Jimmy stated.

“WHAT!? That damn bitch pulled a fast one on me!? Is she trying to sell me out!? Don’t let her little worker get away! I want answers!” Carl's voice roared.

“I got it- Ugh!?”

Jimmy suddenly dropped his phone and Moribe as he felt a sharp pain in his throat. He fell to his knees and began coughing up blood while struggling to breathe. He had been shot in the side of his throat. A few seconds later, he stopped coughing and went limp, before slumping to the ground, dead. Moribe looked in horror at the scene before him as Carl called out for Jimmy on the phone.

“TOKI YOU IDIOT! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?” Moribe roared as he turned towards the entrance of the truck to notice a mummy pointing a gun at him. “What the hell is this!?” he stammered in confusion as another mummy walked in soaking wet dragging a man.

The mummy then hurled the man at Moribe, knocking him down. Moribe screamed in horror as he recognized the man to be Toki, the man driving the baggage cart. Toki’s throat had been slit and his eyes were rolled back as blood oozed from his mouth. He was dead. Before Moribe could retaliate, the mummy with the gun killed him. After confirming all three men were dead, the two mummies hopped in the baggage cart and drove away.

"Now, we call the paparazzi," one of the mummies grinned as she pulled out her phone.

...

Back in the present, Bianka let out a heavy sigh as she stood before the doors to the salon. "Serika, think if we find they're breaking the law, could we arrest them?" 

"Look, if you don't want to go in there, make a run for it now. Of course, you'll probably end up having to shave your damn head anyway just to avoid being recognized," Serika grumbled. 

"Heh, better to shave my head on my own terms anyway." 

"Yeah, I know that feeling..." 

"Hmm? Oh right, back in the day you-"

"AHHHHHH, I can't have you go running off and shaving your own head. It's no fun," a voice rang out as Bianka felt a hand clamp down on her shoulder. 

Her heart began beating as she turned to see Fujiko grinning at her like a psychopath. Lightning flashed, further starling Bianka, but Fujiko prevented her from screaming by clamping her hand over her mouth. 

"Shh... Now green hair, you're required to watch, otherwise... I shave you too! Ahahahahaha!" 

Serika clicked her tongue as her phone began to vibrate. "From the idiot chief... Look, we're both active-duty cops, so if shit comes up, we can't just be loitering around-" 

"Why would I care about that? I want you shaved, you get shaved. I don't care who's calling, if the world's ending, I'm-shaving-you," Fujiko glared. 

"What came up?" Bianka asked as she freed her mouth from Fujiko's grasp. 

"Apparently there's a lead on the thugs from the museum." 

"Sorry, not familiar with the case." 

"Apparently-" 

"Inside," Fujiko snarled as she grabbed Bianka by the wrist and dragged her inside. 

Serika reluctantly followed, making sure to stand as close to the door as possible just in case she really needed to run. 

"I'd appreciate it if you were closer. Well, I hope your eyesight's good; I don't want you missing ANY of this," Fujiko giggled as she shoved Bianka into a chair. 

Metal clamps sprang forth and secured Bianka's wrists and ankles, as Fujiko giddily twirled a roll of duct tape on her finger. "Now, what to do with the duct tape... Should I... put it on your mouth?" 

"Fuck no," Bianka glared as she spat on Fujiko's face. 

Fujiko slowly flicked away the roll of duct tape and got on top of Bianka, stopping her face an inch before hers. "You really don't like me, do you?" 

"After what you did to Mochi, no shit!" 

...

6 years ago... 

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN I LOST!?" Fujiko fumed.

"The vote count stands. Mochi Myouchi is now student council president," the teacher declared as Fujiko was promptly dragged off stage. 

"Thank you everyone for overcoming the threats of that tyrant and allowing me to take the reins of the student council. My first act will be to abolish ALL of my predecessor's strict and cruel policies. No longer will our students have to fear having their hair sheared off for breaking the code of conduct. My predecessor argued the punishment would encourage more students to follow the rules, however, she quickly abused her power in her second year of being student council president. Many of our fine students were unfairly humiliated and stripped of all their hair to satisfy that tyrant's ego. Now, the reign of terror is over!" Mochi smiled as the audience erupted in cheers.

Once the speech was over, Bianka met up with Mochi as the two headed back to class.

"Great speech, Mochi," Bianka grinned as she wrapped her arm around Mochi's shoulder.

In a stark contrast to her current appearance, Bianka sported a natural chestnut bob along with untanned skin back in her high school days. That said, her flirtatious personality was ever present.

"Bianka, I thought you eased up on your flirting," Mochi glared.

"I did, but you're my girlfriend," Bianka cooed.

"Bianka, I do not recall ever acknowledging you as a romantic partner."

"Come on, no need to be cold, girl. Everyone else's already shipped us anyway."

"This is why I despise gossip. You know that I'll be entering the police academy once I've graduated?"

"So? I'll be too."

"Not just to stalk me I hope?"

"Oi, no need to put it so harshly. Besides, I'm mainly doing it to follow in Onee-sama's footsteps."

"Reika-san? Very well. My apologies for the harsh comment. Compared to how flirtatious you were back in Middle school, you have certainly reformed. Though I wish you'd ease up on your flirting with me as well."

"But I love you."

Mochi let out a sigh and put her hand on her head. "Is there a pheromone I'm emitting that attracts you to me?"

"Maybe. But you're also cute, smart, and strong."

"My physical strength is far lower than that of the average woman."

"I meant strong in mind and conviction, dummy."

"Then strong-willed is the word you were looking for."

"Always so uptight."

"And you are always so rambunctious."

The two then burst out laughing as they continued to head back to class. However, unbeknowst to them, Fujiko had begun planning her revenge. 

...

A few months later... 

Bianka smiled from the crowd as Mochi stepped onto the stage to address the student body.

"Hello everyone. It is my pleasure to give the annual Fall address for the state of our school. Our current average GPA has risen and our school is on track to become one of the most prestigious all-girls high schools in the nation. We are-"

"Hello my dear subjects. Your queen has arrived to give her address!" Fujiko sneered as she stepped onto the stage.

"As I was saying. We are-"

"DON'T YOU DARE IGNORE ME! I AM YOUR QUEEN! Aha, aha, AHAHAHAHA! Well let's see you peasants ignore this!" Fujiko shouted as she pulled on a rope.

Green liquid immediately began pouring all over Mochi causing her to scream as she was quickly encased in the liquid. When the gunging subsided, only her face was left visible.

"THE HELL ARE YOU SLIMING HER FOR!?" Bianka roared as she began charging through the crowd to the stage.

"Slime? Oh no, it's HOT WAX!" Fujiko maniacally laughed as she pulled on another rope.

Bianka stopped and looked up as she heard a sound from above. Looking up, she was met with an entire ceiling of green before suddenly, she found herself encased in the stuff and struggling to breath as it rapidly hardened. 

"You monster!" Mochi yelled as another bucket of hot wax was poured on her, completely encasing her exposed face.

After that, Bianka's memories went blank. All she could remember after was waking up in the hospital with Reika sitting by her bedside. She was then informed of Fujiko's arrest, and the fact that her fellow students weren't faring much better than her, having suffered permanent hair and skin damage, along with mental trauma.

The most affected was Mochi, who took months to return to school, and when she did, she was different. No longer did she show any emotions, nor possess any of her previous will. She also began viewing her sister, Purin, with whom she was previously on bad terms with in a more positive light, even outright praising her for every little thing, despite Purin still showing clear signs of hostility to her. 

And the one ultimately responsible for this change... Fujiko, at least, in Bianka's eyes. 

Mario Nakano 64
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