Zodiac Girls

The 'Monsters'

Day turned to night, and Rain and Sherry were making their way to the Principal’s Office. To their joy, they, their friends, and even Rain’s fans found more people interested in joining the Parkour Club, thus satisfying the requirement for starting members. Now, it was a club room they had to be on a lookout for. With how late the day was, though, the pair decided to wait for tomorrow to speak to the club captains of the sports teams about using the gym. That is, unless if they found another spot for the club.

But, the club was not the reason for the two heading to the office. The reason… is in regards to them being reincarnates. Specifically about the people after them. After being kept in the dark for so long, with such limited knowledge about them, Rain was glad she was finally getting answers regarding them, without having to risk her life in the process.

After arriving at the office, Rain and Sherry entered the room, and found Principal Vyper, Coach Bellwood, Lucy, and Riley in the room.

“Good. We’re all here,” Vyper said. “Then without further ado, let us begin this meeting. Miss Takone, last time we told you about us reincarnates and the beasties resting inside us. Tonight, you will learn of the people who despise us today. People… who we believe are in relation to the one who killed the beasties in the past.”

“People… in relation to that monster?” Rain asked, finding it hard to believe. From what she heard, the person who killed the twelve beasties was a true definition of a monster. Unless if the bloodline weakened, or did not get passed down on at all, there was no way those people Rain had been running from had any connection to that guy.

"That's right," Riley confirmed. "Rain, just to be sure, how long did you say those people were after you?"

"Since... around the time my powers awakened. Not even a day after."

"Haven't you found it strange how those people knew about you in such little time?"

At that question, Rain took a pause. All her life, she had been trying to get away from those people, from that place, hiding, and running from them always, keeping caution wherever she went, frightened by the thought of what they will do to her once they took her. Not once, however, did she ever consider how they found her to start with, how they even knew of her powers when she hadn't awaken to them for long, nor said anything to them about it in the first place.

"It seems you haven't thought of it until now..." Vyper noticed. "Of what we know, it would appear the one responsible for the end of the beasties knew they would get reincarnated, and had warned their descendants of their- our- possible comeback. As time passed, they managed to gather more members into their troupe, and formed an organization against our kind. Plus with the development and constant evolution of technology, it was only a matter of time until they could create a tracker that could find us, the instant our power awakens."

"I've been wondering this for quite a while, but exactly who are they?" Rain interrupted then.

"They were called by many names, but currently, they go by the name SAZS," Lucy answered then.

Rain tilted her head at the name. "Sass? Like 'sassy'?"

"SAZS as in 'Slay All Zodiac Society'," Sherry corrected. "We don't know who came up with these names, but it was most likely their newly appointed leaders.

"Zodiacs?"

"The twelve beasties who fought against the person who killed them just happened to be of the same species as the twelve zodiacs," Coach Redsbull explained then. "Personally, I prefer that over 'beastie' or monster."

"Names aside, the most important thing to know about this organization is the danger they pose to us," Vyper spoke. "Every person in that organization don't see us as equals, something I'm sure you know firsthand, Rain."

The orangette looked down at those words, recalling to her growth since her life had changed, especially when she first ran from SAZS, as well as her encounters with them. Not once did those people call out to her like any normal person would to a lost and/or frightened child; if anything, they called out to her like a cop would to a criminal.

"To them, we reincarnates are nothing more than monsters to be slayed, or weapons to be controlled. As much as we would like to ask for help and protection from them, unfortunately, as 'beasties' and 'reincarnation' are things of fantasy in today's time, no one would believe us if we tell them the truth. Even the government will ask questions, and they will find it suspicious if we do not tell them why we seek protection. Likewise, SAZS cannot call for society's assistance in searching for us over such a reason. Well... not that they will anyway."

"What makes you so sure?" Rain asked.

"Because SAZS is an enemy to us reincarnates, but also humanity's protector. At least, that's how they see themselves," Redsbull explained. "No protector would want to get an innocent person involved in something dangerous. And we reincarnates are dangerous, especially if we give in to our beastie side, or if we don't know how to properly control our powers. So even if they do make up a story about how we are criminals that should be put away, that would make people frighten of us, and inadvertently may cause us to lash out at them, especially if we are still new to the other side."

"There is also the possibility that there may be people who do believe in fantasy, and decide to help us, hide us away from the organization," Lucy added on.

'Thus why they had been discreet when they tried to capture me...' Rain thought in understanding. As she thought over the information told, however, she realized something else.

"Wait... You all make it sound as though you know of SAZS. And I'm not just saying as their enemies, but more that... How to say it...? I feel like you know a lot more about them than you guys should. Like you've been at war with them for decades. But... unless if you're older than you actually are, I don't think knowing all that much about these guys is normal."

It was silent when Rain voiced out her question. She had been on the run from SAZS for years, and it was not until this very day that she learned something more about them, other than how desperate they seemed in wanting to capture her for some reason. A reason that was finally revealed to her.

“… I’m afraid that is classified,” Vyper answered at last. “The less people know, the better.”

Rain was about to call her out for the secrecy, when Sherry stopped her. “She’s not lying, Rain. Even I don’t know how she got the info; I was only following orders. Plus, Principal Vyper is the one who founded our group, and she is quite wise.”

“Which now brings me to question how someone like her became principal of Luminoir Academy. And while we’re at it, what’s with that weird hall I was in prior?” Rain demanded then.

“To answer the second, this school was actually built above an underground army base some years back. It hasn’t been used for so long, it became forgotten,” Lucy explained.

The orange tree was taken aback by the explanation. “I know you said it was forgotten, but is it really okay for this school to be built on what may as well be a sacred ground?”

“As far as we know, no one has died here, and not a single ghost exist here,” Redsbull answered then.

Rain shook her head at that, not wanting to go into further details about the topic. "Okay... Now, for my third concern... The killing part, was that really necessary?" As soon as she asked that, the room practically went silent. Rain looked to each person with a raised brow, wondering why everyone was suddenly so silent, even more than when she asked about the amount of information they had on. "... I must've spoken gibberish without meaning to. Was it really necessary to kill those people?" The silence still lingered, as the girls slowly averted their eyes from their new recruit. Just that alone made Rain widen her eyes, slowly realizing their thought process. "... It... It wasn't necessary... Right?"

"... We need to do what we can to get those people to leave us be," Vyper only said. "They made it clear what we are to them. You know yourself, especially from the last encounter with them, and yet you still decide that what we do is not necessary?"

Rain was taken aback by the question. She knew Vyper was right about SAZS, how they saw her as something not human, and possibly something that needed to be disposed of before she got any more dangerous, but killing them just so they could be free of them? That's just... That's going way too far!

"What is wrong with you...?" she breathed out. "Sure, they work for someone who wants us dead, but those were people you killed! Tortured, even! There is no need to go that far!"

"So you think talking to them was going to be enough?" Coach Redsbull questioned back. "In case if you hadn't noticed, we already did that, and I am fairly sure you did, too. And look where it got you. If words were enough, none of us would be in this situation."

"But there has to be another way! You guys are living alongside normal humans; people who have no connection to us or SAZS! You all get along so well with them! How could you just be okay with killing someone?!"

"Because there is a difference between them and the people around us," Riley answered then. "Unlike those people who see us as equals, who accept us as fellow humans, those people from SAZS don't think so. All they see when they look at us is a monster that should be killed or contained. If that is the sort of thought they have about us, then for what reason should we ever have to hesitate? They say those who call another a fool is a fool themselves. In this case, those people who kept calling us 'monsters'... They are the real monsters to be put down."

Rain just stood speechless as she stared at Riley. The orangette then slowly turned her head to the other reincarnates, and sure enough... She noticed they all felt the same way as the soccer captain. Saying that she was baffled would not even begin to describe how Rain felt. Looking at all these people, and thinking back to the many times she was called 'monster' by the people of SAZS... The teen felt as though she finally realized why those people thought that way about her.

"So that's how it is..." she muttered out. "I guess I should've just left after all. Staying here- no, attending to this academy is the worst decision I have ever made."

The others were dumbfounded by her claim.

"What was that?!" Coach Bellewood questioned.

"You heard me. I should've just left when I had the chance. At least then, I will not find myself surrounded by people who are serial killers!" That claimed left most of the people in  the room speechless. "This is... This is just way too much for me to mentally handle."

"Rain, I know it looks bad, but-"

"'Looks bad'?! You're the last person I ever want to hear say any of that!" Rain then shouted at Sherry. "The two times I was found by SAZS, you tortured and killed them! You didn't even show any remorse when you did! ... If joining with you guys means becoming a new killer, then I revoke my stay here."

That last one had left them all speechless. No one knew what to say to that at all. "... You do realize, this is the only place that is considered a safe haven for our kind, right?" Vyper asked.

"I don't care if it is! I've been protecting myself just fine since childhood. I don't want to be anywhere with any of you! And this time, I mean it! This is really just... way too much." Rain ran a hand through her hair, trying to see if she can make some sense with any that was just told to her. Unfortunately, it is what it is, and all the orangette could do was do as she did last time, and leave the room.

"Wha-?! Hey!" Redsbull called, only to be ignored by her as she continued on.

Rain then stopped by the door, her mind occupied by one thought due to this part of the reveal. Taking in a nice breath, she then said, "Those people... They called us 'monsters' for a reason... Maybe it was not just because of our powers." At that, she left the office.

Even though she had left, the atmosphere in the room still felt quite heavy. Heck, if anything, it was as though the pressure had increased after Rain had shouted all that stuff. Hurtful as it may be, it was also the truth, sad as it was...

"R-... Rain, wait!" Sherry spoke at last, chasing after the reincarnate.

As soon as she exited out the room, Vyper let out a sigh and rested her head on her hands.

"That insolent girl! Who does she think she is?!" Redsbull shouted, seeing red as she slammed a fist against the wall, accidentally forming a small crater on it.

"C-Coraline!" Lucy jumped, specifically from the slam.

The call to the realization of what her action had caused, and the coach calmed down ever so slightly. "Oh... Maybe she did have a point there..." she muttered.

Vyper paid no mind, as she leaned back against her chair and thought back to something. Something from the past that had led to where she was now. "'Monsters', huh..."