Do "monsters" live in caves?

Do they live in the dark? 

Or do they live in cages?

No, they'll live among us

Kato jolted awake with a gasp, his heart racing from a nightmare where his mother transformed into a shadow monster. He glanced around, realizing he was on the rooftop of an unfinished building, wearing a white and black hoodie that wasn’t his. 

Above him, a masked man and a girl waited.

Masked guy: (to Kato) That’s my hoodie. I’m letting you borrow it since your clothes were torn. You better return it after this. 

Note: Kato never gave it back

Masked girl: (with a hint of relief) I’m honestly surprised you survived that attack from Jason. Can’t have you dying before our date, Kato. 

Kato:  (confused) Date? Who are you? How do you know my name?

Masked Girl: ((sighs and removes her mask)

Masked guy: (removes his mask)

Kato’s eyes widened as the girl revealed herself to be Mira Smith, the girl he was supposed to go on a date with. The masked man was someone he didn’t recognize, with navy blue hair.

Mira: Hey Kato, it’s me. (gestures to the other man) And this is Isaiah. We’re the ones who saved you.

Kato: (shocked) Mira? You're a shadow???

Mira: (sighs)  (sighs) Yeah, I am. I know it’s a lot to process, but—

Kato: (interrupting) So first I get turned into a shadow, kidnapped by a psychotic group, and now the girl I asked out on a date is a shadow? And my mom is in trouble? Yeah, it’s a lot to take in. I don’t even know what to say.

Isaiah: A “thank you” would be a good start.

Mira: Look, Kato, I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you. I couldn’t risk being found out.

Kato: (confused and angry) If you’re a shadow, does that mean you were planning to turn me and my mom into shadows all along? Is that why we became friends?

Mira: What? No, it’s not like that at all!

Isaiah: (irritated) 

Kato: How can I believe that? All this happened right after I asked you out. Is that a coincidence or—

Mira: Kato........

Isaiah: (angrily grabs Kato by the shirt and punches him) 

Mira: Isaiah!!! What are you- 

Isaiah: (to Kato) Do you have any idea how dangerous it was for us to save you with a "Level 1 Hunter" right there? We could’ve let you die. But Mira didn’t want to leave you in their hands, and here you are accusing her of being behind your shadowfication? Are you out of your mind?!

Mira: Isaiah, Please stop.

Isaiah: (ignoring her) You’re judging us because the world sees Shadows as monsters. We’re responsible for ruining your life? That all we do is cause destruction and pain? You act like we’re the source of all the world’s problems. Sure, some shadows are bad, but do you really think all of us are evil while you’re the saints?

Kato saw and heard the pain & anger in his voice and immediately, his mind flashed back to something his mother had once said…..

************************************************

Flashback to a few years ago

Kato, aged 14, was watching the news about Shadows being captured by the HFA. His mother, Korra, was preparing dinner.

Kato: (to himself) Damn it. It’s these shadows again.

Korra:  (noticing Kato) Come on, dinner’s ready.

Kato: (sitting down) Mom, what do you think about shadows?

Korra: Huh? Why are you asking me that? 

Kato: Well you never ever talk about them and you always have this sad look in your eyes when anyone refers to them as monsters. 

Korra: (sighs) Yes I believe they're a different race of beings but I won't refer to them as "monsters". 

Kato: Huh? Why????

Korra: It's going to sound strange to you Kato, but I sometimes feel bad for the shadows because I don't believe that all of them are as bad as the world makes them. 

Kato: (to himself) Feel bad for them?

Korra: (holds her head and laughs) I bet you probably think that your mother is crazy now.

Kato: What? Of Course not. I would never think that. But I do think it's weird that you feel bad for beings who always kill us and made shadow monsters who do the same. But why mom? What made you have this this way?

Korra: I once met a shadow who showed no intention of harming anyone. It made me think that not all shadows are as bad as people say. I believe we might be the ones who’ve pushed them to become what they are today.

**************************************************

Isaiah’s words echoed the pain Kato’s mother had expressed.

Isaiah: We’re not all evil. If we were, why would we risk our lives to save you? (Lets go of Kato) 

Kato: (guilt-ridden) I’m so sorry, Mira. I accused you without knowing the whole story. It’s just…

Suddenly, a new figure appeared—Ervin Smith, Mira’s father, who had been hidden until now.

Ervin: (cheerfully) What a dramatic scene. I’m quite moved..

Kato: (confused) Who are you?

Isaiah: You're awfully late Mr Ervin.

Mira: Dad, were you here the whole time?

Ervin: (laughs) Yep, practicing stealth. Worked perfectly. HA HA HA!!!!!!

Mira and Isaiah: (annoyed) AT LEAST ACT LIKE A CLAN HEAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kato: (shocked and speaks to himself) Dad??!! That's her Dad??!

Ervin approaches Kato and puts his left hand across Kato's shoulder. 

Ervin: (to Kato) Sorry about Isaiah. He’s passionate about fighting the stereotype that all shadows are evil. He changed because—

Isaiah: HEYYY!!! Don't go revealing stuff about me! Damn it!

Ervin: (laughs) 

Kato: (to Ervin) Umm..... Mister?

Ervin: (cartoonish face) Ervin. Call me Ervin. Mira's super awesome dad. 

Mira: (cartoonish face) No you're not. 

Kato: Um Mr Ervin, it's my fault. I said things without actually thanking them for saving me. But I don't really get what's been going on for the past two days. 

Ervin: (sighs) Well given your position in all this you'd obviously want to know why and how you survived the shadowfication process. Guess I'll sum it up for you. Brace yourself.

Kato: (to himself) Here it comes.

Ervin: The group Mira and Isaiah saved you from is called the Kaimi Daja. They’ve been behind the recent shadowfications. They were looking for a human who could survive the process, and that’s you.

Kato: But why was I able to survive the shadowfication process?

Ervin: There's a lot you need to know about. I get it but we have to get back to HQ to get more insight on your situation.

Isaiah: (to Ervin) You're sure we can tell him everything just like that?

Ervin: But of course. He's coming with us after all.

Isaiah: Right

Kato: (anxiously) I'm sorry but I have to ask. What happened to my mother? Do you know if she's still alive?? 

Isaiah, Mira and Ervin's faces grew down after Kato asked that question and Kato sensed that something else was wrong.

Ervin: ( (sighs) She’s alive, but her condition is critical.

Kato: I  need to see her! 

Ervin: I can't let you see her right now. 

Kato: Huh?! Why? Why can't I see my mother??

Ervin brings out his phone and shows Kato the news which went live an hour ago. 

The media had announced that Kato Hamura was wanted for having a hand in the multiple shadowfication incident that had occurred over the last few months and they also announced that he tried to turn his own mother into a shadow and she was now in a coma in the Benville Central hospital and her survival chances are very very low. 

Kato:  (devastated) My mom is going to die? Why is this happening? This doesn't make any sense! If anything I'm the victim here!! I'm the one who was kidnapped and now I'm a country wide threat????

Isaiah: The world sees shadows as evil, and now that you’re one, you’re being judged the same way.

Kato: (broken) How did it come to this?

Ervin: (looks at Kato and sighs)

Mira: Dad? What's wrong?

Ervin: (to Mira) Nothing. (he then proceeds to tap Kato on his shoulder) You were living a normal life but somehow you were able to survive the shadowfication process and now the people responsible for turning your life upside down are going to keep coming after you. So what are you going to do about it?? 

Kato: (reminiscing about his kidnapping and his mother’s fate) 

Ervin: It's alright if you can't answer now. You need time to think it over and come up with a reasonable response. What's your name?

Kato: Ummm....Kato Hamura.

Ervin: Kato Hamura, until you decide your next move, I’ll take you in. (to Mira and Isaiah) We’ll stay at another house tonight and head to the estate in the morning. Good work, both of you. 

They all headed to the “other house” to rest before the next steps in the morning.