01 - Echo
Her ex-coworkers stated that she was just too unlucky, misfortune always looming over her head. Each case they had always put her in trouble for a reason or another. That wasn't even limited to just one problem per case. She'd always fall in a well or another. She'd get bookshelves drop on her. She'd even get herself possessed by some spirit.
However, even with those happenings, she considered herself to be lucky. No matter the danger she was in, they were always there in the nick of time to help her. They'd pull her up from danger, both literally and figuratively.
But maybe this time, her luck finally ran out.
After Naru – who was actually the Oliver Davis that Bou-san admired – along with Lin left, her makeshift family finally went to their own separate ways. Understandably, Lin and Naru were already back in England along the with the primary purpose of their stay, Eugene's body. Bou-san went back to being busy with his gigs, his band finally getting an excellent recommendation. Ayako went to finish her residency in their hospital to succeed her parents, making her unable to have time for other things. John went back to Australia, his expertise needed there with the sudden influx of paranormal incidents. Yasuhara went abroad to study in the prestigious Harvard, excelling as usual. And Masako went back to her usual business, being a spiritualist in Japan that cleansed spirits.
Mai, though friendly and outgoing, really had no friends left after she graduated high school. The rift between her friends, Keiko and Michiru, was too big to mend. It all started when she was still too busy hunting ghosts and falling in love with her boss. They finally parted ways with a simple goodbye on graduation day. She remembered smiling sadly at how everyone had someone to congratulate them while she went home, shoulders slumped in defeat and heart heavy with bittersweet feelings.
There was an old saying about living by the sword and dying by the sword. She thought she'd also die through the intervention of the paranormal when it became her life with the arrival of a particular narcissist. Because, even when they left, they didn't bring with them her abilities that continued to be there, sometimes driving her insane. She got used to seeing some wandering ghosts after a year, though she'd never get used to seeing the crazy ones.
So, why was she dying due to a speeding car?
One moment she was just crossing the empty road, next thing she knew she was flying before landing harshly onto the pavement. She couldn't even pinpoint where she was hit or where she was hurt the most, because every fiber of her being hurt. She couldn't even muster the strength to scream in pain.
The stars up in the sky looked a lot like spirit orbs, twinkling brightly as if they were welcoming her. It was like they were saying that she should join them, and she thought why not? Nothing was holding her to stay on the earthly plane. Contacts were lost, connections were severed, and only memories remained. Memories that always had her feeling a dull pain in her chest, remembering what was once hers.
"Oh my god."
She could barely hear the man's voice from the constant white noise ringing in her ears. He must be the driver of the car that hit her. And even though there was nothing left for her, she couldn't help but feel hope rising in her chest with the thought that maybe she could still be saved. The man evidently had no intentions to hit her and felt responsible. He'd call an ambulance even if they'd take a bit longer to arrive since this was a very rural area. The doctors would treat her, and when she's well enough, they'd hand out the medical charges she'd need to pay. But that'd be alright; she'll earn enough to pay it off.
The man appeared on her peripherals, repeatedly saying, "I'm sorry."
It's alright, she wanted to respond, just please call the ambulance.
"I'm so sorry."
Those were the last words she heard before she was hauled by the trembling man. The pain, which was starting to become dull, intensified. It felt like her body was being quartered, stoned and burnt at the same time. Her mouth opened to scream, but a cold hand covered it immediately.
Tears leaked out of her reddened eyes, some blown away by the night breeze. The man stiffly carried her westwards where she blurrily saw her grave.
The calm blue waters of the lake reflected the crescent moon and the stars surrounding it. She knew there were beautiful flowers beside it in full bloom as spring just came. It was the reason she went here, a place where her family once loved because it was peaceful, and it brought luck to them.
Or did it?
Now that she thought about it, her father died a month after they visited this place. Her mother died after a week. Coinciding with those facts, she'll surely die tonight. After all, her luck finally ran out like her parents' luck did. Should she have said goodbye, though?
Splash
On the other side of the earth, far into the west, a man was reading a book that had neat blocks of Kanji printed on its beige cover. As he flipped to the next page, a photo fell. He saw his face, relatively younger, as he slightly smiled looking downwards as he sipped on his cup of tea.
He remembered that was when a certain young brunette decided to change his usual earl grey tea to a green tea with a hint of something fruity. She called it a silver moon tea, if he remembered correctly. It was new, refreshing, even. He couldn't help but think of the days when everything felt right, making him smile.
His fingers reached to pick it up.
-PauleenAnne
