Prologue
I've gone through many nightmares. Case after case after case of nightmares.
It had been part of the job. I've been facing ghosts for more than a year- almost 2.
I've come close to dying more than nothing prepared me for this.
Not even Urado could compare from my own nightmares, nightmares I didn't even know existed.
MAI
"Bou-san!" I shouted. The client was pointing the gun at me.
"Give me back my daughter!" he shouted. "Give me back Mariko!" He waved the gun around. Lin blocked Naru as Bou-san did me and Ayako, both ready to pounce. The gun steadied again, pointing at Bou-san this time. I tried to move from behind him but he adjusted his stance. "Give me back Mariko!"
"Mariko's not here anymore," Naru said bluntly, gaining Kagami-san's attention. "She's gone." The gun shook at his words. "You sent her away to protect her," Naru quickly amended.
"Liar!" The gun rattled as Kagami-san's finger closed on the trigger. Lin gritted his teeth.
"Kagami-san!" I called without thinking. He was going to shoot at Naru. "Please!" I pleaded. "Mariko-chan is safe! We'd promised to protect her! Don't you remember? She's safe." The gun didn't leave Naru, but his attention was on me. That was all they needed. Lin closed in on Kagami-san, moving to disarm him, but he noticed it before Lin could grasp the gun and-
BANG!