Hello everyone, M here. This story is written by me and my friend over text, so sorry if some parts don't match up. First chapter, hope you enjoy.
-Unedited-
I wake up to the bright sun in my face, morning already. My back and neck ached slightly for some reason, and as I got up I found out why. I had fallen asleep on my works couch. I let out a sigh and stretched, the sound of popping bones filled my ears.
"Seems like someone finally got up." Some said in a slightly amused tone crossed from me, it was from none other than Naru the narcissist.
My eyes widen slightly, and the amused look in his dark indigo eyes.
"Uh... Ya... I must have dozed off." I stutter, for a moment I swear I see the corner of his lips twitch upward, but before I can really tell it's gone. Slowly I stand, my bones popping slightly.
"Well since you're up now you can make us some tea." Naru said as he started typing away at his computer again. Well I had a great mood until he ruined it just now, with his order of tea. I would chew him out, but I was thirsty also and since I have to make tea I might as well make it for everyone. I take out a kettle and fill it with water, turning in the stove I put it on and add some tea leaves in it. From where I stood I heard the sound of the door opening, and the familiar voice of Houshou Takigawa or Monk as I call him. I slowly grab the kettle of now boiling hot tea.
"Hello Mai." Monk says from by the computer where Naru typed.
"Hey Monk, would you like some tea?" I ask him as I got cups out from the shelf.
Monk nodded his head, "Yes, thank you Mai." He said and then started talking to Naru. I came out with a cup for all four of us, Monk, Naru, Lin and I. "So what you call me in for Naru? Another case?"
Another case? When did we get a new job request? Was it while I was asleep? Naru nodded slightly. How can I miss all this in a simple nap!?
"Where?" I ask, still slightly angered by the thought of missing somthing so important.
Naru let out a sigh and began to explain, "Someone called this morning about a job. Many teenagers have gone in the house and either didn't come back or came back not acting like themselves, presumably possessed..."
With that Ayako Matsuzaki walked in just as loud and confident as ever.
"Perhaps an-" She began as soon as she walked in, as though she already knew all the details of the case.
"Earth Spirit." Monk finished letting out small laughs. I chuckle, Ayako's eyes squint as she glares angrily.
"We are going to check out the house soon." Naru says calmly all hints if the amusement I saw, gone. His face looked emotionless yet again.
Naru took out a picture of a house, it looked small like it only had two or three rooms, everyone stared at the photo and waiting for Naru to continue. "Although it looks small there is many rooms below the house that not many go down to see, there are very little lights down there so we will be bringing are own."
A small unusual chill runs down my back.
"What background information do we have?" Monk asks.
"Well, we only know that many teenagers have gone in and only few have come from its depths. Though when they come out, they are possed, by an rather awful spirit. " He looks around, making brief eye contact. "And those whom have been possed soon die, in rather unfortunate ways." He finishes. I felt shivers go through me. "Because of this going in will be a danger to all of us, but these spirits need to be exorcised before more happens. I will understand if you guys do not want to join."
I shake my head, I wasn't going to miss this. If Naru was brave enough, then so was I.
"I'm in." I say. Something breifly flashes inside his deep indigo eyes. But not long enough for me to decipher what it was.
"As am I." Monk states, slowly everyone agrees.
Soon everyone in the group who arrived later on was informed of everything and they were all for it as well. By late afternoon we started to pack up all the equipment and start the drive there. It was about 20-30 miles from the nearest town and was in an open field
I sat in the back of the car behind Lin. Naru was looking determinedly at the picture of the house, his eye brows furrowing. I caught myself staring and instantly a blush warmed my cheeks. I look away hopeing nobody noticed, but then heard a soft chuckle from Ayako, she didn't speak, but I could tell from the look in her eyes she saw me. I gave her a sour look but that made her hold in an even begged laugh. I let out a sigh and stared out the window as the trees went by. John and Monk were in a separate car because we didn't have enough room, with only five seats they filled fast with 3 girls and two boys.
"We're almost there." Naru said breaking the silence, Masako start to not look very good, and I myself wasn't the best.
My insides a felt like ice. A pale took over my skin, I take a soft breath. We were close.
"Are you all right?" I hear Naru ask, I await Masako's answer, but soon find his eyes trained on me. I nearly jump in shock. But nod my head.
"I'll be alright." I answer, he looks at me for a second longer than turns back, pointing something out to Lin. They seem to have a conversation about what ever it is, while I start feeling... Sleepy. My eyes slowly close and I awake inside my dream greeted by none other then the smiling Naru, also known as his twin Eugene.
But something chilled me about the scenery. I looked around and was greeted with walls, walls with what appeared to be... Oh god.. Blood stains... I want to scream, my body freezes as the room grows cold. I look over a Eugene, he looks as though he is trying to say something, but can't.
"Eugene!" I yell, trying to move, shock rushes through me, and that's when the scream lit the air. It's bloodcurdling and full of death. A teenage girl was screaming her head off, thrashing around like she was trying to get something off her. But there wasn't anything unusual in her... My eyes go wide with fear as she starts tearing at her skin screaming and crying. That's when her body goes limp. Her scream cut off. I clamp a hand over my mouth in shock, slowly her back begins to bend, and crack, and then a new demonic scream escapes her lips. Her eyes were now rolled back in her skull. Blood dripped from her eyes sockets and mouth, her skin a unmissable grey. I try to scream but can't, my body is ice. I can't tear my gaze from the girl. I feel my vision blur from tears from watching. She started snapped her back into place again but nothing else changed, she remained just as scary, and just as seemingly real. "No..." My voice finally came quietly. "No!" I said more boldly when she started coming towards me. I let out my scream until I shaken awake by Naru. I felt sick to my stomach, waves of nausea coming over me. I moan and open my eyes shaking.
"Mai? Did you have another dream?" He asks, his eyes had an unusual worry within them. My bottem lip begins to quiver, I feel the sob build in my throat. I bite my lip to conceal it, but my breath catches in my throat causing me to exhale and break down in sobs. I jump in his arm and cried into his chest. He held me close as I did, not caring for the others that had surrounded us. "It was another dream." I start to say as I calmed down. "There was a girl teenager, she was screaming in pain, until she started ripping at her skin and hair..." I shivered. "She broke her back and her eyes lolled back into her head, blood coming from them." I burst out in a new set of tears. "She... She then came towards me, I think she was going to kill me..." I sob again, Naru's arms felt warm against my cold body. I couldn't help but feel slight butterflies as I try to stop sobbing. Reluctantly I pull away, mumbling a thanks and drying my eyes. Masako stood pale and looking weak.
"That girl is close." Masako said weakly her eyes wide. " she's angry and is out for blood, but she's not the only one. Many more, different ages are everywhere near this house." She covered her mouth looking sick and I forgot my tears to comfort her, I guess I'm the only one who would at least know a little on how she feels. I felt ice cold once again. Parylized, their defiantly many angered spirits here. The question is, why are they trapped and what is making them out for blood. I shiver. Naru looked at the house,
"It would be a good idea to not be alone, always have a partner, wherever you go." He says, as Monk and John drive up. Lin started getting the equipment out, I sat and comfort Masako, or more so we comforted each other. Monk and John got filled in on what all happen before they arrived.
"If that happening, I'm almost tempted to try and bunk everyone together instead of girls and boys. Nothing wrong just for safety." Monk said with an innocent smile.
"What is someone scared? Awe" Ayako teased.
"After what happened to Mai and the sprits those two sense, yes I really am." Monk said his smile disappearing. Ayako stayed quiet after that.
I expected Naru to object, for we had never done something like that before, but to my suprise he says, "Yes that would be a safer idea, we all find the safest room in the house and bunk together." A sudden question pops within my head,
"Wait Naru, where's the client that gave us the case." I ask, still sitting close to Masako.
"He was a police officer that wanted us to investigate before the town loses anyone else." Naru said, "So he's back at the town waiting for it to be safe again." The word coward popped in my head, but then again I would have done the same exact same thing. "Alright, let's set up all the equipment, quickly. Before it gets dark." Naru says. But he turns to me as well as Masako, "You two go with Ayako, and try to find a good room that will fit us all, and is near somewhere we can set the equipment up at." I can't help but feel slightly angered. He believes I'm too weak to carry the equipment. Sometimes he can be such a jerk. Although right now a good place to sleep right now is the most important. Naru left to go help the guys and we girls went into the house only to have me and Masako feel sick to our stomachs.
"What's wrong you two?" Ayako asked looking worried.
"The sprits are really strong, there roaming around all around beneath the house." Masako said her hand and kimono covering half her face.
I felt chills run through me at the mention of that, spirits roaming below where I'll be sleeping. "Let's hurry and find a room." I said in a hurried voice. I felt as though the spirits ran through the walls, as well as under my feet.
We looked in every room on the top floor before we reluctiontly had to go down the first set of stairs. The air was degrees cooler down there which frightened me. The first rooms door looked secure and like a thick wood, but instantly as I opened the door I knew I had been there, in my subconscious. It was the room the girl had been in. I wanted to shriek. My stomach rolled, I wanted to gag from the fear.
"Oh no. Oh no..." I say shaking my head and backing up. Masako looked extremely pale, as she suddenly collapsed, into Ayako's arms. Ayako screamed, and it echoed.
"Naru! Lin! John! Monk!" She then yelled, I felt frozen, someone grabbed me, it's icy fingers gripping my shoulder. I took a shaky breath.
"Ayako. Someone's touching me." My eyes were closed, I wanted to shriek so badly, the fingers gripped harder, my body began to shake. They all ran in shouting, asking what was wrong. I opened my eyes to looking over to my shoulder. The ghostly glowing hand was there and tightening. My eyes went wide and my body shook even more. I wished to scream but my voice was all but a whisper, "Help..."
Monk began muttering intangible words, and the feeling of the hand was gone. I shivered than rain out of the room, my face in my icy cold hands.
"Mai what is it?" John asks as the group walks into the hallway.
"The...the room... It was in my vision... That's where the girl was..." I shudder.