Title: The Doll House
Rating: T-for language, horrifying images, and sexual innuendos.
Summary: The SPR team has gotten a new case and with the creepiest thing imaginable. Dolls. Heads roll, dolls talk, and lives are put on the line once again in this horrific case. But in all that, the relationship between Naru and Mai is strengthened as they and the rest of the gang try tackling the mysterious work at hand.
Sequel to "Manor of the Slaughtered Guests"
"Mai!" Naru had shouted from his office once again.
I rolled my eyes and sighed. I had just come back from the very rare vacation Naru had given me from our last case, and I was already getting worked to the bone. Make tea, organize files, clean the office, make tea again. The constant circle of working at SPR.
"Coming!" I shouted, grabbing the tray and carrying it to Naru's office. I opened the door to find Naru's desk swamped with papers. "Anything else, Master?" I rolled my eyes once again as I set down the cup.
"You can go now, Mai," Naru replied, taking a sip of the tea I made. Usually he would come back at me with a smart comment, but he didn't. Something was completely wrong here.
I shrugged off the thought and walked out of the office without another word. That's when I saw Lin walking around putting folders away.
"Want some tea, Lin?" I asked with a smile. Probably no…
Lin looked at me. "Alright." My jaw dropped, surprising him. "What is it?"
"You never want my tea!" I said. I narrowed my eyes at him. "What's going on? You and Naru have been acting differently ever since I came back."
Lin glared at me. "If you didn't want to agree to your offer, why did you ask in the first place?" Lin then went back to his computer and began typing.
"That isn't what I meant!" I said, but it seems I already ruined everything. Lin wasn't going to speak to me now.
I sighed. Great… I thought. Maybe I'm just over thinking things…
"Morning!" I cheerful, yet familiar, voice came. I looked over to the door to see Monk and John coming in, smiling.
"How is everyone?" John asked.
"Same as ever," I replied. "What bring you two here?"
Monk hugged me and rubbed my head, laughing as I tried getting free. "Just came to see how our Mai is doing!"
"Will you three keep it down?!" Naru had shouted from his office. He was defiantly in a bad mood today.
"Geez…" Monk said. "What bit him in the-"
Before Monk could continue, the door had opened again.
"Excuse me," a woman said, walking in, " I'm sorry to barge in like this. My name is Melissa Yakuzawa. Is this the SPR office?"
I smiled at Melissa. She was tall with blonde hair, most likely a foreigner, and she wore a business suit.
"Yes," I replied, "please, come in and have a seat."
Melissa nodded and took a seat on the couch. I went to get Naru, telling him that Melissa Yakuzawa was here to see him, most likely about a case. Usually, Naru would take a few moments before talking to a client, but this time he didn't.
"What bring you here today?" Naru asked, getting straight to the point.
"Well," Melissa began, "I recently moved into my grandfather's old home, who recently passed away earlier this year." Naru nodded and urged her to go on. "Ever since me and my family moved in, we've been hearing strange noises…"
"What kind of noises?" Naru asked.
"Tapping on doors," Melissa said, playing with her hands, "scratching on the floors and ceilings, and occasionally we here laughter."
"Laughter?"
"Yes…" Melissa took a deep breath. "Sometimes it's small children, sometimes it's women… It's different every time. Doors even open on their own, the temperature drops in rooms even though the heat is up… Then there are the dolls themselves that are causing a disturbance…"
"D-Dolls?" I questioned.
Melissa nodded. "My grandfather was a doll maker… His home was filled with dolls that he made. We were planning on selling them once we settled in, but then all this started." Melissa took another breath. "I tried ignoring it, figuring it was just my imagination, but then I was attacked."
"Are you sure?" Naru asked.
Melissa nodded. "I was pushed down the stairs… No one was home but me, and I was positive I didn't trip… I was pushed from behind and I fell. My husband then came home and found me…"
"Is there anything else?" Naru asked, looking up from his notebook where he had been writing everything.
"There is one more thing," Melissa said, "the dolls seem to switch places every now and then…"
"Switch places?" Monk asked.
Melissa nodded. "One would be sitting on the banister in the hall one minute, then when I turn around again it'd be gone." Melissa's hands were shaking now. "I asked my daughters if they had anything to do with it and they told me they didn't. They hadn't touched the dolls since we moved in."
I was fully expecting Naru just to say something smart about it not being spirits, but instead his words shocked us all.
"We'll take the case."
I really couldn't believe what I heard.
Do hope the first chapter is good. =) I do look forward to writing this one, because it's been on my mind for quite sometime. Even if I do hate dolls. =P
Anyway, thank you for reading and reviews are welcomed as always.
