A/N: This is my first Ghost Hunt fanfic so be a little gentle. Sorry if there's OC-ness I tried my best! For now I'm gonna set this as T but might change it to M later.

Summary: It's been fours years since Naru and Lin left for England and Mai's life hasn't gotten much better. Then again how much better could things possibly be when no matter how hard she tries the paranormal just doesn't seem to want to leave Mai alone? Despite still having Monk and the others around Mai can feel as though something is lurking just around the corner. Upon Naru and Lin's surprised return they find that things are not as they left them. People change and so do their lives but just how much has changed in four years? Things may seem normal on the surface but underneath things are worse than they could imagine. How will this affect the future? And the team?

Disclaimer: sadly I don't own Ghost Hunt or the characters, just the plot but enjoy anyways!

Chapter 1

Wednesday Night December 23rd

Cold. The bitter cold pain nipped at her like a bug. It started in the chest, like a festering beneath the skin and grew into a numbing ache. Another year was going, leaving her behind again. All alone. Of course she didn't let anybody know, it wasn't in her nature to pout over what she didn't have. Instead she thanked what she did have. Warm clothes to wear, food to eat, a home to which she returned to each night, and a loving companion to welcome her home even if he did hog all the pillows. Despite what she had in life, however, Mai couldn't shake the unmistakable feeling of being completely and utterly alone. It was like she was missing something. Some huge part of her that wasn't there like it was suppose to. Ever since she was little Mai had always felt more alone than anything. Though she mad the most of her life that feeling never left. She came close to discovering several times only to have it slip through her fingers. Such was the story of her life.

Mai sighed as she walked through the falling snow the size of small, feather light pebbles. Few cars drove by, the roads being too dangerous with the thin sheet of ice. She hated making herself depressed, especially when it was snowing. Something so white and pure should not be seen through depressed and miserable eyes. Shaking her head Mai slapped her cheeks with her cold hands, wincing at her own self-inflicted pain as she was determined to shake the negative thoughts from her mind. If there was one thing she learned from Naru it was that spirits, particularly bad ones, were attracted to negative energy. Being a psychic herself Mai was only making herself more vulnerable by emitting such negative energy.

"Get a hold of yourself Mai!" she scolded herself aloud, the icy cold breath of winter whipping her hair around her face. It was then that she noticed how utterly alone she was, walking home late at night with her thick coat pulled around her tightly. The only source of light she had was the street lamps which light her entire path home.

Suddenly feeling colder Mai tightened her coat around her, lifting her scarf higher to cover her mouth and nose as she increased her pace a little. The streets were eerily silent even for it being ten o'clock at night. Normally there a few late night walkers or a homeless seeking shelter. Tonight there was no one. Not a single living person around her as she stepped off the curb and cut through the park. Like the streets there was no sign of human life anywhere which caused Mai to unconsciously increase her pace once more.

Not even half way home Mai felt eyes on her back as though someone was watching her intently, sending shivers down her spine. It was like she had suddenly caught the eyes some unknown predator who's territory she had unknowingly wandered into. Quiet as she tried the eyes never one let off. It was as if whatever those eyes were attached to were never going to look away from her, a feeling she was increasingly becoming familiar with.

Ever since Naru left for England something changed. Mai became immediately aware of the fact that not only was she changing but something around her were changing as well, and not necessarily for the best. It was an unsettling thing and it made the brunette move swiftly through the winter snow as white fluffs clung to her hair and coat. Even after exiting the park the eyes never left her. Instead it felt as though they were getting closer which in turn made Mai walk faster. As fast as she was going though she was getting nowhere fast. Something told her that it wasn't going to be that easy, not to mention her house was still another mile or so.

Before her mind could catch up with what she was doing Mai's feet took her on a detour. Rounding the corner of a dark pet shop Mai ran as fast as she could, not stopping to look back or catch her breath until she had managed to make it up familiar steps as she fumbled with her keys in a hurry to unlock the door. As soon as she felt the lock click and the door give way the brunette stumbled in to the dark dusty building, fumbling once again to lock the door behind her before pressing her back against the door as she struggled to get enough oxygen.

Without realizing it she had run all the way to the old SPR building. Why she had gone there when she could have ran an extra half mile to Ayako's house she could understand but the little voice inside that compelled her to run here was screaming at her. Screaming words that Mai couldn't understand but knew that she needed to. Only they wouldn't form words and the harder she tried to listen the weaker they got. Until one word finally registered but by that time it was too late. Her back went rigid and everything froze. Whoever, or whatever, had been following her was standing just outside of the door. She could feel it, those eyes staring at her through the door as if there was nothing separating them. It shook her to her core, Mai's thin body trembling against the door. As sure as she could feel the eyes Mai could feel a dark shadow looming behind her. There was no ignoring it as her chest felt constricted, lungs fighting to get oxygen in her body.

Through the ringing in her ears Mai could hear the screaming again, telling her to move, to hide quickly which was easier said than actually done. Despite that Mai struggled past the tightening of her chest and the constricting of her lungs to force her body to move. She didn't get very far, however, but managed to drag herself down the hall and practically crawl through the last door. Who's office it used to be Mai couldn't remember, the voice inside her was still screaming at her to hide quickly. But there was nowhere to hide. There was no desk, no couch, no nothing.

Closet. The thought ran through Mai's mind as she crawled just a few feet away from the door to the side, the closet already wide open as if it alone had called her.

Feeling the creeping of darkness around the edges of her vision Mai made it into the closet, shutting the door quietly and curling up on the ground behind a box that had been left behind. Go away. Mai pleaded silent, squeezing her eyes tightly as she clutched her ever tightening chest. Like before she could feel that dark shadow looming behind the door of the office. She supposed she should be glad it wasn't in front of the closet door but the closer the shadowy aura got the tighter Mai's chest squeezed and the harder it became to breathe. It was a wonder she was still conscious at all.

Leave me alone! Mai pleaded again as her breathing turned short and erratic. Could she actually breathe she might have been hyperventilating as the darkness crept closer. She wished she wasn't alone. She wished she knew why it felt like there a shadow constantly looming over her, but of course no matter how much she wished for it the answers would not come to her. Instead she was left alone. Alone and scared as her world was quickly being consumed by the darkness, giving one last silent plea. GO AWAY! Mai screamed through her mind, pushing with all her inner strength to make the shadow disappear before her chest squeezed once more and she was lost. Everything went black as Mai's body slumped to the ground, hidden completely by the box in the closet.

sorry the first chapter is short I kind of ran out of steam :P but I'll be sure to make the second chapter longer, hopefully ^ ^' anyways R&R! Please and thank you!