Chapter 2: Blinded by a Dream (this title was suggested by Hana Banana aka Deathcarnation)

The bell attached to the door jingled smoothly as a young man entered the office but the bell went unheard by Mai who was fast asleep on her desk using her arms as a pillow while drooling over her homework. The man stared at the assistant unsurely. What was he supposed to do now? Did he just go to knock the president's door or should he wake to girl up to announce him?

He dithered hesitantly by the closed door wondering if he should come back later before remembering he couldn't. He had a meeting with his higher ups as soon as he returned. Not wanting to be rude he decided on the latter decision and moved towards the girl.

***

She floated peacefully in the darkness and breathed a sigh of relief. For once it was a normal dream where she could relax or so she thought.

Her surroundings changed suddenly and she was in a different kind of darkness. The black tunnel was endless and the smell of blood reached her nose causing her to retch in front of her at the intensity surrounding her.

"Mai," a reassuring hand rested on her shoulder as she stood up, "Are you ok?"

"Nar… Gene! Where am I?" she gestured around her at the black walls and the soot covering her feet which she could barely see through the gloom.

"You need to run," Gene whispered to her as he grabbed her hand and pilled her down the dark tunnel. Mai didn't know what frightened her more, the ever continuing darkness as they travelled in the unknown or the fact that Gene's face didn't just hold worry for her. He was terrified!

"Gene, what's going on?" she asked slightly panicked and bewildered as she heard stones crunch underneath her feet as Gene pulled her along faster than she would have been able to run by herself. Her blood pounded in her ears as her breathing increased.

"He's coming…" ominous words before his voice was cut off as a familiar noise blocked her ears. The darkness was lit up by a strong light behind but Mai couldn't look back properly with Gene pulling her even faster as the noise blocked out everything else. Mai stared at the boy in front of her whom she trusted completely with her life until she felt her hand leave his as she tripped and fell and in slow motion as she fell she saw Gene turn around to glance back at her, alarm and shock passing over his eyes.

His hands reached out to her but as she landed all she could hear was the rumbling in her ears and the sound of maniacal laughter. She turned to see behind her but the bright light blinded her and even her own scream was blocked from her ears as darkness yet again overtook her, pulling her into its arm, not wanting to let go.

***

"Miss are you alright?" a panicked voice came from her side as she bolted up from her desk and glanced around her wildly before she began screaming and struggling against his hand on her shoulder.

"Mai?" the door from the main office opened, "Step away from my assistant," a cold voice came from the direction of Naru's office and Mai felt her shoulder released before she calmed down slightly enough to stop screaming. Even with Naru in the room her fear was not totally banished and she whimpered instead as she hugged herself.

"Mai what's wrong?" Naru asked bluntly and straight to the point like he usually did when he wanted information, and wanted it now. He was used to getting his own way!

He felt a faint annoyance when she wouldn't look him in the face. Her eyes whirled around the room, always shifting and never settling on one place for too long.

"Mai?" he placed his hands on her shoulders and gave her a gentle shake before releasing her as she collapsed back into her chair when she had been let go. Her lower lip wobbled as she tried to restrain the tears flowing from her eyes.

"Mai! Naru! What's up?" the cheerful voice bounced into the room as Bou-san entered with Ayako right behind him at the same time that Mai wept put, "I can't see!" her voice shook as fear and confusion set in.

Ayako pushed Bou-san out of her way without thinking and he ended up banging his head against the door while Mai sobbed causing Naru to take a step back away from the hysterical teenager.

To Ayako, Mai was if not like a daughter then a little sister and so she felt no hesitation in grabbing her boss and pulling him by the neck away from Mai while pushing aside the scared client so she could get to the girl.


kinda short compared to what I usually write but aw well. I still have to type up two chapters for two stories before I go to bed so I'm sure you guys can forgive me for how hastily written it was. Pretty plz. anyway please r&r and thanks to:

dutchangel, flamegirl, hana (who should have been signed in to leave a review but I'll let that go), Tbonechick (hmm, t bone steak, now I'm hungry so thanks alot lol), fallenraindrops and heavenslilangel

for being the first people to review the last chapter :) and this chapter was dedicated to you guys even though it was kinda rushed and not that great but I'll make the next chapter longer. Promise.