2
Recap
"H-hospital? What about a hospi-" SLAM!
Mai was already out the door just as Ayako was asking. "Did she say Tongji? There's no Tongji Hospital here in the area." Ayako comments curiously.
"That's because Tongji Hospital is a hospital in China." spoke Lin from down the hall.
"What?!" Monk ponders.
4 Days Later
Mai had returned with no explanation as to where she went or disappeared to, and she refused to speak about the matter to anyone. In the same day Mai returned she visited Ayumi and informed Naru of how Minnie brings friends into the house.
"So what's the story on this house? Is it notorious around the neighborhood for being haunted?" Ayako speculates out loud only for Monk to respond with, "It's the doll we should be worried about not the house. You said the kid claimed that is was Minnie who brought over the invisible friends, didn't she?"
"Yeah..." Mai responds quietly looking down at feet in perhaps confusion or at most
Monk turns to look at Naru, "Can a spirit possess a doll like that and communicate through it?' Naru stands up from the chair, "It is a definite possibility. Do you wanna try and get rid of it?"Naru seems to Monk. Monk smirks, "I'd like nothing more than to take down that doll."
Time Skip To Monk Cleansing the Doll
Speaking the words required to cleanse the doll, Monk begins in a rather quick mantra-like pace. Sitting directly across from Monk was the doll, who seemed to stare death holes into him.
While Monk was attempting to exorcised the doll, Ayako remained by Ayumi's side while she slept. Praying, Mai clasps her hands together in a silent prayer, I hope this works she thought.
"AAHH!" a female voice screams. Quickly turning, Mai races out the door to the hall, seeing a body on the floor. Its Noriko. "Noriko! What happened?!" Mai panicks.
"M-my leg.." whimpers Noriko. Leaning down Monk looks at Noriko's ankle, "Your ankle is dislocated" states Monk in wonder. "It felt like something grabbed my leg.." Noriko answers in a pained tone.
A hand print! thought Mai, looking at Noriko's ankle.
Flash Forward to a Confrontation
"Where is Minnie?!" demands Ayumi looking up at Naru with glaring eyes.
"Minnie's with me for a little while. Now I need you to tell me all there is to know about your new friends okay?" Naru says in a matter-of-fact voice.
"Give her back to me!" Ayumi insists. "How long ago did Minnie start talking to you?" Naru continues.
"Give her back! You can't take my friend away from me!" Ayumi ignores Naru's questions.
Naru narrows his eyes while looking at Ayumi, "Listen Ayumi, your Aunt Noriko is hurt and Minnie did it to her. Now talk!" Naru raises his voice to the young girl, quite near frightening her.
Gasping, Ayumi starts crying, "I don't believe you, you just yelled at a little girl and made her cry!" Mai accuses in disbelief.
"I'm just doing my job Mai." Naru reasons.
"Well, you don't have to be so rude." Mai throws back, glaring with steely eyes at Naru.
"I'm sorry!" Ayumi cries, "I'm sorry," sniffle. "M-Minnie said I wasn't allowed to talk to anybody," sobbing. "Minnie said sh-she'd hurt me if I don't do as she says if I-I made any friends, I'm sorry...sobbing" Ayumi explains through her sniffling and sobbing against Mai's chest.
"When did Minnie start talking to you?" Naru asks.
"When we moved into this house. Whenever I would forget her promise and play with Aunt Nori. Minnie would break things and mess up the bedroom as punishment," Ayumi explains.
"That is so creepy," Mai whispers horrified to herself.
"And was it around this time that Minnie would start bringing friends around as well?" Naru interjects.
"Mhm," Ayumi nods, "Lots of 'em. Kids just like me. Minnie says that her friends are her servants," Ayumi ends the her answer ominously. A creepy feeling psses over Mai as Ayumi grows and falls into a sleepful fit.
Flash Forward
The Minnie doll sits in a chair as everyone stands around the doll, "Makes me wonder if the previous owner died of an illness and possessed the doll," Monk comments more as statement than question.
"That thing gives me the creeps. This is exactly why I hated dolls since I was child," Ayako comments shivering as she wraps her arms around herself.
"Minnie is not the one behind this," Naru states. "How can you say that after what we've seen?" Monk interjects.
"Because the doll is only being used as a vessel. There's a restless spirit that's possessing this house. Until we can find a way to discover its true identity Ayumi is in grave danger." Naru explains in as little detail as possible.
To be Continued