-unedited-
It had been a few months since our last case. Both me and John recovered fully and we're acting like our weird selves. We found out later that day that the spirits had tried to kill us even though they were no longer in our bodies, and that was the reason for the internal bleeding. Today was close to Halloween so spirits keep acting up. We've gotten many calls but Naru keep declining them, like he's waiting.
He's been acting strange around me. It's been forever since we've actually spoke. I don't understand what brought on him being so cold to me, but even before that recent case, he spoke more to me than now.
I still attempt to bring on conversations whenever I can, but he refuses to speak to me more than a few words.
"Naru, why are you turning down all the cases?" I ask puzzled as I see him turn down yet another potential case.
He gives a shrug and walks away. I have come to the conclusion that I was imagining him having feelings for me. I mean he barley egnoeges me, let alone be romantic. I sat down with some tea in my hands, watching the steam rise from it. The one who had us go in the monster case not long ago, I don't recall her name. But why should I care. She came in today and talked with Naru.
I made her and Naru both cups of tea, before I was asked to do so. My annoyance with Naru was clear, I wanted to chew him out for being a jerk. But not after he accepted the case. I was simply glad he finally let us work on a case on ol' hallows-eve.
"What kind of case is this Naru?" Monk asks. The lady had left over an half an hour ago, and the group gathered.
"It a case about a spirit that goes around killing peoples kids." Naru said looking at his computer. "It sees the parents first before it goes and finds their kids. We think it's trying to get revenge or it's searching for something." I was sitting in the kitchen reading a school book, or well I made it look like I was while I listened.
"So the spirit targets children. But it seems odd that it visits the parents as well." John says looking puzzled. "Does it harm the parents in anyway?" He asks,
"Not physically. But for sure mentally."Naru says,
"Well when do we leave?" Ayako asks, standing close to Masako, who hasn't spoken a word.
"We leave tonight." Naru says.
But as I thought of the case, the information doesn't add up. Reluctiontly I stand up, walking into the room.
"Wait Naru, how come the spirit keeps killing if people know not to go to the sight where the attacks take place?" I ask my voice squeaking softly.
"No one tells about the deaths. The police cover it up like it will go away and that it's not attached to the house." Naru said.
"It makes since." Monk said, "the police don't want the people to panic and abandon the house because of it." He pointed out. It's true, the city would lose money that way
"Then how does the lady know about the incidents?" I ask, my confidence building alittle. Naru doesn't look at me as he answers.
"Because she lost two children in that house." I gasp, how awful that must be. Knowing you lost children and not being able to speak of what really happened.
I stayed quiet after that. Everyone was quiet as was well. I left to get back to my book for know while they planned for the trip. Apparently there was a family there now with three kids. All fairly young.
"Which means we don't have much time." Monk says, beginning to pack up the equipment.
"Which is why we must leave tonight." Naru says quietly. Inside worry flickers in my chest. If we fail, those children won't make it.
I left the office to go to my apartment to get ready for the case. I just wish Naru wasn't being a jerk at the moment so that we could talk about what all happened last time. But he just has to ignore me while.. While I hurt some. Gene didn't know what to tell me about what is going, he didn't know what was going through his twins head. To bad. I will ask Gene about this spirit though when I get a dream.
As soon as I was packed and ready I headed back to the office, where we would pack up and leave. I was the only one currently there, other than Naru.
He didn't speak as he loaded the equipment. Inside my head I sent him telepathic messages begging for him to say something, anything.
To explain what had taken place during our last case. But all I received was silence.
I finally I grabbed his hand to keep him from walking away while I talk. I felt angry and sad, "listen Naru I know I'm not like thee others and don't have much to like about, but after what happened you can't just leave me like this." I felt some tears. "You may not like me, but I like you. You ignoring me after that is killing me... Please Naru, talk to me."
At first he wouldn't make eye contact. But slowly his indigo eyes slid to my brown eyed gaze. He sighed, and shook his head, not letting go of my hand.
"I'm sorry, Mai. I just..." He looked away, "Since I saw how close to death you were, and how I almost lost you. I had to hide my feelings." I look up at him, tears still in my eyes. "I couldn't bear the thought..." He shook his head, his voice faltering.
I blinked to get some tears out of my eyes. I hugged him tight, his eyes widened in surprise. "Don't hide your feelings because of that." I said, "even if I was close to death and you could have gotten hurt. It hurts more to hide feelings rather then showing them."I said some more tears came as I continued. "I mean my parents are both dead, but I don't his the love I had for them."
"I know. But that's something I know how to do. It's not often I express my feelings." He says I almost laugh, but he was confessing. So I stifled the uprising chuckle
. He kissed my cheek softly. "I'm sorry." He murmured. As a car drives up, we increase the distance between us, our fingers no longer intertwined.
I wish they were, but we weren't going to be like that in front of anyone. I could help but smile as everyone else of the group got out of the car.
"I've told you, us girls will get the better room compared to you guys." Ayako said, talking to Monk.
"Yeah right, we'll see." Monk said with a huff
"We deserve the better room." Ayako says, Masako smiles softly next to her.
"You do not, deserve the better room, we do. We carry the equipment." Monk states.
"Are you all ready?" Naru says, butting in, his voice a little more emotion filled than normal.
"Yes. John will meet us there." Monk says, clearly not over the other conversation.
Naru nodded and went and got Lin, leaving my with the others. Ayako gave me a grin, "so you two make up yet." She asked giving me a wink.
"I-I don't know what your talking about..." I said heat rising from my face and looked down to the ground
Masako looked angered at the thought. "There was nothing to mad at eachother for..." I say my voice trailing. Ayako rolls her eyes but doesn't persist.
We all than piled in the car except for Monk, he drove sperately. The car was silent. Nobody spoke, even the radio lacked sound.
I decided to take a nap at this time. Welcoming the dream. Some spirit come through the door at lightning speed. It grinned evilly. The clawed hands lifted and swiped at my face.
I felt it. Pain, I couldn't even begin to imagine burned my cheek. I gasp clutching my face, a thick warm, gooey liquid covered my fingers. I want to scream. I look up at the spirit, now able to see it. It was odd.
It looked human yet like a dog at the same time. It growled a little before tearing at me again. Pain was all I thought about at that moment when it ran and a couple ran in
Panic clear in there tear-filed eyes. I began to feel dizzy. Blood was gushing from my cheek, as the creature struck again, this time in my abdomen. The pain was almost unbearable. I couldn't bring myself to look up at it. So much pain filled me in waves.
Their voice were mumbled as they rushed over to me. They were both crying eyes out. The pain started to numb and my eyes closed
A cry of outrage and sorrow escaped the woman's agape mouth. I try to pry my eyes open, but I'm spinning, pain washing over me. Suddenly it's all gone, and my eyes are wide open. I'm gasping for breath, pain still coming over me. I feel my cheek and my heart drops I feel a scar.
I look around to see everyone else, they didn't seem to notice. I rubbed on the scar, 'why is it there?' I asked myself, it was just a dream. If there's a scar there then there must be one on my abdomen
I lift my shirt reveling my abdomen. My eyes widen, there's a gash, that's still oozing blood. I swallow hard, slowly lowering my shirt. My breaths were fast and panicked. That dream was more vivid than I could imagine. I look over to see Masako looking at me.
"What happened?" She asks softly.
"I just had a dream that's all." I whispered. I put pressure on the wound and numbed out the pain. I wasn't going to worry anyone this time around.
"But you got hurt." Masako says.
"I'm fine." I say hinting for her to drop it.
"Did somthing harm you in the dream?" She says ignoring me. I'm tempted to lie, but that's when Ayako takes notice.
"What happened to your cheek?" She says loudly, Naru instantly turns around. I open my mouth not sure what to say. A blush covers my cheeks.
I look away from them, " nothing... It's nothing." I said shaking my head, "I'm fine guys." I put on a smile. I put a little more pressure as I felt the warm liquid through my shirt. I stared out the window.
"But you looked pained." Masako said touching my shoulder, "and your arm is so tight on you abdomen."
Naru looked at me, then at my abdomen. His eyes widen.
"Your bleeding!" Ayako shouts.I shake my head.
"I'm fine..." I lie. Naru looks annoyed.
"No your not. What happened?" He asks his voice cold and angry.
"It was in a dream... A creature came and hurt me, than a couple came in and tried to help me but it hit me again." My voice was shaking.
Lin pulled the car into an empty parking lot. Naru got out of the car as he did and rushed to open my door. He examined my check and then lifted up my shirt to look at the wound, causing my checks to heat up. He shook his head.
"Father Brown please get the bandages." He ordered him as he removed my arm and put his hand there instead
It burned in pain. I grind my teeth. Closing my eyes as tear well-up from pain. He didn't remove his hand until he placed the bandages.
"This happend in a dream?" He asks. I nod, staying quiet. Now he DEFINTLY will be worried. "You should stay home. We are miles from the case and your already having dreams that are harming you." He says. I open my mouth to protest.
"No way. I'm not leaving you guys." I say stubbornly.
"Your safer that way." I grit my teeth again.
"Not happening." I say, "We are only a few miles from the case. I am fine."
He was about to protest when I put my pointer finger over his mouth, "nothing's changing my mind." I said and he huffed in defeat and I smiled.
He put his mouth to my ear, "I know, I just don't want to loss you know." He whisper
"I understand that. But you can't stop me from going. I will be okay." I say determined. He sighs and looks down at me.
"Alright. But you will tell me if ANYTHING, happens to you in a dream or in reality, promise?" He asks, his fingers tracing along mine.
"I promise."
I said with a smile. Masako coughed behind us, not looking very happy with us.
"Can we get going yet, we don't want to be to late." She said with annoyance in her voice.
Naru nods simply, then walks back to the front of the car, getting in silently.
The rest of the ride, I stay awake. Fighting any fatigue that drags my eye lids. Sleep has become dangerous.
After what felt like forever I began to see the house.
Monk was in the front waiting for us. What we pulled in and everyone got out he started talking.
"What took you guys so long, I've been here more 10 minutes waiting for you guys?"
"Mai got hurt." Ayako said
John, drove up at Ayako said that.
"Sorry I'm late." He says, then he looks around. "What's wrong?" He asks puzzled.
"Mai got hurt." Ayako says again. Naru stays quiet.
Monk looked at John at then back at us, "how'd she get hurt? Espessaly with everyone watching."
"I had a dream where I got hurt, and it happened to me." I said putting my hand into Naru's
"Physically?" Monk asks shocked. I nod. He shakes his head. "That's not good." I bite my lip, my heart sunk. Naru rubbed the palm of my hand. I felt dizzy, I looked over to the house.
"Looks like this spirit does need to physically be there to hurt someone." Masako said shivering slightly. "It's so strong."
Monk nodded, and then looked over to Naru, "so are we staying here, or at a different spot."
"For now we are to stay in the house and get rid of the spirit that currently haunts it." Naru said.
"So basically like all our jobs." Ayako said in a plain tone. Naru just nods, as he continued to rub my hand. Masako glared out our hands.
"Let's set up. And find a place to bunk." Naru says letting go of my hand. I close my eyes and take a breath. I feel sick to my stomach. Chills ran down my back, as I grab some equipment
It was a light load, but I wasn't going to be weak. Even with my stomach throbbing. Everyone but Masako brought stuff in and then set stuff up. It didn't take long to find a place to bunk, girls and boys in separate rooms this time
We all gathered around the screens once we finished unpacking. Naru stood next to Lin, and he was assessing the situation.
I let Ayako change the bandage as I listened to what all was going to happen while we were here. I wondered if I would be able to talk about this with Gene
"Alright, everyone split up into groups. We will be checking out the house. Except for Mai and Masako, you two stay here and rest." Naru says, ordering, I look at him annoyed. How can he not let me help?! I open my mouth to object, but Masako speaks.
"Listen to what he says. You don't have to act childish." She says rudely.
I glared at her and then look at the floor. Fine! I'll stay here feeling useless. I lay back on my bed and stare at the ceiling waiting for everyone to get back. Masako sat on hers reading a book.
My stomach throbbed, but I put that thought to the side, when Masako glared at me.
"Why are you mad with me?" I ask. She refuses to answer. Her eyes glare at her book. "Please tell me!" I shout, which hurts my stomach.
"Because your the first." She said not looking away from her book.
"The first?" I asked, it made no since.
Masako let out a sigh, "Naru is all formal with us girls while you he acts normally about. Your the first one he's had feelings for or at least egnaleged."
I look at her slightly shocked. I knew she liked him, but I couldn't understand.
"I..." What could I tell her.
"I shouldn't have told you, never mind." She sounded angry.
We stayed quiet after that, she ignoring me and I spacing off. A little before dinner the group came back to join us
"We found a potential room, where the temperature is the lowest." Naru says when they get back.
"As well as a room, with the corpses of a child." John says glumly. I feel tears rise in my eyes with that thought.
We hadn't made it I time to save what ever kid was currently in there. I looked away trying to keep myself from crying. Naru seemed to gal noticed but didn't due anything.
"We will need to keep a close eye this night." Naru said.
My bottem lip quivered, the child hadn't lived. We already we're to late. My hand flies to my mouth to stifle a sob. I get up and walk to the opposite side of the room. Tears streaming down my cheeks, silent sobs racking my body.
Naru must have seen this because I felt a strong hand rubbing my back, and turned to see him.
"We were to late." I sobbed. Naru gave a nod.
"We can still help the rest of the family by taking care if the spirit though." I nodded myself and tried to calm myself down.
But the sobs were relentless. Controlling my body. The tears felt warm and sticky on my face. So much sorrow filled me from this failure.
"Naru, there's something you gotta see." Lind voice rings out, in pure horror, Naru leaves my side, sprinting to the monitors.
After a moment he gasps.
"That's the spirit!" Ayako says loudly. Masako began shaking.
The smell in the room became horrid. I walked over to the Monitors and see the spirit walking around. It walked and had the body of a human, but it also had dog characteristic
"It's diffrent from most spirits." I say looking at the creature, we've seen a spirit take shape of an animal before. Such as at the school, where the students all participated in quiegi boards, but never in between...
"What should we do?" Monk asks, entranced by the sight. The creatures eyes glowed. I could see that. Suddenly it looked directly at the camera. Everyone let's out a shriek, except Naru. My heart was pounding. It had looked at us.
It grinned evilly before hitting the camera so that we could no longer see it. Lin tried listening to the audio, but there was nothing. We all looked around the other monitors but found nothing.
"That spirit is..." Masako panted, her face pail
Fast ubdate, I'm late for school kinda. Sorry if there are errors. I do not own the charactes.