The Fire
After all of the cameras had been set up, Yasuhara and Mai made their way back down to the base, where Naru, Lin, Ayako and John were waiting for them.
"What was that scream?" Bou-san asked when they walked in, not really sounding one bit worried about it. Mai turned a glare to Yasuhara, who just began to laugh again.
"She got freaked out in the attic and fell on her ass!"
"It's not funny!" Mai said but she couldn't hide her own smile. Soon, Bou-san, Ayako were laughing too, causing Naru to step in.
"What did you find?" Bou-san turned to Naru and scratched the back of his head.
"Well, um…nothing," He gave a dry laugh. "We searched all around the house and even in the front and back yard, but I can't sense anything that would be causing any of the fires. All the wiring and stuff is secure and there aren't any open burners or heating sources. It seems more like this place would be one of the last places catch on fire. "
"Same, I barely found anything," Ayako said as she sat down on the comfy chair that had been placed in the room. "John?"
"Well, I thought I sensed something a few minutes ago, but it could have just been my imagination," He said, writing it off quickly. "Also, somewhere by the woods in the back of the house, it feels like there is something keeping people away. I said a quick pray and it seemed to work."
"Lin, do we have any camera's facing the woods?" Naru asked as he turned to the man. Lin turned to face him as he shook his head.
"We have one over by the front and one in the back, but they aren't facing the woods," Lin said. Naru turned to the group about to say something when a scream rippled throughout the house. Bou-san and Naru both quickly ran out of the room, followed by Ayako, Mai and John. When they got to the kitchen, they all stopped to see giant flames reaching up to the ceiling. On the floor, near the wall was Hastia. She was pressed up against the wall as her eyes widened in horror at the yellow and red colors filling the room. Bou-san ran to the sink and pulled out the fire extinguisher as Mai ran toward the girl.
"What happened?" Mai asked as Bou-san fought the flames.
"I-I-I didn't mean to...I-I really didn't-" She stuttered out, too afraid to talk or even think.
"Didn't mean what?" Mai asked. She looked over at Bou-san to see that he was having a hard time trying to get the flames under control. Apparently the fire extinguisher wasn't working.
"To make them angry,"
"What do you mean?" Mai asked over Bou-san's yelling. The girl just looked at her and shook her head, not wanting to answer. "Hatia what do you mean we made them anger?"
"I called the fire department, they are on their way!" Ayako yelled as she took a step out of the room. Bou-san threw aside the fire extinguisher and moved back a little more as the flames began to grow even more.
"Alright, get everyone out!" Naru yelled as pointed to the door. He never took his eyes away from the roaring fire that was still growing, but yet staying in the same place. "Mai, let's go!"
"Come on, we need to get out!" Mai grabbed Hastia's arm to pull her up, but dropped it immediately. Her skin felt like ice even though the flames were only feet away.
"Mai! We need to get out of here!" Naru yelled at her but she didn't seem to hear him. She was too entranced by the girl sitting on the floor in front of her. In less than a second, the girl that once had black hair and brown eyes was now a little girl. Her brown hair reached past her bright green eyes and touched her shoulders. She was smaller than Hastia even though she wore her clothes and Mai couldn't help but notice that this girl only looked to be elementary age.
Something grabbed her hand and yanked her away and when she turned, she found Naru dragged her out of the kitchen.
"Naru, wait there is a little girl back there!" Mai screamed as she looked over her shoulder. As they turned the corner, Mai couldn't help but notice that no one was there.
"Mai there was no one there, remember? We are the only ones in the house today," Naru pulled Mai out of the house as a large fire truck pulled up followed by some police cars.
The group stayed outside and talk to the police while the firemen did their job. It only took a few minutes to extinguish the fire and as they investigated the cause of it, the police continued their investigation outside.
"So in other words, you are saying that you all were on the other side of the house when the fire caught randomly?"
"She said it was because she made them angry," Mai said without thinking. Everyone turned to her and she felt her face go a little red.
"I'm sorry?"
"I saw Hastia in there and she said she had made the angry." Mai said, more to the group than to the officer. She had been doing this for so long, that she knew he wouldn't believe her anyway.
"Right and I saw a rainbow crack addicted kitty," The officer said as the firemen came out. He turned and walked over to them to find out what had happened.
"Mai, Hastia is in school right now, so what would she be doing in the kitchen?"
"Well…" Mai tried to think. She had known Hastia was in school, but she couldn't explain what she had seen all that too well. "I guess it wasn't her but there someone there."
"We will check out the cameras when we get back inside. There is one out in the hall by there, so we should have caught something," Naru looked up as the officer gestured from him to come over. "Yasuhara, go to the library and see what you can find on the owners. Takigawa, Matsuzaki and Father Brown, I want you to go around the house again and check for anything you can find. Obviously, you missed something before," Naru than began to walk over to the men who were waiting to speak to him. Just as everyone was about to go to do their jobs, Naru called over his shoulder. "Mai tea,"
Mai sighed to herself as she walked around the back of the house. Luckily, they had brought a burner for her to use and she was more than happy to use it. She went around and walked up the path that lead to the door in the back, but paused for a second, looking at the forest that was spreading out around.
Come back
Stay with us
We won't hurt you
Don't leave
Mai turned to look at the forest completely, confused on if she had heard it correctly.
Come with us
Stay here
We won't leave
Don't hurt us
Knowing she had heard it, she began to walk towards it, not sure what to do.
Hehehehe
Mai looked closely to find a little girl with brown hair running into the forest, her white dress flowing behind her.
Come play with us Mai
Mai walked down the hill and to the edge of the forest, the anticipation of finding out what might be in there overwhelming her. She had to know despite the overwhelming feeling to run away. Both feelings were crashing up against her, making her wonder which one she wanted to let rule over her. She wanted to know, she had to know what was in there, but she was afraid; she was afraid of what was in there.
"Mai?" Mai turned around to find John standing over by the camera they had placed facing the camera. He was looking at her with a confused face, and to keep him from asking any questions, she just smiled.
"I thought I saw a cat run in there, that's all," Mai laughed off, suddenly coming to her senses. She hadn't thought a cat had gone in there, she was sure one hadn't. She knew for a fact that she had heard voices telling her to go in there and that something had consumed her, pulling her towards it, but she didn't want to tell John that. Something was telling her not too.
"Oh, well Naru just finished talking to the fire department. They contacted the owners and told them and apparently they are furious. He says he wants to get all the data together to go over it before they get back. He wants to have something to explain to them for when they get back."
"Well, than I might as well get his tea before he gets anymore grumpy," Mai laughed as she scratched the back of her head. She then turned and headed back up to the house, trying to ignore the feeling of John's eyes on her the whole time.
"Mai, where have you been?" Naru asked as she entered the base. She walked over to the burner and began to prepare the tea.
"I got distracted by the forest," Mai said as she placed the small kettle on the burner. She turned it on and turned around to find Naru and Lin looking at her. "What?"
"You got distracted by the forest?" Naru asked, making sure he had heard correctly.
"Yea, I thought I saw a cat run into the forest," Mai said as she leaned back. She could feel the heat coming off of the burner behind her.
"Mai, the Hoen's don't own a cat, nor have they ever mentioned there being one in the area," Naru placed down the file on the table beside her.
"But I swear I swear-"
"Did you see this cat before or was it the first time?" Naru asked, pressing the matter more than she would have liked. "Did you see anything else with it?"
"No-well ah-" Mai was saved by the white of the kettle, giving her more time to think about it. "I saw the cat in the attic before Yasuhara came up. Other than that, I didn't see anything.
The door opened and Yasuhara walked in, holding up a file.
"Yasuhara, see what you can find out about cat spirits," Naru interrupted. Yasuhara frowned at him before hanging his head and walking out. "Lin, check all the camera too see if you find anything walking in or out of the forest."
Mai walked over and placed a cup of tea on the table next to Naru and then placed one beside Lin, who nodded in thanks.
The door opened and Bou-san, Ayako and John walked in, carrying the old tapes they had collected.
"I don't know if this is important, but I heard strange noises coming from the attic when I was up there. It practically scared me to death."
"Yet you were brave enough to go up there and get the tap, all by yourself!" Bou-san teased as he handed the tapes over to Lin. Ayako glared at him but Naru spoke up before she could say anything.
"What kind of noises?"
"Just soft noises. At first, they sounded like whispers but when I listened closely, they sounded more like leaves."
"Leaves?" Bou-san asked as he sat down on the couch.
"Yea, like someone was rustling leave or something," Ayako sat down in the chair next to the couch and leaned on the arm rest. "But since I was in the attic, I figured it was the wind or something."
"I don't think-"
"What the hell is going on in here!?" screamed a voice that made everyone look at the door. "Where is Mr. Shibuya, I want to speak to him immediately!"
Hey everyone, I know its been a while since I updated, but I am updating tonight! My birthday was last friday and now I can have so much fun doing things I shouldn't do yea! Anyway, imma gonna go, my sister is bugging me to go play this game with her so I need to go, Bye!
morningnight out!
I do not, under any circumstance, own Ghost Hunt. All rights go to the Author; Fuyumi Ono
I do not, under any circumstance, own the Picture used with this story. All rights go to the Artist, SARETTA1 (saretta1 . deviantart . com) (*please minus spaces before adding to your url box)
