Ghost Hunt Bonus Story: Soap Opera

Ghost Hunt Bonus Story: Soap Opera

My goodness! It's already June! It's been about six months since I first wrote Family Ties and over two years since I first published Cursed Relics on the site. Good times!

3 KaZumi09

Ghost Hunt Bonus Story: Soap Opera

August 22, Day 2: Early hours

"Wow, how'd I end up here?"

Mai glanced around the deserted nice looking area. The lights were dim and cast eerie shadows in the corners, but Mai felt a strange sense of security present with her. The girl tried to retain how she had ended up on the stage of the Joukamachi Opera Stadium, but there were many holes in her mind.

"Mai."

The words were welcoming and the voice brought all suspicions to a cease. Before Mai turned around, she knew who the smiling boy behind her was.

"I'm dreaming again."

The gentle Naru held out his hand to Mai. She took it and felt a weird sensation in her naval. Mai looked down and noticed the stage was getting smaller as she and Naru floated through the night sky of Koaimi's hometown, Joukamachi.

"If only things were forever this peaceful…" Mai avoided Naru's expression and focused on the suburban lights below. They passed over the cemetery down the hill from the Shino Estate. That was where the spirits gathered for Relic Night to wreak havoc; Nicolas, a vengeful spirit, had been exorcized there by Mai. It was also where Mai first met Koaimi's younger cousin, Reimi. It clicked in Mai's head. She spun around to face Naru again, but darkness greeted her.

--

"There was blood where?'

Mai was greeted by Ayako's shrilly voice as she entered the library. She was met with everyone in SPR plus two new faces: John Brown, a young priest from Australia who performs exorcisms for SPR, and…

"Yasuhara-san?!" Mai exclaimed, making her presence known. Half a dozen pair of eyes gazed at her instantly; only two sets avoided her. Koaimi was sitting in a chair, curled up with one of her parents' research book, and Naru's eyes were focused on the monitor which replayed last night's events over and over. Osamu Yasuhara flashed a grin and Mai and bowed.

"I didn't think you'd come here," Mai replied, bowing back. "I guess we really needed you. Sorry for disturbing you at your job."

"Not a problem!" the senior of high school replied back. "I just wanted to check out this town! How often do you get to visit a place where psychics surround you?"

Mai tried to determine if he was being sarcastic, but Koaimi sat up straight in the chair and waved her book in the air. "Shibuya-sama, my parents recorded the ghost you're talking about!"

Naru glanced up from the monitor for the first time, a look of pure inquisitiveness on his face. Mai held back a giggle; he looked like an adorable curious child.

"My mom worte 'It's a terrible shame to have someone so young pass away. The Ghost of Marlena was one a beautiful opera singer with a love so strong, it made her even more beautiful. She was the Rose of Joukamachi and a talented medium. Some say she sung serenades at night to sooth the spirits. Others say when they were in her presence; they couldn't help but become happy off of her energy. Even when they were upset, they couldn't help but smile.'"

"What are you thinking?" Ayako asked Naru as she looked back at him. Mai's gaze followed and she noticed him with one arm crossed over his chest, the other on his chin, with his eyes to the floor. He was deep in thought.

"She sounds like a witch to me," John Brown said. Mai gave him a weird look.

"A witch?" A mental image of an old crone with a long nose and frog-colored skin went into her mind. John looked at her and nodded seriously.

"There are different kinds of witches; the Satan-worshippers are those portrayed in fairytales and are the references to evil. Then there are Healers, good witches, who can harness Mother Nature's powers and use it to cleanse and cure illnesses. And there are the Wicca who are neither good nor evil. They have magic powers that they are born with and can use it to cast spells or jinxes. They are between witches and Healers; Wicca are usually the 'minions' to a witch or Healer as they perform small magic. Small magic, but enough to harm or help someone."

"So this Ghost of Marlena was a Wiccan?" Ayako spoke out loud.

"Yup," Koaimi spoke up as she slammed the book shut. "My parents agreed. But it'll be a bit difficult finding the human. Marlena is just a name my parents gave to the ghost."

"What does Marlena mean anyway?" Naru asked. Mai wondered why he was asking irrelevant questions, and what did the Ghost of Marlena have to do with anything?

"'Marlena' is a common name in Germany," Koaimi spoke up as if she were explaining a complex math problem. "It's the combined form of 'Maria' and 'Magdalena,' or Mary Magdalene. She was a prostitute saved from a stoning by Jesus Christ. She was also the first follower of Jesus to see Him after He rose from the dead."

"She must have been very well-known to have a complex name like that," Mai finally spoke up after a few seconds of silence.

"Not really," Koaimi replied, opening the book again. "Marlena's death was dated barely 20 years ago; a little after my parents came to Joukamachi; they probably knew her."

"Please, ma'am. Madam Shino does not welcome you here-" "I'm sorry, Kiri. This will just take a second."

This time, every single pair of eyes was on the door where Kiri the maid and a tall familiar looking brown-haired woman were arguing. Mai recognized the woman right away.

"Are you Zelda?" Naru asked, looking away from the monitor.

"Yes," the brown-haired woman answered, winning the dispute between her and the maid. "I'm sorry to disturb you in your work. I just wanted to check on you after last night's…dilemma."

"It's quite alright. How long have you been singing for OxfordiVan Elsõ?"

"Only a few years; I just moved here from Europe less than a decade ago. It's so nice he let me join his opera."

A lightbulb clicked on in Mai's head as she recognized the woman. She was the singer in the Elizabethan dress who had sung like an angel! Zelda's smile was bright and wide as she realized Naru wasn't upset at her. Mai opened her mouth to say something but closed it back up. Koaimi slammed the book shut again and tossed it on the coffee table next to her armchair.

"Mama says you're not allowed here," the young girl replied, a scowl on her face. "Why'd you come? You're not welcome here, Griselda."

"Please, Marlene, you must understand," Zelda begged Koaimi. "I'm only here to help. I do not wish to see your mother."

"Don't call me Marlene," Koaimi spat at the woman. Koaimi sprang to her feet and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind her. Everyone stared at the large marble doors in silence.

Finally, Zelda broke the silence.

"I'm sorry; she's always like this when I'm around. She is a good child."

"Why'd you call here 'Marlene,' Zelda-san?" Mai asked, beating Naru to the punch.

"It was the name of Rebecca's sister, and Koaimi's old name," Zelda replied without even a pause. "Marlene-I mean, Koaimi, loved her aunt Marlena. Koaimi was born Marlene Heinrich as her parents weren't married at the time, but when they fled to Japan a while ago to escape persecution, they had to change her name to something more…'normal.' Well, I must be going back to practice, I'm sorry to bug you."

"Just one more thing, Zelda-san," Naru spoke up while the others were too shocked to speak. "That apparition at the Opera House, how often does that happen?"

"Not often, only when people go up there, like Reimi-chan," Zelda replied. "And when outsiders come in. You may have to ask Oxfordi; he's been around at the Opera House longer."

"Thank you."