A/N: Hello my fellow minions! I am quite surprised to see how many of you have read and reviewed! Especially this fic since I have not updated it in quite some time!

So I say kill the chitchat and read until your eyes bleed! …. Or your noses

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A Ghost Between Us

Chapter 4

Catching Air

By GrimaThanEvil

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The light blinding my vision vanished and the objects around me were fuzzy. My eyes rolled, contracted and expanded attempting to focus on anything and everything. The room was spinning all around me and before I knew it I was stumbling towards the floorboards. The ground came up to meet my cheek, it rushed towards my face and I prepared for the hard impact of the floorboards against my flawless skin.

The feeling never came and seconds later I realised I was already on the ground; numb. I saw the door creek open but I could not move my body. I could not feel my legs or my arms. No matter how hard I tried I could not move them. I waited for fear to consume my being, to cause the blood pressure in my body to spike and my heart to race. The only problem was I had no heartbeat. I concentrated on the centre of my chest trying to feel something, anything, but I had no pulse.

My eyes dumbly stared at my hand that rested on the floorboards just at the front of my face. I concentrated as hard as I could on the tips of my fingers, trying to make them twitch but it was impossible. I was like a broken doll forgotten in the attic.

Was this what it was like in your last moments – were you consumed by a feeling of helplessness?

My vision blurred like a camera in a movie scene. Its focus was first on my hand then at the door meters away from my body. Footsteps resonated in my ears and my eyes flicked up at the open door noticing a pair of black flats coming towards me. A hand reached in front of my face and suddenly it was gone. The arm shredded into smoke and I blinked for the first time. As they closed they sealed shut, and that sudden feeling of terror enveloped my being.

No… I told myself.

I had to wake up.

My eyes had to open!

I willed myself to see; to look around me, to wake up.

Then suddenly my eyelids sprung open as if I was awaking from a nightmare. I shot up from the ground having feeling in my arms and legs once more. My eyes went down to my hands and I flexed my fingers to make sure I could move them.

My usually calm expression turned into one of confusion. I closed my hand again then opened it and rubbed my fingers together; I felt nothing. Staring into my palm for a moment I tried to understand exactly what was wrong. Maybe it was the after affect of that strange light.

At that thought; I snapped my head around, looking for the light's source… looking for the whisperer of my name.

'Shizuru' they had said. I definitely heard it. I must have.

I watched the room around me transform from dull grey and brown into flawless bright blue and polished auburn. The paint seemed to flake away around me and morph into foreign colors. It was like watching a flame burning timber and leaving the ashes behind; except in this case the colors shredded into smoke and became bright and new.

The faded walls smoked into the atmosphere and reappeared as bright wallpaper lined with thin white swirls. The room was no longer dark, but bright and full of life. Paintings that had never been there before now sat on the right. The windows were clear and unscathed. The room's curtains were long, white and elegant without a hint of dust or dirt. Still the piano looked the same and the book was still lying open on a page I did not recognise.

I wiped my knees and stood up turning in a full circle before walking towards the new wall and reaching out to touch it. I watched my hand as it stretched out and realised I was shaking. The sudden presence of the cool wall on the tip of my finger caused me to flinch.

I took two steps back my resolve crumbling into pieces.

Music penetrated my hearing and I snapped my head around in all directions to try and find its source. It was a violin playing a song I had never heard of… it was the most beautiful, happiest and serene melody I had ever heard. I stood up feeling a sudden urge to find the noise. As I took a step, it felt alien again. The floor beneath my feet did not feel as it should; even the air around me, seemed strange and wrong. The presence and scent of it was just at the tip of my tongue but I could never touch it, never taste it. I could not pinpoint the exact phrase or element in which to describe the feelings around me. Was this a dream?

I glanced around the room one last time before taking another step to the door. I stumbled a little, my feet touching the ground at an odd angle. Trying hard to keep my composure, I straightened and walked towards the door. It was closed, which was strange. I could've sworn someone had opened it and… - I touched my face and ran my fingers along my cheek and down to my shoulder; mirroring that of the stranger that had reached out to me just before I had blinked.

Nervously I gripped the polished golden handle and opened the door. I was hit with bright candlelight and the noise of a busy hallway. The music had been drowned out by chatter and yelling. It was all around me but I could not pinpoint where or who was speaking. The phrases were unnatural to me, words that would slip through my ears and vanish all together from my memory. As I stepped out a small maid bumped into me. I fell back against the creamy wall; it's surface orange from the light. The maid glanced back for a moment. She wore a red and white uniform. Her hair was orange and platted with the face of a child.

"Sorry!" she yelled hurrying down the hallway in a strange run. The two long hair strands on her forehead bobbed up and down as she hurried along. I noticed the wet puddles on the floor and connected two and two together. She had been carrying a bucket of water and its contents had left small puddles down the path she had run. As she disappeared through the corridor I attempted to collect myself. I could still hear the voices through the walls. There was laughter and cheering; it sounded like a lively party.

I straightened up and stood in the hallway only to spin around as another object ran into me. I glanced around after my spinning motion and locked onto my target. I was surprised and completely confused when I realised it was the same maid again, from the same direction. I blinked as if my eyes were deceiving me. Only this time she was carrying a pile of white towels. She looked back the same way she had just seconds ago and yelled "Sorry!" leaving me completely puzzled.

"Excuse me!'' yelled two voices in unison

Suddenly two more maids appeared behind me and brushed passed effectively sandwiching me for a brief moment. My eyes stared at them bewildered. They were each carrying a mop and both looked back at me. They smiled and laughed, before continuing on.

What was going on?!

I felt something at my feet and looked down only to find a cat purring and rubbing against my legs. It curved around me a few times and I felt the vibrations against my leg. I tried to step around the animal but its body continued to slip around my legs, almost causing me to trip over. Bright eyes stared up at me, and I stared down noticing the moon on its forehead. For a moment we just had a staring contest, I couldn't help but feel it was staring into me. Those eyes made me feel exposed, uncomfortable. She looked at me quizzically, yet I had no answer for her and she had no answer for me. Well… so I believe.

Then she began to walk away in the opposite direction of the maids and I suddenly felt alone.

"W…wait!" I uttered and the cat's head turned around glancing at me before continuing on.

I followed not quite sure where we were going.

The hallways seemed so familiar yet so different. The creamy walls were orange from the light but the wallpaper and wood seemed finer, newer, fresher. It was only when we turned the corner did I hesitate. No candles or light reflected into the hallway, and my new friend was walking right into the pitch black darkness.

"No" I said and the cat paused to look at me. She glared and huffed turning around and walking passed me into the light.

It wasn't long before we came to two doors. The cat seemed to turn around and look at me. My eyes glanced at her for a moment before locking back on the doors before us. They were a deep chestnut brown with golden handles and carvings of vines etched into their surface. I reached out towards the handle and jumped when my newly found friend meowed. Ignoring her whining I gripped onto the round doorknob and pulled both of the doors open.

Bright white light shone into our eyes and I squinted waiting for it to pass. When my eyes opened I gasped at what I saw. Never have I ever seen such a sight. It was the most beautiful garden I had ever laid my eyes on. The brightest greens mixed with the deepest of jades. The flowers were rich and alive. The smell was almost overwhelming. Fresh clipped grass, the sound of a stream or a lake or a fountain. I stepped out excitedly forgetting about where I was and what I had been doing.

I spun around and noticed the cat following me. A butterfly seemed to flutter right over her head but she ignored it, with her bright lazy eyes. I smiled and made my way through the garden admiring all the different plants and flowers. The shade of a giant tree constantly found it's way to mask the sun when it hit my eyes.

It did not take me long to find where the water was coming from. There was a small stream that divided the garden diagonally. A small wooden bridge was built over it and I found my way across and into an even more spectacular part of the garden. Pink flowers seemed to be in abundance and the smell was intoxicating. My new found friend and I soon found ourselves beneath the only tree in this half of the garden. Even the cats purring seemed to be soothing in the garden. The tree harboured apples, but not the kind I was expecting.

With some effort I managed to pluck one from a branch. It was smooth on the tips of my fingers. My eyes examined it curiously; rotating the fruit in my hands. Bringing my nose close to its skin I sniffed it. I wasn't expecting it to smell like lavender. I also did not expect it to turn pink.

Forcing my eyes to blink, I stared at the fruit unsure of what I was seeing was correct. My mouth became dry and I swallowed trying to sooth the aching in my throat. Licking my lips I leant forward eager to taste an explosion of flavor.

Sharp pain shot through my hand.

I dropped the apple and glared at my attacker.

''hey!'' I scolded

The cat 'rowed' at me and I watched as my apple rolled along the grass and into the stream. I glanced at the back of my palm. Claw marks were evident against my skin. It began to sting and I sucked on it in response trying to sooth the pain.

Just when I thought my new found friend was my enemy. He or she started curling around my legs again. Almost as if the cat was apologizing. I sighed and looked back up at the tree realising all the other fruits were out of my reach.

Plopping down on the soft grass, I leaned my head back against the bark of the tree and realised how tired I was. The cat curled up next to me and I ran my hands through its soft fur. As soon as my eyes closed, I was still dreaming of the garden. I could not help but feel like I was forgetting something but nothing mattered anymore except this garden.

I dreamt of the pink flowers - the sparkling water - the sounds - the fragrances - and the apples.

Just as I was finding piece within my visions. My eyes sprung open wide to the clap of thunder. My heart beat frantically and I realised it was pitch black. At first I forgot where I was, expecting the comfort of my bedroom - I couldn't quite recall what my bedroom looked like. I did not even pay any mind to the thought.

I stood up feeling my heartbeat hitting my ribcage. I felt like a frightened deer being hunted.

The stars and the moon were the only thing that guided my eyes. The occasional flash of lightning also added my vison. However, another clap of thunder made me skittish. The stars were quickly lost in dark thundering clouds. Rain pelted down so suddenly I had no choice but to jump up and run in the direction I thought we had come from.

The parts of the garden I could make out were not appealing anymore. They were dark and frightening. The fragrances had completely vanished within the darkness. The distinct smell of mud was all my senses could pick up.

Some how I stepped through the two doors that had lead me to the outside.

I breahted out a breathe I did not know I was holding. The doors slammed shut behind me and I jumped. Twirling around and expecting someone to be there, my eyes went down.

Bright eyes stared up at me and then the cat started licking its fur clean.

I sighed and looked down at my own attire. Everything was soaking wet. My hair stuck to the edges of my face and water still dripped from my body. A chill ran along my arms and a shook it off; like a bird trying to inhale the heat into its feathers.

Wrapping my arms around myself, I turned and looked down the three hallways available. We were at a T-junction. The door, at the center of the T, lead to the outside. A place where I longed to return to, but not quite at this moment. As for my three options, well I had no idea where we had first come from and no idea where each path would lead me. Either way, staying here wasn't going to get me anywhere. I had to find a towel or some place I could dry off a lot quicker without soaking the polished floors.

Not sure in which direction to go I looked at my furry companion who was much to occupied with its own fur. I turned to teh right, then to the left. I went left and it wasn't long before my friend was following at my heels.

The cat meowed at me but I ignored it. I found a door on the side of the corridor and tried to open it. It was locked. I grimaced and turned away from it.

The click of it opening caused me to stop.

I pulled my lip tight, doors had a strange knack of opening around me. I wasn't quite sure whether it was a good thing or a bad thing. But I knew it usually lead to something unexplainable and daunting.

For a moment I just stood there and stared at it. Not sure whether I should go in or not. From what I could see through the crack of the door, it seemed pitch black.

I turned and walked away. Something told me to stay away from everything dark in this place. So I stuck to the light.

Every hallway I passed without candlelight I ignored and every hallway that had flickering lights I passed by nervously. No matter how far I walked it seemed that the hallways were an endless maze. The length and majority of corridors did not make any sense. If I was in the mansion then its length was far shorter than the distance I had just traveled. It puzzled me, yet for some reason I did not question it. It was as if something was blocking my thoughts. It was as if... I was forgetting.

My clothes were dry by now and my legs ached. I leaned against the wall and tried to relax for a moment. However my companion continued walking. I watched him for a while, walking and swinging his tail. Then it dawned on me that he was actually getting away.

For fear of losing him I ran after the cat with haste. As we walked I realised I wasn't sure whether he was a he or she. It was a simple thought and I was quite surprised that out of all the things I should have been thinking about, that was all that crossed my mind.

I sighed and followed our new route only to realise that my new friend was getting further and further away, "Hold on" I said suddenly realising the cat was almost around a corner.

Just as her tail rounded the corner I found myself turning into the new corridor. She sat in the middle of the hallway staring at me, and I smiled in relief. It was only when the lights began to turn off did my breath hitch in my throat. My eyes darted behind me and in front of me. The hallway illuminated blues of every shade. It was not as dark as the previous hallway that we avoided, as I could still see, yet the sudden change frightened me. I had no idea what was going on, and where I was, or what I was doing…

I mean… I was following a cat.

I was going insane.

A cat that was now gone…

"H-hello?" I whispered my voice almost croaking as I looked around nervously.

I ran my hand along the wall as I took a few steps forward, searching around for fear of something jumping out. It was then I heard the whispers. They were all around me, first far away, then closer and closer.

My head snapped around nervously, "Who is there?"

Another whisper and I turned to look down the hallway; I felt a whisper right against my ear and I jumped falling to the ground. I scrambled to my feet as quickly as I could and ran. I ran for my life, fear gripping me, only to round another corner. Before I knew it I encountered the pitch black darkness in front of me.

I skidded to a stop,

"Come here" whispered the voice and my eyes widened as the black came closer. It was like a smoky fog surrounded me and curled into the shape of claws.

Desperate, angry claws.

"Her!" hissed the voice, followed by a sequence of others.

They were whispers upon whispers, scrambling my thoughts and sanity.

"Come here" then one grabbed me and I tried to scream but my voice caught in my throat again. I tried to move my legs and run but it was too late, they were all around me. Pinning me in place.

"No come here…"

"here…. Here"

"Over here"

"L-let go!" I rasped finally finding my voice as the dark hands gripped onto my arms. I was being pulled into opposite directions at first. My arms felt as if they were being stretched and I feverishly tried to break free.

My body failed me and the wave of hands wrapped around my body. One gripped my shoulder and pulled my collar back. They clawed at my clothes consuming my body like an ocean.

I was slowly being swallowed into darkness.

My mouth opened to scream out for help but it was smothered by a hand. I could feel them all over me. The pain of their claws scratched through the fabric of my clothes, digging into my skin. Desperate and hungry palms clasping onto me for dear life. The constant humming of their desperate cries drummed in my very chest. I felt my entire body become smothered in shadows.

I tried to see, to lock onto my attackers but it was so dark that I was blind.

Only then did I feel an intense grip at the centre of my chest.

My shirt was scrunched painfully at my sternum.

I was wrenched out of the sea of bodies; emerging from them as if escaping from a black fog.

Soon my eyes could see light, it was green, it was bright, it was angry… it was surrounded by midnight blue.

The midnight phantom pulled my shirt until I was finally back in the hallway. The tight grip vanished at my chest and returned to the end of my wrist.

Before I could collect my breath I was wrenched forwards. My feet struggled to keep up as we sprinted down the corridor. The candlelight flickered before my eyes and I looked back to see what we were running from. The sea of dark bodies had turned into a black mist. It slowly spread along the walls like wild black hair chasing us.

I was yanked to the right and felt my neck give way at the sudden harsh movement.

My savior did not look back. All I saw was dark blue tresses blowing back as we ran. I tried to gasp for air but there was barely time for even that.

We soon began to ascend the stairs and as I was pulled up I fell and hit my legs against the hard wood. Before I could assess the damage the grip on my wrist hardened and I was forced to my feet. My eyes flashed back and I realised the darkness was getting closer. As I registered this I was once again forced into a run. My feet hit the steps as fast as they could muster. It almost felt as if I could barely keep up with the pace. It was even harder with a spiral staircase – wait… spiral?

I stopped abruptly effectively causing the stranger on my arm to falter. I stared up at where we were heading and all I could see was white spirals ascending almost fifty stories of nothingness.

Where was I?!

The next thing I knew I was forced forward again. This time the pull seemed angry and desperate. There was no possible way we could effectively climb these stairs. However we kept running and I could feel my body starting to give in to fatigue. My chest heaved and I took short sharp gasps of air. The ground beneath my feet became achingly harder. I swallowed trying to collect myself, for a moment I hesitated. My lips parted and closed. I was unsure of myself, but this growing pain in my body was enough to allow me to cross that wall of silence.

"Wait" I whispered trying to slow down. However the grip on my wrist seemed to tighten - as if it could get any more restrictive. I winced but knew I couldn't take this for much longer "w-wait" I repeated but I was ignored. Cast aside like I was not even there.

Again my mind deceived me and it only took us but a moment to reach the top. I recognised the floor immediately. It was where my bedroom was. Again I was tugged and I followed without restraint. This time I struggled to stay up right as the midnight phantom ran like there was no tomorrow. Maybe there wasn't a tomorrow for me.

"Wait" I gasped again feeling my feet almost give way

"Natsuki" I uttered and we came to an abrupt halt. The hand around my wrist seemed to loosen and we stood there for a brief moment in silence. The phantom did not turn to face me and now I was even more puzzled on how to proceed.

There was a long silence. I became more aware of her touch around my wrist, but not in the way I had previously been, it was almost gentle...almost.

When it was clear I was not going to say anything I was pulled along again, this time much more gently.

We burst through the door of the piano room and it slammed behind us. She threw me into the room and I trotted forward away from my saviour. Unconsciously, I was aware of them watching me.

Of course, that would have deserved my undivided attention if it was not for the strange sight before me. My crimson eyes stared wide eyed and in complete bewilderment at the scene in front of us. There on the floorboards lay my body.

"I don't understand…" I uttered in disbelief

I was right here yet I was right there... on the ground... lying limp. My body was curled up on its side, lying there, eyes open and blank. I was like an empty doll.

A smoky feeling appeared behind my back and I felt cold air on my ear, "Do not return here" whispered the voice before blowing a breeze gently against my ear "Shizuru"

I fell and twisted my body to face the whisperer. My descent felt slow. The phantom was a blur but I still reached out to grab her. My hand stretched out as far as it could. My fingers curled in but they slipped right through her. It was like catching air.

I continued to fall.

The room seemed to curl within itself everything twisting together into one direct point until everything was consumed.

Darkness.

"Fujino-sama!" yelled the voice and I felt my body shaking.

A scream.

Like a violent wail.

The taste of blood.

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There you go guys!

So what do you think about this chapter?

Too slow?

Too confusing?

Sorry about another cliffhanger. (I might gain an addiction to them)

There is much more to come in the next chapter! some questions shall be answered!

So what are your theories?