Ghost Hunt – Animeverse

File#13: Poltergeist

Summary: Another day and a new case for Shibuya Psychic Research. It seems like a classic haunting, but when the culprit chooses the wrong victim will anyone be able to stop it? Naru-centric XD (As if it could be anything else :P)

Disclaimer: I own nothing

Author's Notes:

Thanks to AlexaTarot, sweetymai90 and Liris for reviewing!

Enjoy!

File#13

Part Three -:- Trapped

Mai stared at the looming bookcase that hovered above her. Shock prevented her from doing the sensible thing, which would have been to move. Why had it stopped? Mai wondered in amazement, she then blinked and thought again Why did it fall in the first place?

"Mai! Mai move!" she heard Monk call from some distant place.

"Huh?" she replied stupidly. She felt arms wrap round her and pull her out of the bookcases shadow. It was just in time too as the heavy wooden shelving suddenly creaked and continued its descent, landing with a loud crash as it met the ground. "Wh-What just happened?"

"I...I don't know," Monk replied, his mouth forming a surprised 'o'. "The poltergeist?"

To test his theory Mai reached towards the fallen bookcase to feel for the tell tale heat a poltergeist leaves behind. But when her hand was a few centimetres away from the wood a flicker of blue light, like a tiny bolt of lightning, snapped at her fingers making her pull away. She remembered the case not long ago where Naru had used his psychokenesis. She had been shocked by the same thing as she had reached for him then too. "Naru..." she muttered.

She looked back at Monk to gage his reaction. He glanced from the case, to her hand, to her face, his eyes telling her he had made the same connection.

They didn't have much time to contemplate as the sound of the rest of the team running up the stairs interrupted them. Lin and Ayako came first, with Naru trailing slightly behind. Ayako took in the collapsed bookcase and then Mai who was still shaking from her fright "Mai? Are you okay?"

"Yea...Yes, I'm okay," Mai replied uncertainly, giving Ayako a small smile to convince the woman she was telling the truth. Ayako eyed her carefully, her motherly concern evident in her face.

"What happened?" demanded Lin a hint of alarm entering his usually cold voice.

"I...I came up here because..." Mai struggled to remember the reason. "...because something wasn't right. But when I came past here, the bookcase...it suddenly fell...I only just got out of the way." Mai didn't know why she didn't tell them the complete truth. She did know that Lin would get angry with Naru if he realised what he had done. "Monk came out when I screamed."

"So you didn't finish the exorcism?" Naru asked; the question mark put in to cover the fact that he already knew that Monk had failed. Monk shook his head. Naru's tone changed slightly, as if he was daring the spiritualist "Maybe you should try again."

Lin nodded in agreement and Monk climbed to his feet while helping Mai up too. In silence the group followed Monk back into the bedroom. It was far messier than Mai remembered it being yesterday. More objects were broken and all the furniture had moved. Faint sunlight struggled to break through the thick layer of dust on the window, creating dark shadows around the strangely arranged room.

Monk returned to his place in the centre of the room and immediately resumed his mantra, his eyes closed and his hands together. Once Ayako and Lin were out of ear shot, Mai leaned towards Naru and whispered "Thanks for the save."

Naru just continued staring straight ahead as if he hadn't heard her. Hmph, Mai fumed, he really likes his pride huh?

As Monk ran through his mantra the second time the intense rapping sounds echoed around the room. A few items stirred in response to the poltergeist's presence. Once Monk had run through his mantra the second time, the door slammed shut behind Naru and Mai. The young girl jumped at the sudden bang, then looked up at Naru. He continued to stare as if nothing had happened.

Monk stumbled to a stop as a few books flew into him, knocking him off balance. He opened his eyes as he rubbed at the yet to form bruises. An impatient Lin called for him to continue "Keep going!"

Mai watched as a strange expression crossed Naru's face. It was annoyance. In truth she had seen that face many times, but there was something different about it, like it didn't quite belong to him. What's wrong with- She gasped as Naru made the tiniest gesture with his right hand and Lin suddenly went flying. The Chinese man was yanked off his feet and smacked into the wall behind him. He slid down and ended up crumpled on the floor. "K-keep going."

Begrudgingly Monk carried on his mantra from the point he left off.

Ayako rushed over to Lin, offering him help, while Mai just stared at Naru in astonishment. Did he do that? Why would he hurt Lin? Mai was close to tears as she watched Naru just standing there. What the hell is going on?

Monk's mantra was reaching its crescendo, and Naru doubled over. He let out a cry of pain that didn't quite match up to his voice. "Naru?" He glanced her way and for a split second she was looking into a stranger's eyes. "W-who are you?"

Things began to fall into place for Mai. Naru had been upstairs alone. He had been acting out of character. He had attacked Lin because the man was making Monk continue the exorcism. He was possessed. And now he was being exorcised. But wait, hadn't Monk said that he couldn't safely perform an exorcism on humans? Something about a jar...shattering...

"Monk stop! Stop!" Mai cried in fear. The possessed Naru was now partially collapsed on the floor, groaning in pain. "It's in Naru! Stop! You're hurting him!"

Monk did as he was told and stopped mid-syllable. There was a stunned moment of silence where everyone in the room turned and observed the curled up Naru. His head then snapped up, his eyes glaring daggers into each and every one of them.

As he clambered to his shaky feet, Lin nudged Ayako, getting her attention. "Run."

Ayako took the hint and ran to the door. Mai followed suit and tried to help the woman pull it open. The damn thing was sealed tight. Ayako hammered on the door in frustration and fear. She didn't wan't to end like that piece of driftwood the young psychic had obliterated. But it was no use.

They were trapped.

A satisfied smirk marred Naru's features.

Sorry this chap is a little shorter! I'll make the next one nice and long!

Please review!