DISCLAIMER: I do not own Ghost Hunt or the original Ghost Hunt characters. All original characters I do,however,own and would appreciate being asked before anyone uses them. Don't sue me I have no money! LOL ^_^
Chapter Eight -
Mai warily made her way toward the figure who was silhouetted on the fence post. Mai was not sure whether her choice to learn more about the person perched there was a smart one, but she had always allowed her curiosity to win, over rational thought. It was probably the reason Naru was retaining in the back of his mind to keep her enclosed in what was becoming a very tight net of safety. It was not that Mai meant to find trouble in every possible place they went; she really could not help it. Gene had once told her it was most likely due to her overwhelmingly strong spiritual abilities. Mai scoffed as she walked on toward the fence. She had no idea what Gene was talking about, she barely had any abilities to speak of and most of the time Naru dismissed them as nothing.
Sighing heavily, Mai stopped in her tracks when the silhouette became more clear and she was able to recognize Alice. Not much had changed since the day before, except her hair was down and blowing in the cool winter morning air and her shirt was a pink paisley under her winter coat. Mai smiled at the thought they had both decided to wear pink and spoke softly even though she knew Alice probably already knew she was there, "Hello Alice...I see you have good taste in clothing. I wore pink today too," Mai smiled revealing a bit of her sleeve as Alice turned to look at her, "Mind if I join you up there?"
Alice eyed her for a few moments more, then shrugged, showing she did not care one way or another.
"Thanks," Mai silently and carefully climbed up beside her on the fence post and sighed, "It is so beautiful here...I never imagined I would ever see anything like this place. I have lived in the city my entire life and never seen a sunrise as beautiful as this one."
Alice turned to look at Mai and smirked for a moment, before once more gazing over the horizon to watch the sun coming up, "Chrysanthemums..."
Mai turned abruptly and looked at Alice not sure she had heard her quiet companion utter the word. It had been so quiet and airy she was not positive if she had imagined it or not. Slowly Mai turned back to the rising sun, "Yes...it does remind you of chrysanthemums I suppose. A chrysanthemum sunrise..." Mai paused for a few moments taking in the nature and serene feeling around her. It was a few more moments before she realized Alice had jumped down from the fence and was staring at her. Carefully, Mai turned and climbed down to the ground and stared back. Alice smirked and tipped her head in a silent gesture for Mai to follow her.
Gulping from a sudden sense of wariness, Mai nodded and silently followed the lithe girl. Mai decided she was out of shape, because she was having a difficult time keeping the same pace Alice did as they trekked through the thick snow. Finally, Mai's saving grace came, as she halted and watched Alice open the doors to a large barn. Mai guessed they had walked a good three quarters of a mile to get to the barn and she graciously entered the warm confines of the space. Alice shut the large doors behind them and smiled for only a moment before turning and grabbing a bucket of grain. Alice held another out to Mai and after a few moments Mai took it from her.
Alice rolled her eyes, turning and heading for the first stall. Once there, Alice took a handful of the grain and held it out with a flat hand. Mai gasped as a horse's head suddenly shot out and consumed the grain Alice had been holding only a second before and Alice emitted a slight chuckle at Mai's reaction.
"Well..." Mai said a little hurt, "...what do you expect you silly girl? I have never done this sort of thing before!"
This only made Alice laugh more and she smiled shaking her head slightly. Coolly she gestured to the other side of the barn and Mai read her silent thoughts with a bit of apprehension. Shakily, Mai made her way to the opposite side of stalls. Timidly she set her bucket down and un-gloved her hand. Reaching down she collected some grain out of the bucket and remembering how Alice had done, she laid her hand out flat and within moments a horse appeared licking up the grain from her hand, causing Mai to squeak with surprise. This of course caused the horse to back up quickly and Alice was at Mai's side in a moment with a finger to her mouth. Mai frowned slightly before speaking softly, "Sorry...I will try to contain myself next time."
Alice nodded and after about ten minutes all the horses had been given their early morning treat. Mai sighed and smiled as she watched Alice gently pet the muzzle of one of the large creatures. Mai liked being able to spend time with the animals and Alice, but Mai also decided she could not imagine herself doing it everyday. She was definitely a city girl through and through. Mai could not help wondering why the girl before her was so silent. She knew there had to be a reason - working with Naru she had learned there was always a reason behind everything - why Alice chose silence. Shaking the thought away, Mai turned to face the horse, who's muzzle had been nuzzling her head for several minutes for attention. With a smile she turned and began to pet it's muzzle gently, following Alice's lead.
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The base had quickly become ground zero for organized chaos, as Ayako was gently easing Masako out of her soaked kimono styled coat. Takigawa had gone to the kitchen with John and Mr. Walker to throw some towels into the dryer. Masako was chilled to the bone and still unconscious.
Naru eyed Masako with hidden concern and once she was settled comfortably on one of the sofas under, warm towels and blankets, he turned to look at Ayako, "Miss Matsuzaki I need you to tell me everything that happened."
Ayako nodded, as she finally slipped out of her coat and took a seat near the warm lit fire place, "Masako and I decided it would be best to branch off from the guys and head toward the north side of the ranch. Everything was going as planned until Masako stopped out of nowhere and started staring into a hedgerow of trees. She told me to stop as well and not move another inch toward them," Ayako paused crossing her arms, "She even raised her arm to prevent my movement, which was a little strange. Very un-Masako...anyway she asked me if I sensed anything," Ayako stopped and looked down toward her feet.
"Did you?" Naru's voice was stern and quick.
"No I didn't and that is when she told me I should call Monk and John. I was getting ready to pull out my phone and do just that when I noticed she had gone suddenly pale. The next thing I know she says 'He's here' and passes out face first in the snow. That is when I called Takigawa and we high tailed it back to the base..." Ayako paused and looked over at Masako, who's skin was quickly regaining it's color, "...I still don't know what it is she was talking about. I didn't see anyone in the trees."
"I see..." Naru turned to face Mr. Walker, "...could you take Sephora into the kitchen for a bit. I need to discuss some things with my team and if I recall there were still some cinnamon rolls on the counter when we came back inside."
Easton took the hint and nodded, "Sure..." gently he took Sephora's shoulders and guided her toward the kitchen, "...we will be in here should you need us."
After Naru heard the footsteps recede he turned back toward the team before him, "Okay...what do you all think?"
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Mai was still unsure about her current situation. Somehow she had managed to let Alice silently talk her into riding one of the horses to the outer area of the property. Mai had watched Alice with amazed silence as the younger girl saddled two large mares and bridled them. It had taken Mai several minutes to realize one of the horses was meant for her to ride. Alice had popped Mai up onto the horse so quickly she could barely remember it happening. Alice had rolled her eyes at Mai's stick straight form upon sitting on top of the large horse. Mai shrugged at the memory of how stupid she must have looked to Alice. Mai could remember letting out a strong sigh of relief when she watched the younger woman hook the bridle to her own horse.
Mai felt the bitter air kiss her rosy cheeks as the ride continued. She had not seen this area of the ranch the day before and Mai guessed they were on the opposite end of the cemetery grounds. Mai shook silently, recalling the events which had transpired there mere hours before. The dreams had been very frightening and difficult to get through. Mai was stirred from her silent musings when suddenly her horse halted and she was pushed forward slightly into the saddle. Mai glanced down at the horse whose name had been a complicated English word. She remembered something on the stall in the way of Snick-dood-led or something and glared, "Geez Snicks...could have stopped a little nicer couldn't you?"
Alice ignored Mai and jumped down from her own horse to tie the bridles to a post in the snow. Alice then stepped over to Mai and helped her down, "Thanks!" Mai's reply was cheery and she smiled brightly toward Alice, who again ignored Mai and her smile and started walking. Mai turned, a little put out and began to follow silently. She was slowly becoming tired by Alice's sudden mood changes. It was exhausting to not know whether the girl would be happy or pissed with each passing moment. Mai crossed her arms over her chest and yawned. It was the first time she had felt tired since she had woken up and she sighed drowsily as she continued to walk through the snow. Finally, Mai was not sure whether it was boredom or curiosity, but one of them got the better of her and she whined, "Alice...why are we out here? It is cold and creepy...why did you bring me all the way out to the middle of nowhere for goodness sake?"
Mai looked around sourly and was taken aback when she nearly ran straight into Alice who had turned to face her with an annoyed glare, "Sorry..." Mai took a couple of steps back and looked at her as she pointed to a tree. For a few minutes Mai looked at Alice like she was crazy, "So...you had me ride several miles and trek through the cold snow to show me a tree...wait...this...oh my!"
Mai sprinted toward the tree after realizing it was the same tree she had seen in the photos from the hanging incident. She had only been able to catch glimpses of them when Mr. Walker showed them to Naru, but she remembered. When Mai made it to the tree she took a moment to collect herself, laying her hands on her knees, panting. Mai sighed heavily looking up at the huge tree. She could make out the branch the worker must have been hung from and she felt a chill crawl up her spine as she looked at the surrounding area. Mai turned back to look at Alice who was keeping her distance from the tree.
Mai was suddenly struck with a feeling of regret, having doubted the younger woman, "This is what you wanted to show me, isn't Alice. It would have taken a lot of time to get someone out here and kill them," Mai turned away from her again, "But I am not sure I understand why you wanted to show me all of this. What were you wanting me to...AHHHHH!"
Before Mai could finish she felt herself being suddenly swept up and off of her feet by an unseen force and the only thing she could do was scream. After a few moments she realized something was holding her upside from the tree. looking up toward the sky she saw her foot in the confines of a tied rope. Mai widened her eyes in shock and disbelief. Naru would be livid. Mai attempted to shift her weight to look at Alice who was almost to her side, "This is what you wanted to show me...isn't it?"
Mai question was filled with embarrassment and defeat and she smirked when Alice sent her a silent nod, "Damn my curiosity," Mai sighed and shivered for a moment, "Listen to me Alice...you are going to have to go back to the main ranch house and get my boss. I don't want you to get hurt trying to get me down," Mai paused as she watched Alice look at her like she was crazy, "No buts! Just hurry back...it isn't like I will be going anywhere. You can leave Snickee or Snicks...or whatever her name is here with me. We will be fine," Mai smiled reassuringly at Alice who was wary about the situation, although Mai noticed the girl must have thought through the current dilemma and realized there really was no other option.
With a grimace Alice strategically walked up to Mai and took out a pocket knife, careful of where she stepped. Sighing she cut the leather necklace from Mai's neck. She was not one to talk to strange people and she figured Mr. Shibuya would react if he saw Mai's necklace in her hands.
Mai smiled, knowing what Alice was doing and smiled lightly as she watched the girl unhook her horse and gallop off toward the ranch house. After Alice was out of sight Mai lost it, "STUPID, STUPID, STUPID! How could you be so incredibly STUPID!" After ranting for a few moments Mai closed her eyes in frustration and an attempt to stop the blood from rushing to her head. She was starting to get cold because her unfortunate position had caused her sweater and coat to ride up to her chest and reveal her bare belly to the cold air.
Mai could not believe she had allowed the current events to transpire and she decided maybe she truly did need to start being more careful. Frustrated Mai noticed the horse looking at her from his post, "What are you looking at?" The horse looked at her for a few more moments and then uninterested turned away. Mai sighed heavily again and closed her eyes. It was going to be a very long day.
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Naru crossed his arms grumpily. The conversation he had opened was swiftly going nowhere fast and he was quickly becoming annoyed with the current state of the situation. He angrily brought a hand to his temple and rubbed it gently, trying to release some of the tension which was building there. He had explained his conversation with Sephora to the group. Relaying the fact the young girl was having visions of future events and had indeed seen Miss Hara in one of them, "Okay...so nobody seems to have a valid explanation?" The question had come out much more angrily than Naru had intended, but the effect was the one he had aimed for. Silence issued forth into the small space and he nodded, turning toward Lin who handed him a stack of files and information on the ranch, "Well then I suggest you all start looking for some explanations. We need to discover the origin of Sephora's visions and the entity which has overpowered Miss Hara," he half tossed, half laid the huge piles onto the coffee table in front of everyone, "Get to it."
A unanimous sigh filled the silence of the room and Naru smirked at the finally found silence. His head had been killing him since their arrival on the property and the added tension of the room had been enough to drive him mad. Silence, was indeed golden and as Naru began to relish in it he opened his laptop to start some research of his own.
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Mai was beginning to lose the feeling in her toes and her fingers were also becoming numb. She had attempted, for the first ten minutes of being upside down, to try and keep her torso and belly covered but it had been proven a vain attempt at best. She was cold, frustrated and on the verge of angry tears when she was abruptly pulled into a sudden state of awareness. From behind her, inside the grove of trees, Mai was certain she had heard something move.
Mai shifted slightly, attempting to turn toward the grove of trees, however, she stopped again instantly as she heard the leaves rustle. This time, Mai was certain she had heard something and she silently started to panic. She could feel her heartbeat picking up speed and she squirmed a little against the rope which held her up.
Before Mai knew what had happened she turned her head, straining her neck as she heard her horse companion let out a agonized sound. Mai knew what horses sounded like and the sound which had emanated from creature was most decidedly not normal. Mai felt as though she would become a pretzel if she twisted her body anymore but she craned her neck around gasping at what her eyes were met with. In front her, Mai watched, as the horse was slowly pushed down by an unseen force. It almost appeared as though it was being crushed and Mai could hear the animal screaming in agony.
Mai felt a wave of nausea hit her stomach as she heard what sounding like bones snapping and she could not help the cry which shot out of her mouth, "STOP IT! PLEASE STOP!" After a few moments the horse became still and Mai knew in her heart the creature had passed on. She felt tears falling from her hair as they made their way up to her forehead and then down toward the ground. Mai suddenly felt much colder then before and sensed something next to her.
She warily shifted her eyes to the right and what she saw terrified her.
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Naru had been typing in silence and reading for the past twenty minutes and he honestly felt like he was in heaven. He had been able to glean some information from an old tourist website which had been put together back when the ranch had been in its hay day. It seemed the property had been racked with a bad epidemic of Tuberculosis and as Naru read through the list of symptoms his thoughts kept returning to Mai and her reaction at the cemetery.
Naru released air from between his teeth in added frustration. They would have to deal with the hauntings on a singular basis; it was obvious to him now the ranch had separate instances of paranormal activity. However, Naru could not shake the feeling of unease he had. Something had to be in play at the property, something was amiss.
Naru looked up as he heard Takigawa shift into a standing position, "Naru...I think I found something which might interest you. Here is a record of..." the Monk was cut off before he could finish, however, by the abrupt opening of the front door.
The team looked up simultaneously to be met with Alice. Her hair wild and her face red; she seemed terrified and worried at the same time and she searched the room for a few moments before setting her gaze on Naru. Silently she stalked forward and stood in front of him.
Naru could not help feeling slightly unnerved from the proximity he now shared with the girl. She had written a new definition on the topic of 'invading personal space', "Can I help you Alice?"
Alice stared up at him with wild eyes and Naru could tell she was trying to decide whether or not she would speak to him. Her eyes shifted up as she watched Easton enter the room with Sephora, "Alice...I have told you a million times to shut the door when you come in," Alice turned away from Easton's frivolous attempt to scold her and once again looked at Naru. Deciding quickly Alice grabbed Naru wrist and forced it toward herself.
Naru's first instinct had been to try and retract his arm from the strange girl, however, he soon released the tension and allowed her to open his hand. Naru's eyes went wide at what she left there, "Where did you get this?" Naru looked up at her with a stern hint in his eyes and he pulled his arm out of her grasp roughly. In his hand was one of Mai's necklaces and from the looks of it, it had been cut from around her neck. Easton stepped forward in concern, trying to see what Naru was holding onto.
Alice eyed them both silently and shared a silent understanding with Naru who turned abruptly to face Lin, "Lin with me..." Naru slammed his laptop a little too roughly, "...the rest of you...find out what happened and don't leave the base. Also find Miss Arai and make sure she and Sephora do not leave your sight. I don't know what is going on here, but whatever it is, it is messing with us."
"But Naru..." Monk's voice was defeated before he started.
"Just do it..." Naru turned to Easton, "Mr. Walker I believe we may require your assistance."
"Of course," Easton smiled with concern, "Anything to be of help."
Alice was growing tired of the idle chatter and suddenly she grasped Naru's hand again tugging on it with silent urgency. Naru nodded in return allowed Alice to pull him out of the room. Once outside she jumped on the horse and raced toward the barn she and Mai had passed time in earlier that morning, "We will follow you over there on foot Alice," Easton's voice rang out over the cold winter wind as he, Lin, and Naru jogged behind her.
After reaching the barn the three men saw Alice saddling a horse. Easton silently followed her lead and bridled the same one, "Sorry gentleman, but there is no time for riding lessons. Do either of you have any riding experience?"
Lin sighed, "I do...but only classical."
"Works all the same," Easton smiled and sent Alice to fetch another horse, "Mr. Shibuya, you can double saddle with Alice. It will put less strain on the horses that way."
Naru smirked silently at the thought of even having to endure riding a horse. He had a decent amount of motion sickness and hated not being in control of his body. However, his concern for Mai won over his want for self preservation and he stoically waited for the horses to be ready. Naru had to hold back a grin as he watched his tall Chinese companion mount the large creature. He never knew Lin knew how to ride and found it interesting there was something he had yet to learn about his friend.
Alice was at his side in an instant and she sent a hand down to him which he grasped and with the help of her arm and quick boost from Easton, Naru managed to get seated behind her. Naru had to strain his ears when he heard her utter a short and airy, "Hold on," and before Naru quite new what was happening the horse had taken off, followed by Mr. Easton and Lin. Naru felt his arms suddenly clasp Alice in sheer panic and surprise and he felt her tense ever so slightly at his hold. Naru decided at that moment it was definitely going to be a long day.
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Mai had started to scream when she had realized there was something, or rather, someone beside her. Her scream had been silenced, however, by a swift hand to her mouth. Mai's eyes were spinning wildly in an attempt to take in her surroundings. She was terrified at the prospect of the situation she found herself in and she was unsure of what to do. The hand on her face was very cold to the touch and when Mai was finally able to focus her stuttering eyes on the person next to her she wanted to scream again.
The man clasping her mouth shut was ghostly pale and had half of his skull and brain missing. He was surrounded by a faint blue glow and Mai knew instantly he was no longer alive. Suddenly, Mai realized she was looking at the man from her dream. At first she had not recognized him, but the wound was the same. She shivered as she remembered the gunshot and the blood. Mai tried to calm her shaking nerves and noticed the man seemed frantic, "You should be dead!"
Mai widened her eyes again as she realized the spirit must not realize his current state and she shifted uncomfortably when she felt him reach out and caress her bare stomach. Mai shuddered at his touch and her cheeks turned pink at the uncomfortable way her caressed her skin. She felt violated and she shut her eyes in an attempt to ignore the man and his touches. Mai soon found her eyes wide again with his next statement, "I suppose I will have to try again."
Before she could protest Mai suddenly felt several sharp whip like stings across her bare belly and realized they must be sickles from the spirit's energy. She had become familiar with the power on several of the team's former cases. Mai shook when she remembered one in particular where Naru had almost lost his life. Mai choked suddenly and she focused her eyes once more to see the spirit had managed to wrap its cold hands around her throat, "St-op...stop it...ple-ase..."
Mai attempted to make the entity stop and as she spoke she could feel blood dripping from several wounds on her chest and torso. The blood was rolling down her belly and she could taste it on her lips. Tears were forming in her eyes and silently she could only think of one thing, Naru. Mai could feel her world going black as she fought to keep her eyes open, "Na—ru...help me..."
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Okay everybody! Thank you for the reviews so far on this fiction! I am glad so many of you are reading and reviewing! It really does make me happy to know you all enjoy the story! Sorry about the cliffhanger here, but it had to be done. I cannot go too long without leaving you all with a good cliffy. LOL ^_^
Please continue to review! I love hearing from all of you! Also let me know what you would like to see in the story and I will try and make it happen the best that I can. There will be a lot more focus on Lin in the next chapter so stay tuned and check back!
Love you all!
