Author's Note: Thanks for being patient with me. I've got lots to do this month. My first interview went horribly but I'm hoping to get the next interview right. Wish me good luck.
Chapter 8
The smell of lavish food wafted in the air, compelling all the SPR members to fill up their stomachs. Sunao had invited them all to be at the dining hall at exactly half past seven to enjoy dinner together with her family.
"It's time!" Bou-san informed as he hastily went out of the door.
"That gluttonous old geezer!" Ayako exclaimed as she followed him in pursuit, worried that Bou-san might give a bad impression of the team.
John can only sigh and went after them to make sure they didn't end up bickering loudly and disturb the Takeda family. All that remained in the base were Naru, Lin, Masako and Mai. The two females had decided to stay in the base and tell Naru about the strange dream.
"Naru. Earlier I had a dream and perhaps it can shed some light to the case," Mai started.
Naru had a thoughtful look on his face before calling Lin over to hear and record the dream using his laptop. Mai told them everything she saw and every word she heard as best as she could. When Masako mentioned that she was also seeing the same dream, Naru was in his thinking pose; his right hand touched his chin. When both of them finished talking, Naru had excused them to have dinner.
Mai closed the door noiselessly behind her as she and Masako went out of the door, heading to the dining hall. Their footsteps faded away from the base and silence ensued once again. Naru was still thinking deeply about the information Mai had relayed on to him. On the other hand, Lin had returned to the desk which he had claimed will be his for the entire case. Bou-san had wondered out loud as to why Lin had picked that particular desk and placed it at a specific space in the base but he knew that those questions would remain unanswered. Lin's eyebrows had furrowed when he heard him but he decided to ignore the 'musing of an old man' as Lin insulted him in his mind.
Back in the present at the dining hall, everyone enjoyed their food and shared laughter. The atmosphere was very jolly and light-hearted as if a family was having a reunion and was just catching up on each other; as though there was nothing dangerous lurking in the shadows. At the far corner of the house, a puff of smoke can be seen seeping into the floorboards and into the basement. If one blink, they would have missed it and indeed Lin was distracted from looking into the monitors- maybe it was a coincidence or maybe he was tricked into it. Nevertheless, no one had sense the presence of the mysterious being. Yet.
"Aren't you getting dinner? You haven't eat all day long," the older of the two mentioned as he faced the young boss.
"I'm not. Aren't you?" Naru asked.
"Well, I suggest you come with me. If you don't move from that spot, I will use force to drag you down to the dining hall," Lin replied, slightly threatening.
Naru groaned in frustration before he made a move to the door. He always hated when Lin use threats against him. Although Naru could just refused, he also knew that Lin could be very dangerous if provoked or angered.
Both of them left the base empty, silent with exception of the constant hum of the equipment. Into the monitor, one can see a barely noticable change. A slight static. A distortion in the space. In a glimpse, it was gone. As if it was never there to begin with. The only evidence about it was a message left behind, recorded by the microphone along with the camera capturing the split second anomaly in the space.
Regardless, everything was already set in motion and soon, they will all be in the mercy of the powerful being. They shall fall deep beneath and they will not realize it until it was too late.
Author's note: Is that enough? I know there was not so much of an action but just spare me this once. I had too many works to do and with tests coming up. I'll try to update once in a while
