Chapter 9

Friday May 4th : Before sunrise
Day 4
Case 1 : Day 4


"Who the hell are you," Kat said with Mai's mouth at the blue-eyed girl standing before them.

"Be nice!" Mai grunted back. She put her hands on her hip and rolled her eyes as if she could see Katerlina behind them.

"Forgive me if I am wrong. But are you Zoe Rosenberg?" Gene questioned. The girl never looked at his direction just continued to stare oddly at the possessed Mai, who was yet again arguing with herself. She nodded, answering Genes question.

"I-Is she alright?" She pointed at the back and forth bickering Mai/Kat. Gene laughed

"Hey! The both of you are scaring the poor girl!" Gene yelled to snap them both back to reality.

"Tell her to get out of me!" Mai squealed

"Well tell her to start being grateful!" Kat spat back

"Grateful?! You nearly killed us with your voodoo! And then you have the nerve to possess me!" Mai clapped back

"For your information, I saved your ass from being killed! And it's your voodoo I used!" Kat shouted. Gene sighed and shook his head.

"Listen, we have a bigger problem here and I need the both of you to start acting your age"

"I am acting my age! She isn't!" both Mai and Kat said together.

"We don't have much time." the girl spoke softly. Mai/Kat looked at her for the first time since arriving

"Zoe, it's me, Mai. You came to me in the Base room a couple days ago" Mai walked up to her

"I remember. I was trying to warn you"

"I know, I figured that out. I was able to see the memories of the maids your father killed. You appeared to them"

"That thing is not my father anymore. He died long ago when he started to drink" Zoe sneered in disgust.

"I'm so sorry for what he did to you." the girl begun to shake and tears followed "Let me help you, Zoe"

"H-he killed me. I tried to tell everyone, but no one would believe me." she wailed. Gene came and embraced her, holding her sobbing head to his chest.

"What happened that night you died," Mai asked

"We didn't have time for this right now Mai, we have to leave this place. The wall isn't going to last long, he'll break through" Kat chimed in. Mai huffed

"I have to help her move on! I'm the only one who has contact with Zoe. I need to figure this case out" Mai placed her hands on her hip in frustration at the spirit within.

"N-No, the other part of you is right. It will be any minute now." Zoe Pulled away from Gene and began to walk away from the stone wall. "Follow me, I know a way out. Plus there is someone that is going to need your help. Hurry."

Gene shrugged his shoulder at Mai/Kat and followed the spirit girl. They walked in silence for what felt like hours. Mai could feel her body weaken, even with the help from Katerlina. The tunnel was long and twisty. At one point there was a break and turn off point, where Zoe lead them down. The light showed at the end of the tunnel.

"This is the only place on the property that is safe from him...my father." Zoe finally said. When walked through the light. The underground stone tunnel turned into an underground cave. High above us the earth rose, showing the early morning night sky. The smell of fresh air and dew mixed. The sound of running water drew Mai's attention to her left, a small waterfall, barely a stream fell from the top of the earth and down. A small pool of water collected at the base and ran down the cave.

"Oh my god," Mai said in disbelief "Tiana!" Mai, rushed through the running underground stream to the girl, barely alive on the other side.

"Tiana, it's me, Mai. From SPR. Can you hear me?" Mai grabbed her head, forcing Tiana to look at her.
"Y-yes," she said sheepishly "My legs" Mai took a closer look at her legs. Badly bruised, but her right look broken and turning a nasty purple color.

"How did she get here?" Gene asked Zoe. They both stood above Mai/Kat and Tiana.

"She was out in the Garden a few days back. I had appeared to her. I startled her, but what caused her to run was my father behind her. But in the end, he got her and brought her here, where he would do the sacrifice. But she got lucky, my father was injured."

"Lin's Shiki must have done some damage," Mai said to herself.

"I came to her, she was injured and scared. I was finally able to convince her to follow me here. But her leg was broken. She made it, but hasn't been able to move on her own."

"You saved her," Gene said

"I try to save as many as I could. My father practiced the dark arts soon after we moved here. He killed girls even when my mother and I were alive. We just never knew"

"That's terrible" Mai sadly spoke.

"Let's go, Mai, we have to get her help," Kat said, using Mai's arms, she helped the maid up and leaned her against herself. Wrapping one of Tiana's arms around her neck, Kat placed Mai's free arm around the girls thin waste

"Miss Mai, are you alright?" Tiana asked as she limped. Mai sighed, it has become a reoccurring question as of late

"Yes. Don't be worried if I talk to myself. It's just Kat. You can always tell. I'm the sweet one and shes the sarcastic brat.

"You little twit! I swear after this I'll let you suffer" Kat said with malice. Tiana let out a small laugh.

"I never believed in any of this stuff. It's wild that it's all true. Ghost and demons"

"Well that makes two of us, I guess. Didn't believe either till last year." Mai replied. "Zoe, do you know a way out?"

"I do. Right through here, but the terrain goes up, it's going to be hard to manage with both of you injured." Mai cried with annoyance

"Why couldn't I be a normal teenager with a normal job at the mall?" she spoke to her self "nope, I have to be the idiot who touched the damn camera!" the group laughed at Mai's comments to her self as they made their escape.


Naru looked out the window as he watched the morning sun rise above the East Woods. Fingering the gold necklace in his hand. Still no location on Mai. The block kept him from locating her. He sighed. Moments later a gentle touch was placed on his shoulder. He looked to his right, Miss. Hara stood with a cup of tea in her hand

"You're not yourself without tea Oliver." he took the cup from her porcelain hands. Without thanks, he walked to the monitors.

"Oliver, I was thinking." Miss. Hara followed in suit "of calling Gene" she finished softly. Naru's head whipped around. The others who were once minding their business now looked at the girl

"Excuse me" he didn't her to repeat herself. That was a tone of you better change your question. Masako stood straight and looked right him

"Gene was with Mia in the ballroom. He is most likely lingering around or with her right now. He could help us with where Mai is."

"Out of the question." Naru turned and sat down.

"Oliver, this could help Mai" she urged

"You don't want to help her. You want to speak with Gene" he shut her down. Gene was once dating Masako before he died. And after his death, Gene never once showed himself to her. She never got to say goodbye. The room was silent, awkward to say the least. Masako showed visible signs of hurt across her doll-like face. There was clearly a history between the three of them.

"Masako, there are other ways than calling him. That was out of line to ask" Ayako said to the younger girl. Masako glanced at the redhead, pointed her nose up and left the room.

"Yasu, follow Miss. Hara. Apparently, she believes her self to good to listen to orders." Yasu, not even bothering to answer to the awaken cold lord, quickly exited the panicked room. Monk, on the other hand, snickered at Naru's remarks to the doll.


Hours passed, as Zoe lead them to above ground. It took till sunrise to get out of the underground cavern. The heat started to creep in the air of the early morning.

"I can't keep this up much longer" Mai panted out. Her own body failing her. Tiana barley even able to stand much longer.

"We are almost to the edge of the house, I promise not much longer," Zoe said, pointing north of her. Minutes went by

"Mai, the house" Kat said. Mai rolled her eyes for what felt like the billionth time today.

"I know Kat. We are seeing through the same eyes" they reached the clearing, Mai's knees buckled beneath her. Tiana landing next to her, cried out in pain as she landed on her broken leg.

"I'm so sorry Tiana!"

"I'm okay"

"Gene" Mai looked up at him "Get Naru" she rasped out. Katerlina released herself from Mai.

"Gene, hurry. Mai is losing blood. And her fever is skyrocketing." Gene nodded and vanished

"We have a problem," Zoe said. Kat looked in the direction the young spirit was looking. Her father was peering through the woods they just came from. Mai let out a low moan, Katerlina looked down

"Oh, this just got much worse" Mai broke out in a heavy sweat, black markings moved over her shoulders. Kat looked towards the house "Hurry Gene" she pleaded


Hours had passed since the spat at sunrise between Masako and Naru. The gang went on as normal. Masako gasped from her seat on the armchair.

"Miss. Hara, do you sense something" Naru inquired. One look at the girl who was frozen in place. Stared directly in front of the window. She rose both shaking hands to her mouth, tears streamed down her face.

"Masako, what's going on?" Madoka walked over to the shaking girl. Madoka looked at Masako's line of vision. She stood up straight "Oh my God" she spoke under her breath. The rest of the group followed their line.

"Took you long enough to realize I was here, idiot" Gene stood by the window, the morning sun casting a warm glow upon his semi-transparent frame. He looked towards his twin.

"Gene" was all Naru could muster. He hasn't spoken to his brother since the day he left for Japan.

"Mai, she needs your help" Gene looked out the window, Naru walked over. "there, at the edge. Tiana is there as well. Both badly hurt"

"Mai!" Naru yelled and ran out the door, followed by the rest of the group. Masako stayed behind.

"Eugene" she crie out. Gene looked at her for a moment. No emotion showing on his face.

"Mai needs my help"

"Oliver is going to her. Everyone else too" she stood and walked to him

"Then shouldn't you be. Aren't you her friend as well" Masako snorted at that comment

"She is nothing to me"

"And you the same to me" Masako was taken back at his comment

"What?" she gasped out

"Don't think that I forgot what you did to me. Be lucky I never told my family about you sleeping around while I courted you." Masako looked away from her former boyfriend. "I was on the phone with you when I was hit by the car when I found out you were cheating."

"I never meant for this to happen" she started to cry "I've felt so guilty since that day"

"You should." He began to fade away "I'll keep your dirty secret Masako. Wouldn't want that to interfere with getting with Oliver. Which was your plan in the first place" Masako's eyes went large

"Gene I-" she never finished her sentence since he was already gone. Masako dried her tears and looked out the window to where Naru knelt beside Mai,


"Mai, are you alright," Naru asked

"Don't touch her!" Kat warned him "Her body is overheating, she's going through another attack. If you touch her, she'll burn you" she explained to him

"Who the hell are you?" Monk rushed towards Mai. Ayako and John tend to Tiana. Yasu was on the phone with Mrs. Mataki to tell her we found Tiana alive and will be transported to Rosenberg Hospital.

"I'll explain everything later. Right now there's a larger issue." Katerlina looked towards the wood, the demon form of Mr. Rosenberg moved forward growling

"How the hell did we miss that thing!" Monk shrieked out. "Ayako, get Tiana somewhere safe!" Ayako and John lifted Tiana and quickly walked away from the danger coming forth.

"Madoka, Yasu get out of here" Lin shouted. "Naru, we have to get Mai to safety"

"No" the three men looked at Mai's doppelganger "I can use her"

"You will do no such thing. Leave her be" Monk told her, stepping in front of Mai. Kat snorted

"Oh sweetheart, you have no idea who you are talking too. Step aside unless you all rather be torn to shreds"

"What do you plan on doing with Mai's body," Lin asked, also stepping closer to Mai and Naru

"Mai is a Carpe. She has my blood. I know how to rid the demon. This thing is far more powerful then what you are capable of handling. Her seal is broken. I can take her energy and use a spell of light to destroy it." she explains "we don't have time"

"Let her pass Bou-san. I trust her" Monk looked to the laying girl, tattered, bruised and bloody. Looked back at Kat and stepped aside. Katerlina leaned in and possessed Mai once more.

"Ready Mai," she said with a smirk

"Not really. But use me to the fullest" Mai felt her body start to burn, her back ached. She could feel her skin tremble and move as markings cascaded down her arms. The air around stiffened and swirled around her.

"This is going to be quick I promise. Its a spell of light. You don't have your full power, so it's not going to be the real thing" Kat raised Mai's arms in front of her, her hands spread out.

"Kat, this hurts!" Mai yelled

"Stop! You're hurting her!" Bou-san tried to reach Mai, the air around her blocked his path, to strong to break through.

"This isn't enough! It's not going to work" Kat said to Mai "Please, Mai. Don t fight the feeling"

"I'm not fighting anything. I can't take it, my mind is getting hazy" she panted out

"Just a little longer!" The air whipped around, the leaves on the trees flew off, leaving branches bare in the strong winds. The grass around was cut short. Both girls gasped at the sudden warmth

"I'm here" Mai looked with wide eyes, her mother stood next to her, in a beautiful golden light. "Let me lend you my remaining energy

"M-mom" Tears formed and fell from only one brown eye. Mira smiled at her daughter and leaned in. merging her spirit with Mai's body and Kat's spirit. Power boomed through the shared body
"What is this feeling!" Mai felt an exhilarating sensation pulse through her.

"This is what it feels like to be a Carpe Mai" Kat grinned "I haven't felt this power in so long, feels good. Get ready!" Mai watched in amazement as a single white light formed in between her stretched hands.

"It's coming towards us," Mira said, just a few more steps." Mai/ Kat nodded in agreement, knowing what Mira meant.

"NOW!" Kat and Mira said together, using Mai's mouth. All at once the ball of light flew from Mai's hands, crushing onto the demon. Bright white light burned her eyes and the boys around. The demon screamed out in pain as it was set ablaze. The white light, burned and combusted into red flames

"Oh my god" Mai looked is awe "Is that suppose to happen!?" she could he the giggles of her late mother

"Yes. The spell of light was created to ward off demons like this one. Sadly even with my add reaming energy, this wasn't the full potential of the spell." Monk, Lin, and Naru rushed up to Mai once the wind around her died down.

"Mai, are you okay" Monk asked. Lin watched as the demon lashed around burning on the ground, its cries could be heard. The soul is being purified. Though he won't be seeing the light in the aftermath. Mira exited Mai.

"It's time for me to take my leave"

"No, you have explaining to do!" Mai yelled at her. Mira smiled and placed a cold kiss on her forehead

"Soon my little Carpe" Mira, glowed gold and faded away

"MOM!" Mai reached out, trying to grab hold of her mothers spirit. Tears spilling "Don't!" Mira smiled one last time and vanished.

"Mai," Kat exited Mai's body "I can't stay longer. I used too much spiritual energy, I'm sorry" She said as she faded quickly. Mai smiled at Kat as she watched her fade as well, falling slowly back. Landing in the arms of her boss.

"N-Naru" Mai's body went limp in his arms