I'd only just begun working for Naru when a big case was brought in one that even if SPR, short for shibuya psychic research, hadn't taken it then I would have. I don't know what it spoke of to Naru but to me it spoke of a bad sprit. With a few hours of research though my own sources I already found out about the houses past, kidnapping, accidents, suicide, and dying children. In other words the house was a giant mixing pot of bad things. Bad things done to children young ones. I wasn't sure what to expect with this case but I had a feeling things were going to get strange and not in a good way.
The van pulled in front of the house it was big and beautiful, nicely maintained but even from the van I could sense something off. I was on my own for the time being Leigh had stayed home to settle something's before she makes her way up here. Naru hadn't hired her out right but after coming out of his office and finding her in main room a few times he realized we were a packaged deal.
Starring in though the front door at the houses furnishings I couldn't help but think how beautiful it was inside and out. At the door I could hear the faint sounds of crying, children crying, in fear asking for there mothers. It already hurt me and I had yet to even step inside. "We don't have all day Mai" Naru said from in front of me to get me to move forward. I did dreading every step the cries were so loud once I stepped inside, it hurt, I felt sick to my stomach.
"Naru can you hear it?" I don't even know why I asked he wasn't a medium so he wouldn't be able to. He stopped though looking over his shoulder slightly so he could see my face. He starred for a few moments studying me before he continued into the house. Forcing me to follow or else be left alone.
I completely missed the introductions all I could focuse on was the child held in the little girls arms. I could see it's true form not the doll the sprit inside was controlling. The sprit was old and disformed morbid to look at with graying rotted skin and wide eyes that stared intently at me. Already singling me out as its biggest threat. It's eyes glowed and its teeth where sharp and jagged the kimono she wore looked wet a symbol of how she died her hair was limp hanging in tangled wet tresses. This sprit was distorted and tainted, but she wasn't evil. No she was still innocent as all children were she was just, a used puppet that deserved freedom from the crushing evil that covered her being. I shivered when her face distorted even more into a gruesome smile, for now I would have to treat her with extreme caution especially with the other sprits trapped in this house. When Naru and I had entered the room following the Clint at first I had seen a pretty blonde doll in a gorgeous red dress, then the sprit possessed the doll to better watch us. It has only taken her a few minutes of looking between the two of of to figure out I was the main enemy and after that as a show of power she sent the other children sprits in the room away. It was a power play, a move to tell me that she was in full control of the others here.
I was only brought out of my trance when Naru stepped forward explaining he was the boss and owner of SPR. A common misconception with him being so young was many clients mistook him for a subordinate. When my attention returned to doll I saw that the sprit had left, not good. In a house like this with so much going on it would be impossible to track a specific sprits movements. If only I had Leigh's power.
The base camp was all set up not long after we arrived I had done my best to stay with in that room for the time being not wanting to be anywhere on my own until I got my bearings of this place. It wasn't that I was scared, no I was just being cautious with so many different corrupted spirits.
It once we had finished all are set up that Monk and Ayako entered the room having just arrived. "Let me see". Ayako walked purposefully across the room heels clicking with every step to look at what was on the computer. "Clearly the work of an earth sprit." She claimed. Was her answer to all the hauntings earth sprits?
I left the room we'll the group began talking it was time to begin my own investigation. This place was so dark, not literally but figuratively, the place felt evil and sounds of faint crying filled the air constantly. I shuddered the sooner this case was finished the better especially with that possessed doll in the little girls possession.
"It's Mai? Correct?" I looked up suddenly pulled out of my thoughts, "Mai Taiyama, that's correct". I gave her a small smile, I was finding it increasingly difficult to keep up my happy mask, in such a tense atmosphere. "Do you want to help me bring Ayami her snack?"
How did she keep such a happy atmosphere around her? "Sure" I followed her up the stairs. With each step the voices grew louder, they were gathered in an upstairs room and I had a feeling I knew where. My suspicions were proven correct when we stopped before the door where the voices originated from. "Ayami we brought snacks." Her aunt said in greeting as she opened the door. I felt sick at the sight that greeted me. All around the little girl with children so many children all young in various states of decay. Those two from a car crash that one from another drowning and many more types of deaths. All the same though all corrupted souls of passed children. The children rushed past us opening the door that had been previously shut. All but one had left leaving the one still in the doll in her arms. She smiled at me with rotted teeth.
"Ayami was there anyone else in the room with you?" The little girl nodded "yeah a bunch of other kids" she pointed over our shoulders at the open door behind us. I didn't dare look to focused on the spirt before me. She was mouthing something at me. Her rotted teeth appeared behind her gray lips as she spook no sound escaping. I watched intently even as her aunt knelt beside Ayami.
"You can't save them". I heard it her voice sounding as if it came for a great distance. "Mai?" The woman open the ground looked up at me her face a mask of concern. "Watch me" I starred into her sunken eyes. She snared at me in return. Suddenly there was an ear splitting scream from down stairs.