Chapter 10

When I got back to the house I was too weak to answer any questions I walked straight through the house and out to my sanctuary. When I arrived i dropped to my knees for the second time that day, laying on my back I let the reality of what happened sink in. Dread and sorrow slowly seeped their way into my core, the feeling horribly familiar and frightening. I had nothing left to live for, no one was there for me and I had no one to protect anymore. flinching as I heard movement behind me, "You know, everyone I've loved is dead or gone now and I think I'm losing my mind. I see them, my parents, my sister, my friends, I see them in things that remind me of how they left. Whenever I drive I see my parents, whenever I see a couple or friends walking down the street I think my friend," I stopped taking a deep breath, "And now, I see Mary. I see her everywhere."

"I see the same thing, my brother went missing down here, that's why I came down here in the first place." He said. I stood shocked that's why he was so tense when Mai yelled at him the other day. Soon he turned and left me alone in silence, leaving me and my depression to sink in.

After he left I felt a strange presence near me, the shade that killed my sister stood across the field. I glared at it before it disappeared. I heard a scream in the distance that caused me to race to to problem. Mai was dangling from a branch high above the ground, the branch bent dangerously almost breaking as she gently swayed in the wind. I saw the masked figure and the shade that killed Mary standing above her, the shade pulling her fingers loose one at a time, Mai suddenly dropped and I rushed forward. Diving under the falling girl, we collided and I stopped her fall. I groaned as she rolled off my back, I frantically searched for the figure or shade but I didn't find anything.

"Are you okay, Mai?" I asked as she stood, I crouched to my feet beside her after catching my breath.

"I think so, were those the ghost that were attacking you and Mary?"

"Ya, I'm glad you're okay." I said dusting some dirt off of my pants, "Why were you alone out here, anyway? I thought you were back at the house with the others."

"I was, but when Naru came back alone, I got worried. So I thought I would see if you wanted company. No one wants to be alone after someone you love dies." I smiled and hugged her, she was so nice and didn't even try.

"You know you remind me of her a lot. You're always smiling, and looking on the bright side. Caring about others before yourself." I said. "Let's get you back to the house before they rest of them begin to wonder where you are."

"Good Idea." She agreed and began to run, calling behind to me, "Race you there." I smiled and began to run to catch up with her, I still felt like someone was watching but it didn't bother me at the moment, I focused on beating Mai. I failed miserably but at least I could see her the whole time.

"Wow, you're fast. How did you do that?" I smiled as she blushed,"There's nothing to be shy about, it's a good thing." Before she could answer, I pushed her towards the house, I saw the shade from before standing along the edge of the trees.

"What was that for?"

"Mai go to the house and get the others."

"But.."

"Now, Mai!" I shouted. It moved towards me, I had to protect Mai and give her time to get the others, so I rushed at it, colliding head on. I was thrown into a nearby tree, causing me to grunt in pain. It attacked again this time I ran, watching how close the shade was, around lawn ornaments that scattered across our yard soon the masked figure joined the chase. I tripped on a stray gnome, rolling into the dirt, both the shade and the figure grabbed me and dragged me towards the woods.

Screaming as the house became smaller and blocked by more and more trees, I saw Naru and Takigawa run out of the door after me, the rest of the group close behind them. I reach one final time before I'm carried downstairs and into a cell like room. It was pitch black in the room, and dead silent. The thick Iron door slammed shut after I was thrown into it muffled any sounds of my rescue. I looked for the door but I couldn't see anything, feeling around the soil beneath me was wet with something and a horrible smell filled the air.

I heard loud screams surround me, they got louder and louder until they seemed to be right beside me. Covering my ears I curling into the fetal position, trying to dull the they stopped as quickly as they started, leaving only one voice to be heard among the silence.

"Scarlet! Scarlet, Help Me!" The voice called. It was Mary, but she was dead. It didn't matter she needed me and I would not fail her this time. I pushed the forces that were keeping me on the spot away, then I ran towards the voice. The voice stopped with one final scream, and I was pushed down again, this time a hand pulled my head back by my hair. This time it was me who screamed, I heard a banging against the metal of the door and hoped it would open soon. The masked swordsman moved towards me holding the sword high above it's head, swinging it downwards towards me. I rolled to avoid the sword and jumped when it swung from a lower level. This pattern continued for a long time, when it zigged I zagged. The adrenaline was keeping me going, but even it was losing it's affect, my body slowed down it began getting harder and harder to avoid the blade. I zigged when I should have zagged catching arm on his blade.

That's when the shade joined in, he attacked me from the back holding my arms behind my back, and pulling me to the ground. Twisting my now bleeding arm, it forced me to lean forward so the masked figure could cut my neck easily. Once again my body heated up I tried to lift my head but the shade wouldn't let me. I closed my eyes waiting for death to come, when the door was kicked in with a loud crash revealing the SPR team, but they were too late, the masked swordsman swung the sword. I felt a weight collide with my body throwing me across the room and into something else. Then I heard Takigawa's chanting begin again, then Matsuzaki's and Mai's voices were heard, chanting a different one.

I rolled off of whoever moved me, kneeling beside them. I came face to face with John, wow he was cute, Scarlet stop ogling and get off him, I thought as I stood slowly helping him to his feet.

"Why is it everytime we meet I land on you?" I asked him. "Why'd you do that, It could've hurt you."

"I didn't. When we got into the room, you were thrown by something out of the way." He replied. I turned to the rest of the group sending them a small smile, then my legs began to shake again. I felt my knees give out and I began to fall, when someone caught me. All my adrenaline was gone, the effects worn off leaving me, suffering extreme exhaustion. My body was beginning to shut down and I could feel it. I looked around, not sure what I was looking for but I saw Mary. She shone brightly and said to me, "I'm safe, don't blame yourself for what happened. We all love you, and are watching you from above."

She kissed my forehead and disappeared. Suddenly my exhaustion was gone I regained my footing but remained holding on to john, the one who caught me, just in case. "Goodbye Mary." I whispered as her light disappeared.

Masako, moved towards me, and hugged me. I stood awkwardly for a few seconds, I definitely didn't expect that she of all people would be hugging me, but when she didn't let go I relaxed into the hug and hugged her back slightly. The rest of the group just sort of stood awkwardly as they watched. I swayed as she released me from the hug, a small amount of blood from my arm had rubbed on her kimono. Gazing down I found that my arm was still bleeding.

"Damn it." I muttered.

"What?" Mai asked oblivious to the blood.

"Mai, if you would pay attention, Miss Pearce is bleeding." Naru said.

"Hey, there is no need to be rude. She just didn't noticed there was other things that were more important." I snapped. I let go of John and began to move to the door, most of my strength was back in my legs. My shirt was torn in so many places I wouldn't be able to wear it again anyway so I ripped a chunk off and tied it around my arm. I reached the door when I heard the rest of the group follow me. At least they knew where they had to exorcise now and that thing could be gone.

Matsuzaki had ran to catch up with me and we walked in silence until she asked, "May I look at your arm when we get back to the house. I'm trained in first aid and you don't want it to get infected."

"Sure, go ahead." I replied. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure, what do you want to know?" She said as we walked to get the first aid kit.

"Well I have two questions. First, does Mr. Shibuya have a brother, and second do you have any idea of what threw me out of the way."

"In all honesty you would be better off to ask Lin your first question. Naru doesn't really take about his family or anything personal that is. For your second question, no but I think you might have someone from the other side watching over you. I've never seen it happen before but it might've also been one of the victims before. For now our first priority will be exorcising those ghosts." She said as she finished tying a knot in the gauze that wrapped around my cut.

"Thank you. I'm going up to Mary's room for a bit. See you later." I said as I left the room. I hung my head as I walked up the stairs and entered Mary's pink room, closing the door behind me. Standing in the doorway I looked at everything my eyes never stopped moving, until I found a picture laying on the bed. That wasn't there when I cleaned up, I thought. Walking slowly over to her bed I sat down looking to see what the was of. It was a picture of Mary and Eugene, both of them smiling brightly, I must have taken it the same day as Mary took the other picture. Both faces were covered in mud, Marys head resting on the top of Eugene's, her feet dangling over his shoulders.

I missed them both so much already it was unbelieveable. I curled up with the picture clutched to my chest, crying silently as I fell asleep. I ran chasing Eugene with Mary on my back, she giggled as I ran faster and faster. I chased him through a forest, dodging trees and jumping over roots, I put Mary down as the scene changed. We stood in front of an old building it was a little run down but still standing and functioning. The area we were in was familiar, I've been here before but I can't remember when. Eugene turned smiling at me, "Come and find me."

"But where are you?" I asked. They appeared across the street and I ran through the vehicles, until I tripped. I came eye to eye with the headlights of a semi.