Hello! :) the next chapter. We're having a lot of fun with this *snickers* though, we probably should be nicer to our characters, but o well. it would make the story bad if we were nice.

Questionable Sanity, part 2

Mai handed Lin a clipboard.

"All the temperatures seem normal. In all of the rooms."

Suddenly Masako ran into the room, evidently upset.

"Naru!" He only gave her a passing glare. Monk frowned.

"Masako, where's Ayako?" Monk asked, urgently.

"She's stuck in a room! The door's locked and she's stuck there!"

Naru looked over the screen of monitors. One had a black screen.

"Masako, which room?" Monk asked. Masako ran out, and everyone followed. Soon they came to a door.

"Ayako!" Monk shouted through the door.

"I'm stuck!" she cried back.

"Hara-san, what happened?" Naru asked.

"She went into the room, and suddenly the door closed, and now it won't open!" Naru eyes looked over the door. There was no lock.

"Ayako, stand back!" Monk shouted, and charged at the door, only gaining him a sore shoulder.

"Try harder, idiot!" Ayako yelled.

"The door won't budge!"

"Then how do you expect me to get out of here?"

I'll go get Dai-san!" said John quickly, and ran back in search of him.

"Naru, what should we do?" Mai asked.

"Lin?" Lin nodded, took a run up and kicked the door. It shook slightly, but stayed put. Everyone stared at the door, Lin included.

"This is unusual. We shouldn't have gotten this amount of activity this quickly." Monk glared at Naru, but it was no match for Naru's glare.

"How do we get Ayako out, dammit?"

"I suggest we wait here for Dai."

Mai walked up to the door. "Ayako?" she called.

"Yes?"

"How are things in there?" There was a pause.

"This room smells funny." Mai paused, and leaned closer to the door. Monk slid down so he was sitting on the floor.

"You know," Mai whispered into the door, cupping her mouth so that only Ayako could hear her, "Naru hasn't asked me for any tea since we got here."

"That must be the longest time he's gone without tea." Whispered back Ayako. Masako strode over to Mai.

"Mai, what are you doing?"

"Talking to Ayako, duh." Mai shot her a look.

"It looks silly."

"Well it's a nice thing to do!"

"It's not nice to whisper, even if it is to a door." Mai glared at her and was about to reply when they were interrupted by Dai coming down the corridor, closely followed by John.

"What is it?" Dai asked, surprised to find the whole of SPR, minus Ayako, grouped round the door.

"One of my employees, Mitsuzake-san, has become locked in here." Naru stated coldly.

"Oh. I'm terribly sorry. Is there some way I can help?" asked the man, looking slightly worried.

"Do you have anything we can break the door with?"

"Um….I have an shovel. Wait, better, I have an axe!" he ran off to get it. Naru ran his hand through his hair.

"What's going on out there?" Ayako called.

"We're trying to open the door. Lin's kick didn't work! So, Dai-san's gone to get an axe!" Mai replied. There was silence on the other side.

"Ayako?"

"Yes, I'm here. I just get the feeling the axe isn't going to do much." She said, sounding resigned.

Said axe arrived, with Dai following just behind. He handed the axe to Lin, who looked the strongest. The axe was swung at the door….

It bounced off. Naru sighed.

"The door is not going to be forced open. It looks like we'll have to wait for the spirit to open it."

"What?" yelled Ayako, "That could be days!"

"I highly doubt that."

"I'll stay here and talk to you until the door opens, how about that?" Mai asked.

"Okay…."

So Monk and Mai stayed and talked to Ayako, while everyone else went back to base.

Naru's mind was racing. He had to get Ayako out of there somehow. How long was it before a person died from lack of water? 3 days. We need to get food and water to her. Why is the ghost attacking so soon? Something's not right.

It had been 3 hours. Ayako was feeling thirsty. And Monk was starting to get on her nerves. Though it was sweet that he'd volunteered to stay. She sat with her back to the door, staring at the room. It was empty. Completely empty.

How does it feel being alone? And trapped? A voice asked. It seemed to be coming from everywhere at once. Ayako squeaked in fear.

"Ayako?" Monk's voice called.

"Bou-san! I'm not alone, the ghost, it's here!" She was scared, though she'd never admit that to him. She could hear him pounding on the door.

"What's it doing?" shouted Mai.

"It talks…." Whispered Ayako fearfully. The room was dark; all the light came from one rather grubby window; and it smelt old and disused. She heard Monk curse the door for not opening.

You don't like it do, you? Said the voice again.

"Get me out of here!" screamed Ayako.

"We're trying!" Despite Monk's frequent poundings the door didn't budge at all. Suddenly the door flew open, hitting Monk in the face, much to Ayako's, Monk's and Mai's surprise. Back in base, Lin noticed that the camera had started working again, showing Ayako getting fussed over by Mai.

"Ayako? Are you okay?" Mai asked. Ayako nodded, and they headed back to base, and got there, much to everyone's relief. Ayako left to the kitchen to get a drink and food with Monk, who was more then happy to get the chance to eat.

She was lucky. A quick glance showed Mai that no-one else heard the voice. She let her go. Said the voice in Mai's head. Mai ignored it.

"Mai, tea."

Are you his dog? The voice asked slyly, relishing the annoyance she felt. Mai clenched her jaw.

"Mai, did you hear me? Tea, now."

Definitely his dog. The voice cackled.

"Shut up." Mai muttered, spinning on her heel and slamming the door as she walked out. Monk stared after her.

"Is she okay?" he muttered to Ayako, who also noticed something was not quite right.

"Did she tell Naru to shut up?" They both shook their heads.

Mai was angry. First she was angry at this new voice in her head, which no one else seemed to be able to hear, and secondly at herself. She shouldn't let it aggravate her. She hadn't meant to say shut up out loud, she didn't want it to seem as though she told Naru to shut up, even if she did wish that he would give her more respect. But he was Naru. Naru didn't give respect to anyone. She stared at the kettle as the water boiled.

I can't believe you're actually doing it. The voice teased.

"He pays me to make tea." Mai said to the air and voice, willing it to shut up. "He pays me." She quickly made the tea, and hurried back. Naru took the tea, no thank you as usual, but he did give her an odd look.

He doesn't even say thank you. The voice rang through Mai's mind. What bad manners.

"He doesn't have any manners." She said quietly, so no one else would hear her. The voice didn't reply, and she was glad that it had actually shut up for once.

I heard that. Another maniacal laugh. Mai ground her teeth but didn't say anything.

I can hear ALL your thoughts. Even the ones you wish no one would ever hear. A giggle this time. Mai blushed; she knew which thoughts she'd rather keep to herself. Mostly the ones to do with…No, it could hear her thoughts.

"Mai, are you okay?" asked John.

"Haha, yeah I'm good. Why?" Mai lied swiftly. You wish.

"Nothing." But he gave her a worried look.

"If you have nothing better to do, you can go and collect the tape from the camera in the living room."

More work, Tut tut. He really doesn't care about your feelings, does he?

"SHUT UP!" Mai yelled. Everyone gave her a worried look.

"Mai…." Started Ayako, but Mai stalked out and slammed the door behind her.

"Just shut up…." Mai said. Ohh, touched a nerve. Why is it so important, I wonder… A giggle again.

Mai managed to collect the tape without the voice annoying her again.

You know, they think you're going mad. Taunted the voice.

"I'm not." But will they believe you?

When she got back to base, Naru looked carefully at Mai. He could tell something was up, but he couldn't be sure of what.

"Mai, go to bed." See, he orders you around like you're his slave.

"It doesn't matter." Mumbled Mai. She was more then happy to go to bed, although whenever the voice would let her sleep was a different matter. How can you go to bed anyway? It's still light. He just doesn't care. It's always Mai, this and Mai, that. You shouldn't put up with it.

"He's my boss." Mai said as she pulled on her pyjamas. Now that she was alone she felt less embarrassed.

I bet you wish it was more.

Mai blushed, but managed to keep her voice steady. "No, I don't."

I can hear your thoughts, remember?

Mai sank her face into her pillow, and slipped off into sleep.

Back in base….

"What do you think is up with Mai?" asked Ayako.

"I can't say." Replied Naru in a monotone, still staring at the door.

"Do you think it's possession?"

"We'll see."