Ghost Hunt is not my property
\(^o^)/
Michiro was no longer the sweet and pretty girl I admired. She is as ugly as the terrible thing she had done. And despite the fear reverberating in my body, I felt anger for the first time in my life. It was burning and surging and I don't like it. Pre-judging is no different than killing but I can't help myself. I want it to stop but I don't know what's causing this sudden emotional flow.
"Mai." Naru whispered. "When a fight broke out I want you and Yasahura-san to run and find an exit. Call someone for help."
"Naru I can't leave you all here!" I was more horrified with this conversation rather than being trap in this circle.
"Mai, you will do as I say!" He caught my eyes while mouthing the words. And I saw something in there that I never seen before. Was it tenderness? No it can't be. "I need you to do this."
I would like to protest some more but a blood curling chanting followed this. I look around saw the cult backing away while chanting. I don't like this. I don't like this at all. There cloak and mask blended perfectly on the surrounding darkness that they almost turn invisible. Through the loudness we heard Michiro hissed something in a strange language and suddenly they stopped.
Then I felt it. Hundreds of footstep marching slowly towards us. Not only on the floor where we stand but on the walls and ceilings as well.
"Something's coming!" Bou-san declared.
Through the dim light of the burning candles we first caught the glimpse of hundreds of bloodless bodies of moving cadaver dragging their feet and crawling closer to us. Their eyes sunken, their skin pale, there scent smells like decayed fish, vinegar and soil mixture together. Some of them are on the ground, some crawling like white spiders on the walls and ceilings. It was like trapped in a Ju-on nightmare only more terrible.
Not wasting time Bou-san chanted the warding spell and it hits a body. It staggered keeping his form upright but didn't lose his balance.
"Aim for the legs and the feet!" Lin suggested.
"Mai go now!" Naru screamed as a chaos broke out.
Yasahura grabbed one of my arms to pull me out. We run on gaps that have the possibility that nobody can see us.
But I can still hear them. I can smell formalin and rotting flesh in the air. I felt dizzy, and scared, scared not for me but for the safety of the others. I know Lin, Bou-san, Brown-san and Ayako can defend themselves but what about Naru whose powers is so unpredictable that it can possible kill him? Yasahura-san who came to agree to help us once more but doesn't have any idea that this is a suicide mission? What about Masako and Heidi and Hikaro? What about Charles and Cassie? Where did they hide them? What will happen next? Surely death is what will happen next. . . And I cannot do anything to stop them destroying my family. . .
My family. . .
I know I will be a hindrance to Naru and the others but I need to do something.
I stopped and run while ignoring Yasahura's calling. I sprinted on the platform where they held Masako and the others' hostage. But before I can even climb the series of steps, I saw Michiro vanished on a dark room. Ignoring fear, anger and nausea, I sneaked to free the prisoners. It's a miracle that the cult didn't see me or cared that the most viewed prisoner are free from chains or whatever contraption they we're force into.
When I look up, I saw that not only the zombies are keeping my team on their toes; the cult has joined the fight aswell.
"Do you know where they keep Cassie and Charles?" Were the first words of Hikaro.
"No. But I have a hint." I answered back.
We agreed to split up. Heidi and Masako will find Yasahura to look for outside help. Hikaro and I will go after Michiro.
"This way!" I lead her to the dark alley way where I seen Michiro vanished. The moment we stepped inside, the noise went out like somebody turn on the mute button. We tiptoed and stumble on uneven ground trying to find a hint of Cassie and Charles.
"Arrrgh!" I heard Hikaro groaned.
I turned around to see her clutching her face. To the little light coming from somewhere, I saw a great slash on her right cheek and its oozing blood.
"Are you ok?"
"Don't mind me. It's just a scratch. Let's go find the others." Before she finished her sentence I felt a hot sensation on my back like a blow dryer pointed on my skin. I reach for it and felt a hot liquid trickling all over my torn blouse.
After that, I felt slash upon slash chastised my own body. My shrieking drowned Hikaro's and the wooshing of the wind like somebody is hitting us with a big knife only we can't see it. When I thought that this will kill us both and all the remaining strength in my body was gone, it stopped only to be replace by a hair rising laugh.
I looked up to see Michiro watching us like we were the most fascinating thing she had ever seen in her entire life.
"Why are you doing this?" I managed to ask with what little strength I have left.
"That's a good question Mai." Smiled Michiro sarcastically beside me.
We both look pathetic lying face down on the ground with Michiro towering. Suddenly and miraculously, somebody hit her on the back with something hard and she fell face first, missing me in Hikaro by inches.
"Serves you right, bitch!"
I looked up to see Heidi, Cassie and Charles. The twin kneeled down to help us upright while Heidi busied herself looking at Michiro.
"Oh my god! Oh my god! I think I killed Michiro!" Cried Heidi panicky while examining Michiro's distorted neck.
Hikaro and Cassie exchange a look while smiling at each other. To my surprise they both hugged Heidi.
"We're so proud of you." Declared Cassie with a soft laugh.
"You killed Michiro and called her a bitch." Hikaro agreed.
"This is serious!" Heidi shrieked while wiping her tears a ghost of smile lingered on her lips while returning the hugs.
"She's alive. Can you stop your mellow drama and move now? I don't want to die as a virgin." Charles scowled at the three of them. He supported me up and we staggered on an exit Heidi pointed.
"How did you find us?" I asked them while we tried to walk as fast as we could, trailing the never ending passageway with only a dim light to guide us.
"I didn't." Answered Heidi. "I decided to help look for Cassie and Charles when Masako and the new guy find the exit. I thought about these hidden rooms. I found it accidentally when I got lost after an Anatomy class last year."
"Good thing you got-." Started Charles but he stopped dead, clutching his chest. He went rigid and we both staggered on our weight. He fell shaking madly his eyes rolling on his sockets.
"GLORY TO THE KING OF THE MOST HIGH! THIS PLACE WILL SUFFER HIS WRATH BECAUSE HIS ANGELS ARE WEEPING FOR HIS SONS AND DAUGHTERS THAT SATAN HAVESTOLEN. THIS PLACE WILL BE NOTHING BUT ASHES AS THE DEEPEST PITT OF HELL WILL CRY OUT OF AGONY. . . REPENT KNOW, HUMANS, TO THE CREATOR WHO GIVES YOU LIFE BEFORE HE DESCEND AND CLAIM THIS PLACE AGAIN, FOREVER. "He repeated again with another stranger's voice. Choking followed this sentences again. "I think. . . I think!"
Charles was horrified. His eyes are getting bigger while stuttering his words.
"You think what?" Cassie shrieked while shaking him.
"He thinks he just made a prophecy about apocalypse." We all turn around, looking for the unfamiliar hoarse voice, and seen Michiro. Her eyes are bloodshot with both pupils looking in opposite directions, her blonde hair disarray but didn't hide the cervical vertebrae coming out of her neck.
"Oh my god!" I heard Cassie exclaimed.
"Oh your God? Who is your GOD, Cassie?" Michiro said again with a hoarse voice. "Whoever he is he can't help you right now because my GOD what's you dead!"
Fierce wind blew after Michiro said it. I felt my body thrown backward, my wounded back hit the wall hard. But Michiro is still standing like her body is glued on the floor. Her eyes are the most terrifying thing I have ever seen in my entire life. She's not Michiro anymore, she became the devil himself. Bloodlust was written all over her face as she recited a prayer from a foreign language. As she proceeded, the wind keep blowing harder and harder that it's impossible to move even my pinky.
I don't know when will it stop, but eventually it stop. I don't know how and by the look of it, so did Michiro.
A loud sound of trumpet followed our shocked. It was so loud that it seems to be coming out of the walls, ceiling and the ground. It's not painful in the ear but not pleasant either. I never heard anything like it before. It didn't bother me, and so as the other, but the moment Michiro heard it, she shrieked like a maniac. Shouting from the outside told us that the cult is not liking this either. As if this is not enough, earthquake shook the whole building. The cold air was replaces by a warm one. It seems to be coming out of a tiny light. It was so beautiful in the dark. I am a moth who became fascinated with the fire. I wanted it to get closer; and closer and closer it went. Or is it getting bigger?
"Don't look, Mai!" the owner of the voice covered my eyes from behind. And I see no more but not before I caught a glimpse of large dove wings as white as snow. I was swallowed by darkness completely and I become numb of any feeling. Sight, sound, smell. . . I just keep thinking, trumpet, earthquake, light, wings. . .
\(^o^)/
"Gene!" I knew it! The moment it gets dark, I knew I was about to dream. I can't resist a smile seeing that face again.
We were standing on a hallway, with nothing with white walls and warm breeze.
"Mai." I look around to see Hikaro standing beside me.
That was weird. I thought.
"Mai, you almost lost your sight. Starring at an angel is not a good idea." Gene chastised.
"What?" Ok. This is beyond weird.
"The Cult was gone, Mai." This time it was Hikaro speaking. "They are burned by earthly fire and their souls on hell's fire."
"Michiro-." I begun.
"Is dead. Together with her followers." Continued Gene.
"The angel killed them?"
"Punished is the right word for it." Explained Hikaro with a small scowl.
"Wait. If they were burn, the whole school will burn? What about the others? What about the Naru?" I asked again this time with a little hint of panic.
"They are safe, Mai." Gene reassured me. "Naru save you're sight, Mai. You have to thank him."
"He covered my eyes?"
Nobody answered me this time. They just keep smiling at me.
"Where are we anyway?" Was my next question that made their smile vanish.
"Look behind you, Mai. What do you see?"
"Another hallway?"
I turn around to look at them again and to surprise, the ghost I seen from my first day in the school and the girl who's always wearing black was suddenly beside Gene. Suddenly it struck me.
"Am I dead?" I don't know why I'm whispering. Dying doesn't sound terrible, but I feel sad. And I don't know why.
"No. I am." Hikaro answered with a casual laugh. How can I forget her? Of course I'm not dead! We are not dead! Hikaro is just messing around. Is she?
"You're not dead, Mai. But you have a choice. You can always go back or you can go ahead." Gene explained.
"How come you don't have a choice?" I turned around on Hikaro sadness leaking out of my voice.
"I do." Hikaro held my hands and smiled at me. "I did terrible things in my life that I deserved damnation. But I was forgiven. And I made a choice not to stay because I cannot guarantee a second life making right choices for myself and my love ones."
I got scared. What she said is true. How will I know if I deserved to stay or not? Naru's always telling me, people will die someday because of my recklessness. "And I do? I will make a right choice for myself and my love ones?"
"Yes. You always do."
"Mai, what will it be?" Gene interjected in. He was smiling beautifully.
I took a pause considering my two choices. If I stay, I will always be Mai, the orphan girl who's always and will be alone no matter how many friends I had. If I decided to go, I will never know what will be the world without Mai Taniyama.
"I owe Naru my sight." I answered back.
They all smiled at me.
"Hey Mai. Can you do me a favor?" Hikaro asked. "Can you please tell Cassie that if she keeps dyeing her hair it will fall out and Heidi to loosen up a bit. And I love them both. I always do."
"I will."
\(^o^)/
"Welcome back, Mai."
My vision focused on the smiling face of Charles. He was wearing a cast on her white uniform. But nonetheless he looks ok.
I look around and as expected, I'm in the hospital. With medical apparatus sticking out of my body, scent of alcohol and flowers covered the whole place and Naru leaning on my right side sleeping like a baby and holding my hand. That is weird. . .
"He must be so tired. We tried to throw him out, but he resisted. And he's scary when he's resisting." Charles explained while looking at me watching Naru's sound breathing. I didn't know what to feel! I should be dancing and jumping out with joy right now but I know I'm here in the hospital for a reason and Naru's health is my concern too. I let him sleep thinking this is a rare point I steal from Masako. "He's must be so afraid for you?" Charles continued.
"Afraid for me?" I almost screamed. But thank god my voice is so hoarse from lacking of use.
"Yes. You lost so many bloods because of your wounds and you've been knocked out for three days now." He whispered while carefully sitting on a chair and leaning down on me so I can hear. "The doctor told him that you're gonna be ok but it will take a while for your body to recover."
"Can you tell me what happen? Where are the others? And what happen to your arm?"
"No I can't tell you everything because it will go on and go on until Christmas and I'm on duty tonight." Charles smiled. "Your other team mate just went home. But they always come back in the morning with flowers and staff that made your room looks like a flower shop." He pointed at a table with different flowers, balloons, stuff animals and get well soon hallmark cards.
"So they're ok? Well, except for you?"
"Oh no! this is a product of complete idiocy! I was trying to drive Cassie's bike the other day and well," We both laugh softly. "The others are ok. With little burns and wound that they got from falling debris from the collapsing and burning building. Except for Hikaro." His tone change. "Mai, Hikaro is-."
"Dead." I continued for him. "How did she-." This time I was the one who can't finish my sentence.
"She was losing a lot of blood to. You both sustain multiple wounds. But she didn't past out until we exited the building. She felt ok because of adrenalines but her body isn't. Her brain lost so many oxygen that blood transfusion couldn't save her."
"Is Cassie and Heidi-."
"They were on her funeral." He finished for me again.
"I want to go too."
Hot liquid trickled down from my eyes and I didn't feel embarrassed. On our past cases we lost lives too. I feel sorry for them but I didn't form a special bond unlike what I felt for Hikaro.
"Maybe when you're ready. I'll go with you." Charles reassured me while wiping me tears tenderly. "But right now, you need to rest and together with this pretty boy over here. And I, need to go and inform your doctor that you're awake."
He smiled to me one more time and vanished on the door.
\(^o^)/
There are lots of people that showed me kindness here in Ghost Hunt fandom that I felt so loved! I would like to thank the most awesome people who reviewed, added this story on their favorite story list, alert and even favorite author list! Flamegirl5500, sweetymai90, christal, Sally, Rosedream, whispered25, KayKit, pop-ViRg097, Clairemuah, kirasaku, crazylittlecheezer, heavenslilagl420, LeafeKnight7, lilPinkBlackBunny531, Death Cab 4 Cutie, aniAngelxx, Aktaiy, elgie, Emrald96, Nefret8789, nxmcomma, Sailor Silver Cosmos, skitzafrat, blackwitchkarma, Chaos086, CND, Great Atuin, malchikgeychan, twilight-twins2, you guys totally made this story happen! I would also like to thank Harem's & Interest for adding this story on their community. To those people I forgot, I am a total idiot and strongly believe that I deserve a told of when you visit my review box so I can thank you to the epilogue. I love guys and God Bless. . .
Love,
Sodium Nitrate