Thank you all so much for reading and reviewing the previous chapter, and for being really patient with me.
I just have tons of work to do for this week. I'll try to answer the queries/comments and discuss other updates (like on the cover) on the chapter next week.
I posted another story on BookRix (while I was writing the next chapters for my ffics. I needed something to take some of the stress away). I didn't do it for a contest this time, but I would really appreciate if you'd read and give comments about it. Just search for 'Callele Lyvance' on BookRix, and check the second ebook under the account. (Please leave reviews/flames on the webpage. It's easier to read them there * v * )
Anyway, here's this week's chapter. Tell me what you think about it too! ^ v ^
Mai sat down beside Noll in one of the tables where the other tourists attending the Ghost Walk session were seated, her hand still in his.
Gijs Aakster, their 35-year-old tour guide was telling them about The Tara's furiniture – how most of them were rescued from an old Catholic church. The tourists were gasping and nodding as he pointed to the alcoves holding flasks, jars, and bottles of wine behind the bar counter and told them they were actually made of niches that were used to illustrate what Catholics called "Station of the Cross."
Mai leaned closer to Naru. "Neh, Naru," she said. "That Station of the Cross he's talking about. Is that the one with those pictures of a crucified man?"
"Yes," Naru answered. "The Station of the Cross depicts the events in Jesus Christ's crucifixion, starting with him carrying the cross to him being crucified."
Mai nodded, slowly leaning away to pay close attention to Gijs' tales and plans for their trip. Before leaving, they all decided to order something to eat.
Mai and Naru weren't that hungry so Naru ordered The Tara's version of Fish and Chips.
Lin munched on his ravioli as he listened to the tour guide from his seat in the bar counter.
He didn't expect to see a group of tourists attending a Ghost Walk session that day. Perhaps that was why the cab driver asked him about attending an Amsterdam Ghost Walk – he might have had some of the tourists in the pub as passengers earlier in the day.
Lin looked up to catch a glimpse at the tour guide.
Gijs was quite articulate with English. The only thing that made him look his age was his pair of glasses.
Lin sipped his beer and sighed.
...Nothing like a good pale lager to warm you up in a cold day. Sure he was a monk...in a way but surely, sipping beer once a year wasn't that bad for him.
"No," Lin heard one of the tourists say.
He froze at the resemblance of the voice to the voice of someone he knew well...Heck! Even the tone matched!
"No," the voice said. "I told you. I'm not a psychic."
Lin turned his head to the group of tourists who were then standing up from their seats and walking out to the door with Gijs to continue their Ghost Walk.
There were middle-aged tourists clad in coats made of leather and wool. There were a few twenty-year olds but those he saw were blondes.
Could Noll and Taniyama Mai be in the group of tourists? Could they be having the Ghost Walk at that moment?
Or was Lin just being paranoid?
Mai frowned. "Can't you tell me if Gene saw anything when you had the Ghost Walk?" she asked, squeazing Naru's hand as they walked down the street with the other tourists.
They were one of the few people who were leading the group away from the pub. Mai was so excited that when Gijs said it was time to go, she literally jumped up from her seat and dragged Naru out the door following the younger tourists in the group.
"That would defeat the purpose of us attending the Ghost Walk," Naru said.
Mai sighed and leaned her head on Naru's shoulder.
Gijs told them they were visiting a haunted hotel, an extremely old theatre, a remnant of Amsterdam's city walls, a tower, a graveyard, and other haunted sites in the city.
Mai had wondered if they would really see some ghosts in their trip. All those ghost stories seemed interesting and scary, since they were real.
She suddenly remembered her experience in the Norringbent mansion.
Would she be seeing dead girls in their trip too?
Mai felt Naru squeeze her hand. She looked up at him and saw his blue eyes calmly looking at her.
"It's not that scary," he said.
Mai stared surprised at Naru. "Neh, do you read minds now?" she asked.
Naru raised a brow at her.
Mai chuckled and shook her head. "Of course it's not going to be that scary," she said. "You're with me!"
Naru smirked. "Idiot," he said.
"Jerk," Mai said.
"I've sent Noll an email," Madoka whispered sitting across Luella in the office.
They were packing up for the day. They could hear Martin checking last minute status reports from the people in the office.
"I just don't know if he received it," Madoka said. "I mean, if he read it."
Luella nodded. "You know, I have a feeling the boys are right this time," she said. "I don't know but I just feel like Noll is there...somewhere there in Amsterdam."
Madoka smiled. "That's mother's instinct," she said. "You are his mother after all."
Luella smiled.
It was always an honor to be called Noll and Gene's mother, even though she didn't give birth to them.
"Do you think he would hate me if I meet him in Amsterdam?" she asked shly at Madoka.
"No," Madoka said. "I don't believe so. He knows you're on his side. He'll understand if he sees you there. "
Luella sighed. "I hope so," she said. "I know he's all grown up but, I still miss having him around."
Madoka chuckled. "So do you think it's time we pay him a visit?"
Luella smiled. "We'll first need to keep those hounds away," she said nodding toward the door. They could hear Martin's low voice from the other side of the room.
Madoka laughed. "Aye!"
Lin decided to subtly follow the group of tourists, partly because he wanted to hear the stories about the places included in the Ghost Walk. And partly because he had that nagging feeling that Noll was just around the corner - that following the group would lead him to Noll.
But of course it would be too obvious and awkward if he kept too close to the group so he kept a ten-yard distance from the group, following them only when they moved to a different location and subtly listening to the stories told by Gijs about their destinations.
Lin looked up at the gate of the graveyard near Zuiderkerk.
Gijs was telling the tourists about the hangings that had been done in old Amsterdam. He was pointing up at the gate, noting the two skulls placed there that were believed to belong to two criminals who had been hanged for the crime they committed.
Lin suddenly wondered if Gene had visions when he joined the Ghost Walk tour. He frequently saw visions in the cases he and Noll took charge off.
Could he have sensed spirits in those 'haunted' structures? Could he have seen Anne Frank through the window of the apartment she and her family sought refurge from during the time of the Holocaust? Could he have seen the entities that spooked the employees working in the old tower that was turned into a cafe?
Lin sighed.
Was there even any truth to those tales? Was there any possibility that Noll was really hiding there in Amsterdam with Taniyama?
Lin shook his head.
He had been following the group for quite a while. None of its members seemed familiar to him.
Well, he hasn't exactly seen all of them. There were six other members that he didn't see well. But they all spoke in English.
If Taniyama was there with Noll, they would be talking in Japanese.
...Unless, they were being careful...which was unlikely since they didn't know- Do they know he's in Amsterdam?
The group began applauding and thanking Gijs for the tour.
Lin smiled. Gijs was a good tour guide.
Each member of the group shook hands with Gijs before they went on their way home. Some patted him in the back. Some chatted with him a little before saying good bye.
And one of them bowed in thanks.
Lin froze.
The one who bowed was a young woman whose brown hair was faintly hidden underneath a beige newsboy cap. She wore a cheerful smile on her face.
Her head only reached Gij's shoulder. But the young man beside her, clothed in grey, was as tall as Gijs.
His fingers were locked with the young woman's, and as he turned to smile at Gijs, Lin saw his face - framed with black hair, covered by a grey newsboy cap.
"Noll..?"