Disclaimer: own NOTHING at all
Chapter Twenty-Eight: Through the Looking Glass
Mai Pov
"Tun, tun, tun, tun, tun, tun, tun.." I heard at a distance, a like a rhythm tap of a finger. I shivered, as I found myself in the tree house. Its very dark.. The only thing that illuminates the room is a simple candle on a simple flat wooden table on my right. Which clearly wasn't there before.
I shivered, looking around.
"Hello?" I called out..
Hush, little baby, don't say a word.
Mama's gonna buy you a mockingbird
And if that mockingbird won't sing,
Mama's gonna buy you a diamond ring
And if that diamond ring turns brass,
Mama's gonna buy you a looking glass
I turned towards the woman's voice, which is on my left side. A rocking chair is in the middle of the room, as the woman faces her back at me, rocking gently; she kept repeating the same words. I gulped heavily, feeling my hand shake..
Slowly I made my way towards her, each step was agonizing for a reason. The woman's voice started to become deeper and more terrifying than ever.
Hush, little baby, don't say a word.
Mama's gonna buy you a mockingbird
And if that mockingbird won't sing,
Mama's gonna buy you a diamond ring
And if that diamond ring turns brass,
Mama's gonna buy you a looking glass
"Excuse me, ma'am?" I asked, finally reaching her. She stops her rocking, and then she moves her rocker towards me.. I bit my lower lip, feeling my heart hammer hard against my ribs.
She has a white ripped old veil covering her head, but she continued to sing that creepy song..
"Err.. Why am I here?" the woman lifts her head, tilting her head towards the right, stopping her singing..
"I'll save you from the big bad wolf." she gently tells me.. I stare at her confused.
"What big bad wolf?" I asked her.. She suddenly stood up rapidly, turning to face me; making gasp in fear, taking a step back.
"That man.. He doesn't love you, he lusts after you. He wants to hurt my baby. He won't. I will protect your innocence.. Mama is here to protect you."
"You have the wrong girl. I'm not your daughter." I told her.. The woman lifts her skinny hand up, as blood ran down her arm, dripping down the wooden floor, my eyes widen.
'Is she the woman I saw five years ago in the cave?' realization hits me, as the woman moves her head rapidly.
"I will save you from him. No one hurts my Daughter." she takes a hold of my wrist, as I shivered in fear.
"Please let go." I begged.. The woman uses her free hand, and lifts her veil up.. Looking straight at her, my eyes widen, to see blood coming out of her eyes, her skin decaying. She looks exactly like my mother, though..
"Ahh!" I screamed in fear, as she moves very close to me.
"I will protect you.."
..
..
I bolted up from my dream, but on doing so, I felt a hand around my neck, trying to choke me.. I started to gasp for air.
"No...Naru.." I called out, turning my gaze towards him. He was sitting on his normal spot, reading a book...
I felt a tear roll down, as the pressure on my neck became deeper...
Hush, little baby, don't say a word.
Mama's gonna buy you a mockingbird
And if that mockingbird won't sing,
Mama's gonna buy you a diamond ring
And if that diamond ring turns brass,
Mama's gonna buy you a looking glass
I grasp the blanket, looking up.. The woman appears in front of me, with a deep dark expression in her eyes.
"I'll protect you.." she screams..
"Naru!" I manage to somewhat scream, grabbing my neck...
'Nine cuts.' I close my eyes. Concentrating, I started to chant, but the woman tightens her hold.
"No.." I heard and before I could finish my chant, the hands around my neck loosen up, and I heard a grunt.. Turning, Naru is lifted up against the wall, holding onto his neck.
"N.. Naru.." I coughed violently..
"Let him go.." I pleaded, as she turns her dead face towards me.
"I trusted him... He must die, for hurting my daughter." she floats up, very rapidly and goes up towards Naru. His eyes widen, still trying to struggle for air..
I get up, gasping..
'Concentrate." I told myself.
"Rin, Pyou, Tou, Sha, Ka, Djin, Retsu, Zai, Zen,"I did the gestures, feeling my energy flow through me, and then it flows out of me, heading straight at her.. In my surprise, the woman disappears, dropping Naru down on the ground.. I was about to go towards him, until I felt a hand on my waist.
"No. Don't' try to hurt Mama.. Its a sin.." I heard behind me. Naru lifts his head, rubbing his neck, as I stare at him with wide eyes.
"Don't move." I mouthed him. He nods, understanding.. The hold on my waist tightens, then she takes a hold on my hair making me wince in pain.
"Mama is disappointed with you Mai.. Trying to hurt me.. I only want to protect you.."
"Protect me? You're trying to kill us." I told her.. She pushes me, that I painfully landed on the ground, and felt her cold, clammy hand on my back neck.. I glance up to see Naru watching, trying to come up with a solution.
"Don't speak, my daughter.. I'm tying to protect you from the big bad wolf." her face turns toward Naru, and lifts her hand, to throw Naru against the wall.
"My son." she lifts me up, then pushed against Naru.. Now press tightly against Naur chest. He looks down at me. I groan in pain, feeling her press me more.. I heard Naru groan as well, since I'm hurting his wound.
"Sorry." I cried, he shook his head, turning towards the woman.
"Apologies to her.. Or I will kill you.. And you.." I cried, as she takes a hold of my hair, pulling it hard backwards, so I can stare at her.
"Don't ever hurt your mother again!" she screams at me.. I nodded, as she lets go, Naru glance down at me.
"Please let us go.. We are sorry.." I begged her.. I rose more upwards, that I had to place my hands on the wall, so I don't smother Naru.
"No!" she screams, then my eyes flew open, to feel my body lift up, and slams against the roof... I huffed in pain.
I had to think of something.. What does normally a mother would drop anything they are doing?
'A call of a child.' My mind concludes.
"Mama.. I'm hurt.. Can you please stop.." I cried, watching my tears drop down towards the ground. I watch her freeze, before she could have drape her hand around Naru neck. She turns her head towards me, backwards, which was very creepy.
"Mama!" I cried.. She rushes up, and drapes her arms around me.. Slowly she lowers me down.
"Finally, my daughter calls out for me." she tells me, turning me, I stare at her, with fear.. Feeling my body cover with goosebumps.
"I'm okay mama. I'm sorry." I cried out, wrapping my arms around her. My heart for a reason seem to calm down.
'I have forgotten how it feels to be hugged by a mother.' I started to cry harder, as she rubs my back and started to sing me that creepy song.
Hush, little baby, don't say a word.
Mama's gonna buy you a mockingbird
And if that mockingbird won't sing,
Mama's gonna buy you a diamond ring
And if that diamond ring turns brass,
Mama's gonna buy you a looking glass
We twirled around, while Naru watches amazed... I felt her place me gently on the ground, and she cups my cheeks. I stare at her, feeling a bit creeped out.
"Mama is here.. She'll protect you from the big bad wolf. He won't harm you no more." I turn my head. Naru stares at us, still plaster on the wall.
"No.. He's not bad.. He's very good. He just very shy, and doesn't know how to express himself." I told her.. The woman turns towards Naru, baring her eyes on him.
"I saw, he tried to kill you.. No excuses."
"It wasn't' him, it was Isac, he did that.. Please. Spear him. He won't harm me.. I trust him a lot.." I tried to convince her.. The woman floated down, placing me down on the ground, and turns towards Naru.
"Promise me, you will never harm her. Never." her voice echoed the tree house. Naru nods,
"I promise.. I will never harm her.. That's why I rather die first."he explains to her, making my heart jump weirdly. The woman moves swiftly towards him. Naru stares at the woman very brave. Her eyes scanning his.
"You're telling the truth.. You'll love her until your death. Very good. I don't want nothing bad to happen to her." then she lets him go. Naru gasp of air, as I move towards his side, holding his shoulder.
"Are you okay?" I hiccuped, looking for any wounds. He waves his hand, turning towards the woman. He places me behind him.
"How are you able to come into our tree house?" He asks.. I blinked, surprised by his question. I haven't even thought of that.
The woman chuckles darkly, turning towards the mirror.
"All I want is my daughter to be safe.. Its time for Alice to walk through the looking glass. Come.." she extended her arm out.. I stare, then look at Naru.
"I'm not leaving with you." The woman's eyes darkness, as the cold gust of wind passes by us.. I shivered, as Naru takes my hand, just in case.
"Is not what you want. You have to, and you will.. You may take your husband. He has much to learn.. Come.." and before we could answer her, she walks right through the mirror.. I stare at Naru with wide eyes
" Well, this isn't Alice in wonderland, or looking glass." I mumbles. He nods, looking certain. I took in a big breath, rolling my aching shoulders.
"So, now you are Alice." Naru told me.
"I won't say anything, cause last time, it caused us trouble." I shivered from the memory.
..
"I'm going to ache so bad, I'm still sore from caring you." I mumbled, Naru turned his gaze at me, guilt plaguing his eyes. I didn't even catch it, since my eyes are attached to the mirror itself.
"So, we walked straight towards the mirror.. I don't know how.." Asking, since the woman did that. I lift my gaze up, to stare at Naru. He just simply shrugs.
"Maybe that's the reason the diary was pointing at the mirror before, it wasn't something physical, but spiritual. In some cultures, they cover the mirrors, after a person's death. They think that their souls can be trapped in the mirrors." He explains.
"I remember that.." I told him. Then my eyes widen.
"Oh.. That makes so much sense now." I groaned, as Naru turns to face me.
"Its up to you." He simply says.
"To keep her at bay, lets do it. Maybe we learn something from this island." I told him. Naru nods, intertwining our fingers, I took a huge breath.
"Then we just walk or what?" I asked, as we now stood in front of the mirror, to see our own reflection. Naru shrugs.
"Don't know.. The supernatural world, works mysteriously." He mumbles, stretching his arm, he touches the surface of the mirror, I watch his eyes widen as his body drops down, I had to take a hold of him, and laid him down gently on the ground.
"Naru?" I shook his shoulder, turning around, I saw my reflection, but next to me, Naru stood, looking up at me, with a frown.
"Naru?" I move forward, pressing my hand on the glass, in doing so, a sudden weird sensation passes my body.. I drop as well, landing on top of his shoulder... And everything went dark..
Naru POV
I found myself standing in front of a large front yard, cover with different type of plants, and flowers, a garden is more like it..
"Now, Noll, be careful.. She's a very important client for us.." My mother bends, dusting off my shoulder, looking straight at my eyes.. I nodded, looking around.
"Where's Gene?" I asked her..
"He's with your father.. He needed to take him somewhere else." her eyes, sadness, as she takes a hold of my hand. I turned, to face an old Victorian house, a dark, bleak black cover the outside, with an old balcony.. A woman sat on the bench, rocking smoothly, wearing an old traditional Kimono..
"Mama, why is she wearing a kimono?" I asked.
"She's Japanese. She moved here about two years ago.. Come.." My mother tightens her hold on my hand, and we went towards the elder woman..
Upon reaching the stairs, we turned towards her.. She stops rocking, and gently lifts her gaze at my mother.
"I'm happy you are able to come.." the elder spoke in pure English. My mother smiles, bowing back..
"No, the pleasure is all mine.. Can we enter? Or do you want to chat here.." she asks the elder. The elder turns her gaze at me, and she smiles, watching the wrinkles in her face squeeze together. For a reason, I smiled with her..
"Here's a good place to talk, I know you have many things to attend to." The elder with brown eyes landed on me.
"Such a cute little boy, this is Noll I assume.. How old is he right now. My memory isn't bright as it use to." the elder asked. My mother glances down at me, and smiles.
"Yes, he's Noll and he's only six." she replies.. The elder lip thins out, looking at the door.
"He's a year older than her.. Good.. Let's see if he's the one." she stands up, noticing hump behind her back.. I kept my mouth shut, as she walks towards the door, and opens it.
"Mai, honey, come out." she spoke Japanese.. I turned toward the open brown door..
"Mama, who is she?" I asked.. My mother smoothes my small hand.
"She's an important friend of your father." She bends down, to fix my hair..
"You'll be a heart breaker, just like your brother.. Either way.. You have an important role.. You must always protect this girl no matter what.. She's a very important girl.. When you get older you'll understand more." my mother explains. I turned, to hear a small giggle..
"Who?"
"Her." My mother points behind me.. Fully turning around, my eyes landed on a small girl, with light brown hair.. Her eyes, reddish brown. Very pale, and looks Japanese. For a reason, my own soul seems to stir at the sight of her..
"She's my great-great granddaughter.." this time the elder introduced.. The girl's eyes landed on me, and for a reason, as our eyes lock, my heart jumped weirdly.. Her innocent eyes roam mine, moving closer to me.. I kept staring.
"He's the one.. Look." I heard the elder gasp.. I had no idea what's happening.. My mother gasps as well, as I stretch my arm out, as the girl did the same.. She takes my hand, and a sensation passes through my body.
"He's her protector. Just like we thought four years ago.. When we introduced Gene to her last year, nothing happened, so it was this twin." the elder concludes. The girl smiles at me, brightly.
"Hi.. My name is Mai, what's yours?" Her voice sounded very timid.. I felt my cheek warm up..
"Oliver." I spoke to her in Japanese.
"Oliver? Ah.. Nice name.. Nana, can I play with Oliver?"
"Not today. Mrs. Davis has many things to do.. Just give us a few minutes." with that, my mother and the elder left.. Mai eyes search mine, as I cleared my throat.
"Oliver, Oliver.. I like that name. I never heard it before. Maybe cause I live in Japan with Mama." she tells me.
"Why are you here?" I asked her. Mai eyes roam around, and shrugs.
"I don't know. Mama said that I had to stay with Nana for a few days.. Whatever that means." I turned around, to spot my mother and Elder speak..
"Want to play detective?" I asked, curious to hear the conversation. Mai tilts her head towards the side, confused.
"Just don't make a noise, okay." I told her. She nods, as I took her hand.. A strange electricity ran down my spine. Ignoring it, I miss the gasp that escaped her lips.
Going around, we hid behind one of the white poles of the old balcony..
"Black Lagoon." The elder finishes... My mother frowns, shaking her head.
"How do you know she's the one? Maybe is not.. Haven't you thought of your granddaughters feelings, sending her daughter to the Black Lagoon. Is one of the most..." My mother stops, as the elder lifts her hand up.
"I know is her destiny.. Is in her blood. She has found her protector. Just like in our blood line. Oliver will take care of her no matter what.. When the time is right, they will bond. They are Soulmates.. Its rare to find them now in days. His job is to protect her from danger.. I have gone through it.. It cost my husband's life, since he was my own protector." I saw sadness pass, her eyes at the mention of her husband's death..
"Will she be able to return?" for a reason my mother's expression seems sad.. The elder nods, patting her shoulder.
"Blood is thicker than water.. Everything will work out in the end.. God has planned everything. Mai and Oliver are meant to be.. I see a lot of potential in him. Yet.. He has to suffer as well.. They won't remember ever meeting, maybe in the future. They will separate for a short while, but destiny will always bring them together.. Pure, and innocent for the both. And pure and innocent Love, that will last for a life time. Is in our blood line." she explains.. I heard a gasp.. Turning around, Mai had tears running down her small face.
"Mai?"
"Oliver.." she cries, wrapping her arms around me, surprising me more likely.. She understood the conversation?
"We'll meet again right?" she asks. I nodded..
"I promise." I told her.. She wipes her eyes, and takes my hand.
"Okay.. I'm not sure why.. I feel like I know you for a very long time... I'll wait for you then.." she smiles brightly.. I felt my heart pound..
"Okay." she moves bashfully and kisses my cheek. Now my cheeks are really warming up.. She blushes, taking my hand.
…
..
I stood on the sidelines, as I felt the hand on mine.. I turned to see Mai looking up at me, she looks scared.
"Naru, we met before. And, your mother knows about the Black Lagoon.. Why?" She gasped out.. I shook my head, looking around my surroundings.
"Don't know, she has a lot of explanations, after we return. Do you remember ever visiting your Gand-grand-mother?" I asked her.
"No. I didn't even know I had one." she admits.. Biting her lower lip.
"Is this my old school? We're standing in front of the audiovisual room. Wait, this is where we first met.." Mai concludes, as we stood in the hallways, staring at the classroom in front of us..
"It is.." I agree, hearing footsteps, then I felt a strange pull, and before I could blink, I found myself walking down the hallway
"Okay?" I asked, confused... Looking down, I hear a girl's voice counting.
"Wait.. This is familiar to me.." I rushed my steps, heading for the classroom we stood earlier.. Entering, I heard the counting heading for four..
"Five!" I spoke, hearing the girls scream in horror, as I turned on the lights of the classroom.. I stare at the four girls, huddling in fear..
'Why am I here?' I thought, looking around the room, then my eyes landed on the only girl I wanted to see..
'My wife.' I thought in relief, as her eyes landed on me.. I felt my heart jump as a strange warm feeling fills me, is like my soul has become whole once again. Then something seems to dawn on me..
'I felt the same way, when I met her the first time around..'
Mai watches me with a thin expression, then she steps out of her own body, and rushed towards me.. I turned, gasping in a chilling way, to step out of my own body.
"What the hell?" I mumbled, feeling Mai take my hand.
"Naru.. You felt it?" she asks.
"Felt what?" I wanted to make sure.
"I felt as though my soul came back alive.. Strange, I never felt it the first time.. I just knew you were lying your butt off." she murmurs.. I felt my vain pop out.
"Well, now you know the reason.." I turned, to see myself talking, as Mai avoids me.. I chuckled a little.
"I can't' believe that was nine years ago.. Wow, time flies." Mai murmurs...
Hush, little baby, don't say a word.
Mama's gonna buy you a mockingbird
And if that mockingbird won't sing,
Mama's gonna buy you a diamond ring
And if that diamond ring turns brass,
Mama's gonna buy you a looking glass
I heard.. Mai seem to freeze.. The background changes around us, no longer we stood in the classroom.
There was a small apartment, a woman sitting on a chair, holding onto a child.. I recognized that child, it was Mai.. The woman wraps her arms tightly about her, as Mai started to doze off.
"Mama." I heard next to me. I turned around to see Mai stretching out her right arm, tears running down her eyes. My heart clenches at the scene.
'Must be very hard for her..' I thought, taking Mai hand, and intertwine our fingers together. Mai lifts her head, and her eyes widen.
I turned, watching her mother cuddling her tight in her embrace.
She started to sing to her... That lullaby.. Hush little baby.
'Is that woman Mai real mother? They have similar voices,' I started to analyze.
"Mama," Mai lets go of my hand, and starts to run towards the imagine.. I started to go after her.
"Mai, this is just a..." but too late, as soon Mai reaches towards the memory, it disappears like vapor.. Then Mai disappears as well.
"Mai?" I called out, only hear my own voice echo. I felt a hand on my shoulder. Turning around, the woman stares at me with a deep look.
'She almost killed Mai' I darkly thought. Then again, so did I.
"Now you know, I will entrust my child to you.. I will return.. Don't let no harm pass by her. In order to prove what you are.. I will place a test on the both. To see how much you are willing to go after her. See it as a punishment, for trying to kill her.."
'Punishment? What? Why am I feeling unwell about this?'
"What gives you the right? I know your not Mai mother.' I simply told her.. The woman smiles at me, as she points behind me.. I turned, to see myself staring at Mai, standing in front of me. Confused.. Since we are floating in a black abyss.
"Naru!" she calls out, but as soon she steps towards me, a glass wall appears in front of us. My heart hammering hard.
"Not again." I hissed, going towards the wall, hitting it.. The woman chuckles, looking straight at Mai.
"This is your punishment.. I will always protect my daughter, no matter what, even from the big bad wolf."
"Please, let us be." Mai cries, bagging on the wall.
"What test you want to place on us?" I simply asked, turning towards the woman. She smiles at us, as she glances at our rings.
"Love. The test of love and loyalty. Its simple really. You try to get her back. Nothing more and nothing less." too simple, what's the catch? Kidnapping her?
"What's the catch?" I grumbled.. Feeling my heart ache. The woman turns her gaze at Mai, her eyes narrowing.
"Easy.. This is the Black Lagoon, anything and everything goes.. Isac and Alack will pay. They will not get what they want. I just need to know how much, my daughter's protector is willing to go to save a stranger." she tells me.
"Stranger?" Mai asked, turning her gaze towards the woman.
"Let's see how much you two are willing to go, without your memories." My eyes widen, turning towards Mai.. Her eyes widen as well, as she started to bang on the wall even more.
"No, please, not that." she begs..
"I'm sorry my dear. Your husband needs to be punished. Since I can't kill him, he shall suffer as well."
"Mama, please. Don't separate me from him." she begs.. I felt my heart ache..
'Please, don't..' I begged in my mind.
Before we could utter another word. The woman snaps her fingers, and the glass turns liquid, splashing down on us.. I huffed, as Mai stares at me with wide eyes.
"I love you." Mai runs up to me, wrapping her arms around me, pressing her lips on me.. I kiss her back, gently.. Feeling my chest warm up completely. Letting go, I cup her cheeks.
"Remember, I will always find you, no matter what." I whispered.. She nods, watching tears running down her cheeks. Making my heart ache even more.
'God, please..' I prayed, not liking this at all.
"What exactly is your plan?" I ask, turning towards the woman. She shrugs, turning around, waving her hand.
"Mama is going to protect her daughter, from everyone!" she sings and before I could react.. Mai disappears from my grasp.
"Mai!" I called out.. Too late, the woman laughs hysterically.
"Prove to me, that you're a worthy husband and protector. If you pass this test. I promise you to help you, and I will forgive you. Find your Alice, and we'll see." and with that.. Everything turns dark on me.
Thanks for the reviews..
