Everyone else ran out after Mai. I went straight back to my desk and continued working as if nothing had happened.
"It wasn't that bad. Come on, you liked it." Couldn't he let it go?
"I don't like sleeping on the floor." I snapped, irritated. Why couldn't they have just let me continue sleeping on the sofa?
Only then did Lin leave it, but I could tell he found the whole thing hilarious. Just my luck. I think I prefer Lin before he met this lot.
Some minutes later everyone came back, albeit without Mai. I raised an eyebrow.
"Where's she?"
"In the swimming pool. She wanted to be alone for a bit." I nod, glancing at the monitor. She's there, doing something utterly pointless. Nothing new there then.
"Naru,"
"What?" She looks a bit taken back at my tone, like I'm meant to be nice to her. If she wants me to be nice to her, she could try not blackmailing me. She knows I'm not interested in her.
"I saw him earlier. The ghost."
Ah, a lead at last.
"He's an elderly male, and... he doesn't harbour a grudge, but more of a hate."
A hate?
"What?" Monk looked confused.
"He doesn't have a grudge against someone, but he just... hates. Without reason."
"Who does he hate?"
She shrugged. "I don't know."
I turn back to the file. He hates the victims... but why? What connected all these people together?
"When was this?"
"Earlier, when you were," she pauses for a moment, "...asleep."
I continue skim reading, occasionally glancing at the monitor with Mai on it. She's still doing the same thing that she was 20 minutes ago. I swear, anything can amuse her.
Everyone else (well, minus Lin) was talking, about whatever. Can't they keep it down a bit? To be honest, I'm not sure what's worse, when there're silent or noisy. Silence means that they're planning something, and noise is just annoying.
I can't see the connection. There must be something, his victims aren't random. It's not age, gender, occupation, nationality, personality.
I almost asked Mai for some tea, but remembered in time that she wasn't here. How much time does she want alone? It's not a vacation; we're here to do work. I check the monitor again. It's not broadcasting.
Shit.
I jump up and run out, hoping that something's just wrong with the camera, maybe some water got on it, or it's just old...
I remember that it's one on the newer cameras like a knife in my stomach. And the only way it could have gotten wet is if Mai purposely splashed it. She wouldn't do that.
Please, let nothing have happened to Mai.
I sprint down the stairs, nearly knocking someone over. I don't care. Almost there...
Please, please, let her be okay.
I dodge around benches, noticing a slight chill in the air.
I eventually come to the swimming pool.
Shit. Mai's drowning.
Without hesitation I dive in, quickly reaching her underwater. My arms wrap around her limp body.
Please, don't let me be too late.
Our heads break the surface, and I swim as quickly as I can to the edge, making sure to support her neck and head. She's unconscious. Or worse. Please, don't let it be the latter.
I manage to push her onto the solid ground and I climb up after her. I check for a pulse.
Crap, she's not breathing.
