A/N: I started writing this chapter as soon as I posted the last one, but decided to wait a while before posting it to strengthen the effect of the cliffhanger. But yeah, in case you couldn't figure it out (I left it a little vague on purpose) Taker talks now. And will be referred to as Taker from now on.

"So you can talk! I knew it!" There were a lot of things going through my mind, like a lot! When that happens, I usually prefer to tackle the positives first. And this was definitely a positive. No more would I have to deal with overly one-sided conversations. "Better yet," I continue. "I finally have a name for you! Taker. Now that's a cool name, much better than Specimen 9. Hey, does that mean the other specimens have names too?"

"Does it not bother you?" Even though this is the second time I've heard him speak, it's no less surprising to me. Maybe it's because I'm so used to him being silent, or maybe it's because his voice sounds like nothing I've ever heard before. It was masculine, but definitely not human.

I had to think about his question a bit before answering. It wasn't really Taker being a specimen that bothered me, it was the fact that I never so much as suspected he was one. I should never have been surprised by the news, after all he had tried to kill me when we first met, I think. That was the definition of a specimen around here after all, a supernatural creature who would attempt to kill anyone who tried to get through Spooky's mansion. For what purpose, I still didn't know. But that was something to ponder another time.

Maybe it was because he hadn't once tried to kill me after that, and so I just absentmindedly separated him from all the others.

"Not really," I finally decided on saying. "I mean it doesn't really change that much."

And it didn't. Well except enlighten me to how much I truly didn't know about Taker. At the time, I had just been glad I had someone to share my adventure with, even though said someone had a strong case of silent deudergonist syndrome. Now though, I didn't even know so much as if Taker really was on my side. But I had agreed to give him the benefit of the doubt, and I intended to do so.

"You have a lot to explain though."

And much to my surprise, he agreed. "I will, but not now. We are approaching Ringu's lair."

"Ringu? You mean Specimen 4?"

"Yes."

"So the other specimens do have names!"

"Most of them do, yes."

Ringu's lair turned out to be a series of rooms designed like a school. A Japanese school, if the picture of Ringu on the computer was any indication. Wait, that's a bit racist isn't it? Ringu doesn't have to go to a Japanese school just because she's asian, let's just get that out of the way. The entry had no mention whatsoever that she was Japanese so she could have been from anywhere. But I'd still guess this school was meant to be like a Japanese school because she was wearing what looked to be some sort of uniform that Japanese students would probably wear.

it was also the most crowded part of the manssion. Shadowy children, boys and girls, hung around everywhere, chattering and whispering to each other. It was kinda creepy, but also made me feel... soothed? Maybe because I was used to seeing my classmates doing the same sort of things at my own school, and the familiar setting and behavior relaxed me.

That is, until Taker went and ruined it. "The shadow children are relatively harmless, if you keep your distance they will not kill you." I started to retort, but then stopped myself.

This was the first time that Taker had actively tried to assist me rather than follow silently as I ran and planned for my life. Maybe my concerns, little as they were, were unnecessary; maybe Taker was really on my side despite the whole killer specimen thing. If what Spooky said was true, and Taker really was the strongest specimen in the whole mansion, it wouldn't take a warlord to know he'd be an invaluable ally. It would also give me a huge burst of confidence seeing as I'd beaten him pretty darn easily. And if I could beat the strongest specimen like that, then heck! This would be a walk in the park for me! Of course, there's also a possibility that Taker was having an off day or something... Yeah, probably best not to judge my specimen fighting capabilities on that encounter.

It wasn't long before we came upon yet another note.

Matsuri never came to class today. I hope she made it home okay.

"Fake! Fake! Fake fake fake! Fakity fake fake!"

"What made you come to that conclusion?"

I stared at Taker for a moment, completely flabbergasted. "What made you not?" I retorted. With no answer forthcoming, I realized I'd have to spell it out. "The first reason is that kids do not randomly scribble their worries on any old piece of paper then leave it for anyone to find. Trust me, I know; mostly because I'm a kid myself if you hadn't noticed. If we do so decide to put our fears into words, we do it in a journal. A secure lock or password protected journal tucked safely away from prying eyes."

"Keep your voice down." Taker warned. Sure enough, the nearby shadow kids were hissing and slowly creeping nearer. In no mood to deal with this crap right now, I stuck my tongue out at them and blue a big wet raspberry.

"Pffft!"

This seemed to surprise them so much they were at a loss for what to do, ultimately ending in them giving up and backing off. I smirked before going back to what I was doing like nothing had ever happened.

"As I was saying, we don't do that. Second, Matsuri is a Japanese name, and I'd assume the classmate of hers who supposedly wrote this note was a friend of hers, and most likely also Japanese."

"Your point?"

"Why the heck is this note written in english? Well I'll tell you why, because this mansion is located in America, meaning the people who come in here most likely speak english as their native language. And they need to understand what the note says for maximum spoopiness. Yes sir, this is just yet another one of Spooky's attempts to scare people. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that these people or the situation isn't real, it very well could be. But they didn't write this note, Spooky did. Or someone working for her did. Either way, it's fakity fake fake."

"Your logic is sound," Taker concludes after a while of contemplation. I'm not sure if it was my skills of deduction that gave him pause, or the fact that he didn't think of the same thing earlier, but either way I decide not to comment.

A/N: So I checked the wiki while writing this chap, and apparently you can only see the shadow kids with a flashlight that the player gets, and they don't move. Well I don't feel like rewriting this chapter to incorporate that,especially since it means the whole raspberry thing can't happen. So consider it a part of the AU.