Chapter 15

Naru let his eyes wander away from the first-hand witness accounts of the incidents that took place prior to their arrival. Lin was focused in on the monitors and Mai was fast asleep on the couch hopefully retrieving information, and not playing around with his brother.

'She looks so harmless when she's sleeping, you wouldn't think that she was so troublesome.' Naru pondered over her figure. They'd only been living together for a short time, but he was taken aback by her unusual sleeping habits. She was definitely having night terrors and had erratic bouts of restlessness. He wondered if she was like this after every case or if their last bout left more scars than he realized.

His mother was a clinical psychologist.

As much as that had made his attempts of keeping his feelings to himself impossible; it had taught him to read people. Mai was no exception. She was on edge, short on sleep, and bordering on exhaustion. She was spending her restless hours pouring over her school work and any assignments he'd given her. Part of him was thrilled she was devoting so much time to her studies, but under these circumstances it was troublesome. Naru was trying his best to intervene as little as possible.

Like now. He forced himself to refocus on the reports left by the guards.

'Most just claim to have seen a shadow figure that abused them in some physical way. While other accounts are…well, much odder. One man claimed to be attacked by a flock of bats, another a red-eyed horse, then there was the crazed doctor or even the woman who felt her flesh burning. There are so many of these odd episodes that I can't dismiss them. These accounts have made it clear that this entity is attempting to make these people afraid, but why? Where did it come from? Why the sudden nature of its departure?'

Naru contemplated deeply and let the whirlwind of thoughts consume his mind. Enough so that he became less aware of his surroundings.

Ayako who was seated at the same table as him seemed to take notice of him leaving the stratosphere. Ayako shook her head and sighed lightly.

'Even the great Oliver Davis is capable of getting caught in his own thoughts.' She smiled to herself and continued on with her work.

'Only 10 more wards to go. I'll have to wake Mai soon.'

"Oh wow! This is a jade bowl used by Lady Hao the warrior princess, I studied this in a course on ancient China." John said in awe of all the items they had access too.

"I'm glad someone's enjoying themselves. We'll I'll be in the Arabian Desert section next door, okay? Will you be alright?" Monk asked while rising with a groan and dusting himself off.

"Yes, I'll be over to join you shortly." Was the priest's reply as he continued to bless the jade bowl.

"Before the world began, there was the word. The word was with God and the word was God. He was with God, in the beginning, All things were made through him. Nothing was made without him. In him there was life. That life was the light for the people in the world. That light shines in the darkness. And the darkness has not overpowered the light." At this point he threw the holy water and said 'Amen' . There was no reaction or proof of evil in the bowl. John took this as his sign to move on.

'John!'

John spun around quickly and looked around for the culprit of such a harsh whisper.

To his discomfort no one was there.

He paused.

Senses feeling, eyes sweeping.

Just as he was about to go accompany his coworker in the next room, he saw something out of the corner of his eye. It was slinking around the corner and made his stomach swim with uncertainty. Against his better judgment, he followed it and walked out into the hall. He looked to his left and the hall was mysteriously empty, not even a member of the cleaning staff remained.

HHHHHHIIIIIIIIIIIISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS.

John felt his heart drop in a way he hadn't felt in many years. He turned his head at a torturously slow pace as his eyes widened slowly at the sight that met his own. To his right was a larger-than-life snake that towered over his own height, and bobbed its head dangerously. He had it in his mind to scream or call for Monk, but he was so petrified his voice could accomplish no such task.

'Be calm John. Perhaps it is merely an illusion that the spirit here has created. I need only to chant and dispel it.' John began to reach for his holy water quickly, but the sudden movement seemed to entice fury in the beast and it lunged forward. John barely dodged when the doorway that was once behind him now held a large hole.

'Definitely no illusion.' John thought as he scrabbled upward and finally found his voice.

"MOONNKKKK! H-HELP!" He cried and before the words even finished leaving his mouth Monk was there, and chanting but stopped at the sight of the creature.

"W-what the-" Monk sputtered dumbly. The creature seemed to stun itself by striking the wall but unfortunately seemed to be regaining its ground as it let out another loud hiss.

"It can attack us physically so be careful!" John warned as he scrambled back onto his feet and stood beside the Monk. The snake began to bob its head dangerously once again threatening another strike.

"Un kiriri un hatta!" Monk started to chant and made the sign of the sword with his hands. The snake lunged at him, but Monk made no move to defend himself.

'Oh no Takigawa!' John panicked and jumped to save his friend. Just as John had pushed Monk out of the way the snake bit into his arm.

"JOHN! Aggrrrrhhh! Take this!" Monk released his Kila and stabbed the creature directly between the eyes forcing it to let go. It let out an inhuman scream as it began to squirm, and attempt to make an escape.

"Oh no you don't!" Monk screamed as he continued his chant making the snake do something odder than its very existence.

It began to shrink and lose its form.

Then it became a thick shadow before dissipating all together.

Monk was dumbfounded for a few moments, but his friend's cries of pain were enough to snap him back into reality. He kneeled down next to John and observed the wound. There wasn't much blood, mostly just scraped, but his arm was twisted in a sick manner. Monk grabbed the walkie- talkie, and radioed into base.

"Hello! Naru! Lin! Ayako! We need help!" The response was immediate.

"Monk. Where are you? What happened?" That was Naru, straight to business.

"John and I are in the international treasure section near the Arabian desert exhibit. We we're attacked by the entity, and John's really hurt. I'm pretty sure his arm is broken." Monk said looking back at John whose eyes we're squeezed shut and he was wincing in pain.

"Lin and Ayako are on their way, hang tight. I'll call an ambulance. " Naru reassured.

"Okay. John isn't looking to good so please hurry." With that the connection was brought down and Monk put a hand on the young exorcist's head, much like he'd done to Mai many times.

"Hang in there, John. Help is on the way." Monk soothed gently.

Mai's eyes fluttered open and artificial light pried its way into her eye lids. She began to collect herself and pushed herself off the couch with a groan. The blanket that was covering her slipped to the ground as she rose, only to meet the eyes of the one and only narcissist. He was standing uncomfortably close by.

"Umm… Naru, where is everyone?" Mai's voice scratched to life while looking around.

"John's been hurt, they left to see about his injuries." He let his weight fall into his chair loudly, which was very uncharacteristic of him. Mai wordlessly nodded and headed over to the kitchenette, and began to prepare tea for the two of them. Once she was done, she placed both cups down in front of him and took the seat directly across from him.

"I had a dream." Naru grabbed the tea greedily and wafted its scent.

"Continue." Mai began to detail the events that took place on her astral plane and the boy genius did seem intrigued by the conflict between the mysterious gentleman and this so-called Miro.

"I'm sure it's relevant to the case, but I'm just not sure how yet. This case is getting so dangerous so quickly. This is still our first day and nearly all of us have experienced something paranormal. I'm sorry that I can't be more of an asset to the team." Mai spoke sighing and looking deeply into her cup.

"Mai. Your strengths differ from the others on the team, and that is important. If the entire unit we're comprised of Ayako's or Monk's nothing would get done." Naru reasoned tersely.

'He really can't give a compliment without insulting someone else.' Mai shook her head and smiled. 'Never the less, he's trying to cheer me up.' Mai felt her expression soften and she smiled sweetly at him.

Noll could feel a slight heat on his face. It was unusual for him to have physical reactions to Mai's personality. He placed his tea down carefully and shoved his face back into a file to prevent any noticeable embarrassment.

The door for base burst open surprising more than one occupant, as John's cavalry arrived with the injured member over to the couch.

"Oh my Gosh! John! Your arm!" Mai saw the deeply bruised and twisted arm of the priest. She rushed over to where Lin placed him down his groaning figure.

"The ambulance is on its way." Naru chimed in.

"His arm is definitely broken in more than one place, and you're pretty lucky it wasn't your collar bone or spine. What happened back there? The entire room was a wreck?" Ayako asked attempting to put together the pieces.

"It was the spirit, it morphed into this giant snake, and attacked John. When I came in John was trying to fight it off, when it noticed me it lunged. John pushed me out of the way in time, but tha- that thing bit the crap out of him. I stabbed it with my Buddhist dagger, and it turned back into a dark mass and got away." Monk explained obviously shaken by the events. Mai put a hand on his shoulder, and he placed a hand over hers needing the support. John groaned again coming back to and the pain rushed his senses for the first time once the adrenaline finally receded. Mai leaned in as his vision cleared, and he panicked a bit while trying to figure out his surroundings.

"John it's me, it's going to be okay." Mai caressed his face, pushing his blonde locks out of his face.

"Mai? Where am I?" John croaked totally disoriented.

"You're in base. Your arm looks pretty bad though so try not to move it. The ambulance is on its way." Mai responded as Ayako started to check him for signed of a concussion.

"What about Monk? Is he okay?" This made Mai's heart melt a bit due to his concern for others while he was in such terrible condition.

"I'm right here John, thanks to you I'm fine." Monk walked over and offered a melancholy smile. John chuckled and smiled a bit happy at this bit of news.

"What about the snake?" John mumbled, sounding almost ashamed.

"I exorcised it, so hopefully that will give us sometime before it attacks again. What happened back there John, there were a few minutes where you were frozen? Did it do something to you?" Monk asked and John nodded gingerly communicating his understanding.

"I'm a bit embarrassed to admit this, but I'm terrified of snakes. I almost died when I was younger when I was bitten by one. I still have the scar to prove it. Naru, it's no coincidence that this entity turned into a snake. It knows." John said before letting out another ragged breath and groaned in pain.

Tears welled up. He quickly covered his eyes and he shed them in discredit.

"You don't need to be ashamed you're among friends." Mai wiped his tears gently. He nodded and tried to get up only to groan again.

"John! Don't move, it may not be bleeding externally, but there's definitely some internal damage. "Ayako scolded, being stern but still compassionate to her friend's condition.

"It knows what John? If you know something you have to tell me." Naru said forcefully, gaining a few glares in the process.

"It knows what we are afraid of. Maybe even what we fear most." He spoke in a rough whisper. Mai felt her thoughts begin to race at the prospect of what exactly that meant. The other team member's thoughts we're in a similar prospect of all the things that could be thrown their way.

"I-It knows what we're afraid of? How do you fight something like that?" Ayako was the only one who seemed able to find her own words.

"I don't know. This case was dangerous enough to begin with, and we've only been here a couple hours. Whatever this is, it's very intelligent and powerful, and we don't even know how it got here, let alone how to get rid of it. Maybe, this isn't worth a perfect record?" Monk said deepening the depression of the room.

"We can't just give up! As much of a tool as he is, our client loves this place, and it's his life's work. We've barely given this our all. There has got be something, right?" Mai reached for a limb from the team, but was left grasping.

'We can't just quit now, can we?' Mai wondered her emotions carrying into the spiraling turmoil in base.

It was this moment that Lin chose to enter the uncomfortable environment, but it wasn't his nature to reveal how disturbed he was by the air of tension he discovered upon his arrival.

"The ambulance is here." He announced breaking the stupor. The next twenty minutes consisted of the team watching the priest being wheeled out of the museum accompanied by Ayako leaving the team shorthanded once again. Once things settled down in base, they awaited new orders from their all-knowing leader.

"I believe it's time we call it a night. The basic systems are set up, and we can leave the wards for the night staff with the head guard. I need time to adjust a solid plan for tomorrow's investigation, and I believe we could all use the rest." Were his final comments before they retreated for the night to the hotel.

Ayako was staying with John for the night.

The priest seemed like he could use the company after the day's encounter. This left Mai alone in her hotel room, which she didn't mind but her brain was still racing.

'It knows what we're afraid of. This time knowing exactly what this entity is capable of will actually make investigating more difficult. Knowing it knows our fears is one thing. But seeing its ability to manifest them is another horror story entirely.' Mai dried her hair in a towel. She prayed that steaming away the day would make sleep come easier.

'The more we're afraid the more power it has over us. I bet that's why Naru called it a night. Even he seemed shaken by the news.' Mai sighed and dropped onto her bed sheets with her towel over her eyes.

It took all of her will power not to scream into the soft cloth.

Instead, she pulled it away and let her eyes rest on the moonlight raining down through her window. They weren't far from the city, so the number of stars was as numerous as they could be from the mountains.

Mai knew she needed desperately to dream of something significant. However true, that fact didn't make the dread pooling in her stomach drain away. She started to practice some of the breathing techniques she learned from Gene.

'The best thing I can do now is rest.' She rose to crawl under her sheet properly, but was stopped by a knock at the door. Mai's suspicions immediately went to Ayako arriving back from the hospital.

'Why would Ayako knock though? Must have forgotten the key I gave her.' Mai walked over and paused for a moment as it knocked again.

A flashback from the entity banging on the door to base came to her mind.

'Could it leave the museum?'

The mere speculation made her breath hitch in panic. Before she realized she gotten closer to the door and peaked through the peephole.

Mai swung it open.

"N-naru."

Sorry for the long wait. College whadda' gonna do? Anyway Hope this chapter is to your liking and in the mean while I'll be thinking up some crazy plot twists for you kiddies. Folllow, Fav, and review!

Peace out!