Chapter 56
Mai hadn't felt this way in a long time.
It almost gave everything a dream-like quality, but she was quite positive she was awake. It was breakfast time at the Davis residence, and it felt like she was on the set of a movie. Food was skirted in and out of the room until there was an immaculate spread on the table. Fruits, assortments of sweet breads and custards, a large variety of teas, and even eggs every style.
Polite conversation was a present murmur all around the table.
Lin decided to stay with Madoka during their stay here in England, and the pair arrived early before they were due to set off to SPR. However, Luella would hear nothing of all of them leaving without a proper meal. Thus began the grand affair of breakfast.
"There was the most peculiar news story yesterday. This poor lorry driver nearly drove into a malfunctioning grade crossing, but was stopped by some erratic driver." Martin continued on and Mai froze. Her eyes looked over at Naru and Lin who didn't budge an inch.
The three of them decided to keep their near deadly encounter between themselves.
'If their poker faces are this good, it makes me wonder how much they've gotten past me.' Mai tuned back into Martin as he recalled the news story, while she politely enjoyed her morning tea.
Although, this tale was even more interesting from an outside perspective; Mai could feel herself drowning in this bittersweet feeling.
This house.
This table.
This food and these people.
She pondered if this is what a normal family must feel like.
Like she was in a doll house playing pretend, but with real people who truly lived this life. Maybe when she was a child before her father went off the deep end; Mai could faintly remember the three of them enjoying breakfast together.
Sharing a meal with people you loved was such a simple thing, but it made Mai sentimental.
"So darling, how was your first day of training? You looked so tired yesterday I didn't feel like prying." Luella pressed Mai bringing her out of her morning daze.
"It was… eye opening. For one, I'm definitely out of shape." Mai confessed, laughing sheepishly.
"Oh don't worry dear. Baseline athletics are supposed to push you until your body gives out, quite literally. You could have been an Olympian and that nurse would have been charged to run you into the ground." Martin explained and Luella nodded along sympathetically.
"…and how was the consultation?" Martin stated his eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"Mai. Do not answer that." Naru cut in coldly. Mai looked over at him confused, but Naru and his mother were glaring down the table at the older Davis man.
"Yes. The results of your tests are your business, Mai. Do not let my nosy husband into your personal affairs." Luella warned and Noll actually scoffed out loud.
'You're both too nosy if you ask me.' Noll thought to himself, but didn't share the response aloud.
"Perhaps another time then, once I have a better understanding of what I can do." Mai offered shyly and Martin nodded eagerly.
"Hurry up, were leaving." Naru stood and made his way out of the kitchen.
"Naru, don't be so rude!" Mai yelled in Japanese before turning back to their gracious hosts.
"Thank you for breakfast." Mai bowed and went after her boss.
"Don't forget your snacks on the counter !" Luella called after them and giggled.
Luella shared a warm knowing look with her husband. She reached out her hand which he took into his instantly.
"Our house is lively again." Martin mused to his wife.
"Yes, just like old times." She responded squeezing their fingers together.
"I thought I didn't have to get wet anymore?" Mai grumbled crossing her arms. After yesterday's brutal workout, Mai was glad that all that she would be expected to do was float. Her muscles were still sore from the day before and she was doing her best to hide it.
"There was always flexibility involved in the test plan that hinged on the diagnosis Mai. The sensory deprivation tank was a recommendation from yesterday to start us off." Naru explained while handing over a company issued SPR swimsuit. Mai looked at the unflattering piece of fabric and sighed.
"So how is floating supposed to help me understand and control my abilities?" Mai whined dropping down onto the couch in protest.
"Draw from the context clues in the name Mai. It's called a sensory deprivation tank for a reason. Often times our senses are overloaded doing their daily task of transmitting information about the environment we're in. However, the more outside signals you eliminate the clearer the messages you are able to receive are." Naru explained mercifully as Mai took in his words quietly.
"That makes sense. So do you want me to try to astral project or something?" Mai pondered aloud.
"No, that would be way too dangerous!" Madoka stepped into the lobby to explain. "The goal of this exercise is to hone your ability to recognize environmental signals without distractions. Use this as a method of differentiating spiritual signaling from physical, mental, and emotional signals. You probably won't be needing your key for this session either." Madoka completed placing a stack of papers down onto the coffee table.
"That makes sense. I struggle with astral projecting from a waking state. This seems like the kind of setting that would improve that skill." Mai surmised.
There was an observation deck behind a one-way glass where Naru would be guiding her spiritual work through the telecom. Something about knowing that he was there watching her enter the pool wearing next to nothing made her heart race.
The room and the water were both surprisingly warm.
The smell of salt was thick.
Mai had been to the ocean once or twice, which paled in comparison to the strength of the scent here.
'This would probably be the worst time to find out I have a papercut.' Mai thought in passing.
Without waiting for further direction, Mai took off her necklace and placed it on the side of the pool. She stepped into the warm water and was grateful to realize it wasn't as deep as she feared. Mai wasn't very tall to begin with so certain pools might as well have been open oceans to her short legs.
Mai tested the buoyancy of the water while close to the edge and found she could float quite effortlessly.
Mai spread her limbs and relaxed into the calming waves. The water cradled her readily and she began to float further and further from the safety of the pool's edge.
The scent and the heat still weren't the most defining trait of the poolroom.
It was the silence.
It was slightly unnerving.
Every movement Mai made echoed and bounced off the wall. She swore she could even hear every breath she took. This room reflected back each and every sense like a mirror.
Without her necklace Mai could sense Naru's brilliance close by. With a bit more effort she could also sense others with notable spiritual aptitude scattered throughout the building. It reminded her of a night sky with Naru as the luminous full moon with various satellite psychics moving in linear paths around the building.
"Mai. I'm going to dim the lights a bit. The room will not be dark, but the lights will be dim. Will you be okay?" Naru's voice suddenly cascaded into the room nearly giving her a fright, but she maintained her steady floating.
"Yes. I'll be okay." Mai replied.
The lights dimmed glacially and Mai closed her eyes.
"Now, I'm going to guide you through an exercise. The difficultly will increase with each task." Naru ordered.
Mai could feel him falling into his 'researcher mode'.
"Okay." Mai responded still amazed at how her words bounced onto every surface.
"Steady your breathing to equal beats of 8 for inhaling and exhaling." He began.
Minutes went by before Naru continued.
"Now close your eyes and continue the breathing cycles. I'll be playing three different recordings that will not be intelligible through natural human perception. Each recording is only a few seconds long, but it will be played on a loop for 3 minutes. I will announce when each section has begun and when they have ceased. In between I want you to tell me what you have interpreted from each set of sounds. Do not force too much detail. We will debrief the specifics after you emerge. Are you ready to begin?" Naru explained in curt detail.
"…yes." Mai affirmed.
"I will now play the first sound." Naru spoke.
Suddenly Mai could smell some sort of perfumed smoke. Like incense from a shrine, but much stronger. Frankincense, myrrh, and notes of sandalwood were coming to mind. Long and deep echoing musical notes appeared as well. Loud enough to be felt through vibrations. She felt something like peacefulness, but with more intensity. Perhaps closer to deep focusing within a place that feels safe. She could taste crackers or wafers.
"I have stopped the first sound. Were you able to interpret any messages?" Naru asked. Mai could imagine him waiting with his small notebook.
"Yes. I got the feeling of being in a shrine or church or some place of worship. Scented smoke and music loud enough to vibrate its surroundings. Lots of intense focusing and maybe crackers...?" Mai felt strange saying the last part.
"I will now play the second sound." Naru pressed onward.
The strong scent of chemicals hit Mai like a tidal wave. Lots of crying. Always crying. But somehow the crying makes the atmosphere happier. Warm cotton cloths and wrapping. Intense pain. Strong enough to make you ball your fist until your palms bleed. Strong waves of emotions. Unending sadness or triumphant happiness.
"I have stopped the second sound. Any inclinations?" Naru probed again.
"Pain and lots of crying. Strong scent of chemicals. Alcohol, I think. Maybe a hospital." Mai guessed with furrowed brows.
"I will now play the third and final sound." Naru reported.
Mai felt like she was moving up and down and nearly opened her eyes. Was someone else in the pool making the water shift? She hadn't heard anything, but Mai thought of strong winds on her face. Now she did open her eyes, but was careful not to disrupt her floating with frantic movements.
Mai slowly turned her head and didn't notice anyone else in the low lighting.
"The final sound has ended. What are your thoughts?" Naru queried once more.
"I'm… not sure. I felt like the pool water was moving just now. Maybe even some wind in the room. Not much else." Mai responded back.
Precipitously, the lights came back on and she was grateful. Mai looked around the room once for good measure.
"That concludes that portion of the test. You may get dressed and meet back at the office." Naru reported over the speaker. Mai made quick work getting back to the edge of the pool. By the time she reached the ladder two black shoes were at eye level with her.
"Here I brought you a towel." Naru said waiting.
"I should totally pull you in here." Mai joked taking her time exiting the pool.
"Then you wouldn't have a dry towel idiot." Naru quipped and he assisted her out of the salted pool. He hadn't meant for his eyes to linger over her, but it was difficult not to notice.
The water skirted down from her hair and danced around the curves in her neck, breast, and waistline. The stark difference in the temperature from the pool to the open air caused goosebumps all over her skin.
Not to mention her nipp-
Oliver turned away as soon as he felt his core start to heat and tighten. He couldn't afford to let any inkling of just how close he was to his test subject show while he was present in this building. Naru never knew where prying eyes could nest themselves.
Beyond that fact, the fire in his gut surprised him.
He had felt lust before but only from the perspective of second-hand disgust. Naru had the displeasure of using his psychometry to track the movements of some of the evilest minds to have walked this planet. People capable of great evil deeds in which they took great pleasure. From a young age, he'd felt this sensation through the eyes of people with bad intentions.
Noll had to admit that feeling lust toward Mai did worry him from time to time. He knew he was a man of honor, but the mental pathways curved into his brain made him question if it was okay to want her.
"Umm…Naru?" Mai called him, but he didn't turn back towards her. He feared he may be blushing. Mai ignored his silence and continued speaking.
"What should I do if I run into someone else in the locker room?" She whispered to him. Her tone was attempting to appear inquisitive, but sang clear notes of fear.
"Lin has already dispatched a shikigami to chaperone you while in the women's locker room. I shall wait in the outer hall." Naru responded before exiting the poolroom.
'Was it just my imagination or did he seem like he was avoiding looking at me?' Mai thought wondering if her state of undress really did have an effect on him.
'No way. He can't let there be any proof of our relationship here. I don't want something we've barely started to build used to tear apart his credentials.' Mai sighed and moved toward the locker room.
A sharply dressed gentleman concluded his presentation, though the light illuminating his figure didn't dull. Were it only for his vision, he wouldn't be able to make out the seven board members silhouettes. However, he was a researcher, not a gambler.
He was sure how this presentation would go before it began.
"Dr. Williams, I understand your passion for bring the society of paranormal research into the future, However, there are tremendous legal implications to what you are suggesting. This is a place of employ for these people. We cannot just subject their personal details for public sale and consumption." A voice echoed forward.
"I must admit you've puzzled me with such a response. Do we not already do this through our research and publications? Although we attempt to conceal and protect the identity of our psychics; we send them out into the world as if our clients do not take note for themselves. Why not remove the guise of privacy and empower our employees to wield their talents untethered?" Dr. Williams quipped back.
"Wield their talents untethered you say? There are quite literally those with the ability to spontaneously engulf anything into flames or completely rob others of their mental faculties? You must understand that this protection we have in place is two-fold. The public from the psychics then the psychics from the public !" An outraged voice raged a loud.
"Now surely you won't reduce those who choose to be members of this society to mere weapons. Each member of this society has the personal agency to represent themselves how they see fit. That is, they will once my framework is implemented." Dr. Williams continued unabated.
"Alright then. Let us play out a simple scenario. If I am a psychic who has the ability to understand the past events surrounding a certain item or perhaps toss an 800 kg block with the power of my mind. How could I benefit from my personal information being publicly available and my skills for sale at the highest bidder ?" A voice Dr. Williams knew immediately chimed in.
'Oh Martin. You are too plain, but I know you are no fool. You wish to villainize me with your son as the damsel.' Dr. Williams thought, but pressed on.
"Ahh yes. Now that does remind me of a very particular psychic in our employ. This system would function in a similar way to how we operate today. This person could accept or refuse any contracts for their services, but would make a substantially larger profit. Assuming that this mystery person wasn't already among the financially fortunate, they could even fund their own research without the trouble of government oversight limiting the possibilities. It would be totally legal." Dr. Williams implored.
"Legal yes, but ethical absolutely not. The reason that people come to the society of paranormal research is because we are known as a safe haven for psychics to come and hone their skills. It is difficult enough to swat away those with dastardly intentions from exploiting our members. It's no secret that we practically had to go underground in World War II in order to prevent this sort of corruption. Now you suggest we open the floodgates and let the vultures right in ? Are you daft?" An older woman's voice berated unabashedly.
"Yes, that period in our history cannot be forgotten. But should the next World War arise are we to scatter like ants again? Demolish the building and burn the records? Have the carpet yanked from underneath us? I am proposing we do away with these false protections that seem to have fooled far to many of you to believing in this false sense of security. In this age where every second of every day we are all under constant surveillance what we have here in this building will get out. SPR will go public. But will we choose it or will we have it chosen for us?" Dr. Williams battled back, his tone of strength never wavering.
"He does have a point. The only reason we have had to accept the small number of government contracts that we have is in exchange for scrubbing videos and other evidence from numerous platforms. It's an uphill battle." Another woman admitted.
"I agree. Government oversite has shown it can't keep up with public curiosity and scientific innovation. I say we get one step ahead of these useless figureheads and puppet masters." Another man's voice supported.
"My thoughts exactly. We have to wield our strengths, not be held prisoner by them. Hiding under the covers will only leave us cold once the sheets are pulled. As you all know this is not merely an introductory presentation. My team is ready to implement this system at a moments notice." Dr. Wiliams shared getting a few scoffs at the admission.
"Thank you, Dr. Williams, that will be all for now. We will continue to deliberate and let you know by the close of business in three days' time." The final voice dismissed. Dr. Williams bowed and exited the illuminated stage out into the back hallway.
The dimly lit corridor was occupied by a familiar set of green eyes and brown curly hair.
"I should have known you would be listening." Dr. Williams smirked but did not stop, assuming his daughter would follow.
"Father, I don't see why you appeal to those old boars. You have the clout and resources to build something to rival is old dump." Marie said trailing the man. He suddenly stopped and she ran into his back clumsily.
"Bite your tongue you insolent child. This old dump should have been my birthright and I am fighting to make it so you won't die a penniless trollop." He spun around seething. Marie stumbled back into the wall seemingly frightened.
"I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking." Marie lurched out.
"No, you weren't. I am not only doing this for you. It's for both of us, for our family, for our future." Dr. Williams cooed caressing the face of his daughter and she nodded dumbly. Suddenly his finger dug into her cheeks painfully as his eyes grew narrow.
"I already have too many enemies here. Do not become one of them." He spat before walking off leaving Marie behind in the hall.
Mai made it back to the office in one piece, not to mention totally dry. She was currently enjoying some soup while debriefing the morning exercise with her boss.
"Each of the recordings that were played are what is known as EVPs. Or electronic voice phenomenon. These EVPs were all taken from locations with high amounts of paranormal activity from past SPR investigations. I played these for you in a location that is made to heighten your senses to test if you are able to receive the message held within each of the varying frequencies. Unsurprisingly you were able to get all three of them correct." Naru reported and Mai raised her eyebrows surprised.
"Really? Even the last one? I barely got any impressions from it." Mai responded, happy to have her necklace back on.
"Let's review in order. The first was recorded in a catholic church. The crackers you were referring to are a part of a ritual to demonstrate the sacrifice of one of their religious figures. The vibrations were likely from an organ or church bells." Naru shared while he was adding to his notes.
'Rice crackers in church? Sounds strange…' Mai wondered debating if it was worth asking John about it.
"The second recording was taken in an abandoned maternity ward." Naru shared and Mai hummed.
"That makes sense. I was wondering why the crying was good and bad. It could have been a baby's first breath or a mother's loss." Mai mumbled and Naru took more notes. She realized any additional inclinations she felt, Naru added to his records.
"The last recording was on a ship that was once wrecked. The owner was trying to refurbish it, but the repairs were stalled by the activity. Your limited impression was likely your psychic sense clashing with the physical senses your body felt. I was interested if you'd still pull any data from a scenario similar to the pool. But you did." Naru shared, even sounding somewhat impressed making Mai blush.
"Wow Mai, impressing the Dr. Davis. That is a rare honor." Madoka praised leaning her head into the back office they occupied.
"Madoka, we are working here." Oliver responded dully.
"Which is the problem I'm here to correct. Don't make Mai eat alone. You need your strength to so take a break." Madoka scolded lightly before taking off. Naru sighed, but complied none the less. He dismantled the covering keeping his own meal warm.
"What else would you like to accomplish while in England? "Naru started and Mai looked at him strangely.
"What do you mean ? I thought you and the other professors were curating my test schedule, not me." Mai said perplexed.
"Other than your interests at SPR." Naru groaned rolling his eyes.
Oh.
"You mean like sight-seeing?" Mai smiled unable to conceal her excitement at the prospect.
"Yes. Monk and Matsuzaki will not be pleased if I only let you see my house and these lab rooms." Naru shared flatly and Mai chuckled.
'He acts like he doesn't listen when they scold him about me, but he does. Though they'll probably never see it.' Mai held back her smirk to think.
"I would like to see Stonehenge. I don't know how far away it is, but it's a world wonder. I'd hate to miss it." Mai started before eating more soup.
"It's also a place that is highly spiritual with a history thousands of years old. Are you sure that's a good idea?" Naru warned.
"Well as long as you don't touch it and I keep on my necklace we should be fine. Besides, just hearing you talk about the history of it get's me even more excited to check it out." Mai admitted blushing at her candidness. Noll could feel his heart warm knowing how similar they could be at times. When he was younger, Stonehenge had been the most favorite trip that he'd ever taken. There were still books about the site on his shelves.
"Alright. Is that all?" Naru inquired.
"Well, if you wouldn't be too embarrassed, I'd like to do as much tourist activities as possible. Buckingham, Bath, Big Ben, and the eye of London." Mai gushed looking at him shyly waiting for his reaction.
"Fine. You'll probably want to see a gift shop too, but well save that for the last day." Noll complied and Mai nodded skeptically.
"You hate crowds. You'll be miserable." Mai noted scanning his face for signs of apprehension.
"I'll manage." He mumbled meeting her eyes and shrugging.
Mai wanted to kiss him so badly in that moment.
'Maybe later.' She mentally postponed and continued her meal.