Chapter 5: Into The Woods
„I swear, that has to be him!" Haruka spoke, staring at Takeshi with such intense that the police director almost started to squirm. "Haruka, that's not enough proof! Yes, he lives in the forest, and yes, he said that he would make you pay, but how often have you heard that during your career and nothing happened? Besides, if he wanted to make you pay, why should he kill off a dozen other girls before he gets Michiru?" "I don't know!" Haruka shot back, her frustration getting the better of her. "But I have this certain feeling that he is our man!" Takeshi sighed and gave the blonde an apologetic look. "Even if he is, Haruka…as long as you didn't find more proof, I can't allow you to imprison him." Suddenly, a mischief glint filled his eyes, and he winked at the blonde. "Although, if you drove over to his place in private and not while you're at work…it should be okay." Haruka gave him a thankful look. "Thanks, Takeshi…well, I would like to have the day off then." Takeshi nodded and leaned back in his seat. "Get the day off, Haruka…but if you find something out, or need backup, don't be afraid to ask." Haruka gave him another thankful look before she nodded and left the office.
"12 hours left." The kidnapper informed Michiru, who sat in the corner of the hut again, staring down at her feet. At the voice of the man, her eyes came up, and she softly spoke: "Haruka will find me in time." Her captor just laughed, sounding more insane than ever, and shook his head. "Your trust in her is huge. Let's see how huge it is when the time if over and I kill you." "That won't happen." Michiru replied, trying to keep her voice steady. "She will find me, I know that." The kidnapper laughed again, with high, hysterical laughter. "Never." He then spoke, staring at his prisoner with sparkling eyes. "She'll never find me. All she is good at is to kill innocent young men. She won't find me." After that, he broke into laughter again, while Michiru leaned her head against the wall, her eyes squeezed shut, and started to pray for Haruka to find her fast.
Haruka drove her car down the street that led her out of town and into the woods; her gun was tucked safely into it's holster, her cell phone laid on the passenger's seat. The blonde had to fight the urge to press the gas pedal down as far as possible; it was hard to stay within the tempo limit, but somehow, she managed to, even though she wanted nothing more than to reach the forest fast. She looked at her map again, her eyes glued to the blue cross she had marked the exact location of Goro Nagana's hut. Finally, the blonde reached the small path that lead deeper into the woods; she stopped her car and turned the motor off, since she didn't want to alarm the killer with the noise of her car approaching. Quickly, she grabbed the map and got out of the car – not noticing that her cell phone still laid on the passenger's seat.
One and a half hours later, Haruka finally had reached the marked position. She stayed hidden in the bushes and looked over at the small hut, her eyes falling on the black van that stood in front of it. "That means that he is here." The blonde thought to herself, a satisfied grin raising the corners of her mouth. If she had been right, Michiru was here too, and soon, she would be able to hold her in her arms again. Carefully, Haruka drew her gun and started to sneak over to the back of the hut, with the intention to peek in through one of the windows. She reached one of them without any interruptions and looked into it, the first thing she saw being Michiru – all tied up and helpless. Then, her eyes fell on the brown haired man that sat on the couch, and her heartbeat increased. She had found him at last.
Goro's head shot up at the sound of somebody knocking the front door, as well as Michirus eyes came up. Her heart performed an excited leap when she heard the voice of her lover speaking: "This is the police speaking! Open the door now!" Goro looked at her with sheer surprise plastered over his face, then he slowly started to grin. He walked over to the wall where his trusty murder weapon, the sharp butcher hook hung, and took it off. Slowly, he walked over to the door and rose the hook high above his head. Seconds before he opened it, Michiru suddenly shouted: "Haruka, watch out!"
Haruka heard her lover scream her name and that she should watch out, then the door swung open. Only moments after it had, the all too known butcher hook came sliding down towards her. Much to her luck, she had been warned; thus she was able to drop to the ground and roll off in time, the hook only cutting air instead of her throat. While Haruka still came to her feet though, Goro had hurried back into the hut and grabbed Michiru, holding her in front of him, the sharp tip of the hook pressing against her throat. Haruka finally got back to standing upright – and froze at the sight. Goro gave her an insane grin and softly spoke: "Welcome to my home, Tenoh.", the deadly hook glistening in the sunlight.
