**Another longer chapter!
I've been going back and rereading the chapters and fixing any mistakes that slipped by me. I don't know if you all get notifications when I edit so I'm sorry if you suddenly get a bunch of them. I also made sure to update chapter twelve; I completely forgot Oliver was the younger twin and it was eating away at me that I made that mistake lol. I finally caved and got around to editing it.**
When the trio finally made it back to the base, they all took a seat and took a deep breath. A lot had happened in the past few hours.
Masako straightened up and turned to her fiance. "Before we begin, are you sure you're alright?"
Gene huffed in annoyance and rubbed his temples roughly. "I'm fine, I just needed a rest that's all."
Masako's lips pressed into a fine line at his words and she turned back to Mai. "Mai. What happened back there? I walked in and you were talking to a bloody spirit. Quite literally, too, since it looked like it had been shot in the head."
Mai was slightly taken aback by Masako's interrogation. "Well I didn't know it was a spirit at first. I thought it was just someone who was staying at the hotel."
Masako's eyes narrowed slightly. "Mr. Ferrell didn't allow anyone to book a room during our stay in order to avoid any potential danger. But more importantly; you couldn't tell that it was a spirit?"
Mai looked back and forth between Masako and Gene who were both staring at her curiously. "No?"
"It didn't look transparent at all?" Masako questioned bluntly.
The brunette tilted her head in confusion. "Translucent? No he wasn't."
Masako moved herself towards the edge of her seat. "Mai, when you see a spirit what does it look like to you?"
Mai shrugged her shoulders, thinking back. "They look like anybody else."
"So they look solid?" the medium confirmed.
"Yes? Is that odd?" Mai questioned suspiciously.
"Does this happen every time you see a spirit?"
"Yes. There have been times when they've been somewhat see-through and I could tell they were a spirit right away, but usually they look like your average person. Wait, I'm confused, I thought you could see them like I could," Mai trailed off self consciously.
"Let's just say there are very few mediums that are known to possess the same skill," Gene chimed in seriously.
Mai stared at him in shock. "So what does that mean for me?"
"It means," he began as he rested his elbows on his knees and placed his chin on his steepled fingers thoughtfully. "That your powers are only just beginning. It also means that I'm going to have my hands full training you."
"At least you have the best team in the world to help you as your abilities grow," Masako added. "Lin and Madoka, Martin and Luella, Gene and myself, and of course Oliver. You're with the best of the best."
"How much are my abilities going to grow?" Mai asked, stunned.
Masako and Gene shared a look before giving her a serious look.
"Only time will tell," Gene replied. "But let's worry about that later. Right now we should be focusing on solving this case."
Mai nodded. "You're right."
"So," Masako clasped her hands together. "I believe you were going to tell us what happened upstairs."
"Oh, right," Mai winced. "Well, when we were about to investigate the event hall, I felt a strong urge to go to the meeting room at the end of the hall. Like I needed to go there and it would help the case. When I arrived I saw the spirit looking out the window. At first I didn't realize he was dead, I thought it was just somebody staying at the hotel. He seemed confused. Like he didn't know where he was. Then he started talking about his son and how if this was heaven then his son should be here. That's when...well, I had a vision."
She thought back to what she had seen and the man's emotions still pulled at her chest. She took a deep breath, trying to keep the tears from forming.
"Did you feel his emotions?" Gene asked her.
Mai nodded and closed her eyes for a moment. "I still feel them a little. It's different from the typical empathy I usually have towards spirits. It feels as if I was the one who lost a child."
"What did you see?" Masako asked with a sympathetic smile. She reached out a comforting hand and squeezed Mai's knee encouragingly.
"It was quick but while I watched everything it was like I knew exactly what was happening. A vision of him holding his son for the first time. Another vision of him mourning his wife and another of mourning his son's death. He was only four years old," Mai finished with a whisper.
"How do you know that?" Gene pried.
"I just do," Mai said, shaking her head. "The man...he killed himself after the funeral while looking at a portrait of his son. "
"That must be why the portrait is haunted. His spirit must have attached itself to it," Masako mused sadly. "I wonder how it wound up at an antique store."
"It was probably picked up from an estate sale or something of the like," Gene assumed. "Was there anything else?"
Mai nodded. "I tried to tell him I could help him move on but he said he couldn't. He said none of them could because she was keeping them here."
Gene raised a brow. "She?"
Masako spoke up. "The figure in the picture frames. She showed up and was watching us. I couldn't feel any malice coming from her though."
"What could her motive be?" Gene growled in frustration. "Why keep the other spirits here? How is she keeping them here? On top of that, why was it that we've experienced so many things today when all other eye-witness accounts happened at night? All of their stories painted the picture that the spirits never interacted with anyone, and now suddenly they're deciding to have full blown conversations."
"Maybe our presence has caused them to act up?" Mai wondered.
Gene ran a tense hand through his hair. "If that's the case then who's to say that they won't start to become aggressive?"
Masako gave him a gentle smile. "Don't worry, darling, we'll figure it ou-"
The sound of a phone ringing caught their attention and Mai could see Gene bristle. An unsettling feeling washed over her as she saw the man's mood darken even further.
Masako quickly apologized and pulled out her mobile. She bit her lip nervously and looked up at Gene. "I'm so sorry, it's work. I have to take this."
"Go ahead, answer it. You always do."
The two women stared in shock at the very uncharacteristic reply. Gene abruptly stood and grabbed his notepad and pen before briskly making his way to the door.
"I'm going to rearrange the cameras," he said coldly, not caring to turn around before closing the door behind him.
Mai looked over at Masako who stared wide eyed in the direction her fiance disappeared. She could see the tears that were threatening to spill and quickly placed a hand on Masako's shoulder.
"I-I'll go talk to him. Something feels off, I know he didn't mean what he said," she reassured hurriedly before making her way out of the base.
Mai looked down the hallway and saw his retreating form. She nearly had to run in order to catch up with his long strides.
"Gene!" She called out after him.
He ignored her and kept walking.
"Gene, please stop!" she panted as she finally caught up to him. "This morning you seemed yourself and now...something's wrong. You can tell us what's happening."
Gene suddenly stopped, causing Mai to nearly crash into him. He turned and gave her a hard stare.
"So something has to be wrong in order for me to have emotions?" His words were eerily calm and cutting. "I can't be angry that my future wife keeps pushing back our wedding day in order to appease those assholes who trample all over her? She told me she quit. She said last year was going to be her final year of filming. She told me that and then a week later she said they pulled her into one more year. And now? Now they are having her go all the way to America. I know they're going to weasel their way into getting her to work an extra year for them. It's what they do. She says she loves me. She says she hates working for them, yet she keeps doing whatever they bloody want and I keep getting put on the backburner. Tell me, Mai, wouldn't you be angry too?"
His jaw tensed and she could see his chin begin to quiver. He placed a hand over his face and let out a shaky breath. "How long would your patience hold until you finally broke?"
Mai looked at the man sympathetically. "I'm not saying your emotions are invalid. I also don't know Masako very well since I only met her yesterday, but there must be more to the story."
His hand dropped and Mai could see the moisture in his eyes glistening. "Then why can't she tell me what's happening?"
Mai's mouth opened and closed as she tried to think of a response. She never expected to see Gene act this way, but she understood why he was hurting.
"Let's go back to base and you can talk things out with h-" she began but he turned around and started to walk away.
"I need some space right now, Mai. If you're so desperate to fix someone, go find Masako," he ground out as he disappeared down the hall.
The brunette stood there in disbelief. Part of her wanted to follow her friend, but another part knew he needed his space. This place was definitely affecting Gene in some way, she just wished she knew what to do.
Biting her lip she pulled out her phone and hovered her fingers over the keypad hesitantly. If she messaged Oliver, would he think they were incapable of solving a case on their own? What if she distracted him from his conferences? She looked at the time on her mobile and noticed it was already seven o'clock.
Giving a resigned sigh, she decided against it and put her phone back in her pocket. She turned around and began to make her way back to the base.
Little did she know, a shadowy figure had been lingering in the reflection of a framed photograph at the end of the hall. As she walked away, the shadow moved in the direction Gene had disappeared.
Mai finally made it back to the base and gently knocked on the door, waiting for a response.
Masako's quiet reply reached her ears and she made her way inside.
The petite medium was sitting quietly on the settee with her head bowed. Her dark fringe covered her eyes, but Mai knew if she saw them they would be red from crying. The woman was clutching her phone in her hand and let out a quivering breath.
Pity filled Mai's stomach as she looked at the distraught woman. She made her way over and gently took a seat next to Masako before tentatively wrapping her arms around her.
The proverbial floodgates opened as the medium let out a sob and leaned her head on Mai's shoulder. "I'm so sorry we brought you into this whole mess. H-he's never…he looked 's all my fault."
Mai rubbed Masako's back comfortingly. "Don't worry, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to. I haven't known you long, but I know you wouldn't do anything that would purposefully hurt Gene. You love him and he loves you. I don't know what is happening but this place is starting to affect him and he's trying to sort through things."
"I've been feeling it too," Masako whispered, causing Mai to look at her curiously. "When I walk around by myself...It's like I get an overwhelming feeling of sadness. It wasn't my sadness at first, but the spirit's. As time went on, it slowly started eating away at me and the sadness has become my own. I keep getting horrible thoughts; waves of guilt and self loathing. I've been able to keep them from taking over my mind so far but it's getting harder. It's like it knows. It knows I'm sad and it's adding fuel to the fire. Whether it's purposefully adding to my pain or not, I'm not sure. What if the same thing is happening to Gene?"
Mai pulled back and squeezed Masako's hand gently. "Then maybe the two of you should try to talk. Tonight. Maybe it could set his mind at ease and he can cope with the spirit's presence better if he knows what is happening."
Masako wiped her eyes and nodded faintly. "You're right. I'll try to tell him everything tonight."
"Good," Mai smiled and stood with a stretch. She looked over at the clock on the wall and gasped. "How did the day go by so quickly? It's already past dinner! Let's order some food and head to bed. I think the two of you could use a good night's rest."
Masako smiled faintly and nodded.
Mai lay in her bed, staring at the ceiling. Although she was tired from the events of the day, she couldn't seem to sleep.
Gene had been avoiding Masako ever since he walked off earlier. The two women had checked the camera footage to make sure he wasn't in any danger. They found him on the fourth storey recording room temperatures. Masako was so quiet and pale that Mai made sure to help her to her room when she finally decided she couldn't stay awake any longer. Mai had waited in the base for a couple hours, keeping an eye on Gene in the cameras as he made his way around the building.
It was only about a half an hour later that her phone buzzed, notifying her she had gotten a message.
I'm heading back to the base now. Is Masako there?
It was Gene. She quickly typed a reply.
No. She just went to your room not too long ago.
Closing cinnamon eyes for the upteenth time that night, she hoped this time she would finally be able to drift into slumber. However, her wish was short lived.
The sound of the door to Masako and Genes room opening and closing piqued her curiosity. She sat up on her bed and strained her ears, wondering if she could hear anything.
The first voice she heard was Masako. It was quiet and timid and Mai knew the woman was probably mustering up every ounce of courage she could in order to talk to her fiance. Suddenly Gene's voice interrupted, and judging from the tone of his voice he was still upset about earlier.
"Then why? Why Masako? Why?" his voice rang out through the otherwise silent hotel. "You don't want to get married, that's it, isn't it?! Am I that expendable to you? Or, did you only agree to my proposal because of my family? The money; the social standing; the Davis name in the paranormal research world? That's why isn't it? I'm sorry I'm not as smart as my brother. I'm sorry I'm not as well known as he is. I'm no one compared to my family, I know that. I'm sorry you had to settle for me."
"Gene, stop! You've got it all wrong. Please, let me explain!" Masako cried.
Mai could hear the door to their room opening once again and she bit her lip nervously.
"Enough, Masako. It's okay. I won't hold you back anymore. I won't hold anyone back any more," he said brokenly in a soft whisper, such a stark contrast to the tone he was using just moments ago. "I...I'll sleep in the base tonight."
"Wait, Gene," Masako sobbed.
Another door closed and the sound of a deadbolt echoed through the night. Mai slowly got out of bed and opened her door. A pyjama-clad Masako was holding her face in her hands, standing in the middle of the hallway.
"Masako, I-I'm so sorry. Do you want to stay in my room tonight?" Mai offered comfortingly while speaking Japanese. "We can talk, or not; whatever you need."
Masako's grey eyes looked up at her gratefully. "Y-yes, please."
Mai placed a gentle hand on masako's back and ushered her into her room before closing the door behind her. She followed her to the bed and sat on the edge, waiting for Masako to catch her breath and calm herself. Taking one last deep breath, Masako looked over at Mai apologetically.
"Don't even think of apologizing," Mai warned teasingly. She gave Masako a warm smile and crossed her legs on the bed. "Are you okay?"
Masako's small red lips quivered slightly. "I-I don't know…What if he leaves me? What did he mean by saying he's not going to hold me back anymore? My chest hurts so badly just at the thought of life without him by my side."
"Masako, you can talk to me if you need someone to lend an ear. I won't tell anyone and I won't judge you for anything," Mai promised.
The dark haired woman bowed her head slightly and nodded. "It's a long story."
Mai shrugged acceptingly, "We've got all night."
Smiling, Masako pushed a strand of hair behind her ears. "My job keeps pressuring me to do another season of the show. My contract finally expired so I was free of them but..."
"But?" Mai coaxed softly.
"The company, and even my parents for that matter, are trying to force me to sign another one when I go to America," she admitted in distress.
The brunette's brows furrowed in confusion. "When you say they're forcing you to, what do you mean?"
Masako bit her lip nervously. "I-it's painful to explain so I've never told anyone about it, not even Gene."
"I'm all ears. You can tell me as much as you are comfortable with and stop whenever you feel you need to," Mai consoled her.
The medium took in another shaky breath and closed her eyes momentarily as she prepared to tell her story.
"Well, first, I should probably explain my childhood," Masako sighed. "My parents...my parents had an arranged marriage. My father's family used to run a major corporation in Japan and my mother was an up and coming actress. Their families wanted to make a business deal of sorts and so they decided to have them married. There was no love in their marriage, they were just pawns used by their parents. Thinking about it now actually makes a lot of sense why they've treated me the way they have."
Mai reached out and gently pat Masako's hand in a friendly gesture.
Masako smiled sadly and continued. "My parents had me out of obligation even though they couldn't stand each other. Like I said, my mother had been an aspiring actress and was about to get her big break. However, once she had me she had to abandon her dream. When I was three years old she started signing me up for acting jobs. I never really cared for it, but I saw how much happier Mother was when I acted so I kept doing it. Those were the only times where I thought maybe deep down she actually cared about me and maybe even loved me."
She paused for a moment and Mai could tell this was difficult for the woman. "She and my father were not the most doting parents. In fact, it's hard to even call them parents when you know they see you as more of an bargaining chip than a daughter. My father was always off on business trips here and there while my mother was stuck at home with the child she never truly wanted. She ignored me most of the time and I was always met with cruel indifference. Even asking for a glass of water would get me into trouble and locked in my room. I had to be on my best behavior at all times. If I talked out of turn I would be scolded. I was never able to play with friends nor had many toys yet I was always expected to keep myself entertained. The only time she really gave me any attention whas when there was an acting job involved; then she'd play her role as the loving mother and feed off of the praises. I began to crave acting jobs because that was the time that made me feel like I had a mother who actually loved me, even though I knew it was all an act."
Mai gave Masako a sympathetic look, trying not to show just how grieved the woman's childhood was making her.
"It didn't help that as I grew older my abilities became more prominent. I used to tell her about the scary people that visited me in the night, or how some places frightened me or made me feel physically sick from the paranormal activity. I always had the ability to talk to spirits but she never took it seriously. At first she thought it was just childish imagination, but as time went on she became less patient with my fears. Eventually, she began to hit me when I'd tell her about the spirits I saw. She thought it was all for attention. I was only six years old but had to learn about my abilities on my own while simultaneously trying to cope with seeing spirits of the deceased," Masako laughed sadly.
"I'm so sorry you had to go through that," Mai condoled. "If she hated your gift so much, how did you become such a famous medium?"
Masako snorted in disgust. "She saw an opportunity to make a large amount of money. She also knew it would save her marriage."
"Save her marriage?" Mai echoed in confusion.
"Even though she despised my father, she knew her family would leave her penniless if my father ever walked out on her. Come to find out, the business trips my father was always taking weren't really business trips at all but were actually getaways with a woman he was having an affair with."
Mai gasped at the relivation. "No!"
The woman nodded. "Paranormal abilities were becoming a hot topic at the time and my mother told him about my abilities. Not only did I show promises of being a medium, but I was also very young. The media loves a good story of a child prodigy. Next thing I know, I'm meeting with experts, getting trained, and signing a contract for a television show. Right away I was told what I could and couldn't do with my life. I could no longer wear what I wanted, but instead needed to wear a kimono whenever I would be potentially seen by the public. I couldn't eat certain foods and had a strict diet. I couldn't have friends that the company didn't approve of, not like I had any to begin with. I wasn't allowed to date anyone the company didn't approve of. Every aspect of my life became controlled by my new job and if I did anything out of line I would be reprimanded not only by them but by my parents as well. The only good thing to come of it was that my father was home more often. Even though he wasn't a good parent, or person for that matter, at least he never once raised a hand to me so I preferred to be around him than my mother."
The woman rested her hands in her lap and sighed once again. "Before I knew it, I was one of the most famous television stars in Japan. Everyone knew me. However...even though I was one of the most known celebrities, I never felt more alone. My family used me only for my money, and my only 'friends' were ones that were approved of and paid for by my company. I was around fifteen years old when I began to realize that I wanted to take control of my life. I hired a lawyer and realized just how much money I was supposed to be making. Apparently my parents had been taking all of my earnings and squandering it on anything and everything. Hiring a lawyer was the best decision of my life; he helped me emancipate myself from my parents."
"What does that mean?" Mai wondered.
"I legally separated myself from my family," Masako smiled. "I was free. Well...to an extent. I still had to follow the rules of my contract. I was able to move out, buy my own place, keep my own money, and I felt like I could finally breathe and begin to be myself. Actually, it was right after that when I met Gene for the first time." She laughed to herself as a memory crossed her mind. "He asked me out on a date after that case at your high school. The fool. I had only known him for a day and I was so closed off to the world; I have no idea what he saw in me. Not to mention I had only just gotten my freedom, the last thing I wanted was to tie myself to another person. My God, he was so overwhelmingly optimistic. He was completely different than anyone I had ever met before. So kind and genuine. I have to be honest, his energy drained me. But… he was resilient. He told me he respected my choice and was fine just being my friend, and so that's what we were. He was my first true friend. It didn't stop him from asking me out here and there but he never got angry with me for saying I wasn't ready. I started dating other people and that's when I realized no one else compared to Gene. There was no one else I could ever see myself with. And so I caved and I asked him out on a date the next time he came to Japan. He nearly fainted with glee when I asked," she broke out in a fit of giggles.
Mai laughed at the mental image and adorable love story. "I can only imagine how happy he must have been. I'm guessing your work approved of your relationship?"
Masako rolled her eyes playfully. "But of course. I mean look at him; handsome as can be and a well known medium in London. Not to mention the very wealthy and famous Davis family name. They couldn't have been more thrilled."
"But wait…" Mai began thoughtfully. "If you separated yourself from your parents and you were finally able to live your life the way you wanted, how is your company able to force you back into your contract now?"
Masako's smile slowly faded. "When I emancipated myself, my parents were cut off from any and all of my money. They were beyond livid. When the end of my contract grew closer, the company realized I wasn't going to sign another one and they began to panic. Apparently my parents found out about this and they made a deal with my boss. If they could get me to sign another contract they would be rewarded handsomely."
Mai grew serious. "And they convinced you to sign another one?"
Masako's jaw tightened. "They did, but I wouldn't say 'convinced.' It was more like 'threatened.'"
"They threatened you?" the brunette gasped in a mix of astonishment and anger.
"They saw how in love with Gene I was and they knew that he was my weakness," she said sadly. "All they had to do was threaten to release some unsavory family secrets. They told me if Gene ever found out about our family secrets that he would deem me unworthy and leave me."
"Family secrets?" Mai asked her friend.
Pearl white teeth worried her bottom lip, contemplating her next words. "That woman my father had been seeing when I was younger...I don't know the whole story but...she had been pregnant."
Furrowing her brows suspiciously, Mai tilted her head. "Had been?"
Masako gave Mai a pleading look. "Please don't tell a soul."
The brunette wrapped her fingers around the medium's reassuringly. "You have my word."
"After my father started spending more time at home when I was younger, that woman came to our house one night. She caused a whole scene, trying to break in through the windows and yelling at my father that she was pregnant and he had to leave my mother. My parents weren't pleased in the slightest. They locked me in my room for the night and told me I'd be punished if I tried to leave. When I woke up the next morning the woman was gone and my parents were unnaturally sweet to me. A few weeks had gone by and then that's when I saw her again..." she trailed off.
Mai froze. "You mean…"
Masako nodded. "I started seeing her spirit."
"O-Oh my-her spirit? You mean they..." Mai whispered with a hand over her mouth in shock.
Another nod. "I mentioned what I had seen to my parents and they threatened me to never tell a soul or the repercussions would be severe. The next day a priest came to the house. Now that I'm older I know why he was there. I never saw the spirit again after that."
"M-Masako...they...I'm so sorry. I'm so so sorry for all you've been through," Mai apologized in a wavering voice trying to hold herself together. "Is that what they threatened you with? That they would release that knowledge to the public?"
Masako nodded forlornly. "I was young. I was terrified. They said that they would go to jail and they would never forgive me. 'What type of despicable daughter would let her own parents be locked up?' they said. They also said they would make sure I'd go to jail right along with them since I had known and did nothing about it. The last thing I wanted was to lose Gene."
"Those assholes!" Mai fumed. "How dare they treat their child like that?"
"I know I should have called their bluff, but even now I'm still terrified of the news coming to light." Masako admitted quietly. "I could care less if they are sent to jail. Hell, they deserve it more than most, but I'm so scared of going to jail just because I was a child who knew but was too scared to say anything."
"Are they still trying to blackmail you with that in order to sign the new contract?" Mai wondered.
"They are," Masako growled unhappily. "Luckily, this time I know my lawyers could help me get through everything safely. I also know how selfish my parents are and the last thing they would want is to spend the rest of their life behind bars. I know they will never turn themselves in. Not like there is any evidence of what they did either. It was so long ago, all substantial evidence is probably long gone."
"So if they don't have a sound case to threaten you into signing your contract, why is your work trying to force you?" Mai asked.
"My boss is desperate," Masako hung her head. "My show makes so much money and it is one of the only thriving airings currently on the channel that they can't risk to lose me. They've stooped down to my parents level and are threatening me."
"What are they threatening you with?" The brunette couldn't fathom what a television show could hold over a perfectly behaved person such as Masako.
"They're not threatening me per se," the dark haired woman corrected. "They're threatening Gene."
"Gene?" Mai's jaw dropped.
Masako nodded. "He doesn't know, though. They're aware of how Gene and the Davis family keeps out of the limelight and like their privacy. They threatened to slander his name and make the media and paparazzi target him and the Davis'. They could do it too, seeing as the network is one of the largest in Japan. They'd probably spread nasty rumors about them being adopted or that Luella and Martin only adopted them to extort their abilities. The show business has a lot of little rats that would gladly do anything to make a quick paycheck."
"Why is everyone so horrible?" Mai cried in frustration. "Masako, tell Gene. Tell him everything that your work is doing and you'll see that he doesn't care what they threaten him with, all he wants is to be with you and for you to be happy."
Masako rested her head in her hands. "I want to believe that so badly, but part of me is terrified. What if he rejects me?"
Mai placed both of her hands firmly on Masako's shoulders. "If you don't tell him then you truly will lose him. Even though this damned hotel is playing with his emotions and he is feeling things tenfold than he normally would, he is obviously concerned about everything that is happening. He has no clue what torture you are going through and he would walk through fire to help you. But, if you don't say anything, he is going to think you don't love him and you are trying to get out of your engagement."
Masako teared up. "That's the last thing I want! He means more to me than anything. I just want to keep him safe."
"I know that and you know that but he doesn't. He cherishes you, Masako. He may be slightly shocked at first when you tell him, but I know for a fact that he will stay and he will help you stand up to your work as well as your parents. You don't have to tell him about your parents right away if you aren't ready, but one day the truth will have to come out before it comes from someone else." Mai dropped her hands to her lap and looked at Masako with an apologetic smile. "I'm not saying any of this to cause you stress or pain, I just know if this continues the way things are, you may not get another chance to make things right. The two of you are perfect for each other. If anyone ever deserved to get married it's you two."
Masako nodded slowly and straightened her posture. A determined look was sealed on her face. "You're right. I'll tell him. I'll tell him everything. I just hope things work out."
Mai gave her a reassuring smile. "I know they will! Now let's get to bed. You look exhausted and we have a case to try and solve."
Before she knew it, Masako had thrown her arms around Mai, pulling her into a tight embrace. "Thank you, Mai," she whispered in solace.
The two of them laid down on the large bed. Masako fell asleep within minutes, clearly exhausted from their roller coaster of a night. Mai, on the other hand, couldn't seem to close her eyes. She lay in bed for what felt like hours, staring at the ceiling once again as millions of thoughts coursed through her head. She thought about what was happening to Gene as he was clearly being affected by this hotel. She thought about how strong yet lonely Masako must have felt her whole life. She thought about the case and the spirit in the pictures. She even thought about Oliver.
The brunette wondered how her boss's meetings were going. If he were here he would no doubt have seen something she had missed and solved the case by now. She had the sudden urge to make some tea. It had become a part of her daily life to make him multiple cups a day, and now that he was away she felt like she was going through tea-making withdrawals. She chuckled quietly at the thought and wondered if Paris had tea that held up to his standards.
The unexpected sound of a deadbolt unlocking pulled her from her reverie. Mai craned her head, straining to hear. She heard the sound of the base door opening. She wondered if Gene was going back to his room to talk to Masako, but the footsteps didn't stop. They echoed down the hallway until the sound slowly faded.
Mai sat up curiously and hesitantly pushed back the quilt. She grabbed her mobile off of the nightstand and made her way to the door. Opening it slowly, she peered back to make sure Masako hadn't woken. Closing the door behind her, she looked down the hall in the direction Gene had walked off but he was nowhere in sight.
Turning to her right, she saw the door to the base was still open. A slight chill caused her to shiver and she tugged her long matching pyjama set closed to her body for warmth. She quietly made her way into the base and walked up to the computers, looking to see if she could locate Gene on any of the monitors.
She frowned slightly when she couldn't find him as she scrolled through the different camera footage. However, one screen caught her attention.
Her instincts made her study the live footage of the event hall. Even though she couldn't see anything, she knew there was something important in that room. Her eyes widened slightly when she saw what appeared to be the pictures in the frames moving, but she knew better. It was the spirit that kept watching them.
She wondered if that was where Gene was going this late at night. She couldn't ignore the pull in her chest that told her that she needed to go to that room. Biting her lip, she contemplated if she should wake Masako or not.
Deciding that the poor woman had had a rough night, Mai decided to let her new friend sleep. For all she knew Gene was probably going to the same place so they might meet up there. She tried to ignore the nagging feeling that if Naru was there he would most definitely be scolding her for wandering off alone to find a spirit in the middle of the night.
She shook her head and listened to her intuition. She needed to be in that room.
Quickly she grabbed a handheld camera and an EMF device, just in case. She was about to take a two way radio as well but noticed Gene had left his behind. She checked the CCTV once more to see if the spirit was still there. Upon seeing it was, she made her way out of the base, closing the door behind her.
The hotel was eerily quiet as she made her way down the hallway. She made her way to the lift and pressed the button. She waited a moment. At first she thought the thing wasn't going to work but eventually she could hear the machine begin to move. The loud ding signaling the lift was there echoed through the silent hallway. The doors slid open and Mai stepped in, pressing the button for the top floor. A yawn fell from her lips as the lift began to ascend.
Suddenly, the sound of her ringtone filled the small space, causing her to jump and drop the camera she had been holding. With catlike reflexes she quickly grabbed it before it could hit the floor and she silently thanked her good fortune. Her mobile continued to ring and she quickly straightened up to pull it from her pocket, wondering if it was Gene.
She couldn't help the smile that spread across her lips when she saw Oliver's name illuminated on her screen.