**Happy New Year everyone! Chúc mừng năm mới! May this year bring you good fortune and wealth.
Here is my latest chapter! It is the longest one I've ever written, literally 22 pages long. I made it long because I have a lot of stuff is coming up and I'm not sure when my next chapter will be written so I wanted to give you guys this little treat (and yes, there will finally be more MaixNaru moments after this chapter, I can't wait to write them). I'm writing everything out and, depending on how long I make my chapters, I think Connected will be around 50 chapters long. There is a lot of information in this chapter as well so I hope you all like it! **
The event hall was eerily quiet even for so late at night. It almost felt like the room was in a vacuum. The pressure around them made their ears ache. The air felt dense and difficult to breathe.
Mai turned her attention to the wooden mirror on the far wall. The spirit was staring at her. The woman's lip was twisted yet also quivering. Her grey eyes appeared fierce at first glance but Mai could see the sorrow behind them.
Leading the trio, the brunette began walking towards the mirror and stopped a few metres away. Masako and Gene watched cautiously, ready to ward off the spirit if need be.
"I'm sorry," Mai said genuinely.
The spirit looked taken aback momentarily before tensing once again. "Take back what you said earlier."
"I can't do that because I'm not going to lie to you," the brunette shook her head seriously. "You're lonely. You're in pain. But that doesn't give you the right to keep the others here, and it doesn't give you the right to convince others to take their own lives."
"That's not what I'm doing!" the spirit yelled.
Mai sighed. "Yes it is. You may not think you are, but it is exactly what you are doing. Do you understand what is happening to the people here? How many have almost died because you have been persuading them to kill themselves?" she asked.
"I'm not making them do it! They are doing it on their own free will!" the spirit screamed. The decorations in the room shook slightly but then settled.
"Mai," Gene warned quietly.
Mai shook her head. "Your presence, your pain, it has been doing something to the people here."
The black haired woman narrowed her eyes. "You lie."
Gene took a step forward with a gentle expression. "It's true."
Grey eyes snapped in his direction. "No! I watched you. I felt your feelings. You're hurting!"
"Just because I'm hurt doesn't mean I want my life to end," Gene replied calmly.
The spirit looked wildly between him and Masako. "B-but she's lying to you. She's hurting you."
Gene looked over at Masako with a sad smile. "That might be true, but I love her. In my heart I know she wouldn't do anything to harm me intentionally. I'm partially to blame as well. I've been bottling everything up instead of communicating healthily with her."
"Gene…" Masako whispered and quickly reached a small hand out to wrap around his larger one reassuringly.
He smiled again. "Don't worry. You can tell me later." He turned back to the mirror. "I don't want to die. The others at this hotel don't want to either. You can't make that decision for them or for me. When you watch...when you feel their emotions, you add fuel to the fire. I wasn't able to think for myself. Everybody gets those thoughts sometimes, it's part of human nature, but we are able to rationalize and find the good in our lives that makes living worth it. But...you were always watching, making it so I couldn't ground myself. I barely even remember being in that stairwell not to mention what led up to that point. One day. You did this to me within one day. Your pain is only intensifying and next time I don't think anyone will survive. Hell, if it weren't for these two I wouldn't have survived."
The spirit's glare started to waver.
Mai took a step forward. "I'm so sorry you felt so much pain and loneliness that you thought the only way out was death. I'm sorry you weren't able to rest. I'm sorry that you are still alone."
She took another step.
"The other spirits here want to find peace," she said. "Can't you see? They were stuck in their little loops, unknowing to the reality of their situation. But now you're losing control. They are becoming aware of what's happening. They're in agony. They want to move on. They need to move on. And you...you need to move on to."
The spirit shrank slightly and the lights flickered for a moment.
Mai could feel Masako and Gene brace behind her, preparing for the spirit to attack, but Mai knew there was no need for fear.
Grey eyes looked up at Mai's brown one's pleadingly.
"I don't know how," it whispered brokenly. "I don't even know why I'm here. I-I died. I was supposed to be at peace and happy."
Masako looked at the spirit sadly and took a cautious step forward. "A death by suicide is filled with such great pain that it traps the spirit in this world instead of allowing it to move on. It is anything but peaceful. I've seen many spirits such as yours. If you want peace then you need to create it."
The spirit looked at Masako nervously. "I don't know how."
The lights began to flicker once again as the spirit's inner turmoil began to grow. The sound of rattling picture frames reached their ears and the door to the room slowly closed shut on its own.
Mai watched the pain in the spirit's eyes. The memories of the spirit's life trickled in her mind. She closed her eyes. She wanted to help. The spirit was so lonely. It never meant any of this. She just wanted to help. If only she could help…
A warmth in Mai's chest began to flutter and she opened her eyes slowly. She looked at the spirit and her mouth fell open slightly. She had the sudden urge to do something.
The brunette took a gentle step forward and gave the spirit a comforting smile.
"I do," she said confidently.
Gene and Masako looked at Mai in confusion at her sudden statement.
The spirit watched her cautiously. "You? You know how to help me?"
Mai nodded. "Cara," she said.
The spirit froze at the sound of its name.
"That's your name isn't it?" the brunette asked softly.
Cara looked at Mai with sorrowful eyes. Her name. She hadn't heard it in so long. The room began to calm.
"H-How did?" it trailed off in a whisper.
Mai took another step forward, just mere feet away from the mirror. She slowly held up her hand. "I can help you."
Mai gently brushed her fingertips on the cold glass. She was sure Gene and Masako were probably wondering what she was doing, but something in her told her that she could help the spirit.
"Do you want my help?" Mai asked softly.
Cara studied the woman for a moment before nodding hesitantly.
"Place your hand on the glass," Mai said.
The spirit looked at Mai's hand timidly and didn't move.
"It's okay. You want peace," Mai said soothingly. "Focus on the happy things that happened in your life."
Cara's eyes drifted downwards. "But they are all about him."
Mai smiled reassuringly. "And? They're still your happy memories. They are precious to you, aren't they?"
Cara looked at Mai shocked. "Y-Yes."
"Then think about them. Just you and him. How having him in your life was worth it. It is better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all," she smiled.
The spirit stared at her nervously.
Mai nodded. "Go ahead. Think about all of those happy memories. It will be okay."
She moved her hand slightly, signaling for the spirit to place her hand on her own. Cara looked at her hand again but this time she reached out with shaking fingers. The second their hands were pressed together on either side of the glass Mai felt a small tingle run through her body.
"You're ready, Cara," Mai whispered. "Close your eyes."
The spirit did as the brunette asked and Mai did the same.
Gene stared at Mai in shock. "Mai, what are you doing?"
Mai smiled while keeping her eyes closed. "Helping."
Her brows furrowed as she focused. In her mind she could feel it. She felt the pain and heartbreak Cara was drowning in. Her brows knit together as she opened her eyes in her mind.
In front of her was a swirling black cloud.
As she neared it, her skin prickled as if the air itself was becoming electric. As the cloud swirled, she could make out a figure in its epicenter.
Mai stared at the cloud and envisioned it parting. As if on cue, the cloud began to do just that. After a moment she could see the figure in the center get easier to see so she focused even harder in her mind. She imagined a hand reaching out and pushing the haze aside. Once a path was clear she slowly stepped into the center of the cloud.
There, curled into a ball, was Cara's frail spirit. Her thin legs were pulled up to her chest while her arms wrapped around them desperately. Her eyes were filled with tears and staring blankly in front of her.
Mai knelt down in front of the woman and gently took hold of one of her hands. The spirit blinked and slowly turned to look at the woman. Mai's other hand reached up cupped the spirit's cheek.
Mai smiled at the woman. "You're going to be okay."
Cara's eyes softened and closed tiredly.
That's when it happened. A light started to form somewhere behind Mai and the spirit opened it's eyes. The golden light illuminated Cara's face. Her wet eyelashes glistened in the light. Her lips pulled into a tired smile and she looked back at Mai as if asking permission.
Mai nodded and let her hands drop back down to her side.
The spirit kept her eyes on the light behind Mai and gracefully got to her feet. Her first step was hesitant, but with each step thereafter they grew more determined. Mai turned towards the woman and watched as she reached a wall of brilliant white.
The spirit tentatively lifted her hand and her slender fingers reached out ever so gently. Upon touching the light, delicate ripples spread across the ethereal gossamer surface. Cara's eyes quickly lost all signs of sorrow and she let out a content sigh. She pressed her fingers further into the light and they began to fade. Grey eyes closed and she took a deep breath before determinedly stepping into the afterlife.
Mai watched with a smile as the spirit's body faded in a celestial glow. She closed her eyes and when they reopened she found herself back in the present. Her fingers were still resting against the cold glass of the mirror. However, this time it was her own reflection staring back at her instead of Cara's. Slipping her frozen fingers from the glass, she brought them to her chest for warmth.
The woman locked eyes with her reflection. Her lashes were stuck together by tears she hadn't even realized she was shedding. She noted her skin was paler than usual and there were dark sunken circles under her eyes. So much had happened in the past twenty-four hours and her boy and mind were finally starting to catch up.
"How the hell did you do that?" Gene gaped behind her.
She turned with a sideways smile, but before she could reply her eyes rolled back and her body began to fall. The last thing she remembered was the sound of her body hitting the floor as it gave out in exhaustion.
A groan escaped Mai's lips as she stirred awake. She rubbed her eyes and opened them groggily to find she was back in the base.
Turning her head, she saw Gene and Masako talking quietly to each other over on the settee, unaware of her regained consciousness. Their foreheads were pressed together desperately while Gene's large hands gently cupped each side of his fiance's face. Mai could see that Masako's lashes were damp but the tear stains on her cheeks seemed to be drying and her rose petal lips were pulled into a smile. The look they shared was so filled with love that Mai felt as if she were intruding on a very private moment.
She awkwardly cleared her throat and the two quickly turned to look at her. Within the blink of an eye Masako was hurrying to her side.
"Mai! You're awake," she beamed, placing a hand on the brunette's forehead checking for any signs of a fever.
"W-What happened?" Mai asked tiredly.
"How are you feeling?" her friend pried.
Mai sat up and stretched, enjoying the relief it gave to her muscles. "I feel okay, just knackered."
Masako gave her a warm smile. "And rightly so, seeing as how you ran around the hotel last night being bombarded by visions and helping spirits pass on."
"When you put it that way," she chuckled lightheartedly. Suddenly her eyes widened. "Cara! Is-Did it work?"
Gene walked up to the bed with his hands casually in his trouser pockets. "It did. She moved on right before you fainted on us."
Mai sighed happily and relaxed back into the pillow. "Good."
The man looked at her seriously. "Mai. We watched the footage from last night and I'm going to need you to tell me everything. Especially how you knew how to help Cara."
Nodding in understanding, the brunette scooted towards the wall so her back was against the headboard. Gene and Masako both took a seat at the edge of the bed, looking at her intently.
"Well I told you about last night," she started.
Gene stared at her. "Vaguely. Start with when you talked to the spirit the first time."
She nodded in understanding. "I went to the event hall because I saw her shadow in the pictures. I was looking for you and thought maybe you had seen that and went off to investigate."
Gene gave a curt nod, instructing her to continue.
"Oliver wound up calling and found out I was walking around on my own, I'm not really looking forward to the conversation he'll have with me about that one," she muttered. "He was on the phone with me when I looked around. Something drew me to the mirror but I didn't see anything and Naru told me my time was up so I started heading back."
Gene laughed softly. "He timed you?"
"We compromised. I wanted to investigate and he wanted me to get back to the base," Mai pouted. "He gave me two minutes."
The dark haired man smirked. "Oh, did he now? Naru, the Great and Stubborn, compromised for you?"
Ignoring his insinuation, Mai continued. "Anyway, something came up and he had to go and that's when I realized that I forgot the camera and EMF on the bar so I had to go back. When I went back into the room, the spirit was looking at me. She mentioned something about 'them hurting us' or something and I was pulled into a vision."
"That's when you fainted the first time?" Masako wondered.
Mai nodded. "Yes. The vision was about her and her best friend who she loved. They were childhood friends and he was very sweet but he fell in love with someone else and Cara lost herself. She felt so alone. From experiencing her feelings in the vision, I think she had a family that was never really there for her, so without her friend she had nothing. She wound up taking her life in front of the mirror, trapping her soul in the process. Masako, you said that form of death usually leads to spirits lingering?"
The dainty woman nodded her head. "That's true. Their souls are in such turmoil that they have difficulty moving on."
Gene turned to Mai. "Can you explain what happened after you had the vision?"
"Oh, yes," Mai complied. "I woke up and we talked. She tried to convince me to end it all. She said that I didn't have to live with pain, that I could live with her instead and we wouldn't be alone. I refused. That's when I mentioned the other spirits and how they didn't want to be here. I think that was what caused it all. She was angry and didn't want to believe it. I escaped, but when I left that's when I saw that the other spirits were becoming aware of themselves. I tried to get back to the base without having any of them notice me. The second they would make eye contact with me I would get memories of their life and waves of emotions. Once I finally got back to the base, all of the memories and visions made me sick and I wound up fainting again."
"Is that when you had the dream?" Masako wondered.
Mai nodded. "Yes, and then I came and got you."
"How did you know how to help the spirit move on?" Gene pried, still curious.
Mai shrugged apologetically. "I can't really explain. I was thinking about how I wanted to help her and all of the sudden it was like something just clicked and I knew what to do. Once we both touched the glass I could feel this bridge between me and Cara. Then there was...well I don't really know how to describe it but it was like a ball of pain that manifested into a cloud surrounding her spirit. When I finally reached her I was able to calm her down and help guide her into peace."
Gene and Masako shared a look.
A thought came to mind and Mai tilted her head curiously. "Wait. What happened to the other spirits?"
Gene pat her leg reassuringly. "No need to worry. Masako and I were able to help them all pass on while you were sleeping."
"Really? All of them?" she wondered in surprise.
Masako nodded. "It was relatively easy. When she found peace, the gravity she created that held the others imprisoned was finally broken."
"Yeah," Gene agreed. "Actually, most of the spirits seemed more than happy to have help moving on. I'd say it took no longer than what, an hour?"
"That sounds about right," Masako confirmed.
"How long was I sleeping for?" the brunette woman asked.
Gene looked at his wristwatch. "Well, it's seven in the morning now, so I'd say you slept for just over five hours."
Masako smiled comfortingly. "When we knew you were okay and didn't have a concussion, we thought it would be best to let you sleep. We know just how mentally taxing psychic abilities can be. It must have been even worse for you since you haven't been in training for long and you had so much happen in one night."
Mai gave the other woman an appreciative smile. "Thank you. I definitely have even more respect for the two of you. I never realized how exhausting it could be."
Gene crossed his arms. "We're definitely going to have to work on your defenses, little missy. We can't have spirits pulling you into visions and fainting any time they make eye contact with you," he scolded teasingly.
A laugh escaped Mai's lips and she pushed herself off of the bed.
The trio paused when the sound of a phone ringing caught their attention. Gene quickly pulled his mobile out of his pocket and answered it after looking at the screen.
"Mr. Ferrell, thank you for returning my call," he answered. There was a moment of silence while he listened to the owner of the hotel on the other end of the line. "Very good. I'll be down shortly and inform you of everything that happened."
Gene stood from his spot on the edge of the bed and quickly leaned down to peck Masako on the cheek. "I'll be right back. I'm just going to catch him up on everything and then we can start to pack everything when I return."
Masako stood and smoothed her kimono. "Mai and I can start packing now since there is so much equipment. I'm sure we are all ready to get back home, anyway. It's been a roller coaster of a case."
"I second that," Mai nodded in agreement.
Gene began to walk to the door but quickly retraced his steps and kissed his fiance once more before leaving the base.
Mai looked over at her new friend with a knowing smile. "I'm guessing the two of you talked?"
"We did. You were right, Mai," Masako blushed. "I feel so ridiculous for not mentioning anything to him sooner. He took it so well. Aside from the string of curses he prattled off when he learned about the threats from my parents and my employer."
The brunette reached out and took Masako's hand in her own. "Don't feel ridiculous. You were scared and had only good intentions. I'm glad you were able to tell him everything. I'm very happy for the two of you."
Masako smiled shyly. "Thank you for all your help."
Mai couldn't resist and quickly wrapped her arms around the petite woman.
"I'm happy to be of assistance," she giggled.
She could feel how tense Masako was but the woman slowly returned the embrace nonetheless. She almost laughed at how rigid she was. Mai thought about it and realized how unusual this must be for the medium. Masako's parents were anything but loving and she never really had any true friends, so a hug must feel very odd from someone other than Gene.
Mai pulled back and smiled once again at the blush on Masako's face.
"Mai, I was wondering," Masko began hesitantly. "I watched the footage of you interacting with the spirit when I was sleeping. I'm a little curious about some of your responses."
"Yes?" Mai prompted, wondering what she was curious about.
"You had been on the phone with Noll and it seemed like the call was cut short. Then when you talked to the spirit just after, you said you were jealous and sad," the medium added.
"I-I, um," Mai stammered to find the words to say.
"You fancy him," Masako stated, noticing how flustered Mai was becoming.
Mai's doe-like eyes grew wide and she shook her hands in front of herself defensively. "No! T-That would be highly inappropriate."
"Mai," Masako smiled gently. "We watched the video. You told the spirit that you do."
The brunette's face fell. During her conversation with the spirit it never resonated with her that the cameras were recording everything she was saying.
"Is...is all of it on camera?" she whispered.
Masako nodded.
Mai paled even further. "And Gene watched it, too?"
The woman nodded again sympathetically.
The brunette dropped her head into her hands in embarrassment.
Masako reached out and squeezed Mai's hand. "Don't worry, Gene won't say anything, especially to Noll. In fact, I think he rather fancies the idea of you and his brother getting together."
Mai groaned and rested her head in her palms. "Please don't say that. The last thing I need is false hopes. How am I going to face Oliver? I already know he's going to want to watch the footage."
"Maybe he won't," Masako tried to be optimistic.
The brunette gave her a skeptical look. "Not only did I have multiple visions in one night, but I also talked another spirit into moving on. I'm quite positive he's going to want to study the videos." She groaned again. "How am I going to look him in the eye after this?"
"I guess you have a point," Masako hummed. "But don't worry. I'll talk to Gene. He will be able to figure something out, I'm sure of it."
Mai sighed once more. "It's okay, whatever happens happens at this point. I guess we should start packing everything up, it's going to take a few hours."
Grey eyes studied her as she attempted to get off of the bed. "Mai?"
The woman in question looked over her shoulder.
"That doesn't explain the jealousy that you mentioned," Masako said. "What happened during that phone call?"
A rosy blush covered Mai's cheeks and she turned away slightly. She wondered if she should say anything. It was Oliver's personal life afterall.
"...A woman came to his room," she said.
Masako's eyes widened. "A woman?"
Mai nodded gently, trying to keep the jealousy from rising in her chest again. Suddenly she heard a small snort come from Masako behind her and she looked at her in shock.
"I'm sorry!" Masako giggled. "For as long as I've known him, Noll has never had any interest in the company of others. It's kind of hard to believe. Before you get jealous, try to get the whole story, okay?"
Mai blushed violently. "How? Go up to him and ask how his little late night rendezvous went?"
Another chuckle escaped Masako's lips and Mai couldn't help the pull of a smile beginning to form on her own lips at the sight of her.
"God, no! You can't go saying that," she giggled. "To be perfectly honest, I wouldn't put it past him that he will actually be the one to clear everything up."
Shaking her head, Mai smiled faintly. "I doubt that. It's his personal life, and you know how much he dislikes explaining unnecessary things. And anyhow, I have no reason to be jealous. It's all just a silly crush, I just have to ignore it and it will go away on its own."
"Sure," Masako smirked, unconvinced. "You know...I had a silly little crush once, and I went for it. Now look. I'm marrying the man. It's okay to act on your feelings, Mai."
Mai quickly got off of the bed. "It's not okay when it's my boss."
"Oh, please," Masako rolled her eyes playfully. Mai was slightly shocked yet impressed with how quickly Masako was growing comfortable with her. "The Davis' could care less about silly things like that. Pretty much everyone working there is involved with a coworker."
"How did we get on this topic?" Mai chagrined. "We should hurry up and start packing the equipment. Gene might be back any minute."
Masako watched the flustered woman make her way to the computers and begin to unplug the labyrinth of wires. She smirked in amusement but decided to let the brunette off the hook for now.
"Okay, okay," she said. "And, Mai?"
The woman in question turned towards her apprehensively, wondering what she was going to say.
"Thank you for being open with me. I've never really been able to talk to anyone like this, well, aside from Gene but that doesn't count. Do you think…" she hesitated. Even though Mai could see Masako's face remained calm, she couldn't help but notice the nervous way the woman twisted her fingers together. "Do you think, maybe, you'd want to be my friend?"
Mai's mouth fell open slightly before a small giggle left her lips. "You don't have to ask, Masako. We already are," she beamed.
Masako looked down at the floor with a brilliant smile. "Thank you."
The brunette watched her new friend with a fond smile. "Come on now, we have to start packing!"
The sun was getting closer to the horizon as Mai sat in the back of the company van rubbing her aching muscles. Due to the vast amount of equipment throughout the hotel, it had taken the crew nearly five hours to pack everything away. It then took another hour to load everything into the van.
Gene and Masako were sitting up front talking about previous cases they had been on and Mai nodded along, enjoying their banter. After a few minutes her brows furrowed curiously as she realized they weren't heading towards BSPR.
Blue eyes met hers in the rearview mirror. "The past few days have been a bit rough. We're almost at your building. I think you deserve the rest."
Mai sent him a grateful smile. His words couldn't have been more true. She longed to get back to her flat and lay on her bed, free to do nothing. After everything that happened last night she couldn't seem to shake the throbbing headache that had been there since she awoke this morning.
"Thank you," she sighed happily.
"I should be the one thanking you," he replied, meeting her gaze once again. There was pain and guilt shining through those normally cheerful eyes. "Really. Thank you. If you hadn't had that dream…I wouldn't be..."
His fiance's dainty pale hand reached out and gripped his arm lovingly. "Yes, Mai. Thank you."
She felt her heart clench. She was happy she had been able to help but she felt so bad that they were ever in that situation in the first place.
The desire to master her abilities filled her. She was determined to one day be able to help others before things like this happened. She looked out the window with a smile as they grew nearer to her home. With everyone's help, she was confident that one day she would be able to stand next to all of these wonderfully gifted people she called friends and truly feel like her abilities could make a difference.
"Mai?" Gene said quietly, catching her attention. Wondering if they were already at her flat, she looked out the window and noticed they weren't there just yet. Turning to look at the man, she noticed he was staring at her with an unreadable expression.
She tilted her head curiously. "Yes?"
His eyes glanced back to the road and she saw his jaw tighten faintly. "Your premonition...it wasn't the first one you've ever had, was it?"
She hesitated before responding, wondering what he was thinking. "No. I've had one before."
The man's hands tightened on the wheel at her words.
"Eleven years ago," he whispered.
Mai's eyes grew wide and brown met blue in the rearview mirror.
"W-wait. How did…" she trailed off.
Meanwhile, Masako was watching the two confused as to what was happening.
"How do you know that, Gene?" Mai gasped in the faintest of voices as realization began to hit her.
She hadn't noticed that the van had already parked, having reached their destination. Their eyes held each other's gaze in the mirror and it felt like an eternity went by until he spoke.
"I remember you."
*Eleven Years Ago*
Brown eyes shot open in terror, holding back tears. The teenager's small frame shook as she tried to control her breathing.
She had another one of those dreams, but this one was different from any she had ever experienced before. Instead of witnessing the events of the dream as an outsider like usual, this time she was the victim.
She had been walking across a street in the dead of night, looking at a notebook in her hand. From the looks of the writing it appeared to be written in English. Her hands weren't her own, instead they were large and pale as they turned the pages of the notebook. She went to turn the book but it wouldn't move. Instead, the hand kept turning pages and her feet came to a halt in the middle of the street.
It dawned on her then: she was personally reliving the victims actions. He -the victim- had been so engrossed in the journal that he didn't take note of the murder of crows cawing in the distance as something disturbed their sleep. The foreboding sound chilled Mai to the core but she was helpless. She was trapped in this man's body, unable to move out of the way. She could still feel the dread as she heard the speeding car growing closer.
Move! She tried to scream but no word escaped her mouth.
The screeching of tires pierced her ears.
Pain. Suche excruciating pain.
And then, everything went black.
Mai awoke covered in a cold sweat, her body aching all over. She nauseously turned to look at the clock.
1.00
After calming herself down Mai lay there in her futon, staring up at the ceiling. That dream was so much different than any of her others. She couldn't fall back asleep; A nagging sensation began to eat away at her until she couldn't bear it. Something was telling her to leave and to leave now. This dream was different for a reason, she could feel it.
She gasped as the thought struck her. "It hasn't happened yet..."
She looked back at the clock.
1.02
She could make it, she just had to leave now. She jumped up from her futon and threw a jumper on over her pyjamas before rushing towards the door. She hurriedly threw on her jacket, a hat, and her boots before grabbing her bag. She rushed out of her flat and froze as she started to lock her door.
"Wait...where am I going?" She asked herself in frustration. She had no clue where this mystery man was. He never spoke. All she saw was that he was on a road near a large lake. She leaned her head against her door and squeezed her eyes shut.
"Come on," she whispered. "Remember something. Anything!"
She wracked her memory and finally remnants of the dream began to come back to her. Standing in the road. The squawking of crows. The notepad she held in her hands. The wind blowing across the lake. Wait! The notepad!
"What was written on it…" she held her head, trying to concentrate further. She cursed herself for not being able to remember. Suddenly, one word echoed through her mind, almost like a whisper.
Itō.
Her eyes snapped open.
"Itō!" She cried in relief. She looked at her mobile to see how long it would take her. Itō was a two and a half hour train ride from Shibuya. If she ran to the station and caught the first train there was a chance she would make it.
And so she did. Mai was never huge on running. Yes she was fit, but if there was one thing Mai wasn't, it was that she wasn't very athletic. She ran the whole way from her apartment to the station in just under ten minutes, purely driven by adrenaline. She ignored the looks of the few people she passed. She knew how ridiculous she looked; a fifteen year-old girl wearing pink polka dot pyjamas running down the street at one in the morning. She must have looked like she was off her rocker.
She didn't care.
She could feel her heart grow lighter. Luck was on her side for she caught the late train to Itō just as it was about to leave. She didn't notice how exhausted she was until she plopped down into a seat. Her lungs felt as if they were on fire, her skin was bright red, and her legs felt limp. Tears began to build in the corners of her eyes but she shook her head. There was no time for that.
She had to figure out where there was a lake in Itō. Looking around she noticed the conductor and waved at him, beckoning him over.
"Can I help you miss?" the elderly man asked with a smile.
"Um, yes, I'm on my way to Itō to meet a friend but seem to have forgotten the address and the name of the lake. Do you happen to know the lakes there?" She asked, praying he would buy her story.
"As a matter of fact I grew up there. There are two major lakes; Ippekiko and Matsukawa."
The former name pulled at something within her. "Ippekiko! That's it!...do you happen to know how to get there?" she asked sheepishly.
The older man took in her appearance and narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "It's quite late for a young girl such as yourself to be traveling by yourself. I hope you don't mind me asking, but do you actually know the person you are meeting with? I've seen the news and the stories of those poor girls getting lured away from home by people on the internet."
Mai felt guilty lying to this poor man but faked a smile nonetheless. "Thank you for your concern. It is actually a family emergency; I just haven't been to the lake house in forever. Once I get there I'll know my way around."
The man nodded slowly, appearing to believe the lie. A big smile graced his face. "Well, okay then. Once we get to the station you're going to want to…" The man continued to tell her the easiest route to Lake Ippekiko and bid her a good night before heading to one of the other carriages.
Mai leaned her head against the frosty window and stared into the dark night. "Don't you dare die before I get there."
Once the train arrived, Mai had wasted no time finding a cab. The drive to her destination was faster than she anticipated. Before long, the cab was pulling up to the lake she had seen in her vision.
"Can you please stay around. Ten minutes or so? I have money." she asked the cabbie hopefully as she opened the door.
The driver nodded and sighed. "Sure. Ten minutes. I'll be waiting right over there," she said, pointing towards a small parking lot less than half a kilometer up the road.
"Thank you!" Mai smiled and closed the door behind her.
There it was. Lake Ippekiko lay before her. The stars reflected upon the rippling water appearing like fireflies dancing across the surface. It looked so serene, so unaware of what was about to take place there if she didn't stop it first. Looking around, Mai searched the road for the man from her dream but no one was there.
Fear gripped her heart. He wasn't there. This was the right spot right? Yes, it was, she knew it was. She could feel it in her bones. But where was he? The night sky was still dark but she knew the sunrise would soon be approaching.
Mai felt her heart drop. Maybe she was too late? Maybe it was just like every other dream and it had already happened. She walked to a small bench that overlooked the lake and dropped her bag and herself down. She felt a warm tear trailing down her cheek and reached up to wipe it away. The weight of despair began to press down on her.
It was then that the sound of rustling shrubbery came from behind her.
She quickly stood and turned around, her heart racing inside her chest. The rustling continued for a moment before a boy around her age emerged from the forest. She nearly missed him due to the darkness of his hair and his black trench coat. He was staring at his notebook intently and began to cross the road.
Mai's breath caught and everything seemed to slow down around her. In the distance, the murder of crows began to squwak and she could hear the evergrowing sound of an engine revving.
This was it. She had to do this. Her feet began to move on their own, sprinting towards the boy oblivious to the world. A sleek car sped around the corner and was heading straight for them. It all happened in a flash. The car was metres away but Mai barrelled into the boy in front of her, knocking them onto the grass. The car slammed on the brakes momentarily before peeling out and disappearing out of sight.
Mai looked down. Blue eyes stared up at her in shock and confusion.
"Wh-what just happened?" he stammered, still frozen in place.
"You were almost hit by a car," Mai scolded with a groan.
"Huh…"
Anger filled Mai's vision. She quickly stood up and brushed off her clothes before glaring down at the boy. "Put down that book and watch your surroundings! You would have been killed!" she berated.
The boy made no moves to stand. "S-sorry. I wasn't-"
"Yeah, I know. You weren't watching where you were going. Well, you should! You're wearing all black in the dead of night on a dark road. I mean seriously, it's like you were asking to die! And I mean, come on, who walks around this early in the morning? I already have enough on my plate then to be taking midnight trips to save complete strangers, you got that?" she huffed.
"...Okay?" he answered, unsure what to say.
"Good." She reprimanded before starting to walk away. She only made it a few steps before pausing and quickly glancing over her shoulder. "Make sure to have a good life, and don't make me regret saving you." With that Mai stormed over to the bench and picked up her bag.
"Wait!" The boy yelled, finally able to stand. Mai ignored him and continued off down the road where the cab was waiting for her. "Miss, wait!"
"Mister Davis! Mister Davis, where are you? We located the talisman we were looking for!" another voice rang out from the woods and luckily the boy stopped following her.
Glad for his friend's intrusion, Mai started to run towards the cab. She really didn't want to have to explain to that boy that she had a dream about his death and took a trip all the way from Shibuya in the middle of the night to save him. Like he'd ever believe a ridiculous story such as that. She finally made it to the cab and opened the door. Taking her seat, she promptly asked to return to the train station.
The woman in the driver's seat looked at her skeptically. "That was a quick trip. You know most people usually visit places like this during the day, and for longer periods of time," she teased.
"I guess I'm not most people," Mai sighed and leaned her head against the window. A small smile graced her lips.
She had done it.
She had saved him.
Gene held her gaze as the memory flooded her mind. Mai shook her head slightly, in disbelief. The boy she saved all those years ago, it had been Gene. A plethora of questions swam through her head at the knowledge.
"It was you wasn't it?" Gene said pointedly.
The dark haired woman sitting next to him was slowly starting to piece things together.
"Wait. That night you told me about…the night you almost died? That was Mai who saved you?" she gasped, bringing her hands up to cover her mouth in surprise.
Mai blinked, snapping herself out of her wandering thoughts. She tried to open her mouth to say something but she had no words.
"From the moment Noll introduced me to you, I had a feeling I'd seen you somewhere before," Gene began. "I kept thinking back to that night you saved me and something in me told me that's where I had seen you before, but the likelihood of the thought was nearly impossible so I denied it."
"I'm confused," Masako chimed in. "If she saved you, how is it that neither of you recognized each other?"
Shooting Mai a smirk over his shoulder, Gene replied. "Because she left right after saving me. Well, technically she pushed me out of the way and then she gave me a stern talking to about my choice of apparel before leaving."
"You were wearing all black," Mai retorted with a chastising frown. "Not to mention it was on an unlit road in the middle of the night. I mean really, you deserved a swift smack to the head but since you were in shock I just left it at a quick scold and took my leave."
The man snorted at her reply and Mai crossed her arms with a huff.
"And as for me," Mai continued. "When I had the vision of Gene's death, it was from his perspective so I only saw his face when I saw him in person. I was a little peeved and running off of adrenaline so I didn't really think to stay around after I pushed him out of the way. The last thing I wanted was for a stranger to start asking questions about how I knew the accident was going to happen. Knowing who you are now there's no doubt that you would have believed me, but back then I was only fifteen. I had no clue about paranormal abilities, or why I had my dreams, and definitely didn't think anyone else would have understood it."
Masako let out a small whistle. "Wow. Just wait until Oliver hears about this."
"No!" Gene said quickly, shocking both women.
Masako raised a perfectly shaped brow. "No?"
The man rubbed his forehead. "Well, to be completely honest, I never told Noll. Or my parents for that matter. The only person I ever told was you, Masako."
The dark haired woman gave him another questioning look. "Why didn't you ever tell them?"
"I tried to," he started. "I called Noll right after and wanted to tell him what happened. Something about him sounded scared. He told me he had a dream about my death. He said I died after being hit by a car."
Mai's eyes widened. Oliver had seen it too?
"He sounded so broken. I couldn't tell him that it almost came true. If I told my parents they would have ordered me to come back. I know I should have said something to them but I'm also glad I didn't," he said, looking over at his fiance and grabbed her hand lovingly. "Just a few weeks later was when I met you."
Masako smiled warmly at him.
"Please, don't say anything to Noll about this yet. I'd really appreciate it if I were the one to tell him. He should hear it from me that I almost died," he finished.
Mai and Masako nodded in unison. Everything was quiet for a moment while a million little thoughts ran through their heads.
"Well," he clapped his hands, breaking the atmosphere inside the van. "Let me help you with your things Mai. I think we're all a bit knackered now."
"Okay," Mai agreed quietly and got out of the van.
When she closed the door she noticed Masako had also gotten out. The medium smiled at Mai before pulling her into a hug that the brunette returned happily.
"Thank you for everything," Masako whispered before pulling away.
Mai smiled at the woman and Gene came around the side of the van with her hold-all in hand. She went to go take it from him but he pulled it out of reach and started walking to the door. The petite woman turned to the medium next to her and gave a little bow of her head before running after the man holding her things.
"Gene, I'm perfectly capable of holding my own bag," she grinned, catching up to him at the door.
The man's lips pulled up happily and he held the bag out for her to take. Once she did he wasted no time pulling her into an embrace of his own. She could almost feel the emotions pouring out of him through the hug. The desperate gratitude and respect he held for her for saving his life, not once, but twice.
He pulled back slightly and gave a friendly peck on her cheek. "I owe you one, Mai. Truly."
She waved her hands dismissively. "I would have done it for anyone, Gene. Now get going and have a relaxing night with your fiance. She's heading to America in a few days, isn't she?"
He nodded and bid her goodnight. Gene made his way towards the van while Mai opened the door to her building. She couldn't help the smile that spread across her lips at everything that transpired. An overwhelming sense of pride washed over her as she thought about everything she accomplished during their case.
Closing the door behind her, she began to make her way to the stairs. She had only made it a few steps before the sound of a door opening echoed through the corridor and she heard a voice call out to her.
"Mai! You're back," Phillip's voice reached her ears.
She stopped mid step and looked over her shoulder at him. "Oh, Phillip. Good evening."
He quickly made his way over to her, his blonde hair bouncing with each step. "How was the case?"
"It was tiring, but everything went well," she gave a polite smile.
The man reached a hand up and rubbed the back of his neck. "That's good. Your boss dropped you off again? You two must be pretty close, huh?"
Realizing that he must have thought Gene was Oliver she shook her head. "That was my-"
"-So I was wondering if you wanted to grab a bite to eat later," he interrupted before she could explain.
"Oh, um, well thank you for the offer but I'm quite worn out. I think I just need to take some time for myself tonight," she bowed her head slightly in apology.
"Oh," he deflated. "Of course. You should get some rest. I'll catch you tomorrow, we can have dinner then."
She didn't reply and only gave a tight lipped smile before walking up the stairs. All she wanted to do was get to her room and sleep for the next twelve hours. Behind her, Phillip watched with a disappointed frown as she disappeared up the stairs. Something caught his eye, causing him to pause as he was making his way back into his grandfather's flat.
His eyes narrowed as he saw the dark haired man outside bending down to kiss a small woman wearing a kimono. His fingers curled into fists. A thought struck him and he pulled out his mobile to take a photo. He looked down at the photo on his mobile with contempt before making his way back into his flat and slamming the door behind him.
** Just a note, I've never read the entire Ghost Hunt novels so the events of Gene's death are my own take on what might have happened. **