"Come on, Pai!" calls Lettuce. Pai is being dragged (literally) towards the school. Or where they thought the school was. 'come on, Pai, think,' he chides himself. 'How could you lose a darned school?' suddenly, there it is. Looming and ominous, four stories high, the building is practically screaming ill fortune. "Well, here we are," says Lettuce, trying to muster up some cheer. Pai nods, not taking his eyes off of the3rdwindow on the second floor. he is sure there was just a brown haired boy looking out of it. "Come on, Pai," Lettuce tugs his arm impatiently. Pai moves forward, looking back at the window only once. Must have been his imagination. yes, that's all. But Pai cannot shake the feeling someone is watching him.
Lettuce pulls open the door to the school and looks in. "Hello?" she calls. No answer, of course. Pai watches this, trying to focus. suddenly, a feeling of cold crawls up his spine. hello, says someone from behind his back. It is a feminine voice, (A/n Male spectre's coming soon, folks.) one that causes Pai to freeze. He tries to respond, to speak, but try as he might, he can't move. Its like the voice has woven a spell over him. you know me, says the owner of the voice calmly. Pai can't even hardly breathe. He feels numb all over, and he lacks the ability to blink. Suddenly a searing cold erupts from his shoulder. Pai tries to part his lips to cry out, but he can't even do that. He realizes what just happened. The spectre laid her hand on his shoulder. She removes it carefully, so as not to burn him again. do you remember me? the voice asks gently. Pai tries to say no, but his lips only move in a nearly invisible twitch, then cease function altogether.
'please,' he thinks. 'Please, just let me live.' The presence seems to hear his silent cry. He can feel her withdraw slowly. you know me, she whispers one last time.
Lettuce has turned and is surprised to see a pillar of mist where Pai should be. "Pai?" she calls, feeling a slight chill as she walks towards the pillar of mist. "Pai?" Pai can hear this from inside the white, cloudy world. He can feel the mist withdraw as well, and he begins to breathe again, feeling a slight warmth seep towards him. Slowly, he leans forwards a bit. The cold has drained him; robbed him of his much needed strength. He leans into something warm. "Pai?" Lettuce is surprised to find Pai's head resting on her shoulder. His skin is cold, even through her light jacket. "I'm alright," says Pai. Well, mumbles actually. He stands, realizing with a blush whom he was leaning on.
"Are you alright?" asks Lettuce. "Yes," Pai mumbles. "Fine." But mentally he is wondering, 'who was that?' Pai didn't recognize her voice, and she stood behind him during the entire experience, so he didn't see her face.
"well, then, we ought to go inside," says Lettuce, taking Pai's hand. despite her cheerful exterior, she can't help but be worried about Pai. She scans his face for a moment, and makes a mental note to give him a vacation from work or rigorous activity for a few weeks once they find Melody. 'if you find her,' her pessimistic side corrects her. Lettuce shakes it off. "come on, then," she says with a fake smile. Pai lets Lettuce lead him into the school's dark hallway. he notices something bright red on the ground, and bends to pick it up.
"a flashlight," he says. "How convenient." 'who left this?'he wonders mentally. Lettuce takes it from his outstretched palms, their fingers brushing ever so slightly. Lettuce turns pepper-red, and takes the flashlight quickly. "Well, then, lets explore," she says, turning and facing the hallway...
Lettuce curses mentally. Another classroom, the same as the ones before. Everything is grimy and covered in a thick layer of dust, and random small objects have fallen from their places. But something catches Lettuce's eye. A young boy is sitting in the corner. "Hello?" She asks hesitantly. Pale brown eyes open. He looks over. "H-Hello," he says shyly. "Listen," says Lettuce. "I'm looking for my daughter. She's a first grader, and she has long black hair, down her shoulders, and last I saw her she was wearing a purple skirt and brown sweater. Have you seen her?"
The boy thinks for a second. He shakes his head no. "But I can take you to the first grade classroom if we're quiet," he says. "You can?" asks Lettuce gratefully. "oh, please do. I'm just beside myself!" Pai is the only one who thinks to ask, "why do we have to be quiet?" "There's something under the stairs," says the boy. Lettuce stiffens visibly. "I've never gotten a good look at it myself, just a hand reaching up though a rotting board of wood, or two eyes glaring out from under the stairs, but you can't be to careful." The boy stands. "follow me."