Disclaimer: Don't own Ghost Hunt.
Chapter Nine: Valley of the Dead
Naru POV
Why do I feel cold? Have I died?
Snapping my eyes open, the first thing I see after my sight becomes clear are two dark browns eyes, that didn't belong to Mai.
"It's not your time to join us. You have lots to do. The heart of a lion is stronger than the heart of a human. Remember those words."the familiar voice says. The woman drapes her long hair around my face, making it a curtain to cover her face.
So I didn't die. Feeling a sense of relief, that I didn't leave Mai behind.
"You must stop the big bad wolf before anything. Now, go and continue to head west."and before I could get a word out, the woman disappears leaving me alone, I felt the light rain drizzling on my skin as I stare blankly at the gray skies.
I'm going to feel it, where's Mai?
Forcing my aching body up, I rub the back of my neck while I slowly stood while I glanced up to where I just fell from and my heart stops for a brief second.
"That's a very long drop, I could have died," my heart jump painfully from the sudden thought of that. I have no idea how Ayame saved me, but I have to thank her.
Then my memories came back to me, remembering that bastard took Mai. when the phantom pulled her up. I was about to fully stand up when a sudden voice echoed in my right.
"N... Naru!" a timid, but filled with sorrow filled my ears caused my own heart to jump.
I turned my head to now face the owner of the voice and my heart skipped a beat with pure joy and agony.
"Mai," her name came as a whisper through my lips. There she stood, walking towards me. Her eyes clouded, drenched from head to toe muddy all over her body, and the worse part, I see blood oozing down her legs staining her pants.
No, no, no, oh God, please don't let it be what I think.
"Mai! I called out causing her to look at me. She cries out, wiping her eyes.
"Na...ru!" she calls out for me stretching her arms for me to go to her crying harder.
Ignoring my pain, which isn't easy, I stood rushing towards her side. Relief, all I knew is that relief rushes down at me. Pausing my steps, not sure if I should touch her or not. Mai lifts her gaze and gave me a soft smile of relief.
"Naru," she invites me to go to her once again and I did, rushing to her side, I was about to hug her, feeling relief, happy having her here, but before I could do anything her body gives up and began to drop down as she faints. Like second nature, I rushed my steps, and catch her before she hits the ground.
Holding her into my arms, I pat her cheek gently trying to get her to react.
"Mai!" I whisper, trying to not scare her, but nothing, she was out.
So I bend a little, placing my left arm under Mai's legs, and host her up. Mai shivered slightly, but then when she moves her head, her hair flops to the side, to notice a mark.
Did the phantom do that to her? It's a burn. Like someone tried to choke her, with fire? the sudden thought with the other horrid thought causes my stomach to turn wanting to throw up. Mai moves her head slightly, snuggling on my chest. I frowned at her, feeling useless.
I hate it when I can't protect her. She's always getting into trouble.
Without a word, I turned around and headed for the stream.
...
It took me some time to find the stream, which I had to climb around the cliff since there's a narrow path that leads up on the right side where I fell.
I place Mai gently down on the muddy ground with the bag. Going up to the edge of the stream, I bend down to wash my hands and face.
Then place my hands on top of my bend knees, trying to adjust to the situation trying to keep a level head, but anger bubble deep in my soul.
"Damn it, how the hell do we keep going? If someone forced her, she's not going to react the same, I have to go and hunt for the bastard and kill him, dead or not." in frustration, I run my hand through my hair, not knowing what to do.
God, please don't let it be the latter. She won't like it and I wouldn't like it because she'll be hurt for the rest of her life and I couldn't stand that. I wouldn't stand seeing Mai hurting so much. Maybe pushing me away because she'll think she's not worthy of me. I wouldn't hate her or push her away. I'll do everything in my power to help her and stay with her, it would change my mind at all, she will be forever special in my heart.
Frowning, I turned to see Mai sleeping form. I stood, and gently went over to Mai, and lift her in my arms, and walk towards the stream.
I walk into the water. Gently, I lay her down on the edge, so she won't drown, and started to wash her arms. Then I grab a handful of water and wash her hands, then her face. Scrubbing her, her head started to tip over. So I took a hold of her waist, and pin her against my chest to adjust her so she'll be in a sitting position. Then I spread her legs, after removing her pants and covering her with a white towel that she packed before heading out.
"Sorry Mai, you can kill me later," I whisper as I began to wash the blood away. She groans in protest, as she lays against my arm.
"Did the ghost did something?" I shook my head, not daring to even think about it, but I took notice more fresh blood came out and it slowly came to me.
"Wait, she's in the period, no wonder." I breathed out in relief, knowing that she's not been touch by force. Without thinking, I rubbed my forehead against her head, and I felt stupid for not realizing it earlier than jumping to conclusions.
I thought I lost you, I thought something happened to you Mai, I don't like it, the thought of anyone harming you.
I lifted Mai in my arms, placing my arms under her behind and hoist her up, (Like a child) and she snuggles on my shoulder while she hangs her legs around my waist. (Thank God, she's small, and not as heavy)
Thank you for not daying Mai.
My eyes soften as I place my hand behind her back, plastering her wet hair down, leaning my cheek against the side of her head. Feeling her warm breath brush against my skin, making me shiver.
"Fooling girl, you worried too much about my safety, and not concerning your own, what do I do if I lose you?" I thought out loud, tighten my grip on her, feeling her fist her hand around the collar of my shirt and I heard her whisper in a lazy tone.
"Cause I can't afford losing someone else."
Mai POV
I had the strangest dream. I dreamed that Naru washed me and picked me up in his arms, he was so tender with me. It made me feel warm and safe which I love dearly, same as the dream I had when Naru kissed me a few weeks ago. Even so, those two dreams felt real.
My head is killing me, I slowly opened my eyes, but only to rub them since it was blurry. After fixing my vision, I stare at the dark sky. A very dark sky.
"What happened?" I question when I blinked rapidly trying to remember, then squint my eyes when my memories came back to me.
Naru, falling to his death.
"No," I bolt up, feeling tears running down my cheeks when my heart began to hurt.
No, Naru he can't die. No. my mind raced, my heart pounding, then I heard a crackle of a fire. Turning towards the noise, my eyes widen, to see Naru sitting on top of a rock; legs spread, with his arms on top of his knees, leaning forward, looking as though he's in deep thought.
He's alive; oh thank God, he's alive. I felt tears of joy form in my eyes, as my heart soars with pure happiness to see Naru sitting there.
"N.." my throat feels tight. Naru turns to face me and his eyes connect with mine, something in them caused my heart to thump hard, I don't know how to describe them, but it was profound.
"Do you remember what happened?" he simply asks. I stare at him, wanting to run up to him wrapping my arms around him.
"Phan...tom." my voice sounded hoarse. Naru sigh, smoothing his upper legs with his palms, and then stood up going to the right to grab something. I kept staring at him as he walks up to me and places a large leaf that has cooked fish and fruits with a cup of water. (We found some old fashion cups and plates back in the treehouse in a separate chest.)
"Eat this, and drink." he walks up to me and handed it to me after he sits next to me. Taken the old blue cup, I gulped down the water only to choke on it, causing me to spit out some water.
"Don't rush it Mai." he scolds me gently. I place the cup to my side and took the leaf to grab the cooked fish.
"Tell me everything you remember," Naru asks me, as he watches me eat my fish, not noticing the concerned and relief look in his eyes.
Isn't he going to ask how I am? How do I feel? Why is Naru so moody? Wait this is Naru, he just gets to the point. I cleared my throat and look up at him.
"Well, after I was taken away from you, I lost consciousness for a few seconds, only to be awakened by Ayame. I was floating down to safety as Ayame smiled at me gently to assure me. The phantom, he was gone. I don't know what she did to get rid of him. She told me that you were safe, and to follow the road, that will lead me to you. Then I did what she told me and then everything went dark on me." I explained, not realizing my shoulders were shaking but a bite out of my fish, then drinking the rest of the water.
A silence drape over the both of us as I just kept eating. Then I felt a hand on my shoulder surprising me, Naru starts to pat my shoulder gently.
"I'm alive and I'm doing fine, just a bit sore. As you said, Ayame saved me too," his voice is so tender filled with a sense of security to give me. I lifted my gaze to stare at him as he gave me an assured look.
"Don't cry anymore, really Mai I'm fine, so are you." he surprises me with his words, as my own eyes widen. Realizing something. Tears, tears running down my cheeks. I was crying, the cause of my trembling shoulders. I didn't realize I was crying this whole time.
"Naru, I thought you died!" I cried harder covering my mouth, trying to muffle my cries while trying to control my crying. I felt Naru now soothing my back, which made me cry harder, not sure why.
"Thank you for not dying," I whispered, lowering my head. Naru nods gently and places his hand back on top of his lap, turning to look at the fire he made.
With a timid gesture, I crawl up my left hand over to his side and run my palm against his.
I shyly took it intertwining our fingers. He doesn't refuse me, no, he just adjusts his hand and held my hand firmly against his, causing me to lay the side of my head against his leg causing him to look down at me. I closed my eyes, as Naru's eyes soften with sadness.
Just the simple fact, that he's next to me alive and well, is enough for words. We can speak tomorrow, cause right now, I didn't want to think. I didn't want to know and from what I can gather, the simple gesture that Naru is showing me, he felt the same.
Naru's warm hand holding mine instead of a cold one is one of the best feelings in this world and little did I knew, Naru felt the same.
I don't ever want to let go of his hand. I don't want to ever leave him.
O.o
"What did Ayame do? How in the world did she save us?" I mumbled to myself while I wash my pants in the stream, trying to get rid of the bloodstains.
"Don't know. I awoke to find her floating above me," Naru respond.
I turned my gaze towards my right, watching him wash his shirt, but his back faces me because I'm half-naked. Since yesterday, I am scared to be separated from him, so I begged him to come with me.
"Oh, but that was the creepiest and horrid experience I ever faced, I'm afraid of what we will encounter in the future." I shivered from the thought itself.
I even peed on myself. How embarrassing. Wait... I slowly stopped my washing when the realization dawns on me.
If I peed on myself, then that means. Oh no.
"Eiii, oh no." I yelped, flopping down in the water ground, only to have Naru turn around, arching a brow.
"What? Did a ghost appear?" he asks worriedly about to stand, but I lifted my hand to stop him in his tracks.
"Don't come any closer, no, no ghost." My cheeks now bursting into red scarlet as I assured him. Naru blinks now confused as he stares at me trying to figure me out.
"Then, what happened?" Naru asks this time his voice turns thin. I cleared my throat, lowering my head in shame.
"Naru. When I awoke last night, I was dry and clean. Why is that?" I asked not looking up at him.
"You were wet so Ayame helped me get you to change." I heard. Lifting my gaze, he is facing the opposite side, as he kept washing his shirt.
"Oh?" I frowned,
"Really, did you find me, err, somewhat dirty, and such?"
"Dirty? No, just wet and muddy it's all."
Oh, thank God, I mean, I can imagine the blood rushing down my legs. Thank God today is my last day. I breathed out in relief not watching Naru breathe out a relief while shaking his head.
...
Placing my pants on top of the rock so it can dry, I place on a brown dress that old fashion but so cute, it puffs out at the bottom, and very comfortable.
"Who's Isac?" I question, turning my gaze towards Naru. He sits next to me, stretching his back then lifts his gaze at the blue sky.
"Don't know, but for sure the phantom hates him. Maybe he is the cause of the problems on this island." he guessed.
"Then, how did Ayame saved us? I thought ghosts don't have that strength to save us. If so, how?"
"Maybe she had help, souls are unpredictable. When you dream of her, just ask her," he concludes, noticing that his mood is a little off. I frowned while rubbing my arms.
Why is he moody? Did something happen?
"I will. Are we even close to the west? We have covered a lot of land in just two days."
"I'm not sure of what we are even looking for. If it was like last time, we have to look for a village or something to do with a lion." he shrugs.
"Lion, oh right the clue, why do I feel like we had made no progress?"
"No progress? We have made much progress." Naru lays down placing his hands behind his head, looking at the sky once again.
"Made progress you say? How? We aren't even close to discovering what happened to the people on this island. Or what the hell this island hold."
Naru shrugs turning to gaze at me.
"On the contrary. I think you hold the key to what happened to this island. Is locked up in your memories." I was taken aback by his sudden words, not sure how to respond.
"Do I?"
"Yes. You were very scared, so it might be a pleasant memory. We learned that this island holds many secrets, and there's no time. My watch is frozen, it's set in the same hour and minute that we left the ship a month ago with the same date. So certainly, I have concluded that this island has no time or there's some magnetic field messing with it. So I have no idea how our regular time is affected. Either way." Naru stopped midsentence causing me to look at him.
My heart jumps to take notice he was looking at me. I shyly licked my lips, rubbing my hands nervously.
He's giving me that strange look again that makes my heart go crazy.
"Either way?" I pushed while clearing my throat.
"Either way, we have learned that there was a human sacrifice on this island. For what purpose, is unknown right now, but I'm certain, just maybe, to gain immortality, or worshiping the devil or something in those lines. The cause is normally in those lines. All I know is that phantom wolf guy wants to be set free. He just needs two more souls. Since we aren't part of this island, it would be a little more difficult to gather."
"Why is that, the others weren't part of this island, and they still died," I added.
"It's simple because they weren't prepared. Unlike us, we were born to be in this field and our job is to send those souls back to where they belong either is to heaven or hell depends on their judgment, and send that demon back to where he belongs." His voice turned so serious. If we were in a drama or movie, an epic song would be sounded in the background after his speech.
"There's one little problem with your speech Naru." I just love ruining his speech. A smirk passes my lips, watching as the light breeze moves Naru hair to the side, making me want to run my fingers through. I shook off the feeling.
"What?"
"Besides having powers, we are human not immortals, so if we don't do our job right, one of us can die. We can't always be so lucky."
"Then if we do die, we die trying."
"What a corny line," I rolled my eyes at him.
"Then what do you expect for me to say?"
"Easy, we won't die, and leave this God-forsaken island together." and with that, I break the eye contact, to glance down at my lap, playing with the hems of the dress.
"Then we won't die. Period." Naru states in the matter of factly, looking back up.
"I pray to God that it will be like that." I told him as Naru turns to look at me and frowns.
O.o
"Oh my," I gasped out covering my mouth after a few hours of hiking, we ended up in a clearing. Hiking down, slowly so we don't fall or hurt ourselves. We now stood in a valley, that overlooks the opposite side of the mountains. Everywhere, I see, are huts, small brown houses.
I took a hold of Naru's arm, he glances down at me for a brief second, then lifts his head to stare at it too.
"This is.." He started, but I finished for him.
"Valley of the dead," I whispered out, as we stood in front of corpses. More than a hundred skeletons and decaying corpses of humans mounted on top of each other without a proper burial was in front of our sight. The odor was unbearable, that I cover my mouth.
My hand started to shake.
"Oh, this is so messed up. Who did this to these people?" I gasped out in pain, while Naru began to walk, but I grabbed his arm again, pulling him back, he did a snorting sort of noise and turns to give me an annoyed look.
"Mai!" he hissed, but I shook my head.
"Don't, what if whoever did this, is still here." I hissed under my breath, not daring to look at the dead.
"Impossible, these corpses have been here for months and years, that person or thing left by now. We should check on the small huts around, to see if we find any clues. Just be careful okay." he explains.
Maybe he's right, who would stick around, after killing all these innocent people? Only sick people.
"Do we have to go in there? Maybe this is the wrong place." All right, I sound like a coward, but hey, you would too, if you are standing in front of dead bodies.
I feel so bad for them. This is unfair.
Feeling a deep pain for them, reaching my eyes, my throat has gone dry.
"It's the place, not sure why though, but I feel like it. If you're scared to then go back," he challenged. I stare at him, letting go of his arm, I huffed, walking past him.
"Jerk!" I whispered, looking around, the more death, I see, the more grieving feeling I get.
Poor things, and children too?
I lifted my gaze, to suck up my tears, so I won't show my sadness. The more I walk, the more bodies seem to show up. The stink seems to become worse and worse, causing me to cover my mouth once again. I had no idea where I was going, but then stopped in my tracks.
"Hey, don't just walk by yourself." I felt Naru's hand on my shoulder.
He turns me around, only to have his eyes widen a little when I glance up at him.
"It's horrible Naru. How could anyone kill the children and these people?" I cried out, without thinking, I move forward, and wrap my arms around his midsection burying my face in his torso, tears running down my cheeks. Bad enough that my eyes are still swollen from crying two nights in a row. I felt Naru stiffen at my sudden actions, but then relax a little.
"It's life. People kill people, for various reasons, but none is excusable. No one should kill and that's that." Naru's voice turns a little dark when he explains, making me look up at him.
"I know... It's hard to look at this. People shouldn't be killing people. That's why there are so many lost souls in this world. Like in our older cases, when I started, I lived what those victims lived." I shivered, remembering most of the cases, shutting my eyes, I tighten my hold on Naru.
"It's scary and sad,"
"Now we are dealing with something worse than any cases we have ever encountered," he whispers. I nodded, burying my face in his chest, as my cries subdue.
Letting go, I wiped my cheeks,
"You over-sensitive Mai." he tells me. I frowned, looking up.
"I'm a girl and it's normal and I feel bad, okay, so sue me." I spat at him. Yet again, he's right. I should start to become braver.
"Should I change it?" I asked, trying to distract my mind, while I stood at his side heading towards our right, heading for a particular hut, that is bigger than the other.
"Just be the way you are, nothing else. Just be a little be braver like you thought. That's all." Naru shrugs, but once again, he reads me like a book. He just ignores my sight since I was giving him a questionable look.
I need to learn how he does that, he reads me too easily.
Nodding, we entered the hut, only to surprise by the change of scenery. The room itself is large, with a mattress in the bottom, or more like light blue quilts.
"Strange," I whispered, moving forward to bend down and stretched my left hand to touch the quilt.
"What?" Naru asks curiously, looking up at him I catch him scanning the room, which holds only some strange statues, and old pots.
"The quilts, they are similar to the one in our house," I whispered, not noticing that I just said that. Naru bends next to me and picks up the fabric, running his fingers through.
"Interesting. Maybe the original owners were from here."
"How, if the treehouse is older than the last owners. Also, these people died a few months ago or a few years ago, but not that long ago." I explained. Naru frown, looking down.
"Anything is possible," he paused when his eyes narrow.
"Something that man said two weeks ago," he whispers. I turned to face him, only to notice how close we were. I gulped turning back my head.
"What is that? Wait, he talked to you?" I turned to face him. Naru nods slowly.
"The eye of the beholder shows the true path, then he pointed at the wall, he also said not only ghost inhabits this island," he concludes.
"Wait, if he talked to you, then why didn't you believe me, that he looks exactly like you. Big meany, you should have..." but Naru gave me a fierce look, causing me to shut my mouth.
"I didn't look at his face, unlike you, he wasn't trying to seduce me." he snaps, standing up looking very annoyed. I blinked rapidly, confused by his sudden outburst.
"Seducing? Who?" I stood up while Naru turns to face me, and glance down at me. I just stare at his chest, not liking his mad eyes.
"Err?"
"Well, sure as hell I don't go around kissing random strangers. Unlike you." he snaps. My eyes widen at his words, taking a huge step back.
"What? I don't go and kiss anyone or any stranger at that. I never even kiss a guy. You know that. He was the one that kissed me, and it wasn't on my lips, it was on my forehead. Then he told me something but I don't remember and fainted." I defended.
Naru's eyes narrow dangerously, fisting his hand, he huffed out.
"Right." he just says, turning around, heading out.
"Wait, what does 'right' mean? Naru, why are you mad? Wait, what did you mean he told you not only ghosts inhabit this island?" my confusion and irritation melted as Naru's last words finally dawn on me.
Naru stops, shaking his head.
"I don't know maybe other humans, he wasn't giving details Mai and I'm not mad, just pissed, please just don't talk to me." He huffed. Biting my lower lip, a sudden change in the atmosphere made me shiver.
"Please let it be just a cold front." I prayed, knowing very well that is not. Moving behind Naru, yet on doing so, Naru disappears from my sight, heading out the door.
"Ne? Naru, I know you're mad, but don't leave me alone." I called out, running behind him. In doing so, as soon as I step outside, something in me shivered, and something was missing.
Something is not right, where's Naru?
"Mai." I heard behind me, making me jump in fright, grasping my pounding chest, I turned around to see Naru staring at me confused.
"Don't scare me, why did you leave me alone? I know you're mad at me, but still." I huffed out,
"Don't worry, I'm not mad anymore, there's something else we should be worrying about." he points behind me. My eyes narrow.
"Oh no, please don't tell me the wanna be headless horseman is right behind me." my voice trembles. Naru shook his head.
"Worse." he takes a hold of my shoulders and slowly turns me around.
"Wors.. Worse? What could.. Be wo... worse?" I stutter in fear, but he didn't answer me since my eyes connect to what he wanted me to see.
"Where's the bodies, more than hundreds of dead bodies can't disappear in two minutes." I turned, only for my eyes to widen, instead of Naru standing in front of me, the phantom guy stood there, staring at me with his bloodshot red eyes.'
"Hello there deary. Welcome to my Death Tribe," he spoke, my body started to shake terribly.
"How? I thought.." my voice quaver, taking a step back, a sudden sensation starts to crawl up my leg. A burning sensation.
"You thought what? That I was your lover? Sorry love, but you ain't my type. Since he couldn't get you the first time, around, because of that damn woman, this time, I will make sure, that I do." and with that, he snaps his fingers, and the next thing I knew, I felt four hands on each of my arms.
Looking to my right and left, the rotting corpses stood next to me, not sure if there were men or women since their skin was deformed as though they were melting or something.
"Zombies." I gasp out in horror, the phantom shrugs now standing in front of me, taking a hold of my neck with his cold clammy hands.
"Zombies? I heard that word before, the modern world uses that, as the living dead. These are souls, lost souls. My tribe. If it wasn't for Isac, my tribe would have been alive." he bitter spit out, tighten his hold around my neck.
My eyes narrow, while my body starts to float up, the choking becoming harsher. I couldn't even move my hands.
"Burn, let me get your ashes, and then your soul." He hashed out, then the sensation on my leg becomes hotter, as though a flame began to consume me.
I let out a desperate scream but he places his clammy cold hand over my mouth to muffle my scream. I stare at him with wide eyes as I continue to cry.
Where's Naru? Why isn't he here helping me? Did.. Did this evil phantom harm him?
I closed my eyes, aching for Naru, to save me since at the moment I'm paralyzed, but I prayed that he isn't hurt.
Naru POV
"Just don't talk to me," I spat out heading out from the hut, running my fingers through my hair in frustration.
Don't think of it, just don't. Calm down and keep a level head.
Stepping outside to cool my head, but I stop in my tracks when something felt off and I didn't like it. Then my eyes narrow, to see that there's no corpse at all.
"Damn it. Mai. I left her alone." I scolded myself. Turning around, I rushed my steps, Mai had already stepped out.
"Mai, don't..." but my words are cut short, when she stops, and glances up at me, watching her shiver. Then right behind her, my whole body froze.
Two pair of red blood eyes appears behind her, and he winks at me. Placing his finger on his lips, (As to say, don't speak) My body froze.
"This will be fun. Wouldn't it. Oliver?" the Phantom spoke, smirking at me.
How does he know my name?
"Mai!" he shouts using my voice, placing his dirty hands on her shoulder. Mai jumps in fright, turning around, she grasps her chest.
My eyes narrow in anger, as I watch him morph into me. Then it dawns on me is he the same guy we saw last time? But this feels different. No, the other man had a different aura. This one is pure evil.
"Don't scare me, damn it. Why did you leave me alone? I know you're mad at me.." she huffed out, now, instead of being scared, a rage started to fill me.
The phantom smirks at me, giving me a wink before he looks down at Mai.
"Mai, don't look at him, he's not me!" I shout, but to no avail, she didn't hear me, it's like I was invisible or something.
"Don't worry, I'm not mad anymore, there's something else we should be worrying about," he gently tells her.
"Oh no, please don't tell me the wanna be headless horseman is right behind me." her voice trembles. If we weren't in this dire situation, I would have enjoyed her commentary.
"Worse." he takes a hold of her shoulders and slowly turns her around.
"Wors.. Worse? What could.. Be wo... worse?" she stutters in pure fear as he turns her to face the reality.
"What the?" she gasped in horror.
"Mai!" I shout once again, but nothing.
"Where's the bodies, more than hundreds of dead bodies can't disappear in two minutes." she turns, only to hear her gasp in fright jumping slightly back.
Then, with horror, I watch as the phantom grabs her by the neck, while the four zombies took a hold of her arms, preventing her to move.
"Mai fight it." I struggled to try to move from whatever I'm under, only to have the phantom tilt his head to the side, making Mai turn over. Her eyes widen when our eyes connect. I could tell, she was trying to call out for me. Her eyes always talk, even if she doesn't say anything with her mouth, in this type of situation.
"Mai!" I shout. Her face turning purple, as a horrifying scream of as though she was being tortured escapes her lips escapes causing my heart to drop to my stomach. The phantom drops her on her knees. She let a gasp, trying to regain her breath.
"I could just snap her little neck right there and then. Yet, I can't. I need to burn her. Such a pity. Unlike you,"he snaps his head up towards me.
"Let her go, or you will regret it." I threaten, filling my own Pk spike up feeling my whole body tingle.
Then I felt the phantom hands wrap around my neck, lifting me from the ground as though I weighted like nothing. Now my legs are dangling on the ground, as I stare at him deadly.
"There's more to this island, that no human can comprehend. I will kill you and have your soul. The girl, I need her ashes. A pure soul, you, on the other hand, are tainted."he tightens his grip on me feeling my breathing become rigid, puffing out as I began to ask for oxygen, making me huff loudly. Mai yells out in pain as makes eye contact with us, while the undead pinned her down.
"NO! let him go, please. He has nothing to do. Take me instead." she begs. The phantom turns me around, so now I face Mai, he throws me across the Plainfield landing in front of her. Mai cries in frustration.
"How touching, the Wench is sacrificing herself, for her lover. Where I have seen this play before. Oh, yeah, that doctor guy and his wife." he informs us, bending down to my level.
"Now tell me boy. How much you love her. Do you love her so much, that are you willing to give your own life for her? Tell me, how much you love her, so I can spare her." he challenged.
"Go to hell," I spat, this time, trying hard to concentrate my power.
He barks a dark laugh turning around, he takes Mai's chin, to make her face him. I know Mai is petrified.
"You know, I feel generous right now. Since I have been in hell already. I'll make your lover feel what hell truly feels." he smirks diabolical causing my eyes to narrow hopeless I watch Mai's eyes narrow, and a painful scream escapes her.
"Now, let's finish this," and before he even snaps his fingers, I release my Pk.
An electricity ball surrounds my hand and shoots right at him.
The phantom or demon, laugh, as a smirk passes his lips.
"Now, I know what I'm dealing with. Thanks, boy," and with that, he just waves his hands, making my Pk make a full U-turn, then he disappears, after making Mai fly across the dirt, landing painfully in front of the tree on our far right. I could move once again after he left, along with his zombies.
My Pk kept going, heading straight for Mai. My eyes widen as pure shock passes by me.
No, don't get her, please.
I never in my life did run as fast as I did that day. I slid across before my pk reached her. I grabbed Mai's arm, and place her under me, knowing that it was too late to move. So I held her tight against me, encircling my arms around her and shield her with my body.
"NO NARU!" she screams, then my eyes widen in pure pain when I felt my own Pk hit my own back. Everything felt numb after that, but I did let an agonizing grunt pass my lips.
"Naru," Mai wiggles in my brace, separating from her, I stare at her eyes, as she is crying her heart off once again and I cup her red puffy cheeks.
"Are you okay?" I asked, shaking off my weariness. Mai is now crying harder than ever, nods rapidly.
Thank God, I wouldn't know what to do if you seriously inured with my own Pk.
"Yes, you fool, why did you block it? Now your hurt. Foolish man." she scolded, but a smirk passes my lips enjoying her bickering as everything around me started to go blackout.
"Naru?"
"I think, I found the clue Ayame wanted us to find," I whispered to drain to speak while my body slumps down, pressing my cheek against her shoulder.
I'm too tired, but at least I know she's fine. While she's fine, I can rest. I'm sorry Mai, but I can't handle it anymore.
"It's not the time Naru. Naru, please, wake up, stay awake, I can't carry you, you're too big for me. Don't faint on me." she shrugs my shoulder. Desperately calling out for my name, feeling her rub my back.
"Okay, okay, just sleep for a bit, I'll take care of you. I'll take care of you, while I don't lose you," she whispers, feeling her press her cheek against my head, closing her eyes, holding me tighter.
Then everything went blank.
Thanks
Jjmmr for rereading my story and leaving me reviews, it makes me happy. I hope you're enjoying it, even switching little by little things around. Later I'll switch halfway, but try to keep it without the Original content.