Disclaimer: I do not own Ghost Hunt. We'd be reading manga 12 in English.
Chapter 11 – Welcome Back to SPR
-0O0-
Mai's eyes popped open to see a haze of floating white lights. She rocketed upwards, ignoring the always-strange sensation of balancing herself on what appeared to be nothing but blackness. Her eyes searched around for Gene – she was sure she had felt his presence right before she conked out… he'd probably pulled her into this state, after all. He did it all the time.
"Behind you," said an amused voice.
The woozy teen twisted around to see her spirit guide shaking his head at her. "All those hours spent training your senses and you don't notice me standing right here."
Mai flushed. "Well, excuse me for being dizzy!" she yelled. "It's always more… jarring when you force me into an astral projection."
"You were calling me," Gene reminded her.
"I've been calling you," Mai corrected. "Where have you been? I've been worried!"
"You sound like a nagging mother," Naru's twin observed, grinning. "It was very difficult for me to find you, you know."
Mai sobered. "I kinda thought that might be it. I was worried that my moving to Europe had disrupted our connection or something."
"Not disrupted, just lost direction," Gene corrected gently.
"Right… what?"
Her love's twin laughed lightly. "Think of it like a cell phone and a tower," Gene suggested. "The phone needs to find a working tower to relay its signal. And when you go out of your area, sometimes the phone takes a while to find another tower."
"So I'm the cell phone that left my area?" Mai asked, sorting through the metaphor.
"No, I'm the cell phone. I usually ping off of your location in Japan, and it took a while to find your new address."
"But it's London – isn't your spirit in England to begin with?"
"Yes and no," Gene answered. "My body is here, and I do retain enough of a connection with it to stay a ghost. But I do not exist on the same plain that most spirits do – I live exclusively in the realm of lingering spirits. So I don't really 'live' in England – I can move wherever I need to. And I'm not a residual spirit, either; I could pass on today – I just choose not to. I still have things to do."
"You've talked to Naru once since I've been in England! I heard him say something to Lin about it." Mai tried not to sound whiny.
Gene's eyes twinkled at her, and Mai gathered that her attempt was not successful. "His location didn't change."
"But I'm in the same place as he is!"
"That's not how it works. I follow psychic connections, not real-world locations. Lin's in the same place as both of you now, right? But I can't talk to him."
"I guess he just arrived at the house. Wait, how can you sense Lin?" Mai asked, confused.
"I know he's nearby – but only because I can feel his aura interacting with yours. I have no connection to the real world, other than you and Noll."
"Gotcha," Mai nodded, her worry fading.
As if sensing her mood switch, Gene's whole manner changed. His eyes lit up and he smiled eagerly. "So," he started excitedly.
Mai knew this was going to get annoying in a moment.
"What's been happening? How's everything been going? My useless brother wouldn't tell me anything good!"
"Can't you read his thoughts when you're in a mirror?" Mai raised a brow.
"Sometimes, but Noll tends to block out the interesting stuff." Gene rolled his eyes. The reaction was such a Naru gesture that Mai smiled gently.
Gene apparently thought the smile meant good news. "It's going that well? Excellent, we can move up the Great Reveal!" He grinned. Apparently, missing Mai had done Noll some good and he was behaving like a human! "He's shown you he cares, finally?"
Now Mai rolled her eyes. "Don't be ridiculous, we fight more often than we talk. Naru is Naru, after all... he doesn't really openly show care for anybody. But I think it's going as well as it could be."
Gene studied Mai for a moment, seemingly analyzing her for something. Mai just stared back.
Finally, Gene's shoulders slumped. "So not as well as I'd hoped. Well, Noll is an idiot scientist, after all."
"What do you mean?" Mai asked uncomprehendingly. "It's been going… well, although..."
"Ugh, he probably hasn't even realized it yet!" Gene groused to himself. He'd hoped that finally seeing Mai would cause enough havoc in Noll's internal wiring that he might actually get a clue. Gene had noticed some disquiet in Noll's thoughts when they'd last spoken, but apparently the epiphany had yet to occur. Then Gene actually processed Mai's words. "Although what?"
She cringed. "Well, we did have a little issue right after we got here. On our first night in England. I don't know if it's because I was thinking about you right before I fell asleep or because I was sleeping in the house you lived in, but I had... you know, that vision." She always tried hard not to directly say she dreamed of Gene's death.
Because she wanted to avoid the guilty, pained look he was currently giving her. "I'm so – "
"Don't you dare say that you're sorry," Mai cut him off, voice fierce. "It's not your fault and I'm sorrier that it ever even happ – "
"It is sort of my fault and there's nothing you could have done."
"My seeing… that… is just as much my fault as it is yours," Mai retorted in a tone that brooked no argument.
Her spirit guide gave her a mutinous glance, but said nothing else.
"Anyway," Mai went on bracingly, "I had that dream on the first night we were in London. And of course we were sleeping at your house, so everybody heard me screaming and came running."
"Screaming?"
Mai winced internally at his tone. "I didn't yell anything specific," she assured him, though she was sure he was more worried about her terror than whatever she might have revealed. "They were all there when I woke up, though. Ayako slapped me awake." She grimaced. "At least I made it into the bathroom before I could throw up in front of Naru."
"You threw up?" Gene asked, looking stricken.
"Just because of the choking…" She saw Gene close his eyes and wanted to cut out her own tongue. "Never mind. Why did I even say that?" Mai smacked herself in the forehead in disgust. Time to move on. "Anyway, Bou-san helpfully told Naru that I have the dream a lot. I tried to cover it up – and I did get everybody to agree not to tell Naru about you – but Naru figured it out, anyway."
"Does he know?" Gene sounded panicky.
"Know what? That I dreamed about you? Yes. I was so surprised that I admitted it."
"No, I mean about everything else. Our continued communication, my plans, the transfer…" Gene looked worried.
"He doesn't," Mai replied, watching as Gene's shoulders sagged in relief. "I told him more about the dreaming because he was suspicious and I had to give him something." Mai gave her spirit guide a focused look. "But you've reminded me of my question. What are we waiting for? The transfer is done, it's not like we can take it back. So why can't I tell Naru about it?" Not that she wanted to, really. But still…
Gene sighed. "I've told you that Noll is exceedingly persistent about my lingering in this state," he replied evasively. "He'd think that our connection will affect to my ability to leave. He thinks I'll become dangerous if I stay too long."
"Bou-san says the same thing," Mai observed, noting that her spirit guide hadn't really answered her question. "Are they right about the danger?"
"No, not yet. But I can't afford for him to try to get information out of you, so you can't tell him that we meet here. And in case Noll reacts badly when he does find out about everything, I want to be around for damage control. Besides, there are things I… want to see before I pass on," Gene explained.
"I thought you couldn't see the outside world – except in the mirror when you talk to Naru." Mai raised an eyebrow.
"I can't. Mai, I wasn't necessarily being literal about seeing," he clarified. "I'm… waiting for some things to happen. It doesn't matter whether I can actually see them – although I've had some brainstorms about that issue. It's okay if you and Noll just confirm them for me. I want to know that a few things I really want to happen… happen."
"But what if they never do?" Mai asked worriedly. She tried to imagine what these important things were. They obviously hadn't happened in the last two years – how long could Gene wait and still be okay? Mai bit her lip.
"I'm not being ridiculous with my 'list,' I picked reasonable goals." Her spirit guide argued.
"Things don't always happen the way you want them to," Mai cautioned sadly, thinking of her confession to Naru.
Gene gave Mai a penetrating look. "I'm patient. You should be, too."
Mai stared back curiously, trying to figure out what Gene was talking about.
The ghostly guide felt the first wave of lethargy rush through him and knew he had to move on. "Listen, you have to keep Noll in the dark for as long as possible," he begged her. "I've been stonewalling him about my 'unfinished business' for almost two years now. And I really want to 'see' these things happen before I leave. I… I don't get to see them in person, so please, Mai…"
Mai closed her eyes to hide the forming tears and nodded.
After a long moment, Gene spoke again. "About the transfer."
Her eyes popped open. He was finally going to tell her what to do? "Yeah? What's our strategy?"
"Don't tell Noll yet," Gene replied firmly. He wanted Mai and Noll to bond as much as possible beforehand. "I mean, he'll probably – "
"Freak out like a crazy person?" Mai guessed. She had imagined Naru's reaction several times, and it was always bad.
"Possibly," Gene admitted. "He has to find out eventually, but…"
Mai grimaced. "I know," she said. "I just can't think of a way to break it to him that doesn't involve Very Bad Consequences."
Gene considered this problem. Mai was obviously afraid to tell Noll, and honestly, just telling him probably wasn't going to do it. Noll was protective of Mai… and very stubborn. The situation might require something extra. "You know, I think the best way to reveal it to him is in the heat of the moment."
"What moment? What do you mean?" Mai asked confusedly.
"I agree with you, I don't think that just telling him is going to end well. Noll will undoubtedly be angry, and there's a chance he might not even believe you. I mean, he didn't know about the mage, or why I really went to Japan. Only Lin knew, and I don't think he's ever said anything. So instead... I think you should wait for the opportunity to use it. That way, you'll prove the transfer – and yourself – necessary. I think that would be best."
Mai nodded slowly. She hadn't even thought that Naru might not believe her…
"You should also try to have someone else there watching," her spirit guide mused. He studied the lights floating gently upward, a relaxed, tired feeling spreading through his soul. Madoka would be best, he thought. "That way, there will be a third party to coax Noll into cooperating if he gets ridiculous."
Mai looked down at the non-floor. "Because he'll be angry about being stuck with me?"
Gene's gaze flew back to Mai, alarmed by her depressed tone. "Don't be silly, that's not what I meant. Noll is happy that you're with him again. I can sense it."
"Yeah, right," Mai said sarcastically. "He's just the same as ever!"
"Exactly," Gene nodded confidently.
Mai gave him another confused look. He sighed. "Why don't you ask Madoka about his 'usual' attitude?" Gene recommended. "I'm sure she can probably explain it. Besides," he noted, feeling fatigue pull harder on his spirit, "I'm running out of time and we haven't even gotten to the case."
"The case?" Mai asked aloud.
"Yes, you know, that one you're about to go on," he replied hurriedly.
Mai almost smacked herself at her own stupidity. Duh, the case! And Gene was starting to fade out, she noticed.
"Anyway," he said, "Don't be fooled by the sexual nature of the injuries. It's not what you think."
"Really?" Mai asked, gobsmacked. "What do you mean? How else could we interpret…?"
Gene's image seemed to flicker, and he ignored her question. "Time to go," he noted, reaching a hand toward Mai. Then he grinned woozily, sensing an extremely familiar presence on the edge of Mai's. "Remember, be patient."
Then he placed a hand against her head and pushed her backwards.
-0O0-
Mai re-entered her body with a spiritual sort of crash, and her form jerked on the couch. Not one of his better send-offs, she thought with a groan.
She sat up slowly, wondering what to make of Gene's last statement. Patient about what? The case?
There was a sigh from the other side of the room. "You're finally awake," Naru noted acerbically. "You missed afternoon tea."
Mai stared at Naru for a moment, taking in the signs of aging that were not reflected in Gene's ghostly face. Gene would never give her that arrogant look, either. Her spirit guide's warning about patience finally registered, but Mai wasn't feeling very patient just now. Especially since Naru looked infuriatingly piqued and was staring down his nose at her. A traitorous part of her brain felt the pull of his compelling eyes, and Mai gritted her teeth to distract herself from the hot shiver that ran through her body. "I missed afternoon tea, huh? In other words, Narcissist, 'You weren't awake to make my favorite tea, Mai.' Cue snippy mood."
"We discussed the case that Martin wants your input on," Naru replied, acting as if he hadn't heard her. "And he's elected me to catch you up on the facts while he and Lin retrieve some files from the office."
Great, Mai thought, because that won't end in yelling.
"Since I'm donating my time…"
"Since you were ordered to donate your time," Mai corrected crossly.
"…the least you can do is make that tea you mentioned. I'll be in the dining room." Naru slinked out without another word.
Mai sat frozen on the couch, mouth open.
As Naru walked down the hall, he counted in his head. 1… 2…
"BAKA!" Mai's enraged scream echoed throughout the almost-empty house.
Naru smirked widely and sat down at the table, awaiting the fast-approaching storm. He could hear Mai stalking angrily towards him already. She was probably scaring James right now.
The butler in question heard the young Miss scream in a foreign tongue - and paused as he cut up tonight's vegetables. When it became apparent that no bloodshed was imminent, James returned to dinner preparation. Master Oliver should just get it over with and kiss her already, he thought with a sigh.
-0O0-
An hour later, six researchers sat at the dining room table, sharing information and postulating their theories on the case. They were trying to figure out as much about the ghost's identity and motivations as possible before going on-site. As they argued different points, Mai realized this must be what the famous Oliver Davis did before every case – no wonder he seemed to have the problem half-solved before they even got to a client's house. Against her will (she was still pissed), Mai found herself impressed by SPR's methods and Naru's tenacity.
"Given the sexual nature of the injuries, the ghost is most likely female," Madoka mused.
At the words sexual nature, Mai remembered Gene's warning. "Don't be fooled by that," she mumbled, biting her lip and sifting through the bios.
"What?" Naru's voice asked sharply.
Mai looked up to see every eye at the table fixed on her. She cringed. "Um, I was just thinking that we shouldn't automatically assume that."
"Excellent point, Taniyama," Martin enthused. "We should never assume until we have all the facts."
"Is there a reason you feel this way?" Naru persisted, eyes on his squirming former assistant. She often came out with important things without even realizing it, so he knew to jump on it. But why did she sound… scared?
"Having all the facts is the scientific method, Big Boss. Surely you're familiar with it." Yasu's teasing voice belied the serious look in his eyes, and Mai recognized that he was trying to distract Naru. Yasuhara could see that she was panicking.
But so could Naru. "You sounded sure, Mai. Like you do when your instincts tell you something."
"Well," Mai hedged. "It's a feeling I have." She had a feeling she should listen to Gene.
Naru narrowed his eyes. "Two years of training and you can't get further than 'it's a feeling?'"
"Well, not all of us are super-genius parapsychologists!" Mai fired back.
"Obviously," Naru replied haughtily.
"You are so arrogant!"
"Exceptionally aware," he countered. A pause. "As opposed to some people."
That's it. Mai cracked and flew out of her chair, intending to hit him with something.
Mai didn't even make it a step before Madoka clothes-lined her. As Madoka forced the struggling girl back into her seat, she gritted out, "Mai-chan, Noll is just trying to bait you because he thinks you're holding something back."
Naru just glared at his mentor's exposure of his strategy.
"Don't be like that, Noll. I just saved your butt." Madoka threw him a mean look of her own.
"As if I don't know when to duck," Naru replied, extremely annoyed. Now Mai was going to clam up.
"All of you are being ridiculous," Martin cut in a hard voice. "Noll, desist with haranguing Taniyama. It is entirely possible that Mai cannot get more specific than a feeling – psychic powers are unpredictable. A person with a doctorate in the subject should know better."
Naru twitched visibly.
The professor turned to the hot-eyed Mai. "Taniyama, assaulting my son might be exactly what he deserves and would no doubt entertain the entire party, but I doubt it will accomplish anything relating to the case we're puzzling out." Mai grinned a bit, before nodding dutifully and relaxing into her chair. She also took a moment to enjoy Naru's sulkiness following his father's censure.
Martin regarded the last combatant. "And Madoka... good show." The professor heard Noll's testy sigh and smiled inwardly. His sons used to go on and on about Martin's 'blatant favoritism' towards Madoka. He lost himself in nostalgia for a moment before shaking the mixed emotions away. "Moving on," he said firmly. "Taniyama, is there anything else about the case you have a feeling about?"
"Yes," she replied immediately. See what happens when you ask nicely, Naru? "This file is important." She slid a pink folder across the table. "And…" she trailed off as Martin picked up the folder.
"And?" Martin repeated gently.
"And I could almost hear something," Mai replied obediently. "The usual when I'm on a case and come across something."
Naru gritted his teeth. He just knew Mai was being extra-helpful to get back at him. But then again… he supposed his baiting had worked, after all.
"Do you want to try touching the file again?" Madoka asked.
Mai cocked her head. "I could try, but I don't think I'll get anything else right now. I should really go to the site and see if that gives me anything."
Yasuhara jumped in to explain. "We've noticed over the years that if Mai is 'tuned in' to the haunting before we get there, her response to the site is usually very quick and strong."
"Not to mention," a just-arrived Bou-san said from the doorway, "If Mai senses something before a case even starts… it usually means it's going to get nasty."
Luella's voice sounded from the front hall, hailing Martin. Reluctantly, he excused himself. Ayako and Bou-san moved out of his way, then seated themselves at the long table. Mai saw the shopping bag on the shrine maiden's arm and figured they'd been out buying apartment supplies with Luella.
"Well," Ayako said slowly, staring at Martin's retreating back, "At least if the ghost is picking exclusively on middle-aged men, Mai is safe for once."
"That's true," Bou-san said, brightening. "As long as we keep Martin away from the site, we should be relatively alright."
"Hm, I'm not so sure about that," his fiancé said silkily. "Aren't you going?"
"Yeah," Bou-san affirmed, looking confused.
"So the ghost is going after middle-aged men."
"And?" Still confused.
Yasuhara choked on a laugh. Mai tried her best to giggle silently.
Ayako's eyes danced meanly. "Middle. Aged. Men."
"So what?" Bou-san was visibly annoyed, but he still didn't get it.
"Dear me, maybe you need a hearing aid as well as protection from the ghosts…" Ayako noted, tapping a red nail against her face.
"I heard you just fine, and why would I need protec…" Bou-san froze.
"Aaaand, there it is," Yasuhara declared.
"Are you calling me a middle-aged man?" Takigawa roared.
Mai groaned, knowing she was going to have to fix this.
Ayako examined her manicure. "That certainly took you a while – maybe your deductive skills are deteriorating with age? We'll have to keep you locked up in the base for safe-keeping."
Madoka and Yasuhara fell all over themselves laughing as Bou-san snarled at Ayako. Naru rolled his eyes – although he felt a small twinge of nostalgia at the familiar bickering. Lin ignored all of them and continued studying the file that Mai had indicated.
"So you're marrying a middle-aged man, then?" Bou-san asked meanly. "What does that make you?" he taunted. "You're too old and too rich to be a pretty little gold-digger, so I guess that makes you an old maid." He narrowly avoided Ayako's swinging purse.
"Don't those parameters sort of make Bou-san a gold-digger?" Yasuhara wondered aloud, deliberately stirring the pot a bit more. "And Ayako is his easy mark or something?"
The 'mark' in question let out an incomprehensible scream of frustration and launched herself at Bou-san. Madoka was no longer holding her down, so Mai raced over to separate them – pausing a moment to whack Yasuhara on the back of the head for purposefully making it worse.
Naru watched Mai jump into the line of fire and cleared his throat. "How could we ever confuse either of you with the middle-aged?" he intoned loudly.
This comment was strange and… complimentary(?) enough to stop the action. Everyone turned to Naru.
"After all, you consistently behave like unruly children." Naru nonchalantly flipped a page. "No one would ever mistake you for wizened adults."
Bou-san and Ayako immediately geared up to yell… and then realized they'd be playing right into Naru's hands. Looking decidedly defeated, the engaged twosome collapsed against the wall. Mai found the wall, too… and somehow wound up being used as Bou-san's headrest. Again.
"How come you always use me to hold yourself up?" she cried indignantly.
"Get taller," her father-figure replied simply.
"Masako-chan is shorter than me!" Mai hissed mutinously.
Then she and Bou-san both imagined using the pristine and expensively-dressed Masako as a headrest. "Riiiiight," they said together.
Feeling defeated herself, Mai sighed and relaxed against Bou-san, submitting her shortness to his whims.
Naru noticed their close positions out of the corner of his eye. Something about the whole thing bothered him. "Mai, since you are actually pertinent to this discussion, I suggest to return to your seat."
Madoka grinned, understanding better than Naru himself did. "What's the matter, Oliver, do you think Mai-chan can't hear you from over there?"
Naru twitched at his mentor's needling of his admittedly irrational response. "It is hard enough to get Mai to focus when not distracted by the children over there."
"Say what?" Mai asked loudly.
"My point exactly," Naru replied calmly. "Sit, Mai."
"He is one hard nut to crack," Yasuhara whispered to Madoka.
She giggled. "Don't worry, I haven't even started yet."
Lin cleared his throat, eyes flicking to the very-close-together heads of his girlfriend and the troublemaking Yasuhara.
Naru raised an eyebrow at the subtle show of emotion by the stoic Lin. Foolish, Naru thought to himself. As if Lin has anything to be jealous over. A cup of tea appeared in his line of vision; James seemed to have sensed it was time to serve refreshments.
Mai huffily threw herself into Martin's vacated chair (farther away from Naru than her own chair) and snatched up a couple of victim bios. Naru glared at she noisily leafed through them, and Mai stuck out a retaliatory tongue.
A few seats down, Madoka seemed to sense Lin's disquiet and reached over to hold his hand under the table. Lin relaxed and barely kept from smiling in public. Then a snide comment from Naru (something about noisy readers) drew Lin's attention back above the table... Mai was muttering about taking Naru's tea away. Naru rolled his eyes, but moved his tea out of her reach.
Lin studied Naru quietly, aware that his still-prickly mood had everything to do with Mai's and Bou-san's display of physical affection. And yet... Mai was presently ignoring Bou-san's attempts to ask her about the case; she was too busy having a glaring war with Naru. Oliver's being foolish, Lin thought to himself. He has nothing to be jealous over.
And then Martin returned, bringing sanity back to the party.
"Any good ideas while I was gone?" The professor asked brightly.
Sweat-drops all around.
-0O0-
"So," Yasuhara said to Mai, adjusting the camera in his arms. "You look kinda worried."
"I feel… something bad. I'm not sure what, though." Mai squinted at the building looming ahead of them. She shivered.
"Jou-chan, stay close to one of us, alright?" Bou-san looked grim.
"Okay, but that usually doesn't matter," Mai reminded him.
"Because you eventually wander off like an idiot," the monk growled.
His adopted child put out her tongue. "Maybe you should put me on a leash or something."
Bou-san looked thoughtful. "Hmm, not a bad idea…"
"I was kidding."
He ignored her. "Maybe I can make one out of extra cables and bless it with a Buddhist prayer…"
Ayako nodded as they approached the employee entrance. "I'll write a few sutras to attach to it, and we'll clip the leash to Mai's key necklace. She never takes that off."
Bou-san pursed his lips. "Maybe we should weld it to the necklace - so she can't just un-clip it and run away."
"You guys are both insane!" Mai hissed. "You are not 'leashing' me and you are NOT welding anything to my favorite necklace!"
"You may not have to get so extreme," Yasuhara threw in, grinning. "After all, we know the ghost seems to prefer middle-aged men. That's like the total opposite of Mai-chan. It probably won't go after her."
Mai wasn't so sure, although she wasn't about to tell her overprotective parent-figures that. Mai stepped into the warehouse with a feeling of trepidation; she could feel negative energy swirling around like a thick fog. She could also hear something again – sounds of clunking, hissing, footsteps tramping on metal. Her eyes flew around the room, trying to locate the sources of the sounds – even though she was almost certain there wouldn't be anything to see. And there wasn't. Mai closed her eyes and concentrated harder, trying to identify whether there was a spirit present.
All of a sudden, something pinged to her left. She threw out an arm and pointed in the direction that she felt the presence – someone's feet ran off in that direction. Bou-san's aura was moving; it was him. "Be careful, Bou-san," Mai called, eyes still closed. "Don't be aggressive."
A step behind her, Naru regarded Mai intently – she had certainly grown more impressive in the last two years. She had located a spirit almost immediately… but what had really surprised him was that she could identify Bou-san's aura specifically (and quickly) AND sensed enough about the spirit to warn him against violence.
Lin's face was stony as he taped Mai for the professor, but inside he was kind of shocked. He could see that Noll felt the same way. They both watched Mai frown, eyes still closed.
"Is there a reason that you keep your eyes closed?" Naru asked quietly, already knowing what her answer was likely to be.
Mai threw an arm out in the direction of the presence, physically reinforcing the direction in which she wanted her powers to focus. "Yes," she finally said. "It helps me. When I'm not looking at anything, it sharpens my othersense." She stopped moving abruptly. "What? That can't be right."
Naru had more faith in Mai's sensing abilities than her reasoning, so he asked, "What can't be right? What is it?"
"The spirit…" she said, reaching toward it like a human dowsing rod. "It's a… man?" Her eyes popped open and she looked to Naru, confused.
Naru raised an eyebrow. It was not what they were expecting, what with the spirit's attacks on male genitalia, but certainly possible. And hadn't Mai herself told them not to be fooled by the sexual nature of the injuries? "Why couldn't it be?" Naru asked simply, stepping around her and following Takigawa into the next room.
"Wait! Naru!" Mai called, voice edged in worry. The first presence seemed non-threatening, but a dark weight was spreading eerily along the edges of Mai's senses. The negative energy of the warehouse seemed to resonate with this darkness and gained spiritual, invisible form.
There was something else here.
-0O0-
AN: The first real case with Britain's SPR has started! I hope the chapter sounds right, my eyes were crossing with sleepiness towards the end.