A/N: Hello, fellow readers. As I mentioned before, this is the portion from the previous chapter. Fear not, for things remain the same, though with clean editing and significant changes. Shoutouts to Evolution-500 for helping me with the suggestions. Just sit back and enjoy.

Disclaimer: I do not own Killer Instinct or Carrie. They belong to their respective owners.

As the sun ceased its shift, Chamberlain fell into darkness. Streetlights flickered through the suburbs like lit candles. Sue exited the house carrying a flashlight and a backpack.Rita remained by the door. "Are you sure about this? That girl might not be there anymore."

Sue shrugged. "That's true."

"Is it possible that we will find anything?"

"Not sure. The worst-case scenario? It's some joke, and a cop will tell me off. I want assurances that nothing sinister will come."

Rita considered Sue's words and nodded. "Alright, but if anything happens, call me, okay?"

"I will." Sue walked down the sidewalk, adjusting her backpack as Rita closed the door.

The entrance to Memorial Park remained the same, except for the yellow tape. No police officers were in the area, which surprised Sue. Then again, Chamberlain held less than 150 people.As Sue stepped forward, she reflected on the video, stopping herself. A slithering chill spread inside her despite her assurance. Memorial Park looked like a stitched-up yawning mouth with its taped-off entrance.Perhaps Rita had the right idea to stay home. Before Sue considered leaving, something brushed against her shoulder. She jumped back and flashed her light at the intruder with a startled scream.A young boy lifted his hands to cover his face from the blinding light. "Will you put that away?"Sue lowered the flashlight. "What the… George?" She smacked the back of his head. "What the hell?"George winced and rubbed the area where Sue struck. "Ow! Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you.""What are you doing here?""I'd asked you the same thing.""Well…" Sue paused as she closed her eyes and shook her head. "I was planning to head home. The last thing I need is putting the child growing inside me in harm's way.""I think Sariel might agree with you.""Who is Sariel?""He's my pen pal, an exchange student from Japan. Tommy and I got to know him… before Prom. Of course, he didn't attend. I spoke to him about this incident, and he's curious about the woman."Sue raised an eyebrow. "So you're accompanying him?"

George rubbed the back of his neck. "Well, when you put it that way…." His phone shuddered from his pocket while playing a catchy ringtone. He reached into his pocket and answered the call. "Hello?"

"Are you at the entrance?" a young, accented voice asked.

"Yeah, and so is Sue."

"'Sue?' As in the former member of the Ultras? If I'm not mistaken, she's pregnant, right?"

"Yeah, she is. Why?"

"Can you tell her to go home?"

Before George could respond, Sue leaned into the receiver. "Not until I can find the answers."

A deep sigh echoed in George's phone, and the receiver spoke his answer. George hung up and tucked his phone into his pocket. "Well, I guess you're coming with us. Just stay close, okay?"

Sue shrugged. "Fine with me."

Hearing a voice, Sue spotted a boy with two different eye colors arriving. He wore a buttoned-up shirt with navy-blue capris.

"Sariel, glad to see you." George exchanged a unique handshake with his friend.

The boy smiled. "Likewise. You must be Sue."

As Sue extended her hand, Sariel grasped it, and his eyes widened. "Is something wrong?"

For a moment, Sariel was quiet. "Uh, sorry, I just…."

"Yeah?"

He released her hand. "Oh, nothing. We should move."

Sue eyed Sariel with scrunched brows. When facing George, her friend shrugged and gestured towards the entrance. Sue shook her head and followed Sariel, with George behind her. They slipped through the opening without ripping the tape and walked on the trail.

Hoots rang through the surrounding forest. The leaves shuffled from the draft as the trio ventured into the graveyard.

George shivered. "This place is creepy."

"As do most places," Sariel said. "So, I watched the video several times. I believe we're dealing with an Onryō."

George stopped, as did Sue and Sariel. "What?"

"Wait, wait." Sue waved her hands. "What's that?"

"An Onryō is a spirit that takes revenge on the living," Sariel explained.

George brushed his hair with his hand. "Why would there be one here?"

"Good question." Sariel scratched his chin. "Was Chamberlain involved with slavery? Anything involving Asian immigrants?"

"I don't think so." Sue folded her arms. While trying to recall her history classes, she caught Sariel staring at her. "What is it?"

He shifted in discomfort. "You shouldn't be here."

"Why?"

"This is for your safety. Onryōs are erratic and unpredictable. They might try to target you because of your pregnancy."

"Look, I appreciate your concern, but I can take care of myself. It's not an 'oreo'-"

"Onryō," George corrected.

"Whatever." Sue flicked her hand. "This is a sick mental midget playing games. Once we find her, you'll see."

The boys fell silent as they resumed their trek.

Despite her assurance, Sue couldn't shake off the horrible sensation. What are you thinking, Sue? You're with your friends looking for someone who has murdered two people!

George sensed his friend's discomfort. "What's wrong?"

"Um…." Sue cleared her throat. "The person we're looking for could be dangerous. I don't want her getting her hands on you boys, okay?"

George's face became stone. "We're not leaving you here alone."

"This isn't a game. We're in a life-or-death situation, so take Sariel and leave!"

George crossed his arms. "I said we're not leaving you here."

"You stubborn—"

"Wait." Sariel reached into his pocket and extracted two small brocade bags with long strings. "Take these."

Sue complied and studied the object. "What are they?"

"They're called Omamoris. Unique charms that provide forms of luck and/or protection," Sariel said. "The one I gave to you and George is the Ward Away Evil Charm. It protects those from disasters and evil, as stated. Even the most violent spirits are kept at bay by it." Sue was about to open the bag when he grabbed her hand. "Don't open it."

Sue blinked. "Why?"

"You will receive bad luck, and the protection they offer will disappear. Don't open these charms by any means."

Part of Sue wanted to roll her eyes at his request. Then again, given what she witnessed at Black Prom, it wouldn't hurt to have protection. "What's inside these?"

"Sutras or prayers on either wood, paper, or metal. This will protect you and your baby."

Sue nodded as she wore the charm like a bracelet. "Thank you."

George followed suit, and the three continued their journey. Minutes later, they approached the Black Prom stones. Sue brushed her hands against the smooth marble until they stopped by Tommy's headstone.

"Hi, Tommy. I told my parents of my pregnancy, and…." Sue sighed. "…They didn't take it well. Don't worry, though. I asked Rita to help me. I'm sorry I couldn't save you and Carrie, but I'll raise our daughter with love." She brushed her hand against the stone with teary eyes. "I miss you, babe." Her hand lingered on the headstone until she pulled away, wiping her eyes.

The trio stood still in silence as they paid their respects to Tommy.

Sue kissed her index and middle fingers and pressed them against the inscription. "Goodbye, Tommy."

As they resumed their trek, they passed by rows of headstones. Sue scanned the names of her fallen classmates, grazing her hand against the slabs. When approaching Chris's gravestone, she stepped away from it.

Sariel stopped. "You won't touch this stone?"

"I will never acknowledge the stone of a heartless murderer," Sue said, her tone cold.

Sariel approached the stone and placed his hand on it. He stared off into space before he closed his eyes.

Sue tapped on George's shoulder. "What's with him?" She lowered her voice to ensure Sariel didn't hear her.

"He claims to be clairvoyant," George whispered. "He said he can sense what's in a person's soul, both living and dead."

As Sariel opened his eyes, he pulled his hand away, glaring. Sue suspected that he could sense Chris's evil if George was right.

"Let us continue," Sariel said.

They kept walking until they arrived at Carrie's grave. Though disgusted with the spray paint, something bothered him. He could sense the souls of those buried, except Carrie's. Placing his hand on the name, Sariel closed his eyes. In his mind's eye, a series of images flashed before him.

The Black Prom event in its entirety. Carrie holding her dead mother while weeping in the darkness. More images passed by but were fleeting, and difficult to identify.

The last image revealed a masked man in Buddhist robes with a striped tattoo.

Sariel tore himself away, gripping his head as he groaned.

Sue approached the medium. "Hey, are you okay?"

Wincing from the pain, Sariel massaged his temples. "Sorry. My abilities leave me with headaches whenever I use them. I need a minute." Carrie's not dead, but what does this mean? Should I tell them? No. I won't divulge this to Sue and George until I solve those visions. "I'm okay now." He scowled at the graffiti covering the slab. "We should clean this."

"Yeah, well, none of us brought cleaning supplies along." Sue checked her wristwatch. "Listen, we should—"

Sariel raised his hand, motioning to a thick, oncoming mist. The haze seeped through the thicket and spilled into the graveyard.

"The Onryō…." He held onto his Omamori. "The Onryō is coming."

At first, Sue wanted to dismiss Sariel's claims until the fog encircled them. The coloration was off, like a pale grayish green. Every part of Sue remained still and on alert.

The fog spread everywhere, concealing the graveyard.

Sariel pointed and gasped. "Look!"

Sue squinted to where he gestured, spotting a faint watermark within the fog. A flicker of green light flashed, and a figure appeared.

The girl was young, about eighteen or nineteen. Yet, Sue shivered from the dangerous air around her. Her appearance was ghastly and filthy. In one hand, she held a weapon: a naginata. The blade glinted beneath the pale moonlight. The girl's eyes… Sue compared them to a shark's—cold and empty.

For some time, the girl stared at Carrie's grave. Slowly, she staggered and perched on a nearby mound. Her muddy feet swung near the ground. Her eyes remained locked on the small group, like a predator ready to attack.

"Should we run?" George uttered.

Sariel mouthed no. Sue sensed the Onryō's tension as the boy stepped forward, sitting on a headstone. "Kon'nichiwa. Watashinonamaeha sarierudesu. Korera wa watashi no 2-ri no goeidesu: Sū to jōji. Anatahadare?"

The Onryō was silent at first until she spoke, her voice unnatural. "Namae o oboeteinai." Her form flickered. "Ōku no hito ga watashi o Hisako to yonda."

"Hisako?"

"Hai."

"What's she saying?" George asked.

"She doesn't remember her name," Sariel said, "but she calls herself Hisako. Hisako-san, nanishini kita no?"

With green energy shimmering, an animal-like snarl formed on her face. "Karera wa watashi no mura ni yattekimashita."

"Dare?"

Her snarl grew as her speech became more bestial. "Heitai. Karera wa watashinokazoku o koroshimashita. Watashi no mura wa karera ga tsukutta kaji de moete imashita. Karera wa watashinokazoku no itai o yogoshimashita!" Her hands tightened on her naginata. "Karera wa jibun-tachi no tochi de mizuabi o shimashitaga, sarani mizu o abi tsudzukete imasu!"

As Hisako grew furious, Sariel raised a calming hand.

"What's going on?" Sue sensed that the woman's frustration was reaching a breaking point.

"She said soldiers came to her village and murdered her family. They even defiled their graves," Sariel said.

"What? When?"

"I'm… not sure, to be honest."

George scrunched his brows. "What do you mean?"

"Hisako can't distinguish between past and present. Given the state she's in, she's unable to tell the two apart. It's like she's living both lives at once," Sariel said.

"So, she has no clue what's happening now and how long ago she… died?"

"Yes."

Sue released a frustrated sigh. "This is ridiculous." She headed towards Hisako, who shifted in her direction.

"Sue, don't!" Sariel warned.

"Will you relax? This is just a woman in costume. I'll show—"

Hisako shrieked as she unhinged her jaw, revealing her pointed teeth. She bolted towards the expectant mother, moving like a spider.

Screaming, Sue tumbled to the ground. As Hisako drew near, she raised her arms in a defensive position. She braced herself for a beating, but it never came. As Sue peeked, Hisako stopped, her dead eyes fixed on something. Much to Sue's surprise, she held the charm Sariel gave her.

Hisako studied the charm, her form flickering. She shifted her attention towards Sue while returning to her stone perch.

Sue didn't take her eyes off Hisako as George picked her up. "She—she's…."

George tried to comfort her. "Easy, Sue, you're okay now."

"She's not human! Jesus, she's not human!"

Hisako tilted her head and pulled her mouth into a toothy smile.

Sue averted her eyes from Hisako's glassy stare and loathsome smile, shuddering. "Sariel, ask it… ask it what it wants. Why is it here?"

Sariel repeated Sue's questions in Japanese. Hisako spoke again, her voice transitioning from human to hisses and rasps. Other times, her voice shifted pitch or took on a strange echoing quality.

Sariel listened, his brows knitted together. "She said she was pursuing someone when she sensed a strange power."

"Power?" Sue froze, her eyes widening. "Oh, my God."

"What?" George remained beside her.

"Black Prom! She must've sensed Carrie's power and came here because of it!"

"But Carrie's dead! Wouldn't her power… I don't know… fade away or something?"

"We have no idea how this thing works. Carrie's power could take longer to… decay or whatever."

"So, what does this mean for Chamberlain? If Carrie's power could draw in things like her…." George motioned to Hisako. "…Then what else will it attract? Does this mean more monsters will come?"

Sue turned pale at the thought. She combed her fingers through her hair and tried to collect herself. While massaging her temples, a wave of nausea crept inside her. She drew in deep breaths and swallowed to keep herself from throwing up.

Hisako spoke again, drawing everyone's attention.

"What's she saying now?" Sue asked as Sariel listened. "Well?"

The exchange student flattened his lips. "She's confused about Carrie's grave. She claims there's nothing buried."

"What? That… can't be right. Carrie is dead. Right?"

Sariel took a deep breath. Although he stayed true to his decision, he was subtle about it. "I can't sense her presence at all. Only two reasons come to mind. Her body hasn't been recovered, or she's still alive."

The trio fell silent as they digested this revelation.

Could it be true? Sue covered her mouth with her hand. Was Carrie still alive? If so, then where was she?

A small crack from Hisako snapped Sue from her thoughts as she climbed off her perch. With her back facing the trio, a bright portal appeared before her.

Sariel spoke to Hisako. The creature exchanged words with him, then turned back towards the portal. As Hisako shambled toward it, she paused in her tracks, glancing at Sue. She offered the same creepy smile as she uttered something to her.

Sue held onto the charm while she stepped back.

As Hisako departed, the fog curled into the portal, disappearing.

Sue remained still as the cool air touched her sweat-covered face. Her eyes rolled upward as she collapsed to the ground. She remained in darkness when a voice called. At first faint, then clear.

"Miss? Miss, are you okay?"

Sue opened her eyes. Her vision was blurry but adjusted, revealing two police officers. One of them pointed a flashlight into her eyes. She moved her arm over her eyes to shield them.

"Stay still," the man instructed. "I need to check you for injuries."

As the cop checked for bumps or wounds, Sue lay still. He then flashed the light into her eyes, examining her pupils. Once finished, the man clicked it off. After that, he raised two fingers and asked her the number.

"Two," Sue said.

He raised another finger.

"Three."

He raised his thumb and pinky.

"Five."

He added four more fingers.

"Nine."

The police officer nodded. "No signs of any concussion."

While sitting up, Sue pinched the bridge of her nose. "What happened?"

"You had fainted," he said. "You're lucky you didn't bang your head against one of these headstones. Hell, you're lucky to be alive. Don't you know this area is off-limits? I have half a mind to arrest you and your friends for trespassing. What are you three doing out here?"

Sariel stepped forward. "It's my fault, Officer. We wanted to play a prank on her."

The cop raised his eyebrow. "A prank?"

"Yeah. We thought it'd be funny to come here and pretend to be Carrie White's ghost." Sariel smiled, rubbing the back of his head. "Sorry for scaring you, Sue, though it was funny!"

Sue scrunched her brows until she got the message and pretended to huff. "Well, you're lucky I didn't break my head, young man! Wait until I tell your mom about this when we get home!"

George gasped and kneeled as though begging. "No, please, Sue! Don't tell our parents! We're sorry!"

The cop pressed his lips and checked his watch. "Alright, listen. I'll tell you what - we'll let it slide this time. But no more pranks here, comprende?"

The boys bowed and said in unison, "Yes, sir."

"Good. Now that's settled, I recommend you take these boys home, miss."

"I will, sir." Sue arose to her feet. "Come on, you two, let's go."

As they departed, the police officer and his partner tilted their hats. "Have a good evening, ma'am."

George exhaled once the trio was out of Memorial Park, wiping his brow. "That was close. Great save there, Sariel."

"No problem."

Sue fell silent as they walked together, trying to make sense of what had happened.

"Are you alright?" George asked.

Sue remained quiet for a moment. "No, I'm not. Far from it." Part of her wanted to vomit. Every nerve in her body tingled something fierce during the experience. "To think something like that is…."

"Yeah. Almost makes you wonder what else is out there."

Silence lingered in the night. Only their footsteps and the electrical hum of a street lamp remained.

After a while, George spoke again. "Why did it leave?"

"She said something about wanting to pursue the hunt," Sariel said.

Sue's mind flashed to Hisako's horrible smile at the mention of that word. The expectant mother drew deep, slow breaths, trying to shut it out. "Sariel?"

"Yes?"

"Hisako said something to me. What was it?"

Sariel glanced toward the nearby trees. "Until we meet again."

Sue glanced over her shoulder for a long time. Shivering in revulsion, she focused on the street ahead. "Let's go home."

A/N: Hmm... so our trio is aware that Carrie might possibly be alive. However, how long will everyone else learn the truth? Well, I'll let my brain rest, so I'll see you later.