Chapter 3


Mai looked confused. "I can't speak. Why can't I speak?"

That's when she felt a mass of cold wrapped around her body until she cannot move.

Ayako turned warily to Masako. "Masako, do you know- Masako?"

Masako looked horrified. "Ward them off. They are all clinging to Mai and me!"

Takigawa and John understood it and they already took their beads and holy water respectively. "Ayako, take care of them. We can handle this." Takigawa instructed.

Naru and Lin came inside just before Houshou started reciting his warding chants behind the three girls. John also went in front of them and started to recite the passage as he sprayed the holy water. Ayako is holding Mai and Masako's back.

Sakuro went to Naru and Lin to explain what happened. "Masako said 'they are all clinging to them'."

Naru looked at Lin and he doesn't need to tell him what to do. Lin whistled to call his shikis. He gave out another whistle and the shikis went around the group to ward off other spirits.

Masako whispered again, "Too many- can't understand- can't move-" She is also engulfed now in a mass of cold, too. "Help-"

Mai tried to speak but all that came out was a nearly inaudible grunt. She knows she's not being choked but why can't she speak? "What's this? Is something covering my mouth?" From her peripheral view, she could see Naru approaching her while Takigawa and John continued on warding off the spirits.

Suddenly, she was not in the restaurant anymore. She was in a big room with a lot of wires hanging in the ceiling. Across her is a big silver box by the wall with a large big handle. Several meters to her right was a chair with straps on the arms rest and a circular metal band shaped like the top of a head is placed on the floor beside it.

Several scenes flashed in front of Mai's eyes like a film reel.

A man was brought to a room. Two faceless men pushed him to the floor.

The helpless man wearing tattered clothes tried to stand up but looked agitated and afraid and as he tried to shout, one of the faceless men rushed over and gagged him up. He was forced to stand up and was forced again to sit in a chair. The two faceless men pulled out several straps that rendered the helpless man immobile. Later, a circular metal band was put on his head. Fear is clearly evident in his eyes.

The two faceless men left him without a word as they both approached a large box at a wall with a large handle.

A third faceless man holding a cane came into view. His stooped body made him look weak but he emitted an aura that terrorized the minds of everyone he points at. The said man-made a deep chuckle that reverberated towards the room.

His hands slowly raised and he pointed at Mai. "Keep your eyes open, lowly peasant," he said calmly, "you may learn a thing or two from this." He gave her a gentle smile.

The man snapped his fingers and the other faceless men in the large box by the wall and pulled down the large handle. The sound of electricity surge was heard in the room. Suddenly, the helpless man on the chair started shaking violently as his muffled scream getting more frantic. His eyes bulged out, his nose bled then his teeth gritted through the cloth until they heard it crushing. Smoke started to come out from his head. He just kept on screaming.

She had never seen more terrorizing than this scene and the only she can do is not to look at it. Mai closed her eyes still hearing the horrifying muffled scream until it stopped. She also screamed… but it was muffled too. She also felt something being pressed into the back of her head but she was too afraid to turn and look at it.

As she opened her eyes again, the same scene started to play but with a different man who was being tortured and when she can't endure it anymore, she closed her eyes once again. The same thing happened as she open and closes her eyes. She can't count how many times she experienced this horrible scene. The next she opened her eyes, she felt a great sense of dread.

The electric chair is in just in front of her. The same chair where every man she saw met their demise.

Just as Naru was about to touch Mai's arms, her body started to shake and scream. She began to fall but he was quick enough to catch her.

"Mai!" Naru shouted urgently as he held her shaking body. Mai's eyes were already closed. He doesn't know what to do other than hold her right now. All he could do is to trust their friends.

Mai screamed but her voice is muffled by a cloth. The two faceless men dragged her to the chair and forced her to sit on it. She just kept on screaming until she felt the electricity started to stream on her head…

Ayako was shocked but she managed to hold Masako just in case but she never shook although dizziness is evident in the girl's face.

Lin whistled many times, Takigawa's chants became louder and John's whisking became stronger. Naru kept calling Mai's name trying to wake her up. Eventually, Mai stopped shaking, her eyes slowly opened as tears started to fall to her cheeks. She was breathing heavily and all she could muster to say is, "I don't… want to die…" she said in between tears. "Naru, it hurts so much."

When he saw that Mai's consciousness is back, Lin whistled once again signaling his shikis to come back but Takigawa and John still continued just in case the spirits come close again.

Masako was also breathing heavily as if she ran a marathon, her legs also felt wobbly. "Let me sit," she whispered. She wanted to tell Naru what happened but she really felt weak. She shifted her head a bit so she could look around the room. The spirits are still here but they all shun away from the group now, afraid to be touched by Takigawa's chants and John's holy water.

Though he was completely terrified, Sakuro took out the nearest chair fast and placed it beside Masako so she could sit. Masako spoke again. "They're… they will not come close for now… You can both… stop now." They already passed the message to Mai, she wanted to say, but her eyes are already closing.

And then, she passed out, luckily caught by Sakuro before she fell to the floor. Ayako rushed to them to check her condition.

Takigawa said his final chants and John closed his by saying his blessing. Both men were clearly exhausted but they are more concerned about the two girls. Naru examined Mai's face and she looked really hurt. She looked like she wanted to sleep but she still wants to say something. "What happened, Mai?"

"Naru! Let her rest first!" Ayako exclaimed as she left Masako's side to check Mai's state.

But Mai slightly shook her head. "You should know," she softly said, "he hurt them…killed them…" She sighed. "Naru, we should finish this quickly. Let's help them," she added slowly.

Despite the erratic beating of his heart, Naru held Mai close to his chest. "Yes, we will. We will, Mai." He wiped away the tears that stained her cheeks.

Mai tried to smile but failed. "I don't want to go through that again." Then her eyes slowly closed.

He planted a gentle kiss on the top of her head and whispered. "Rest for awhile now."


"Where am I?" she asked herself. She was in a vast rice field farm. From where she's standing, Mai can see a big mansion stretching in the horizon. "That's so big…"

She realized that she's having one of her visions. "Better get some info now." she started to turn to look at the other side when someone put an arm around her. She smiled. "Gene!" She put her arms around him.

The said man returned back her hug. "How dare you start watching this without your handsome companion?"

Mai laughed and looked at him. "I know you'll be here. You have to stop me from running."

Gene laughed too. "As always." He broke their hug and held her hand instead. "We better not waste the time. The idiot scientist could use some leads." He smiled. Mai couldn't agree more.

When they turned, she saw 60 farmers or so, backs bent on working under the heat of the sun. One farmer stood up to wipe away the sweat on his forehead. Others also did the same to wipe the sweat on other parts of their body.

"Ah, I'm too tired already," said one farmer. "When will they allow us to rest?"

The other farmers shushed him. "Why are you saying that out loud? Do you want to die?" another farmer frantically whispered to him.

The other farmers looked afraid now. But the farmer who opened the topic spoke up again, but this time only loud enough for the others to hear. "We've been working for 8 hours straight hours already. At this rate, we will die even if they don't catch me saying this." He sighed heavily. "But you know, dying of starvation maybe even better than dying on that filthy chair."

Almost everyone shuddered together at the thought. It seems that everyone agreed on what he said as well. One of the farmers spoke up. "If only Kotubiki-san is still alive, we do not fear for our lives every time we speak now."

"None of this would have happened if he didn't let Kayoko-san marry that bastard," another one said softly. He was patted on the back by the farmer near at him.

"You really have a huge crush on the former owner's daughter, eh?" he teased softly. The said man elbowed him.

Suddenly, one of the farmers looked alert. "Shhh, stop talking. They're coming."

They all turned back to work but they all looked afraid.

The taller man between the foreigners spoke up in English. "Did you just stand up awhile ago?" he spoke loudly. "We already told you, just work, no talking!"

The farmers looked very afraid. They did not understand everything but they all understood the underlying message of the foreigners: they either work or die. So they just acknowledge it. "Hai!" they all answered back.

The other foreigner started to work closer to the farmer who was the first to speak up awhile ago. "I saw you. You were the first one who stood up. Were you gossiping, huh?!"

The farmer did not look at him. He definitely did not understand anything he said but he answered. "Iie."

The foreigner suddenly took out a gun from his waist and put it on the farmer's head which made the farmer stop on doing what he was doing.

Mai was about to shout out of shock but the firm press of Gene's hand is a good reminder that this is a vision. Fear was clearly evident on the farmer's face but she cannot do anything about it. "Yameru," he softly said without moving. "Onegai."

The other farmers were still working as if this was a regular occurrence in the farm. The foreigner pushed the gun harder on the farmer's head. "You better not do that again, farmer. The next time you do it, you will find yourself sitting on the chair." He gestured towards the mansion. "And that will be the last thing you'll remember for the rest of your life." He turned his attention to the other farmers. "All of you will see it, too. Again and again. So you could be reminded of what will happen to you if you defy our orders."

Mai used her free hand to cover her mouth. They were not just tortured physically but also mentally. "That's why I saw the scenes again and again. The only difference between them is the person who is being executed. Every time someone was sentenced to sit on the chair, they were forced to watch it." It also means that many spirits were able to send her their visions at once.

"Mai," Gene called out to her. "Are you okay?" he asked, concern evident in his tone.

"Yes," she answered trying to sound cheerful. Everything right now is just so horrible.

The man nodded. "I know it's horrible but you just have to endure it. This vision will end soon so pay attention."

Mai smiled. This man knows her just as Naru does. "Okay."

The scene changed but this time, the sun is about to set down. And they're in front of a mansion. "Is this the mansion from before?" she asked Gene.

He nodded for confirmation. "But we are the other side of it. The farm that we saw awhile ago is on the other side of this mansion."

"Wow." Even though the events are unfortunate, she still could not believe how huge this place is. She looked around and saw that there are huts several walks away from the mansion. She started to walk towards the houses and Gene just followed her this time.

As she got nearer, she saw that there are people gathering in the center like they were having an important meeting. However, they all look frantic and worried. Before she reached the people completely, Gene held her hand signaling her to stop. From there, Mai saw the farmers together with several older women talking.

One of the farmers looked so afraid. "I told you, he really saw her that's why they took him!" he whispered. "They kept her in the hut that Yoichi-san used to occupy."

"But how come we did not notice it right away?" one of the elder women whispered enough for the others to hear. "We've lived here the entire time!"

"I don't know! But Takao told me that he really saw her yesterday. Out of curiosity, he tried to look at Yoichi-san hut, trying to see if there were foods in there that we could eat. But it was locked so he just tried peeping. That's when he saw a lady inside. He told me that he was so afraid because it looked like a ghost. But when he looked closely, she looked like Lady Kayoko-san, all tied up and a cloth in her mouth. She's still breathing but she looks too weak that she cannot move. She just looked at her with pleading eyes."

Another man spoke up. "You know how Takao loved Kayoko-san. So he told us that he will rescue her that night. But when we woke up today, Takao is nowhere to be found. We also checked the hut; there is no one there as well."

Silence engulfed the people. Mai was also silent. Takao must be the man in the farm awhile ago who was teased for his crush on a certain Kayoko-san. Now that it's mentioned, Kayoko-san's name has been brought up so many times now. She was a daughter of the former owner, right?

"But you know, there's a portion around the house…" one of the younger farmers said but he looks uncertain. "It looks-"

Whatever he's going to say, he was silenced because there were people who came out from the mansion. There were more foreigners with big fire arms running towards the group. Out of fear, they all scrambled back to their respective huts but the foreigners were fast. Those who were slow were grabbed and dragged away from their homes.

They caught ten men. "That's enough!" shouted by the tallest among the foreigners. He walked towards the nearest farmer who was caught. "Were you all wondering where your friend is? What was his name? Takao?"

Upon hearing Takao's name, the said farmer did not answer but he instantly pissed on his pants. His lips started trembling as if he already knows something bad has happened. Mai started to feel scared too.

The foreigner smirked evilly. "You will enjoy a good show tonight, boys," he said slowly. He turned to his companions. "Bring them in!"

The other foreigners started to drag the helpless farmers towards the mansion. Those who were able to get back on their houses just looked at the retreating backs with pity.

"Why are they not doing anything? Those evil foreigners took their friends?" Mai asked Gene out of frustration.

"You saw the guns, Mai," Gene said softly. "Anyone who sees that would cow in fear."

"But still…" Mai is frustrated now but she knows that Gene is right and she cannot do anything about it. So she ran to follow the men who were now reaching the mansion, dragging Gene with her. When they reached the foot of the mansion, they all stopped as an old foreigner man walking with a cane greeted them at the door.

"Welcome, again for some of you. You will enjoy another full show, this time, with your friend Takao as the main star," he said calmly.

Mai recognized that voice... that eerily calm voice.

He nodded towards his employees and the men dragged their captives inside, followed by the old men. He was walking slowly because of his age but he was smiling happily as if he was anticipating a good event.

Mai squeezed Gene's hand hard. "He's… terrifying. I heard his voice in my visions."

Gene squeezed her hand in return. "I know."

After passing several rooms, they reached a large wooden door that was already opened. The other men reached in front of them reached the place first. Mai started to feel very scared now because as they went inside the room, she saw exactly the same room that she saw in her visions.

A young man was already sitting in the electric chair, screaming through the cloth muffling his voice. The old man looked at him with amusement in his eyes.

"They told me you saw Kayoko," he started. "You tried to save her?"

Upon hearing Kayoko's name, the man on the chair started to struggle against the straps. This man is definitely Takao. All his co-farmers were lined in front of him but they were unable to speak out of fear. Guns were already pointed on the back of their heads.

He laughed maniacally. "You think you can do that?" the old man questioned him sarcastically. "Even her husband can't save her. Who do you think you are, young man?" then he continued laughing.

Takao just continued to scream and struggle but tears are flowing down to his cheeks now. "Don't worry," the old man said when he already calmed down, "you will see her again after this. Send my regards to her."

The young man's eyes widened. "Whadyabhsahdbajkdkl?!" he screamed unintelligibly. But Mai could understand because she had the same question in mind. What did you do to her?

The old man had the smile again, that anticipating smile that Mai was so scared off. He looked at the employees who was holding the handle and snapped his fingers. Mai's eyes widened because of fear. It's happening again.

"I don't think you should see this again, Mai." Gene gently tugged at her hands and Mai nodded. He turned her to face him and enveloped her in his arms. She buried her face in his arms and let herself cry as the muffled screams sounded far away until she could not hear it anymore.


"This case makes me sick." Gene thought as he lay down on his favorite grass field. "Noll will surely get angry once he heard what happened to Mai."

Ever since the team came to the location, he did everything he can to find out what happened to this place. He felt helpless and incompetent once he found out the truth because he knows that he cannot prevent Mai from seeing those horrible images, and he was right.

The worse thing was: she experienced it first-hand. It's not new but this time, she was able to have telepathic visions from different souls at once. It's not good for the mind but it means that Mai's abilities are getting stronger.

"What are you thinking, Gene?"

Ah, yes. He was so deep in his thoughts that he forgot that Mai is just lying beside him. "Are you okay now?" he asked gently. Mai said she wanted to rest first before she comes back to the real world. The scenes she saw are very traumatizing indeed.

Mai sighed. "I don't know. It still hurts. I never, ever want to experience that again. Nor see it again."

Gene turned to her side and propped up an elbow to support his pretty head. "You're getting stronger. Chances are you are going to experience it often in the next cases. You should ask Noll to teach you how to control it now."

Mai looked at him and nodded. "Yeah, you're right." She smiled at him like there was no problem at all.

Gene stared at her. Until now, he cannot explain why he is so fascinated with this girl. "How can you smile so easily after seeing those bad things?" he whispered, not intending for her to hear it.

But Mai heard him. Of course, it's just the two of them on this field and a cool breeze. "It's a fragment of their memories. I understand that now." She sat up and let out a deep breath. "I don't feel afraid now. I can only help them move on if I am not afraid." She gave him another one of those rare smiles.

He cannot resist those smiles anymore so he sat up and put his arms around her. "Good job, Mai."

Mai returned his hug. "Well, that's because I can always count on you, especially when I am here. That makes me feel strong, too." She broke their hug so she could look at him. "Thank you, Gene."

He smiled upon hearing her words. He wanted to stay like this for awhile but they have to get back to work. He stood up and held out a hand for her. "You have to go back now so you can finish this case right away."

Mai took his hand and he helped her stand up. "I better go now. Naru's waiting for his tea, too. I can feel that he is in a foul mood now." She giggled because of the thought. "See you again, Gene." She gave her one last hug before she disappeared from his arms.

Gene sighed heavily. He's alone again in his favorite grass field.

No Noll. No Mai. Just him. With this comfortable grass field.

He rolled his eyes and thought he was being pathetic. "I'm already dead. I cannot complain over trivial matters."

Still, he looked at his arms which are still warm from hugging Mai. "I don't know when will I stop thinking how lucky Noll is."