Chapter 26 – Poor Masako

We were all sitting on the couches, waiting for the revelation to finally sink in and also for Masako to wake up to tell us what happened. The odds that all of us pregnant girls would be attacked were very low and not only that, this building wasn't supposed to be haunted. This case only gets more and more complicated. "She's waking up," John says from his seat next to his unconscious girlfriend.

I look over at them to see that Masako was indeed awake with her eyes wide open. She looks up at John and then looks around the room before realising she is back in base. She returns her gaze to John, "What happened?" she asks him.

"We heard you scream and when we got to you, you were unconscious. So, we're the ones that want to know what happened," John replies to her gently while caressing her cheek.

"Oh, from what I can remember, I reached the kitchen and nothing was wrong. I went over to the kettle and before I reached the sink to fill it with water; I felt a sharp pain in my stomach and then I looked over at the window to see a man covered in blood pointing at my stomach," she answers, her whole body shaking from the memory.

"That's what I saw outside the window," mentions Ayako.

"Then the ghost must really be after the babies," I muse, looking towards the window as if I could see the same ghost as the other two did.

"I can't remember what happens after that; that must have been when I passed out," Masako whispers into her kimono sleeve; John wrapping his arms around her petite frame.

"I assume that's when the ghost came to the window here and frightened Ayako," Bou-san mutters his idea.

"Perhaps, Naru; what do you think is happening? I mean, this building isn't supposed to be haunted and I can't understand why it would be after the babies," I ask Naru.

"I'm not sure, but I'd rather we tried to figure it out then sit down all day debating it. I want this ghost taken care of before it can harm any of you or the babies. I'm over ghosts going after my children," he spoke with authority. "John, I want you to stay here with the girls while Bou-san, Lin and I investigate the asylum."

"Of course Kazuya-san, I'll keep an eye on them, but if the ghost comes back, I won't be able to keep it off the girls for long if it attacks," John agrees while giving his warning.

"We won't be gone long; I don't like being away from Mai for long when the ghost is after her," Naru assures John.

"I'm tired, so I'm going to take a nap," I inform him.

"Okay, I'll wake you up when we return," he replies gently.

"Okay," I make my way over to the couch and lay down to sleep.

The exhaustion finally gets to me and before long, I'm asleep.

Naru's POV

It didn't take Mai long to go to sleep and I only hope she doesn't have another one of those dreams. I don't think she can take any more stress without hurting the babies. I sigh before walking out of the room with Lin and Bou-san close behind. "Naru, do you think the girls will be fine until we return?" Bou-san asks me.

"They have John and they're all capable of handling anything the ghost throws at them; they'll be fine for half an hour," I answer, trying to reassure him that his wife will be fine.

"I suppose so, but that isn't going to stop me from worrying," he mutters.

"I didn't expect it to," I say under my breath.

We finally reached the entrance to the asylum which was already unlocked for us to investigate. As soon as we stepped in, the ominous feeling hit me like a tonne of bricks and I'm glad that none of the girls were with us; especially Mai. "It's good that the girls aren't here, Mai and Masako would have passed out from the evil permeating the building," I tell them.

"We're going to have to get by without their help; I'm sure you'd rather Mai not have any more dreams like the one she had," mentions Bou-san.

I nod before we continue into the building.

Mai's POV

I open my eyes to find myself in the void that tells me I'm having one of those dreams. I wish I could go a few days without having a terrifying vision of the past, "Mai."

I turn around and see Gene there with his ever present smile. "Hi Gene; anything new and horrifying to show me today?" I ask him.

"Mai, you know I'm not the one who shows you these visions," he replies, that smile still not leaving his face.

"Naru is mad at you for allowing me to see the last dream," I huff while watching his reaction.

However, I'm sorely disappointed when his smile still doesn't falter, "Noll gets mad at me for the smallest of things, so it doesn't surprise me that he is mad at me for that."

"Whatever, just get on with it."

The scenery phases into a room similar to the first one only there was blood covering the walls. I hear the sound of gentle sobbing and turn to face the woman named Arisa as she cries on a bed. Suddenly, the door bangs open and the doctor stalks in with a menacing aura surrounding him. "You should have told me Arisa, before the others discovered."

"I didn't know about it when they discovered it, I swear," she cries at the doctor; she moves herself back-to-back with the wall as he moves towards her.

"It doesn't matter know, you know it's mine," he chuckles darkly. What's his?

"Yes I know, and I hate it," she whispers, but he still hears her.

"Well get used to it, you'll be giving birth to my child in less than five months and there is nothing you can say or do about it," he screams at her making me gasp.

She's pregnant? That only strengthens our theory that the ghost is after the babies.

"No, I'll kill it and I'll kill myself before I let you anywhere near it," she screams.

"I think not my dear Arisa, you won't get the chance to do such a thing," he disagrees, his evil laughter echoing off the walls.

"Just watch me," and before I can blink she jumps off the bed with a knife in her hand directed at her stomach. "I'll do it Takemaru."

"You wouldn't dare," he yells at her, his mirth leaving to be replaced by extreme anger.

"I'm sick of you and your abusive ways. You tell everyone else I'm a patient, and you treat me like one too; why could you never have treated me like the wife I am? You married me and then decided to keep me locked in here like your little play thing; I won't take it anymore," she yells back with equal, if not more, anger than him.

He runs forward and tries to take the knife out of her hand, but before he knows it; she has plunged the knife directly into his heart. "Take that you bastard," she hisses at him.

However, she didn't realise the knife he had that plunged into her heart after those words until it was too late, "If I can't live, then I'll take you and our child with me."

Not ten seconds later, both man and woman fall to the ground; dead and forever trapped inside the asylum.

How ominous, but please forgive my horrible tardiness in updating. I had the worst case of writer's block that I've had in my short life. However, all's good and I even have an idea for the rest of the case. HURRAH! This chapter is also my way of telling wolfmonk that I am indeed alive. *giggle* I'm happy to inform you that I only have five more weeks of schooling, EVER, left and will have plenty of updating time then. HELLS YEAH!

I don't know when I will update next, but please bare with me as my teachers are constantly telling me that this term is going to be one of the hardest even though the majority of my year 12 assessment is over. THANK THE GODS! You just got to love the Queensland Government system for seniors. (That is half sarcastic)

Anyway, I bet you weren't expecting them to be married; up until today, I wasn't either. So, until next time:

Seza, over and out.