So I've been working on this story sporadically for a few days. Strangely, for no apparent reason, I've been compelled to write scenes that aren't actually going to factor into the story for a while. I usually don't do that because I never know completely where I'm going with a story until I actually get there.

Now that I think about it, I might need to add the 'romance' genre for this one… well, we'll see.

Enjoy!

We arrived in Nakai at 2:30 in the afternoon. The museum was just off the highway and the parking lot was packed so full that Lin had to pull the van all the way to the back of the building so he could park. Monk, in his own car, didn't even get a true parking spot and had to pull onto the grass.

Lin and John both stayed with the vehicles while the rest of us went up to the front entrance. Kara bounced from one foot to the next, playing her own personal game of hopscotch as she led the way to the door. She hummed quietly to herself, a tune I'd heard dozens of times over the last couple weeks, ever since she'd taken over the computer.

Naru kept pretty close to Kara while I trailed behind with the rest. Monk was fascinated by the building.

"Just look at the molding around the top." He gushed, pointing it out. "And those lion statues at the edge? You don't see architecture like this anymore. This place is probably hundreds of years old."

"It's creepy, that's what it is." Ayako shot back, gripping her arms in discomfort. "A place this old, no wonder it's haunted."

Personally, I agreed with Ayako. I felt like the building had eyes, and it was staring right at me. A chill ran up my spine, but I forced myself not to react. The last thing I wanted was for these guys to start interrogating me about what I was sensing.

The inside of the building didn't do much to alleviate my discomfort. Aside from the old and peeling wood of the walls, and the fake fog billowing at the entrance to the museum corded off to the side, there was a large poster behind the desk of a mummified corpse. The three of us stopped in the entrance while Naru went up to the desk to speak with the attendant.

Kara ran over to me, tugging at my sleeve excitedly. "You see that mummy?" She said, pointing to the poster with a grin. "It's supposed to be 3000 years old. They brought it over from China 10 years ago. He was some type of rich person that thought he could live forever if he cast a bunch of spells and mummified his corpse." I looked down, only to find that she was actually reading most of this off of a pamphlet she had clutched in her hand. "They say that sometimes, at night, the mummy gets up and walks around. No one ever sees it move, but when people show up in the morning, they find it in a different spot."

Masako and Monk both seemed unimpressed, but Ayako and I shivered. Ayako took a step back. "How delightful." She muttered sarcastically.

I put a hand on Kara's head, trying to distract myself from the creepiness surrounding me. "You like this stuff, Kara?" I asked, more for the benefit of those around me, since I was a little familiar with her internet history.

She smiled widely, spinning around to stand in front of the group. "Modern occult is my favorite!" She declared. "It's lots of fun cause I can tell da—Naru things he doesn't know about ghosts and stuff!"

I tensed up at her slip, worried that one of the others might ask about it, but apparently she'd made a good enough recovery.

Masako turned to Monk and Ayako. "What is modern occult?" She asked, looking a little confused.

I'd had to sit through a fifteen minute lecture from Kara before I understood the concept, so I was pretty surprised when Monk answered so simply. "Modern occult just refers to legends, spells, cults and curses that appear in recent history. There's an entire internet subculture dedicated to it."

"I'd heard about that," Ayako agreed. "But aren't most of those stories supposed to be made up?"

Kara waved her arms emphatically, demanding the group's attention. "It's more complicated than that!" She insisted. "Lots of those stories are true! They are!"

I smiled and placed a hand on her shoulder to calm her down. "Of course they are, Kara." I indulged her. "Ayako is just being a party pooper."

Kara peaked around me and stuck her tongue out at Ayako. Ayako protested, but Kara ran off to join Naru before Ayako could chase her down. I couldn't help but smile at just how lively she was. When Naru and I first met her, Kara had been shy and withdrawn, suffering from a haunting, unstable PK and discrimination from the other children. Since we'd adopted her, she'd been gaining more and more of that childish vigor she'd lost at the orphanage. I was so happy with how well she was doing.

Naru's conversation with the attendant finally came to an end and the girl retreated behind the door to her right labelled 'office'. She came out a second later with a tall man with pepper hair and a short-cut beard. The rest of us moved forward, anticipating an introduction.

"Mr. Shibuya." The man bowed. "I am overwhelmingly relieved to have you here at last." Naru nodded back politely. The man turned to the rest of us. "I am Tanaka Yukito. Thank you all for coming out this way."

We all bowed respectfully.

Mr. Yukito turned back to Naru. "These are the keys to the rooms I've prepared for your group." He said, handing Naru two large, brass keys. This place really was old. With his other hand, he held out a bunch of I.D tags. "These are for the members of your group. They indicate that you are a member of staff, so security personnel will not bother you."

Naru took the I.D tags and immediately passed them back to me. I rolled my eyes but handed them out silently, giving three to Masako so she could pass them along, one to Kara, keeping one to myself, and pocketing the rest so I could give them to the others later.

Mr. Yukito continued. "Now, if you could all follow me into my office, we can finalize the details of your investigation."

We were all happy to follow the man into the privacy of his office, except Kara who wanted to go see the exhibits. I promised to take her to see them later.

The office was large and tidy, but also dark and held the faintest smell of smoke. There were no chairs for us to sit in, so Mr. Yukito opted to stand as well. "The surveillance room is through this door." He said, pointing out the door to his left. "The only other way into this room is through an outdoor entrance at the side of the building. Your I.D.s will allow you to enter through that door. Any further equipment you would like to set up can be wired through that room. My only request is that you ensure that any equipment will not impair the movement of our guests through the museum."

Wow, I was really impressed with this guy. Naru answered "Thank you for your consideration. My team and I will do our upmost to solve your problem." He glanced sideways at me and gave me a hard look. After a moment, I understood, and I quickly pulled out a pen and notepad I kept with me at all times. Naru turned back to Mr. Yukito. "While we have a moment, could you explain in detail what you have been experiencing in the building?"

The man nodded gravely. "It started around a month ago." He began. "The night guard began reporting that he could hear footsteps throughout the main floor. None of the cameras picked up anything unusual, so we wrote it off at first. A few days later, guests on the second floor motel began complaining that they could hear whispering in the night, that it would keep them awake." He paused for a moment. "At first we thought that teenagers were sneaking in at night. It wouldn't be the first time. But soon after, the cameras starting picking up movement… objects moving on their own. Doors began to open and close with no one around, even after they'd been locked. A member of the kitchen staff was nearly injured when something knocked her down in the freezer."

I paused, then glared at Naru. No indication of any violence, huh?

Naru didn't turn to look at me, and Mr. Yukito continued. "This isn't the first time we've dealt with paranormal activity here. However, we've adopted many measures in order to control and contain the activity from the attractions. There has been no deviation in our procedures, so I'm baffled as to what could have caused the activity this time. Things are breaking, our employees are scared, and nothing we've done has worked."

Naru glanced back at me and I nodded slightly, telling him that I'd gotten it all down. To Mr. Yukito, he said "Thank you for your time. We will begin setting up immediately." He turned back to the rest of us. "Mai, Monk, I want you to begin by taking temperature readings on the main floor. The rest of us will help carry in the equipment."

Temperature readings before the equipment is ready? That's unusual of him. Usually we don't do temperature readings until the cameras and microphones have been brought in and Naru has had a chance to look around. Then I realised where he was sending us, and it suddenly made sense.

I looked down at Kara. "Do you want to help me and Monk take temperatures? We can go see the museum while we're at it."

Kara beamed. "I wanna go!" She bounced forward, took hold of Monk's wrist in one hand and mine in the other, and started to pull us forward. "Let's go right now!"

Monk stumbled a little as the nine-year-old pulled us out of the room. "We're coming, we're coming!" He protested, forcing her to slow down. "We'll at least need a thermometer."

From the front entrance, Naru called out to Monk. He turned just in time to catch the thermometer Naru had tossed over to him. I tried to hide my smile. So he'd been planning that from the beginning, had he?

I didn't have time to give Naru some sort of sign of thanks, because Kara had pulled me and Monk into the museum the second the thermometer landed in Monk's hand. The poor assistant at the desk barely had time to pull the rope out of our way before we sped past her and were engulfed in a thick fake fog.

When we emerged from the white cloud, I was overcome with the sensation that we'd stepped into a different world. Everything was cast into a sudden darkness, from the floors, to the walls, to the thick pedestals that held the various attractions. The attractions themselves were brightly illuminated with neon lights, but the lights were positioned in a way that they would illuminate the display and nothing else. The strange contrast gave the room such an intense, eerie feeling that I felt it must have been intentional. Added to that was the shifting crowd tourists, all shrouded in shadow, murmuring to one another, filling the space with a jumbled sound that reminded me of the buzzing of a bee.

"Wow," Monk said. "That's quite the mood they got going in here."

Kara was completely oblivious to the atmosphere. Dissatisfied with our sudden lack of movement, Kara let go of our hands and rushed forward to the first thing she saw, which, unfortunately, was the same mummy she had described in the entrance. She read the description on the wall next to the large glass case, then turned to the mummy and stared, as if waiting for it to show signs of movement.

Monk took the opportunity to take temperature readings. He quickly took a general reading of the room, which I noted down, then took another reading next to the mummy. "We might as well check for any drops near the attractions." He explained. "Just because the owner said it wasn't the problem doesn't mean he's right."

I was still keeping an anxious eye on the mummy, as though taking my eyes off it would somehow invite it to move. "I guess so." I agreed. "But these things can't all seriously be haunted, can they?"

Monk shrugged. "It's probably all made-up stuff meant to attract tourists." He admitted. "But it might not be, and you know how Naru would react if we didn't take the guy seriously."

I chuckled, and said in my best imitation of Naru "We will explore all options in our investigation." I smiled. "Isn't that what he always says?"

Monk laughed quite loudly, and a few of the guests cast him annoyed looks. I started to laugh along with him when Kara suddenly reappeared at my side. "Come see!" She insisted fervently, tugging at my sleeve.

"All right, let's go see." I answered, letting her drag me deeper into the museum. Monk followed after us.

Kara took us to a long display that held a large assortment of finely decorated knives and other sharp tools. "These are ritual knives." She declared. "Most of them were used for animal sacrifice but some were used for human sacrifice. You see that really large one in the middle? That was used for human sacrifice."

Before I had time to react, Kara started pulling me to the next display. Monk barely had time to take a temperature before chasing after us.

Kara stopped in front of a large abstract painting. I looked up at it for a couple seconds but was almost immediately forced to look away. The sight alone gave me such a strong sense of foreboding that it left a deep chill in my bones. Kara explained "This painting is supposed to be a window to hell, or some sort of otherworld. Some people have gone insane after staring at the picture too long." Kara gazed up at the picture in fascination. I was a little surprised that she didn't seem at all disturbed. Didn't she feel it?

Whether it was some innate foreboding or her usual curiosity, Kara didn't stand there long. A couple seconds later had us standing in front of another attraction, a brightly illuminated display that was hard to get to because of all the tourists surrounding it. When I finally got a good view, I wasn't entirely sure how to react.

Sitting in the glass display on a small wooden rocking chair was a very old doll. It was dressed like a little sailor and I could only assume that it was supposed to be a boy, because it had no hair. It was hunched forward in a way that almost incited pity, but its eyes were a deep black. Looking into those eyes, I was once again overcome by that feeling that I was being watched, the same feeling I'd felt outside the building.

Kara stood before the doll, bowing her head respectfully. "This is Edward the doll." She answered, more calm and articulate than before. "He's a cursed doll. You have to show him respect." She gave me a pointed look, and I quickly followed her example, lowering my head respectfully. I wasn't sure whether to believe her or not. My instincts were going wild today. But I figured it was better to be safe than sorry.

Monk took the temperature, then looked around at the tourists suspiciously. "They've all put away their cameras." He noticed. "They were taking pictures of everything else, but no one takes a picture of this guy. Why not?"

Kara answered. "Edward has to give you permission!" She said. "If you take his picture without his permission, bad things will happen to you. You see all those letters?" She pointed to the wall behind the case, and I noticed for the first time that it was littered with dozens upon dozens of letters. "Those are apologies from all the people who didn't believe and took his picture without asking."

Monk inched closer so he could read some of the letters, but I didn't bother. I didn't really want to read how people came to be cursed by this creepy doll. I kept my distance, but even after leaving the display, I couldn't shake the feeling that those small black eyes were following me.

Kara took us through an assortment of other displays. There was a book that supposedly killed anyone who reads it (although how it would kill you Kara couldn't say). There was a collection of porcelain dolls, not quite as disturbing as Edward, but supposedly made in the image, and from the skin, of real people. A sign insisting people don't touch the display stopped us from verifying that, not that I wanted to. Monk took two separate readings around these dolls.

A square room in the middle of the museum housed what was probably the most disturbing display of all. The place was called 'the hanging room'. In the dim red light, I could see around seven wooden figurines hanging from the neck. Kara wouldn't step into the room, and a quick reading of the sign next to the doorway explained why: each doll was supposed to be possessed by the spirit of a child who was murdered by a serial killer known as 'the hanger'. I didn't need to read the rest to learn how the victims died.

Monk went into the room to take his temperature readings, and by force of habit I went to step in after him. Instantly I was awash with an intense sorrow, and all my senses were suddenly smothered, as if I were underwater. I could faintly hear cries, but I couldn't make out any words. Swaying slightly, I forced myself to step back. Once I was out of the room, it was gone.

I shook my head, trying to cast off the fog. I'd never been in a room like that before. I watched Monk take the readings from the entrance, surprised that he didn't seem affected, until he joined us outside the room and said "That's one freaky room. It's like trying to move through water."

"You felt it too?" I said, still looking in the room at the hanging figurines.

"Yeah." He said. "It's no mystery. If you look at the molding around the ceiling, and around the entrance—you see all those symbols?—it's a really intricate seal. It's a little like the paper charms Ayako uses, only several hundred times more powerful. Only a true professional could've made those carvings."

While Monk admired the handiwork of the spell, the only thing on my mind was what kind of power that room contained to need such a powerful seal.

The museum had two other sections dedicated to different types of displays: a section on super humans, and a section on freaks of nature. We took temperature readings of these areas half-heartedly. After experiencing their supernatural section, we were pretty sure that the investigation wouldn't take us beyond the displays there. Kara only expressed slight interest in the other sections, sticking by our side and following us through the exhibits as quickly as possible.

At the very back of the museum, there was a large restaurant bustling with activity. The place was brightly lit, and people chatted loudly and happily. The atmosphere was so different that it made me feel a little dizzy. We walked around the area, getting a couple temperature readings, and flashed our I.D. tags to get a reading from the kitchen area. Monk wanted to take a temperature of the freezer, because of the woman who was nearly hurt in there. I was exasperated that I had to remind him there wouldn't be a point, since a freezer is kept at sub-zero temperatures anyways. Monk blushed a little bit at that.

When we were finally done, Kara, Monk and I went around the outside of the building to find the entrance to the surveillance room. A giant red sign made it pretty easy to find, that and the fact that Lin, John and Ayako were still bringing in equipment.

"Hey," Ayako said, catching sight of us. "You guys done already?"

I waved my notepad and smiled. "Got it all down." I called back. "Where's Naru and Masako?"

Ayako pointed into the room. "Naru's doing something in there." She rolled her eyes, clearly annoyed that he wasn't helping them out. "Masako's doing a walkthrough. I think she meant to catch up with you guys."

I thought that probably wasn't likely. The only time Masako intentionally seeks me out is when she wants to show something off. I don't hate Masako, and I know she doesn't hate me, but our mutual crush does make us rivals. Although really, at this point, do either of us even have a chance?

I thanked Ayako and went into the surveillance room. The place was a lot bigger than I thought it would be. Three security guards were watching a wall's worth of monitors intently from their chairs. One of them nodded back to me politely as I walked in. On the opposite end of the room, Naru was sitting at a computer, probably doing research.

Kara ran over to Naru, jumping over a couch to get there, and threw her arms around him from the back. I quickly looked back to see if any of our friends were gaping, but they were all outside.

Naru turned slowly, and Kara loosened her grip to let him move. I bit my tongue, trying hard not to laugh. I still remembered the first time Kara had done that to him. Naru had jumped so bad, even Lin had laughed. Naru had been pretty sour with the both of us for the rest of that day.

At this point, Naru had gotten used to Kara. He calmly escaped her grip and asked "Did you enjoy the museum?"

"It's awesome!" Kara declared enthusiastically. "They got lots of really famous stuff here. I got to see Edward the doll, and the hanging room, and the mummy. It's really cool."

Naru turned to me. "Anything unusual?" He asked.

I frowned. I knew he was asking about my sixth sense, and usually I was happy to help, but my 'animal instincts', as Naru calls it, were going crazy. I wasn't sure if I could trust them.

"Lots." I admitted uneasily, thinking of the painting, the doll, the mannequins, and everything else that had given me a weird vibe. "Some of those exhibits… I don't think the stories about them are made up."

"Of course they aren't" Kara nodded confidently. "There's lots of proof. But there's lots of things they did here to help control problems. They got that spell around the hanging room, and glass cases for Edward and the mummy to stop them from moving around. I didn't see anything for the porchellen dolls…"

"The porcelain ones?" I guessed. "The sign said that there's only a problem if you touch it."

"Oh yeah." Kara said. Turning back to Naru, she added "So there shouldn't be a problem."

Naru nodded and turned back to his screen. "We'll just have to wait and see what we're dealing with." He said.

My stomach twisted into a knot, and I took a step closer to Kara. I don't care whether we're dealing with ghosts, curses, or anything else, as long as none of it comes after my daughter.

I would like to very respectfully acknowledge that the concept for Edward the doll is borrowed from the real cursed doll, Robert the doll. Feel free to look him up. Be polite, be respectful. This is me, respectful-ing.

A lot of inspiration for the other items in the Nakai Museum of Oddities came from various Japanese RPG horror. The porcelain dolls are from Mad Father, the painting is loosely based on Ib, and the book that kills anyone who reads it is a shout-out to The Witch's House. I may draw inspiration from other Japanese horror RPG, since they're so awesome.

Did you know that there's an Ao Oni: The Animation? Of all the Japanese horror RPGs…

Anyways, thanks for reading, let me know what you think!