Chapter 15

After describing her interactive vision to the team (John receiving a light scolding for letting her wander off, while Mai argued it wasn't his fault at all), everyone was given their tasks for the short remainder of the day. Yasu was tasked with returning to town to continue his research, hoping the new focus would help him look in the right areas while the rest were given patrols. Yasako and Mai were given no task, so were given the afternoon to rest as it became clear the investigation was taking a small toll on Mai.

Letting out a sigh, Mai felt her frustration once again bubble to the surface. Her visions were frustrating her at their lack of helpful insight or leads and she felt her agitation rise each day they remained unhelpful. Visions of people with no names, no real explanations of deaths and no clue as to who was haunting them made her feel less than useful.

After everyone had branched off to begin their tasks, Mai decided to take her restlessness as an opportunity to catch-up on some reading. Not wanting to disturb Ayako who had decided to take an afternoon nap in the bedroom, Mai chose to make herself comfortable in the main room in late afternoon light.

Sitting herself down at the kotatsu, Mai continued her Psychology class readings. They had been assigned a variety of biographies on people who had experienced extreme psychological trauma; some from abuse, war or natural disasters. It was fascinating, reading how people survived and what went through their minds at the time. About half way through the book as the sun began to set, one sentence in particular jumped out at her.

I'm going to die at some point, but I'm not going to die here.

Staring at that particular phrase Mai felt a shiver race up her spine.

Mai blinked as she heard movement come from the girls' bedroom. Realising it must be time for dinner if Ayako was waking, Mai bookmarked her spot before rising and putting her ugg boots on. Checking her phone as she waited for Ayako, Mai noticed her battery was close to dying.

"Mou", Mai tutted in frustration, turning it off until she could charge it after dinner.

Finally hearing the sliding door open, Mai perked up before sliding her phone away in her pocket.

"Good evening, sleeping beauty", Mai demurred at Ayako cheekily, "Have a nice nap?"

Ayako ignored Mai before walking past her to the door leading to the hallway.

"Hey!", Mai called ,"I was only joking…" she trailed off, unsure as to what had just happened.

Feeling a cold chill run down her spine at the oddness of it, Mai turned to look out the window with a view of the courtyard, her breath fogging up the glass as she brought her face closer while chewing on her lip in worry.

Waiting, Mai didn't see any movement. Not deterred, she decided to wait a bit longer. Something wasn't right and she knew she needed to look out this window right now to find out what.

Finally, Mai heard the main door slide open before she saw Ayako take a step out in nothing but her house slippers. Feeling her eyes widen as a gasp escaped her, Mai hastily pushed away from the glass before running out the room. Her intuition was guiding her this time, and it was telling her something was wrong.

Her argument from the night previous came to mind.

"Oh, so should I have let it happen?" she countered, "Stand still and call for help while Masako gets dragged away?"

"Yes", he hissed.

"Help!" Mai shouted as she sprinted through the ryokan, fear making her heart beat in a quick, faltering pattern, "Naru! Bou-san! Lin! Anyone! Stop Ayako!"

Not hearing any response or answering pounding steps, Mai hissed through her panting, 'Well, I tried'.

Finally reaching the open main door, Mai flew through it, landing on the snow-covered ground with a crunch. Looking around, Mai's eyes finally connected with Ayako who was walking towards the tree line, which was now mere feet from her now.

"Ayako! Stop!" Mai cried, breaking out into a sprint again, her intuition telling her if she let Ayako leave, let her pass into that treeline, something terrible would happen and they might not find Ayako again. Not alive.

Her mind flashed back to her dream in the car ride to the ryokyan.

Still contorted, the figure was now racing towards her, it's legs seemingly blurring together in its speed

"Ayako, snap out of it!", she shouted again

Tripping backwards, Mai couldn't breathe. She couldn't move.

Finally reaching her, Mai grabbed Ayako's hand and pulled her to face away from the edge of the forest. Blinking her eyes, clearing her eyes from the fog, Ayako looked confused at Mai.

"Mai?" Ayako questioned, her eyes becoming focussed, the dull sheen to her eyes disappearing.

Tugging her back towards the Ryokan, Mai let out a sigh of relief. Disaster had been averted, whatever it would have been. Her intuition was beginning to tire her out with how often it was causing her to react. If only her visions were this helpful.

"Ayako!" Bou-san yelled as he raced through the door and into the snow.

Passing a dazed Ayako to Bou-san, Mai watched as he tenderly held her face in worry. Finally leading her inside, Mai followed after them.

Pausing after seeing a figure in the doorway, Mai hesitated before realising it was Naru. Sending a small smile his way before she took another step, Mai felt her feet fly out from under her as if someone had pulled a rug from under her.

Slamming down onto the slightly forgiving snow, Mai felt her breath leave her in a gust. Looking up, she looked over to where Naru had taken another step forward in concern.

Waving off his concern, Mai started to pull herself up onto her hands and knees, chuckling at her clumsiness.

"The ground is so slipp-" Mai began before she felt her legs once again pulled out from under her, her face now breaking her fall.

Freezing in understanding, her heart beginning to beat rapidly, her eyes widening before her head snapped up to Naru.

Mai yelled "Naru-!" before she was yanked backwards, headed straight for the forest.

"Mai!", Naru shouted in shock, leaping down the steps and running out into the courtyard to try and catch up with her.

Scrambling to grab hold of anything to stop her speed, unfortunately there was nothing but snow until she would hit the forest. Mai knew once she entered that forest, it would be too late.

"Naru!" Mai called a bit more desperately, her voice rising in pitch. He looked so far away and panicked. Naru never looked panicked. He was Naru. Why was he panicked? Mai felt her terror rise in response.

An idea coming to mind, Mai turned onto her back. Bringing her hands forward, Mai began the Nine Cuts at rapid speed.

"Rin! Pyo! Tou! Sh-" Mai began before whatever was pulling her sharply changed course and she felt her head slam into something solid, her voice cutting off in a choked, gurgled cry.

Her arms dropped limply to the ground and her vision faded to black, her hearing muffled.

The last thing she sees is the forest swallow her whole and Naru's voice echoing dimly.

"Mai!"

Authors Note: DUN DUN DUN. Tell me what you think! Lets aim to hit 30 reviews to update!