Yo! Thank you to all readers so far!
Shin was feeling restless. That wasn't odd, really. One of the reasons he was even still here was because he was restless. But it was different tonight. Worse.
He couldn't say why, but something was telling him to check up on everyone in the house-everyone still alive, that is. They were going to be asleep, he knew, considering it was half past four in the morning, but even then, he had to make sure they were okay, even though he had no idea why he felt like he had to.
He went to Mai's room first, and found her fast asleep in bed. Ayako was next to her, also asleep. Both of them were oblivious to his presence and Shin preferred to keep it that way as much as possible.
Shin left the room and went around through the others. Everyone was, predictably, fast asleep, none of them realizing he was there. But though they didn't notice him, Shin noticed something else instead. He was being watched.
Shin looked around, trying to see who was watching him, but he didn't see anyone, alive or dead. He knew he was right though, the feeling was too intense for him not to be. He was definitely being watched. No, no, it was more than that. He wasn't just being watched, he realized abruptly.
He was being hunted.
Mai woke suddenly, choking on her own sob. Ayako was right in her face, shaking her roughly, no doubt having woken her up, her face pale and filled with concern.
"Mai! Talk to me, what's happened?"
"Jack-he-"
"Mai?"
"He de-devoured Ryou-nii and May's spirits! They're gone! They-they're both gone!"
Ayako paled even further. "How do you know that?" she asked intently.
"Gene showed me," said Mai, trying to ease her breathing and calm down. "Just now, he called me to him, and he-he showed me what was happening. He said he can't do anything to stop it, but that Jack's doing it to make himself stronger."
They both knew what that meant. Jack was planning on doing something big. And soon.
Seeing as it was already dawn, neither Ayako nor Mai bothered going back to sleep and instead, got out of bed and began preparing for the day. Naru and Lin were both going to be up soon anyway, and the sooner they told them about what had happened, the better.
Ayako dragged Madoka (who was staying in the fourth room they hadn't been using) out of bed to help her prepare breakfast, while Mai headed to the Base. Naru and Lin would go there first, before going to the dining room, so she was going to wait for them there instead.
As predicted, Mai only had to wait for ten minutes before Lin walked in. He paused when he saw her, and then inclined his head politely.
"Good morning, Mai-san. Is something wrong? You are rarely awake this early."
"Morning, Lin-san, and yes, something definitely happened. I was waiting for you or Naru to come in so I could tell you."
"What happened?" he asked just as Naru walked in, the younger one stopping in place when he heard the question.
"Gene called me just an hour ago," said Mai, looking at them solemnly. "He showed me Jack devouring the spirits of both-both Ryou-nii and May."
Surprise crossed both faces, but it was masked quickly enough, and they listened in silence as Mai told them exactly what she had seen in her dream. Like Mai and Ayako, Naru and Lin were also thinking along the same lines. Jack was absolutely planning something.
As soon as breakfast was done, Naru began delegating orders. "Madoka, Yasuhara-san, I want the two of you to find out everything you can about Jack Midnight. It doesn't matter what you find. Even the smallest detail can help."
"Yes, boss!" exclaimed Yasuhara with his customary salute.
"On it, Noll!"
Yasuhara and Madoka stood and spoke for a moment before departing. Everyone else remained where they were, wondering what they were going to have to do.
"Lin, I want to do an EVP session."
There was a pause as Lin looked at Naru in something akin to apprehension. "It has been a while since you last did that, Noll," said Lin. "Are you sure that is the best way to proceed?"
EVP's were something that Gene did more than Naru and the last time they had done it, Gene had been with them. They hadn't done another one since then and that was why Lin was unsure about it.
"I know and it is." If Naru was feeling any hesitancy about it, he wasn't showing it.
Lin nodded and got up, exiting the room to grab some stuff from the van and Naru now looked over at Bou-san, Ayako, and John.
"Do you recall how to take EMF readings?" When the three nodded, he went on. "Good. Take those meters, split up and get me the readings of every room in this house. Keep your eyes on the meters. I want the slightest fluctuation noted." They nodded once more and got to their feet, but before they could move, Naru added, "Remain cautious. Jack is…dangerous."
When Bou-san, Ayako, and John had grabbed their EMF meters and clipboards, and departed the room, Mai turned slightly to look at Naru. "Things are starting to get serious now, huh?" she said softly.
"Yes, they are," said Naru. "I would rather you not go off alone anymore. It is difficult to say what Jack may do if he catches you on your own." And before Mai could say anything, Naru tugged her arm and pulled her close to him. "I don't want to lose you too," he murmured into her hair.
Mai had no response to that, and so she said nothing at all and simply returned the somewhat tentative embrace.
That's it for now. Looking forward to reviews! Laterz!