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Chapter 4 - Never Close Your Eyes

We met in the back in exactly an hour. After taking my medication and eating something, I had to admit, I felt a little better.

I tried not to think that Naru had anything to do with it.

Naru handed out talisman's, similar to the one Lin showed us at the office, and bundles of sweet grass wrapped beautifully in silk. He also gave us medium sized alcone shells and a lighter.

"This seems very ominous," Bou-san said, looking at each of the items handed to us.

"I take it this is similar to Native American smudging rituals," Ayako said. "They use the same materials."

Lin took the talisman off from around his neck. "Precisely. For those of you not familiar, listen carefully to these instructions because if a step is missed then the talisman cannot protect you from what we might face."

In unison, we all nodded.

Lin continued, "In the morning, you will individually smudge. You cannot wear the talisman when you do."

"Why not?" Ayako asked.

Lin said, "The sweet grass will strengthen and cleanse the talisman's spiritual energy. However, their properties are too different from one another and will nullify the other if the smudging is done incorrectly, or simultaneously."

"Which is exactly why you need to pay close attention." Naru said and I had a feeling those words were directed more towards me. I scowled silently.

Lin lit a corner of sweet-grass with the lighter. We watched as he got it to smoke by fanning it with his hand. When it was sufficiently smoking, he placed the burning end in the shell. "When you get enough smoke you can use the motions similar to as if you were washing your hands and face. Like this."

He demonstrated, wafting the smoke over his arms, shoulders, head and torso as if it were water. The smell of the sweet-grass was beautiful, livid and full of body.

"When you're done, collect the ashes from the shell and bury them in the ground." He gracefully knelt down, and gently stamped out the burning sweet-grass in the earth. He then proceeded to bury the remaining ashes from the alcone shell. Lin stood up, reaching into his pocket. "After you've completed the smudge, put the talisman on immediately."

From beside Lin, Naru said. "Each of us will do one round of smudging, to make sure you completely understand."

The process was not complicated and I placed my talisman into my pocket and worked with the sweet-grass, waiting for it to smoke. Thenl I 'washed' myself with it. Even though it was just a simple ritual I felt… lifted and lighter. My bad mood and negative energy was being lifted into the sky, along with the smoke and buried in the ground.

I felt like I might start using sweet-grass on a regular basis.

When Naru was satisfied we all followed the instructions properly, he said. "Good. We'll leave at seven in the morning, as it takes an hour to get to the prison location."

Everyone groaned.

"No one said this was going to be a free vacation," Naru's tone was clipped. "We will be working in groups at all times while at the location. There will be two interviews tomorrow; one with the groundskeeper and another with an eye witness of other poltergeist activity."

Masako brushed off her knees as she stood up from the ground, "will we be doing a walk through?"

"Yes," he said, turning to face her. "Takigawa-san will accompany you so we have an idea where to position the cameras and other equipment. Matsuzaki-san," he looked at Ayako. "You will accompany the grounds-keeper outside, and note any spots that you feel particular interest from."

Bou-san grinned, "And Mai, you'll be our blood hound and sniff out the spirits with your exceptional E.S.P. won't you?"

I stiffened and I felt Naru's gaze slide over to me. Everyone's did.

I shared a look with Masako, gulping. "Yeah, I'll try my best."

From in front of me, Naru only gave me a long stare before he said, "We'll have a portable base in the SUV since I don't fully trust the structure of the building. Taniyama-san, you'll be watching the base with Lin, or myself."

Everyone had their roles. The meeting only lasted a few more minutes, mostly of Lin and Naru reminding us the importance of smudging before and after the investigation.

Then, we all parted ways to begin our new case.

^.^

That night, I was surprised that Masako or Naru didn't confront me about lying to the group about my abilities. If it were Masako I may have apologized, but if it were Naru, I would have told him to mind his own business.

Before bed, I went out to the hotel lobby and made a phone call.

"Hey," Lucien answered on the first ring. The sound of his voice, so smooth, made me feel much more relaxed. "How're you?"

"Good," I answered, and I couldn't help the smile blooming on my face. "I got a little sick on the plane, but once we landed I was fine."

"I'm glad to hear you're feeling better," Lucien sounded exhausted and I wondered if he had the chance to relax at all. "Other than airsickness, how're things?"

I considered for a moment, leaning back into the wall in a far corner of the lobby. "I'm fine, I feel okay. Everything is just settling, we don't go to the location until tomorrow."

Lucien said. "I'm relieved you're feeling good. Stay safe when you're out there, you never know what could happen."

"I know."

From the other line, "I miss you and I'm counting down the days until I can see you again."

"You're so cheesy," I couldn't stop the smile from crawling across my face. "I miss you too."

"I love you."

I hestiated. It was a terrible thing but I always hesitated when Lucien said these words. I didn't know why.

"Have a good night, babe." I whispered into the phone. "Love you."

I hung up the phone with a deep pit in my stomach. Lucien insisted on saying those words nearly three months into our dating and I never told him how uncomfortable it made me feel when it made him so happy. So I said them, even if I didn't know if I meant them like he did.

I did love Lucien, didn't I?

It wasn't the time to think about that. Doubt wasn't going to help me when it came to my relationship with him and so I went to bed feeling refreshed after my phone call with Lucien.

"How long has that been going on for?" Ayako teased when I came back into the room.

"You're easdropping on me." I walked to the futon. "About a year."

"Cute," she said as she settled into bed. "He seems like a good guy and if he makes you happy that's even better."

"Yeah."

I went into the restroom to ready myself for bed. When I came out, I heard the soft snores of Ayako.

Slowly, I began settling into bed too.

From the other side of the room, I hadn't known Masako was still awake.

Quietly, she said. "There was blood on your shirt when we got off the plane."

Not a question, but a statement.

I pretended that I didn't hear her, trying to match my breathing to Ayakos: deep and steady.

Masako didn't say anything else, and soon, the heavy breathing put me to sleep very quickly.

^.^

Our morning started early, the sun was coming up from over the horizon and it made the smudging even more refreshing. The air felt crisp but the scent from the sweet-grass was calming.

I placed my talisman over my neck immediately when it was over then made my way back inside to continue preparing for our travels.

We packed the equipment into the SUV's again and this time I took the same vehicle as Ayako and Bou-san.

Masako rode with Naru and Lin.

The countryside passed us by in shades of green throughout our drive. It was beautiful and breathtaking. I did not get to experience true country-side often and this felt extraordinary. There was something about these woods, however, that felt old and ancient. It was almost unnerving and I wouldn't want to become lost in the dense trees.

We turned off the main road and onto a small back road that lead deeper into the woods. I started feeling slightly uneasy and watched as the large vehicles barely fit on the road.

Finally, after an hour of driving, we had arrived.

It was one single structure. From the case file I read that the prison only held about seven or eight inmates. The exterior was a dark stone, crumbling in areas. The window were completely open to the elements and there was spray painted graffiti decorating the sides.

Naru was right, this place was in dire need of being demolished.

A man stepped out from the large entrance. He was short, stocky and wore casual clothes. He had short, spiked hair that was black. His face was friendly and bristled with a short beard.

Naru stepped stopped infront of the man, bowing politely. "My name is Kazuya Shibuya."

"Mr. Shibuya, it's good to see you," the man came over, shaking Naru's hand. He regarded us, kindly. "My name is Miki Hikuzaki."

Ayako peered at the crumbling structure, "Hikuzaki-san, if you don't mind me saying, this place is quite off the radar. Is it safe to go inside?"

"Please, call me Miki," he said. "It's completely safe inside. We've had contractors come and test the structures. The outside has been exposed to the elements for too long is all."

Miki lead us into the building and I held my breath waiting for something to fall on us, despite being told it was safe

Inside, it was fairly well taken care of. Once we climbed the elaborate entrance stairs, we were greeted by a large area that Miki had said was an office and reception area.

"It looks creepy. Does anyone come out here?" I asked.

He shook his head, "No one except for me, and urban ghost hunters."

Maskao frowned, "isn't that lonely, being here all by yourself?"

Miki hesitated, "it can be. But, we have to get by somehow. This land has been entrusted to my family for generations. Before the state built the prison, my family used to own the land here, all the way to the cutlines you might have passed on the way in."

"That's an impressive amount of land," Bou-san said. "So when the state built the prison they also left the disaster for your family to clean up."

"Something like that. The government offered us compensation for the land if we sold it to them. Then, when the prison was no longer being used so our family asked for the land back at the same price. The government declined the offer and has since left this place to rot, off the radar."

"That's horrible," I said. "It's not fair, they could have at least sold it back to you. Those jerks."

"As part of an arrangement with the district, I look after the land now."

Miki brought us past the office, down the hall to a large gated portion. "Beyond here are the cells. There are a total of twelve cells in this area."

Twelve.

Confused, I asked, "I thought there were nine."

Naru decided to answer, "The prison had only officially declared having nine cells to the public. In fact, there were an additional three built in the lower part of the prison."

I scowled and Miki nodded, "Correct, the ones in the basement are the cells that were reserved for serial killers, or murderers...or…"

Miki swallowed and Ayako pushed gently. "Miki?"

"Practicing witches." Naru answered. We all snapped our head towards him. "Anyone in the area that had a mental illness, or was condemned for practicing witchcraft or satanic rituals, were thrown into the underground cellars. Then executed."

I felt my throat swell up. "That's horrible."

"There had been some disturbing disappearances around those times, and it was linked to satanic rituals in the area." Miki sad. "Cultists, satanists. That kind of thing."

Bou-san looked at Masako, "That's pretty dark. Do you sense anything, Masako?"

She lifted her hand to her mouth, "I get an odd sensation. There's definitely spirits here. I can't explain why they're here, perhaps they are lost, but there's another presence that seems to be watching us. It is hiding in the shadows, carefully trying to not be noticed by me."

"Is it malicious?" Naru asked.

Masako breathed in, closing her eyes. "I can't say for sure, it doesn't feel like a spirit... it's something else."

Naru looked at all of us, then to Lin. "Let's start our walk through. Remember the positions we talked about yesterday." He looked at me, "We'll prepare a base in the SUV and set up some cameras in the area. I've hired an offsite security for the night portion of our data collection."

Naru hired security? Carefully, I watched him as he continued talking to Ayako, Masako and Bou-san. He seemed a little more on edge than usual, and I couldn't place it. If this case were so dangerous, why did he risk it?

When Naru finished, Bou-san turned to me. "What do you feel, Mai?"

All eyes settled on me and my panic shot up even more. My heart started pounding as I regarded all of them, my eyes finally settling on a pair of indigo-blue ones.

There was...something that was testing me. I felt it just beneath the numbness. It felt odd, like someone was reaching inside my mind.

"I don't feel anything yet," I admitted. "I agree with Masako, there is something...unsettling here."

That seemed to satisfy everyone.

Except Naru who watched me with knowing, or worried, eyes.

^.^

The interview with Miki was very quick and Naru held it inside the prison.

"When did the activity start?" He asked.

"I acquired the agreement with the district five years ago, in two-thousand-thirteen. Prior to then, I did not visit the location. It was strictly off limits to the public." Miki stated. Lin wrote everything down.

"Is there anyone that can vouch for any experiences before that?" Naru asked.

"I don't know," an honest answer. "There were records of all the staff and inmates. I believe the district might have those archives. As for other witnesses, they would all be urban hunters that were drawn illegally to the prison. I doubt they would want to step forward and give a statement."

Naru considered this information, "The staff could possibly be long gone by now. There's no way of knowing whether the information is accurate. As for the prisoners, there could have been more than what the archives have since there were undocumented captives."

I tried not to shiver at what he was implying. That countless people could have been taken into those underground cells and executed.

Miki nodded and Bou-san said, "I bet Yasu could dig up some information for us when he gets here."

"You have more investigators coming?" Miki looked at Naru, as if this was new information.

"Yes," He said, almost carefully. "There are two others who will arrive in the next couple of days."

Miki seemed to regard this information. "I see you certainly do not mess around. I've never had such a professional team on the location. Except for the lot that captured the activity."

"Where was that captured, again?"

"In the basement cells."

Naru didn't reply. He simply stared at Miki and I could see the wheels turning in his head.

"Mai," Naru said. "You and Lin should go to the base. I want to walk around the location now, if you don't mind, Hikuzaki-san."

The older man shook his head, "not at all."

We all parted ways, Lin and I walked back to the SUV's together.

As we walked something about the interview didn't feel right. Normally there was more questions and explanations but for this location we almost had next to no information.

I said, "I don't understand why he decided to investigate this place. It seems dodgy and uncertain."

"He knows what he's doing," Lin replied.

"I guess, but it just seems like there is some important information that is missing. There are no other official records except for a television series that claims to have caught something special. And the district has no records either." I observed. "It just seems kind of off to me. Doesn't he normally take cases with more information than this?"

Lin didn't answer me, instead, he just continued being silent even as we were outside.

We set up some monitors in the back seat, using an external power source that they had brought. Naru hadn't taken as much equipment as I knew he would have liked, but we had enough. Thermal cameras, night vision cameras, and voice recorders.

From the radio, Naru's voice came through it. "Lin, can we get some night vision cameras for the basement?"

Lin replied immediately, "I'll be there in a few minutes."

He then grabbed two of our best night vision cameras and tripods. I climbed out expecting to go with him.

"Mai, you stay here." He said. "I'll just be a moment."

I blinked and pointed out. "Naru said we shouldn't be alone."

"I know but you should stay at the base just in case." He regarded me carefully. "You won't be out here for very long, I'll only be a moment."

Like a child, I crossed my arms. "Fine."

Scowling, I watched him retreat before I settled back into the seat. Naru wasn't the only one on edge here, I could sense it; everyone could sense it. Just like he was on edge during the Urado case. I had a feeling there was something about this case he wasn't telling us. Maybe it's because he didn't fully have the answers yet, since I knew he liked to have everything all neatly wrapped in a bow.

Still, he didn't have to leave me cooped up in the car.

Outside and alone I waited. That was when, from the corner of my eye, I saw movement. I snapped my head to look out the window, swearing I had just saw a figure. When I couldn't see anything, I hesitantly stepped out of the SUV to investigate further.

The wind picked up, making the trees sway hypnotically. Leaves fell, blowing idly around and littering the ground. From the base of a large tree, maybe ten feet away, I saw a girl.

She was young, perhaps in her early teens. She was devastatingly beautiful, her hair was golden and thick, parting over her shoulders and trailing down to her waist. She was wearing a dark dress that graced her blooming figure.

Her eyes were covered by shadows and she peered back at me before stepping behind the tree trunk.

"Wait," I blinked.

Suddenly, wondering if this girl was lost, I moved towards the spot I had just saw her. "Wait, where are you?"

It was still within seeing distance of the van, and I swore she tucked herself away behind this tree. "Are you lost? You can come out, I won't hurt you."

When I looked around, I didn't see anyone.

I tried not to let that unsettling feeling settle over me. This wasn't the first time I had mistook a spirit for an actual person. And if spirits could still manifest themselves to me, with my abilities being blocked, that must mean they could be very powerful entities. I tried not to shiver from that thought.

For only a moment, I had turned my back to the van and as I turned around there was nothing but endless rows of trees.

Shakily, I steadied my breath, not remembering when I had walked off so far off the trail. I tried to retrace my steps.

Naru was going to kill me for leaving the van.

The woods seemed to change as I moved. I was aware that my heart was pounding beneath my chest. Being lost in the woods was the last thing I needed. Not to mention this location was completely hostile.

From behind me I heard the snap of a tree branch. As if someone has stepped on it. I spun around, frantically scanning the never-ending forest.

Movement.

I saw something dark press into the base of a tree, maybe thirty feet away from me. My heart thundered in my ears and I heard more tree branches snapping under an unseen weight. I stilled, completely frozen. The figure I saw did not look like that of a young girl, but of something not entirely human. I didn't have time to look back at it because as soon as I thought this thing wasn't a human I turned and ran.

Something snarled from behind me as I stopped to look back, breathless. I stepped back three paces, shaking so violently I thought my legs would give out and-

A voice reeled me back to reality. "Mai, what on earth are you doing out here?"

Ayako was standing with the groundskeeper to my left, about then paces away. In my panic I hadn't seen them at all. I didn't even know if they had been here the entire time. It felt like I had stepped out of some bubble of reality, as if while in that place in the woods I disappeared from here.

I let out a strangled breath, "I don't know." I looked around, wrapping my torso with my arms.

Miki gazed at me, "it's not unusual for people to get lost in these woods."

I gulped, not needing to be told that. Ayako had motioned me to follow them and I stuck close to their sides. I only glanced back once, to take a peek at the darkening woods.

I swore there was someone, or something, gazing back at me.

^.^

When Naru found out I had been lost in the woods, he turned his lethal gaze to Lin. "You were supposed to stay with her. I said no one is to be alone at this location."

Lin was unphased, "It was either that or -"

"Never mind," Naru barked.

He moved back outside, to the van, to gather more equipment. Bou-san was standing at the entrance with us.

"You alright?"

"I'll be fine." I think.

"Good, we're leaving here soon. Lucky we found you, or you may have spent a night in these creepy woods."

I shivered as I thought about the thing I saw and hoped I would never have to spend a night in these woods. Ever.

Night was now upon us and we had to use large, industrial lights in order to see. Ayako, Masako and Lin were in the van with me now, sitting in the front seats. Miki had left hours ago.

We were waiting for our second interview who hadn't shown up yet, which could be a contributing factor to Naru's poor mood.

I watched as he and Bou-san continued back inside the building and I let out a little breath.

"He's on edge," I said out loud. "I've never seen him so worked up before."

Lin agreed, "This location is dangerous, he's too arrogant to say it but he's worried."

"Why did he decide to take this case then?"

There was a moment of silence. "Naru has about a dozen motives for anything."

I shrugged, assuming he was right.

Lin and I went back to watching on the screens as Bou-san and Naru had been trying to communicate with the spirits. When nothing seemed to respond, I grabbed the radio.

"In the original video the team used a Ouija board before activity started happening."

I heard my voice echo from the speakers of the monitors.

Naru and Bou-san considered each other, carefully. Then Naru spoke, clearly, into the walkie talkie.

"She's right," he said and I saw Lin tense at that. "Perhaps we should be replicating the original evidence."

Bou-san shook his head, "no way Naru, that's too dangerous. Who knows what kind of demons lurk around here."

It made me think back to the girl and the strange form I saw in the woods.

Lin grabbed the radio from me, "Ouija board is a bad idea, given the fact that this location is already dangerous enough without it."

Naru considered, as I watched him on the screen. He answered back, "Is everyone in favor of not using the Ouija board?"

At the same time, Lin and Bou-san said, "yes."

Masako and Ayako agreed, though I think Naru already knew they would.

"Mai?" Naru called to me, not bothering with the radio. He just looked towards the camera. Now, Lin was giving me a wary look. I had suggested it, not really thinking about how dangerous it could be. I took the radio from Lin.

"I have to agree."

Naru was outwardly frustrated with the lack of approval. He muttered something to Bou-san and I watched on screen as they packed up some hand held equipment and made their way back to base.

"We're leaving the cameras?" I asked Lin.

He nodded, "Since we've hired additional security for the location, they'll keep watch of a wireless camera we brought."

It seemed a little risky, but I didn't question the idea. Especially since Naru seemed like he was in a bad mood.

Before we packed up to leave, Naru setup the wireless camera that would connect via satellite to an Ipad he had. That way, he could keep an eye on it from the hotel.

I had no doubt, he would probably watch that thing all night.

When we drove back to the hotel, it was too late to call Lucien. So I sent him a text before we finished the evening with smudging.

^.^

We had came back to the hotel hours ago. Yet, as I opened my eyes I was standing in the woods again.

Confused, I looked around. The woods seemed the same but they felt different, like standing in a different time-era. I recalled thinking that I had stepped into another reality before Ayako and Miki found me.

There was a jarring sensation of someone tugging on a rope tied to my wrist. Suddenly, I was pulled forcibly forward. I noticed that around me, there were four figures clad in red cloaks that started to manifest. Those in front were holding torches, lighting the way.

My heart sped up as they yanked on my makeshift shackles. I tried to scream but soon found that my mouth had something in it. Leather was all I tasted from the gag tied around my jaw. It was caught between my teeth and I made a muffled noise into it as the pain from my wrists intensified.

I suddenly realized this wasn't going to be a regular dream.

Oh no. Not one of these. Please…

Tears pricked at my eyes as the coven lead us deeper into the woods. I had no cognition of where we were, until they stopped.

There were two more dark figures that joined, one of them was small and almost child-sized. They stood on a makeshift dais that was lit with torches. From the shadows I saw what looked like the outline of a house in the background. Then directly in front of me I saw a rope over a large tree branch. One of the cloaked figures tested the weight, pulling on it hard. The branch did not give.

Then they tied a noose at the end of the rope.

I stifled a cry as my captures yanked on my rope, and I fell forward. Blonde hair scattered all around me, my black dress bunched below my knees.

Blonde hair...black dress…

I was tied to a post. My arms were out at my sides and the coven tore at the dress, revealing my flesh. I was naked, and prone to their jabbing of brushes and fingers. They painted my torso, my arms and back. I had a sick sensation that it wasn't paint they were putting on my body. The thick feel of an oozy liquid was fresh. Hot.

Blood.

Some of the members were chanting, beginning a ritual I was likely about to join. When the painting was done, they untied my hands, only to grip them behind my back. It was so painful, my shoulders bent awkwardly and my wrists were tied tightly together.

I yelp as they pushed and pulled at me, bringing me towards the makeshift noose. Crying into the gag, I begged them not to do this.

No. No. Wake up, you have to wake up.

One of them grabbed my hair, yanking me when I stopped moving. I struggled, trying to fight my way out when I felt a sharp prick in my side.

A knife swiftly stabbed into me.

I lurched. The pain was burning, and I was momentarily stunned. They wrapped the noose around my neck and tightened it.

The chanting grew louder. Just as the atmosphere did. The flames of the torches were brighter. Everything in the woods were heightened and I felt the rope around my neck become like a weight.

Someone pulled on it, tightening it, lifting me off the ground.

I struggled for breath, kicking my legs from under me in an attempt to break free. All air was lost.

Gasping, I threw myself out of bed.

My shoulders were shaking as I reeled back, touching the futon underneath me.

"It was a dream," I said, almost in disbelief. "Just a dream."

Deep down, though, I knew I shouldn't be having these types of dreams. The pills were supposed to be working to block those powers from me. I thought about the talismans and smudging that were also supposed to keep this darkness away.

I ran a hand through my sweat drenched hair. Ayako and Masako were not in the the room and I took the fleeting silence to try to calm myself down. I don't know why I had that dream, and I didn't know what it meant. All I knew, was that something was strong enough to get past my barrier. It could get past the talismans.

It meant that none of us were safe.

When Ayako returned to the room, quickly, I grabbed my smudging tools and left.

I couldn't tell them about it. Not yet. It wasn't because I was confused about the dream itself, or how it happened. But, because I didn't have the answers that Naru would be looking for. All I knew, is that the girl I saw in the woods had been murdered.

No. Not murdered.

I remembered, in vivid detail, the chanting. The rows of people in red hoods and the dais of lit torches.

It wasn't a murder but a sacrifice.

For the rest of the day, my mind whirled with a possible explanation. Could it be, there was a cult that was starting all of these strange poltergeist activities? For some reason, I just couldn't seem to shake the feeling that wasn't the case. The team, also, had no luck on the second day, which meant that Naru was in an even worst mood. Our second interview still had not shown up, they didn't even contact us. It was starting to become a growing concern, and Naru ordered us to not leave anyone alone.

He was even more worked up today than he was yesterday.

Lin and I stayed in the base as the team tried, and failed, to get a rouse out of the spirits. This time, I did not see that girl outside in the woods. Maybe she wouldn't show herself until I was alone.

I thought about that other figure I had seen yesterday as well, and decided that I was not going to go into the woods to search for answers.

It is hiding in the shadows, carefully trying to not be noticed by me

That was what Masako had said yesterday, when she felt a strange presence similar to the one I felt. Whatever was lurking around this place didn't seem to want the others to find it.

Somehow it was targeting me.

I felt a hallow feeling in the pit of my stomach. On the monitors, I watched as Ayako, Masako, Bou-san and even Naru continue in their investigation. I wanted to tell them...but felt like the only way to validate myself was to back up my dream with proof. I had no idea how to go about this alone. It was frightening, and lonely. During most of our investigations, I never had to do this alone. I always had my team to help me through it. For the first time, I realized how much I needed them.

I didn't know what to do, or who to turn to. So, I took a deep breath, excusing myself from the base for a moment to get water from the other vehicle (it was just a couple steps away). I grabbed my purse, looking through it for my afternoon dose.

I hesitated, holding the pill.

To take it, meant to shut off my abilities even more. It meant that I was truly vulnerable here. I knew the consequences of not taking my pills regularly, but I couldn't shake the feeling that the pills were going to hurt me on this case, more than they would help me.

Slowly, I put the pill back.

My heart was pounding at the implication. As if my body were protesting. I stepped back from the SUV, closing my eyes and clearing my head.

There was something going on here, something that was bigger than Naru was letting on.

Or, an even more sinister thought, there was something going on here that even Naru had no idea about.

^.^

On the third day, the hired security guards did not report to us in the morning. In fact, there was not any evidence that they were even on the property at all that night, aside from Naru capturing them on camera only for a moment.

That day, we also did not capture anything else remotely paranormal.

^.^