Chapter 3

Monday, April 30th

Sitting up in bed, panic ran through me. So much panic I was trembling...I couldn't breathe, I could feel my heart pounding against my chest, my stomach felt like it was filled with ice water that I was going to throw up at any second.

'Where am I?' I asked my self. Looking around I slowly started to calm down realizing I was in my bedroom. I was home and it was only a dream. It was only a dream nothing to be worried about. Taking deep breathes I relaxed myself. Falling back down into my fluffy feathered white pillows I pulled up the matching comforter and grabbed my iPhone that I received for Christmas from Ayako and Bou-san. I didn't want them to spend so much money on me but they wouldn't listen. They kept saying that I needed an updated phone blah blah blah. Since they became a couple right after Naru left 6 months ago I guess they both decided that they would take up the role of my parents. They actually wanted to move in with me, since they wanted to keep me comfortable, took forever to convince them I was fine on my own, but I did promise to text or call them every day and to have dinner with them every night.

Looking at my lock screen I smiled at the picture, its the whole gang together at the airport. Four months ago when Lin and Naru came back from London, Madoka told us when they were landing and were trying to keep it a secret, but that didn't work out so much, we ended up surprising them, we made a big sign and everything! The look on their faces was priceless. And later that night we had a big welcoming party...or a welcome back party? That's also when Lin told us that we were invited to his wedding. Apparently, he proposed while he was back home and Madoka just couldn't wait to be married, so their wedding is like in a week and a half…In England...I was broken out of memory lane to the ding of my phone. It was a text from Ayako,

'Madoka and I will be there in an hour! Shopping! Luv you sweetie'

Sighing, I looked at the time 8:22 am. It slipped my mind that we had this shopping trip planned to get new clothes for our mini vacation in England. Throwing off my warm covers I let my feet dangle off the side of the bed, stretching my arms and back, rolling my shoulders and neck. I would throw down my yoga mat by the window to do a quick warm up, but I was on a time crunch. Finally willing myself to get off the bed and not to crawl back under. I pushed open the soft pink sheer curtains of my bay window and opened it, allowing the warm breeze of spring fill up my room. Standing for a minute more at the window, I then exit my room. Walking down the hall and down two steps to the kitchen and dining room I opened up each window and watered the plants. Finally finishing up in the living room I walked to the old brown oak table sitting behind the cream colored sofa. A picture of my mom stood to the right and my dad to the left with a picture of the three of us in the park in the middle. Smiling at them I turned on the two small white electronic candles that sat in front, among the small potted baby pink roses and a few of moms old books and dads detective badge.

"Good morning mom, good morning dad"

Going back up to the kitchen I fixed my self some Eggs in a Basket and some fresh orange juice. Sitting down at the island I texted Ayako

'Getting ready now, see you guys in a bit.'

Finishing up my small breakfast, I cleaned all the dishes and headed to the bathroom. Turning the shower faucet up I wait till the cold water turns warm enough to hop right on in. Pealing off my PJ's I looked into the mirror, above the bathroom sink. My hair grew a lot in the past six months, it now reaches the top of my chest, which also grew from the last time I really looked at myself. Everything grew I would say. After mom died I tried not looking into mirrors for long, for one they started creeping me out, and for a second I look too much like my mom, down to a 'T'. I guess clothes shopping is a good idea after all. Now that I think about it my clothes have been a little tighter, not that I gained weight, but my adult body is filling out more curves. Which I'm happy about, no more looking like a 17-year-old trapped in a 12-year-old body. Seeing the steam from the warm water fog up the mirror I guessed it was time to get in. Standing there I let the warm water drench my body, the feeling of the heat against my skin loosens the muscles underneath. Tilting my head back I allowed my hair to soak up the falling water while rubbing between my shoulder blades. For some strange reason, the center of my back hurts and I can't get a good enough angle to rub the aching muscle. Giving up on my back I grabbed the Strawberry&Cream shampoo and lathered it through my hair.

The air became thick and heavy to breathe in due to the hot steam coming off the water, I started to walk back slowly trying not to get my hair hit by the water to turn down the temperature, when a shooting pain ran up my right wrist to the center of my chest, causing my heart to skip a couple of beats. Having trouble catching my breath I collapsed to my knees under the falling water. Water washed over my face, opening my eyes was a very bad mistake that I made. Shrieking with pain, I got up and blindly searched for the hand towel near the shower. Feeling the soft fabric on my fingers I quickly rubbed it around my eyes to rid the shampoo that is burning me.

"That really hurt," I said to no one. I pulled the towel away and opened my eyes. The towel was red—crimson red. The white tiles that lined the shower walls looked like someone threw paint on to them. Looking down the water around my feet was a pinkish red, the water coming from the shower head was no longer water it was blood, I was covered in it, my whole body drench in blood.

"This can't be happening!" closing my eyes thinking that maybe the shampoo did something I opened them again and it was gone. My shower was white again and the water was crystal clear. I looked at the towel and that too was the same fluffy white. The only difference was my hands. Dropping the towel at my feet I looked at my hand. My veins they were black….like in my dream...like Lolita's were.

"Oh. my. God." the blackness began to move...like worms under my skin, causing the flesh to move along with it. "I have to be dreaming" I could still feel the movement of my skin. Rubbing my hand over my arms trying to make the feeling go away. And in a blink of an eye, everything was coated in blood again. Finally letting that scream that I've been holding in out I rushed out of the shower. But even my white bathroom was covered in the same red substance. Panicking I slipped on a white fluffy towel and turned to exit. Not even bothering turning off the water.

"I don't remember closing the door" slipping on my blood covered floor I made my way to the door. Twisting the nob to only stop half way. My heart started pounding "It is locked. But how? There's no lock. This door doesn't lock!" I cried out to myself. Looking at myself in the floor length mirror behind the door I noticed how my hair was coated in the thick red vital fluid, my skin is stained in a tint of red and the top of my towel that wrapped around my chest is a dark pink color. Looking at the counter I whipped around almost falling due to the slippery floor. My phone!-is not here?

"What? I swore I brought it in with me" taking in rapid breaths, I slowly looked around the clouded room. Steam was filling up quickly due to the still running hot water—now turned blood. I could feel a presence around me, but its so difficult to see anything with this steam. Not daring to go back into the shower to turn off the water, too scared of the random falling blood.

"You seem lost child" a woman's voice spoke. Turning ever so slowly back towards the door I saw a woman within the mirror. Dread washed over me. I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand up and goosebumps form throughout my body. Gulping down saliva I worked up the courage to speak

"W-who are you?" so much for courage Mai. Sound like a scared 12-year-old.

"I should be insulted. You really don't know who I am?" her beautiful British accent rang throughout the room.

"No, that's why I'm asking"

"You are a smart little girl are you not," she said with some edge in her voice " It is shocking how much you look like your mother. You could be her doppelganger. You could even be my doppelganger, except for the eyes of course. And you still seem to be growing into a woman. Give it a couple of years and you will look exactly like your mother and me."

She was right, I would look exactly like her and my mother. She is beautiful I may say. Her smooth creamy skin was flawless, that looked as if the sun had placed a gentle kiss upon her, just enough color. Her hair was the same color brown as I, that flowed in delicate curls down her back. Long thick black lashes surrounded the most shocking breath stopping green eyes that I've ever seen. Forest green on the outside of her irises made the light leaf green on the inside pop and stand out. Her rose-colored full lips were set in a scowl. We looked alike, straight down the cheekbones, nose, and height even. She even has the scowling face that I have! Everything was the same except for the 18th century get up she's wearing. Tight corset bodice lined with silk and lace, to the full skirt and the sleeves that stopped at her elbows but the lace kept on going. She looked like English royalty.

"Are you just going to stand there and stare? Didn't your mother ever teach you not to know B from a bulls foot"

"I'm sorry what? What does a bull have anything to do with you currently being inside my mirror!"

"Never mind you. Apparently, your mother never taught you any manners"

"You don't have a right to say anything about her, you don't even know her!" Picking up a brush

that was sitting on the bathroom counter I threw it with all my strength towards the mirror shattering her image "Now get out!"

"Nice try Mai darling but breaking a petty mirror doesn't rid a ghost" turning around she stood among the steam. Shes right Mai, after working for Naru you should know that. A ghost doesn't leave unless it wants to.

"And I do know your mother. Mira was an amazing student of mine. Very smart. But if it wasn't for me she wouldn't have known her true self, this whole family line wouldn't be alive today." she stepped closer "So I demand respect from you child!" anger washed over her as she slammed my body into the broken mirror behind me. Sliding to the floor in pain, I reached around to my right shoulder where glass embedded itself

"I don't know who you are, or what you have done for my mother or this family line you speak of"

"Mai!?" I heard Ayako yell from afar.

"I'll see you again Mai darling" She placed a cold hand to my cheek and smiled and wicked grin, then she was gone.

"Mai? Are you in here?" a knock rang through the room, and the door began to open

"N-no! Don't come in!" but it was too late. They were going to see that everything is covered in blood

"Oh my gosh. Mai sweetie what happened?" Ayako came rushing to me, she wasn't phased by the blood on the floors or the walls or even the blood shower. That's because there wasn't anything, it was all gone. My bathroom was white again and the water was clear. The only blood in the room was coming from me.

"Mai, how can you breathe in here" Madoka spoke, she walked to the shower and turned off the facet. Stepping on the glass, Madoka closed the door and looked at the broken mirror. "Mai, what happened?"

Ayako was looking at my shoulder. "I slipped on some water that got on the floor. I ended up falling back into the mirror" They both looked at me like I was lying…I don't blame them I am lying to them. The last thing I need if for Ayako to have an excuse for her and Bou-san to move right on in.

"Well I guess I could see that happening, you are really clumsy Mai," Madoka said with a laugh.

"Mai you should really be more careful." Ayako stood up and held out a hand "Let's get your shoulder checked"

Sitting at my kitchen island, Ayako is tending to the wound. Little shards of glass make a 'Ding' noise every time Ayako dropped one into the little glass bowl. And I wince every time she puts the tweezers back into my shoulder

"Mai, I never knew you lived in a nice place like this" Madoka said "What happened to you being the poor orphaned girl"

"I never stated that I was a 'Poor orphaned girl', that's what everyone assumed"

"Uh, I know Naru doesn't pay this much. I mean he pays you good money but enough money to afford this? A two-bedroom condo?" Madoka said in awe. I laughed at her surprised face.

"No, this use to be my mom's and I. After she died she left the condo in her will to me, among many other things. The university that she use to work at loved her so much that when they found out that I would not be able to live by myself and pay for a condo they fully paid it off and the dean also provided a full 4 year scholarship to the university as long as I passed the entrance exam and had great grades."

"But you are seventeen, a minor. I never understood how you are able to live on your own" she asked

"Oh, well at first when my mom passed I lived with my teacher, as you know. But when I found out that the condo was to be given to me thanks to the university I decided to move back. After that, my mom's coworker and best friend took up guardianship of me. At first, there was suppose to be some couple that knew my parents but they couldn't get in touch with either of them and the second person fell off the face of the earth so that left Mrs. Cather. And now for the past six months its be Ayako and Bou-san. "

"That must have been a struggle for you, Mai," Madoka said as she passed me a cup of fresh tea "Did you know any of their names?"

"Only one, Muzzy. She was the second in line to get me. My mom talked about her a lot when I was little, and sometimes when she talked to herself"

"Muzzy? Such a strange name. What about the couple?"

"No, I've never known of a couple. The only thing I did know was that they had two sons—" I told her as Ayako spoke up

"Madoka, can you find some crackers for her to eat. Mai lost a bit of blood" Ayako said while cleaning up some dried blood from my shoulder. "I'm sorry Mai, but we have to go down to the hospital. There is a larger piece of glass that I can't get, plus you are going to need a few stitches."

"Okay, let me go but on some clothes" I got off the bar stool "Crackers are in the cabinet to the left of the stove," I told Madoka who was rummaging through everything.

Once Mai left to change, Madoka went to the living room to the table that sat behind the sofa. Ayako who finished placing the first aid kit back into her bag. "Ayako, if I tell you something, do you swear you will not mention this to anyone, not in Bou-san"

"Yeah, what is it Madoka?" She walked down and stood next to her. Madoka lifted the picture of Mai's mother.

"I've seen Mai's mother. Not physically but in some pictures back in England." The shocked expression on Ayako's face was quickly erased when Mai's bedroom door opened.

"Hey guys, I'm ready," Mai said, Madoka put down the picture and grabbed her purse

"Let's get going if we still wanna shop!"

"WHERE IS SHE!" Bou-san yelled as he pushed back the curtain to the room. Madoka who was sitting in the chair just looked and chuckled

"I'm right her Bou-san" I pointed to myself who was sitting on the bed "You're staring right at me"

"Don t you know how to use your inside voice." Ayako slapped him upside the head "You are in a Hospital, not a playground" Ayako walked in wearing her white doctor's coat and carrying a silver tray with some medical tools.

"Ayako darling, why do you not love me" Bou-san sulked on the floor holding the back of his head.

Ayako sighed "Stupid" which made him sulk even more "Why are you here anyway?"

"Lin texted me that we had a new case and wanted us to stop by the office. I told him that we couldn't since Mai was in the hospital and that the shopping center is in the complete opposite direction of the office. I assume he told everyone who was at the office that we would not be making it to the meeting." Madoka spoke up from her giggling.

"We have a new case? But we leave next week" I asked no one in particular.

"Yes, Mai, we have a new case. But as long as everyone does their job we should be fine to leave on schedule."

"N-Naru" I still get butterflies every time I see his cold ass. I shouldn't, not after what he said to me the day he was leaving…a memory that I tried so hard to block out. "What are you doing here?"

"Well since Madoka refuse to have any of you go down to the office she kindly suggested that I come down and give you three the details of our case. The rest just followed" Naru glared at Madoka who was smiling like a toddler who got candy. Lin stood next to her with a tiny smirk. Ayako turned me around and began to take out the larger piece of glass and stitch me up.

"I don't believe that you should go, Mai," She said "These are new stitches, you won't be allowed to do anything that involves you moving your shoulder"

Wincing at the pain, I turned my head towards her and gave her the best smile I could muster up "That's okay, I can always watch the screens or take notes"

"Naru, please tell her she has to stay" Ayako pleaded

"If Mai wants to go I'm not going to stop her. If she gets hurt then that's her own fault, not mine." Naru stated while looking at papers in his folder. Which irritated Ayako.

"Hey Mai, how you doing?" an Australian accent fluttered through the room.

"John! When did you get back? Why are you here is the better question." John had a trip back home for his older sisters wedding. He was supposed to be gone for two weeks and meet us in England for Lin and Madoka's wedding

"I got back today actually. Shortened my trip by a week. Thought maybe Ill visit around Christmas when it is warmer there instead of the winter for two weeks." Masako and Yasu were right behind him.

"That must be crazy John, leaving here during the summer and going home when its winter there," Madoka said, I nodded with agreement.

"Eh, it can get a little odd. But I make the most out of it. Seeing my family is the important part, not the weather." we all agreed besides Naru and Lin, who were a quite as ever.

"So Naru are you going to tell us about this case?" Masako asked. Grabbing on to his arm which made my blood boil. How dare she. "Since Mai rudely interrupted you at the office. The attention always has to be on her" she glared daggers at me and I did the same back. If Ayako wasn't sticking my wound-

"Yes." Naru shrugged Masako's doll-like arm off his and sat at the end of my bed. All eyes on him "The other day a woman by the name of Mataki Rika came in believing her house was hunted. She stated that for the past three years her eldest daughter would have a birthday surprise happen, this year she had woken up to writing on her walls."

"Mrs. Mataki also said that she'll hear knocking sounds, doors slamming on their own, things going missing"

"It seems like a very easy case," I said

"I thought we could at least pick up a small job before we go to England. We should be done within a few days at most" Naru declared

"Alright, Mai, you are all done kiddo." Happy I pulled the sleeve of my tank back over my shoulder "Now please no heavy lifting, I don't want to re-stitch you up again, its a pain."

"Yay! Now let's get shopping!" Madoka jumped up in joy