Chapter 19

Monday, May 14th

Case 2: Day 1

Atman Academy for Gentlemen and Ladies

This is it, this is where I am going to die. I couldn't stop the salty tears from coming, I don't want to die...please someone help me...God, I'm sorry. The sound of laughing came from all over the stone room.

"Please God" I cried out "I'm so sorry" I was choking on the mucus running down my throat, "Help me" I was trying to move my arms but they were tightly held down with metal shackles

"Help me!" I was thrashing about the bed. I screamed and screamed till my throat coughed up blood, the laughing continued

"Scream all you want boy." cold invisible fingers pressed to my juggler "No one is going to hear you" he laughed while I cried. Footsteps sounded around the table like they were walking in water, the room was cold to my naked body.

"Vinny stop playing around with my body and rid his soul of it" another voice came to my ears, low and musk. But like Vinny, he was nowhere to be seen

"Y-yes me Lord" he snickered. My body started to convulse as a frigid force trailed down my abdomen "This will only hurt a lot"

"No, please don't" nothing physical touched me, but it was as if a dull knife was cutting my chest open. Slowly, I could feel each layer of skin rip apart from each other. It burned as if I had placed my hand on the stove top

I am going to die…the legends are true….

Then I was looking at myself. I was no longer that boy. I was staring back at my reflection, in a room full of mirrors. Floating among the stars. My face was paler than normal, but my eyes are what scared me. My once chocolate copper iris turned snow white. And where the whites of my eyes should have been was nothing but pitch black….almost like gazing up at the night sky. I brought my hand up to the corners of my eyes and touched the white veins, they were raised and smooth like old scares. Opaque at the edge of my eyes then faded out to the temples

"Monster" encircled me. Looking around for the dislocated voice "Monster" it said again, mocking me. "He could never love you" I recognized the voice as my own, looking back to my reflection, which moved on its own inside the mirror

"W-who are you," I asked my other self.

"I am you" she smirked "Do you see it Mai...this is what you look like. You're a monster"

"No I am not" all she did was smile back. The word 'monster' echoed all around me, like the air I was breathing. I tried to shut it out, even my own thoughts started to repeat the word. "Please make it stop" I pressed my hands over my ears trying to silence the voice.

"Just admit it, Mai." I looked back at my reflection "Admit you are a monster. Admit that Naru will never love you like this!"

"No" I started to back away. Looking for Gene or Kat. For anyone.

"You can't run away Mai. This is who you are" I refused to look at her. To acknowledge what I truly look like "Look at me Briar!" she screamed. I finally did, afraid of what she'll say next. But then her face started to change, her eyes became crimson in a sea of black. The veins disappeared but a red marking started to form over my right eye, it reminded me of a Celtic knot, at the top above my brow...then it seemed to drip down below my eye into what seemed like a knotted teardrop. But it was carved into my skin. Then three dots appeared one at a time above my left brow.

"What's going on" I couldn't take my eyes away from the carved marking

"Your future" I backed away, then I ran. But I was stopped everywhere I tried to turn my the image of my face looking back at me.

"Stop!" I fell to my knees, shaking in my own arms. Willing this nightmare to end

Monster….Monster….Monster….

The voice echoed once more as I cried, rocking myself back and forth

"Mai – Mai sweetie….Mai wake up" I heard a female voice. I fluttered my eyes open, shutting them immediately against the overhead light. Opening them slowly to allow them to adjust to the brightness, a face blurred in my vision, instantly knowing it was Ayako from her signature red hair.

"A-Ayako?" I started to push myself up on my arm. Head pounding with a migraine.

"Careful Mai" my stomach turned, I could feel my body rejecting everything in my stomach

"I'm going to throw up" I warned, trying to cover my mouth. Someone rushed over a small trash can, I gripped it, releasing the vomit. I was shaking, my body was frozen to the core. Ayako's hand was burning my back even up top the dress I wore. I pushed away, scrambling to my feet. My vision was still blurred but I could see some were trying to get close to me

"Stay away from me!" I screamed, rubbing my hands over my face. I could feel the engraved mark. I could feel the broken skin, the bloody muscle beneath it. My hands covered in my own blood.

"Mai" I looked to who called my name, Naru stepped towards me. "Mai I need to calm down" I couldn't breathe, I felt panic ripple through me. I was becoming lightheaded,

"I'm a monster" I breathed out heavily, backing away, hitting a side table, breaking the lamp. I stumbled and fell back. Naru kept approaching slowly like I was a wild animal. I propelled my body back, using my hands and feet to back me into a corner. The shaking wouldn't stop, the voice in my head wouldn't shut up

Monster….Monster….Monster….

It would chant over and over again. Breathing became harder as my body continued to convulse

"She's having a panic attack!" Ayako yelled, she rushed to my side, Naru as well. Monk stood above. They tried to pry my hands away from my face

"Get away from me!" I screamed. I couldn't let them see me like this.

"Mai, I need to breathe deep breaths for me" Ayako was soothing, rubbing my back "You're having a panic attack, I need you to realize everything is okay" I shook my head in my hands, rocking on my bottom. The humming from the electricity filled the silent room.

"Mai," Naru's voice was soft, just like the touch of his hands on mine

"I can possess her." another voice came, already knowing it was Kat's "I can calm her body"

"Can you-" Ayako began

"No." Naru said, trying to pry my hands away "Mai needs to relax on her own" He pulled my hands away forcefully. Shocking me on how ruff he was "Focus on me" I kept my head down, "Mai." he grabbed my chin and made me look up

"No!" I tried to push away but he kept a firm grip on me

"Look at me Mai!" his eyes meant mine. He didn't turn in disgust. My tears were hot on my cheeks, spilling over his fingers. But he never looked away

"What do you see Naru" I whispered out. He cocked the corner of his mouth up

"An idiot who should have worn shorts under her dress" My eyes widened. Did he not see the carving? I raised a shaking hand to my right eye, nothing was there. My skin was smooth. I pulled away...no blood. I started to calm. It was just a dream

No.

In my heart, I knew it's my future reality

I looked around, everyone stood in a room with red walls, and white wood furniture. Along one wall, shelves were established holding our monitors. Ayako and Naru kneeled beside me. Monk and Kat above. John, Yasu, and Masako stood on the other side of the sofa, which was facing away from me. Gene was there as well.

"Get her some water," Ayako said to the three behind her. John walked to the sink in the small kitchenette to the right of us. "You okay honey?" she asked. John came and handed me the water. I nodded in thanks

"I-I don't know" I sipped. Enjoying the cold water run down my sore throat

"I tried to get to you while you were in your dream state but I couldn't. It was like a shield was surrounding you" Gene said.

"Good," I said, "It wasn't something I want anyone to see" I dried my tears, Naru helped me stand.

"What did you see," He asked. I looked away

"Nothing important" I didn't want to let them know. I hated lying and keeping secrets from them. But this one, this one I couldn't even bear to want to remember

"Well it had to have been something to make you go into a panic attack" Monk touched my shoulder "You can tell us Mai" I pulled away

"I said it was nothing"

"O-okay" I looked up at Naru

"What happened?"

"You passed out. Nothing was happening, you said you were stepping in blood, but it was only water" I was confused. I knew I smelled blood, I saw it will my own eyes. Felt the tackiness stick to the bottoms of my feet

"I remember my head exploding in pain" I touched my head, the migraine still lingering

"Remember Mai, you are the door between the living and the dead" Kat reminding the girl

"What does that mean exactly?" Yasu asked

"It means Mai can easily help others cross over….like she is their light to pass over into" she explained "Mai's powers hit her all at once over the week, then she was trusted into an environment with many souls. Her body basically went into overdrive. Many spirits crossed through her all at once."

"That was the reasoning for my blackout? My body couldn't handle it all"

"Precisely. The more her energy is adapted in her the easier it will get."

"My eyes. They changed….is that going to happen all the time?"

"No. When a spirit is close to you our eyes always had a light white halo around our iris's. In time when you learn to understand the different energy flowing through you, you can tell. As for the full-on eye change, I only had it happen to me once...and that is when I crossed through the door to the Other World to retrieve Alana's soul to bring her back to life."

"B-but I didn't" Mai was visibly confused "Then why did it happen to me?"

"I honestly don't know. I have never seen it happen before because you are the first to have your powers suppressed"

"Excuse me for not following" Yasu began "You mentioned the Other World? And um bringing Alana back?"

Kat smiled, forgetting not everyone knows her past "The Other World is the name for the afterlife. Its neither Heaven or Hell " she looked to John "Sorry Father" John just smiled and waved her on "There are multiple planes. Ones where humans can go...like Mai can when she sleeps, her spirit goes to the spirit plane."

"Which is why I'm her spirit guide. I have to make sure her spirit doesn't cross over. That's only when she tries to communicate with the dead….majority of the time unconsciously. If she is there too long, or her actual mind starts to believe she is dead, her body will too and reject her returning spirit." He explained. Even I didn't know much about that.

"Then there is a plane created for Carpe's….so I've been told. Death created this himself as a gift to his true love Nature. To protect her special gifts to him. Carpe's stripped of their markings do not get to cross that portal. Myself and Mai's mother included."

"Where did my mother go?" Kat and Gene both looked away, not wanted to answer the girl's question "Kat, please"

"Your mother….she only bargained for enough time to be able to tell you her secret."

"I know that. But what plane she crossed over too"

"None," Gene said, rubbing Kat's arm, taking over for her "Her soul has vanished"

"W-what" Mai took a few steps back and landed in a chair at a table. Tears making their way past her eyes "S-shes gone?"

"Like forever gone?" Monk asked. Kat and Gene nodded their heads "Why?!"

"Mira broke a cardinal rule. One rather greater than I. And soon my time will come as well. My bargain will end once Mai's masters her energy. Then I too will vanish"

"What!" Mai jumped to her feet "I won't allow that!" Kat smiled

"It doesn't matter to them what you think Mai. Once they...Nature decides you're ready then-"

"No! I refuse to let that happen to you." I walked up to her "What would happen if I gave birth, and I didn't break the cycle. Who would train my child if I were to die?" She only smiled at her younger twin

"There are laws in the Other World. Much stricter than you think and each one that is broken has a consequence."

"Then why didn't Gene cross?" Ayako asked

"I had unfinished business, which is the plane that I was on. A lot of spirits that were killed, or left with unfinished business tend to linger until they can fulfill what they need. When I died, I have to get in touch with Noll, but I couldn't. Then I was attached to Mai, who was close to him. Which was ironic since she was the business I had to tell him. Plus where my body was. Never got around to that part" Gene laughed and rubbed the back of his head "Then soon after I was given the opportunity to cross over into what the living call Heaven, or stay and be Mai's spirit guide. Now I stay on the Spirit plane or the limbo plane, and some even call it purgatory."

"So there are four planes?" I asked

"Well what you call the purgatory plane is the plane for bargainers such as I. Once your bargain is up, you either vanish or cross to the Heaven plane or Hell. So yes, there are four different planes you can end up at."

"And you mentioned there is a council" Naru spoke, looking at his brother, Gene began to answer his question

"Correct. They decide what happens to each spirit. Some call them God or Gods….others call them the devils. No one knows how many there is. You never come face to face with them" Gene said. I shook with anger

"That's not right" Katerlina and Gene shrugged their shoulders

"There isn't anything we can do about it." Gene said "Humans are just a speck of dirt the Gods govern"

"Your afterlife is decided through how you live your life before death" Kat added

"Well, there's always a positive to having ghost friends" Yasu laughed. I collapsed back into my chair, head in hands

"Mai you okay?" Monk asked

"Yeah. I just feel really weak. And with all this new information, I'm becoming a little lightheaded" I rubbed her temples

"It's most likely due to the high levels of iron in this estate" Kat said, looking around "The place is basically built with it"

"Iron?" I looked at my teacher

"Its a metal Mai" Naru said with a dry voice. I rolled my eyes

"I know what it is smart ass" I glared at him "I want to know why it has something to do with me"

"Iron is a hard and strong magnetic metal. Its a substance naturally from the earth that can repress a Carpe. Hence why you feel so weak and drained." Kat said "But it can also completely nullify you as well...Hunters used iron shackles when they captured us. Easier to kill a Carpe when they can't fight back"

"So Mai's weakness is iron" Monk slapped my back "Sorry kiddo looks like you are no longer Super Woman" he laughed so did Gene and Yasu. I stuck my tongue out at him

"I never was, to begin with"

"Just because Carpe's are the children of nature doesn't mean they are immune to everything" Ayako hit Monk over the head

"This is true." Kay went on "At one time Carpe's and the second generation Human...a human with no gift, lived in peace. Then some started to believe they were the devils in human form"

"Is that were the term witch came from?" Yasu asked

"No, a witch is a human who was taught the skill of Nature by a Carpe. They can only do magic that is nature bound...like healing or lighting a candle. They can't do spells as we can, which uses nature magic and celestial magic"

"Universe magic?" Naru questioned

"It's hard to explain. celestial magic is driven from the sun, moon, and stars. Even natural events like a full moon, eclipse or a meteor" she tried to explain "Celestial magic is extremely hard to use because they hold a strong magic flow."

"Will Mai be able to use that type of magic?" John spoke for the first time

"Maybe, some have a talent for it, others don't. But it all depends on what spell you are using. Because there is a very thin line between light and dark magic. One that is easily crossed." She answered his question. "Celestial magic is the most powerful magic you can harness. I've never seen it used at its full capacity. But I heard that it's like using the Gods magic, to enhance a Carpe's personal flow."

"So it can make you stronger?" Monk wanted to know

"In a way. As I said, it all depends on how the caster uses it. But, even though its stronger magic. Mai is still not immune to iron, or even juniper"

"Wait, Juniper?" My head was reeling at everything Kat was saying "what does Juniper do?"

"Its a poison. And like iron, if it touches you….it can burn you. It can be used against you in its natural state or even in a liquefied state." Kat looked sad at that moment "I watched as my village was burned down when I was a child. Hunters poured Juniper water down some of their throats even in the eyes of those unlucky. I never saw it before or after that day. Never even felt the pain of it. But from the faces of those who had….I wouldn't wish that one anyone"

"Nowadays Juniper is used a lot. Wood from their trees, as an oil even in food" Ayako said

"I guess Mai now how to treat Juniper as an allergy," John said "Shouldn't be that hard since its not a common household item"

"I've never had an allergy before" I laughed, trying to lighten the mood in the room.

"Just take it serious Mai. Both can get you killed in a blink of an eye. Hunters know and they will use them. Even when you least expect it. People still believe Carpe's and witches are demons, old practices are still used." I just looked at her, taking in the serious expression she held in her eyes

"Well, this has been all sorts of Fun. But I would like to get back to work now" Masako said. Fixing her yellow top. Now that we weren't in Japan, Masako wore normal everyday clothes. Even after a week, it's still a little odd to see her look like a teenager.

"Well, no one told you to stop working" Ayako mentioned "This is Mai's life. We all should understand and learn as much as we should"

"Yeah, it's not every day you find out someone is a dying species" Monk chuckled, I just glared at him

"Well her life doesn't affect mine." I just rolled my eyes at her. Trying so hard to not want to slap her with the water in my cup. "I am just waiting for orders"

"If you don't know what to do after a year and a half -" Naru side eyed her "Then maybe you should be replaced" her cheeks redden in embarrassment, Monk trying to hold in his laughter, I hid my smile as I drink my water

"Yasu" she walked up to him "accompany me around the school?" he nodded quickly, rushed to the door and held it open for her.

"I guess we should stop slacking as well" Monk sighed and followed "Come on John, we got some exercising to do"

"C-coming!" John jogged to his coworker at the door

"Hey what about me?" Ayako cried out to the two men

"Depends if you're going to be useful -" Ayako hit him out the door. I wished John the best of luck with those two.

"I will never understand how their relationship works," Gene said in awe as he watched them leave

"Neither would we" I chuckled "But they really do love each other in their own way" I stood and walked to the kitchenette. Kat followed

"Something is on your mind" she observed me as I made Naru some tea

"It's nothing" I whispered, looking over my shoulder to see Naru and Gene talking

"Lair" she snickered. I looked at her

"In my dream…My face it changed." grabbing cups from the cabinet to the side of me "It had this knotted marking on my right eye and three dots above my left brow. But It was carved in. A-and my eyes...looked like pools of fresh blood" I looked back at Kat, her expression told me everything I feared

"A-are you hundred percent positive that is what you saw" her voice was a shaking whisper

"Yes. My reflection told me it was my future" her lips quivered. She opened her mouth to speak but the kettle on the stove whistled. I grabbed the tea and poured it atop the sugar in the two cups. "What does it mean?" I looked to my right where Kat is….or was "Kat?" I looked around the room. She wasn't there and neither was Gene.

"Naru, where did they go?" I handed him his cup and sat next to him at the monitors

"Gene just said it was time to leave." that's all he said. I sighed a sipped my tea. Looking at the screens playing the live footage of the school. I looked at the time, almost three in the afternoon. I sighed again, but a lot louder. I was out for more than a few hours.

"Problem Mai"

"No, I should be out in the field helping though"

"You are to stay in the base at all times. You're in charge of monitors this go around" I whipped my head to the side

"Excuse me?" I said with an attitude "I am way more useful out in the field then I am in here"

"If you have not been listening to Katerlina, she said that the iron in this estate weakens your body." he looked at me "I can not keep rescuing you every time you become drained"

"I have to learn to become used to it. And I am not some damsel in distress Naru. I can handle myself!" I stood, towering over him. He did too, now towering over my short frame

"Then explain what had happened earlier?" he crossed his arms and looked down at me "Did you not start to panic while you were by yourself? Did you not pass out in my arms when your body went into overdrive?"

"I-I have an explanation for all of those!" I huffed "You can not use my new found powers against me"

"You are right. I can just use the last year and a half on you" he raised an eyebrow, challenging me "You need to stay here. And if you have to leave, leave with one of us. I don't need something happening to you and no of us not know it."

"Fine! But I can not just sit here and watch the screens all day" he smiled

"You can help Yasu with research" that was it, my mind exploded when he said that

"Are you trying to torture me" I whined. He got closer, picked me up and placed me on the table we sat at, my back almost hitting the monitors behind me. He ran his hands up my thighs, and under the hem of my dress. He circled his thumbs slowly in my inner thighs. Close to my womanhood. It throbbed begging for his touch, my core heated along with my cheeks. I leaned my head back as Naru placed small kisses down my neck and right shoulder. Heat radiated off him, warming my body. He kissed my cheek and sucked my earlobe.

"You haven't seen torture yet Mai" he whispered. Naru pulled away from me, and sat back in his chair, leaving me a hot mess

"Ass hat!" I jumped down. I could feel his devilish smirk as I made my way to the kitchenette for some water.

Hours had passed, it was now close to six in the evening. Naru had left to speak with the headmaster, leaving me alone in the room, I was dozing off when the door opened and the noisy bunch came walking through

"Well look what the ghosts dragged in" I turned in my chair, sporty and goofy grin "I saw that you all were enjoying your dinner at the cafe. Must have been nice. Wait till Naru finds out you've been slacking" I wiggled my finger at the group. Monk laughed

"You wouldn't tell on us Mai" Monk ruffled her hair

"I am now!" she swatted him away "You didn't even bring me back anything" I pouted

"Uh, that's where you are wrong!" Monk grabbed a bag a pulled out a slice of moist devils food cake "I know my sweet little Mai loves her chocolate cake" my eyes lit up when I saw it, mouth salivating at the sight

"Gimme!" I reached for it

"If you promise not to tell" He tapped my nose, glaring I snatched the cake slice out of his hand

"Promise I wont say anything" I grabbed the fork that was in the container "Doesn't mean the footage won't" I snickered as I took a bite.

"Speaking of the boss, where is he?" Yasu asked, sitting down on the sofa next to Masako

"He went to speak with the Headmaster", I said with a mouthful of cake "Me and you are research buddies. So please tell me you started somewhere"

"Nope. I was with Masako for the majority of the time. We can start as soon as Naru gets back so we head down to the library" I nodded my head in agreement.

"Anything show up on the readings?" Ayako asked, sitting next to me "Its different without Lin sitting here"

"You can say that again. I now have a new found respect for him" Mai said, throwing the empty container in the small trash can under the table "And nothing, no drops in temperature. And zero activity besides a few male students fighting in the hallway...that was fun to watch. Anything with you?"

"Masako feels that something is here. But she couldn't pin point a location" Yasu stated

"It's as if its the air itself" She explained. I sighed.

"Maybe there isn't activity here. Could just be a creepy place" Monk said "Our group didn't feel a thing" I shook my head. Remembering the dream, and the feeling when the doors opened...plus that boy from this morning

"No, there is definitely something here." a soft knock sound on the door as it opened. Her blue ribbon tied pigtail popped in before she did. No longer in her work uniform, she wore a dark blue blazer with a white button up and a black tie. Her skirt was a deep red and black stockings paired with brown penny loafers.

"Lizzy?" I stood. She looked embarrassed standing in the doorway

"H-hi" she waved sheepishly

"Everything okay?" I asked her while approaching

"Yeah, I had just finished classes. I wanted to know if you wanted me to still show you around?"

"Yeah, why wouldn't I?"

"Well after this morning...when I freaked about..." she looked at my eyes, I smiled

"Don't worry about it" I grabbed my brown messenger bag and slipped my heels back on. Because I have no clue where my belongings are to change. "I'll explain everything on our tour"

"Yasu, is it okay if I start a little earlier?" I asked him, remembering the both of us were going to go to the library

"Yeah, go on ahead" he waved as he played some game on his phone

"Mai, you should probably wait till Naru gets back" Ayako said "You don't want to get him mad"

"Last time I checked he isn't my boyfriend or my father. And even then I am an independent woman. Plus this is considered working." I grabbed my phone off the table where I was sitting "I have my phone on me. So if he needs me he can call me." I followed Lizzy out the door

"Watch the monitors for me!" I reminded them as I shut the door.

"Someone is gonna be in trooouble" Yasu sang as he tapped on his screen

"Eh, makeup sex is the best though," Ayako said while flipping through a magazine, Monk shut her a glare while John sat and blushed, Masako rolled her eyes while playing with her nails.