Chapter 23
Tuesday, May 15th
Case 2: Day 2
I felt the rumbling before Mai yelled my name. Debris shook and fell lightly like a flurry of the first winter's snow. Like a coating of dust was all that was left, almost as if it had been used just a few days ago. I held her tightly against my chest, covering her head with my arm in case of larger heavier rock fell upon us. In the midst of the shaking, I couldn't decipher if it was the girl in my arms or the surrounding area. Then it was like all the light in the world suddenly vanished, leaving myself and Mai in an endless black void. Silence soon followed.
I didn't loosen my grip on my petite assassinate, even as I felt her body fall out of tension, a long deep breath escaping from her lips. I could only imagine what she looked like. Her freckled cheeks flustered, covering the soft pink blush. Lips coated in a thin layer of nude lipstick, swollen from her biting it out of fear. A tick she does with every emotion that graces her delicate face. And her eyes, the most beautiful feature on her face. Like freshly made caramel, wide and frightened with a hint of curiosity. Her scent washed over me, getting me drunk on strawberries and cream, as she moved out of my grasp. I wanted to hold her a bit longer, but I knew I was being unlike my character and reluctantly let the warmth of her small frame step away.
A blink of an eye later I sharply turned away in painful blindness. Letting my pupils adjust to the sudden cool lighting
"Sorry!" I turned back to her. "I should have said something, but it just came naturally…." she trailed off, eyes darting around the small enclosure. I took the time to let myself gaze at the woman before me. Its been nearly two years since she stumbled and broke her way into my life….well I guess she's always been a part of it, just hidden from view. Gone are the days where she was in awe of every new detail she learned. She was scared to work for me, scared of learning this whole new world she never knew of. Mai has always been independent since she lost her mother, but being in this line of work, she needed someone to hold her hand. Looking at her now, she blossomed into the most gorgeous rose. Strong, intelligent, passionate, and addictively alluring in every way. She was not the same girl two years ago…
Mai turned back to me, her full lips moving but I didn't hear a word spill from them. I was captivated by her like she was the newest paranormal research lab book to grace my fingers. I drank in her petite figure, already memorized from the night before. No...she was defiantly not the same girl from two years pass. The girl standing before me now is otherworldly.
"Oliver!" Mai yelled my name, poking me in the chest "Are you listening to me?" No, no I was not. Collecting myself, I stood a little straighter, going unnoticed by my assassinate.
"I was in a middle of a thought Mai" I looked at her sharply, pretending I wasn't just thinking about her seconds ago. She puffed her cheeks out, making me bite the inside of my cheeks to stop from smiling at her.
"Well was it a thought about how to get out of here!" Her eyes went wide and frantic "I've never been claustrophobic, but it think I am starting to be" she started to pace, the cool light casting a silver shadow on her and the rest of the enclosure where ever she wondered
"I read somewhere a long time ago that a person can still be conscious for a certain amount of time in a closed space with no direct airflow" she looked back to me, frantic. Yes, Mai has grown into a stronger woman over the last couple of years, but she has yet to manage her anxiety. She continued anyway without me stating if the fact was true or not
"And I walked the space, its barely six by six. And its made of stone! Air can't just go through stone. Plus we have two grown adults inside...both using the oxygen...and we have no service, I checked." she stopped in front of me once more "How are we going to get out of here?"
I rubbed at my temples. How can the same girl who makes my head go blank with just a smile also be the cause of almost all my headaches? I sighed, a question that has been left unanswered for the past year…and probably unanswered by many men around the world
"Mai, I need to you calm down" I looked around the stone walls for the first time since being trapped
"Calm down? You want me to be calm" Mai threw her hands in the air, letting loose the orb of light. Then it split in two and floated over to my side. Mai muttered under her breath and rolled her eyes. I turned away, a subtle smile at her ever-growing power. I touched the orb at my side, astonished that it wasn't warm, nor was it cold...I knew it wasn't solid since it was light waves. But to not hold a temperature that I couldn't categorize. Defiantly have to make note, and look farther in into fathers research.
I was looking at the edge of two of the stone walls when the light Mai had been casting slowly started to dim. Curios I turned my attention back to the Carpe. "Mai" her name escaped my lips as I watched her slump against the cold stone. Thankfully the space between us wasn't far in between. I collected her in my arms and helped guide her body to the ground
"I'm fine" she protested. Trying to shake my arms away. Even in the dimming light, I could see the changing features to her face. She looked ashy and tired. I noticed that she had her lips slightly parted trying to mask her heavy breaths. "I'm just a lightheaded"
"We haven't been in here that long," I said to her, letting her know even though I seemed like hours it isn't. "Your mind is playing a trick on you, which then affects the body"
"No, I know that" I sat back on my heels. "Its the iron. I knew it was down here, but its a lot more than the school building." she took a deep breath, shallow as it came out "I tried to manipulate the stone" Slightly bewildered. I really shouldn't be surprised since she surprises me every day with something new
"Excuse me" I wanted to make sure I heard her right. Her tempting pout lifted at the corners
"I thought I could move the stone, but it has iron in it. And iron drains me...nullifies my power. Granted it didn't directly touch me, but the effects didn't work." She rested her head on the stone behind her, the bags prominently showing under her closed eyes "Sadly, because I used it against iron unknowingly I managed to completely drain myself"
How could I have been so careless to let her come down here...or even notice these changes happening to her body. I had to get her out of here and quickly. I know little to nothing on how these effects can damage herself further. I looked at her resting face, peaceful as it could be in her state. A few strands of hair came loose from her multiple braids she had woven through her hair, falling and curling gently around her face. I had to hold my urge to want to brush them behind her right ear, adorned in glittering gemstones. Making another note to buy her a real pair of diamond earrings for her birthday. I sighed again and finally fell fully to the floor, running my hands through my hair. Remembering how it felt to have her fingers do the same movement the night before
"Naru?" I looked to the exhausted girl "Everything alright?" I muffled a chuckle
"You can not be that daft Mai" I felt the daggers bore into me
"That's not what I had meant" I knew she didn't mean it in that way. I knew she meant if I was personally okay. And I was, in spite of all this mess. Secretly I was okay with being here with her by ourselves. I could be with her all day and never be bored. Happily content with her company in every way. But I knew, I knew deep down that I had to put distance between us
"Oliver" I jerked my head up, she's said my given name many times before but each time sends electric currents throughout my body. But her tone was all seriousness...even though she kept her gaze to the picking of her nail polish, a soft orange. Not her color but in all honesty, she would look good with mud smeared over her.
"Last night..." she trailed nervously
"Last night was a -" I tried to get my piece out before any damage could be done.
"There's a spirit" she cut me off, pushing herself to her feet. I grabbed her hand to help. She balanced against the wall that was once behind her "A young boy. Maybe around his late teens, he's wearing the old school uniform"
"Where is he?" I darted my eyes around looking for the apparition
"In the left corner ahead of us" I looked. Nothing.
"I guess he's not a strong spirit since I can't see him, or he doesn't want to let me see him."
"No, he is a weak one." Mai guided herself to the corner slowly
"Can you talk to him?" I asked. Watching Mai with curiosity.
"I don't know." she stopped about a foot away from the corner "Hi, My name is Mai. Yours?" She said warmly and slowly in perfect English. "Can you speak?"
"It looks like he can't speak. Maybe he doesn't have enough spiritual energy" Mai said back to me. I nodded
"Try to get some information from him" I offered
"Why are you here?" she asked gently. Then she turned her head back and looked past me. I glanced in the direction, she pointed to the top corner. I walked over to the corner where Mai and I were just seated. Mai pointed to the corner so I looked, not finding anything.
"Naru can you reach up there. He pointed to the top corner." I listened and had my fingers feel around. A cool chill pricked my fingertips. I was stunned
"There is a draft up here. That means on the other side is open" I put the rest of my fingers through the hole and tugged slightly towards myself. Surprised that it gave way "Mai help." I felt bad to ask her for help with how she is, but I can't move this wall all on my own. Mai made her way at a slower pace than normal but slipped her dainty fingers through the crack I made and helped me tug. A few minutes later and a whole lot of grunting from both parties we created a hole big enough could fit us one by one.
"Huh" Mai stepped back looking at the hole. "Who would have thought" I grabbed her hand and led her through the hole, not knowing where it would lead but its the only option we had. Once on the other side Mai relight the orb of light, much dimmer than before. Hopefully, we can find a way out soon
"The spirit. Is he still around" I looked at our surroundings...just the same stone tunnel. If the spirit(s) are strong enough they glow if you can see them and or give off some type of energy that you can sense or feel which is mainly the reason why people say that the air around them gets cold all of a sudden—that's one type of energy they give off. So if I can't see them or feel its energy then Mai is our only hope to find a way out. My gut twitched, not having control is affecting me in a way I wish it didn't.
"Yes the spirit is still here," Good
"Mai, what is he doing"
"Wait! Please, I can't walk fast" Mai Yelled out down the hall if I was a normal person who didn't believe in the supernatural I would have thought she was crazy. But I smiled to myself as I watched her balance her self on the wall. Knowing full well shes about to through a tantrum. She didn't hear me come from behind as I scooped her up in my arms. Always surprised by how light she is
"N-Naru" the look on her face as she squeaked "I can walk on my own" she flared her legs in a motion to let her down but I just held her tighter to me
"We'll cover more ground this way. Just keep your eyes on the spirit" she huffed, "I'm trusting you Mai" she stilled, I didn't meet her eyes. Afraid that I'd fall into their rabbit hole of beauty.
Hours seemed to pass by as Mai followed the spirit, directing me in the doing. The walk was mostly straight with a few twists. No opening or doors. Just solid stone. Mai had rested her head on my shoulder eyes fluttering.
"Naru" she spoke softly. I grunted to let her know I was listening to her honey-coated voice "Have you noticed that this tunnel is awfully clean?" No, I haven't. I was move trapped in my thoughts about her.
"Elaborate" Mai moved herself to straighten up the most she could in my arms
"This tunnel is supposed to be abandoned...there isn't any cobwebs...or skeletons of animals that managed there way down here." She was right. I looked around. I defiantly didn't scream abandoned. And earlier, when the walls moved, it was like turning on a fan for the first time in the spring. A light layer of dust falling to the floor.
"Ghost's aren't going to clean" she whispered, probably aware of the spirit only she could see. Again she had a point. Something to now consider in this case "Naru let me down" she didn't wait for me to protest as she wiggled her way out. Slightly falling to the ground
"Mai-" she shushed me with a wave of her hand. She walked again bracing her self against the wall. The orb falling her, dimmer than before the start of our never-ending journey.
"There's a stairwell a few feet in front of me. It's our way out" relief flooded me, and a moment later the light shined upon the archway covered into the stone with matching stairs leading up. But Mai walked past it
"Mai, what are you doing" I waited for her at the stairs
"I feel it" She paused. She said and quick thank you to her right and turned back to the black mass in front of us "It's like a pulse... it is calling me. Like a tug on an invisible string" I walked to her, taking her hand and dragging her back to the stairs.
"Naru!" she yanked back "We could find out what's down there. I feel something! Doesn't that count for anything?"
"Of course it does. But my main concern is getting you help. Gene and Kat haven't shown themselves to you. You said iron nullifies you, what if its blocking you as well" I tugged her harder towards me. Inwardly begging her to just follow me, give me a piece of mind that she'll be okay.
"I-" she started, looking away towards the rest of the tunnel. This is how I know she isn't the same girl from two years ago. That girl would have run in fear...this girl in front of me wants to dive head first. "Okay" I sighed, gratefully and we made our way up the stairs. Praying it would lead us closer to the school.
AN: I know its short but I just want to ease back into writing this. I cant believe it been almost three months since I updated! Golly where have I been you ask? I'm pretty sure you didn't ask or care but imma tell you anyway lol
I have been writing my actual book. It has a lot of similarities to Beautiful Chaos so Y'all get some hidden insight. Plus I own an Etsy store, I'm still fairly newish to it all, but it got really busy around the holiday season and all of my focus just went straight to there. I am trying to make it my full-time job. But hey if you are a planner boy/girl and want some planner stickers to "Pretty Plan" I have a shop! It is in my Bio if you care to look at it.
And on top of that working my part-time job, which turned into full time over the holiday's, overnights. Which was a game changer to this girl. So my days were just all whacked up
Either way, I'm back and alive. I am going to try to update at least once a week...maybe every other week? I'm not making any promises but I really just want to spill this whole storyline out for you since Y'all will be shoooooook
If you made it this far in my unnecessary update on my life please comment the word 'Panda' in your review! (They are my favorite animal sooooo) and let me know if you like Naru's perspective
Have a great day, afternoon or night
xoxo Kayla 3