Volume 10
Kenta brought the entire group to police headquarters with him that evening. Dojima met them there. The men and their teen entourage sealed themselves in a conference room. Everyone had to crowd close together to fit in the cramped area, but at least they'd have some privacy inside.
"Do you kids know anything about this?" Dojima asked. The group shook their heads. The detective sighed. "And I thought that maybe you kids would have some insight after the last time…"
Kenta's hands went to his eyes. He was shivering and a whimper kept passing through his lips.
"My baby girl," he moaned, "I finally got her back, and she's…she could be…" It was what he didn't say that made Yosuke's heart and head pulse achingly.
"When did you guys last see Aila?" Dojima inquired. Yosuke inhaled deeply.
"I was the last to see her," Yosuke admitted. "It was on Friday night. She and I…we got into a stupid fight. Then she took off into the storm. I assumed that she was going to head home, so I decided to let her cool off for a day or two…." This was his fault. He knew it was. He'd driven her away and now she could be….
"Sonnel?" Dojima addressed the broken man. "Did she come home that night?"
Kenta rose his head, eyes bloodshot. His nose and cheeks were both red. "Ye-yes. She'd seemed like she was upset and crying, but I thought at first that maybe it was just rain on her face. When I tried to talk to her, she ran up to her room for the rest of the night. I was at work most of the time after." Yosuke went silent, his eyes growing damp and distant.
"So, we can account for her whereabouts on Friday," Dojima started to carry the conversation forward. "What about Saturday?"
"She was in bed asleep when I came home." Kenta rubbed his head thoughtfully. "And she was eating breakfast at the dinner table when I left yesterday morning."
"With the crime scene in mind, and considering the fact that she was in the middle of a fight with one of you, we can probably assume that she didn't leave the house to hang out with friends that day." Narukami's uncle put a hand to his chin, closing his eyes as he pictured the home in his head. "The doors were locked when Kenta arrived that evening, so forced entry is out of the picture. All windows were closed and accounted for as well. Yet, the overturned furniture indicates a struggle. Same with the blood that forensics has identified as Aila's."
Naoto turned to Kenta, adjusting her hat. "You said you 'just got her back'," she said to him. "What did you mean by that?"
Kenta pulled inward, taking a deep, unsteady breath. "Aila's mother and I got divorced when she was only three. Suki took full custody of Aila shortly after and I only had visitations on holidays-due to my choice of occupation, naturally." Kenta's gaze drifted to the desk before him. "Aila didn't know me very well, but I suppose that she always wanted to. She sought me out last year and chose to live with me-for a little while, at least. I've been on Cloud Nine ever since, until…" He made a grunt; he couldn't go on.
Naoto nodded and turned to Dojima. "Would you mind if we had a look at the crime scene? There are a few things that I'd like to take a look at."
Dojima folded his arms over his chest. "Normally, I'd say no to kids being on a crime scene. However, considering that you guys helped out during the last big case, I'll get you some time."
…. ….
'Aila's House…'
The smell of dried blood filled the group's lungs as they went into the living room. Yosuke tried his best not too keep his eyes on one spot for too long. Naoto, upon entering, took a deep breath and headed straight for the center of the room. The others followed slowly. The detective bent over a large black object collapsed on the ground, putting a hand to her chin. "Just as I thought."
"What is it, Naoto?" Rise asked. Everyone peered over the girl's shoulder.
"Aila's TV has claw marks on the edges." Naoto pointed at the impressions. "And there's blood here, too."
"You don't mean…" Teddie gasped.
Yosuke's heart jumped and he pushed past his friends. "She's in the TV World?!"
Naoto glared at the markings, giving a vague nod. "It would explain why she wasn't here after the struggle."
"Then we need to go get her!" Yosuke had half a mind to hop into the TV right then and there, but Narukami put a hand on his shoulder.
"There's one thing we haven't answered yet," the leader contemplated. "Who pushed her in?"
The group fell silent, aimlessly looking around the room.
"Um…Mr. Top?" Yukiko guessed. It seemed the likely answer to everyone, but…
"If it's him," Naoto mused, "we'd need evidence to prove it."
"Wait!" Chie ran to the end of the room, looking for something. "AHA!" She pulled something big and silver from beneath a table. It was Magic the rabbit's cage, empty and stained with blood.
"I don't get it," Kanji muttered. "The rabbit is our proof?"
"Maybe it had something to do with her disappearance!" Chie suggested. "What if it was the one that pushed her inside the TV?"
"It's just a rabbit, Chie," Rise said in annoyance. "It's not strong enough to push her into a TV-or knock a TV over, for that matter."
"With Mr. Top, though, it might be possible," Yukiko muttered. She went over to one of the large lines pressed into the wall. "These marks look like they could've come from that Shadow-Wolf."
"The size certainly matches," Naoto mumbled. She glanced back down at the TV then at Narukami. "What should we do, Senpai?"
Narukami clenched his fist. "We'll go tonight."
…. ….
A new area had opened up in the Shadow's world. It resembled a shiny, silver corporate building with a large neon sign at the top. The team glared at it through their glasses.
"'Deep Secret Records'?" Yosuke read aloud. Narukami made a thoughtful noise in the back of his throat.
"Let's hurry inside," he said. "I'll bring Yosuke, Naoto, and Teddy. The rest of you will stay out here for a bit."
"Ok," the others said. Rise summoned her Persona, it's satellite head shimmering towards the building.
"She's on the 7th floor," she announced. "And there's something else with her! We need to get up there quickly!"
"Right!" Narukami wielded his katana and led the way into the building.
…. ….
It took a few hours to navigate, but the group was able to get to the 7th floor without many injuries. There was only one door on the floor's corridor, and it was large. It was taller that any two of the Investigation's Team's members heights combined. It was a faded gray, imprinted with dozens of shiny black music notes. Narukami stopped in front of it, staring at the handle 5 feet out of his reach. He looked back at his friends.
"Ideas?" He asked.
At the sound of his voice, the door opened inward. The creak it made seemed to laugh at them darkly. Naoto flinched, putting her gun up. "I don't like this."
"If Aila's in there…" Yosuke didn't finished, but he was the first person to pass through the entrance.
…. ….
Aila heard a light buzz beside her ear, then thin fingers stroking her hair. She mumbled something that she couldn't even understand and curled her legs into her chest. A sharp pain filled her right arm, but she tried to ignore it.
"Aila," a sweet voice called. "Aila, wake up."
Aila sat up and looked around. Where was she? What had happened? The girl stared at the dark place she was in….it was the inside of a recording studio. Sound-ready walls surrounded the brunette, only revealing a single door and windows that recorders could see her through. The booth and soundboard on the outside were empty and above Aila, a microphone hung ominously, swaying as it slinked out of the ceiling. Aila had always dreamed of getting her own record deal so that she could stand in one of these studios, but how did she…?
"Aila." The girl whirled around and gasped.
"Mina!"
…. ….
The group saw Aila through the window, and another girl on the inside. Naoto gasped.
"Is that her?" She asked aloud.
"I never got a good look at her before," Yosuke muttered.
"She looks a lot like Aila!" Teddie pointed out. "How did we never notice that they were family before?"
"She didn't want us to know," Narukami reminded them. He started looking around for a way to get to the girls. "A door." The others watched as their leader pulled on the handle to the recording area's entrance, but it didn't budge. "What the…?"
Yosuke went with him and both pulled on the handle. "It won't open!" Yosuke yelled. He pounded on the wood. "Aila! Aila! Open up!"
Naoto stared at her friend through the glass. "She can't hear you… Look." The boys returned to the window.
…. ….
"Mina." Aila breathed a sigh of relief. "I've been looking everywhere for you! I've been so worried!" Mina was in a brilliant platinum cage, staring down at her cousin with sympathetic eyes. Aila couldn't see their color very well beneath Mina's shadowy brown bangs, but it didn't bother her.
"You found me at last," Mina said, her voice filled with brilliant joy. "I've been waiting for you! I knew you'd come!"
"Of course I would!" Aila pulled herself up to the cage, gripping her cousin's wrists. "You're like a sister to me! I'd never give up on finding you!" Suddenly, Mina inhaled a large gust of air.
"Aila! You're arm…!"
Aila glanced down at her right limb. The forearm was slashed open and bleeding profusely. Now that she saw it, she could feel the pain shooting through her entire body. She grunted.
"We need to get you out of here, Aila!" Mina tried to stand up straight, but her head hit the top of the prison before she could even flex her thighs. "You need to free me, then I'll help you wrap up that wound. The keys should still be in here."
"O-ok." Aila looked around for them, gripping her arm as she searched. Any movement her muscles made seemed to increase the blood flow. At last, Aila found the keys to free her friend. They only a few short scuffles away. "There they are!"
Mina smiled. "Good job, Aila. Good job."
…. ….
Teddie choked. "Look! Her eyes!"
The group gave a collective gasp when they saw Mina's true eye color. The yellow pupils watched Aila hungrily as the girl struggled to grab small silver objects nearby. Aila hurried back to the cage and tried to jam the keys into the door.
"No…no!" Yosuke yelled. "Can't she see it? Can't she see those eyes?!"
"I don't think she can. Look at her face." Narukami pointed to girl's expression. It was beading with sweat, and her consciousness seemed to be fading in and out by the way she was blinking heavily.
"Aila! AILA!" Yosuke beat on the glass. Aila didn't seem to hear that, either. "Don't do it! It's a trap!"
Naoto looked around at the soundboard. "Ma-maybe there is something here that we can push so that she can hear us!" Everyone started looking around, pushing every button they could find. Aila's hand started finding the slot for the key when Teddie hit something. A loud sound, like a microphone being dropped, sounded through both sides of the area. Yosuke jumped and yelled out, "Aila! Don't do it! She's not Mina!"
Aila looked to the glass with a surprised expression, but it was short-lived as Mina grabbed her hand and turned the key for her. A soft click resonated through the room and everyone went still.
"Ah-hahahahahaha haa!" Mina cackled. She pushed Aila away from the cage and burst her way out. She reached out her arms, standing on her tiptoes to get the most out of her stretch. She looked down at the other girl. "What a fool. Too trusting, too simple-minded, and so desperate to save the lost cousin." The creature's yellow eyes sparkled as she laughed.
"Wh-where is she?" Aila grunted from the ground. Gripping her arm tightly. Mina's imposter glared into the glass at the frozen human companions.
"To think that you'd all come to the rescue, even after all of the lies you've been fed."
"Wh-where's-" Another groan as blood slid down Aila's fingers.
"Why'd you come now? Where were you before the kidnapping?" Mina put a hand to her hip, laughing darkly once more. "You idiots are more than too late."
"HEY! LOOK AT ME, DAMMIT!" Mina turned to the yelling girl. Aila fought to stand. "WHERE'S MINAKO?!"
The amber-eyed fiend cackled, gripping her stomach. "Oh, don't I wish I knew, for your see…." The Shadow's form shifted slowly until- "I'm you."
The mirror image of Aila stood tall and proud, gazing down condescendingly at the weakling.
Aila stumbled backwards. "N-no…"
"Aila, don't listen to it!" Yosuke hollered.
"I am you, though," Shadow Aila insisted. "I'm weak, I'm cowardly, and I hate being all alone."
"Th-that's not-!" Aila's back hit the wall. There was no escape.
"Aila, stay strong!" Narukami called. The team started beating everything that they could, trying to make their way inside the room.
"I'm so pathetic," the Shadow went on. "After my parents got divorced, I couldn't relate to anyone else my age-no one except my precious cousin, Minako. The best days of my life were when she was staying with me and mom. But then she left one day and I felt so lost without her."
"St-stop!" Aila begged.
"After years of sniveling, I finally got up the guts to leave and go looking for her. I even went to live with daddy dearest to accomplish my goal."
"Aila!" Yosuke yelled again. The building started to rattle as Shadow Aila's body grew with dark power.
"All of these people-these so called friends-were a means to an end. By acting all bubbly friendly like Mina, I was able to gain their trust. I even got them to look for my cousin for me. Idiots. Mina's the only one I ever really cared about. No one else."
"That's not how I feel! Not at all!" Aila cried.
"But it is. These are your true feelings. This is who I really am."
"Noooo! That's not true! You're not me! You're NOT ME!"
"Aila, don't!"
***SHATTER***
The ceiling-and all of the floors above it-blew away in a violent gust of air. Shadow Aila transformed yet again, growing four feet taller as her skin turned midnight. Long silver cables shot all of the floor, most entrapping Aila in their cold snare like chains. They took her into the sky beside the Shadow. It laughed and allowed dozens of wires to extend out of her body. They connected to six large speakers that materialized around the beast. Cords kept them hooked to it.
"How about we get some heavy metal going in here?!" The creature yelled, calling forth an electric charge from its host's core. Then, it let out a long cry, "DIE!" A barrage of lightening bolts were released over the team. Everyone attempted to dodge the attack, but with little success.
"Aila-UGH!" Yosuke tried to call out, but a bolt of lightening struck him down. Narukami reached his hand forward and grasped his tarot card.
"Izanagi!" The brilliant, black-cloaked Persona arrived, wielding its massive silver blade. His magnificent golden eyes bore into Aila's Shadow. Narukami ordered it to attack and the being obeyed. It soared at the Shadow and rose its weapon for a deadly attack to the chest. The Shadow grinned and swung its hand before its body. Aila's chained body swooped in the line of fire, acting as a shield for it's evil counterpart.
"Stop!" Narukami cried out. Izanagi halted his stab just in time to be struck in the side by a sharp wire. The thing snaked around Aila's body and jarred itself into the Persona's hip. It disappeared in an instant and Narukami fell to the ground, gripping his torso.
"Sensei!" Teddie called out, rushing to his leader's side. Naoto tried to lay down some suppressive fire with her gun, hitting the oncoming wires away before they could strike her friends down.
"Fools!" The Shadow cackled. "You have only one choice when it comes to defeating me…." A wire from the Shadow's heart swirled towards Aila's back, burying the other end into her back. Aila cried out in immense pain, her screams echoing throughout the entire realm. "This human and I are connected. Our lives are linked together-her very essence is what keeps me here tonight. Should you want to defeat me, you must kill her." It laughed again as the team avoided another set of lightening strikes.
"Farewell, humans."
... ...
Hello again! The next volume is up and running! Aila is in danger, and the team needs to think of something to save her and themselves-fast! How will the battle end? Who will walk from this alive?! Find out, next volume!