Chapter 8

Me: This is it folks! This is the chapter where Abby gets saved!

That person next to me: I'm excited. No, seriously, I'm excited.

Me: Good to know. *nods*

That person next to me: Just get to the chapter.

Me: …

Lin pov

All I felt was stress. Stress over the case. Stress over the ghosts. Stress from not having Abby by my side. THE rest of the team was giving me grief over my lack of work ethic. Usually I was on top of my job, but I couldn't focus right now. Ever since the fourth day without Her, I felt nothing. My hope was gone and I didn't think I would see her. She might be dead, and I couldn't do anything about it. It was making me even more stressed out than I already was.

"Lin?" Mai whispered, the sixth night Abby was missing, "We'll find her." She assured me.

I sighed, rolling over to face her, since she was in between me Naru and I, "I wish you could astral project on command and find her." I said back, my voice low.

Mai smiled, "I wish I could too, for your sake. You're absolutely nothing without her, we all can see that." She smiled again, "Do you love her?" She asked.

I thought for a moment. I had deep feelings for her, but was it enough to call love? "I don't know, Mai. I guess we'll find out when we find her." I told her, "Now, go to sleep." I turned back over and closed my eyes.

I couldn't sleep, now while thinking about Abby. Was she okay? Was she scared? I didn't think for a second that she was scared. She was the bravest woman I knew. She knows that I'm going to save her, and that I'm not going to let her go. Ever.

With that thought in mind, I smiled and feel to sleep, dreaming of her and everything I was going to tell her when we found her. I was going to convince her to let me talk to her parents, to let me take her with me to Japan, and eventually to China to meet my family. She was my everything, and-

I loved her. I was deeply and hopelessly in love with her. I couldn't be without her. She was my everything, I knew that, but I loved her with all my heart. She was mine and I was hers, if she loved me as well.

Mai pov

I knew Lin loved her, we all did. He just didn't know it, yet. I hoped that he figured it out soon.

Sighing, I closed my eyes and fell asleep. I felt the familiar pull of astral projection. I was standing over the team, watching them sleep, along with myself, which was kind of creepy. Shaking my head, I walked out of the base, into the hallway. I looked around, wondering why this was happening right now. I felt a cold presence coming from somewhere above me, so I followed it, coming to where Lin said he felt a cold spot.

There was a door to my right, and I went to it. It was a staircase, leading up. Step by step, I felt the air grow colder. I shivered, not immune to temperature while in this state.

I was now in an attic. One that was cluttered and messy. There was a large black mass, one that I assumed was making the cold spot, didn't acknowledge me when I approached it, only continued to stare at a mass in the corner. A person.

Cautious of the demon, I just assumed it was, I went to the person, almost gasping when I recognized her. It was Abby! She was alive and well. I shook her awake, smiling when she gasped at me.

"Mai?" She whispered, lips barely moving, "What are you doing here?"

I put my hand on her arm, noticing how cold her skin was, "I just found you. I'm not really here. I'm astral projecting. You're just above the base, you didn't know that?" She shook her head, "Well you are so come on. Lin will be glad to see you."

She refused to move, "I can't go. That thing over there," She explained referring to the black mass of a demon, "It'll hurt me if I move."

I sighed, "We can get past it together, I promise. Lin needs you, he's a mess. He can't focus without you." I told her.

She smiled lightly, "Lin…. Does he love me?" She asked.

I smiled back, "I hope so, for your sake and his. Do you love him?"

She looked at me, "With all my heart."

"Then we have to get to him. We have to get out of here." I grabbed her hand, "I can come for you tomorrow, okay?" She nodded slowly, "Just hold on until then."

Normal pov

Mai woke up the next morning, fully aware of what she promised Abby. She had stayed with the girl all night, comforting her and offering some company. The poor girl was weak and scared. Mai had to get to get to her, today. Looking around, she noticed everyone else was awake. She jumped up and started to grab everyone's sleeping bag.

"Mai, what are you doing?" Naru asked, frowning at her.

"Making a super comfy and warm bed, okay? Just trust me; I know what I'm doing." Mai said back, adjusting everything so that it was perfect, "There." She turned to everyone, "Guys, we're saving Abby today."

At the mention of her name, Lin whipped around to face the young woman as she explained her astral projection experience. She told them about the demon keeping Abby there and hurting her, making Lin livid.

Once they were ready, Ma led them out of the base and to the stairway. Takigawa and Ayako went first, followed by Lin and Naru, then Mai, Masako and Yasuhara. Once they piled upstairs, they crept through the mess, and attacked.

Ayako and Takigawa chanted to keep the demon in place while Lin rushed to his woman. She looked up at him with blank eyes, not registering what was going on until the last second. Abby attempted to jump up, but she fell to her knees due to lack of energy. Lin whispered something to her and picked her up bridal style, cradling her close to his warmth. He was the first one down the stairs, everyone following while the two attacking the demon put up wards to keep it there.

As soon as they got back to the base, Lin laid Abby down on the bed, covering her with his jacket first, then some blankets. Then, he lay next to her, holding her as close as possible, while murmuring loving words in her ear. Everyone was exhausted; they collapsed on the floor, except for Naru, who stood against the wall ignoring his own need to rest. They were all staring at the two huddled up together, one of them sleeping and the other watching her with a fierce protectiveness about him.

"Okay," Naru started, "We have to get rid of that demon now. We can't let it get her again. She might not live if it did." They all nodded in agreement, except for Lin who was just watching his love with anger seething in his eyes.

"Don't worry Abby," He whispered to her, tucking some hair behind her ears, "I will protect you."

Abby pov

I could feel them around me, their warmth. I felt someone kneel before me and I looked up, shocked to see Lin. He was here to rescue me! I wanted to smile, I tried to, but I was so weak and tired that I couldn't. The others were holding back the demon, giving me a chance to escape, which I was taking. However, I couldn't get up because when I tried, I fell back down. Lin put his arms around me and picked me up, holding me close, with me snuggling against him in response.

He laid me on a makeshift bed when we got to the base and pile blankets on top of me, along with his jacket, which was first. I was warm, and he was lying next to me, with his arms around my cold body. I fell asleep shortly after that, but was still able to hear the conversation. They were going to get rid of the demon, for me, and Lin was going to protect me. Him saying that almost made me cry, but I was to sleepy to.

Soon, I was falling into a deeper sleep, my body relaxing to a point to where I would have thought that I was dead, if not for the feeling of Lin's arms around me gently penetrating my dreams. I could also feel him stroking my hair, relaxing me even more. I was happy now, with the man I loved. Once I woke up, I was going to tell him.