So here's the short little chapter before the next one. After this, things are going to get rough for our favorite duo!
She was walking in the darkness, pitch black darkness.
She wanted to stop, but her legs just kept walking.
Keep going. Keep going, a voice coerced her. It wasn't hers, it wasn't Gene's; it wasn't anything she recognized.
Stop it! she wanted to cry, but her throat was clogged up with a sob.
It was so cold, too cold for the sweatshirt she was wearing. A wind whipped at her hair, her nose, her neck. It found gaps in her clothes and slithered inside and chilled her to the bone. She shivered ceaselessly. A whimper rose up in her throat when she realized she couldn't even move her arms to wrap them around herself.
Someone! Anyone! Mai thought desperately. Ayako… Monk… Lin…. John… Masako… Naru… Gene?
Something grabbed her arm, but it was soothing, a warm pressure, giving her relief in the terrible cold and darkness. Mai turned to come face-to-face with Gene. He was hanging onto her wrist and pulling desperately. His face was strained with worry and horror - something terrifying to see on a Naru look-alike - and the muscles on his arms and shoulders stood out as he strained to stop her.
Gene! she screamed at him.
He looked at her helplessly and repositioned his grasp so he was holding more of her arm. Mai was grateful for his warmth until she saw darkness beginning to blur the edge of Gene's figure.
STOP! she yelled, but she couldn't pull away, couldn't do anything as the darkness consumed more and more of the pale, shivering boy before her that just wouldn't let go.
And then he disappeared.
A strong, cold hand took Mai by the back of her neck and jerked her head forwards. Gooseflesh crept up her back and to her ears.
Walk, it ordered.
The silence and cold were so unbearable that Mai thought she would go insane if someone didn't find her soon.
But she kept walking.
"Mai?"
Ayako reached for Mai's arm. The girl had all of a sudden stood up and was now walking towards the wall.
Naru immediately stopped the miko. "Wait," he said, watching her closely. Her eyes were open, but… blank.
Everyone in the room watched in amazement as Mai reached forwards towards the wall, grasped not air but a solid doorknob, and wrenched open a door. The door seemed to peel away from the wall, revealing a dark corridor behind it.
"Naru-" Ayako began, but he held up a hand and strode across the room himself. Maybe Gene was guiding her, a way out or a solution to their problem. The first time had been Gene, too, after all. Naru wasn't going to interrupt again.
He watched Mai walk a few feet into the darkness and stepped outside of the base after her. Then he motioned silently for the others to follow. Lin was already at the door, but before he could step out behind Naru as well, the door slammed shut in his face.
Naru blinked and grabbed for the handle, but there was none. His fingers slid across a smooth, stone wall.
"Lin, can you hear me?" he shouted.
No answer.
Naru looked at the wall and then at Mai's retreating form. "Dammit," he growled, and ran after her.
OH NO! SOMEONE HELP THEM! WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO DO?
(dramatic wailing)
For next time: Be scared for them - I am!