Are You Afraid?

Chapter 9 – The Smith Years

Have you ever had the feeling of being watched before? I have, and I still do. I've had this feeling since I got stuck here. And I don't like it. The feeling has been worse lately, because I'm certain that Ryōsuke is watching me, and I've recently gotten the suspicion that the ghost has too… but… I think there's something else…something I can't see. I feel like I'm bordering paranoia…

Even the thought of Ryōsuke, sickens me.

A painfully loud ding-dong brought me out of my thoughts. And I thought, Why is that so loud?

"What the-…" I trailed off, not knowing what to think. No one-or in more likely in this case, something-had ever done anything like this before. Now, what would you think if this happened to you, hmm?

I stood from the bed, and made my way to the front door. I reached my arm out to unlock the door and open it, but then I hesitated, jerking my hand away from the doorknob, not knowing what would be behind it. And then I remembered the katana by my side. Sometimes I just don't think.

I draw in a deep breath, before opening the door, and I saw…nothing.

I sighed, frustrated. Not this shit again. I don't want to go through more torture. I thought, slamming the door shut.

Hours passed, which were filled with walking around the rectory and again, not really doing anything. There was one time when I was in the Courtyard again-yes, I know I've had weird experiences with the Courtyard, but it's the only place that I can think of that calms me down that isn't in the damn house. -a handful of small pebbles were thrown at me. It jolted me awake; I had adrenaline coursing through my veins.

It's from the ghost. It's from the ghost. It can't be anything else. It can't be anything else. I repeated over, and over. But I knew it wasn't true. Well, I can't say it was true or not, I had no proof about it.

I was eating dinner right now, so there isn't much happening. I sit with my back to the bricked-up wall, because I don't want to be staring at it, it makes me feel queasy inside, making me want to throw up whatever I had just eaten. One time that had actually happened, and I decided that I would sit like this for the time.

I finished my dinner and was tiredly making my way to the small bedroom I slept in.

"Don't Carlos, don't!" I heard which soon followed with a moan.

"Who is it?" I asked venom in my voice. The unexpected noise had filled me with a rush of energy, with anger accompanying it.

After I got no answer, I started to follow the noise, unsheathing my katana.

"Who is it?" I asked a second time, narrowing my eyes at the farthest door.

I ran towards the door, and flung it open. "Damn it! What the hell is wrong with this place?" I asked myself, heading back to my room.

As soon as I had fallen onto the bed, I fell asleep instantly.

But one time during the night, I heard a nearly inaudible thud thud and I knew, something was walking around the house.

I knew Arthur-san was most likely busy, but I didn't know what this was, so I hoped he would listen.

Arthur-san, please, if you are there, please, can you tell me…please…

There were a few moments, and as every second passed that was filled with complete and utter silence, I lost the hope that Arthur would reply. It was an expected outcome, but I still couldn't help but feel my eyes tear.

Arthur-san…Arthur-san… I thought, trying to take my mind off of how close the footsteps were getting.

I reached over to the bedside table, and grabbed the katana. "Who is it?" I made myself sound brave, but inwardly, I was begging for Arthur to reply, say hello, or ask what was wrong, something, just something to know he can hear me!

I was glaring at the door; knowing whatever was making the quiet thud thud was coming to this room.

And then all of a sudden, the light turned on, making me jump. I hopped out of bed, despite my drowsiness; I ran out of the room and quickly made my way to the Courtyard.

I've been out here for a very longtime, I can't sleep. Even if I was able to fall asleep, I wouldn't. I've trusted this nun too easily, and I have to be aware, that I have no idea what it will do.

"Arrrthuurrr-saaan, can you heaaar meee?" I asked aloud, and then tilted my head to the side thinking I sounded drunk. I giggled.

"It's cold out…" I muttered, I'm an idiot for not grabbing a blanket or something. I sighed. "Maybe I'll just go back inside, maybe she left…" I thought for a few minutes, and then just got up and went into the rectory.

When I was heading back to the room, in the corner of my eye, I saw some light, but I didn't want to bother. I was freezing cold and tired.

When I woke up, I slowly went to the Dining Room.

I did see a golden medallion when I was getting ready, but I didn't want to bother with it at the moment, too much had happened yesterday.

As usual, a half hour after I ate breakfast, I walked the perimeter, yawning along the way.

"Oh, is that you Kiku?" a sleepy voice asked. "Do you know where we are?"

"Heracles...?" I asked, surprised to him here, so much so, that I didn't add a suffix.

A/N Oooh Heracles is there! Not much had happened in the Smith Years, so it won't be part I and II, just one chapter~

This is written a bit differently, and it felt weird making a transition from fluffy to this torture-like story, sooo, sorry for my delay~

Thanks to Mariko Midori for the lovely review~

I hope you enjoyed reading this, and leave a review