Arrival

The van pulled up the drive way that led to an old church that rested at the top of a hill. As they got out of the car, they all got a long look at the church that was in front of them. The yellow paint looked faded against the pale blue sky that spread out around it. A cross that rested on the tower looked as though it had spent long harsh years alone, looking down on the world below. The old wooden double doors opened, and someone stepped out. He looked to be no older than twenty-eight years old and he wore what looked to be a priest's clothing. He began to descend the cracked stone stairs, his arms open.

"Thank you so much for coming." He said as the door behind him opened once more and John stepped out. "If you would please." He said, gesturing for them to follow him. Naru, Lin and Mai all followed the priest up the stairs and into the church that was awaiting them.

Mai stepped into the dark hall that had only candles and the small parts of sun that shown threw in the window. Long narrow benches sat one after another until they reached the white marble alter that rested in the very front of the church. Above it, there was a window that let the sun light fall in from above and light the whole alter. Mai walked over to the last bench in the row and touched it, letting her fingers linger. There was an odd sense here, one that she did not like. Her mind and soul were screaming for her to turn around and leave, but her curiosity wanted her to stay, so she did.

"I'm sure John has informed you of the accidents." The priest asks as he closes the door behind him.

"Yes he has." Naru says in a flat tone, looking around at the church. It didn't seem that he was looking for anything in particular.

"Well than, I am sad to say, but there has been another one." Mai looked up at the priest as she heard the news. "Last night another woman was murdered. She had five knives coming from her heart. I am sad to say that it was one of our more religious women. She came to church every week and helped clean up after every session."

"Where was she found?" Naru asked.

"Down stairs. I had left some flowers down there from the gathering that we had last night and she went to clean them up. When I came in this morning she was found dead, the vases smashed."

"If you don't mind we would like to set up cameras around the church so we can watch everything that happens."

"Mr. Kazuya, I assume." The priest looks at Naru, making sure that he is not mistaken. "This is a church, a holy place; I would prefer that you do not disturb that by placing camera around. People come here to tell there secrets to god and no one else."

"If you do not let us set up our camera's, than I will not be able to do my investigation, which means there is no reason for me to stay any longer." Naru turned to leave when John spoke up.

"What if you set up your cameras in the public places" Naru turned to face him along with the priest. "What I mean is, if you set up the cameras in the hall, down stairs and in the back room. That way you are not listening in or disturbing other people's prayers while you do your investigation." Naru turned to the head priest, waiting for his answer. The head priest remained silent, thinking about this.

"You are truly willing to go to any length for this aren't you?" The priest said in a calm soothing voice.

"I am a word of God, and I agree with you, the cameras do not belong here, but I truly don't believe God will mind if we place a few cameras around, if it is for helping those who have gotten hurt and saving those who have yet to get hurt." John said, looking up at the priest.

"Very well." The priest said after a moment of thought. "You may place cameras in the church but only in those areas that will not disturb prayer or privacy. I expect John to help you, so that we don't have any misunderstandings." He said before walking away. John looked at Naru.

"I am sorry for him. He is still against this, but I believe it is for the better." Naru nodded before turning around to walking out to tell the others to bring in the equipment.

The base was a small room in the basement that was mostly used for storage. The priest placed them there, not wanting them to disturb the events that would be going on later that week. As everyone set up, Mai went to go find the kitchen where she would make tea for everyone. It took her a while to find it, but once she did, she was completely amazed. The kitchen was extremely large for a kitchen. There were three or four ovens that looked like they could feed an entire church alone. All most every surface had a cabinet or counter on it, leaving barely any room for the large sink that rested on the far side of the room.

"It's for the homeless." said a voice behind her. Mai turned around to find the head priest standing there.

"Oh you scared me." Mai said taking a step back. She hadn't even heard him walk up behind her.

"I am sorry I had no intensions of doing that." He said. He walked into the kitchen and opened one of the cabinets. He pulled out a small bag of chips and opened them before leaning up against the counter and eating them. "Just because I am a priest, that doesn't mean that I don't get to enjoy regular food." He said when he noticed Mai staring at him.

"Oh no, I just- I thought that- I didn't…" Mai let her sentence trail off. She had no idea where she was trying to go with that thought. This made the priest laugh.

"It's okay." He said. "Most people think that because I am a priest that I can't enjoy the little things." He held up the bag. "Would you like one?" He asked.

"Oh no thank you. I have to make tea for my boss." That's when Mai remembered she needed to make tea, so she quickly walked over to the stove and turned it on. She than turned around to see if she could find a kettle when she saw one right in front of her. The priest had somehow moved to get the kettle for her without making a sound, and truly it scared Mai. "Oh thank you." Mai said. She took the kettle out of his hands to find that it was already filled with water.

Mai placed it on the stove before listening to see if she could hear the priest footsteps but she heard none. When she glanced over her shoulder she found that she was once again alone. She looked all around here, wondering where he could have gone. Her heart was pounding loudly against her chest as she took one last look around. Something was off about that, and she did not know what, and it scared her.

Once the tea was done, Mai headed back to the base where she gave Naru his tea.

"Since John has already tried an exorcism, there is no point in trying another one." Naru said mostly to himself than to the others. "John is there any one else that spends a lot of time at this church other than the priest?"

"I don't believe so." John said.

"It's obliviously a ghost. So why can't we just try another exorcism? I mean just cause John's didn't work it doesn't mean that mine won't." Bou-san said as he lend up against the wall. "No offense."

"Takigawa might have a point." John said turning to Naru.

"Huh? I do?"

"Yes. We both have different ways of exorcisms. I use the catholic's way of exorcism and you use the Buddha's, so maybe because they are so different, they could have a different effect."

"John has a point." Naru said. He looked at Bou-san before looking back a John. "Takigawa go get ready for an exorcism. John I want you to go to, just incase something does happen and he needs help."

"What about me?" Ayako asked.

"Stand there and try to look pretty and young." Naru said before standing up and walking out of the room.

"Why that little-!"

"Now calm down Ayako, you know he didn't mean it." Bou-san said trying to calm her down while avoiding her fists.

After Ayako had calmed down and Bou-san and John had gotten ready, Mai had found herself in front of the alter. Bou-san was up first. He stood at the end of the alter, looking towards the giant cross that hung on the wall. He bowed before he began to chant. Mai wondered why he did that, but did not speak up to ask.

Suddenly a cold chill went down Mai's spine.

"Are you alright?" asked a small voice behind her. Mai turned around to find Ayako standing there looking worried.

"I'm fine." Mai said before turning to face the alter. She blinked a few times before rubbing her eyes. In front of her, the alter looked blurred and disfigured. Mai tried to focus her eyes, but no matter how she looked at it the alter did not look any different. Suddenly a sharp pain snapped through Mai's head, making her grip it in pain.

"Help me" The voice was nothing more than a whisper, but Mai had heard it. "Help me please."

"Wait stop" Mai said before she could stop herself. Everyone, except Bou-san turned around to face her. Mai ignored their glances as she looked around for the source of the voice.

"Please help me." whispered the voice again.

"Stop the exorcism!" Mari screamed. She turned to Bou-san, who was still chanting and ran over to him, grabbing his arms. "Bou-san please stop!"

"Mai?" Bou-san asked looking down at her before turning to the others for help.

"Mai what is the meaning of this?" Naru asked, taking a step closer.

"Please make it stop! It hurts so much! Please stop it!" whispered the voice again. This time it seemed to echo off the walls, coming from all directions.

"He is hurting her!" Mai yelled.

"Who is he hurting?" John asked.

"Make it stop! It hurts so much! Stop it please!"

"Can't you hear her!" Mai asked. Naru shook his head as he stared at her with confusion. Mai looked at John, Ayako, Lin even Yasuhara, but none of them could hear what she had heard. "Masako?" Mai asked hoping that she could at least sense her, but she could not.

A scream erupted all around them. The noise bounced off every surface in the room, causing the floor to shake.

"Mai!" screamed someone as everything around her faded to black.

Hey! Sorry for the late update i spent most of my weekend in Barnes and Nobles (who doesn't love books right?) Anyway that point is is that I'm back and i have a knew chapter! I know its a little on the short side, or at least it seems for me but i had Finals all this week and I didn't have much time to write a long chapter.

Also i have been having a rough few days and its just getting worse so i wan to thank all those who review nice things because it may not seem it, but it really helps me feel a lot better.

Also for future reference (I am not yelling at anyone i am just stating a fact) My sissy (whitephoenix108) is in college so i no longer have anyone to check my stories for errors, so i am sorry if you happened to find any. I try my best to get rid of them, but again i am not perfect...

P.S. Alexkitkat you said that you went trick or treating and I know this is a little late for that but I HAVE to know what you went as!