Neko: Wow! We got reviews!
Synemyoa: I know! I'm so happy!
Thanks to: Sweet Mai-chan, Naru-chan, Moons-chan, witchhuntress, Ayjah and Emina105!!
Neko: Thank you very much. I hope you'll keep reading… and hopefully, reviewing too!
Synemyoa: Thank you! I hope you'll enjoy this one too! The chapters are a bit short though. *blush*
PRELUDE TO A NIGHTMARE
Darkness surrounded her battered body as an unimaginable fear found its way into her thoughts. Something warm and wet was covering her aching feet which were tired from all of that running. It felt so good as it seeped between her toes… but what was it? In the depths of the shadows surrounding her, she could finally make out something.
Eyes… it was eyes. Yellow, hate filled eyes. Gritting her teeth to keep from screaming, she backed away as far as possible. What the hell is that… This is different from the usual dreams… Suddenly, the whole room became lit with an eerie green glow. Before her, where the eyes had once been, was a green pentagram etched into an old wooden wall. A thud and crack sent Mai flying backwards with a scream. In the middle of the pentagram there was now a long, jagged cut… almost as if something were trying to beat its way through from the other side. This is too realistic. Wait… what's that coming out of the crack?
Blood. It was blood. Warm red blood was pouring in from the other side. Somehow, Mai was now able to guess what she's been standing in this whole time.
With one last scream, Mai was brought back to her safe reality.
"Mai? Mai, are you okay?" Someone was calling her name… such a soothing voice.
"MAI, wake up!" Pain cascaded along her face as the sound of a slap echoed through the room. She bolted up, ready to let the wretched person have it.
Ugh, I should've known it was her. She glared at Hara Masako, her rival in love.
"You didn't have to wake me up like that…" With eyes tearing up, she rubbed her swollen cheek.
"Well, it was the only way you seemed to respond. You can ask Naru and the others if you don't believe me," Masako purred with a smug smile.
Since Naru's face was covered in a mask of indifference (as usual), the only person she could look to was Bou-san. Apparently… she'd fallen on him when she'd blacked out, because he was sitting on the floor with his back against the wall, holding Mai up. Heat flooded her face, adding a little color to her haggard face. With a goofy grin, Bou-san just shrugged while retying his bleached hair. That's a 'retired' monk for you… long hair, bleached, and all…
Seeing Naru's expectant expression, Mai jumped to her feet, ready to blurt out any and all apologies she could think up. "Naru, I'm so-" he cut her off by holding up a hand.
"There's no need, Mai. I understand something's wrong, but you'll need to tell me about it later. I need to brief you and the others in on our next case. Everyone else is waiting in the next room. If you're feeling well enough, please come join us." At this, he detached himself from the small corner wall and strode through the door, closing it behind him. The others followed, with Bou-san looking back once more. His expression seemed worried.
"It's okay, don't worry, Bou-san! I'm okay. Thank you for breaking my fall." Mai smiled shakily. She was still not fully recovered, but there was no way she'd miss the meeting. She had to work her best, after all. Perhaps the dream was nothing to worry about? I can't help but feel that somethings wrong. Please God, let the dreams be nothing but my tired brain's hallucinations. Don't let it be like the other cases... She exited the room quickly, wondering what their next mission would be like and what terror would come from it.
"Matsuzaki-san, where is Brown-san?" Naru asked the team's miko, Ayako, who was lounging on the couch.
She rolled her eyes, "How should I know? He should be here any second though. I called him up right before I headed over here." She flipped her long scarlet hair over one shoulder. When a door quietly closed in the next hall over, she smiled. "See? That's him. I told you he wouldn't be long."
The door opened and in stepped John Brown, a nineteen year old exorcist, believe it or not. "Sorry I'm late, everyone." He bowed, his smile apologetic. "I ran into some poor soul who'd lost their way and had to give them a hand."
Mai wasn't sure if he meant a literal soul… better not to find out.
"Now that you are all here…" Naru said with a glance at Mai and Brown-san, "I'd like to share the details of the case with you all. Lin-san, if you'd please?" He motioned for Lin, his assistant, to come join them.