"Well, it's good to see you back again Mai. Tell me, where were you," Monk demanded icily as she strode through the doors.
"Would you believe out for tea with Kashikoi-sama and Midori-san?" she replied gaily.
"Why weren't you here?" Lin interjected. Mai shot him a confused look.
"I asked Naru if I could go, and he said yes." Everyone turned to look at Naru, who stood unflinching. Yes, that was true. He did recall giving Mai permission to go somewhere.
"I did no such thing," he lied. Couldn't look irresponsible now, could he? If only Lin didn't know he was lying, he might've gotten away with it scot free.
"B-But you-"
"Enough chatter. Tonight they have another dress rehearsal at eight, so in about four hours. Everyone is expected to be there, and afterwards we will begin exorcisms once more-"
"Yes, cause that worked out real well last time," Yasu said bitterly. Naru shot him a look, causing Yasu to flinch.
"Naru, hold that thought. We're picking up activity right now, down in the basement," Lin said. Everyone wasted no time in crowding around. Mai was pleased to see that Naru allowed her to stand near the front of the group, right next to him. She could feel his breath on her neck. Was it bad if she suddenly felt rather ticklish? She was distracted from her nervous thoughts as she got a good look of what was onscreen.
"What is that?"
John, Yasu and Monk stood in front of the basement door, each one trying to will up the courage to open it. Naru and Lin had decided that they stood the best chance against whatever was down there, and so they were sent out - Yasu against his will.
"So boys, you ready?" Yasu said, trying to ease the tension. He received no response from the men. When he glanced over, it was because they were no longer there. "Guys?!"
"Over here," John's voice said from behind him. He whirled around to see the two guys backed up by the wall, looking apprehensive.
"What's up? Are we in danger?" Yasu said, his voice cracking.
"When aren't we?" Monk replied bitterly. John laughed despite himself.
"It's nothing, Yasu. The door isn't opening, so we're going to break it down. Please step back," John said. Yasu hesitated before doing as he was told. Before Monk and Yasu could hurl themselves at the door, it slowly swung open. Instantly a strong, musky odour hit them, making Yasu stagger and causing watery eyes amongst the trio.
"Oh my Gods, what is that?" Monk choked out, clapping a hand to his mouth. John sniffed the air delicately, his nose crinkling.
"It smells like blood, and a lot of it," he said. Yasu went ghastly white once the words had left John's mouth.
"Do you suppose it's human?" Yasu said. John frowned over at the boy.
"I hate to say it, but I guess we'll have to find out," Monk answered, squaring his shoulders. Yasu looked about ready to faint. John thought he could hear the boy murmur, 'why me?'
"He's right, let's go." With that, the three boys crowded around the door, peering into the darkness. Monk shone a precautionary light down the steps, and exchanged a shocked look with John.
There was nothing down there.
No blood, no strange shadowy figure throwing stuff around, and certainly no scattered boxes and destroyed memorabilia.
"It's clean down there... so what did we see on the monitor?" John whispered, recalling the images of stuff being flung around violently and a creature hovering in the middle of the basement.
"I hate to say this guys, but as an avid video gamer, usually right before the boss fight you'll get sent on little 'missions' as a way to weaken you and make the boss fight even harder," Yasu said, gulping. Monk arched an eyebrow.
"What are you saying, kid? Spit it out," he said.
"I think this was just a decoy."
"Yeah, and?" John prompted and Monk began to look worried.
"And we need to get back right away."
"Ayako, get down," Lin shouted harshly. The remainder of the group was cornered in a hallway leading to the theatre as a presence ripped lights from the walls and ceiling, slowly darkening the hallway. Mai shook, clinging on to Masako for support as Ayako ducked, a glass bulb flying over her head and shattering on the ground behind her.
"This is not good, this is not good!" Masako cried out, clapping her hands over her ears as a horrible wailing arose from the darkened end of the hallway.
"You don't say," Naru muttered to himself, leaning precariously sideways as an elaborate candelabra came unfastened from the wall and was flung at him. Mai nearly bit through her lip trying to keep from crying out a warning. Knowing Naru, it would only aggravate him.
"Where are you, you nasty old hag," Ayako said, flapping her hands around. In response, another candelabra came unscrewed and hit her in the chest, sending her staggering back.
"Ayako, don't provoke her, she's angry," Masako chided.
"You don't say," Ayako muttered, making Naru smirk slightly.
"Masako, what's she doing?" Mai asked. Masako paused, her violet eyes widening slightly.
"She's-"
"Please don't say angry," Ayako hissed.
"Angry," Masako finished, shooting the red-head a look. "Very angry. The play isn't supposed to happen. She's upset her first attempt wasn't warning enough. She's trying to get us out of the way so she can do some serious damage."
"Right before opening night? A bit of a procrastinator if you ask me," Ayako said. Masako sighed heavily and pressed a trembling kimono sleeve to her mouth. Suddenly the wailing stopped and the last four lights flickered before staying in steadily. Naru found he was breathing heavily as he gazed down the hall, not completely dark except for the small circle of illumination the group was huddled in. Mai's knees quaked and even Lin looked concerned.
"You really shouldn't have said that," Masako whispered. All heads swivelled to her. "You really should not have said that."
Mai screamed as a woman's face appeared in the darkness. Naru jumped in front of her and Masako, but she could still see around his slender frame.
"Jade-san, stop it," Masako begged, crying slightly now.
Indeed it was Jade, her face impossibly pale. Mai could see small patches of blood on the front of Jade's shirt, and her stomach rolled when she realized that it was from knife wounds, where the knife had gone through her chest on the other side. Lin was murmuring something quietly, but other than that it was dead silent in the hall.
Mai felt Masako crumple next to her, sinking to the ground like air leaking out of a balloon.
"Naru," Mai said sharply, and the boy moved to catch Masako. She tried not to smirk as Masako hit the ground gracelessly, Naru a second too late, but she was worried nontheless.
"Lin, hold her off. Mai, what's she saying?" Naru asked, rolling Masako over so she was on her side. Mai frowned, confused, before she realized that Jade's mouth was moving. Almost against her will, she leaned closer to hear what she was saying.
"Mai, what are you doing?" Mai didn't listen to Lin, taking a hesitant step forward.
"Lin, stop her," Naru said from where he knelt by Masako. Lin shot him an aggravated look, but reached out for the girl. Mai jumped when he gripped her arm, but leapt back when she became aware of Jade's leering face in her own.
"What are you thinking?" Lin demanded. Mai frowned again and hugged herself against the sudden chills.
"I'm not sure, but she's gone now," Mai said. It was true, as suddenly as the activity started, it had stopped. Jade was gone, but the hallway was still dark. All the way down shattered glass and torn apart light fixtures littered the floor. It would be a minefield making their way back.
Masako let out a small gasp as her eyes snapped open. When she realized Naru was leaning over her, she blushed tremendously and shot him a small, nervous smile. Naru showed no emotion back.
"Oh, good, you're alright. I was worried," Mai said as she sank down next to her friend. Masako's smile dropped when she saw Mai and Naru sitting close together, but she struggled to sit up nontheless.
"I'm alright. I had a vision of sorts. It was weird though, I'm not sure what it meant," she said softly. Naru took her speaking as a sign to rise to his feet, making Masako feel slightly abandoned, although she wasn't sure why. His presence made her uncomfortable.
"Can you explain it?" Lin asked. Masako nodded slowly.
"Yeah. It was all black, and there were these three glowing orbs in front of me. One orb was bigger than the rest, and darker. It seemed to be sucking energy from the other orbs. I don't know what they were or where they were, but they felt sad," Masako explained. Lin and Naru exchanged a look.
"I think we've been barking up the wrong tree. Masako, could you do me a favor?" Naru said. Masako's eyes widened eagerly. "We need you to act as bait."