Aya looked over Maria, seeing only her leg wounded and nothing else. The shock of…whatever she saw…must've scared her into passing out…
Something with a shine caught her eye when she was about to turn around and keep moving. She bent down and picked it up.
She gazed at it as its glimmering surface shined in the dim light from the lab. A room key? What's Maria doing with this?
She shrugged and put it in her pocket before heading out the door she came in from and looking around to see if she could take anything else along with her. She didn't find anything, except Snowball, but she didn't want to endanger him anymore, so she let him be.
She stood in the middle of the hallway connected with her bedroom and mother's bedroom, thinking.
Suddenly, a ghost appeared in front of her and began to tug on her sleeves. She gasped and tried pushing it away, but it let go and began to go in a different direction. It looked at Aya over its shoulders, its eye pleading for her to follow.
Is it…trying to get me to follow it?... She wondered as it began to float away. The ghost stopped and turned its head around, nodding when Aya finished her thought. Her eyes widened as it turned its head back around and floated towards the lobby.
She followed, of course, out of curiosity. When she reached the lobby, it entered the next hallway. I really hope it's not taking me to the doll room…
It shook its head, but didn't stop moving. The spirit stopped at the Archives door and went inside, leaving the door open for Aya.
She ventured through the door and saw it go to the door in the very back. It stopped there and turned around, gesturing to Aya that this was their destination. It then pointed to her pocket.
She looked down at it, and then brought out the room key. It smiled, nodded, and disappeared.
Aya stared at it as it disappeared, feeling slightly sorry for seeing it go. She shook her head and unlocked the door, letting it swing open before stepping inside.
Inside, she found herself in a small but cozy room with one bookcase and one bed.
…Is this…Maria's room? She asked.
Why did it bring me here?
She walked over to the bookcase and found a dairy lying on the top, closed.
Maria's diary? Does it want me to read this?
The book flipped open to the newest entry.
Good enough sign for me! She thought, thanking the spirit for being so forward.
"…Doctor, it has been a year to the day since I came to this mansion…I will never forget that day…"
Suddenly Aya was swept into the entry's words, letting her see what Maria was talking about.
A young girl lay on the side of a brick road, a chipped bowl she found sitting next to her.
"Please….food…" She pleaded in a weak voice, her stomach growls becoming a chorus of rumbles.
"…food…"She said weakly, rolling over and looking at the sky. "Somebody…"
The girl heard footsteps beside her and found herself staring at a handsome man. He was kneeling down and studying her.
"…please…" She said.
She could be a fine subject with some work… Aya's father thought with a smile.
"…it's pitiful to see someone so skinny…" He prompted, when she picked up her head and looked at him. "Come to my home….please…" The girl's eyes widened as he went on. "I'll give you clothes and delicious meals…" She smiled weakly.
Later, Aya's father was standing beside her as she ate the meals she was promised. He smiled when she finished and led her to the jail chambers.
He locked her in one and said, "Please, just stay here for a little while…I'm going to tell my family about you."
"Family?" The girl asked.
"Yes. I have a wife and girl turning 7. I'm sure they'll welcome you…" He said as he walked away.
"…family…" She said as she pressed up against the cold bars.
The person lying behind her on a bed began to groan and moan in pain, serious wounds and injuries adorning it's body.
Is this person…like me? The girl wondered as her gaze traveled up and down it's body.
"What awful injuries….they must hurt terribly…perhaps I can do something…" She said to the person faintly. He looked at her and closed his eyes.
She went over to a bookcase filled with medicines and containers.
Hm…no gauze? No bandages, either? The homeless girl questioned mentally. She looked back over at the patient who's breathing was shallow and quick. Looks like I'll do this the old fashioned way then….
She tore of all the cloth from her skirt and tied it around his arm gently. When she stood back, she realized her skirt wasn't the only clothe he needed. But the only other cloth I have is…
The next morning, the doctor came back to check up on her and the other person.
I'm surprised… He thought as he looked over the person. He was about to die, but he recovered overnight…
It seems he was given excellent treatment… He realized when he looked over at the girl, who was sitting on the stone floor covering herself up.
"Did you treat him?" He asked as he turned to her.
She looked down. "…yes…" She responded.
He nodded and turned back to the injured person, who was sleeping peacefully now. "How handy…you're exceptionally talented…" He complimented.
Her face grew red. "Please…I…"
I can't let this go to waste! He thought. He walked over to her and kneeled down. "…What's your name?" He asked gently.
She looked at him. "…my…name?"
"Yes. What would it be?" He asked again.
"…Maria…" She said as she hid her face.
"Maria, hm? What an appropriate name." He said. The doctor stood up. "Maria…would you like to be my assistant?" He asked as he held out his hand for her.
She looked up at him, tears in her eyes. "…yes." She answered as she took his hand.
Everything became black.
"I was so happy…so happy you saved me…" The words in the diary read. "I was alone…but you made me needed…you gave me love…as long as I am needed, I will stay with you…for how could I live without you?...I love you, Doctor…." The entry finished.
Aya stood silent when she finished reading, staring into the book's pages. "I…I never really knew anything about Maria…" She said after a few moments.
"Maria must love father, too…"
She closed the book and headed back out. When she got over her initial shock about Maria's backstory, she headed into the basement once again and walked through the other door this time.