Chapter 9: The Dead Person Who Was Reborn (1):
Hiroshi's POV:
We arrived at the inn. "After today, I'm only left with 10 days," I said, "as for Mayako and Chisuzu, they're left with twelve days. Will we be able to find the well?
Dr. Domyoji's POV:
"This is weird. How could it... Forceps!" We continued. "The coronary arteries..."
"They look fine."
"The blood circulation doesn't seem smooth," I said.
"They could have been damaged."
"The blood doesn't seem to be flowing," I said.
"Why is this so?"
"Let's scrutinize it first," I said, "the pointed forceps."
Ryūji's POV:
I was on the computer. Then suddenly, Sadako appeared on the screen! I backed away. She then appeared on a TV. Then she was right there, in the room with me! I then tried to open the music box. I then dropped the music box and it played music...
...
I woke up. I then looked at the computer and at Mai, sleeping. I then walked over to her. Then Mai started chanting something. I then saw the music box on the floor.
Hiroshi's POV:
"So, we just have to find that well," says Mayako, "and then we could put this nonsense behind us!"
"We can only hope," I said.
"So... if this curse is real, what do you plan to do," asks Mayako.
"I'm hoping to find Sadako in this well and maybe put a stop to her," I said.
"You plan to kill a ghost," asks Mayako.
"Maybe I should just try to reason with her," I said.
"So, how do we find this well," asks Mayako.
"I don't know," I said, "we have to search! Let's get to work!"
...
We started searching the area for the well. "You watched the tape," says Mayako, "did it tell you anything about the well?"
"No," I said, "but I was probably too busy thinking Norihiko was wasting my time again!"
"Who would've thought this would be the one time he actually gets a dare right," says Mayako. She then sees something. "Isn't that the mountain from the video?"
I looked. "That hast to be where the well is," I said, "we have to climb that mountain!"
...
We then started climbing the mountain to find that well. We went on a long journey.
Ryūji's POV:
I was jogging until I ran into Harashima.
...
"Not to worry," says Harashima, "I'm not here in the status of a cop. I've resigned from my job. I'm here to send my greetings today. After what happened to my son three years ago, I resigned. I owe it to you that I can still hang on till today." I then ran past him. "No matter where you are, I'll help you find that girlfriend of yours! Mr. Ryūji Takayama! According to my deduction, you must've told her something. Recently, she has been playing truant for no reason. I'd really like to see her." I then looked at him.
"Stop wasting your time," I said, "you're no longer a cop."
"It's precisely because of this that I seek revenge for my dead son. I will not let him die for nothing!"
Hiroshi's POV:
We were still looking for the well. I hope I can find it soon!
Dr. Domyoji's POV:
"Make yourself clearer. It's not myocardial infraction?"
"We found some unknown substance at the opening of the coronary artery," I said.
"Is it dried blood?"
"We're doing tissue culture now."
"I see. Find the corresponding blood type. I'll think of a solution."
"Thanks," I said.
"I once asked you about Takayama. The police are checking on him now."
"Regarding Nonomura-Sensei," I asked.
"No idea, but the police were weird."
...
I was on the computer. "Dr. Domyoji! Please come over!"
"Could you wait a while," I asked.
"Quick, come over now. The cultured issues..."
"What," I asked.
"Look at the speed they're multiplying." I then took a look. "It has only been three hours."
Hiroshi's POV:
We finally found the well. "It looks deep," says Mayako, "if this Kayako really is down there..."
"Sadako," I said.
"Still, imagine if someone threw a penny down there to make a wish," says Mayako, "think it could hit her head."
"I'm going to see if I can climb down this well," I said.
"Try using that rope," says Mayako, "but I still doubt you're going to find anything!"
I then used the rope to get down the well...
...
Now I'm in the well. I searching for something. I then found the remains of a dead body. It does look like it's been down here for years! I then searched for her spirit.
Harashima's POV:
I entered Ryūji's home. "Sorry, I pressed the doorbell," I said, "but no one answered the door." I heard this music and saw an opened music box. I closed it and then realized this girl was behind me. "Are you Miss Mai Takano," I asked. She said nothing. "You must be Mai Takano!" She then had her hand on my face...
Hiroshi's POV:
I was still searching the well. "Any luck," Mayako calls.
"I found her remains, but not her," I said.
"I tried to tell you," says Mayako, "it was just a tape!"
Something then ran past me. "Sadako," I asked. She then showed up. I tried to pull on the rope, but she grabbed me by the neck. She was about to kill me... but then we started looking into each other's eyes and... something else was happening...
...
Suddenly, I was back on the surface. "How did you get back up here," asks Mayako.
"I... I don't know," I said. I then had a phone call. I had to answer. "Hello?"
"It's me," says Dr. Domyoji, "we have new findings. It's indeed not ordinary myocardial infraction! Myocardial infraction is due to abnormal problems with the heart. The blood vessels will become fine and obstruct blood from flowing to the heart normally. But this case is extraordinary. The blood vessels may be blocked, but the arteries are still as thick."
"You mean..."
"Tumor," says Dr. Domyoji.
"Tumor in his blood vessel," I asked.
"This is our preliminary conjecture," says Dr. Domyoji, "but under ordinary circumstances, tumors do not grow in blood vessels. We also discovered that his cells disintegrated amazingly fast. This is very strange. We are investigating what virus caused the cells to coagulate."
"Virus," I asked.
"If that's the case, there might be a new virus before our eyes," says Dr. Domyoji, "could you come over now?"
"That's difficult," I said, "and it's no virus!"
"What," asks Dr. Domyoji.
"I can't tell you what it is," I said, "look, I'm on top of a mountain near the Yamamura Inn!"
"What are you doing there," asks Dr. Domyoji.
"It's not important," I said, "I failed at what I was doing, but we'll be coming back." I then hung up.
"So, what happened down there," asks Mayako.
I then started thinking about Sadako. I must've been really traumatized, because I can't get her out of my mind. "It's not important," I said, "let's go!"
...
I called Ryūji. "Did you see her," asks Ryūji.
"Yeah, and the strangest thing, she decided to spare me," I said, "but now I can't stop thinking about her! I think she traumatized me!"
"You don't sound it," says Ryūji.
"What," I asked.
"Do you feel fear, anxiety, sadness, numbness, or detachment?"
"Well... no..."
"What about anger?"
"I don't think so..."
"Do you feel sick in anyway?"
"No," I said.
"What about a desire to be away from people," asks Ryūji.
"I got that, but only to keep them safe," I said.
"And all you have is that you're still thinking about her?"
"Yeah," I said.
"Then it's not trauma, she has you under a spell," says Ryūji.
If that's true... then who knows what else she could do! "By the way, Dr. Domyoji found something unusual from the autopsy," I said, "I'm going back to Tokyo now."
"Be careful," says Ryūji, "she must have something big planned!"
"I got this," I said. We then hung up.
Ryūji's POV:
I was on the computer, and I found something interesting.
Hiroshi's POV:
"What's this about," I asked.
"We came all the way here," says Mayako, "it's a pity to go back so soon." We were eating. "Time passes really fast."
"You shouldn't help me anymore," I said, "I can settle the matter myself."
"Just because you dumped me doesn't mean I'm not going to help you," says Mayako.
"You don't under-"
"Look, if you just don't want to see me again, say it," says Mayako, "but whatever you're dealing with, I'm still going to help!"
Guess there was just no getting rid of her. I was still thinking about Sadako...
To Be Continued
In the next chapter, Ryūji's speaks with Dr. Domyoji.