Ghost Hunt: When My Assistant Is Witty.

Chapter 16: Interlude

"What do you think, Gene?" Mai asked her spirit guide after her talk with her Yu-gege.

"It's okay for me. I'm still researching about your dreams but additional pair of trustworthy hands is helpful for us." Gene answered.

Mai sighed and sat in the middle of her plane. It's still black and surrounded by lights forms spirits but it's warm. She tilted her head and think about it. She plans to tell the SPR but isn't it too soon? Also, she was feeling a bit guilty that he couldn't tell Yu-gege about Gene. She had no choice since Gene forbid her to do so. Though she doesn't know the reason of this secrecy, she still kept silent and made sure to keep it a secret until Gene showed her the go-signal.

Reminding herself that Naru is Oliver Davis, she become tense all of a sudden. That's right. He's also a psychic research despite having PK and Psychometry. She clenched her hands and shook her head hoping that those memories of the past wouldn't resurface in her mind.

"Why are you hesitant, anyway? Don't you trust Naru?" Gene asked.

"I trust him and SPR. I also trust you and Yu-gege b-but...but.." Mai answered with her voice a bit raised. She buried her head on her knees and released a sigh. Taking deep breaths one at a time.

"But what?" Gene cautiously asked sensing Mai's fear and sadness.

"I'm ....s-scared." Mai answered in a whisper. Her voice and frame are shaking as the silence continue. This was the time where he suddenly noticed something wrong with her.

Seeing her act like this, Gene couldn't bring himself to continue asking. He knew from the very start, even if he couldn't see through her past, that Mai should've experience something traumatic in her childhood. That is preventing her not fully accept her abilities and shunned them. Gene doesn't know what happened to her but this is definitely a big and hard rock to crush.

The plane is very silent and both of them did not speak a word. It was not until thirty minutes later that Mai spoke. Though her voice isn't shaking like the last time, there is still sadness and fear in it.

"When I was four, I saw my mother died in front of me and after that, I was kidnapped by a psychotic researcher who is obsessed with psychic powers."

Gene's eyes widened when he heard that. There was suddenly a lump in his throat that keeps him from talking and he feels uncomfortable as the seconds past by. He waited for Mai to speak and kneeled beside her curled form.

"We were experimented on and that doctor did many thing to bring out the psychic powers out of us. There were many of us trapped in that underground research center. Some of them are rumoured psychics while mostly are normal children. I remember we were sixteen when I first came."

Mai trembled more and hug her frame more tightly. It's painful remembering these memories and Mai didn't want to ever recall it but being in this situation made Mai do otherwise.

"We were starved. Two children died because of hunger. Next, that doctor feed us a very potent drug. I didn't know what it is but half of the children died few days after eating it. Next, the doctor locked us up in a room full of mirrors and scared us with scary voices and screams. A kid broke one mirror and stab the shards to his heart."

Gene suddenly felt something entering his soul as Mai continued her story. The past he is not able to channel is currently rushing for him to see. He closed his eyes as he clenched his hands because of the pain he is feeling from that memory.