Corpse Party:Ends Meet (On Hiatus)

Chapter 4: Confirmed Fears

Naoko's Pov:

   I had made my decision. In a sudden burst of adrenaline I pushed off of the door frame and ran towards Shou, who was on his knees, his hands on his head. The black mist surrounding him. I grabbed his shoulder in an attempt to drag him away, hoping the spirit would detach itself from him. It did, and to my dismay it began snaking up my arm. In a panic I let go of Shou's shoulder and stumble backwards, falling onto my butt. I realized that the spirit had detached itself from Shou, and had attached itself to me.

"Ayako!" I yelled, unsure if she would hear me. "Get Shou out of here!"

"What about you!" I heard her scream, but it was drowned out by my screams of pain. The mist was entering every pore in my body.

"Just do it now!" I gasped before blacking out.

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   I awoke to the feeling of someone gently rubbing my head. I took a few seconds to register what happened, but when I did I immediately sat up, regretting it as nausea overcame me. I couldn't stop the bile that rose in my throat, and I turned and vomited into what I hope wasn't someone's lap.

"Hey hey hey, it's okay you're safe now." A soothing voice softly spoke. I recognized the owner to be Ayako, and that we were outside the infirmary.

"How...?" I asked, trying to regain my energy.

Ayako helped me stand up, before pulling little packets of salt out of her skirt pocket.

"Well I had these because I planned to put some in your drink at the party." I raised an eyebrow, and she looked at the ground. "As a joke you know? Well anyway, I remember how one time you told us that salt can ward off spirits and I thought it would work. And what would you know I was right. The spirit retreated and gave us just enough time to drag you to safety."

"I'm surprised that you remember that." I mumbled, looking at Shou, who was leaning against a nearby wall. "How's he doing?" She followed my gaze, with a look of concern written on her face.

"I don't know, he hasn't said a word since we got out of that room. I'm worried."

I cautiously walked over to him, and reached to put my hand on his shoulder. He slapped my hand away in one swift motion.

"We almost died because of you!" he screamed, catching me off guard. "We would be dead if Ayako didn't have that salt for her stupid prank!"

"Because of me?" I retorted "How was that my fault? I never asked a ghost to attack us!"

"You were the one who wanted to take a nap! I just wanted to see if there was anything useful in there!"

"I can't believe you're blaming me for this!" I yelled, tears of frustration forming in the corners of my eyes.

"Well believe it! I'm done with you!" with that he turned around and stormed down the hallway, leaving Ayako and I standing there dumbfounded.

"I wonder what's gotten into him." Ayako muttered, her small hands curled into fists. "He shouldn't talk to you like that. You did save his life." 

I slumped against the wall, and buried my head in my hands.

"Ayako, I want you to find Shou, and try to calm him down. He never gets angry. It has to be this place, it must be doing something to him. I think I need to sit down for a bit."

She tentatively nodded. "I'll go find him. Be safe Naoko. Don't do anything stupid." She held out her had and dropped a few packets of salt in my lap. 

"You be safe too." I said

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No Pov:

  Akako and Sora paced around the classroom, unsure of their next move. 

"If what the ghost thing said was true, then we're the only one in this 'closed space' even so, I will find Miki." He stated. Sora nodded.

"I mean, there has to be someway to get out of here." She smiled, her usually sunny disposition not faltering. 

"Well lets go explore, and see what we can find." Akako suggested earning a nod from Sora.  

The duo opened the door, and stepped out into the hall,  but stopped dead when they saw the body of a girl propped up against the wall. The skin on her face was decayed and peeling back, revealing the white bone underneath. Her clothing, a school uniform was in tatters, and she appeared to be missing a foot. 

Sora gasped and covered her mouth and Akako just stared in horror.

"I know the spirit said that people had died here but damn..." Akako gasped his nose curling in disgust. 

"Maybe this is some sort of cruel joke." Sora suggested. "Maybe we're on one of those scare tactic television shows." Even she could sense the uncertainty in her voice. Akako knelt over the body, and gently turned her head. Hundreds of maggots fell out of the corpses mouth and onto the wooden floor.

"Shit!" Akako cursed. "That's disgusting! Sora.... I don't think this is a joke. It all seems too real."

Sora nodded again, trying to blink away the tears that were falling down her face. She fell to the ground, sobbing uncontrollably. She wanted to go home, she wanted to see the others again.

Her worst fears were confirmed.