Ghost Stories:Shiryo Village *Editing*

Chapter 6

"So, the only reason that the ghost took your sister is to complete the ceremony that she couldn't finish when she was alive? ", Seiku asked me to double check that he got the entire story straight. The tone he has was one of obvious confusion and disbelief.

I nodded and sighed deeply. " And she said that Seitsu is the man who helped her sister escape Shiryo Village ", I added on, knowing that he was probably avoiding that one piece of valued information.

Seiku nodded again, not as enthusiastically as he would have. Who would if they just found out that their ancestor is probably the reason for a whole village’s demise? "I see.... ", he whispered as he looked out the window of the room and gazed at the mountain.

"We need to get to the mountain ", I stated in a strong voice, knowing what I have to do in order to get Nana back.

"What? ", Seiku looked at me with disbelief. "We are going to go to the mountain? ", he asked in surprise.

I nodded with growing confidence. “It's the only way that I can save Nana ", I told him.

He frowned deeply in reply. "There must be another way ", he tried to convince me.

I violently shook my head. This is the only way. He’s scared, I know he is too. But, he can’t be scared. Not if he wants to help me get Nana out of the clutches of that insane ghost of a woman. "Either you are with me or against me! ", I shouted at him before turning and walking out of the room.

The faster I get out of the house, the faster I can get to the mountain. The faster I’ll be able to save Nana. I heard footsteps quickly approaching me and someone, most likely Seiku, grabbed firmly onto my wrist.

"Nina, don't be a fool ", Seiku poorly attempted to persuade me, "Just escape… "

I glared darkly at him before roughly yanking my wrist out of his hand. "And then what?! Let Nana die here? Even if I were to escape that ghost will just find another set of twins to complete the ceremony! ", I screamed at him. I could feel this ignited fire within my chest burst free, the intensity of the flames could no longer be held back.

"No, she won't! ", Seiku objected with a burst of energy equal to mine. "Why do you think she hasn't picked any of the twins born these past one hundred years?! She has been waiting for a pair of twins that resembled her and her sister! ", he proclaimed.

I gave him a suspicious look, the trust I had with him dwindling away with each passing second." How would you know Seiku? ", I asked him with a huff, "In fact, what were you even doing in Shiryo Village in the first place? ".

Seiku looked away and did not answer my question. If I didn’t know any better, I would think that he is avoiding an answer to my question with every excuse that he could possibly think of. The bastard. I gave him one good slap across the face before storming further away from him and made a mad dash towards the mountain. None of the ghosts that caught sight of me made a move to stop me. They all saw the direction that I’m running in. They’re aware about my decision and I will have no regrets. It’s all to save Nana.

I came to a steady stop when I came to a crossway in the road. At first, it was just to make sure that I was going to right way, until my eyes landed on a group walking down the path in front of me. I strained and squinted to get a better look at them and when I did, my eyes widen in shock. The group was made of six, two walking in the front and two in the back with two young women standing in the very center. Nana. I could see her. It may have been a look of only the back of her head, but after being together for so long. It just becomes natural to take notice of the little things.

My brain begins to hurt because she has changed. She is no longer wearing the dress that she walked into Shiryo Village in. Instead, she is wearing a long sleeved, light yellow kimono with red flowers on it. She was walking next to the same woman who had possessed her in the first place. I feel my heart beginning to crack, the woman had told the truth, Nana agreed to partake in the ceremony and I was the only puzzle piece remaining for the ceremony to be completed.