Corpse Party: Damaged Souls

Chapter 4: Discovery

 " Have you found anything yet?" I asked Ruka as leaned over her shoulder. I was sure that I was annoying her right now, but she didn't bother to say anything about it. " You texted me saying you might have found something about the children." 

" I know what I did Anna," she replied with bitterness in her voice. 

" She's been working all night," Ryu explained to me. " Don't worry about her mood this morning. All she needs is some coffee but I don't think Mom and Dad will allow it." 

" Shut up Ryu. Anyway, yes, I did find something about the children but it talks about how they found three children murdered in the basement of the school we were at for the time being. And the girl in the red dress--you know the one who we gave the bear to--she was murdered long before those three children were murdered." 

" Maybe she was the killer," Ryu said. " I mean, she was killed before they were and she was most likely a ghost before the school closed down." 

" Two girls and a boy. Yuki Kanno, Tokiko Tsuji, and Ryou Yoshizawa. I suppose that girl was a spirit and had those three children killed. Here, it says a man by the name of Yoshikazu Yanagihori was arrested for murdering the three children. He was the son of the principal, who later committed suicide." 

" And around that time the school was closing down. I bet he killed himself because of his precious school." 

" Or guilt," I added. " If he killed himself when the school was closing down. It had to be because of the three children and his son being arrested. I have a feeling he had something to do with the murder of that girl in the red dress." 

" And once we find it, we can probably find a way to have the others come back to life," Ruka said. " My mother has some old books on magic that we can use." 

" Not a good idea," Ryu said. "Magic is no good and you can kill yourself just by using it. I don't want to be the one telling Mom and Dad about your mistake with magic because I warned you." 

" I was taught by our aunt and our cousin. I know the safety of magic." 

" I just hope you're right," I said. " What if something happens and we cause something to go wrong? How can we fix that then?" 

Ruka shrugged, scrolling through the pages once more. I have heard of the punishments for using magic, one of them being you losing your mind if you fail. I understand Aunt Ayumi using it, but the cost of Ruka using it can end her life from what I learned. Her body was smaller and she was just a middle school girl. It would affect her body quicker. 

" Don't worry about me Anna," she said, turning around to face us. " If I die, I die. There's nothing big to dying from what I know. If anything, it's better than dying in that school." 

" Better than getting her head smashed in from the hammer," Ryu added. 

Ruka glared at her brother. We both remembered each of our friend's deaths. Haru was the one who got her head smashed in from the hammer. I had guessed she was the first one to die out of all of us.

Ryu then noticed his mistake and tried to apologize. 
" There's nothing to be sorry for," I told him. "We had to talk about it sooner or later. No one knows about their deaths unlike we do and they don't exist in this world anymore. To be honest, I don't remember what they look like." 

" I only remember Haru having red hair and their personalities. Nothing about their appearances," Ruka admitted. " Everything about their face is a blur. It's almost like they were suppose to be forgotten." 

" Do you ever wonder if Akahana, Hana, and Lenora remember who they are or do they even know their pictures are blacked out? Even Nagisa is locked in her room at the moment." 

" Nagisa is stronger than you think," Ruka said,leaning back in the chair. " Something like this would get her down, but it takes a lot more than this." 

" She lost her best friend," I reminded her. " That is the biggest thing that could get someone to break down." 

We were all quiet for a couple of seconds, taking in the fact we won't be able to see our friends again. Then, Ruka spoke," Maybe I'll talk to her tomorrow." 

" Talk to her about what?" I asked. " Make her remember the best friend she lost in that damn school and how she was killed? Along with other people she considered close to her?" 

"At least it wasn't her twin sister," Ruka muttered. 

" You went too far with that one," her brother said through clenched teeth. 

Before they could come to fight, I stepped in between the two of them. From what I know about them, they would fight until someone was bleeding. " Enough, both of you. We need to figure this out and not talk to the younger ones about this. They are already hurting enough and the proof shows in both our younger siblings. Neither of them has come out of their rooms for weeks. We can't argue about this." 

" Then how do you propose we do this?" Ryu asked. " Anything other than magic." 

" I think magic is the only way to go," I admitted. 

" Because magic can bring back our friends Ryu. This might be the only chance we have in order to make things go back to the way they were before. If I die, I die." 

~

I don't think I have ever since someone so scared. As Ruka went to look for the book, Ryu paced around the room with his thumb nail in his mouth, nervously chewing on it. I swore he was shaking and tried to avoid me seeing it. I know he was worried about his twin, after all one of them in locked in their room, refusing to come out. 

" Ryu-" 

" This is your fault!" he snapped. " If you had never suggested such a thing, then she wouldn't be trying to perform magic to bring back our friends!" 

" You don't want them back?" I asked. 

" I want them back but it will put my own sister at risk here! You forget we have parents and younger siblings and cousins. We are almost the same, if one of the you don't make it back, one family will mourn." 

I frowned. He had a point there. Also, if either of us make it back both of our families will mourn together and who knows if this thing will work. " I know, I know it's my fault. We all have things we want in life and I know you want this as well." 

" Yes, but I don't want my sister using magic. She will be killed, I guarantee it." 

" I might be as well. Maybe we will be put to rest by doing this." 

" Don't speak such things," he demanded. 

Before I could argue, Ruka came back with a dusty book. She slammed it on her desk, making the dust fly into the air. I quickly covered my mouth, trying to avoid sneezing. " Here it is," she said. " This is one of my mother's old books that my aunt gave to her. Maybe I can ask my cousin to help me learn this because she understands this more than me. And the lettering is different than what I am used to." 

" So you think she can understand this?" I asked, leaning over her shoulder once more. 

" Better than I can. Perhaps we can get this done." She turned to her brother. " Ryu, you have to make sure Mom and Dad don't know about this. We can't have them knowing what we're doing." 

" It's better to tell Mom and Dad about this," he muttered. 

" You better not," she said, " unless I will tell everyone about what happened in elementary school. And I know you don't like that story." 

" Tell everyone! I don't give a damn! Your safety is more important than some elementary school crush." 

Ruka shrugged and turned her attention to the book. When she turned the pages, I caught a glimpse of what she would be reading off. There were a couple of strange symbols, along with an ancient writing. If her cousin was able to read this, she was a miracle worker. 

" Give me three days Ruka. By then, I can figure this thing out."