The Story Continued (Ghost Hunt)

Chapter 27

Mai and Masako arrived full of hope but both got crushed as they saw Akane in the exact same state as before. Mai fell down to her knees right next to the girl. "Why?" She whispered. Masako kneeled next to her. She put her hand on Mai's shoulder. Silent. "Mai...do you think you could try and..." the girl started. "Go pick her up?" The girl looked at her friend surprised. It might work but. "I don't know how to. And Gene can't help me even if it's possible." She said disappointed in herself. "Meow~" The sound appeared as Mai finished her sentence. "Yoru?" The girls noticed the cat. They might at one point just forget about him altogether if he keeps disappearing like that. "Close your eyes, Mai." He said. The voice appeared in Mai's head. "Don't sleep. Focus. Keep your mind awake." Mai looked at the cat partially surprised. Before he was speaking in her dream, now in her head. The girl still followed what Yoru was saying. "Set your intention. You want to visit Akane, right?" Mai nodded, her head however did not move anymore. Strange, she was sure she felt herself moving. "Come out, we are going into her dream." After that Mai's body shifted, almost falling over. Masako did not really understand everything that was happening but still reacted immediately to catch her friend before she hit the ground. At least they were seated. When Mai opened her eyes she found herself in the darkness she already knew. A faint cry could be heard echoing. Mai looked around in search of a figure she wished to see. Soon enough she spotted her sitting on the ground with her legs pulled up to her chest and her hands around them. "Akane?" Mai asked softly. The girl jumped a bit. "Who are you?" The girl asked looking up. "I'm Mai, from the team that came to help your family," Mai explained approaching the girl. "Will you take me back home? I don't want to be here. It will return soon, please." The girl looked desperate. Mai smiled trying to calm her down. "It won't come back. It's already gone." She then pulled the girl back on her feet. "Akane, did you know that this is a dream?" She said as she started walking. The girl right behind her. "A dream?" She asked. Mai nodded. "Yes, you are still in your room. This is only a dream." Mai said as she changed the scenery. The darkness turned into a meadow. That was new. The little girl was amazed by it. "Can you do other things?" She asked Mai, her eyes shining. Mai nodded knowing she now could. "But you have to go back now. Your mom is worried and your body is weak." She said turning to the girl. "Close your eyes and just wish to wake up. I'll be next to you when you do." Akane closed her eyes. She felt like she was falling asleep but when her eyes suddenly opened she saw the ceiling of her room. She tried to get up but couldn't. "I told you that your body is weak. Don't move." The girl heard a voice next to her. She managed to turn her head a bit and saw Mai, as promised, next to her. Mai asked Masako to get Ryoko as she kept the girl company. "You did great back then." Mai whispered. "Thank you." The girl answered as she started to cry. Her mother took her hand and cried with the girl.

Once Mai and Masako got back to the base they discovered that not only was it cleaned up but the equipment was also already in the van. Apparently, John came to get the camera in Akane's room while Mai was out of it. The girls gave Naru a vague explanation about what happened. Mai would have to write it all in a report anyway. The team packed their stuff as Naru and Lin went to talk with Iwao about the case. With their suitcases, they headed to the cars. "You're done?" A voice asked suddenly. The conversation Mai had with Ayako and Madoka stopped as the girl turned to search for the owner of the voice. She noticed the twins some feet away. "So, you've figured it out?" One of them asked and Mai nodded. "Can you tell us what it was?" The other added. Mai wasn't sure. "I don't think I can." She answered but the boys were looking at her with puppy-like eyes. "A very bad being got released from your warehouse but now it's gone." She said almost whispering. "That's all I can say." The twins looked surprised. "Warehouse?" One of them looked at the other. "Remember the jar we found?" He asked. "I do, I do. I'm glad we hid it. Grandfather would kill us if he found out we touched something." Mai cut into their conversation. "You were in the warehouse before ?" She asked shocked. They both nodded. "We love the old things that are in there! There is a secret door that we use." Mai couldn't believe it but she was also not going to tell the children what they might have released. Now, she had one more thing to mention in the report. "Maybe you shouldn't go there without an adult. There might be more dangerous things in there." She suggested.

"Mai! Naru is back!" She heard Gene yell. The girl turned to the boys for the last time. "Can you promise me that you won't?" They nodded. Mai started to head to the car with Madoka next to her. "Are you going to tell Naru?" The woman asked. Mai sighed. "He is gonna find out once he reads the report." She answered. As they were near the car Madoka yelled to inform Naru that the front seat was hers. To her surprise, she noticed that it was empty. Mai opened the back door to see Naru in the back seat. "Why are you yelling?" He asked looking up from his book. Madoka brushed it off. "No, it's nothing." Naru then yelled for Gene to get into the car. The other boy was still chatting with Yasu. He hurried back after being scolded by Naru.

Like that, another case ended. It was time for another one to begin.