Editing Ghost Hunt:Volume 5 Chapter 5 (section)

===5===

When I regained consciousness, I was walking down a dark corridor all by myself.

I did not have any prior memory. When did I come to this place?

Standing there tilting my head, it suddenly came to me.

This is a dream…

This must be, probably a dream, as usual.

Just as I was thinking thus, the color around me gradually disappeared; as though it had been sucked away, all light disappeared; darkness descended around me. The light and shadow of my silent surroundings were swirling. At the same time, the walls and floors and ceilings all turned transparent.

… It was as I had expected. I was, indeed, dreaming.

Within the house which had turned into a photograph negative, round snow-white spots of light swam towards me like fish, swirling around my body. I tried reaching out with my hand. When my fingertip touched the spot of light, a strange warmth radiated from it. The light which I had touched gradually floated further away from me.

Swimming forward, I saw Naru’s figure in front of me.

“… Naru.”

At the other end of the corridor. His snow white features and snow white hands.

“Do you know what happened to Masako?”

I asked. Naru smiled. Seeing this smile of Naru’s I felt extremely relieved. A warm smile. Masako must be safe and sound now.

The white hand moved, and pointed to the right.

“… That way?”

I asked. Naru nodded. Then he smiled once more, and disappeared, as though dissolving into the darkness.

I walked towards the direction that Naru pointed to. I broke into a sprint down the shadow darkened corridor, looking for Masako.

When I was moving, my surroundings gradually regained its color. The walls turned opaque; the dark corridors became clear once more. I studied my surroundings.

… Do I want to wake up from my dream?

No, I don’t want to wake up yet. I still haven’t found Masako.

I sprinted through the corridor. In a moment a door appeared in front of me. A door at the end of the corridor. Where did I see this door before, I thought while I opened the door. Inside was a small hall. A wide, vacant hall. With stairs towards the second floor.

… This place is…

I ran straight up to the second floor. Tracing my memories, I went straight down the second floor corridor towards the depths of the house. I ran towards the door at the end of the corridor.

To open that door, I still needed to drum up a little courage. After opening the door, there was a small room covered with white towels. It was nondescript – besides my feeling this place was relatively shady. Unhesitatingly, I opened the door that led further inside. The wide bathroom appeared. – Or rather, it should be called the Execution Room. On the white tiles, were the white bathtub and white bed. Then by the wall at the end, I saw a human figure.

“Masako?!”

I ran over. The figure was wearing a kimono. She was squatting on the floor, her head pillowed on her hugged knees, unmoving. I ran to the figure’s side.

“Masako!”

I shouted. The cascading hair moved a little.

“Masako?”

Masako lifted her head.

… That’s great. She’s still alive.

“… Mai?”

“Are you OK? Are you injured?”

Masako slowly shook her head.

“No… Why… are you here…?”

“This is a dream.”

Saying that gave me a strange feeling. However, Masako still smiled.

“Is this so… I thought Mai is also dead.”

“Don’t pull this sort of jokes. Neither me nor Masako will die.”

Masako smiled tiredly.

“… Really.”

“Are you in pain? Are you alright?”

“There are many terrifying memories made in this place… I am already extremely exhausted.”

“You cannot give up. We will definitely come to rescue you.”

“… Thank you.”

Saying this, Masako smiled gently.

“I am fine. Up till just now Naru was here.”

“Naru?”

“Isn’t that strange? He stayed here keeping me company, encouraging me. It was really strange. He wore an extremely gorgeous smile.”

I smiled.

“… is it? That’s great.”
Masako replied with a smile. When she smiled, tears unconsciously rolled down.

“Masako?”

“This is a dream. Perhaps this isn’t your dream, but mine?”

“No. This is my dream.”

This is such a strange conversation.

“Perhaps I am already dead, just that I don’t know myself. Do I still look like a person?”

“Yeah. Just like normal.”

“… is this so?”

Suddenly recalling something, I stuck my hand into my pocket. In my right hand was a key ring. From the metal accessory, I took out a key.

“This is… a protective charm.”

“Protective charm?”

Slanting her head, Masako accepted the key.

“This is my protective charm. It is the key to the house I used to live in.”

The house where Father and Mother lived in; the house where I was born. When Father died, Mother took it away as a protective charm. Then, in the end she left it for me.

“… For me?”

“Yeah. If you hold on to something then you can believe my words, right? And you can believe in yourself right? Masako, you are still not dead. And you are not in a dream either. Can’t you really feel the sensation of the key?”

“… Yeah.”

This is clearly my dream, but I emphasized an idiotic thing like this.

“Everyone is desperately trying to find an entry. We will definitely find it soon. We will rescue you, believe me. Wait for us.”

Masako nodded her head, and then she grasped my arm.

“This place… is very scary.”

“Yeah.”

“That man is coming.”

“Urado?”

Masako nodded. Her doll like face was slightly twisted; transparent tears rolled down.

“Besides him there is the spirit of the two men. They are coming to kill me. I desperately prayed that they would not come. But I’m already very tired…”

“You cannot give up. We’re nearly there; you must try your best.”

“I see a lot of hallucinations… a lot of people were killed… it was extremely terrifying…”

“It’s alright. We will definitely save you. That’s why, Masako, you must try your best.”

Masako nodded like a child.

“I will wait for you all. You definitely will come?”

“Yeah. Definitely. As fast as we can. Therefore…”

I did not even finish my sentence. My vision suddenly blurred, and it was black. The last thing I saw was Masako’s worried face.