Ghost Hunt:Volume1 Chapter7

Chapter 7 - Flood Warning

1

After I went home, I came back and set up the microphones and tape recorders with John.

At first I wanted to set up the camcorders, but I didn't know how to, which sucked.

We placed the 24-hour tape recorders in the west side of the building, the place where Kuroda was attacked, and the lab room.

Bou-san and Miko-san were patrolling the building.

...Is Naru coming back tonight?

I sat on the stairs, pondering this until I noticed a figure walking down the entrance hall.

"Naru?"

The figure came closer. It was a girl. It was Kuroda.

"Kuroda-san..." I called out.

She looked around, "How's the situation?"

"After you left, both Bou-san and Miko-san did an exorcism. Now they're just walking around the place."

"...Oh. What about Naru?"

"He's not here. He went somewhere else."

"...Really."

"Hey," I said, standing up. "You said there're ghosts here. What kind are they?"

She cocked her head. "I saw many ghosts of injured people here."

"...Is that it? Do you have any evidence of that?"

As long as there's evidence...

I started thinking about it.

There're so many scary rumors about the old school building. But in the end, a rumor is a rumor. I don't have psychic powers so I can't tell if someone who died in this building is still lingering here as a ghost.

"What's wrong?" Kuroda asked as she looked at me.

"I was thinking that there really are no ghosts here."

"I said I saw them."

"...True..."

Hmph. I don't understand this stuff.

I contemplated the matter again. Miko-san was coming down the stairs.

"Well now," Miko-san said, wrinkling her brow as she noticed Kuroda. "This is not the time to be playing games."

"...Was the exorcism successful?" asked Kuroda.

"Is that any of your business?" the older woman retorted coldly.

"Naru said that... My wavelength is the same as the ghost's."

"Really? Is Naru's word reliable?"

...So rude.

Miko-san looked at us. "The exorcism is over. I stayed here because I'm careful. You kids should just go home and sleep."

"That's what you said last time, and you weren't successful then," I retorted.

Miko-san seemed to flare up. "This time it was successful. Now there's no ghostly phenomena."

"Oh?"

...You sure like to babble, idiot.

"The exorcism was unsuccessful," Kuroda persisted.

"Eh? Why do you say that?" Miko-san's eyes were stern and hard.

"I can feel it. There's still a lot of ghosts..."

Miko-san snickered. "Would you like to compare your powers to mine? Even if you have a little psychic power, don't think so much of yourself. Unlike you, I'm a professional."

"You may be a professional, but you sure don't have any amazing powers yourself, right?" Kuroda spit back.

The two glared at each other. At this time John and Bou-san came down from the stairs. When they saw the two girls arguing, they shot each other an understanding glance.

2

After hearing Kuroda say the exorcism was unsuccessful, Bou-san snickered.

"Forget about Ayako. I exorcised the ghost so now there should be no problem. There're no ghosts here anymore."

"What's up with you saying 'forget about Ayako'?" said Miko-san.

"It's the truth."

"Don't take the credit from me."

"There's no need to."

...Here they go again. Do you two only get along when you're insulting Naru?

Those two just can't help but bicker. Turning around, I noticed John was looking up at the ceiling.

So I raised my head to look at the ceiling too.

Hmm? What's that? A stepping sound?

Footsteps from the second floor...

Noticing me and John, Miko-san and Bou-san looked up at the ceiling as well.

Stomp stomp stomp...

Someone's running up and down.

Bou-san stood up. "What kind of sound is it...?"

"Sounds like someone running..." Miko-san replied, looking at us.

Everyone's here. Naru wasn't here in the beginning. But, who's making that sound...?

As the footsteps came closer and closer, we all stood up.

There was a platform in the middle of the stairs, and from there the stairs spiraled down. We were on the first floor so all we saw when we looked up were the railings.

Step. Step. Step. The footsteps were on the stairs now. They were coming down, towards us. Step. Step. Step. Whoever was making the sounds must be on the platform now, so I looked up and saw...

Everyone else looked up too, but then the footsteps stopped.

The room was filled with silence.

In a rush Bou-san ran up the stairs, looked at the platform, then came down.

We asked, "Was anyone there?"

"...No."

"Well, what about those footsteps we heard?"

"Maybe we heard wrong."

"Heard wrong? How can we hear wrong? I was listening very carefully."

"......"

"Didn't you say the exorcism was successful? Aren't you a professional? Aren't you different from a 'little girl'? Then what was that sound just then?" I asked Miko-san.

Miko-san stared at me.

"It's just the wind."

Bastard. Would Naru use a sorry excuse like that? When you guys were dissing Naru back there, he didn't make any excuses!

Furious, I glared at Bou-san and Miko-san. They turned away.

At this time, the sound of a door opening and closing came from the second floor.

Bang! Bang!

It sounded as if the building would come crashing down.

Then came the ghostly sounds. Such rough footsteps... It sounds like an army is up there, running around. Every door in the building banged, opening and closing by itself.

The floor started to sway.

Suddenly the flourescent light we put up earlier on the ceiling cracked open, and little pieces of glass fell.

We scrambled away into the entrance hall and corridor.

I stood in the entrance hall, then turned around and saw the shoe cabinet swaying. A loud cracking sound came from it.

I pushed against the shoe cabinet to keep it from falling. Not sure why I did though. But it's probably because I was scared it'd fall.

As I pushed against the shoe cabinet, I realized it was warm. Warm as hot water.

...Didn’t Naru say something like this earlier?

Objects that poltergeists touch will be warm to the touch...

Wobbling and swaying, the shoe cabinet fell on me. I tried to block it, but it was too heavy and I soon crumbled under its weight.

I screamed.

...And then, I couldn't feel anything...

3

My head hurts.

The cool wind brushed against my cheeks... This feels so good. When I thought of it that way, I woke up.

My eyes fluttered open.

I was in a small, dark place. When my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I realized I was inside Naru's car.

The car... Is it moving?

I wanted to get up, but I didn't have the energy to.

...Ummm.

That's right. The shoe cabinet fell on me. Yeah, that's it. This must be a curse that the injured assistant casted upon me.

I looked around and realized no one was around. Even the driver's seat was empty.

But isn't this car moving?

No... It's not moving. I'm just dizzy.

That's weird. I was just sleeping, but now I feel dizzy.

It feels like the car is spinning. My head hurts.

...Who moved me here? I hope I'm not alone. Then, I tried to sit up, but stopped when a nauseating feeling overcame me. I quickly lay down again.

That's weird... Am I hurt?

The footsteps, the ghostly sounds, the warm shoe cabinet.

What happened after that? How long did I sleep? Where's everybody else...?

Ah, this isn't good. I'm sleepy.

I felt my eyes close tightly...

When I realized my face was moist from sleeping, I woke up with a jerk.

Not good. I feel uncomfortable. Did I get hurt... Feels like my energy was drained. I woke up in a daze.

If I can't get up, and I can't call out for help, I'll be in trouble. How's everyone else? It's so quiet. No one's nearby. The others aren't hurt, are they?

Right when I was determined to get up, a soft, pale hand caressed my forehead.

"Who is it..." My voice was weak.

My eyes looked up past the pale hand. In the darkness I could make out the face.

"...Naru?"

...You're back? Thank goodness.

Naru reassured me with a calm voice. "Don't move."

He said that with a warm smile on his face. I was kind of surprised. I never thought that Naru could smile like that.

Such a warm smile.

"It would be great if you'd always smile like that."

I said automatically, without even thinking about it. Ah, I really don't feel so good. But Naru's cocking his head, smiling down at me.

I asked, "Is anyone nearby?"

"No."

Such a soft voice.

"...Really," I said softly.

...I'm so tired...

"That kinda sucks. It really is a poltergeist... That sucks..." I said.

Naru shook his head. "You should rest for a while. It's best not to get up yet."

"Okay..."

...What's up with Naru. He's being so nice and gentle...

"...Thank you."

Naru shook his head, smiling.

...I woke up.

Looking around, I realized I was in the car. The moonlight faintly shined through. The equipment was piled up in a stack.

My head hurts.

Sleeping on this hard "bed" made my back ache.

...Naru?

Where's Naru?

Naru's not here. Now where did he go?

...Or maybe... That was just a dream.

Yeah— Just a dream.

I was still wearing the same clothes. Looking around, I realized the equipment filled up half the back seat of the van. Who would've thought I'd be lying down over here, in this little tight space.

Eh???

When I started thinking about this, I bumped my head on the top of the car. Bou-san peered through the window, then shouted, "Hey! Are you all right?!"

4

I wasn't sure whether I was lucky or unlucky, but apparently I was the only one who got injured.

After the shoe cabinet fell on top of me, knocking me out, the others took me out. They shouted and shouted, but I just wouldn't come to. As for Miko-san, she said it was too late to help me.

Don't assume I'm dead. That makes me so angry. Still, Miko-san cried for me when she realized I was no longer breathing, so I forgive her.

Everyone gathered at the van. The night air was chilly.

"What time... Is it?" I asked.

"It's four AM. It'll be morning soon."

...Meaning, I've slept for a long time.

"What about Naru? Is he back?"

"No."

Well— That must've been a dream.

...Why would I have this kind of dream?

"Thank goodness Mai-san doesn't have any serious injuries," John said, his voice full of relief.

"Sorry I worried you guys."

"That was a strong poltergeist. It's the first time I encountered a serious situation like this."

"What happened afterwards?" I asked.

Bou-san crossed his arms. "Nothing happened after that. The exorcisms didn't seem to work."

"Oh... What about Kuroda?"

"She left a long time ago."

"Really."

Miko-san whispered, "Seems like this is a big problem. The exorcisms didn't work as planned..."

"Heh, so you admit the exorcism failed?" I teased.

Hearing that, she angrily turned away.

Hee hee hee.

Miko-san jeered, making sure she was loud enough so we could hear. "As for Naru, who knows where he ran off to. Plus, his assistant is such a big burden. We can't rely on the exorcisms, and Bou-san can't do anything..."

"And you?" Bou-san retorted.

"...I don't have the strength to do anything either," she replied hesitatingly. "It's dangerous. Shouldn't we think about our safety first?"

"True."

"Oh, so are you going to run away?" I asked her.

"...So what if I do?" she said, unwilling to admit defeat, "didn't you see how your boss ran away after that incident? He's probably at home now, trembling in fear."

...Hmph.

"...Miko-san, do you mean it?" teased Bou--san. "So, you're not going to cover up for him?"

"What's this about covering up for him? Don't associate me with him. I can't even imagine him running away, trembling like a baby," the woman replied.

Just imagining him doing that is scary.

Bou-san laughed, "True that. We were mean to him yesterday, so it makes sense if he goes home crying."

Stop it!

"That's even worse. Just thinking of that makes a chill go down my spine. That insufferably confident bastard. The only narcissist I respect in the world is hiding under his blanket, crying?!"

Bou-san stopped laughing when my gaze fell on him.

"...That's true..."

"Shibuya-san must be..." John said, as his creativity sparked up as well. "He must be so furious that he's making voodoo dolls."

When Miko-san raised her head, everyone burst out in laughter.

The sky brightened, the sun's bright rays striking the school building from the east.

Back to Previous Section

Return to Main Page

Forward to Next Section