Supernatural Investigation 101: Chronicles Of Nakashima Wakana

Unlike the last time, nobody tries to stop her from walking into the mansion. She passes through the same hallway, not paying attention to the geometric shapes intricated with vines with delicate flowers prints on the wallpaper or the defacing dark splatters of unknown origins on the walls. 

She comes to halt at the doorway to the living room and reaches for the doorknob. Her left-hand stops mid-air, feeling a strong urge to turn around and run as far as she can. She looks at her trembling hand. An overwhelming sense of dread rises from the bottom of her stomach, making her heart drum louder against her c.h.e.s.t. 

How long can she continue to live fearing something that is a part of her world whether she likes it or not? When she was a child, she wasn't afraid of touching things or seeing memories like this. How did something that was easy for her when she was a child has become difficult for her as an a.d.u.l.t? When she touched Sei's hand that day, she was afraid but she was also curious. Seeing his memory and experiencing that killed any courage that she had as a child. But she's tired of living like that. 

Maybe she's truly mentally weak. Her fear is stopping her from touching the doorknob and walking into the living room. Knowing that her body is reacting to the fear isn't helpful. She's one step away from having a panic attack and two steps behind from losing consciousness. 

"I have to do this," She mutters to herself, determined to show a certain someone that she's qualified enough to be part the agency. "Memories can't hurt me; only people can."

The sound of cl.i.c.k.i.n.g startles her. The door opens slightly on its own. Haunted? Yes, he did say that there are ghosts in this mansion. Are these ghosts helping her? Since they are so welcoming, there's nothing to be worried about. However, she pushes the door with her foot and tilts her body to her right, looking into the living room. Lights are on and there aren't any ghost or that she could sense at the moment. She takes a step inside the living room, letting out a breath of relief; there's nothing different. 

Where is everyone?

"She must have gone to the hospital with her son." She wipes the cold sweat on her face. "Did the servants go somewhere in her absence?"

Should she come back later? She puts her hand on her hip, contemplating whether she should leave or not. She's been kicked out of the agency for being mentally weak. If she leaves now, there's a high chance that she won't get a chance to prove that she's qualified to be a part of the agency. She might even lose the chance to get to know more about him. That man erased whatever he didn't want her to remember. Isn't this against human rights? Nobody would believe her if she makes a complaint. "Hmph! I am going to prove to them that I am not useless."

Clang!

Wakana jumps, staggering forward, grasping the arm of the couch and falling on her one knee; she winces, a pained cry escape her mouth. She bends down her other knee and leans on the side of the couch, waiting for the pain in her right knee to subside. What was that sound? She looks over her head, toward the top of the stairway. 

Her heart drops when she sees Okuyama Mikio staring at her from the top of the stairs. Dark twisted shadows are entwined around his body, gliding around like a pair of snakes. In the next moment, a chilling darkness sweeps in the living room. The scleras of his eyes are as red as the blood dripping from the tips of his long and black nails. She watches him coming down the stairs. Stopping only ten feet away from her, the boy c.o.c.ks his head and the corners of his lips curl up into a smile. "They speak about you a lot."

His low and husky voice brings her out of the stupor. "W-Who?"

"Who was it again?" He knits his brows, tilts his head, and looks down. "There are so many."

Alright! This is not the time to act brave. He seems to be in deep thought. It's her only chance to run. Don't panic. Don't be scared. Don't make sudden movements. Wakana chants a sutra in her mind as she starts to get up slowly, not trying to attract the attention of the only being in the living room. 

Her phone starts ringing again. 

Wakana glances at the name. Minami Sei. She raises her head, finding the boy looking at her quietly. What are her chances of picking up the call and not dying at the hands of the boy who killed three men of his family? "Can I pick up the call?" For help.

The boy charges in her direction, aiming for her shoulder. Flitting clumsily away from him, Wakana barely dodges his claw. She stumbles when she tries to rush toward the door, falls on the floor. Ignoring the pain, she rolls away from the spot. The boy punches the spot where her head was at a moment ago. He turns his head toward her and snarls, clearly annoyed. 

"Okuyama-kun, why do you want to kill me?" She grabs the edge of the table and gets up on her knees. "We are not enemies."

But he's not in the condition to listen to her words. Hunching his shoulders, he lowers his head and watches her with his predatory eyes. His breathing is low and raspy. While keeping his eyes fixed upon her, he steps toward her.

He's like a beast. Is he sick? Wakana chews her lower lip, trying to figure out how to save herself. She must distract him. But how? Why do things go wrong whenever she is trying to act brave? And where is everyone? Did he kill all the people in this mansion?  "Okuyama-kun, where is your mother?"

Okuyama Mikio halts in his track and blinks his eyes. "Mother?" 

"Yes, Ms Okuyama, where is she?" She inches toward the nearest door. "She was going to take you to the hospital today."

"Hospital!" He raises his head and bellows at her. "Take me to the hospital, Mother. I beg you!"

"Um…" She is not far from the door. Just a little more. She needs to survive until the help arrive. "Okuyama-kun, tell me where your mother is. I will ask her to take you to the hospital right away."

"You won't take me there, Mother." He asks her with a helpless voice. "Why won't you take me? Am I not your son?"

Is he mistaking her as his mother? Damn! It's best to pretend right now. "I will take you there, Okuyama-kun. You shouldn't be agitated. Calm down--"

She bends her knees as he punches the wall above her head. As she darts toward the door, he swipes his arm at her back, slashing the skin. She screams, staggering on her feet. In the next instant, the boy bites off the flesh of her shoulder. The savoury taste of her raw flesh distracts him for a moment. Ignoring the pain, she turns her body around and kicks his stomach. He totters back. The piece of her flesh slips out of his mouth and drops on the floor. 

Wakana places her hand on the wound on her shoulder and runs toward the door, steps into the room, and slams the door shut before the creature can force his way in. She backs away when she hears inhuman roars mixed with the musical sound of her phone's ringtone. The creature pounds on the door, trying to break open the door. She stares at the door, wondering if the door could hold him back. 

After a few seconds, all the sounds stop.