Supernatural Investigation 101: Chronicles Of Nakashima Wakana

Minami Sei takes a long glance at the map of T City. It's been a few hours since Wakana disappeared. First twenty-four hours are the most important hours in a kidnapping. Where could that kidnapper take her? They are looking into a dead man. What does he know about Matsuda Yuji?

Matsuda Yuji was a low key model until he changed around three months ago. He was involved in a few scandals. Minami Sei looks at Matsuda Yuji's death certificate. Handling these supernatural cases is mind-boggling. "Nishimura Sama, you are telling me that there are three people who had similar imprints? All of them are dead."

"All the gifts have a unique imprint." Nishimura Soichiro pats an antique black iron box with rusty symbols on the table. "As long as it is in the record, we can find out who that person is."

It's similar to DNA matching. Minami Sei stares at the black iron box with doubts. "It is matching the imprint with only dead people."

"And that is strange." Nishimura Soichiro scratches his chin. In his lifetime, he hasn't seen anything like that. However, he's not surprised. Why should he be? Even before he was chosen as chief of the supernatural investigation agency, he had seen plenty of strange cases. "Have you looked into the database?"

Sei takes a deep sigh and opens the laptop. They have access to the Council's database. The three men died when they were tagged by Handlers*. They all started behaving differently suddenly. 

He checks the comment on one of the profiles. "A man in his late thirties, who died around three years ago, had never shown any trace of a gift before. There might be a chance that he was either possessed or he was a part of the experiments by the unauthorized organizations."

"Experiments." Nishimura Soichiro crosses his arms and raises his chin, gazing up at the ceiling. "This reminds me of the old days."

Though he isn't interested in listening about 'old days', Minami Sei looks up at him. Maybe this creature is related to those experiments. "What kind of experiments were those?" 

"Humans are always craving for what other people have." Nishimura Soichiro takes a breath, recalling the days when he was a new recruit in the police station. "You already saw a case like that -- The phantom rapist case? -- The witch stole the magic from so many women in the past eighteen years. New life experiments were similar to that. The dark organization was trying hard to transfer magic from one person to another. However, there was no success."

"But the phantom rapist was able to transfer those women's magic into that witch's body." Minami Sei leans back in his chair, knitting his brows. 

"You are forgetting the fact that the phantom rapist was a demon." Nishimura Soichiro says to him, "The world is basically divided into the following -- creatures who have magic, creatures who can cultivate, and creatures who are born with gifts. In fact, you and I also have the abilities to cultivate spiritual energy. If we start now, we should be able to have our channels open in a few years. Path of cultivation is rather difficult."

Minami Sei squints at him. "You have tried it."

"I gave up after a month." Nishimura Soichiro waves his hand, looking embarrassed. His junior must never ever find out about his dark days of life. "Back to the case, a gifted human must have tried to do something to those men. Matsuda Yuji's death was also suspicious. Why would a healthy guy suddenly die of a heart attack? He didn't have any grave health issues. Maybe these men were possessed by the same demon."

"The detector didn't indicate that it was a demon." Minami Sei replies calmly, "Can that machine be wrong?"

"It's ninety percent correct." Nishimura Soichiro taps the table. "If we consider the ten percent, there's a chance that it's a demon. The map doesn't show any trace of gift either. Maybe we are looking at it wrongly."

"If the tracker can find any gift in the record, it should also track Wakana." Minami Sei stands up and leans toward the table. If they can't track the kidnapper, they should look at the victim. "We need something that has the imprint of her gifts."

"I haven't seen her using her gift yet," Nishimura Soichiro exclaims. "It can't be anything old. Most imprints are gone within a few hours. If it is a strong one, it can last up to three days."

If it's weak, it only lasts only a few hours. Closing his eyes, Minami Sei massages his forehead. Her gloves? She was wearing them when she disappeared. It's already been more than three days since she saw ghosts in his apartment. He opens his eyes. That night in the hotel… She was writhing in pain and that man said that he might die if he touched her.

Was that related to her abilities? It's nearly been three days. He picks up the black iron box. "Nishimura-sama, I have to head home." 

The clothes that she was wearing that night must be at home. She had put them away for a wash. He has to try it now.

"You can't take it with you, Minami." Nishimura Soichiro rushes after him.  Seeing that Minami Sei has no intention to stop, he adds with a sarcastic tone, "Of course, it's fine if I come with you."

***

"Sen Yorihiro, the last soul summoner from four hundred years ago, please come to me." Wakana chants with closed eyes and palms pressed together. A layer of sweat forms on her skin. No matter what she does, the ghost wouldn't appear. 

"It's not working." Matsuda Yuji grabs her head and narrows his eyes. "I had high hopes -- What should I do with you now?"

"I think," Wakana raises her hands, "I think that it's not working because I am here. If you take me out of this place, I might be able to summon Sen Yorihiro."

"Tch! Tch!" Matsuda Yuji shakes his head, letting out a low laugh. "I can't take you out of here."

"Why?" She stares at him. Is he also thinking of doing something bad to her? "I am not from a rich family. I don't even have a job. You won't get money by keeping me here."

"I don't need money." Matsuda Yuji releases her. "I only have to get into the body of a rich man."

"That's true," Wakana murmurs, fidgeting. Damn it! She needs him to take her out of this place. Is this place even on planet earth? She beams at him. "Why don't you possess a person who can do magic? Maybe you can find Sen Yorihiro's soul. There are ouija boards or other magical rituals to call ghosts." 

"Gift can't coexist with magic." Matsuda Yuji yawns. Releasing her? He's never going to do that. But he's curious what she can do after her awakening. "Nakashima Wakana, it's time to have fun."

She swallows, raising her knees to her c.h.e.s.t and wrapping her arms around it. She takes off her gloves. Would she be able to use that ability if he attacks? The cooling sensation from her skin isn't gone. "What are you planning to do?"

"I have to leave now." Matsuda Yuji steps away from her. He raises his finger and moves it around in the air. The squarish walls of the room morph into cylindrical walls. All of a sudden, Wakana finds herself in the centre. Matsuda Yuji is no longer in the room.

"Alas! I have to look for a rich host." Matsuda Yuji's dark voice rings in the cylindrical white room. "Nakashima Wakana, you should enjoy the awakening."

Widening her eyes, she tries to stand up. Suddenly, the room starts moving on its own. She falls on the floor, feeling nauseous as the walls revolve around her. There's no sound. Air pressure and the temperature inside the room are dropping. She pants for air, glueing herself on the ground. 

There's a burst of loud laughter. She looks around, but she can't see anyone. Her heart is beating too fast. Her veins are burning. Wakana lies down on her back, writhing in pain. She opens her mouth to scream, but she finds herself choking. Her arms and legs twist in awkward angles. 

Help! 

She screams in her mind.

This pain is too much.

Something as piercing as hot needles is growing out of her heart, enveloping her body. 

Please, stop this!

Heavy pressure is swelling from inside of her skull, pushing outward. All the noises are too loud. Her ears and eyes are wet. The scent of blood wafts into her nose. She realizes that blood is pouring out of her orifices. 

She doesn't want to die. Not here. She wants to see her family again. Sei. He must be waiting for her. And… 

Squeezing her eyes shut, Wakana raises her c.h.e.s.t when something like a tumour grows in her heart. At this rate, she will die. Her heart is going to burst apart Literally.

"Choi… Minho." 

She can't die until she finds out the connection between her and that man.