Chapter 9: A Person from the past

"So, you're really here?"

"Clearly."

"Who's taking care of your woman?"

"Kaiser."

Kathleen glanced at Scott's motorcycle and back at him. She's been hanging with the guy since the day he started dating Samantha but she really can't stand his guts up until now. They locked eyes for a moment until they realized it was a stupid thing to do.

"Where's Christian?" He asked.

"Already gone to work. We need an early start. We better get going," Kathleen snorted.

"Perhaps we should."

Kathleen closed the gate and made her way to her car. Takumi will be waiting at the shop around the same time. She offered to give him a ride since it'll be handful if they travel apart. She left without waiting for Scott. He'll catch up after all.

***

Takumi shove his slender fingers at the back of his neck as he was stealing glances at Scott who's sitting a table away from them.

"So, you really decided to tag him along?" He chuckled.

"I thought you said we'll need him?"

"Yeah, yeah! I know what I said, but this is the same person who betrayed your friend. Aren't you concerned of whether he's gonna betray us as well when he knows everything?"

Kathleen's brows met. "How did you know that?"

Hands hanging loose beside her tattered jeans, she waited for his explanation. Takumi took his phone out and showed her screenshots of a site published by the same person, MaTet.

Her lips parted when she read everything she wrote.

It's as though she's reading Samantha's mind. She made all of her friends anonymous but the details are all in there. Kathleen glared at Scott.

"No, he can't be the one spreading this story. He's clearly a moron but not to this extent... I hope."

"I know what you're thinking, but it's not him."

She watched the thought cross Takumi's face and her eyes batted, losing track of what's going on. What the man is saying is something that's currently buffering outside her understanding.

"We need to find the person behind these articles. I believe she's connected to Shane's disappearance or else she won't be able to write all of these, but that's only a hunch."

"Connected in what way?"

He smirked. He must have known it would make more sense if they find the person first.

Kathleen's chin rose and her brows drew down. "I assume you have the idea where to start?"

***

"I don't think having you here would make much of a difference," Kathleen snapped, eyeing Scott through the rear mirror. He was only sitting idly behind her and seems to be avoiding any conversation.

"Question your friend then," Scott sighed and glanced over Takumi who volunteered driving the car.

He seem to have the idea who MaTet is and where to find her. Kathleen don't know how or maybe he already knew her to begin with.

"The heck. My mind is going nuts!" She'd only scratched her forehead in annoyance.

"He's with us, isn't he? Can't you two just get along? Just for the meantime, at least," Takumi began but fell silent as soon as he sees Kathleen glaring at him.

"Perhaps we can," she agreed, rolling her eyes. "Of course!"

Takumi tapped his fingers against the side of the stirring wheel as he waited for Scott to agree, but the arrogant motherfucker only nodded and looked far outside the window.

"Shameless bastard!" She hissed, kicking the mat underneath.

The tension between the two circulated against the air, Takumi could hardly breathe peacefully. Imagine him sighing in relief the moment they'd arrived in their destination.

Kathleen looked outside when they entered a condominium's parking lot.

"She lives here?" She asked.

"No," Takumi replied.

"Then what the actual fuck are we doing here?!"

Kathleen turned to look at Scott. "Shut the fuck up before I could finally land a blow on that shitty face of yours!"

Momentarily, Takumi thought of quitting as he felt like he might already snap being around such vexing people, but he had already given his word. He thought he could no longer leave. It's a conviction he's currently questioning for the sake of his sanity.

But then, he chose to breathe to calm himself. "I actually did some research about MaTet last night and confirmed it's only a username, clearly. All information about this person is hidden."

"What are we doing here, exactly?" Scott whimpered.

"To talk to someone who could locate her," Takumi smiled and glanced at Scott through the rear mirror before parking the car.

Shoulders scooched against the oddly cool April wind, Takumi tramped out the car and appeased himself with his black furry coat.

"C'mon."

Kathleen sighed expansively and nodded before stepping out. Scott followed and they all headed towards the elevator. The two stood behind her; no one's talking.

Kathleen glanced at her watch which read 10:23 AM. Damn time do fly fast. The elevator stopped at the 7th floor and it opened. Kathleen walked out first and then waited for Takumi to guide the way. Just about a few steps, she heard a soft voice behind her. She turned back and saw a warping image of the little girl she saw from her dreams. She was glaring at her with a sinister smile, uttering Samantha's name and just like that, she disappeared.

Kathleen swilled as she tried containing her fear, although she grappled, the recollection seized her up again and her whole body began to quiver. Everything was real. Little by little, she became aware of her heartbeat and permitted it to thoroughly tug her back to full consciousness.

"Is your brain shutting down?"

Kathleen snorted, turning back to look at Scott. "You know," she sighed, scrubbing a hand across her face; horror still echoing faintly behind her words. "There's a very good reason why I'm still keeping you alive up until now."

Scott grinned, finding everything she said amusing.

"Hey! Both of you, head here now," Takumi called. He was standing in front of a door, six doors away from them. With one vigorous sigh, Kathleen left and stopped beside him when he paused—hand on the door and eyes on her.

"I could feel demonic presence surrounding you. What happened?" His lips curled.

"Nothing."

"Tell me."

The air, over the center of the hallway, shook and shifted as though something were compelling it aside from within. As Takumi waited for her to speak, she calmed herself into her best. "I saw someone from my d-dream... and she calls me Shane."

Takumi couldn't think of anything else. That is definitely a bit serious than what he expected. He pushed his glasses up to his nose and turned back at the door. Tension brought Kathleen's shoulders up and her stomach into twisted knots when the door opened and she saw someone she expected the very least.

"Let me get this straight, he'll be the one to help us?" She pointed the man in front of them.

"Yes," Takumi smiled. "This my cousin—"

"Tomoya Nakashima," Kathleen finished and made a disgusted face at him who only grinned.

"Oh hi, Kath. It's been a while."

"You know each other?" Takumi glanced at Tomoya who's now batting his eyes.

Kathleen snorted and looked at Scott who stood behind her. "God! What a small world."