Things had become strained between the group in the coming days of the festival.
Not that it mattered anymore to Taryn. She could honestly care less what Robert thought. She was still pissed off at him, and rightfully so. But what kept coming to mind was when Taryn had cried, releasing all of her pent-up emotions then and there. She found herself feeling somewhat better. She no longer thought of the event in such a grim way of blaming herself, something which she had on her mind until finally letting it out.
Crying could ease stress and help remove some negative feelings. So, in a way, it was thanks to Robert’s constant goading that she now felt like this. This type of content and relief after holding it in for so long.
It was weird.
She couldn’t even remember the last time she even cried like that. Yet, for some reason or another, when Toya held her, it made her recall a similar event. One with Isaac when he came back from the Army. Though she didn’t cry when he hugged her, she was just relieved that both he and Roy came home alive. It was almost eerie how similar it felt. It was probably just due to how she felt at the moment, making her recall something familiar while in Toya’s arms.
Which was rather odd.
He was a stranger that didn’t seem to mind in helping a broken sobbing girl whom he barely knew.
Toya even told her afterwards when she had calmed down, which was awkward, to say the least, given she had practically collapsed in his arms from crying so much, that if she ever felt like she needed a place to cry, he would be more than willing to help her. He even said it while smiling softly at her. Like he understood her pain.
It didn’t make sense no matter how much she thought about it, common courtesy sure, but that didn’t seem right. This was far from anything common.
It was like he only said it because it was her, and that made even less sense.
I don’t get it. Taryn thought to herself as she lay on the room’s tatami floor that she and Rachael shared. Her legs crossed at her ankles and rested along a window ledge as she stared up at the ceiling. Her fingers interlaced across her stomach. “Rachael, what do you think of Toya?”
Rachael paused in her sketchbook to stare at her friend before frowning, her red hair damp from having a bath only a few hours before. Usually, Taryn never asked anything about what a person was like. “He’s handsome?”
“Other than that,” Taryn said flatly.
“Why are you asking?” but Taryn only shrugged as she now kept her eyes closed.
Only to then open her eyes, to discover that Rachael peered down at her with grey eyes filled with wonder as her still-damp braid fell over her shoulder, bopping Taryn in the face. “You’re too close, Rei.”
“It’s not something you ask. At least not aloud, what brought this on?”
Taryn continued to lie on the floor for a moment, staring up at her friend before replying. “It felt similar. When Toya hugged me while I was crying, it reminded me of something. I’m just trying to figure out why. Why he’s so friendly with me, I can’t understand it.”
“He does seem to stare at you an awful lot.” Taryn glanced to her left to see that Rachael had now joined her on the floor. “Have you noticed that?”
She shook her head. “No, I kept feeling like I was being watched, but I only assumed that to be the woman or someone else. Not Toya. But you say he’s been staring at me? What do you make of it?”
“Maybe he finds you attractive.”
She thought about it. Then frowned. “I guess? But if that were the case, he’d say something about it, wouldn’t he?”
“Not everyone is a verbal communicator, you should know that better than most.”
Taryn chose to lie in silence rather than answer. Somehow that didn’t sound right either as Rachael merely continued.
“You could just ask him.” She paused, watching her friend. “And now, I’ve got an unpopular question for you. It’s been two days; how are you feeling?”
“Your right about it being an unpopular question,” Taryn said with a sigh as she closed her eyes again. “I don’t know how to answer that…” she said after a long moment. “I don’t feel any different, at least not really. I feel less sad, I guess. But that’s from me crying so much. Other than that, I don’t know. What about you? And Robert?”
Rachael scoffed as she looked back up to the ceiling. “He can get disembowelled or fall off a cliff for all I care…”
“That’s rather harsh,” Taryn said before glancing at her friend. “You don’t mean that… do you?”
Rachael glanced at Taryn in turn before looking back up at the ceiling once more. “Okay fine, not being disembowelled. Having his legs and arms broken by the hands of your uncle would be much better, in my opinion.”
And he’d be willing to do it. Taryn thought. I’d better not admit that though… “When’d you get so violent?”
Rachael scowled at her. “Because I’m mad at him still. After all of what he said, and even did, aren’t you mad?”
“I am,” she admitted. “But not enough to kill Robert, even though I threatened him,” she pushed herself up off the floor, sitting cross-legged. “I knew that Robert wasn’t fully aware of the situation. He always jumps to things when he first hears stuff. I made that fact abundantly clear when Robert was at Roy’s funeral with Paul. He knows now, though. And besides, I think he’s more than aware he shouldn’t have said what he did. Stephanie even confirmed that when she visited later that night to check on us.”
Rachael remained on the floor, looking away with annoyance as she folded her arms across her chest. “He’s still a dick for it,” then glanced at Taryn with a narrowed gaze. “You’d better punch him if he says that stuff again.”
Taryn gave a rather humourless laugh. She had said that to him in the heat of the moment, she wasn’t even sure if she’d do it. The only way she’d know is if it were to happen then and there. “We’ll see.” Then a knock came from the front of the room.
Rachael went to answer it and soon brought over a large tray of food. “Did you ask for lunch?” she asked.
“No, I didn’t,” Taryn said with a shake of her head before picking up a plate. Only to pause when seeing another note. A frown slowly formed on her face, one that mirrored her friends before picking it up. When she had, Taryn caught a glimpse of the same woman standing at the mansion’s entrance.
Then when she pulled herself out of it, Taryn opened the note.
I did some more digging.
Stolen novel; please report.
In doing so, I finally found the name of the place where Ai had gone too and something a bit disconcerting. In my search, I had come to discover that several people have gone missing not long after they went to this resort. A place called Kōeihei village.
I’m not sure how long it was before they had been labelled as missing, but it’s still worrying. Did they go missing when they came back from this place? Or did they never leave? I’m not sure which is the case, and I can’t keep looking all over for every person who may or may not have gone here.
But with Ai, I’m certain she never came back.
Signs all over her apparent show this to be true. But then, if this is the case, why would they not come back? It seems like an old resort in a rural area. I know that Ai was interested. I remember her mentioning it online a few times, recalling how she came across it. And I found the place after doing it the same way.
Now I just need to work up the nerve to go. But something about this tells me that deep down something is dreadfully wrong. I’m not sure why.
If I don’t go, I will never forgive myself for not following a lead. One that could lead me straight to Ai. Shit.
I’ll sleep on it. But I’m pretty sure what my answer will be, consequences be damned.
Taryn and Rachael looked at each other before Taryn spoke. “Who gave you this?”
“A middle-aged woman, I think? She indicated which was for who in Japanese.”
Yoko? In that split second, Taryn stood up and quickly left the room before Rachael could say anything back. Quickly running down the hall, hoping to catch up with the woman. She didn’t need to go far, for the woman seemed to be walking slowly. Almost deliberate.
When Taryn came to a stop and the woman turned, it was indeed Yoko, her dark brown eyes looking at Taryn with a knowing expression.
“Are you the one who has been leaving these notes?” Taryn asked in Japanese, her voice was soft as she walked closer to the Japanese woman, making sure her voice was low, so only they could hear each other. But when the woman shook her head, Taryn asked. “Did you know her then?”
Yoko was silent. Instead, she merely grasped Taryn’s hands with both of hers. “You need to be wary; there isn’t much that I can tell you,” she spoke softly. “The village is safer when looking.” Her grip tightened against Taryn’s hands, her eyes imploring. “Please, when the festival is over, go home.”
“Yoko? Are you there?” Toya called out in Japanese, causing the woman to flinch before Toya rounded a corner seeing both women as a slight smile came to his face. “Lowell-san. It’s good to see you up and about.” He said in English. “Is something the matter? Can I assist?”
“No,” Taryn responded in English, as Yoko let go of her hands, not before discreetly placing something into Taryn’s hand before turning to face Toya and giving a slight bow, excusing herself and heading further down the hallway. “No that’s okay. I was just thanking her for the food. That’s all.”
“Is that so?” he called out to Yoko in Japanese, who was now walking down the hall. “She says thank you for the food, Yoko-san.”
She stopped, looked back and replied. “You are very welcome, Lowell-san, please enjoy the food with your friend.” Then disappeared around a corner.
“She says that you are welcome,” Toya spoke in English. “And she hopes that you enjoy it. Oh, and while I have you here, Lowell-san, there’s something I’ve meant to ask. Since that night, how have you been faring?”
“I’m okay,” she said as she rubbed the back of her neck. “I’m not upset anymore if that’s what you’re wondering. It’s been two days, not to mention Robert’s been actively avoiding me. Probably worried I’d keep to my word.”
“As he should be, given the state that you were in, I had half a mind to speak to him myself about it.”
“There’s no need, our relationship has always been a bit… complicated. Even more so, than before. I know that Robert’s aware he crossed a line. I’m not going to hold what he said against him. Besides, the festival is tonight, right? Even if we see each other, we’ll be pretty wrapped up in whatever it’ll entail.”
“Are you looking forward to it?”
She smiled. “I am actually. It’ll be an experience to remember, that’s for sure. I plan on taking a few photos and maybe a video. Will that be okay?”
“There should be no harm in it. You’re not the first to do so.”
“Oh, good. Though I should probably get back before the food get’s cold. So, thank you.” Taryn offered him a slight wave of her hand before turning back to return to her room.
“If you plan to head down to the village again, please come back at three in the afternoon.” He called out to her as he walked down the hall in the opposite direction. “There’s something we of the mansion would like to show you, before tonight’s festivities.”
She continued right after he said that and as she did too, retrieved what was in her pocket, the small note that Yoko had given her written in Japanese.
Ask the villagers.
“What the heck was that about?” Rachael asked when Taryn came back to the room.
“Nothing really,” Taryn said as she sat down to eat. “When I’m done I’m going to head back down to the village.”
“The woman in the photo, right?” when Taryn merely looked at her, Rachael simply stated. “I want to know just as much as you do. And I’m not letting you do it alone either.”
* * *
The village was packed with people busy setting things up for the festival.
Food stalls and games, and several of the villagers putting up small gift shops or chatting with each other, it was a lot busier than before the past two days.
“Any idea where to start?” Rachael asked.
“Let’s just see who’s be willing to talk to us first,” Taryn said softly as they began to walk around the now bustling village. Only to notice the same three kids from before running up to them with smiles on their faces.
“Ghost Lady!” one boy shouted. “You here to see the festival?”
“Ghost Lady?” Rachael questioned as Taryn merely shrugged before going down to their level while speaking Japanese.
“Hey, you three, remember what I told you about calling me that? I have a name, it’s Lowell.”
“Ghost Lady sounds cooler.” Said the other boy as Rachael stifled a laugh, which Taryn immediately shooed away.
“Well, Lowell means Wolf, why not call me that?”
“I like wolf better.” The girl admitted while the two boys seemed to debate it. “Better than spooky ghosts.”
Taryn laughed. “See? She gets it. Now actually, there’s something I wanted to ask. It’s about another person.” She then pulled out the photo from her notebook. “Do any of you recognize the woman on the left?”
All three shook their heads, giving their responses. But the first boy suddenly pointed at the photo. “Oh! I know this lady, though! The one on the right. She was from Tokyo! She came to visit because of the mansion. She was staying there. She was super nice to me.”
“The other woman. Do you remember when this was?”
He nodded. “It was four months ago, I think. I remember because no one else came. She was all by herself. She said it was something to do with trying to get away from her parents. They were mean about how they disapproved of who she liked. She said she liked the village soooo much she wanted to come here again. I hope it’s soon.”
“You must really like her,” Taryn said. “Can you tell me her name?”
The boy nodded. “Her name is Matsushita, Matsushita Ai.”
“Kenta!” a woman called out, drawing the kids’ attention. “You three come here! Leave the woman alone. You’re bothering her.”
“But we’re not!” called out Kenta, the leader of the three. But when the woman, possibly his mother or another family member, pointed to the ground with a tap of her foot, she showed she didn’t have it.
“You three better go,” Taryn said to them softly. “Thank you for telling me about the woman in the photo.”
“Okay, bye, Wolf Girl.” Kenta and the other boy laughed as the girl tapped her arm to draw her attention.
“Bye, Ōkami-san.” The little girl giggled as she ran off to catch up to the boys.
“Don’t laugh,” Taryn said to Rachael as she went to join her friend to sit along the hill. “But those kids did have some info. One recognized one of the women.”
“The one you’ve been seeing?”
She shook her head before handing Rachael the photo in question. “No, her friend, her name is Ai Matsushita. It’s at least something.”
“But not what you were hoping for.” Rachael looked around, watching the people move about before going still, her spine straightening before grasping Taryn’s wrist, yanking her from where they had been sitting. Taryn was about to ask what this was all about before Rachael called out in Japanese. “Excuse me, Sir?”
An elderly man paused and turned to look at the two women with a smile when seeing them. “Oh, if it isn’t the young Miss and your friend, I see.” He added when Taryn offered a slight nod in a silent greeting. “Are you both ready to see the festival?”
“Yes,” Rachael said. “But I have something I wanted to ask you. Do you know either of these women in this photo?” She handed it to him as he looked at it before recollection showed in his eyes.
“Yes, I do. I recognize both. The one on the right came here about four months ago, then the other a month later. She said that her friend had gone missing and had been trying to find her. The last place she knew that her friend had gone was here in this village. I told her that I had heard that she had gone back home.”
“Do you know her name?” Taryn asked next in Japanese. “The one who came looking for her friend?”
He nodded. “Yes, her name was Suchiko-san. Suchiko June.”