Paranormal Investigators - Chapter 3: Conception

[swallowtt]

            A week after everyone settled into Yunho's mansion, an e-mail came in for them.  It was from a potential client to set up an afternoon appointment.  If the case was accepted, it would be their first time working together as a team. 

            Yunho greeted a young couple at the door and led them into their client room where his four assistants waited with excitement as well as nervousness.  When everyone was properly introduced, they sat down and listened to the purpose of the two's visit.  Changmin left for a short while to get each of them a cup of tea before returning to his spot on the couch.  The wife, Minah kept quiet and buried herself into her husband, Junki's protective arms seeming extremely paranoid.  Her face paled with fright whilst listening to Junki explain the whole situation to the five they were seeking assistance from. 

            The fine looking pair had been married for a little over two years and were trying hard to have a baby; yet they weren't able to.  Seeing Minah yearning terribly for a child, Junki went along with her every request.  They visited clinic after clinic, specialist after specialist only to be told the same thing; there was nothing wrong with them.  They were both perfectly healthy and the baby would happen eventually.  All they had to do was to let life take its course and be patient.  That was exactly what Minah didn't have; patience.  She wanted to be a mother as soon as possible and was willing to do anything.

            Minah came across an advertisement in a magazine for a hospital deep in a forest.  It claimed to have an eighty percent success rate for conception.  With hope in her eyes, Minah persuaded Junki to take her there.  He couldn't reject, especially since she was smiling brightly at him; a side of her Junki haven't seen for months. 

            It was a three hour drive to the secluded hospital.  Once they arrived, Minah couldn't wait to get out of the car.  The moment she stepped near the tall metal gate with Junki accompanying beside her, she felt a chill.  Suddenly, strong winds began to blow, swirling fallen leaves in their direction.  Junki immediately used his body to shield Minah from the storm of leaves and dust from hitting her.  The intensity of the wind prevented them from approaching any further.  They had no choice but to depart and revisit the next day.  After a half an hour drive, they found a hotel and rented a room to stay the night. 

            On the following morning, a similar incident repeated itself.  This time, Minah became nauseous as a result of her lack of sleep from the previous evening.  Junki told her to go sit in the car and wait for him there; she did what he suggested.  He proceeded on his way to the entrance but like yesterday, the wind picked up and gusted more forcefully as he got closer to the gate.  Rushing back into the car, Junki decided to wait it out.  Strangely, everything stopped the moment he shut the door.  

            "That's odd."  Junki opened the door and put one foot out of his vehicle; he felt a light breeze.  The second he got out, the breeze gained strength.  The moment he attempted to approach the gate, it was a windy vortex.  Minah didn't want to see Junki get hurt and told him to give up when he was thrown to the ground with scratches on his face and hands from the debris. 

            "Junki!" Minah shouted out the window.  "Come back to the car.  I don't want to go in anymore.  Please.  Let's go home."

            Junki did as she asked and started the engine to drive away.  The scenery outside the old white building reverted back to its tranquil state.

            Yunho and his assistants listened attentively to Junki without any interruptions.

            Reaching for his cup of tea, Junki took a sip and furrowed his brows.  "We need your help."

            Unsure of what Junki was referring to, Yunho inquired straightforwardly.  "What is it that you need us to do for you?"

            "It's Minah.  I think she's being haunted by a ghost who followed us home from that hospital."

            "Maybe, I'm going crazy," Minah mumbled.

            "No, Minah," Junki comforted.  "I also saw things moving in our place.  The noises coming from the kitchen and the bathroom aren't only from your imagination.  I heard them, too."

            "If it wasn't for me, we wouldn't have gone to that hospital.  It's all my fault."

            Gently stroking Minah's hair, Junki looked up at them and asked once more.  "Could you help us get rid of the spirit?"

            "We'll do our best," Yunho answered.

            Smiling gratefully, Junki unwrapped an arm from his wife to shake Yunho's hand.  "Thank you."

            "Please give us your home address.  We'll gather some necessary equipment and meet you there.  That is, unless you would rather wait here and leave at the same time as we do instead."

            "If you don't mind, the latter would be more preferable."

            "Understood.  Have a good rest here while we go get ready." 

            "Alright."  Junki nodded.

            "Would you like something to eat?" Jaejoong offered.  "I could make you some noodles or sandwiches."

            "Noodles would be wonderful," Junki replied.  "Thank you."

            "I'll be right back with them."  Jaejoong left the room to go prepare the noodles and the other four stepped out after him.

            Junki and Minah ate the noodles in the client room, while Jaejoong packed a few sandwiches to go for his team.  Yoochun and Junsu helped Yunho put the needed equipment into their company's van and at the same time, Changmin was in his room tackling something in secret.  Yoochun called out to Changmin when they were prepared to leave.  The youngest finally popped out from his room, holding a see-through bag which carried five colorful hand-sized gadgets. 

            "Sorry to keep you hyungs waiting," Changmin apologized in a cheerful tone.  "I was doing a few adjustments to the programming for these."

            "What are those?" Junsu inquired curiously.

            "They are paranormal sensors, voice transmitters, temperature readers and...I'll enlighten you later.  First, let me hand them out."

            "Do we get to pick colors?"  Yoochun was eyeing the blue one with two coils connected to the white headphones.

            "Nope.  They are specifically designed according to each of your personalities and would only work for the person it is made for."  Digging in to get the green robot-looking gadget with a red bow around its neck, he handed it to Yunho.  "This one is hyung's.  It's nice and simple.  Hope you don't mind."

            "I like it," Yunho approved.

            "This one is Jaejoong hyung's."  Changmin gave the eldest the red one that looked like a strawberry. 

            "Sweet," Jaejoong commented.  "I love strawberries."

            "I know."  Changmin grinned and took the blue one out. 

            Yoochun anticipated his name to be called only to hear Junsu's name in his place.  His jaw dropped when the blue gadget was given to Junsu.

            "It's adorable," Junsu squeaked.  "Thanks, Changmin."

            "Aw...don't worry," Changmin cooed when Yoochun frowned.  "I didn't forget about you, Yoochun hyung.  This super cute one is yours."

            Yoochun gawked in disbelief as the pink gadget was placed into his hand.  "Um...how come my headphone thingy is different from everyone else's?  All of theirs are on their ears and mine is on top of its head.  Considering that these are designed to each of our personalities, are you hinting that my ears are crooked?"

            "No.  Yours have bunny ears, because you act like a bunny."

            "Which part of me resembles a bunny?"

            "Your entirety," Changmin responded.  "You see, you're a flirt.  That design suits you completely."

            "Ugh!  Is that how all of you see me?" Yoochun complained.

            "I think yours is the cutest, Yoochun," Junsu complemented.  "I would trade mine with yours, if I could."
            "Really?" Yoochun perked up from Junsu's words.

            "Yup."

            "I guess it's not too bad...but pink is such a girly color."

            "You're currently whining like a girl," Changmin pointed out.

            "Hey, I'm manly," Yoochun protested.  "Okay?"

            "Sure."  Changmin snorted and took out the last one for himself.  "This yellow cutie is mine and yes, I have the blue headphones instead of the white ones like the rest of yours.  That is because I'm its maker, and that's that!" he blurted before Yoochun could say anything.  "I embrace being different."  Holding his gadget in his palm, Changmin demonstrated.  "Press the heart in the back and it'll go through a transformation to wrap itself around your wrist.  Try it."

            The other four did as they were instructed to and their gadgets replicated Changmin's. 

            "This is amazing, Changmin," Yunho praised.  "Great job."

            "It's like wearing a watch," Junsu stated.

            "I concur," Jaejoong added.

            "I like that the heart is right where the butt is."  Yoochun smirked. 

            "Yoochun hyung is without a doubt the pink bunny," Changmin announced.

            "And you're a yellow reindeer with flowers growing out of your antlers," Yoochun retorted.

            "I see nothing wrong with that."

            Yunho cleared his throat to get their attention.  "Shall we head out?"

            "Yeah!" they stated in unison.

            In case they might not be able to follow their clients' car due to traffic, Yunho got their address ahead of time.  They ate the sandwiches Jaejoong made for them in the van, whilst Changmin explained the basic functions of the gadgets he gave them. 

            "We're here," Yunho informed and parked in front of the house.  His words brought mixed feelings to his team members.  "Let's go in to take a look around first and come back for the equipment."

            "Got it, boss," Yoochun recited. 

            Changmin gave Yunho a quick onceover on how the gadget worked prior to exiting the van.

            "I see."  Yunho gave Changmin a pat on the shoulder.  "Thanks."

            Junki and Minah waited for them at the porch and showed them inside.  Even with Junki gripping on to her hand, Minah lost her balance from queasiness.  Junsu, who happened to be walking right behind her, caught a hold of her to prevent her fall.  The instant Junsu touched her, he gasped as his eyes saw a premonition of Minah screaming in pain.  She was sitting on a chair with her legs spread apart, wearing a white gown soaked in her own blood.  The massive blood loss had thrown her into a state of shock but the wound between her legs wouldn't stop bleeding.  There was blood everywhere; smeared all over her, coating the chair and pooling on the floor.  Her fingers dug into the armrests on each side of her dying body until she cried her last breath.

            "Junsu," Yoochun called.  "Junsu, are you okay?"

            Panting heavily, Junsu woke from his visions and saw Yoochun staring at him with a worried expression.  "I...I'm okay," he reassured.

            "What happened to you?"

            "I had a bad premonition."

            "You're a medium?" Changmin queried.

            "Yes."

            Please help her.  Jaejoong thought he heard a male voice and gazed over at that direction.  His eyes widened at the sight.