Snippet #2067611

Sena called out to answer the voice, explaining they needed a place to stay, and Sayo reluctantly turned her head back to the large room, vigorously nodding her head. It was getting late out there. Hopefully whoever had that terrifying voice would turn out to be nicer than they sounded. Tomasu grabbed her hand, and she was thankful for the bit of courage it seemed to impart. The wind suddenly picked up, howling about their heads as if to drive them in. Sayo's hair blew frantically around her head and into her mouth, and she ineffectively tried to pull it back.

Tomasu yelled for the voice to show itself, and Sayo quickly looked at him with wide eyes. The wind increased, pushing the small girl and she stumbled forward. The voice only seemed to get more angry and ominous until it was screeching at them, causing Sayo to cringe, tears filling her large eyes. She gripped Tomasu's hand more tightly, her knuckles showing white. Suddenly, the voice was cut off by another. Sayo was grateful that this voice seemed much more kind, like a babysitter or something. The tall woman swept toward them. She was the tallest person Sayo had ever seen! She looked really pretty, if tired, and her brown curly hair bounced against the fabric of her maid uniform as she walked toward them. A small, orange, and rather fluffy bird flew to her and perched on her outstretched finger.

Sayo's eyes widened when the bird spoke. So that was who was behind the voice! Sayo peered at the bird curiously, noting his fiery plumage. She then stared at the woman's strange feather duster-pen. 'OH! I want one of those!' she thought, eyes wide and eager. Her expression quickly turned to confusion when she asked them what kind of spirits they were. She tried to think of what the answer to that sort of question would be, missing most of the woman's chattering.

Sayo was glad Sena was with them. She seemed to know what to say, and Sayo emphasized her words with nods of her own. The expression on the maid lady's face provoked her to stillness, however. The maid looked like she had just said a bad word. The bird shrieked again, quickly quieted by the maid's hand over its beak. She then caged it under a vase, and Sayo gaped wide eyed at the spectacle, still able to hear muted screeches. The maid whispered to them in a conspiratorial manner, talking quickly. Sayo nodded and quietly repeated random phrases. "37th... elevator... red door... no purple...Kamaya... job... don't accept no... no scream. Got it!"

Sayo's excited gaze darted to the golden door of the elevator that the maid had told them of, and, at a look from the maid, excitedly said, "There!" Without waiting for the other two to respond, she jerked around, still holding tightly on Tomasu's hand. Immediately began running, dragging Tomasu and Sena behind her and up to the door. Pressing the button labeled 37, Sayo sprung into the door, pulling the others inside. She muttered to herself as the doors closed and they steadily rose. "37th... elevator... red door... no purple...Kamaya... job... don't accept no... no scream. 37th... elevator... red door... no purple...Kamaya... job... don't accept no... no scream." Total focus was on her face. When the doors opened, however, she stopped her muttering and gaped at the ornate hall in front of them. Immediately, she pulled her hand out from Tomasu's and ran noisily down the hall, standing in the middle between the red and purple doors.

The red door looked menacing, a painting of a fierce dragon covering it, its long tail circling around the doorknob. The purple door, however, looked rather inviting, with lifelike, large flowers on the bottom and top, long vines crisscrossing in the middle. Without meaning to, Sayo took a step toward the purple door. It was as if it drew her in, and her curious mind wondered why they weren't supposed to go inside this door. Seconds later, she was close enough to the door to touch it, her small, pale hand slowly raising until it was inches from the door. The purple looked soft, almost velvety, and Sayo was entranced by the need to at least touch it.