Chapter 81 - Stalker of a Stalker
"..." Jin replied with mild grunts. Calming himself down, he listened to what the person on the other line was saying.
"...sure...that's fine...uh-huh...kay...bye," he said irritated. Ending the call and putting his phone away, he stood up.
"I'm going to go use the restroom," the sophomore began then put his hands on the table. Leaning forward to be in front of Ami's face, he glared at her.
"...don't...follow...me..." he stated with a growl in his voice.
"...I just so happen need to relieve myself as well," Selbith replied. Standing up, she glare in his face.
"...so...deal...with...it."
"Grrr! Whatever," Jin reacted with a little anger. Turning and walking toward where the restroom was, he had a more assertive walking pace. Just as he got a couple of steps away from the table, Ami immediately followed him.
"I'll go check on them," Renee mentioned quickly. Standing up and getting around the table, she fast walked to catch up with them.
"..." the adults responded blinking and watching the teens. Confused about what they saw, Mrs. Ainsley turned toward her second son. She saw that he looked oddly intrigued.
"Gene?"
"Yes mom?" the boy replied with looking up at her.
"Who called Jin?"
"It was a developer of E.D.E." he said a little excited.
"E.D.E...what?" Tiffany asked blinking confused.
"It's the video game that all three play," the boy explained then got nods from them.
"Do you know what the conversation was about?" Alex asked curious.
"I was too far away so I couldn't hear what the guy was saying...but with Jin getting that angry...it must be that guy that visited before."
"Him?" Samantha stated with distaste. "That scumbag."
"...?" Tiffany reacted blinking in surprise.
"...I doubt someone like that would visit again after doing what he did last time," Mr. Ainsley mentioned in a low tone. Him stating that seemed to calm his wife down a little.
"...you're probably right...maybe a second in command?" she pondered.
"Probably just a messenger despite being a developer. I wonder why he wants to talk to Jin?"
"Last time it was for him to stop playing. I be damned if the company wants him to play again," she stated.
"...a video game company came to your house...to get your son to stop playing?" Tiffany reiterated with question. The three Ainsleys nodded their heads.
Reaching the restrooms, Jin entered the one for mens. Selbith began to head toward that entrance when a hand was placed on her shoulder. Stopping and turning her head to look, it was Renee.
"Females is over here if you didn't notice," the junior stated with an unsmiling face.
"So it is...so what?" Ami replied with an impassive expression.
"You just going to waltz in like you own the place? With other men inside?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.
"If there are other mortals, then I will just be in the same stall as Jin."
"W-what!?" Renee reacted veering back a little. Shaking her head, she grunted at her.
"...really...are you playing dumb?"
"The imbecile here is you."
"...you've got to be shitting me..." the junior commented and shook her head in disbelief.
"If there is nothing more, then let go of me," Ami stated with a frown.
"...ladies room...chat...now...Selbith," Renee said through her clenched teeth.
"Make me mortal," the rail thin teen dared.
"Is there something wrong?" Dale asked approaching them. It caught Ami off guard and turn her head toward him. Seeing the opportunity that opened, the other female teen took the advantage.
"Oh, it is nothing. We were just chatting before using the restroom. Come on Ami," the junior mentioned. Pulling on her shoulder, Selbith did not resist as she walked into the woman's restroom. Renee followed her in and closed the door.
"..." the waiter said blinking. Turning his head toward the men's restroom, he narrowed his eyes.
After entering the restroom, both female teens stopped. Taking her hand off the other's shoulder, Renee crossed her arms over her chest. However, Selbith looked distracted.
"That mortal," Ami spoke then turned around. "Is acting like Jin's father."
"What do you mean?"
"...he keeps staring at me..." she began then cringed her mouth a little. "As if I represent something to gaze at."
"Maybe he is a secret admirer of you?" the junior offered with a shrug of her shoulders.
"..." Ami responded with a frown at her.
"You can decide how you want to deal with that guy," the junior stated then pointed her hand at her. "Back to the main point...what are you doing?"
"...?" Selbith answered and tilted her head a little. "What do you mean?"
"You just said that you were going to follow Jin into the men's restroom. And if there were others in there, you would go into the same stall as him...What are you? A stalking pervert now?"
"I don't feel safe here with the mortals around here," Ami defended moving her head back straight. "...Jin ensures me that nothing will happen."
"...seriously..." Renee commented while shaking her head. "You are just overly paranoid and acting insane."
"Speaking from experience?" Selbith stated with a blank face. It caused the other teen to frown at her and walk in front of her.
"Let me give you advice...bonehead. Keep up your ways and he will push you away hard in time."
"...is that a fact?...don't feel satisfied with one mate and are seeking another?" the rail thin teen mocked.
"...Jin is not my boyfriend...and I am not seeking him as a mating partner you skank," the junior said with disdain.
"If that is the case," Ami stated with a blink. Stepping forward to be nose to nose with her, both gave each other threatening stares.
"Why do you keep interfering?"
"...?" Renee answered with sneer. "...you?...Seeking Jin as a mate? That's rich. Are you going to tell me that you love him?"
"Your mortal concept of love is disgusting and rubbish," she replied without batting an eye. "He is of my bloodline...my class...and the only one that hasn't been turned by Satan."
"Ooo...how touching," she mentioned then put her hands on her hips. "I bet you see him as your eternal partner."
"He is my attachment," Selbith stated evenly and narrowed her eyes. "And I will follow him...no matter where he is...or what he is doing."
"More reason you should be in a nut house with that kind of obsession problem."
"You couldn't comprehend even if I tried explaining it to you," she stated then walked to a stall.
"..." the junior responded watching her. Seeing her enter a booth, she left the restroom.
After finishing his business and flushing, Jin walked to the sink. Washing his hands, the bathroom door opened. Glancing at who it was, it was the male waiter. Going back to scrubbing his hands, his mind was distracted still. The raw emotion that conjured inside of him was still fresh from the call.
Removing his glasses and setting them on the counter, he cupped his hands under the faucet. Bending forward to the sink, he splashed his with water. Doing a couple more times, he stopped and turned the water off. Staring at the sink, goosebumps were growing on his arms. Bending his neck down far enough to look behind him, someone was standing near him. Remembering that he saw no one when coming in, the identity of the person was know.
"...something I can do for you sir?" Jin asked out loud. Flicking his hands down at the sink, water droplets flung off.
"..."
"..." the sophomore responded by frowning. Putting on his glasses, he did not look at the mirror to see behind him. Turning to the paper towel dispenser on the wall adjacent to the door, he walked toward it. Grabbing and pulling out one sheet, he wiped his hands while walking to the door.
"May I ask what your relationship is with Ms. Felmort?" the person asked.
"..." the male teen responded.
Not answering or stopping, he pushed the door open and left. While wiping his face, he saw the two girls were not standing outside the restrooms. Not wanting to stay around, he immediately started walking back to the table. Only reaching around the corner of a wall, he stopped. The about who was in the men's restroom came and made him feel a little paranoid.
Turning around and moving a little, he stood in a place that blocked his view of the male bathroom door. After a few seconds went by, both doors opened up. Renee came out of the women's with an agitated look on her face. The waiter came out of the men's with an unreadable expression. They stopped and turned their heads toward each other.
Nodding toward each other, the junior walked back toward the table. Making it pass the wall corner, she thought she saw something out of her peripheral. By the time she turned to look, a hand was placed over her mouth.
"...sorry...continue walking back," Jin muttered after getting in front of her face.
"..." she responded with breathing a little quicker. Blinking and seeing him letting go of her mouth, he turned around and pulled out his phone. Giving an impression that he was on his phone, he was staring at something.
'...is Jin thinking the waiter is...' the junior thought.
Blinking, she continued her way back to the table. Getting enough distance away, she glanced back. She could see that the waiter hadn't really moved from his spot. Seeing a door movement, it was from the women's restroom. Selbith wiped her hands and exited the room after tossing the paper towel in the trash. Once outside, she immediately stopped and turned her head toward the waiter.
The person stood staring at her then began to walk toward her. Though not showing an emotion or engaging of a conversation, the rail thin teen started walking back to the table. Passing the pillar, she nearly jumped when Jin began walking beside her. However, he lightly grabbed her right elbow as if escorting. Ami blinked and was about to look back when the sophomore opened his mouth.
"...don't look back...just keep going..." he whispered.
Renee saw her continue to look forward and seemed a bit unsettled. The waiter's face peered around the corner and stared for a couple of seconds. Afterwards, the waiter walked in the other direction toward the employee area.
'...great...' she thought seeing both near her. '...now she will say told you so...'
"Come on," Jin whispered. He lightly grabbed her left elbow and escorted her. Blinking in surprise, she began walking beside him.
"What's wrong?"
"That waiter stood behind me quietly in the restroom without saying anything. Once I addressed him, he asked me what my relationship with Ami was," he spoke quietly. "The quicker we get out of here, the less I want to hit him with something."
Reaching back to the table, the adults were back at their table. The plates that were on the other table were transferred to the booth they sat in. Seeing Gene was sitting with them on the other side of the bench, he and the parents looked at them. All were looking at the sophomore holding onto the arms of both girls. Despite Tiffany wanting to smirk, all three did not have an embarrassed or amused faces. Jin's stern look seemed odd.
"May I walk Renee home?" he asked.
"..." the adults replied with a couple of blinks.
"...that's fine...is something-"
"Thanks. Talk to you in a bit."
Without missing a beat, all three turned around. Heading toward the exit, they saw the male teen glancing to his left. Almost staring someone down, the other two were doing the same thing. It made them wonder what was going on with them. Seeing the three exit the diner, confusion was left at the table. Hearing someone coming, it was Dale.
"Looks like the kids were in a hurry. Will you be wanting boxes to take the food home?" he asked in a pleasant voice.
"...yes...we will take a few boxes," Samantha stated. Seeing the server walk away, she looked to see where the kids were. Seeing three silhouettes through the windows, they were crossing the street.
'What was that all about?' she thought blinking a couple of times.
Reaching the other side of the street, Jin let go of their arms. Walking at a calmer rate, both female teens walked beside him. Looking at Selbith, she seemed less perturbed than before. Looking back at them, she blinked then spoke.
"...that is why...I follow Jin...everywhere," she stated. "If I was in my Grim Reaper form, then I would have ended his existence."
"It is possible that waiter had the attachment to Ami prior to you taking over," he pondered then put his hands in his pockets.
"Based on how he was acting, I would agree too," Renee added. "Especially on how you were dressed."
"We will not go to that establishment if that mortal is there," Selbith mentioned.
"...kay..." the sophomore replied.
"Who called you?" the junior asked.
"He called himself Adam McStronge. He is one of the lead programmers and developers of E.D.E." Jin stated then Ami pipped in.
"Also known as the 2nd Adam to Eve."
"What did he want?" Renee asked intrigued.
"He wanted my help in fixing the Surreality crash...as he called it."
"...fix it? What exactly does he want you to do?"
"Other than stop the six demons running loose, he didn't give me much details; however, he wants to meet to discuss it in more details."
"Where will Adam the 2nd meet you?" Ami asked.
"He will be at the house in about half an hour," the male teen answered with a small frown.
"...what did he ask that made you look at Selbith?" the junior asked. Reaching a sidewalk corner up ahead, they continued walking to cross the street.
"He asked me where Selbith was."
"And you didn't tell him?"
"No."
"How come?" she asked.
"He wouldn't believe me if I told him that Selbith broke out of the game realm and possessed a coma patient," he explained.
"...that's true...he wouldn't recognize her physical appearance now," Renee agreed with a nod.
"...but 2nd Adam believes I have escaped," Ami commented then saw him nod. "Why is he concerned? I thought Eve was more of his aliment given what she is capable of."
"Other than what you are capable of and have achieved already, I don't know," Jin stated. Adjusting his glasses a little, he held them at an angle before putting them back on.
"Why are we heading toward my house?" Renee asked. They reached her street which was a cul-de-sac.
"Just to get away from that guy," the sophomore replied tensely. Continuing toward her house, his pace was a little quicker. The two female teens followed.
"I think we lost him," she stated wondering why he picked up his speed.
"..." Jin responded.
The three crossed the street to get on the sidewalk on the other side. There were a few cars parked along the curb in front of the houses. Once they passed a couple of houses and were behind a large van, he stopped and lowered to squat on the ground. Only Selbith followed him and got next to him. The junior stayed standing and looked down at them.
"What are you doing?"
"..." he answered with whispering something to the rail thin teen.
Seeing her blink and nodding her head, he stood up. With a stoic face, he approached Renee. Standing in front of her, she blinked and looked at him. The expression on his face was stoic as his eyes seemed attentive. Without giving her warning, he gave her a soft hug. Blinking in surprise to feeling him pull her toward him, he walked backward toward the front of the car. Feeling confused and happy, he whispered to her.
"...that guy...is at the end of the street..."
"...WHAT!?..." she whispered out loud and stiffened. Feeling him squeeze firmer, she felt her breathing increase.
"You aren't the target...he has only seen you so far though knows all three of us are here...go into your house alone...me and Selbith will try to avoid being seen."
"How are you going to manage that?"
"Just act normal...go," he stated letting go of her.
"..." she spoke then walked forward.
Her house was one over. The travel to just her driveway felt heavy and as if someone was stalking right behind her. Going up to the walkway the led to the front, she took a quick glance back. Passing some of the front vegetation of bushes and large plants, she stopped. Getting her phone out, she immediately started texting Jin. Finding a spot with coverage without being seen, she felt shaky.
'Oh my god...he's following us...wait...' she thought in a mild panic. Going to the quick contacts, she selected someone's number.
After collecting the leftovers and paying the bill, the Ainsleys and Tiffany left the diner. Once out in the parking lot, they didn't see the children around.
"Well...other than the odd stuff that happened at the end, it was good to catch up," Renee's mom stated with a small smile. Stopping and turning to them, both Samantha and Alex held neutral faces.
"The feeling is mutual," Mrs. Ainsley responded.
"...heh..." she commented with a smirk. About to say something, her cell phone started ringing. Getting out and looking at who it was, she opened it and answered it.
"Hey hon. Where are-"
[Mom. Please come quick. That waiter that served us followed me, Jin, and Ami home. His is getting closer to the house!] Renee stated in a scared tone.
"...!?" she reacted with shock. Turning around, she started heading toward her car with haste.
"Tiffany!?" Alex called out seeing the sudden frightened look on her face.
"Follow me! Please!" she called back.
Without a second thought, the Ainsleys rushed to their car. Hearing Tiffany's car start up and drive out of the parking lot as quickly as possible, Samantha got into her car. Starting the car and hearing the others get inside, she got out of the parking lot. Following the speeding car down the road, they saw her car turn into her street further down. By the time they turned into the street, the other vehicle was parked in front of a drive way.
Seeing the woman get out of the car, she went up the driveway. By the time Mrs. Ainsley parked the SUV on the opposite side, she saw that she encountered Renee. Looking around the cul-de-sac, there was no one on the sidewalks, street, or outside of the houses. Seeing that Jin's friend was safe, there was no sign of the other two.
"...I don't see anyone..." Alex stated scanning his surroundings from the car.
"...I don't see Jin or Ami either..." Gene commented looking behind feeling frightened and hyped.
"..." Samantha spoke getting out her phone. A small amount of fear creeped in her about him being kidnapped again. Calling him, she put her phone on speaker.
[...h...e...l...l...o...] a familiar voice whispered barely. There were the sound of two people breathing with gravel moving.
"...Jin...are you okay?" she asked nervous.
[...y...e...s...]
"What's going on?" Samantha asked in a quiet tone. Mr. Ainsley and Gene were listening and watching with concern.
[...t...h...a...t...w...a...i...t...e...r...f...o...l...l...o...w...e...d...u...s...h...e...r...e...]
"H-He did what?" she repeated surprised and scared. "...there...is no one out here."
[...h...e...i...s...h...i...d...i...n...g...] the voice of Ami came just as quiet as his.
"Are you okay Ami? Is that guy targeting you or Renee?"
[...m...e...] she whispered. The sounds of them moving slowly continued still.
"...Jin...where is he?" Alex he asked in a firm tone.
[...d...o...n...'...t...c...o...n...f...r...o...n...t...s...t...a...y...w...h...e...r...e...y...o...u...a...r...e...]
"Is the enemy near where Renee and her mom are?" Gene asked from the backseat. Not hearing a response, there was soft tapping on the right side right rear door. All three slowly looked to their right. There was no one there, but the knocks repeated.
"...Jin...where...are...you...?" Samantha asked in a low tone feeling tense. Seeing Alex leaning toward the window and looking down, he remained in that position.
"Dear...unlock the car...Jin and Ami are here."
[...G...e...n...e...o...p...e...n...s...t...h...e...d...o...o...r...]
"R-Roger," the boy said.
Unbuckling his seat beat and crouching forward, he made his way to the right side rear door. Pulling the inner handle out, it stopped at being opened ajar. Seeing it slowly open, someone in a red sundress and black throw on sweater squeezed through. After getting inside and keeping low to the ground, Jin climbed inside. Closing the door quietly and slowly, he pulled on it to make sure it was closed.
"...thank you...just drive..." Jin asked from the floor.
"..." Samantha reacted with just blinking. Ending the call on her phone and putting it away, she slowly turned the car around. It drew the attention of Tiffany and Renee. Watching them go by, the junior got a text.
"That from Jin?" her mother asked.
"Yeah...he's in their car with Ami."
"W-What!?" Tiffany reacted with surprise. "H-How did those two do that? The car was parked on the other side of the sidewalk."
"Jin said that the guy...is three houses down...hiding in the vegetation," Renee reported. Feeling goosebumps on her arm, her mother pulled her toward the car.
"M-Mom?"
"Screw this. I'm not staying in the house with a stalker down the street. We'll just stay with Alex."
"Should we call the police?" she asked as they got to the car. Not wanting to be encountered by the stalker, they quickly got in the vehicle.
"I already sent a message to the neighbor across the street about the suspicious person. You know how paranoid that couple gets with an unknown individual staking out in someone's lawn," Tiffany stated. Starting the car and strapping themselves in, the two traveled down the street a bit faster than the speed limit. Turning onto the street to get to the main one, they left the cul-de-sac.
"..." Dale commented slowly coming out of his hiding place. Not disturbing the vegetation around him, he wore a neutral expression. Blinking and feeling disappointed, he headed back to the diner.
After getting to the main road that would lead them to their home, both Jin and Ami sat on the backseat. Both adults looked back at them and saw that both were not freaking out. Both teens looked tense, but seemed calm.
"How did you guys sneak like that?" Gene asked still hyped up.
"...takes practice...and patience," his older brother replied barely giving a small smile.
"Ami...are you feeling alright?" Samantha asked looking at the rearview mirror.
"...I'm fine...I'm not injured," Selbith spoke though scooted closer to be next to the sophomore.
"..." Mrs. Ainsley commented and looked back at the road.
"...looks like we got someone on our tail..." Alex mentioned looking at the side mirror on his side. It made everyone pause. A notification message came which Jin looked down.
"...seems to be Tiffany's car..." Mr. Ainsley continued.
"..." the male teen spoke getting his phone out. Blinking and opening up his phone, he read the message.
[...sorry...mom freaked out and we are following you]
[...(-_-)...it's fine...]
"It is," he said and closed his phone.
"...great..." Samantha muttered with a small frown.