Chapter 83 - Line in the Sand
"...what...?" Adam asked blinking.
"If you did not hear clearly Mr. McStronge," Alex began and took a step forward. "Get out of our house."
"Wait-wait-wait-wait-wait," the programmer said quickly and held up his hands. "Listen...this situation is dire and I need your son's help."
"He will not help you and you will leave right now," Mr. Ainsley repeated looking at the man with annoyance.
"He could save thousands of lives from catastrophic and life threatening injury. Children and adults lives are at stake."
"And what is your solution? Throwing my son in the pits of whatever was in that helmet and trust you that you will keep him safe," Samantha spoke glaring at the man. "You have given us no assurance, trust worthiness, and you are pushing YOUR problem that YOU created onto someone else. Especially when YOUR company has been trying to destroy him and my family since he was playing your virtual game."
"Please...please listen to me," Adam spoke still having his hands up and backed up to get space. "I can give you offers."
"No," Mrs. Ainsley denied and crossed her arms over her chest.
"I can pay a lump sum."
"No," Mr. Ainsley denied and copied the body position of his wife.
"I'll give you my lifesavings...everything I have...please," he stated in a begging tone. "Please. I need your son's help."
"..." Jin spoke standing up. Walking around the coffee table, he closed the laptop. Putting it back in the carry on bag, he picked it up. Walking to where the three were, he stood near them. Not having an expression, he saw the programmer's face lit with desperate hope.
"Are you going to help me?" Adam asked.
"..." the sophomore replied handing the bag back. Seeing the man grab hold of it, the male teen just blinked.
"No...I will not."
"...no...surely...you can't," the man whispered with anxious disbelief.
"My son said no," Alex stated and went to the front door. Opening it, he waited.
"...there is more at stake here. Lives will be destroyed if you don't help me," Adam stated in frustration and reached his hand at Jin. Reacting quicker, the male teen evaded and pushed him back. Seeing him back up and catch himself before tripping, he stabilized himself on the porch. Looking back at them, the programmer shouted.
"You were the one that released them! It is your fault!" he yelled with anger.
"For the one who created them and pursued to establish Surreality Mr. Adam...I beg to differ," the sophomore stated standing in the door frame. Seeing the programmer stomp back at him, he stopped. Both of his parents stood behind them with glaring expressions.
"...if that is how you want to do this...fine," the man stated harshly. Turning around, he went down the steps. As he was walking back, he looked back and pointed at them.
"There will be blood on your hands for not saving them!"
"..." the three responded watching him. Seeing the tech get into his car furiously, he peeled out. Watching the vehicle speed down on the main road, they waited till they couldn't see it anymore.
"That has to be one of the craziest people I have ever met," Alex mentioned relaxing.
"I'm starting to think that all people from that company are just selfish bastards," Samantha commented. Hearing someone turn around, Jin looked back at them. Before speaking, he lowered his head a little.
"...I'm sorry...I did not think he would react that way."
"That's okay honey," Mrs. Ainsley responded and gave him a hug. "As long as they leave us alone and you are safe, I'm happy."
"...okay..." he said. Feeling her letting go of him, the three entered back to the house. Closing the front door, they walked a little bit into the living room. The others had stood up and were standing relatively near the front door.
"Is Mr. Psycho gone?" Tiffany asked.
"Yeah. He peeled out of here quick and onto the main road," Mr. Ainsley mentioned
"Is this amount of activity in the morning normal for you all on the weekend?" she asked curious. Both Samantha and Alex shook their heads. Looking at Jin, he didn't shake his head. He looked contemplative.
"That stuff that came on the news...and from that helmet...is that all real or just a big conspiracy hoax?" Renee's mother continued.
"Unfortunately...it is real," the sophomore answered.
"Yeah...my head gear did the same exact thing of what happen just now," Renee agreed and nodded her head.
"...you have a psychotic talking helmet in the house?" Tiffany asked with a look of concern.
"I wrapped it up and buried it under stuff in my closet...I have no intention of pulling it out till this...virus thing is resolved."
"I would rather you took a baseball bat and break that thing into pieces. No way in hell are you wearing it with that crazy stuff going on."
"...that reminds me," Mrs. Ainsley gasped then looked at Gene. She kneeled and held his shoulders.
"Honey...are you still using yours?"
"No...Jin came into my room earlier and hid it," the boy stated.
"It's wrapped up on the top shelf," the older brother clarified. It gave both parents a sigh of relief.
"I don't know about you two, but I could use a cold one right now," Tiffany mentioned. Getting a slight nod from Alex, Samantha did not say anything as she stood up. Seeing Renee's mom stepping closer to them, there was a look of concern on her face.
"Can I talk to you two privately about a couple of things?"
"..." both Ainsleys blinked and looked at her. Turning to each other, Alex was the only one that seemed more willing to give a helping hand based on his expression.
"Sure. We can talk in the study room," he mentioned looking back at her.
"..." Samantha commented with a small nod.
"..." the children responded. The four watched the adults head toward the study room. Entering, they did not close the door.
"I don't think I've seen my mom get that nervous in a while," Renee commented looking back at Jin.
"Why is that?" he asked.
"Last time was due from an incident at her work...but I think I know why," she stated. Looking a little guilty, she pointed at him. "She was flirting with your dad despite your mom being next to them. And, she dressed up to impress probably him mostly."
"I could see that."
"Mom looked angry from your mom doing that to dad," Gene added. He saw both Jin and Renee nod in agreement. Hearing someone step closer to him, he glanced and saw that Ami was staring at him close.
"...what?" the sophomore asked leaning back a little.
"...you choose to not reveal my identify and hid that I was the last user of that head gear," she began. "I know you told me you won't tell that creator...it makes me feel strange that you did go through with it."
"...uh...you're welcome...I guess," the male teen replied scratching the side of his head.
"...so...are we really not going to help the gamers that area trapped?" the junior asked.
"Would you help someone that acted as desperate as that?" he countered.
"Honestly...no. Though...I still feel guilty that we are choosing not to," she remarked then shook her head. "Anyways...Now that we have established that we are not going to aid, what happens now?"
"Other than hoping there won't be more kidnappings, just try to move on," the sophomore replied. Looking down at his brother, he gave an apologetic look.
"I'm sorry Gene. With what is going on and until the issue has been resolved, you won't be able to play your games on the VR head gear."
"..." the boy responded with shaking his head. "T-That's okay...I don't want some virus infiltration my helmet and making me insane."
"I think you still have the console system...right?"
"Yeah. Last time I used it was not too long ago," he stated. "...will...bad people visit our home again?"
"...probably..." Jin answered neutrally. "Just make sure that your window is locked when going to bed."
"...okay...I guess I'll go to my room," the younger brother stated. Seeing his sibling nod, the three teens watched him head toward the stairs.
"Do you think that guy Adam will leave you alone?" Renee asked turning toward him.
"Being a creator, having sent thieves to kidnap, and to the actions he has taken...he won't stop," Selbith spoke with a look of dark amusement. "To see him beg before us and deny his pleas was divine."
"Personal revenge?" the male teen asked looking at her.
"He wasn't the one that enslaved me in that prison...but he is part of the creators that decided to do so."
"I see."
"Since you are one of the seven that were created," Renee stated and getting Ami's attention. "Why are all of them trying to find Jin?"
"Jin is the Breaker...he is the one that was able to find the hidden dungeons and areas that others could not access or find."
"What does that mean exactly? To be a Breaker."
"To the best of my knowledge, it is an individual that is capable of conquering the three realms as well as the mortal realm," Selbith explained.
"...?" Renee blinked in confusion then looked at the sophomore. He looked equally baffled.
"Does this guy look like a conquer to you?" she asked with somewhat a smirk.
"From an overall stand point...no. Jin does not have a rule over others persona," Ami started to say then looked at him. "However in certain incidents...he can."
"That is because I was put in a situation to lose...most likely the people at Gamco doing that," the male teen explained with a small frown.
"And yet...you conquered the situation and challenge...and killed Satan in the process," she countered.
"..." the junior reacted with putting her hands on her hips. "And let me guess. From him doing so, the female demons see him as a potential partner. Possibly establish a harem and do whatever his bidding is."
"...hey..." Jin commented looking annoyed at her.
"The killing of the underworld lord signifies a new ruler...a majority of demons would find that status desirable."
"Hold on a minute. That happened in Pandora's Box," he mentioned. "If I did kill him, wouldn't there have been a huge disruption in the entire realm of Hell?"
"There would be," Ami agreed then looked contemplative.
"You know...when me and Jin saw Surreality open up the realms, there wasn't demons or Angels coming out."
"...Angels are simpletons...they rather be reactive than preventative," Selbith began. "They will stay in their realm until it is necessary to aid the mortal realm."
"Souls from Purgatory do not follow a ruler. They are bound to that final punishment for eternity. Even if ones tried to escape, they will be dragged back to their grounds."
"Demons are always finding ways to escape the Underworld. To not act when a large opening to the mortal realm has occurred, only means a couple of things. With Satan gone, he couldn't let all know about the opening. Also with him not there to lead, demons tend to their own conventions. Unless ruled over by someone stronger, they do not follow others."
"Except for you and the other six," Renee pointed out. "All of you are independent and practically do what you want."
"...that is true...with exceptions," she stated then pointed to the male teen. "If Jin did not do acts of being the Breaker, then me and the others would have been continuously imprisoned."
"..." Jin frowned then crossed his arms over his chest. "So it is my fault."
"If it was your intention or not, you were chosen when you found the first one."
"...you mean forced to...there was no choice...both you and Eve threatened me to become this Breaker," he stated with bitterness.
"..." Selbith reacted with frowning. "...I wanted revenge...you became my key for seeking it."
"...great...you are so welcome," the sophomore responded sarcastically.
"Shut up."
"Pushing your two's quarrel aside for a second...does the aspect that you are also at fault change the answer that you gave to Eve's 2nd Adam?"
"...no..." the male teen answered and shook his head side to side. "It doesn't."
"How come? You don't feel guilty about it?" the junior asked.
"I'm not going to let someone who played around with things that he couldn't control tell me to fix it. He and others created the game and everything that is inside of it. They even used administrative access and coding to change and manipulate things so that all the viruses could be unlocked. Now that they have and realize they don't have control, they can deal with the potentially large PR disaster and legal ramifications."
"As terms of feeling guilty...it is unfair that people playing were not told of them before hand."
"That is because the creators are more devils than gods," Ami remarked.
"I can agree on both statements," Renee said with a small smile. "So until my mom wants to leave, what should we do for the time being?"
Driving back to the local Gamco building, Adam spent most of his time trying to calm down. Getting on the highway, he went over what happened in his mind. Frustration came quickly and made him accelerate the rental car.
'...no...I am in control...' he told himself in his mind. 'The plan has not changed. It is just how it gets executed that will be different.'
Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his cellphone. Looking for a contact number, he speed dialed it. Putting it on speaker phone, the mobile rang twice.
[...what do you want...?] a familiar voice spoke with impassiveness.
"I need to hire you for another job."
[...I'm listening...]
"Same person as last time."
[...] the lead kiddnapper responded with a small pause.
"I'll pay double of the last job. I don't care what you do. I want that kid captured."
[...when and where...] the man said over the phone.
The three teens decided to go for a walk outside. Walking down the pathway to the houses further down, their pace was relaxing. The subject of school came up in which Renee seemed surprised that Jin stated he would go on Monday. Asking how was he going to do that while having to be the caretaker of Selbith, Ami responded that she will go to that education prison. Both students blinked and looked at her a bit surprised that she stated she would go.
Hearing a notification from someone's phone, the junior pulled her cell out. Stating it was from her mother, she was ready to go. Turning around and heading back to the house, the three walked still conversing with one another. Reaching the driveway, their parents were standing on the porch with Gene near his mother. Heading toward them, they looked at them.
"Hey you three," Tiffany stated with a smile. "Let's go kiddo. I think we bugged them enough."
"Okay," Renee replied then addressed Jin's parents. "Thanks for having us and me again."
"Welcome," Alex said with a smile. Samantha smiled and gave a nod. It dropped when the junior's mother approached her husband and gave him a hug.
"It was nice to see you again," Tiffany spoke giving him a squeeze.
"...uh...yeah. Nice to see you too," he mentioned returning a soft hug. Letting go and looking down a little, she smirked at him.
"It was also nice to see you Sammy," she said going to Mrs. Ainsley. Both gave polite hugs with their hands on their shoulders.
"...stay away from my husband..." Samantha whispered.
"...don't blame me if he strays..." Tiffany whispered back. Letting go of each other, both held tight smiles.
"It was nice to meet you Gene," she stated smiling.
"It was nice to meet you too," he replied back with a small smile. Parting, both mother and daughter stood in front of both Jin and Ami.
"I must thank you Jin for knowing how to get away from that creep. Even though it was more targeted at Derek's daughter, Renee and I got freaked a bit," she mentioned. "I wouldn't mind if you wanted to go out with Renee. It would actually make me feel relaxed knowing that she has a real man looking out for her...and me at times."
"..." Jin responded blinking a couple of times. Seeing the redness on the junior's face, he scratched his cheek a little with some reddness.
"...thanks...that is kind of you to say."
"Still picking the neutral answer," Tiffany remarked with a smirk. Approaching him, she gave him a big hug.
"Anyways, here is thanks."
"..." the sophomore reacted with giving a soft hug back. "Thank you."
"..." both Renee and Ami reacted with looking at them. Seeing the mother let go, she shoved him in front of her daughter.
"Don't take too long of saying goodbye."
"..." Renee reacted with frowning at her. Shaking her head a little, she looked at Jin. Seeing him look back, she felt herself getting butterflies in her stomach.
'If me and him were alone...this wouldn't be a problem,' she thought then approached him. Giving him a soft hug, he gave one back.
"Call or text me if something develops from that Adam guy," she whispered.
"Sure thing," he commented back in the same volume.
"Or...if you are bored or something."
"I'll keep that in mind," he stated. Both let go of each other and she smiled at him.
"No goodbye kiss?" Tiffany stated out loud. She snickered seeing both give her deadpan expressions.
Saying their last goodbyes, both mother and daughter got into their car. Driving away, the ones outside watched them till they got onto the main road. Until they were not able to see them, Samantha let out a sigh.
"I can't trust her at all. She was all over you," she stated with mild aggravation and looked at Alex.
"...well...she did pick on me a lot..." he stated scratching the back of his head.
"Mmm-hmm...the type of picking she did back then was with fists...not flirting with you," Mrs. Ainsley remarked in disapproval.
"...that's true..." he agreed.
"..." both Jin, Selbith, and Gene commented listening to the two adults.
Hearing him sigh through his nose, the sophomore headed toward the house. Following him, Ami reflected the actions taken by the two women. Not caring about mortals form of giving comfort or affection, the sight made her feel slightly bitter. Going up the steps to the front door, both passed through. Seeing him walk toward the stairs, she continued to follow him.
Going to the second floor, he traveled to his room. Stopping at his door, he looked at her. Blinking, he veered back seeing that she was within his personal bubble space.
"...what are you doing?" he asked opening his door. Stepping inside, he heard following footsteps. Sighing through his nose from hearing the door close, he turned around. Flinching in surprise, Selbith was in front of his face.
"..." she said staring at him.
"..." Jin replied with staring back at her. After a couple of seconds went by, he narrowed his eyes.
"...what?"
"I do not understand...I do not care what those mortals did...yet...I feel bitter about it," Selbith explained not moving from her position.
"...you saying your jealous of them?"
"Are you stupid?"
"..." Jin reacted with rolling his eyes. Frowning at her, he turned around.
"Whatever."
"..." Selbith responded with grabbing his wrist.
"If you want one, just say so. I'm not going to play this read my mind crap game," he stated looking back at her.
"..." Ami reacted with frowning at him. Taking one step closer to be nose to nose to him, he turned to face her.
"What is it that you want exactly?" Jin asked. "You made it out of E.D.E. and evaded detection from Adam. If you don't log back into that game realm, you are just an ordinary person here."
"..." Selbith blinked then looked down a little.
Staring at his chest, nothing was coming to her mind. Her revenge for being imprisoned seemed fulfilled with causing Adam panic and fear. Most of the reapers that called her a defect were slain in the E.D.E. realm. Other than the relatively listless life as a Grim Reaper, this one seemed to be more lively. Though the aspect of being a mortal was revolting at first, it seemed less so now.
Thinking about the last aspect of being attached to the breaker, she reflected on from their first meeting. Quickly going through the memories from then to now, it made her feel strange. It was the same ones that she felt from time to time. Being with him right in front of her, it conjured up urges that were not easy to control and resist. Leaning forward and placing her head next to his, she lightly made contact with his chest.
Moving her arms, she gave a soft hug. Feeling his arms go around her to return one back, they stayed like that. About to say something to her, she leaned her cheek into his. Feeling him seem surprised, she squeezed him more.
"...Selbith?" Jin spoke finding her actions a little strange.
"..." she replied with breathing softly.
"...is this...another glitch of yours?"
"...no...it isn't..." she whispered then pressed herself against him more.
"...uh...huh..."
"...does being forward...bother you?"
"...not really...just thought you weren't into doing mortal things..."
"..." Ami replied with moving her head back. Looking at him, she let go of him. Moving her hands to her shoulders, she looked contemplative.
"...fornication with you...I do not oppose," she stated then looked up at him.
"...!?" the sophomore reacted with his eyes going wide and his mouth to part. Blinking a couple of times, he put his hands on her shoulders.
"...are you feeling okay?" he asked with concern
"...yes..."
"...you really sure?"
"...why do you ask?"
"For someone that was so against anything mortal related and then almost goes 180 after possessing a living person's conscious...seems a bit extreme...but that is me," he explained.
"...I have been attached to you from the beginning of our travels...you are someone that I can trust and not question that you will cause me harm...isn't it traditional in mortal activities that engaging with one another is a show of appreciation and how strong two's bond is?"
"...I guess so...but...you realize that I am only 15 years old. That doesn't fly well here."
"Why does one's age matter?" Ami asked. He slapped his head and rubbed his hand down his face.
"Let me guess...hell didn't have an age restriction or morals about it?"
"It was rather rampant," Selbith clarified and took a step forward. Thinking he would step back, he did not move. Pressing herself against him again, he looked stiff.
"Are you really nervous about it?" she asked.
"You are being way too forward about it!" he whispered with red in his face.
"...am I...not as worthy as that thief?" Ami pondered narrowing her eyes at him.
"...look...you are attractive on your own accord. Okay?" he began then narrowed his eyes at her. "What you are offering is something I would only consider if I was married to someone."
"...married..." she repeated then tilted her head a little. "We slept together enough times to be considered married."
"...aahhhuuuggg..." Jin grunted at loud. Turning away, he walked toward his window. "You're impossible."