Chapter 86 - Tolerance Broken
Jin put down the small baseball bat and kneeled at the down individual. Searching the person's belongings, he found a couple of items. One was a bag of pills. Assuming that it was sleeping pills, he put those in his pocket. The next item he found was keys. Looking like car keys, it appeared to be something for a utility vehicle.
Remembering that he was transported to the local Gamco building, the male teen assumed that these two individuals were his kidnappers before. Feeling himself get angry, he shook his head and grabbed the last two items. Looking at it, the sensation of it being held in his hand felt like second nature. Examining the Glock carefully, it had a full clip. Pulling the slide back a little, a bullet was already in the chamber.
The remaining item was a silencer attachment to the gun. Peering around the door and listening, there didn't sound if anyone was coming. Going to the closet quickly, he crouched and entered. Making as little noise as possible, he began screwing on the silencer. Pulling it toward him to try quieting the sounds of metal against metal, he found going slowly produced less noise.
Once on and secured, he leaned his back to the wall. Pointing the weapon at the opening, it was trained at where the door was open. Waiting for a couple of minutes, nothing occurred. Not moving and still having the firearm at the same position, he listened to his surroundings. Hearing his heartbeat in his head, he tried calming down.
Hearing a soft sound, it was recognizable from where it was. Getting out of the closet on his hands and knees, he crawled quickly to his door. Quickly moving the downed individual's legs over, there was enough clearance to close the door a bit. Having it left ajar, Jin peered at the gap between the door and doorframe where the hinges are. Adjusting his glasses a little and seeing the ends of the ladder at his window, he didn't move when he saw a second man appear at the window.
Watching what the man would do, he saw the person look at something on the floor. Instead of opening his room's window, the man went down the ladder. Entering back into his room and staying low to the ground, he headed toward the bottom left corner of his window. Reaching it, he slowly peered at the window. Continuing till he saw the ground, the person on the ladder was at the bottom.
Leaving the ladder, he walked toward the garage. At the same time, he pulled out a mobile phone. Calling someone, he turned the corner and was out of sight. Moving out of his room, the sophomore stopped suddenly. Looking back at the ladder and where it was positioned, his mind began to turn fast as if he was battling in the game. Thinking of it as a possible escape route, he went to the window. Removing the block of wood, his window was now able to open.
Satisfied, Jin left his room and went down stairs as quickly and quietly as possible. Once on the living room floor, he pointed the pistol in front of him. Heading toward the guest room, he pushed the door open slightly. Continuing toward the window, he put his back to the wall next to it. Peering through the blinds, he didn't move seeing that the man was walking by.
'...damn...' he thought. Unable to hear what the conversation was, the male teen walked back to the door. Standing behind it, he peered out with the right side of his face exposed. Staring hard at the front door, he waited while regripping the weapon in his hands.
[Adam speaking. Did you already capture the kid already?] he asked a little surprised.
"Looks like he was ready for us. He has knocked out my partner with a baseball bat," the lead kidnapper stated with a little irritation.
[...okay...why are you calling me then?]
"Unless you want the kid to call the police on who is behind the kidnapping, most likely it will be traced to you."
[You are in this as deep as I am]
"...correction...if police come after me, I'm dropping your name and your administrator's name."
[...then what do you want? More money?]
"No. Lethal force."
[...you want to kill him?!] Adam stated surprised and worried. [I didn't pay you to murder!]
"I didn't say kill. Enough to put the kid down to capture. You just need his brain to work, not his body," the kidnapper stated in a cold tone.
[...] the programmer stated opening and closing his mouth.
"Either you agree and I capture the runt, or you can deal with the repercussions of being summoned by the police and legal teams," he threatened.
[...fine...just don't kill him] Adam stated in a nervous tone.
"Wise choice," the man stated then hanged up.
'...where is that guy...?' Jin thought staying in the same place.
Hearing the creaks of wooden boards, the male teen figured out where the other individual was. Without out warning, there was three quiet shots at the door handle. A strong kick knocked the front door inward which caused the door to swing hard. Whacking the wall on the inside, the door rattled hard. Seeing the man enter the house, he had a Glock with a silencer as well.
"Kid...you have two choices," the man announced loudly. "The easy way, you surrender and come here...the hard way, I will find you and shoot you till you come to terms."
"What's your choice?" he stated continuing to point his weapon forward.
"I suggest you drop the gun now sir," Jin called out from the guest room. He had the gun trained at the man. Instead of complying, the man quickly pointed the gun at the guest room and fired. Hitting the door, the sophomore closed it hard. Shooting more, there was no body that dropped to the ground.
"I will say it again kid...since you picked the hard way...I'm going to shoot you until you drop," he stated. The shooter started walking toward the guest room cautiously.
'I heard you the first time,' the sophomore thought heading toward the window.
Unlocking it and sliding it open, he pushed the screen out hard. Popping it free, he moved the blinds out of the way. Climbing up quickly and squeezing through, he got outside. Sliding the window closed, he kept low and headed toward the back of the house.
"Kid...final warning," the man said pointing the gun at the closed door.
Losing patience, he kicked the door till it flung open. Pointing the pistol, there was no in the room. Walking inside, he slowly did a sweep of the room. Finding no one, he looked at the two likely places someone could have hide that quickly. Aiming at the bed, he spoke.
"If you are under the bed, you come out now or I will fill it with lead."
Once at the back of the house, he headed for the ladder that was still there. Getting to the base and putting the safety on the Glock, he stuffed it in the back side of his pants and waist. Feeling it secure, he adjusted his glasses a little then headed up. Feeling adrenaline pumping him, the fear of heights or being shot at were bypassed. Reaching the window, he slowly opened it.
"..." the intruder said with a frown.
Pulling the trigger a few of times, bullets went through the bed. Hearing nothing but wood and metal splitting, he didn't hear anything else. Waiting for a minute, no blood was coming out. Looking under the bed with the pistol in front of him, there was no one there. Turning to the closet and standing up, he walked to get in front of it. Pointing the weapon at it, he spoke with less patience.
"...kid...out now," he demanded. Hearing nothing but silence, he fired at the closet.
"..." Jin reacted hearing wood and metal splitting loudly.
Climbing into his room, he closed the window. Pulling the gun out and turning off the safety, he went toward the door. Slowly going out of his room and heading to the handrail, he peered at the living room. Seeing no one there, he heard more loud splits of wood. Sounds of suppressed shots accompanied the breaking of lumber. Moving quietly to where his parents bedroom door was, he stopped. Lying prone on the floor, he pointed the Glock downward between the posts of the handrail.
Hearing someone let out a frustrated grunt, the person slammed something open. Assuming it was the closet door in the guest room, the male teen remained still. Keeping still and pointing downward, he waited for his window of opportunity.
"Kid. Where the hell are you?!" the man shouted. "I am going to fill you with lead so that only your neck moves!"
"..." Jin responded feeling sweat slowly drip down his back.
Hearing the man walk out of the guest room, he came into the living room. Not giving a warning like last time, the sophomore fired consecutively. The first bullet grazed the man's shoulder. The couple shots after hit their mark in the torso area. Seeing the man turn with pain in his face, Jin quickly rolled backwards.
Avoiding the blast of bullets, the fire suddenly stopped. Hearing the empty clicks, the male teen got up quickly. Going to the hand rail, he saw the man trying to reload. Not giving him the chance, the male teen opened fired again. Hitting the shooter more times in the torso area, he stopped seeing the kidnapper dropped his gun. Blood flowed out of many holes on his body as he slowly slumped to the ground.
"...!?" Jin reacted with breathing heavily.
'...I...I actually...killed someone...' he thought in shock. He was still locked in his position of training the firearm at the downed man.
'...it feels...riveting...d...o...e...s...n...t?' a voice spoke pleased in his head
"Shut up," he said out loud to no one.
'WhY nOt KiLl...THE OTHERS?' his reaper self pipped in enthusiastically. 'THEY WERE GOING TO KILL YOU AS WELL.'
"I said shut up!" the teen yelled. Gritting his teeth, he pulled the gun away. Looking at it, he felt himself losing control.
'...I can't hide the body with it bleeding like that...if I move him, I will be blood stained,' Jin thought trying to figure out how to escape. His mind raced and his eyes moved rapidly as if sifting through the brainstorm.
'...I...have...a...solution...'
"I didn't ask you," the sophomore stated angrily.
Heading toward his room, he saw the man that was still knocked out on his floor. Thinking about what the man was wearing, an idea popped in his mind quickly. Putting the safety on and tucking the firearm behind him and in his pants, he grabbed the man's legs. Gritting his teeth and dragging him across the floor to the stairs, the male teen was huffing for air.
Grunting and going down the stairs, he eventually got the second man downstairs to the living room. Letting go of him and walking over to the other man, he wasn't moving. Kicking the gun out of the way, he felt the person's pulse. Feeling nothing, the kidnapper's blood had started to pool a little. Shaking his head, he went back to the other individual.
Grabbing his legs again, he grunted and dragged the heavier man to his partner. Dropping his legs again, Jin bent over with his hands on his knees. Breathing hard and feeling a little winded, he slapped his face a couple of times. Standing back up, he began to remove the man's dress jacket and pants. Folding them roughly, he pocketed the man's wallet as well.
'...okay...I have my disguise...now I just need a body to take,' the sophomore thought.
Running back up stairs to his room, he looked at his bed. Assembling the pillows into a rough cross, he got more blankets to fill up the body. Quickly wrapping the bed sheets around to look like a mummy, he stood back and look. It looked roughly like a body. Thinking that there needed to be a bit more a skeletal structure, he quickly went down to the study room.
Opening the sliding glass door, the male teen quickly found sticks of various lengths. Collecting enough, he rushed back to the house. Closing the door and locking it, he went to the closet. Grabbing supplies, he rushed back upstairs to his room. Going to his assembled body, he opened it up.
Placing the sticks to form a rough outline, he placed the pillows and blankets on top of them. Heavily using tape and ribbon to secure both, he then rewrapped the silhouette. Taking a step back and looking at it, he felt satisfied. Adjusting his glasses, he tightened up the wrapping and lifted it up. Feeling that it was stable and about his height, he created his own mock corpse.
'Now to find where their vehicle is,' Jin thought carrying his fake body.
Getting out of his room and going down the stairs, he looked back at the two men. Putting the pseudo body down, he rushed over to man that he took the clothes from. Pulling out the gun in his pants, he looked at it and headed toward the bathroom. Wiping it down as best as possible, he held it with a towel. Putting the gun in the man's hands, he closed it to hold onto it.
Quickly going back to pick up his "package", he picked it up. Walking quickly across the room, he headed for the study room. Exiting the house through the sliding glass door, he slid it close. Now outside, he didn't realize that his pulse was still beating fast. The thought of his family coming home with him there made him want to escape quickly.
Fishing out the set of keys he pocketed, he looked at one with a car logo on it. Looking at the main road from the back of the house, he saw a distant car. Seeing a path of footsteps in the dirt, they seemed to curve toward the vehicle. Taking that as his chance, he headed to it while carrying his "body". Checking around him rapidly for anyone looking at him, there was no one outside.
Reaching the compact looking van, it was on the side of the main road. Getting the car keys out, he unlocked the front passenger door. Unlocking the rear side door, he put the silhouette bag in the backseat. Closing the door, he got in the passenger side. Climbing over to the driver side, he sat down. Putting on the jacket and pants, he fitted it over the clothes he was wearing.
"...okay...now how to get to the local Gamco building," the sophomore spoke to himself. While getting out his phone, someone spoke in his mind.
'...n...e...e...d...g...u...i...d...e...n...c...e...?'
"And how would you know where it is? You happen to have a memory bank for knowing where where I went to while stuck in E.D.E.?" the male teen spoke in spite.
'...hehhehee...what if I said yes?'' it asked amused.
"I still wouldn't believe you."
'HOW WISE OF YOU.'
"Gee thanks," Jin muttered.
After doing a quick general search, he was able to get the location for the building. Putting the list of directions on the screen, placed the phone in his lap. Looking around in the driver seat of the van, he found the ignition. Putting the car key in and turning, the vehicle came to life. Feeling psyched up a little to be driving, he recognized many of controls.
"...okay...push brake...remove emergency brake...put in drive...then ease off the brake...and give gas."
Feeling the car slowly move forward, Jin stopped. Looking in both directions and seeing no one coming, he tried again. Getting into the road slowly, he pressed on the gas. The car jerked a bit in response then sped up. Once it was at the speed limit, the sophomore made sure to keep it stable.
After 20 minutes of driving, the highway was coming up. Not feeling that confident, there was a nearby freeway that was available. The speed limit wasn't as high and usually did not have much traffic. Turning on to it and speeding up, he continued down the road. To his irritation, his reaper self piped in to keep him "company".
After finishing with their school project shopping in town, Samantha and Gene headed back home. Both were in good spirits from finding what was needed and having a relatively good time while doing so. Passing the suburbs and continuing on the main road, they reached their street. Pulling up to the house, they immediately saw something wrong.
"Whose car is that mom?" Gene asked pointing to the unknown vehicle.
"I don't know...!?" Mrs. Ainsleys answered. Flinching from seeing the front door just being open, she quickly parked her SUV in the driveway.
"Stay in the car and lock it after I get out."
"O-okay."
Getting out the car, she rushed over to the front door. Her pulse increased from seeing bullet holes in the door handle. Gingerly stepping into the house, there was an odd smell in the air. Looking to her right, she flinched.
"...oh my god..." Samantha muttered and backed up. Immediately looking upstairs, she called out.
"Jin? Jin!?"
Hearing no reply, apprehension started to take over. Finding it strange from what was lying dead in the living room floor, she feared that her son was taken again. Going back outside, she tried to close the front door. She was able to; however, she could not lock it given that the bullet holes busted the locking mechanism. Going down the steps, she hurried to her car.
Seeing her son staring back at her, he saw her motion to unlock the doors. Doing so, she opened the driver door and entered. Gene was about to ask what was going on, when he kept quiet. Samantha looked for her phone and dialed a number. Putting it to her ear, she began to nibble on a fingernail.
"...come on...come on...please pick up..." she whispered in a worried voice.
"What's wrong mom?" he asked seeing the scared look on her face.
[Your call has been forwarded to the voicemail box of...4...3...5...8...1...5...0...9...1...2...is not available. At the tone, you can leave a message or press 1 for more options] the automated voice messaging stated. Hearing the tone, Samantha took a breath in before speaking.
"Hi Jin. It's mom. Just calling to see where you are and if something happened in the house. Please call me back when you can...love you...bye," she spoke calmly as possible. Ending the call, she turned to her second son. He looked alarmed.
"...where is big brother?" Gene asked.
"He stepped out for a bit...I'm sure he is fine," his mother answered with a small smile. Patting his head a little, she went back to her phone. Dialing another number, she put the phone to her ear.
[911. What is your emergency?] a person answered over the phone.
"...hi...there has been a murder in my house...and the gunmen are still inside."
'...sorry mom...' Jin thought ignoring his cell phone ringing. He pressed the volume button until it went down to mute.
Continuing down the road and looking at the directions on his phone, he was getting closer. Turning off the correct street, he tentatively made his way through street traffic. Turning onto a street, he traveled on it for a couple of miles. Seeing a business park up ahead, it was the one that he needed to turn into. Turning into the parking area, he looked for a space that was away from other cars.
Finding one and lining the car up between the lines, he applied the emergency brake. Turning off the van, he took the keys out. Looking through everything in the front of the car, he checked the backseat. Finding nothing else that would be concerning or useful, he popped the trunk. Checking in there, there were more supplies of wrappings, tape, and miscellaneous items.
Grabbing a couple of things to dress his body bag, he reached behind him. Remembering that he put he Glock at the house, he shook his head and closed the trunk. Going to the rear seats, he applied the supplies on the "corpse" to make it look more convincing. Finishing, he checked himself and his disguise. Seeing that he was wearing tennis shoes, he opened the trunk again and checked inside.
Finding some dull looking dress shoes, they were a little big for him. Changing shoes and wiping them down as best as possible, they looked less ratty. Feeling ready, he went back to the front. Finding a spare pair of sunglasses, he put them on. Popping the collar up of the jacket, his face looked mostly hidden.
Opening the backseat and pulling the "person" out, the male teen set it aside. Closing all doors and locking the car, he pocketed the keys. Lifting the body up and over his shoulder, he proceeded to the building complex. Checking his surroundings while not trying to look suspicious, someone piped in.
'...almost...there...'
'...shut up...'
'...it is amazing to think...that mortals are this...unobservant...' his reaper self stated in his mind.
'...' Jin replied in his head.
Reaching the front entrance, he went through the doors. Knowing that the security cameras were probably watching him, he looked for a directive sign. Seeing one up ahead and the Gamco floor number, he went toward and elevator. Pressing the call button, one of the lifts opened up. Seeing no one inside, he entered it.
'...remember...if mortals are connecting to "protect", our fate is sealed...'
'...and if nothing is connected, we live another day...yeah yeah, whatever...'
'...remember Breaker...you and I...are one in the same...from the same shade...I hold the same sentiment of not wanting to be...a prisoner to the demons...' it stated.
'...' the sophomore replied with a frown.
Feeling the elevator slow down, it stopped. Opening up with a ding, Jin adjusted the body on his shoulder and cleared his throat. Walking through, he headed toward where the Gamco space entrance was. Stopping at the front desk, the receptionist looked up and flinched.
"...Y-Yes?"
"...I have come to deliver...a package for Mr. Adam..." the male teen stated with a low tone. "...I believe...this is the second time doing so."
"...uh...um...let me call my supervisor."
"...fine..." Jin replied irritated and frowned. Continuing to hold the body of his shoulder, the receptionist called someone. The phone conversation was short as the person behind the desk put her phone back in it cradle.
"My supervisor will be out in a moment or two."
"...kay..." he replied. A few moments went by when the door leading to the main office areas opened. Seeing the supervisor again, the male teen suppressed baring his teeth at him.
"Where is your partner?" Phil asked in confusion.
"...he has business to take care of...the kid is not heavy."
"I see...well...this way again," the man stated walking forward. Following him, Jin entered the hallway leading to the open office spaces. Passing a few doors on the right, the supervisor stopped at one. Opening up the door, he gestured him in.
"Adam stated to place the kid in here. I'll retrieve the helmet and have one of my techs hook it up to the chair."
"Fine. Once he's finished, leave and lock the door. I will strap the kid in and monitor afterwards."
"...once the kid has the helmet on, there isn't a reason to monitor him. He won't be able to get away," Phil remarked.
"Adam does not want the same mistake happen twice. That is why he is paying me to stand in there and watch the brat," Jin growled with agitation.
"...m-makes sense...Greg?" the supervisor called toward one of his workers.
Going inside, Jin placed the "body" on the floor near the harness chair. Feeling the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end, he kept himself calm. Hearing someone entering the room, it was one of the technicians that helped him last time. Having the VR helmet on a push cart, there was also some computer towers that were connected to each other. Remembering that he was supposed to be intimidating, the sophomore crossed his arms over his chest.
"Will this take long?"
"...j-just a couple of minutes," Greg stated a little nervous.
"..." he replied grunting.
Stepping back, the worker started assembling things together. Hooking up wires, they connected all the towers to the helmet. Two power plugs trailed from the units to a wall socket that was to the chair's left. After plugging them in, the computer towers turned on and whirled to life. The helmet also showed it was charging with yellow lights flashing on it.
"...just need to make sure everything is calibrated..." Greg mentioned opening up a laptop. Checking a couple of things, he seemed to be satisfied.
"Okay. This is all set. Everything from here on is just plug and play."
"Fine. Leave and lock the door."
"Do you need help lifting the-!?"
"...I...said...leave...and...lock...the...door" Jin growled and got in the man's face. "Got it?"
"Y-Yes sir," the tech stated.
Leaving quickly, he exited the room and closed the door. Hearing the locking latch engage, the male teen looked for another chair. Grabbing one from the far end of the room, he quietly moved it to the room's door. Wedging it underneath the handle, he tested it to make sure it would hold the door. Going toward the body bag, he moved it to a nearby bench. Taking off the disguise clothes, he dressed the makeshift person.
Back to being in a shirt and pants, the sophomore could feel the cool floor through his socks. Stepping away from the silhouette, he went to the push cart with all the electronics. Removing all except the power plug to the helmet, he took it to the chair. Sitting down in it and looking at the head gear, his stomach began to pull. Hearing someone laughing, it was in his head.
'No ReAsOn FoR cOlD fEeT nOw,' his reaper self stated amused.
"...shut up..." Jin muttered with a glare at no one. Not caring anymore, he took off his glasses. Hooking them on his shirt collar, he put the helmet on. Leaning back in the chair, it reclined a little bit. The glow inside the VR set slowly went to blackness. Slowly, he felt he was being pulled into his subconscious.