Chapter 87 - Meeting the First
"...yes...okay...thank you," Samantha stated then ended the phone call.
"There is a murder and a murderer in the house mom?" Gene asked with mixed feelings.
"Yes dear. It isn't safe to go in yet. Once the police get here, then we can go back into our home."
"O-okay," her son responded then looked at her cell phone. "Shouldn't we tell dad?"
"...yes...you know how he is about being left in the dark when he should know," she answered with a nod. Looking at her mobile, she started to scroll numbers on her phone.
"I wonder if big brother is at one of his friend's house."
"..." Mrs. Ainsley commented with a pause. About to open her mouth, something about the answer didn't seem right.
'Jin wouldn't go impose himself on someone else...especially the family of his two girl friends,' she thought. Thinking about how to strategize who to call first, she called her husband first.
'Since he and Derek are still in contact with each other, he can call him,' she reasoned with herself. Dialing the number, she put her mobile to her ear. After a couple of rings, the connection was made.
[Hey dear. I'm just about to head home in a bit. What's up?] Alex stated over the phone. He sounded relaxed and a bit refreshed.
"Hi...I have some bad news."
[...bad news?]
"Yes...it is about our home...and Jin."
[...okay...I'm sitting down...what's going on with our home?]
"...well...someone broke into our home using a gun. The front door lock has been shot at and is broken...the shooter is lying on our living room floor and shot another person dead," Samantha began hearing a pause on the other line.
[...that sounds...odd...how much was taken?]
"I have checked the entire house...but nothing seems to be taken from what I could see. There is just a bit of damage from the shoot out between the two. I've already called the police and ambulance. They should be here in a few minutes."
[...this still sounds strange...two guys shooting each other in our home...wait...does this correlate with Jin?]
"...maybe...I don't know. He isn't here and he is not answering his cell phone."
[...Jesus...]
"Gene suggested that he may have ran to either Derek's family or Tiffany's family."
[...that is possible...but that doesn't sound like something he would do without telling us.]
"That's my thoughts too...could you call Derek and ask just to make sure? I'll call Tiffany's daughter to see if he is at their house."
[...okay...I can do that. You and Gene okay?]
"Yes...just feeling bizarre and worried."
[Same here...alright...I'll call Derek first before heading home.]
"Alright honey. I'll see you home."
[Bye. Stay safe]
"You the same. Bye," Mrs. Ainsley mentioned before hanging up.
"Dad going to call his friend first?" Gene asked. He saw his mother nod.
"Yes. Then he will head home. I'm going to call Jin's friend and see if he is at her house," she stated. Dialing another number, she placed the mobile at her ear. Hearing the line ring a couple of times, a connection was made.
[Hello?] a female teen answered.
"Hi Renee. This is Jin's mom Samantha. How are you?"
[Oh. Hi. I'm doing okay. How about you?] Renee stated with a smile.
"I'm...not doing that well...I'm calling in regards about Jin."
[Jin?...what's going on?] she spoke feeling tense.
"Is he with you by chance?"
[...no...he is not. He hasn't called me either. What's wrong?] she asked worrying.
"Well...there was a shot out in our house between two men...one is dead and the other is knocked out...and Jin is nowhere in the house."
[...oh my god...is he kidnapped again!?] the junior asked concerned.
"I don't know. I called his cell but he didn't answer...I just thought that he might have, on the rare chance, headed to you and your mom's home," Samantha explained sounding a little worn out.
[I see. I can try contacting him to see if he'll pick up]
"I don't think he will if he didn't pick up my call or responded yet from the voicemail I left him."
[I see...if I hear anything, I'll let you know]
"Thank you Renee. I will do the same if I hear anything. Talk to you later."
[Bye Mrs. Ainsley]
"Brother not at Renee's place?" Gene asked and saw his mother shake her head. In the distance, there were sirens heard. Telling her son to keep staying in the car, they saw police and ambulance vehicles heading toward their home.
"I'll get the phone," Mrs. Felmort stated hearing the house phone ring. Standing up, she walked over to a wall phone and picked it up.
"Hello?"
[Hello this is Alex Ainsley...is this Heather?]
"Hi Alex. Yes it is. What can I do for you?"
[By any chance is my son Jin at your home?]
"Jin? No. No one has come to our house...is there something wrong?" she asked. Hearing rapid footsteps coming from the room she was in, it was her eldest daughter Ami. The mention of the boy's name made her instantly antsy.
[...well...my wife told me that a shooting took place at my home...with two men down in my living room] Alex began.
"Oh good heavens. Is your family alright?" Mrs. Felmort asked concerned.
[...none of them are hurt...but my son Jin is missing...I'm hoping he wasn't kidnapped again]
"...kidnapped again...that's dreadful," Heather stated feeling sorry. Looking at Ami, she caught her daughter before she fell to the ground.
"A-Ami!? Are you okay?" her mother stated easing her to the ground. The other daughters came toward them and tended their sister.
"...I...I am...just became...light headed...mother," Selbith responded sitting on the floor.
[Everything okay on your side?] Alex asked hearing the commotion.
"Yes...I think so. My daughter is still weak. I'm sorry to hear that your son is missing and the bizarre event at your house. If I hear anything on my end, I will give you a call. I'll talk to Derek to see if he knows anything."
[Thank you so much. I appreciate the help. I will let you know if I get an update.]
"Okay. Sounds good. Good luck Alex."
[Thank you again. Talk to you soon. Bye]
"What's wrong mommy?" Nicole asked seeing the stressed look on her face.
"Ami's friend's house had a shooting and he is missing."
"You mean...kidnapped? Again?" Rebecca questioned with a shocked look.
"It seems that way...I'm sorry honey," Heather stated kneeling and giving Ami a hug. "I'm sure he will be found soon."
"..." Selbith reacted with feeling stiff.
'Adam is pulling strings...and is now actively targeting Jin,' the rail thin teen thought. 'Question is...where did you go Jin?'
Seeing blackness around him, the gray mist menu slowly came into view. Waiting for it to surround him, the floating icons would come next. However, they never came. Instead, a black silhouette came from the background and parted the gray mist. Floating to be in front of him, two crimson eyes appeared along with a skeletal grin.
"...oh...so you are here already," Jin stated with a small frown.
"...yyyeeesss...you heeded...my warning...ggggooooooodddddd," his reaper self spoke with a hiss in his voice.
"What now?"
"...nnnnoooooowwww...we become...one in a single body and mind..."
"...great..." the male teen responded with an eyeroll.
Feeling the reaper invade his body, it was the same as when Selbith did the first time. It was bitterly ice cold; however, it felt more bone freezing than before. Gritting his teeth, he felt something crawling all over him. In a matter of moments, the coldness slowly dissipated. Rubbing his face, his hands felt like they had leather on them.
Looking at his hands, both were covered with black gloves. Looking down himself, the rest of him was clothed. Instead of the previous outfit that he had with tough leather armor, he just had thick dark clothes. Along with a cloak that seemed to float on its own, the hood slowly went over his head. Resting on his forehead, he felt the chills.
"...aaaahhhhh...bbbeeetttteeeerrrr..." it cooed in his ears.
"...now I hear you in stereo..." Jin remarked with indifference. "...so...am I a reaper...a peasant...neither?"
"...no longer a pea shooter...you are...just a breaker...with reaper essence as before..."
"Swell."
"...step forth into the portal...Adam awaits..." the double hissed. In front of the sophomore, a circular ring came up from the ground. Its inner space filled with color and swirled in the center. Stepping in front of it and looking down, it appeared like a vortex.
"...which Adam are you referring too?"
"...who else than...the bastard of mortals..."
"...I see..." Jin commented.
Not questioning anymore, he jumped into the portal. Immediately, he felt time and space bend as he travelled through. Feeling his body change position several times, the speed he was going kept increasing. After several minutes of being in the wormhole, a bright light engulfed him. Catching himself from a sudden slow down, he skidded on the ground for a little bit.
About to mention something, the breaker kept his mouth closed. Blinking and slowly looking around himself, the environment was stunning. Everywhere he looked, vegetation was full, well kept and trimmed, and brilliant with color and scents. Even breathing the air was clean and pristine. Kneeling and touching the ground, it felt mildly warm and comforting.
"Garden of Eden?" he asked. Hearing only a hiss in his head, it confirmed his thought.
Looking around to see if there was any indicator of where he should be going, there was none. Deciding that he needed to know what he was exactly, he pulled the menu screen up. Going to the character overview, he looked his avatar over. Instead of the level cap of 45, it had three question marks. Every stat had the same question marks as well as their value.
Looking at his gear, all of them were both rare and held demonic powers. As for his weapon, it was a scythe. Instead of the classic look or the wicked one that Selbith possessed, it was different. The handle was silver and the blade was black with veins of crimson. Closing all the menus, he lifted his right hand and materialized the scythe.
Just from holding it in his hand, tremendous power surged through it. Narrowing his eyes at it, the weapon started morphing. Converging in his hand, it reshaped itself into a large pistol. The frame underneath the muzzle and slide extended down to be level with the trigger guard. The only thing that was not black on the gun was the sliver slide assembly.
Feeling comfortable with being armed, Jin looked forward. Following what seemed like a well traveled path, he avoided getting touched by the vegetation. As he walked through the garden, there was an odd sense of tranquility. At the same time, there was a sense of loneliness and self-pity. After walking a bit, the male teen stopped and looked around him.
"...where...are the demons?" he asked quietly scanning around him carefully.
"...do you wish...to see them...that badly?" his other self asked and grinned cruelly.
"...no...just feels weird that I haven't encountered them yet."
"...if do nothing...then in due time...but obtain the amulet...time is bought..."
"An amulet?" Jin asked going forward again. "What kind are we talking about?"
"...the one that...the first Adam has..."
"..." the sophomore replied with a mild grunt.
Passing through an area of heavy vegetation, there seemed to be a roman pillar area up ahead. Heading toward it, the feeling of tranquility and self-pity increased two-fold. After walking a minute or so and entering the area, there was someone lounging lazily on a bench. Heading toward the individual, he could hear the man with radiant skin moan. Stopping, the breaker waited for an opening to speak.
"..." the man wearing a toga sighed loudly.
'...am I suppose to take that as a cue or something?' Jin thought with a frown.
"...uh...hello?"
"..." the individual said turning his head toward the male teen. Immediately, he sat up straighter and looked alarmed.
"...w-who...are you?"
"My name is Jin. I am a Breaker," the sophomore introduced himself. The scythe-pistol in his hand slowly morphed into an amorphous shape. Once its entirety was not solid, it slithered its way up the cloak's sleeve.
"...what was that...thing that went up your arm?" the man asked nervously and pointed at his arm.
"...for simplicity...it is my weapon."
"...are you...here to kill me?"
"No...you are Adam. Yes?"
"Yes...usually referred to as the first Adam...why?"
"I was told...that you wear an amulet of some sorts," Jin stated as neutrally as possible. "Is that true?"
"...yes..." Adam stated and pulled out the necklace that the toga was covering. It wasn't a Hell Amulet.
"What kind of amulet is it if I may ask?"
"I made it after the incident with my Eve," he stated and looked at it with depression. "...it was so that no evil could come close to the Garden of Eden or myself."
"I see," the sophomore spoke with a nod. "Is it hard to make?"
"It took me five sleepless days and nights to craft it...are you in need of a evil-barrier?" he asked looking back at the sophomore.
"To explain simply, yes. I need one."
"...but...you are demonic...your presence is that of hellish nature," Adam explained looking mildly confused.
"That may be...but what is tracking me down produces more than I am capable of generating," the male teen explained with a blank face.
"You are bringing more demons?!"
"Bringing, no...following me, yes," he answered then gave the creator a cruel smile. "One of them...is Eve."
"...you jest..." the man stated with a surprised look.
"I wouldn't be coming to you if I could handle what was stalking me down."
"That is impossible...I...killed her," Adam stated with disbelief.
"She came back turned...a she-devil."
"..." the individual in the toga responded. Instead of being more shocked, he seemed more contemplative. Cross his arms over his chest, he looked down a little at the ground.
"...well...being that Eve is from a rib I broke off my body...she was easily tempted by things of sin...it is possible that she already harbored a soul that attracted the devil..." he began then stroked his chin in contemplation.
'...hey reaper...is he telling the truth or is he making excuses?' Jin thought keeping still and watching Adam.
'...depends on which belief you choose...' it hissed back in his head.
'...tell me what you think...'
'...what I think...mirrors what your core thoughts area...'
'...no they don't...' he responded back with irritation.
'...HHHAAAAHAAAAA...whatever do you mean...Breaker?'
"...mmmm..." Jin grunted in irritation. Looking at the person still muttering to himself, he felt his patience waning. About to speak, a familiar presence was felt in the distance. Looking at the other, he seemed to feel it too.
"...that's...Eve..." Adam said out loud.
Turning to the direction of where the presence was, the male teen went toward a bush with heavy vegetation. Going inside of it then turning around, he enabled sneak. Seeing that he became translucent, he looked up and watched what would happen. A few moments later, something fast flew down from the sky. Almost going to impact with Adam, the individual abruptly stopped before her feet touch the ground.
"...Eve...is that really you?" the man in the toga asked surprised.
"..." the she devil responded with standing up straight. Having a tight small smile on her face, she stared back at him.
"...hello darling...yes...it is I."
"Look at you...you have...changed," he stated seeing her physical traits of someone from the underworld.
"All for the better...you still willowing away in this so called...paradise?" Eve asked in a mocking tone.
"It still is a paradise...if only you were not tempted by the devil disguised as a snake...then you wouldn't have-"
"If I remember correctly...darling...both of us heeded the words of god that day...neither of us ate the fruit from the tree," she corrected in a sweet tone. Still having a tight smile, she started walking toward him.
'I know that look,' Jin thought watching and keeping still from inside the bush.
"It was a few days after that we had...that conversation on...our children's fate. Do you remember or has that escaped you?"
"...no...I remember..." the man replied and took a step back
"And do you remember how it ended...d...a...r...l...i...n...g...?" she asked putting her hands on Adam's chest.
Without him answering, claws came out of her fingernails. Gripping his chest and feeling the nails dig into his skin, she pulled down murderously. Pulling her hands away, there was ten streaks of red down his torso. The pain was great as the man yelped in agony then held his chest. Kneeling down to one knee, he felt two hands grip his neck tightly. Looking up, Eve's face was near his.
"I'm going to ask this once darling...where is...my other darling?"
"...your...what...?" Adam asked having a hard time breathing.
"There is another Adam that turned me into this form...then left me at a gravesite...then a new darling came and helped set me free...I want to know if he came to you."
"...there is...no darling...here except me."
"..." Eve reacted with losing the small smile. Increasing her grip, the man started to choke.
"...where...is...darling...?" she asked in a threatened voice.
"I've...never...met...your...others...you...traitor..." Adam gasped and answered in a raspy voice.
"Traitor? Traitor!?" she repeated loudly. Her strangle hold on him increased to the point of her shaking all over.
"You didn't want to help stop the infighting amongst the children. YOU SAID IT WAS NOT OUR CONCERN. YOU THREATENED ME TO NOT GET INVOLVED! YOU CHOKED ME TO DEATH BECAUSE I WAS GOING TO DEFY YOU!" Eve screamed in his face. Her features slowly became more devilish and barbaric. Her blue eyes became orange and piercing. Seeing the snarl on her face, she grunted loudly and murderously squeezed her hands. A loud sickening snap was heard. Adam's body went limp as he stared with fear at her face.
"Now...I have returned the favor...darling" she stated calming down. Slowly letting go of him, he slumped to the ground. Seeing something around his neck, she reached for the necklace. Grabbing it and ripping it off, she looked at it.
"An amulet from that god...garbage," the she-devil stated bitterly.
Tossing it to her right, the amulet bounced and rolled into a bush with heavy vegetation. Scanning around herself, there was no one else around. The wildlife and plant life continued on despite the father of mankind lying dead at her feet. Feeling irritated from standing in the Garden of Eden, her entire skin began to redden and crack. Glaring at nothing in particular, she spread out her wings. Taking flight, she quickly escaped from the space.
After waiting a couple of minutes till her presence was completely gone, Jin came out. Disabling sneak and standing up, he lifted the necklace that was in his hand. Staring at it, a small pop-up window appeared. Reading the Stalker information about it, he made a disgusted face. Looking down at Adam, he narrowed his eyes at the dead body.
"...why not...consume him...it will only increase...the amulet's effects..." it hissed.
"...and how am I suppose to do that? With the scythe?"
"...t...r...y...i...t..."
"...kay..."
Holding out his left hand toward the dead body, the amorphous silver slithered down his arm. Converging at his palm, it extended itself and took form. Forming the long handle, the black blade shoot out from the top to give the weapon form. Solidifying, he gripped it and felt it being complete. Looking at Adam, he lifted it and swung down at the chest.
The blade pierced through the skin and sank in deep. Immediately, the crimson veins on the blade started glowing and pulsating. Slowly, the color and fullness of the body began to pale and deflate. As if sucking the body dry, only a minute passed by when the body looked emaciated. It still continued as cartilage and bones began cracking and breaking loudly.
The sickening sounds was accompanied by the corpse scrunching upward and converging to the blade. Seeing it boneless, the folding of skin being consumed came next. Hearing the noise of cutting flesh sound loudly, not one drop of blood escaped the scythe's consumption. Once nothing was left, the blade's tip was barely touching the green grass below. Bringing the weapon back up, Jin felt his stomach turn a little and nauseous.
"...the main difference...our scythe...is organic...and part of our bodies."
"...that...was...beyond disgusting..." the sophomore said out loud.
Unable to hold it in, he threw up. Instead of bile, he vomited out blood and flesh. Feeling his skin crawl, he let go of the scythe. Instead of it falling, it turned around to face him. Holding a hand over his mouth and taking a step back, the organic weapon hovered closer to him.
"...you cannot resist..." his reaper self hissed with malice in his ears. "...you are the Breaker...we are your...tools of Damnation."
"..." Jin reacted with spitting the blood from his mouth. Stopping and looking at the hovering blade with anger, his teeth clenched hard.
"...what...the hell...are you after...?"
"...it's simple...I want...what you seek..." it cooed and placed its skeletal face next to the teen's face. "...your anger...your coldness...your merciless killing...your fear...all of it...will break this world...and its creators."
"...you want me to kill everything...don't you?" he asked. Looking right at the corners of his eyes, he glared at the skeletal face of his darker self.
"...no...that is too simple...something a Grim Reaper would do..." the reaper stated with a small chuckle. "There is something...more grand...I know that you know what it is."
"..." Jin stated. Looking down at the amulet, he stared at it hard. Narrowing his eyes, he looked up from feeling someone staring. His reaper self came out and was in front of his face. The grinning skull with the crimson eyes bored back at him.
"...let me guess...I don't have a choice...coming this far," the sophomore asked.
"...heeheeeeeeheheheh...enlighten...me..."
"...a simple yes or no would work..."
"...why be simple...there is no fun...in being predictable..." it hissed sadistically.
"...guess I'll take that as a no..." the breaker sighed. Looking back at the scythe, he grabbed it. His action seemed to make his demonic double pleased. Putting on the necklace, it faded slowly after it touched his skin.
"Where to next?"
"...you tell me...this is the beginning of our...crusade."
"..." Jin reacted with rolling his eyes at him. It made the reaper give a cackle before merging back into him. Shivering hard from the coldness, he shook his head.
"Whatever," he said.
Grabbing the scythe with two hands, he thought about where to go next. Having a place in mind, he slashed the air in front of him. A rift opened up showing a vortex inside. Walking forward, he stepped through and disappeared. The rift vanished a second later.