Chapter 116 - The Set Up

After moving the monitor over to the other female teenager, the group rotated to the right. Watching the doctor hooked up the screen to the helmet, he turned on the TV. Reducing the volume down, the picture flickered a little. After a few seconds, a feed came into focus. Still in the black and white screen settings of color, they saw that they were in a large study room. It had many bookshelves with numerous books on it.

"Looks like a room in a library," Tiffany commented still holding onto her daughter's hand. Seeing the volume being increased, they could hear the female teen's voice.

[...Black Magic...Satanism...Tales of the Necronomicon...Sacrificial Rituals for Blood Magic...Possessions and Exocisms] Ami spoke quietly. She was looking at one bookshelf and was scanning through the titles. Reading a few of the titles seen in view, one or two books were highly concerning. Seeing the gunslinger picked out one and opened to a random page, she began reading a passage.

[...to find a soul...one must have in possession an item that is a familiar with the soul...must have tasted the soul...and must have touched the soul...must have smelled the soul...] Selbith muttered to herself then turned the page.

[Gather these objects prior to offering a sacrifice...a Hell amulet...leaves of a Nightshade...black powder...familiar item to the seeking soul...vial of magic properties...]

[Once all has gathered, cut open the sacrifice's belly...place the items in order...spill a drop or two of your blood...then recite this verse three times]

"Who would put this into a video game for kids to read?" Alex asked kind of off putted from the witchcraft.

"More realism maybe?" Dr. McCole suggested.

[...the verse is in the Old Hell language...] Ami commented.

Without hesitation, she began speaking it like a translator would in a foreign country. It sounded like gibberish; however, something about it was uncanny. All the adults looked at Mr. Felmort. A displeased look was on his face. Deciding to break the ice, Samantha spoke.

"...I didn't know your daughter was into witchcraft or speaking Underworld tongue Derek."

"...it would appear...I had no idea either," he stated sounding tense. "Begs to question...if this is really my child."

"...?" Alex responded with looking back and forth between the female teen and Mr. Felmort.

[...hmm...] the gunslinger muzzled then opened up her menu. Despite her seeing it, the people watching her only saw a hazy rectangular shape of light. Seeing lights change quickly, the angular shape of light went away.

[I only have four of the five items...plus needing to find a sacrifice] Selbith muttered to herself.

A sudden pop-window occurred which was hazy to the viewers again. Watching it get closed, they saw her move quickly out of the room. Turning down a hallway, she stopped at the 2nd door to the right. Without warning, black flames consumed the screen with the sound of fire crackling surrounding her. Taking everyone by surprise, the dark blaze began to die down.

"...what...just happened?" Tiffany asked. Goosebumps went up her arm hearing the background noise being haunting. In some aspects, it seemed as if they were hearing things underwater.

"...that is kind of like...what Jin's vision was," Gene commented still holding onto his father's pant leg.

Including black and white, there were floating orbs in the air that just remained in place. It gave the same feeling as if time had stopped except for both Renee and Ami. Seeing her stare at the door, she walked forward and went through it like a ghost. The sound of something giving an airy hiss emitted from the monitor. It was creepy enough to make some hairs on the back of people's neck stand on end.

Reaching the other side, it was a room full of displays. Black flames consumed the vision again then slowly went away a couple seconds later. Seeing the floating orbs gone, everything went back to the previous settings. Watching Selbith get closer to the items on shelves and tables, it reminded the adults of a mad scientist lab. Only this version was more aligned to a grotesque, dark cult.

Plant, animal, human, and monster specimens and various body and organ parts were in various glass containers. The amount of detail that was seen made it seem like they were watching something similar to an amateur's survival horror film. Not Hollywood movie grade, but a home movie style that added realism. Seeing Ami stop in front of a plant, it indicated it was a plant from the Nightshade family. Lifting the glass cover up, everything in the container and lid pixelated.

"Why is it doing that?" Derek asked crossing his arms over his chest.

"That would mean that there is a bug in the system...or," Dr. McCole suggested then cupped his chin with his right hand. "Time has stopped. Even though her movements appear normal, they would be equivalent of the speed of light. The image change is so rapid that the system can't pixelate everything that quickly. So, the image is blurred to indicate that something occurred faster than the program could see or detect."

"Is this part of the virus corrupting the game?" Mr. Ainsley wondered.

"Maybe...I can only assume it might be," the doctor answered then shrugged his shoulders.

Watching Ami pocket the leaves of the plant, she put the pixelated lid back. Thought the image was still distorted, it cleared up a little in some places. Turning toward the door, she left the room after being engulfed in the dark blaze to go through. Once back in the hallway, her vision started becoming choppy. At the same time, each image the group saw was further down the passageway. Going through a few corridors, she found a person standing and alone.

[...a sacrifice...] Ami commented quietly.

Without hesitation, the gunslinger appeared in front of the person that appeared to be a guard. Taking the knife from his holster, she stabbed him hard in the chest. Yanking on it downwards, a vertical pixelated line appeared. As the adults and boy cringed, they saw Derek's daughter retrieve items in her inventory. Shoving all in the cut open chest, the blurriness of the gash increased.

"...doctor..." spoke with irritation. Watching her slice open her hand then clench it into a fist, she thrust her hand into the chest.

"...turn it off..."

"Okay," Dr. McCole responded with a nod.

The group then heard the weird gibberish prior to the TV turning off. Unplugging the connection cord, the medical staffer began wrapping it. An awkward silence passed between them from what was seen on the monitor. There was one remaining person left to hook up the TV to. Eventually, one person spoke to ask.

"...do we...get to see big brother's vision again?" Gene said quietly. Everyone blinked and looked at the boy. Standing still, none answered as they went back to looking at something else. Hearing movement nearby, they saw the doctor place the cable on the monitor stand.

"If you wish to see what your son sees, I can have a staff member set up a Bluetooth transmitter," the doctor stated. Pulling out a small plug in stick, it would be connected in the back of the monitor.

"That way, the visual feed would be transferred here instead of walking all the way down there."

"..." the adults responded with nothing. Hearing the boy move around his father, he stopped in front of Samantha.

"H-Hey mom?"

"...y-yes honey?" she asked looking down with hesitation.

"Can we see...what big brother sees?"

"..." the mother spoke. Resisting the urge to say no, she knelt down to the ground.

"We could...but...weren't you scared from seeing it last time?"

"...y...yeah," Gene replied with looking down. "B-But...he's strong mom. He can tough out the horror stuff."

"..." Mrs. Ainsley reacted with pressing her lips together. Looking at the others, they looked a little uncomfortable. Though she only heard of what they saw, she dreaded about giving in. Deciding that she wanted to know if he was okay, she stepped into her uncomfortableness.

"...okay...but if it is super scary, the doctor will have to turn the TV off."

"...ok..." the second son said nodding his head. Seeing her stand up and turning toward the Dr. McCole, she took a breath in and out.

"I will take your offer doctor."

"Very well," he commented.

Going to one of the wall phones, he picked it up and called administration. Relaying instructions, he put the phone back on the cradle. Moving to the back of the TV, he pulled the Bluetooth stick in. Plugging the power cable back in a wall outlet, he waited. Hearing a buzz from the wall phone, he went back to it and answered it.

"Okay. Thank you. I will call that room number when we are finished. Bye," the doctor stated then hanged up. Going back to standing next to the monitor, grabbed the remote and turned the screen on.

"Alright...adjust the settings...and we are ready," he mentioned.

A Bluetooth enabled caption came on the screen as he turned down the volume. After several seconds, the screen flashed a couple of times before being on. Suspension gripped everyone watching wondering if it would be that same nightmarish hell from the first viewing. When it came on, it was something different. Something more hypnotic and fast paced.

Going through a black swirling tunnel for a second, an opening appeared in front. Going through it, the environment was black and white. Appearing to be in a town of some sorts, the view began to look around. Stopping at a building, Jin was not walking toward it. Instead of footsteps, it seemed as if he was levitating toward it. Even with the volume up, there was no sound.

Approaching the door, he went through it like a ghost without stopping. Inside was a pub of some kind. At the bar counter, there were three individuals. Jin's sights stopped at the one all the way to the left. Hovering still, he did a slow arc till he was behind the young adult.

"What is he doing?" Tiffany asked blinking.

"...I don't know..." Alex answered. "At least it isn't that nightmare."

Looking at the back of the person's head, the male teen lifted his right hand. Placing it on the individual's head, he clenched the hair hard. Without uttering a sound, the view started falling backwards. Engulfed by the black swirling environment again, they continued going down and back. A small blinding flash came which went away along with the dark eerie environment.

Now viewing in a basement of some house, there was a white circle on the wall in front of them. Looking more like a moist membrane, it moved in small ripples. Moving towards it, Jin threw the individual into the semi-bright circle. Seeing the person get engulfed into it, the membrane rest itself. Without stopping, the male teen opened up his menu and looked a document that was blurry to them. Making it disappear, the sophomore immediately dropped down into another black swirling environment.

"...?" everyone spoke. Just blinking and watching the rapid change of sceneries, they still didn't know what he was trying to do. One person made a comment that got everyone out of their daze.

"...I don't know about you guys...but this reminds me of the one time I did acid," Tiffany stated feeling relatively at ease from the imagery. "But this is way more tamer than the trip I saw. That shook me up to no end and made me stop cold turkey."

"Dr. McCole! Dr. McCole!" a nurse called out loud from the hallway.

"Excuse me," the doctor said and walked quickly out of the room. "Yes?"

"One of the patients is waking up," the woman said.

"...!?" he reacted with surprise. Coming back into the room, everyone was looking at him with surprised faces.

"I am going to confirm something with the patient. If what he says as the last thing he remembers matches what we saw on the monitor, then we will know what is going on."

"I am going to go observe the patient...to confirm something for myself," Derek stated and left the room.

"...Jin..." Samantha muttered then turned back to the screen. It showed being back in the same town. Instead of going to the same pub, he went in different direction.

"Is the one saving everyone?" she continued. The others blinked then stared back at the screen. All the sudden, a crimson swirling rift appeared in front of the Blighter. Stopping, a familiar person came through it.

[...I found you...Jin...] Selbith spoke with a smile on her face.

[...] he responded with a grunt of mild irritation. Stopping where he was, he hovered above the ground without swaying. Seeing her walk forward to him, he slowly levitated backwards at the same pace.

[I have told you...we will not separate...again] she stated with determination.

"I have been meaning to ask this for a while now," Tiffany stated letting go of her daughter's hand. Sounding suspicious and looking back at Derek's daughter, she pointed at her and the avatar on the screen.

"Is she a predatorial stalker or something?"

"An obsessive one," Samantha agreed with irritation. "Since staying at our home, she goes where ever he goes...regardless of where it is."

"...that is pretty bold."

"And she has no shame about it either."

[I thought you had no obligation to help these poor souls and fools] the gunslinger spoke and gestured her left hand toward the town. Without stopping, she kept walking in the direction he was traveling backwards. The look of a hunter catching up to her prey was on her face with a small smile. It made both women frown at her.

[...I had nothing better to do...since I am stuck here...] Jin responded back in a stoic tone.

[So you decided to give pity on the mortals...how disgusting] she stated with disapproval on her face. [You have power beyond their comprehension...this world is within your grasp to conquer]

[Hmph...if you are so obsessed with this form...why not become one?] Jin commented half-heartedly. Turning around, he entered a building he went into not so long ago. Seeing the front door, Ami's character materialized at it within a blink of an eye. Instead of walking toward him, she stood there with hands at her side.

[Unfortunately Jin...I do not share the enthusiasm of descending into madness] the gunslinger answered.

Instead of him heading into her, she saw him head toward the adjacent wall. Following him quickly, he went through the wall first. Once inside, he turned around. Going backwards, the adults saw an evil looking Grim Reaper go through the wall. Blinking surprise from seeing the demon get engulfed by dark flames, Ami's avatar changed back into a human. Without hesitation, Selbith followed after him with a slow pace.

[However...you look more...charming this way] she remarked with a small smile that seemed normal.

[...so...that makes you a...] he stated then turned around. Hovering forward, he looked to see if there was another player in the sitting area.

[...negrophilic...]

[You aren't dead Jin] the gunslinger corrected.

[You think I look alive?] the male teen asked. Seeing someone, he stopped in front of a female teen archer. She seemed to be locked in mid-step. Without warning, he grabbed her throat.

[More of the supreme form of the undead] she mentioned getting right next to him.

[...] Jin responded with a major eyeroll.

Opening a rift to his right, he hovered sideways into it. Seeing someone leap at him, Ami stayed close to him through the portal. Reaching the other side and back into the basement, he threw the gamer into the white portal. Seeing her vanish, he turned around. The gunslinger was standing in front of him and in his face.

"She is asking for a sucker punch," Tiffany remarked with annoyance.

"Mmm-hmm," Samantha remarked with crossing her arms.

"M-Maybe we should stop watching this?" Alex offered and was rewarded with glares from both women.

"Not until he gets away from her," his wife stated.

"But we can't do anything on our end."

"I don't care. I don't want our son to be captured and ankle chained to that girl," Mrs. Ainsley commented and pointed to the one lying on the bed.

[What do you want?] Jin asked sinking into the floor. Ami didn't move from her position and closeness.

[Given the environment...and the time stop] she began then smiled. [I request the promise]

[...] he reacted with stillness. Escaping the rift and back in the town again, the male teen hovered backwards.

[...why...?]

[Considered it insurance that your promise was truthful] she stated following him. Matching his pace, she kept one foot of distance between them.

[...you have trust issues...even with people you trust...how ironic] the male teen commented with no expression of amusement.

[...Jin...there is nothing to fear...] Ami mentioned and moved her arms a little forward. It gave a sign of openness.

[...fear?...are you stupid?] Jin countered keeping a stoned face.

[You are the only one here that is the fool]

[Who do you think is watching me...you...and Renee right now?]

[Who else other than the creators...but they see that activity in this world...what would it matter to them if they watched?]

[You an exhibitionist now?] he asked. His question made the four viewers blink in surprise.

[I disapprove of you avoiding this simple activity] Selbith commented with a frown.

[I really don't feel any desire to do that...especially in this...undead form] the sophomore remarked with slight disapproval in his voice.

[Then you simply need stimulation] she stated. Looking at which building he was heading to, she pointed.

[That building will suffice]

[I am not doing that. I am only grabbing those who have been trapped]

[...] Selbith reacted with annoyance. [Your resistance to fornication is aggravating]

"SHE SAID WHAT!?" Samantha yelled then felt a hand over her mouth. Her husband cringed and made motions of apology to the other adults down the large room.

[Your persistence of it is annoying] he countered not sound interested at all.

[You are annoying...do I have to convince you otherwise?] the gunslinger asked. Moving her hands the collar of her jacket, she pulled it down a little to show her chest a little more.

[You think you can?] Jin stated narrowing his eyes. [It be a shame to have you end up in the same fate as Eve or Haurette]

[Don't worry Jin...I won't] the gunslinger stated then gave a pleased smile. [You don't know how joyful it was seeing you rip those two vile whores to pieces]

[...I keep forgetting you are a sadist and masochist wrapped into one] the male teen remarked.

[Is that supposed to be flattery?] she asked with a smirk.

'She isn't going to deny it!?' Tiffany and Samantha thought at the same time.

'...this doesn't seem like Derek's daughter at all...' Alex thought looking at the prone female teen on the bed. 'From what he told me...she was rather tamed, quiet, non-aggressive, and not this snobbish.'

[Look...I am going to continue what I was doing. You can do whatever you want...I am not doing that here] he declared and vanished into a building. Appearing in a lobby room, he headed toward a swordsman. Just about to grab that person, a crimson rift opened next to him. Ami stepped out and put a hand on the gamer first.

[If you won't penetrate me willfully...I can force you in another way] Selbith stated with a coy expression. Pulling her handgun out, she put the muzzle on the swordsman's forehead.

[...] Jin reacted with indifference and just blinked. [That supposed to be intimidating?]

[It tells me how close to your humanity you are...are you that obligated to your own kind? What have they done for you other than hunt you down?]

[You are twisting things to get your own way] he stated with a small frown.

[The mortals around you are the ones twisting your reality to get what they desire] she countered and didn't move.

[...is that so...] the Blighter said then looked at her gravely. [Then what are you doing that is so different...from the mortals you speak of?]

[My desire...as I have told you countless times annoyingly...is solely you] Ami mentioned without hesitation. [No one else...not the family I inherited...not your family...only you Jin]

[Your obsession and your methods of obtaining your desire borderlines on psycho stalker and possessiveness] he retorted with a frown.

[You are the one that is delusional...I know what you have become...I know what will happen to you...I am the one that can give you salvation in the damnation you are already in]

[Salvation from my own damnation...tuh...heehee...ha ha-AHAHAHAHAHA!] the Blighter repeated then laughed hard. Hearing more than one voice overlap his own, it sounded if it came from inside of him. As he continued, multiple delay and echoing effects emitted making the mirth sounded very deranged and warped. Instead of calming down, a strong sense of resentment was felt from people watching.

[SO YOU ALREADY KNOW...THAT'S GR#$AND...Y...O...U...A-A-ANNNDDDD#$#$ROGUE...] he stated with glitching and static in his voice. The live feed on the monitor started to darken a little as if the brightness was being lowered. [EEEEEEVVVVEEEENNNNNTTTTHHHHEEEEYYYYYKKKKNNNNOOOOWWW...heh heh...]

[...Jin...] Ami spoke quieter. Moving a little, she extended her left arm toward him. Opening her hand, she offered it to him.

[...come with me...you will never be alone...]

[...hhheeeEEEEEeeeeeee...] the male teen responded with a hard glitch in snickering.

"...Sammy..." Tiffany asked glancing at her. Seeing the displeased expression slowly turned into worry and concern, it matched what she was feeling.

"...how much stress...is Jin under really?"

"...I knew he was under stress from how he looked and was behaving..." Mrs. Ainsley answered. "...but I didn't think it was the breaking point."

[I will never separate from you...I have told you this countless times...Just because you have become a Blighter...doesn't mean I can't keep up with you] Selbith reinforced and took a step closer to him.

[...everyone wants something...everyone wants something...everyone...wants...something...e...v...e...r...y...o...n...e...] he repeated getting quieter and less intense.

[Jin...come with me...take my hand and show me a world that even the creators cannot touch] Ami spoke softer with a kinder voice.

As if waiting for the suspension to explode, something visually changed. The black and white environment slowly went back to having color. Everyone that was frozen in time started moving slowly to normal pace. The swordsman that had the gun on his forehead blinked then froze with surprise. However, his eyes veered to the right to see something monstrous in human form.

[...what in the world?] a person in the background stated.

[Is that a demon?]

[How did those two get in here?]

[...] Jin responded. His vision started to show words appearing on the walls. Voices began whispering into his ears. It was as if the nightmarish horror was slowly creeping back to him. Blinking and looking back at the gunslinger, she took another step towards him.

[...Jin...I can help you...]

[...] the male teen reacted with suddenly everything going black, white, and crimson.

Everyone in the room changed from being humans to looking more like deranged grinning monsters. About to say something, a black rift opened nearby. Leaping out and onto the floor, it was not another deranged monster. It was a luscious looking blonde woman with piercing emerald green eyes. Despite her beauty, she was giving off malicious vibes.