Chapter 127 - Believing
"...!?" Selbith reacted from being instantly transported somewhere else. Blinking quickly a couple of times, the teleport was rapid in comparison to opening rifts.
"...how...who...when..." she muttered looking around herself. Veering back a little, she was no longer in Hell. Instead, she was back in Purgatory. Keeping her firearm in her hand, she did not see anyone in the mists of the dead forest she was in.
"Lamashtu...are you there?" Ami called out walking forward.
Not hearing anything, she decided to turn left and do a large circle. Continuously scanning while looking around her, no one was there. Stopping and getting the Hell runes out, the symbols lit up in crimson. Concentrating on either signature of the Blighter or the deity, she could not sense them. Clenching her teeth, she thought about her situation.
'...most likely this is a creator's doing...which points to Adam,' she thought glancing up at the gray sky.
'If Jin or Lamashtu were in the same realm, I can find their location...so that assumption means they are not in this one.'
"Simple enough," Selbith remarked. Putting her gun away, she concentrated on changing the Hell symbols. Seeing them move around till they all stopped, it flashed once. A crimson portal opened up in front of her. Putting the Hell runes away, she stepped through it.
'...well now...' Lamashtu thought materializing in a special stage. Recognizing the dark surrounding skies and the violent magenta lightening, the mimic of Satan's Gates entrance castle was before her.
'Adam played his hand,' she continued. Glancing up at the black space, she gave a malicious smile. Waving her once in front of her, a black rift opened up.
'How sweet of you...but then again...I can transport just as easy.'
"..." the deity spoke looking at the swirling vortex in front of her.
Something about it did not seem right even though it looked and felt the same as previous ones she had created. Crossing her arms in front of her chest, she looked around at the floating island ground. Finding a large stone, she walked over to it. Getting onto the other side, she kicked it toward the portal. Launching into the rift, it swallowed the bullet speed rock the closed up.
'...5...4...3...2...1...' she counted down in her head. In her peripheral, she saw something swirling at one of the castle towers. Looking up and seeing a rift open up, something fast came out and impacted the wall. Exploding into a cloud of pebble dust, the dark portal closed.
'Restrictions hmm,' Lamashtu thought with an unpleased face.
Turning around, there was a castle tower in the distance. The oddity, there was only one tower that present. Looking up, it continued upward and seemed to go through the dark clouds. Glancing down over the edge of the island, the same structure went down and passed the black cluster storm. Narrowing her eyes and looking straight ahead, she focused on what looked like a small platform on the tower. Levitating off the ground, she flew toward it quickly. The closer she got, she recognized the portal and the access point to go into the tower.
'We can negotiate those restrictions...after I consume some of your mortals...permanently.'
At the end of the red rift, Selbith came out it and instantly felt gravity pull her down. Blinking in surprise, she was in the air and falling to the ground. Changing into a Grim Reaper, she stopped her free fall. Floating down at a slow rate, she changed back once her feet was less than a foot above the earth. Landing on the ground and looking confused, she straightened up and turned around. It looked she was still in Purgatory.
"...?" Ami spoke rubbing her eyes. Everything looked familiar. Narrowing her eyes and looking down at the ground, there were tracks. Going to one and staring at it, she made a shoe imprint next to it. Seeing that the tread pattern was the same, she had been sent back to where she was.
'...so...Adam is at work,' she thought and glared at nothing. Getting the Hell runes out, she tried again. Getting the same result in ending up back in Purgatory, she tried casting multiple portals. However, all would transport her back to the same location. Growling in frustration, she tried to think of her options.
'...if the Hell runes are working, then that means they are not tainted...it would mean that Adam cast something to change the portal's transmission or destination upon entering them.'
'If that is the case, then no one would be able to get out of here unless he revokes it.'
"..." she remarked opening up her menu. Accessing the messaging board, she tried to see if she could message Jin. Unable to from the aspect that he was not coming up on the players list, she gave a murderous stare.
"Very well then," the gunslinger spoke. Closing all the windows and concentrating on where the faction group was, it was far south from her position. Turning around, she did "Vanishing Step" while enabling "Heightener". Dodging trees that were going fast passed her, her eyes scanned around her like a vicious predator.
"If I can't reach him, I will find out which one of those unruly mortals has a method to communicate. If not, they can all perish," Selbith stated agitatedly and got her weapon out.
Outside in the hospital hallway, the Ainsleys were sitting on a bench with Tiffany standing against the wall next to them. Samantha had a dread look on her face as she stared at the floor. Alex and Gene were looking at the floor as well and being quiet. Ms. Sanders had already asked how were they feeling. The overall vibe was low. Especially from the aspect that all knew that Jin was suffering with no chance of escaping.
"...?" Tiffany reacted with a blink of surprise. Her cellphone made a notification noise. Getting it out and opening her mobile, it was a text message.
[Hi Ms. Sanders. This is Juan...uh...is Renee around? I tried messaging and calling her cell, but she hasn't picked up]
"..." she responded with a neutral face. Blinking, she decided to message first before answering directly.
[Hi Juan. Renee is at a hospital right now. Is there something you want to leave a message for?]
[The hospital? I thought from me and her being trapped in the VR game we play she was still at home]
'So he was able to get out too,' the woman thought then continued texting.
[I brought her to the Conrold hospital. There is a 3rd floor wing and rooms designated for people getting stuck in that game]
[Whoa...that is crazy]
[Yes...I didn't believe it myself until a family friend's son was in the same situation. They helped me get into this hospital]
[Good to know the next time things like this happen...could I speak with Renee?]
"..." Tiffany answered with giving a short exhale through her nose.
[...sure...] she texted then got off the wall. Walking in front of the three family members, she leaned forward.
"Excuse me you guys," she said softly with an apologetic face. "I'll be back in a minute."
"No worries," Mr. Ainsley spoke quietly with a small nod. Gene glanced up then looked back down at the ground. Samantha continued to say nothing and not move.
'I know I like to rival her...but not like this,' Ms. Sanders thought with a tense face. Standing up straight and departing, she headed back into the hospital room. Seeing that the monitor had been moved to face the head of the bed, her daughter was actively watching the screen and talking with the headset on. Approaching her, the junior looked a little more relaxed.
"...?" the female teen said turning her head. Taking off the headphones, she saw her mom lean forward.
"Juan texted me just now. Was he stuck in the game as well?"
"Juan was able to get out?" she repeated then shook her head little as if to reset. "Yeah. He and numerous of other gamers were stuck."
"Do you want to talk to him?"
"...I...I guess I should..."
"You don't have to if you don't want," Tiffany mentioned. Renee shook her head then offered her hand. Grabbing her mom's phone, she looked at the text to see that it was from him.
[...hi Juan...] she began messaging.
At the same time, her mother picked up the earphones set and put it on. She leaned back a little from hearing what was being conversed and what was on the screen. Both saw that Jin had stopped at an outpost of some kind that was on the clouds. To the left, there was a magnificent display of ancient roman architecture. Gold, white marble, pure white stone, and other heavenly warm colors shined brightly on the buildings to give a pristine view of paradise above the clouds.
Seeing the view turn to the left, there was an angel swordsman standing nearby. Having a look of suspicion from looking at Jin, Renee saw his mouth moving. Looking at her mom, she looked interested in listening and watching. Turning back to the screen and remembering what the angel and Blighter talked about, the junior wondered if this was the prison that held the gamers. Seeing the holy winged man point at him, he spread his wings and flew into the air. Shaking her head, she focused back on the cell phone to see a message.
[Hey babe. I just got out of E.D.E...four-eyes is a freaking demon in E.D.E.]
[That is good to hear that you made it out] the junior wrote while frowning a little at the second part. [You okay?]
[Yeah...feel weird from playing for so long. Still trying to adjust, but overall good]
[That's good to hear]
[By the way, everyone in Hell was able to get out. I didn't even know that Sword and Rose were stuck in Hell with us too]
[They were?] the female teen messaged surprised.
[Yeah. They were going through Satan's Gates at the time when everyone was in the safe zone ready to leave. When the exit portal opened up for us to get out of Hell, both Sword and Rose came at the last second]
[...you can't escape from being in dungeon unless you went through it the first time and beat it]
[True, I don't know if they had cleared that dungeon stage or not. They came through a black portal that materialized near us]
[A black portal?] she repeated. Knowing who makes those, she was curious enough to want to know more.
"Hi Jin. Question for you," Tiffany spoke finally. "...is this...suppose to be Heaven?"
"..." her daughter said looking up. Seeing her mother listening, she nodded her head a little bit. Turning back to the phone, she began texting again.
[How did Sword and Rose know where to go to escape? Did you or the players there message them?]
[Four-eyes sent them...he made a rift portal and threw them to where we were. Not only that, but he ripped something out of his chest and gave it to me. Who knew that what he gave was a dimensional crystal to open up portals to other realms...how the hell did he get all those abilities anyways? Not only that, but his teammate is a rather high-level gunslinger too. A female one with a large pistol that blew holes in Hell imps]
'...he is still human then...he hasn't changed despite his appearance,' she thought feeling relieved and happy.
'He must mean Selbith...he doesn't need to know about her,' she continued. Thinking about how to respond to the message, she saw her parent make a comment out loud.
"How are you fairing?...giving me the silent treatment like your dad?" Tiffany spoke with a little smirk. It grew a tad bigger from his response.
"Oh my, I am so offended."
"..." Renee reacted with a blink. Leaning close to put her left ear near her mother's right, she could hear him.
[Leave me alone] he stated with a stoic tone.
"Hey-hey. Don't get sassy with me Jin. Continue that, then I will have to discipline you when you wake up."
[Ooo-ooo...I am so scared] he thought back sarcastically.
"You know your folks are worried about you. Including me and Renee."
[So you tell me]
"...Jin...I am real...not a voice in your head," she corrected him.
[Mmm-hmm. Keep saying that] he countered not convinced.
"...you are just asking for a kiss on the face, aren't you?" Tiffany remarked with a smirk and folded her hands over her chest.
[...really...well here] he began with a tired and irritated voice. Lifting his hands to his face, he did not see the mother veer back and cringe.
"...Jesus Christ..." she commented above a whisper.
"...it has gotten worse," Renee added tensing up and feeling eyes widen a little.
[...w...o...u...l...d...y...o...u...p...u...c...k...e...r...u...p...t...o...a...b...l...a...c...k...b...l...o...o...d...v...e...i...n...f...i...l...l...e...d...f...a...c...e...?] the Blighter asked in multiple voices. The junior felt her mother flinch a little then gave a short frown at the screen.
"To be honest Jin...hell no...are you infected or something?"
[...hmph...] he responded and lowered his hands. [You could say I am infected...or corrupted]
"...!?" both mother and daughter jumped from the cellphone ringing suddenly. Muting the sound and backing away, the junior saw Juan was calling. While wanting to listen more, she answered the call. At the same time, her mother's expression became a little more at ease.
"Hello?" the female teen asked quietly.
[Hey. What happened? You suddenly stopped texting and weren't responding] Juan answered.
"Sorry...I was spotting for Jin right now."
[Spotting? At the hospital?]
"Yeah."
[Why?] he asked not liking the aspect that she was looking out for someone else than himself.
"...why?" the junior repeated trying to control the flare up of irritation. "...he helped me escape Juan...just as he helped you and the others escape from Hell."
[...] the male junior responded with silence. [...well...why is he staying behind? I know from my short interactions with that squirt, he isn't one to go out of his way to help others]
"Have I finally put a seed of doubt in your mind Jin?" Tiffany spoke smiling a little. At the same time, he entered inside the outpost. It was massive with large ancient Roman structures and statues. She was a little captivated from imagery of what the game developers pictured Heaven would be.
"You are wrong...he does help others...even the ones he does not like," she corrected with a stern face. "The least I can do for him is be another pair of eyes and ears for him until he can log out."
[I see...you choose him over me. Is that-] he began then was cut off.
"Not going in there...not dealing with that right now," Renee stated to herself after ending the call. Hearing movement, she looked back to see her mother handing the headset to her.
"Here. I think your boyfriend finally let go of the nut his was holding so tightly," Tiffany mentioned with an amused smile.
"...?" the female teen responded with a blink. Handing back the mobile to her, they swapped. Seeing her mom head quickly outside to the hallway, the junior put the headset on. Looking at the monitor, he was inside the outpost and heading toward one of the large open doorways.
"Jin?"
[...yes...?]
"...it's Renee...do you believe it is me now?"
[...the cellphone ringing in the background...was enough to make me let go...sorry for...doubting you] Jin answered sounding a little apologetic. It was enough to make her feel relieved.
"You better be sorry...but...I forgive you," she commented with a small smile.
[...] he responded with a grunt.
His non-verbal answer made her less tense. Hearing people come into the room and looking up, her mom was gently pushing Jin's mother. Samantha looked defeated and stressed. Stopping at the side of the bed, Renee's mother motioned her daughter about the headphones. Nodding, she took them off and handed it to the woman. Seeing her grab them reluctantly, she slowly put them on.
"...hi Jin..." Mrs. Ainsley greeted weakly while looking at the screen. He entered a room of some kind. Other than the overall feel of being thrown back in time, there was an aura of perfection in everything.
[...hi mom...]
"..." she responded with feeling a little more awake. Blinking, she lifted a hand to place it against her chest. The wire from headset was there and she grabbed it out of anxiousness.
"...I take it...you believe it is me talking this time?"
[...yes...I'm sorry...]
"It's okay...just a little hard at first..." Samantha spoke sounding a bit relieved. "Could...I see your face?"
[...] he responded with silence. The live feed shifted around the room till there was a mirror on an adjacent wall. However, he did not walk to it.
"Sammy," Tiffany mentioned while putting a hand on her shoulder. "...I...wouldn't advise that."
"...why...?" she asked a little confused.
"Whatever has infected him...it kind of spread wildly...his hands are littered with black veins."
"I don't care," she stated resisting a little. "I want to see him talking to me."
[...if that is what you want mom...] the male teen spoke. Walking across marble flooring, the mirror was seen up close. It was half of a full length mirror that would show from the torso up. Standing in front of it, he bored at his imagine while hearing a sharp inhale.
"...good god..." Samantha commented in a whisper.
Remembering the first time seeing him with the changed eye color, his face looked relative free of protruding veins. Now, it seemed worse by an exponential level. Not only did they cover his face, but they started overlapping each other. It changed his complexion to look in agony with his black-white eyes staring with malice. Trailing down his body, the same condition was seen on his neck, upper torso, and arms. Despite his deathly pale skin tone, blood had stained most all over him.
[...] Jin said from hearing faint gasps in the background. Turning away from the mirror, he headed back to where he stood before.
"...what...what happened?" she asked still in shock of how mutated he turned into.
[...the infection from being contaminated seems to be spreading...] her son explained with a calm dark tone.
"Are you in pain?"
[...so far...it looks worse than how it feels...just feels cold and clammy like before]
"Do you know...you are bleeding from your face here? Especially from your eyes?" she asked to see if he would become frightened.
[I did not know] the male teen said with an even tone.
"Does it happen when you get hurt?"
[...no...it happens when I get angry...my patience from being trapped in here has dwindled...a bit] he explained.
"Are you able to escape from there?"
[...I can't...I tried at the same time that Renee went through the exit portal...she was able to get out...I remained]
"Do you know why?" she asked sounding worried and fidgety.
[...I can only assume it is either from being infected with the virus...or...someone from that Gamco Inc. does not want me to leave]
"How much do you believe it is either of those two men from the company that is keeping you there?"
[It is a possibility. They would be the two individuals holding the cards at the moment]
"...okay...I have a question for you."
[...I'm listening...]
"I know we talked about it before...but when Derek talked to you about Ami," she began then heard movement around her. Both Tiffany and Renee drew near placing an ear on either side of her.
"Have you met her before?"
[No]
"Not even once before her accident?"
[No]
"Derek stated that he wasn't sure if she was the same daughter that he remembered. Is that true?"
[He has mentioned that on more than one occasion...based on his observations of her behavior] he informed.
"Do you like her?"
[...why are you asking me?] he asked neutrally.
"I know you were assigned by Derek to be her caretaker...I'm just wondering if her PDA has affected you," Samantha asked which made the two other females lean closer. "I mean, she is possessive of you. Will only do things if you are involved. Will only eat things after you have tasted them. What's going on?"
"..." Renee responded with keeping her mouth closed. Wondering if he was going to answer that tough question, the answer was a bit unbelievable.
[I...had a couple of moments...of wanting to strangle her to death] he answered carefully. [Don't know if that is a good enough answer to your question]
"Have you told anyone this?" Mrs. Ainsley asked sort of surprise by his answer. However, she could comprehend it based on the type of behaviors that Derek's daughter was doing towards him.
"He told me earlier," the female teen piped in. Both mothers blinked and looked at her.
"How earlier?" Tiffany asked.
"...a couple days after Ami stayed at your place," she answered then nodded toward Jin's mother.
"...okay..." Samantha commented then turned back to the screen. "So the question remains...is Ami really Derek's daughter?"
"If we ask Heather, then we can get an answer," Ms. Sanders pipped in.
"That is true...okay...let's do that," she agreed with a nod. "Hey hon?"
[Yes mom?]
"I'm giving the headphones back to Renee. We will try to figure out more about Ami and find a way to get you out."
[Okay]
"Hope you can get out soon so I can see your handsome face underneath that helmet."
[...whatever...bye mom]
"Bye," she parted then took off the headphones. Handing them back to the female teen, Renee could see that her complexion and expression was fairer and calmer than when she came in. Turning to her mother, she offered a small smile.
"...feels weird talking to him like this...but thank you Tiffany," Samantha stated looking at the other woman.
"...you got that right...you're welcome," Ms. Sanders said with a smirk. "Let's go find Derek's family and get the real story."
"Right," she agreed. Both turned to Alex and Gene and told them to come with them. Both did not disagree and followed them out into the hallway.
'...mom...has definitely changed...' Renee thought in surprise. 'Maybe she always wanted to be friends with Jin's parents?'
"..." she spoke putting the headphones on. Hearing a conversation occurring, she focused back on the screen.