4 - The Marauders of Mayhem or Something

Ah! The house! Finally!

I got lost like, five times before I finally managed to retrace my steps and find my way back. Turns out, you just gotta follow the shops to go back to the residential area.

Damn me for always getting stuck in my head and never paying attention when I need to. Somehow, it always happens when important things happen, like watching the road to your new home. I feel like an idiot, but you know what they say, hindsight is 20/20 or something like that.

Opening the front door, I'm greeted back by the warm interior of the Kostenko household.

Alone. Good, I need to do some research. Better make it quick, I dunno when Julie is going to come back from her murderous intent state.

First thing first, I put the bag of food that Kate left me on the kitchen table, then I head back up to Jason's room. A teenager in a modern society always has two things with them: a phone and a wallet. It's basically scientifically proven at this point, but in my panicked state this morning, I forgot to look, like the dumbass that I am.

My eyes are drawn to the desk next to the bed, and the drawer right underneath it. Feeling lucky, I open it and find what I was looking for. Score!

Wallet first… here it is, an ID. This would have been nice earlier… let's see…

Jason Kostenko, born on the 21st of October 1998. Student of Ormond High. Everything else is physical stuff that I already know. Height, hair color, eye color etc. Nothing else that could be considered useful. But at least I know my new birthday.

Phone next… wow, no password? Fucking hell, this kid is insane. It goes to my advantage this time, but I'll have to rectify this problem as soon as I can. The date… today is the 14th of September 2015. So a whooping 6 years before my time.

In less then a month I'll also turn 17… again. This feels even weirder than everything else, lemme tell ya.

Currency… still dollars, good to know.

Properly looking through my phone now, I start with my contacts.

Obviously there is Julie, then Susie and Joey and then… "Bastard". Who the fu… ohhhhh, it's Frank isn't it. Sheesh, that's some level of pettiness. What's his deal with the guy? Something I'll have to find out, sooner or later.

Shaking my head, I continue down. Meg, David, Feng, some person named "Prez"... ah, the profile picture tells me that it's Dwight. Makes sense to have the number of the guy, if he represents our grade. Some other names that I don't recognize, and also Zarina. Ahhh, to stay in contact with your babysitter, sounds pretty damn awkward now that I think about it. She probably knows a lot of stories…

I shake my head to get rid of the potentially embarrassing childhood stories. That's all of the numbers. Or, almost all of them. Remembering quickly, I punch in Kate's number and shoot her a confirmation text.

Apps next… a couple of games, a football app that I immediately delete, screw that sport for monkeys, and… well, what do you know, Whatsapp exists here too. Kinda like Starbucks probably.

I open up the app to see some of the conversations. Not too many of them, I can read through them while I eat. No new message and… an unnamed group with myself and the 4 stooges. Created this morning and then forgotten. Nice going Julie.

What more… notes?

These are dates. Birthdays if I had to wager. Seems like Jason shares my difficulty in remembering dates. Just out of curiosity, I check Julie's. February 19th… 1997 probably, considering she's one grade above me.

There's one more… called… TEC? What is this…? A series of numbers: 07032016.

It's not a phone number. Weird… no matter, I'll think about it later. Right now I am incredibly hungry, damn you Victor, so I might as well go back down and eat what Kate gave me, while I look through the chats.

Going back down, I open up the plastic bag. Nothing much, a small sandwich and an apple with my favourite soda. Just a little, like Kate had said, but it will suffice. I love that girl already.

Starting on the food, I start looking through the chats. Kate still has to even read my message, so nothing on that front… lengthy conversations about girls with David. The blockhead is somehow convinced that I'm… secretly dating both Susie and Feng at the same time. Bro, I can barely comprehend the thought of having one girlfriend, let alone two! I wouldn't even be able to handle it, I'm a delicate boy you know?!

Susie is a sweetheart even while writing. All prim and proper, with the right grammar, commas and periods. Apparently Jason had a panic attack a couple of years ago, about a particularly violent nightmare. The girl had stayed up all night on the phone with him, to calm him down. A true friend, if I ever saw one.

Julie's messages are… tyrannical to say the least. Mostly "go there", "do that" or "pick this up" and similar, but looking through more, I can see just how strong the bond between the two siblings is. For example, Julie had been there during Jason's first breakup. It happened while she was out with friends. The bitch had done it through text (who the hell still does it?!), and the older sister had ditched her friends, picked up some pizza and spent the evening watching cheesy action movies.

I… may have misjudged her a little bit, to be honest.

Joey is the classical "brother from another mother". Inside jokes upon inside jokes and all of that. Lots of innuendos and dumb teenage bullshit emanating from this chat. But… there is also a lot here. They talked a lot about anything, like Joey's issues with his mother, confessing things to each other that nobody else knows. So many secrets… I'm not sure if I should be reading this. No, I know that I shouldn't be reading this. So I close this particular chat and move on.

Nothing with Frank, unsurprisingly. Or… "Bastard" I should say.

Meg is next and… JESUS CHRIST ON A ROLLER COASTER, WHAT IS THIS?!

"u shud jon de truck tim w me is fan :D"

My eyes are bleeding. I know that she is hyperactive, so she tends to just write and not think about it, but fucking hell, pay a little attention woman!

She is also very insistent about me joining the Track team, like Zarina. At this point, a memory occurs to me. In the gym, right after Zarina had stopped talking to me, Meg was running on her own. And she looked so damn lonely. Like something was missing. So at this point, I can't help but ask… is she bored of having no competition… or does she merely want a friend to be there with her?

Moving on from that… travesty, Feng is next. Her chats are brief and to the point, with always at the very least a 10 minutes period in-between messages. Probably chatting while playing, if I had to guess. And most of those messages are invitations to play various games that I have never heard of. Or apparent parodies of games existing in my universe. Like really "Underwatch"? Whoever came up with that one deserves a good smack on the mouth. Minecraft still exists though. Some good news, finally…

After that, school related stuff with Dwight, simple pleasantries with Zarina and nothing else.

Then a message from Kate. Uh, she actually answered. I was almost expecting a fake number, to be completely honest.

Unfortunately our chatting is cut short, as she is busy with organizing the music club for next week, but it's still nice to know that I didn't get scammed.

I look once again at the unnamed group. Everyone is online… might as well make the first step.

Julie created a group!

Julie added Joey, Susie, Bastard and You!

You: So…

You: Whats up with this group

Joey: Stole the words right outta my mouth

Susie: I am rather curious as well.

Bastard: juls

Bastard: u there

Julie: Sorry guys some last minute problems came up

Julie: Text me in private later Suz you know what for

Susie: Of course Julie.

Julie: So the group

Julie: Its no biggie really

Julie: Kate told me that she has a messaging group with all her friends

Julie: And i wanted the same

Julie: So say hello tooooooo

The group's name has been changed to "The Marauders of Mayhem"!

Julie: Sooooo what do you think? Pretty cool right

Susie: Uuhhhhh…

Bastard: to be perfectly blunt

You: Its rather unique lets say

Joey: I kinda dig it to be honest

Julie: Thanks Joey

Julie: And you guys whats the problem

Bastard: we aren't marauders for starters

Susie: And we don't really… cause mayhem, don't we?

You: And even so its hella on the nose

You: Like a lot

Julie: Oh really now

Julie: Whats your suggestion then

You: Hmmm

You: Lets see

You: How about

You: The Legion

Bastard: the legion

Bastard: damn it kostenko

Bastard: you stole my thunder again

Joey: I like this one better honestly

Julie: All right

Julie: Well put it to votes

Julie: Who wants Marauders of Mayhem says aye

Julie: Aye

.

.

Julie: Fucking hell

Julie: Who wants The Legion says aye

You: Aye

Bastard: aye

Joey: Aye

Susie: Aye.

Julie: …

Julie: I hate you all

Group name has been changed to "The Legion"!

I cackle to myself. Get shit on Julie. Even if I had to agree with Frank… that apparently forgot how to use capital words.

And so The Legion has been formed. But with no blood and guts involved and with one additional member.

… and now I'm bored. Great.

I have to find something to do for myself.

Mhhh? Another message, from Julie. She says that she'll be late and to go and pick up pizza just for the two of us. Already? What time is it?

8:30 pm?!

Wow, time flew by. I definitely didn't realize that it was late. Shit…

Well, who am I to say no to pizza?

A quick scroll down her chat reveals that she always wants pepperoni. Sending a quick affirmative, I hop down from the table where I had my snack and set my phone with a map to the closest pizzeria.

Keys? Got em. Phone? Here it is. Wallet with documents and money? Check and check.

Let's a go then!

. . .

I am more or less halfway to the pizzeria when I hear noises coming from an alley and a cursing female voice.

Curiosity gets the best of me, what a surprise, and I peer inside. My heart stops for a moment.

It's her. My favourite survivor in the game and possibly the only fictional character that I can shamelessly admit to having a small crush on.

Yui Kimura herself, no doubt about it. She has her standard skin on and she seems to be having some trouble with her bike.

I look back to the main road. I got a lot of shit on my plate already. And if I stop to help her, I'll probably be late for the pizza. I don't need anymore problems…

But it's Yui. I can't ignore her of all people…

Making my choice, I cough lightly to get her attention.

She lifts up her round glasses and glares in my direction.

"Who's there?! What do you want?!"

Jeez, aggressive much?

" I uhhhh… heard noises and curses. Are you okay? Do you need help?

Her glare doesn't soften, but it doesn't intensify either. No answer though. Ok then, I'll have to continue…

"There is a mechanic shop down the road. I can help you bring your bike over there".

A small flicker of hope crosses her eyes, but it's squashed quickly.

"And why should I trust you? For all I know, you could be trying to scam me".

Cautious hm? Can't say I blame her, Jesus only knows how many times she got kicked in the ass by random assholes. Makes sense that she'd be paranoid.

"Because it's either that or you stay here, cussing like a sailor with nothing to show for it. You'll have to risk it, I'm afraid".

That does the trick. She sighs, surrendering to the obvious.

"I guess you're right. Fine, I got no other choice. Help me with my bike…"

I nod and, with some light effort, we manage to get the bike out of the alley without a scratch.

Remembering where I saw the shop, Yui and I start pushing the bike along the road. Then, surprisingly, she speaks.

"So. Is it a habit of yours to stop and assist innocent maidens stuck on the street?"

I give a light laugh.

"Only the pretty ones".

She glares at me, and my laughing intensifies.

"Joking, I'm joking. In truth, not really. But I had some time to kill before I gotta go get pizza for me and… my family".

I almost bit my tongue there. Julie is… not my sister. She's Jason's sister. Calling her like that would be unfair to both of them. So I'd rather keep everything vague.

She gives me a curious glance, probably because of the hesitation, but I swiftly change topic.

"Talking about maidens, I believe you haven't told me your name yet".

Obviously I know it already, but it's not like I can call her like that randomly.

"Oh… right. My name is Kimura. Kimura Yui".

Like a proper Asian, last name before first name.

"Nice to meet you then, Yui. My name is Jason Kostenko".

She nods, and we fall into an awkward silence.

Damn, I ran out of conversation topics! Teenage awkwardness, why did you have to come back now?!

After a couple of minutes, we finally reach the shop. Thank God…

The two of us get inside with the bike, which is promptly taken by the workers, who told us to wait outside. And that we did, for 10 whole minutes, once again in complete silence. I am so terrible at this, unbelievable…

We are called back in, and the owner meets with us inside, and out of curiosity, I check his name tag.

Max Thompson Jr. Aka, The Hillbilly.

I did not recognize him at all. He looks… fairly normal. His skin is yellowish, but it doesn't look like a tree trunk anymore. Was he born right this time around? Or maybe some sort of plastic surgery?

He also has short black hair, with brown eyes brimming with intelligence. He has a typical mechanic uniform, the red onesie type.

I almost miss the moment he starts talking… in a southern accent. I think that there's a joke somewhere there.

"We checked everything and managed to point out the issue. There's a couple of problems though".

Yui asks what, a bit pale, but still standing her ground.

"The piece is pricey. Like really pricey. More than you can probably afford is I had to wager a guess. And even if it wasn't, I'd have to order it from basically the other side of the world, very far. It'll take at the very least a month before it's here. I'm sorry lass, it seems you got yourself into quite the pickle".

Ouch. That's a big blow.

Not wanting to just be silent, I speak up.

"Is there anything that can be done? Anything at all?"

He shakes his head dejected.

"I'm afraid not lad. This is a…"

His gaze sharpens and he leans closer to me.

"Excuse me young man, may I see your ID?"

Uh? Why would he want to…

I'm not sure why, but something compels me to hand over Max my ID, who examines it, and chuckles.

"I knew that you looked familiar. Jason Kostenko. You are Elias Kostenko's son aren't you?"

I nod, remembering my quick tour of the house this morning, particularly when I entered Jason's parents room. Elias and Nadia Kostenko, were their names.

"Ahahahaha! This changes everything then! I take it she's your friend then?"

I look at her, seeing her desperate expression, and I nod again.

"She is. Can you help us?"

"Help you? Boy, I can do much better than that. I owe your father both my life and my job, and now I can finally start repaying that debt!"

He looks at Yui.

"Lady, you are mighty lucky today! I can have the piece delivered by next week, and I'll even cut the price in half. Sounds good to you?"

Her eyes are two shining stars.

"Y-Yes! Of course it sounds good! Thank you , I won't forget this!"

He laughs again.

"It's not me that you should be thanking, but you are welcome anyways. Mind giving me your number lass? I need a way to contact you when the piece is here".

"Sure! Here it is…"

The two exchange numbers, and before long, we are back on the streets.

Yui and I stay still for a couple of seconds, then I check the time.

Shit, it's almost 9:15 pm. If I hurry up I can still make it in time maybe…

Before I can hurry along my way, my temporary companion speaks.

"So uhmmmm… Jason, right? Thank you, really. I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't come along. And also, I wanted to… apologize for shouting at you earlier. I was acting a bit like a bitch…"

I'm quick to shake my head.

"It's okay, you were doing the right thing. Trusting strangers isn't really the way to go. And, you're welcome, this trip taught me something as well".

Namely, that my father has apparently done something to help The Hillbilly in the past. Something major, if the way that Max just bent the rules to get us this part is anything to go by.

I open my mouth to say goodbye to her, I'm kinda in a hurry, but she stops once again.

"Let's exchange numbers. You were instrumental in this… issue, so it's only fair that you come along to see the end. Play your cards right and I might even let you ride".

Wait really?! I would love that, no cap.

"And… I guess, I wouldn't be opposed to… spending some more time with you. You look like a decent guy to have around. So what do you say?"

FUCK YES, OF COURSE!

The two of us exchange numbers and go our separate ways, with me still holding my phone like it's my greatest treasure. I must have spaced out for quite a while, because when I check the time again, my eyes bulge out of my skull.

Now I'm definitely late, for fuck's sake.

. . .

"Okay, OKAY, let me get this straight!"

Please dear tyrant, take your time to process everything and maybe you'll feel a fragment of the confusion that I have experienced up until now.

Lucky non Isekai'd bastard.

"You have Susie being a love stricken puppy that blushes at everything you say or do…"

"Fairly sure she's the same around you. If she's not hanging on to your every word, she's staring at your butt".

And I saw that. During the walk to school, before Julie dearest here saw fit to ruin my morning with her hair, our redheaded friend couldn't stop staring at her ass. She had her head forever stuck, face forward and chin down. Poor girl must be extremely confused by now.

"T-That's irrelevant, don't change the subject! So, as I was saying, you have Susie…"

And so do you, I wanted to say, but I keep my mouth shut this time around, lest we stay here the whole evening.

"Then Kate pulled the ' I'll give you a gift for thanks but in truth I'm giving you my number ', then this Meg girl is trying to get you to join the Track team so much that it's almost funny how obvious her crush on you is. And let's not forget about that girl gamer friend of yours who finds every possible excuse to invite you to her place to play. What was her name… Feng? Yes, that. And now you're telling me that you got ANOTHER girl's number after helping her with her bike?!"

I mean, kinda? As I said, Julie is so pigheaded that she's refusing to admit that Susie might be more attracted to her rather than me, Kate is simply grateful, I did save her a trip to the infirmary at the very least, Meg just needs a friend who shares her passion, Feng just wants her a gaming companion, those are rare IRL, let me tell you, and Yui wants to "complete the circle" as she would probably put it.

She's making it sound like I'm building a harem or something like that.

She sits back down, her pizza having long since been devoured, while I'm finishing up my last slice. She's a very fast eater apparently.

"Since when did my innocent baby brother transform into a womanizer?! What's going on here?!"

Talk about dramatic. She's joking, obviously, and me being me, I just HAVE to go along with it.

"Your lapse of judgement has cost you dearly, my darling Julie. Just you wait until the pregnancy tests come back. I already have my tickets to Messico ready!"

She gasps. I menacingly finish my pizza.

"What did you do?!"

I laugh, evilly.

"The most indecent thing that you could imagine. I… held Kate's hand for three whole seconds!"

She instantly gets up, distress evident on her face.

"How could you?! That's not just evil! That's straight up LEWD!"

I get on my feet as well.

"And you haven't heard the worst! I also… exchanged looks with Meg for more than the five seconds allowed!"

Julie holds a hand over her heart.

"No… where did I go wrong?! I did not growl up with a pervert! I refuse!"

I walk towards her and she stumbles back, right into a wall. I smack my hand on the left of her head and pin her to said wall (which is kinda awkward since she's taller than me), looking at her with the most evil smirk I can manage.

"And now…"

My hand inches closer to hers, and she gasps once again.

"It's your turn…"

I finally take her hand.

We hold the position for a couple of seconds, completely neutral.

Then the dam breaks, and laughter comes out.

This… this is too good. I never had anyone to banter with like this. I went out looking for copper and stumbled into a gold mine.

We laugh ourselves into exhaustion barely able to breathe by the end.

I get back on my feet. Wait, when did I fall down.

Ah, who cares.

"O-Oh shit. We haven't done that in a long time. I think that I'm dying…"

Over dramatic. Again. Julie really is a theatre girl, nothing to say about that.

"You know Jas? I'm… glad that we can still do this. After yesterday I… was afraid that something had broken…"

She's serious all of the sudden? What happened?

"Juls?"

"We never argued like that before. I was so… angry. And you were too. I went to bed furious and woke up… terrified. I thought that… we were through. When I came to get you this morning, you had a scary look on your face. Like… like you didn't recognize me…"

I hadn't. Because I'm not the Jason Kostenko that went to bed last night. I'm… somebody else that hijacked her brother's body.

It finally hit me fully. I had a lot more to think about before, so the impact was muted. But now, it's like a fist right in my stomach.

Jason Kostenko is not here anymore.

The brother that Julie had known for all her life… is gone. Dead, just like that.

And I took his place. I took his place, laughing with his sister, being buddy buddy with his friends, lying to everyone. I always thought that Frank was an asshole. But I'm worse.

I'm so much worse.

Jason Kostenko is probably dead.

And it's all my fault. I killed him.

Tears well up in my eyes, guilt crushing my lungs, a heavy burden settles into my stomach.

I'm hyperventilating. I can feel sweat running down my forehead like small bullets. My heart thunders in my chest.

My heart?

No. His heart.

Then… clarity.

Two arms wrapped around me. A warm body pressed against me. A wet sensation on my right shoulder.

"I love you bro! I love you so much!"

Another fist, right into my stomach.

But…

My arms move on their own, wrapping themselves around Julie.

Something inside me moves independently, forcing me to speak.

"I love you too sis. More than I can comprehend".

And I mean it, with all my heart.

…

The night comes quietly and I'm laying on Jason's bed in his room, staring at the ceiling, looking just as lost as I felt.

I should be thinking about tomorrow. About my plans on how to tackle the next day.

But I can't. My head hurts too much to properly think about anything.

My throat feels dry. I should probably go get a glass of water, but I don't feel like getting up.

Taking some more breaths to calm myself down, I turn my body to the right and slip under the covers. Staying awake right now will not help. I need to rest, get a clear head.

But most of all, I need time. I need… answers.

Hello? Is this thing on? It is? Noice.

So dear viewers, it has been a couple of weeks uh? I humbly apologize. My only excuse is that I'm a damn lazy bastard. Probably the laziest human being you will ever encounter. Yes, I know, I'm disappointed in myself too, but what can you do.

Leaving that, I am here to ask you beautiful peeps a question. As you guys have just read, there it has been a new "social media" segment in the chapter, where The Legion came into existence, in no small part inspired by the works of vendetta543's Through The Looking Glass and it's sequel Madhouse Blues (and if you are a fan of Spider-Gwen and Spiderman Noire, I highly suggest you go check it out, it's amazing). And as you probably have seen, Jason has quite a lot of old chats with his friends on that phone. My question is, would you guys like to see them sprinkled around the story? Maybe at the end of the chapter, as a way to end it? Or at the start, in order to have some light hearted fun right from the get go? Lemme know, because I'm very interested in trying my hand at it.

But this is all for now, I'll be seeing you next time!

Ta-ta for now