Kapitel 143: Chapter 43.2
"You're really gonna leave?" Jason asked Alina who was packing her bag. It had been an awkward two hours since they met up with Silvia and Daria, and now Alina was preparing to leave. She had changed from her swimsuit back to her casual clothes while Jason asked her through the closed door he was leaning on.
"I told you I'm gonna go if my friends called," Alina answered as she swung her damp hair backwards and tried drying it with a towel.
"Yeah, I know. But . . ." Jason turned back and looked at the swimming pool. Silvia and Daria were dressed in luxurious swimsuits and the former was sunbathing while the latter played in a shallow pool with Alice.
"Oh c'mon, you can do it," Alina exited the changing room and punched Jason in the shoulders encouragingly. She changed her voice to a low wise tone before saying, "Just don't listen to that little devil on your shoulders and you'll pass through this temptation, young man."
"That's not -" Jason protested but Alina shrugged him off.
"Sure, sure it isn't. Whatever you say," Alina smirked as she walked away.
Jason turned back to look at Silvia and Daria before turning back to the departing Alina and sighing.
"Fuck it," Jason muttered. "I'm outta here too."
Jason braced himself as he began walking back to Alice when his phone rang. Jason checked the caller ID through his holo-lenses before picking up the call.
"Having fun on your date with Ms. Graves?" A sweet yet sultry voice asked through the phone; it was Melanie who called Jason.
"Spying on me?" Jason asked back.
He was both amused and annoyed over both Melanie's jealous tone and the constant surveillance she had over him.
"Ms. Graves asked you out in front of my office window," Melanie answered. "It was easy to read her lips."
And somehow, that doesn't comfort me, Jason thought as he leaned against a wall and ran a hand through his hair.
"What do you want?" Jason asked abruptly and brusquely. He wasn't in the mood to hear her flirtatious teasing.
"I'm heading to the orphanage," Melanie replied innocently before inviting him. "Come with me?"
"Your ward, Maple, will she be there?" Jason asked after a moment of consideration. His eyes went back to Alice and he thought of her friend.
"Yes."
"Alright then, I'll be there. I'll also bring Alice along," Jason confirmed.
"Great! I'll see you soon," Melanie said coquettishly before hanging up.
Funny how she knew exactly when to call, Jason thought amusedly as he walked back to where Silvia and Daria were. Strange. Why does this feel familiar?
Shrugging his shoulders, Jason decided not to dwell in this and instead explained that he had to leave to a despondent Daria. He received a knowing glance from Silvia, but Jason avoided eye contact with her and dashed away with Alice in tow.
A few minutes after Alina exited the leisure club, she received a message and opened it through her holo-lenses. It was a chat message from Katherine.
[Hey Allie,] the message read. [What's up?]
[I was wondering if we could meet up now?] Alina texted back.
[Sure. I'm at RogueTech,] Katherine replied after half a minute. [Just use the VIP elevator to reach Selly's office]
[Alright! I'll see you there soon] Alina texted before deactivating her holo-lenses. With a smile, Alina walked towards RogueTech towers, her footsteps were light and full of happiness.
***
As Emily slowly made her way home she paused when she saw two men walking nearby. One was supporting the other who had a leg injury but that wasn't why Emily stopped. She recognized the injured man, she was certain that she had seen him when she visited Papa John with Asami at the dilapidated bar. Emily wondered about what happened to the two when an idea surfaced on her mind and she began considering the feasibility of it working.
"Hey," Emily called out and the two stumbled before stopping.
"What do you want?" The man aiding the injured sent Emily a suspicious glare as he asked harshly.
"You work for Papa John, right?" Emily asked serenely as she attempted to remain calm.
"Why do you want to know?" The man asked as his hands reached into his back pockets. Emily wasn't aware, but he was slowly reaching for a weapon.
"I'm an Esper and I have a proposition for him," Emily answered calmly. Her heart was pounding, begging her to stop but she continued speaking. "I want to join his gang."
"Yeah? We already have an Esper. What makes you so special?" the wounded man asked harshly with doubt apparent in his voice.
"How about a demonstration?" Emily's hands were shrouded with a fun green light and she hovered then above the injured man's mangled knee.
Within minutes, the wound knitted itself together even as the kneecap and ligaments joined together again. The two men exchanged looks before turning and agreeing with Emily's request with a humble and respectful attitude: to normal people, Espers and Spellcasters were the elite in Atlantis, regardless of their level or skill.
"Lead the way," Emily stated and the two respectfully began escorting her towards the Sumps when Emily's phone rang.
"Melanie," Emily accepted the call and answered awkwardly, her voice stiff and monotone.
"Hey, Emily. Are you busy?" Melanie asked cheerfully.
"Somewhat," Emily replied shortly. Despite reaching an agreement with Melanie, her feelings about her rival hadn't changed much.
"Aw, that's too bad. And here I was planning to invite you to go on a date with me and Jason but since you're so busy -"
"When and where?" Emily asked abruptly. She definitely wasn't willing to allow Jason to spend time alone with a minx like Melanie. There was no telling when Jason might fall for her act and Emily would regret it forever.
"I'll text it to you right away," Melanie giggled. "But don't push yourself too hard, it's fine if you can't make it. I'm sure I'll find some way to . . . entertain Jason myself."
"I won't leave Jason alone with you, Melanie."
Emily sighed and hung up, too exasperated to retort at Melanie's teasing. She turned back to the two men and smiled apologetically unaware of the mixed emotions they were feeling after overhearing her conversation.
"I'm sorry, but I have to go," Emily said. "I'll meet with Papa John as soon as I'm available. I would appreciate it if you let him know of my intentions."
As she turned to walk away, the man who was most suspicious of her called it to her.
"Wait," he said and Emily stopped and turned around. "Just now on the phone … were you talking about Jason? Jay?"
Jay? Emily turned to look at the man carefully before calmly stating, "You know him."
"He was in our gang, long ago," the man replied. "Was one of the founding members, and a good brother of ours. Got us out of that hellhole in Spain. If you meet him, tell him - tell him that he'll always be our brother, regardless of what happened and what he thinks of us."
Emily nodded and walked away while the two men watched her go until she was no longer visible.
"Do you think that she's . . ." the man who was previously injured hesitantly asked the other.
"I hope not," the man answered while shaking his head. "If it is, then he'll lose her too. After all, in the life we lead, it's common to lose your soul."
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein