Returning to No Applause, Only More of the Same

Chapter 95, Beneath Barren Treetops

For hours, she just sat there in the middle of the clearing, reading the files and documents until it got dark. Then she had to use her phone as a flashlight, but when its battery ran out, she was left in the dark. By that point, the moon stood high above the half-shedded treetops, but she didnt want to leave.

She could no longer read them, but she had to continue. She couldnt stop there.

Her hands trembled in fear as she bundled the files together. She had to continue reading. What if she went home and he was there? She had to know how to counter him. Among the files, there was a record of his status. It contained a few of his skills and his level and his race and his jobs. It was enough to tell her that he was beyond anything this world had seen before. For one, she got her answer to what his level actually was.

999+.

Higher than any recorded level. According to the reports, it was unsure whether it had capped out at 999 or if there was a higher number hidden behind it. The skills were similar. Unknown, was a word passed around ad nauseum.

There were even reports on an event where Kreig actually showed his power and effortlessly slain a creature that threatened to destroy an entire city. Jay could even remember seeing such an event unfold on the television. She had assumed they would go in with a nuke or something, but it sorted itself out. If he could kill such a creature as easily as one kills a fly, then what kind of destruction could he bring?

Worst of all was that it was entirely possible. The man was in therapy and constantly under surveillance.

He clearly had psychological problems and yet they let him roam freely.

Jay grit her teeth and placed the files back inside the compartment. Then, fumbling with her fingers over the nooks and crannies of the roots, she locked it again, leaving the files - both read and unread - behind. She had to come back. She couldnt bring them with her.

If she did, and someone else found out she had them

A shiver scuttled across her shoulders and she shook her head.

-But nobody knew. Yet. One day, they would know. She was assured of it. The people who had given her this information - whoever they were - must have known that she would be ready to sacrifice herself for this. Outside of journalism, her life didnt mean much of anything. It wasnt as though anybody would miss her. She was prepared to die if it meant that the truth came out.

The only problem was Erica.

During the following two weeks, Jay immersed herself in the files, trying to put every scrap of information to mind just in case she had a confrontation of some sort. The more she knew, the more dangerous she was. If she could describe in immense detail the line of events that lead to Doctor Darius Falk in particular taking over treatment of inmate Kreig Wiedermann, then even if she was apprehended she would still have many cards to play.

But that wasnt all that she did.

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Somewhere in the back of her mind, she wanted Erica to deserve what was coming to her. Jay wanted it to be so that Erica was the kind of person who deserved having their lover be a cold-hearted murderous beast because otherwise she could hardly be justified in bringing all this on her.

But she couldnt. Every day, she would talk to Erica and ask her things and make conversation and try her very best to find some flaw or mistake worthy of the pain she would have to endure. But there was nothing.

Erica was a young adult who had grown to enjoy teaching as of late. In her spare time, she liked drawing, bicycling and collecting action figures. She preferred grading essays to straight answers, which was why she enjoyed teaching English.

And, worst of all, she liked Jay. It was a strange realization to have for Jay, but Erica seemed to genuinely enjoy talking to her. A little before and after and even during class. In the hallways between classes. Jay wouldnt even have considered it if Erica didnt state straight out that, I love talking to you, you always have some funny question to ask! which was of course followed by another encouragement for her to pursue a career as a journalist.

It was wrong. Why couldnt she just be a bad person like Wiedermann?

So, she shifted her perspective. Erica was a good woman. She didnt deserve the pain, but it was necessary in order for her to realize the truth.

Then she might leave Wiedermann, and Well, whatever happened past that point was useless since Jay would most likely be dead by that point. Whether IOCRO or Wiedermann himself did it was needless. The important thing was that it was an unavoidable truth, just like the fact that Wiedermann was a danger to the world.

According to the files, according to the letter, according to everything

He could destroy the entire country should he wish to. Not to mention the world as a whole.

The deadline of the article was growing near, and yet Jay only felt more and more nervous to turn it in. But she had steeled her heart. On that same day that she turned it in, she would also send it into as many major publications and news outlets as she could find over the world. Ordinarily, this would probably have no effect, but if that strange organization was truly intent on using her as a pawn, then they might as well try to actually help her.

There were three days left.

Some people were already turning in their stories, but Jay had decided to leave it for the deadline. Not because she had anything left to write or something, no, she had documented everything she knew in detail, going so far as to contain little anecdotes of her personal experiences. Things she knew Erica would approve of.

No, the reason she was waiting to turn it in was just that, well It gave her a few more days to be on good terms with Erica.

But as it always happens, the day eventually arrived.

It was a Friday, but Erica felt no great relief because the workweek was over. She enjoyed her work, whether it was with the school or with Kreig, and she had many reasons to do so. The main one was her students.

Her classes could be a little loud at times, but she could usually quiet them pretty easily. Some students were quicker to understand her than others, a few questioned her with genuinely good insights, and others simply needed a little guidance to grow better with each week. She enjoyed each of their contributions and after only a few weeks of this arrangement, she had already grown to love a few students in particular.

Of these, she quite liked the moody contrarian Jay. Kreig seemed to think she was a bit strange, but the both of them had come to agree that her strength was in her tenacity, despite the difficulties she faced. For Kreig, that meant she would always try to compete with the rest of the class, regardless of her physical weakness. For Erica, that meant she worked hard, even though her assignment had been radically changed to fit her needs. It was impressive, and Erica had no doubt in mind that Jay could become a fantastic journalist one day, even if it meant that she might have to put her grudges aside.

Yes, as much as Erica enjoyed Jays presence, it was clear that she had a lot of issues. The other teachers shared the same belief, with one even mentioning that Jay had an immensely troubled home situation.

That was why Erica was so delighted to see Jay interested in socializing with her. Hadnt she become a teacher specifically to be the person she had needed when she was young like Jay?

A good teacher can do so much to help, and Erica was convinced that she could be that help. And for a while, it did help. Jay slowly became more and more soft-spoken, eventually even ceasing to ask strange, vaguely condescending questions. They talked about things unrelated to school and all that. Apparently, Jay had once had a cat, though she had to let it go once her mother admitted that they couldnt afford to keep it.

It was a bit sad, and Jay had tried to make a point about how she wouldnt miss it, but when Erica gently pushed her, Jay just broke down and admitted that she still wished shed kept it, even if it meant giving up her computer or phone. To console her, Erica suggested that once Jay was an adult and was making the big bucks off of her journalism, she could keep as many cats as she might want. In response, Jay had smiled and turned away.

Such conversations had happened a few times, giving Erica a little glimpse into the person Jay actually was beneath all the anger and presumption.

She was so alike her.

The lesson was about to end. About half of the class had yet to turn in their stories, Jay being one of them. Patiently, Erica moved about the classroom, giving final advice and suggestions and making sure that people were happy with the stories that had taken them so much time and effort. She moved behind Jays article, getting only a quick glimpse at the words on the screen before the laptop was slammed shut and Jay whirled around to face her.

Erica smiled and Jay visibly relaxed. Not once had Jay let Erica read what she had written, but that was alright. Jay as a person was quite secretive, which included her notes and written works. But, by the looks of it, Jay had quite a few pages to turn in. Reading them all would be a daunting task, but Erica was excited to do so.

Breaking the silence, Jay said, Im done.

Ericas smile grew slightly broader. All done? Completely done? Nothing to change or fix or anything?

Jay turned away, unusually solemn. Yeah, its done. Ill give it to you once the lesson ends.

Ericas face faltered slightly. Something here was amiss. Was the article Jay had spent so long writing not up to her expectations? Had something happened? Did she reach a strange conclusion? Concerned, Erica bent down next to Jay, going down to her level. She looked her straight in the eye. Jay turned away, her face tight. Is everything alright?

Yeah, Jay croaked. Of course. With this Everything is alright.

Erica scratched her head, but she didnt say anything. She just kept looking at Jay until she was forced to turn back to her. Their eyes met and Jay wasnt able to keep the pain out of her eyes. Again, Erica said nothing. It Jay began but turned away. Erica kept quiet. Jays lips tightened into a thin line and her face darkened. After you read this Her eyes returned to face Erica. There was ill-hidden fear in them. You wont resent me, will you?

With this, Erica smiled again. Nope! She grinned broadly even though Jay seemed far from comforted. No matter what, as long as youre happy and proud of this, then Ill support it. Jay stared at her blankly. You put your heart into this, didnt you?

Jay nodded stiffly. Yeah.

Erica stood back up and placed a hand on Jays head. Then, youve got nothing to be afraid of! Ill have your back for sure, even if you publish government secrets and stuff!

Jay looked down at her lap and curled her hands into fists. When she then lifted her head again, bearing a face brimming with determination, she had a smile on her lips. Yeah!

Erica couldnt possibly know it, but she had just sealed her own fate.