A Lost Factor

A Lost Factor-Jasmine's Story

Chapter 18-Home Invasion

Jasmine finally woke up at the end of the bus route in the middle of the downtown Acamina area. She sighed as she got off the bus at the stop, wishing she'd have awoken at the stop closest to the dark area, but that was more of one of Jenni's weird skills. Or maybe Jenni just had good bus instincts to be perfectly aware of where she was on the bus, when they would come, and where each one went.

A few hours later, Jasmine had returned to the tower, still in the middle of the day instead of the late nighttime hours she typically returned at. She tried to continue writing the letters but it didn't work out for most of the day. The next day yielded better results; one phase of the letter was complete; although she had barely any way to explain interdimensional theories. Three days later and she had finally completed one of the letters, or at least on paper. She still had to email it to the proper recipient. However, this lead her to notice the actual day since she would have to return to either downtown Acamina or CSUA to mail the letters, and determined that the next day would be New Years Eve. Knowing the general area might be a bit dangerous, so she remained at the tower the next couple days, patiently watching the Acamina rain.

Finally when both the rain and holiday danger potential was over, Jasmine got everything together, changed into one of the outfits still in her bag, safe from the dust and dampness of the tower, and left.

The trip to the post-office was relatively simple and eventless, although it reminded her that she was out of money and low on food. She spent a few minutes thinking of how to fix the problem, especially when she would probably not have the time for a proper job, so she decided to head over to the old apartment to see if she had left anything useful there.

She got there, and realized the truth-there simply wasn't any money there. She sat down on the sofa, trying to think of something that would work out when she heard a soft knock on the door. Fairly sure that the Treyer sisters were the only ones that knew she had been to the apartment and would be at school at this time of day, she hid behind the door, sitting on the ground quietly, desperately hoping it wasn’t Gateau Wazumi, Brian Treyer’s digimon partner in human form, and the other person who lived in this apartment. Even if controlled by Realemon, he fused the dimensions, she wanted them set back to normal. Maybe it wasn’t safe to even visit here.

Suddenly, Rita opened the door, pushing a teenage boy with short, black curly hair out of the way, who had been the one knocking at the door. "The door was unlocked dude." she said to the boy. She looked down at Jasmine behind the door. "What in the world are you doing down there? And where were you for the past few days???"

"Ummm..." The boy said, trying to get a word in.

"...and who is that? he was standing outside your door digging through his bag for like five minutes." Rita babbled, while looking around. She then walked in the kitchen. "Hope you don't mind that I raid yer fridge. Anyway, where was I..."

The boy sighed, holding out his hand to help Jasmine up.

"I've been about..." Jasmine said to Rita, sighing. She had forgotten that the schools would be out for winter break. She remained sitting on the ground, a little surprised to see her cousin. "Alan....what're you going here?"

"Just to visit and all..." Alan said nervously. "My parents dropped me off while they went to grandma's. If I'm bothering you..."

"What the hell is a bottle of glue doing in your fridge?" Rita interrupted, pulling a big, soggy glue bottle out of the refrigerator.

"Not at all!" Jasmine said, getting up. "You're probably the sanest person I've seen for weeks, or at least sanest person that really knows me." She glanced towards Rita. "I'm not sure if she really counts..."

Rita tossed the bottle of glue toward the trashcan, missing it entirely, then picked up a carton of milk out of the fridge. "Oh, good, you guys aren't out. I can't go a day without any." she said, opening and drinking straight from it the carton.

"So how've you been lately?" Alan asked Jasmine. "I was gonna come during Christmas, but didn't make it in time."

"It's okay," Jasmine replied, thinking back to when Christmas actually was. "I was sort of busy around that time..." she added, remembering Wedge's incident at the mall. Remembering the day before when she had seen Rita and her sister, she glanced over to see Rita drinking the milk. "Rita, I haven't bought groceries for here for a really long time, that might be old," she yelled over. She paused. I hope it's old though...if not, then who's been here? She thought to herself.

Rita finished with the milk, and held it upside down, with only a drop coming out. "What do you mean? That was a full carton!" Rita barked, throwing the empty container in the trash and walking upstairs. "I hope you don't mind, but I need to borrow your Game Boy. That twerp Anna broke mine."

"Yeah, I was kinda busy myself..." Alan said, still standing at the door.

Jasmine turned towards Alan, a little panicked. "That's...not a good sign, unless Treyers naturally drink year old milk...really not good." She leaned closer to Alan. "Listen, I think I know who's been here, if I'm right then you really ought to not be here. He probably won't know you, but still, I don't want our family getting mad that I got my cousin exploded or something. I doubt anyone'll target Rita since they'd want Brian, and everyone already knows Rita..." She stopped, closing her eyes to calm down. "I'm probably overreacting, but after what has been going on, I don't want to lose anyone else. I've already lost most of my friends. I can't stand losing family, or being the cause of losing family."

"Woh Jas, slow down..." Alan said, confused. "Now I don't want you getting involved in this Digital stuff. You wouldn't know the first thing about any of it." Alan paused for a moment, then heard a loud thump.


Chapter 19-Cake Batter