Orc Wars 2 : Lazarus

Chapter 15 - Injunction

Zen, Simtrixx's Games Master was worried. He had been pacing back and forth, unable to stay still. Where was he? Where was Lazarus?

The Assassin had done a run, completing the Priestess' Trial, then had gone on to complete the Thief's Trial. He had given them wonderful footage full of action. The subterfuge, the fighting and scheming ... the dying was bloody awesome. He had tried every weapon and every skill against the cursed warrior, finally he had completed the Trial by stealth. Everyone had watched him as he stole the saber from under the warrior's nose. Brilliant! They had cheered him on when he had run for his life, urging him on and willing him not to die.

Then, nothing.

Zen had been so sure that he would continue and approach the next Gatekeeper, Kirana the Berzerker for her Trial. He was collecting the Orbs wasn't he? But he had vanished. After three wonderful days of fresh exciting footage, he had disappeared. He had not logged on all day. It was almost twenty-four hours. Did something happen to him? He hoped not. The company wanted more. They had released several short videos of Lazarus' first Trial. It had gone viral. Sales had jumped! Fans wanted more.

They were working on the second Trial videos now which would be released soon. He was worried they would not have the third Trial footage on time.

Where was he?

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Jace was exhausted. He had made it back home from Court in one piece. He now sat on his mattress, hugging his legs, shivering.

The emotional turmoil of reliving the abuse again during questioning and full disclosure before complete strangers was overwhelming. As the Applicant it was a necessary procedure in order to obtain the Injunction against the Respondent.

Thank God, Mr.Connelly his lawyer had requested for a discreet hearing. Both sides had been instructed to keep the Hearing date strictly from the media. The Applicant and Respondent, being associated with the multi-billionaire business mogul Grayson Carter were known public figures. Mr.Connelly had entered the near empty court in satisfaction, ushering in his young client. Dr.Anderson sat as close as possible to her son in the gallery.

Jace would not have bothered at all with obtaining an injunction and would have just kept his shame buried in the past if not for recent events. He had caught her stalking him. At first it had not been noticeable, just an uneasy feeling that he was being watched. He had shrugged it off but had started to catch glimpses of her, it had been too often to be coincidence. The awkward sightings always ended with him turning away feeling dirty and ashamed from her stares and knowing smirks.

He had not told anyone.

He had started taking pains to always be in crowds or with Ash. He remembered her two thugs. Travelling anywhere had become a burden as he doubled back and made unnecessary side trips to throw her off. He did not want her to find out where he lived.

It had become too much when she started sending him insinuating texts and pictures. She had somehow obtained his new number. They became threats when he refused to reply or meet her. Thank god he avoided maintaining any sort of social chats. Who knows what she would have posted or commented if he did.

The Respondent, one Ms.Monique Devereaux also known as the current Mrs.Grayson Carter sat coolly in her figure hugging black laced dress. She had a full curvy luscious body which she flaunted. Her strong perfume filled the Court room. Everyone had turned to look at the beautiful alluring young woman when she entered the court room ... everyone except Jace.

He had instinctively hunched down and stared at his hands when her familiar flowery scent wafted into the enclosed space. The special perfume she only used when she was with him. His body reacted making him squirm.

She had sauntered past, heels clicking until she reached his table. Ignoring his lawyer, his step-mother had greeted him a sultry voice.

"Hello Jonathan darling."

He responded by keeping his head down.

"I wish you wouldn't do this to me. Getting an injunction will only make things more difficult for you and ... you may have to be punished." She left the threat hanging. No one heard except Jace and his lawyer next to him.

His head jerked up then as he looked her directly in the eyes. "I am not sixteen anymore ... and you have no right to treat me this way."

"Ahhhh, my little pet has grown up. How wonderful. How delicious!" She whispered at him ignoring his lawyer at the table.

"Just leave me alone!"

At his outburst, his mother jumped out of her seat and hissed, "Get away from him you bitch!"

The two beautiful women glared at each other.

Mr.Connelly had placed his body in between his client and the Respondent. He glared at Monique. She was messing with his client.

"That is enough Ms.Devereaux! We are in Court!" He jerked his head at her lawyer, "If you please, Ms. Blair ... your client!"

Monique's lawyer had pulled at her arm and forcefully guided her away from them. She gave them an apologetic nod as she ushered Ms.Devereaux to the Respondent's table whispering urgently into her ear making her pout.

The session started and evidence (text messages and CCTV footage) were submitted for the request. The case was outlined, questions asked and answered by both lawyers before the Judge. In the end, they were granted with an Interim Injunction pending several issues raised by Monique's lawyer. Jace slumped in his chair. Still, even an interim injunction was better than nothing. It would give him peace of mind for the moment.

It was ruled that one Monique Devereaux was not allowed within a hundred meters of Jonathan B. Carter. She was not allowed to text him or make contact with him in any form or manner. Breach of the terms would constitute a fine to be determined by the court or imprisonment depending on the severity of the breach.

She left in a huff for the main entrance without a backward glance at her lawyer trailing behind her. The doors opened briefly to a bustling crowd outside. The courts were busy as usual.

Inside the court room, Mr.Connelly had patted Jace on his back and congratulated him. Dr.Anderson had hugged her son. The three spoke quietly for a few minutes before leaving unobtrusively through the side door. Jonathan Carter did not want any attention.

When Jace finally reached his studio apartment, he had dropped everything and crawled onto his mattress, too tired to even change his clothes. The emotional turmoil and mental stress had taken its toll on him. Hours of controlled tension finally eased as he sat shivering hugging his legs until he succumbed to sleep.

Jace didn't know Zen, Simtrixx Games Master was pacing restlessly waiting for him to logon, waiting for his next move.

Jace didn't know Adam, Head of Editing was personally going through frame by frame of their latest videos of his second orb trial. They had managed to make three exciting teasers. Simtrixx would release it after a meeting with Nadine to confirm approval of the final versions. Editing had made teasers for the other four Gatekeepers too, but they were not as exciting.

Jace didn't know Nadine, Virtual Reality Director of Simtrixx was having a late meeting with the whole games design team. They were going to update the game. Changes had to be made to accommodate the MMORPG version. It had only been a few months but they had realised how boring it was for the Gatekeepers, they needed new quests, new challenges or their enthusiasm for the game would fade.

Simtrixx was also frantically updating and perfecting the orc realm. Who knows when Lazarus would actually get through the Portal. He seemed so determined. The orc realm, its NPC and set designs had to be functional and ready when he did. There had been no urgency before. Lazarus had changed that. Now, they had to speed things up.

Jace didn't know that Rose had downloaded 'Orc Wars' and was busy designing and levelling her new avatar.

Jace didn't know Ash was watching Lazarus succumbing to the Nymph's sultry charms and the flowers' poisonous fragrance. Lazarus's first trial had gone viral. Ash had just finished designing and testing a new Orb Trial for the normal players and was taking a break.

Jace didn't even glance at 'Orc Wars' gear in the corner. He had fallen asleep exhausted the second his head hit his pillow.