V.I.R.A.L

Chapter 160: I Am Thou, Thou Art I Part 1

Alice sat on a suitcase waiting at a bus stop. She zipped up her coat, rubbing her hands, waiting in the early morning. She kept dozing off only to turn hearing her name being yelled. Iris appeared around the corner panting. "Alice… Alice, what are you doing?"

"I don't want to be a streamer anymore. So, I'm running away."

"Running away? Don't be ridiculous, where would you go?"

"I don't know. Anywhere as long as it's away from Hans."

Iris sat down next to Alice peaking into her suitcase only to find sweets, teddy bears and a few pairs of clothes. "I don't think you'll survive with that stuff sissy."

"Then run away with me. We do not need father."

"Alice… You know we can't do that. Our daddy needs us. He's so lonely without mum. He may be tough, but he loves us."

Alice began fidgeting frowning. "I don't understand. We can't go to school, make friends, play together. All he does is force us to train and train. I can't take it anymore."

Iris thought long and hard for a while before smiling. "Well, we're here, now aren't we? I don't see our dad so how about we go and play in the arcades. I found some quarters on the way here."

Alice nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, yes, yes!"

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Iris took Alice's hand, leaving the suitcase as the two sisters scrambled for the arcade just around the corner. They were completely overwhelmed by the sights and sounds never once stepping foot in one in their lives. To them, it was like visiting another world. They didn't waste any time running ahead, messing around on as many machines as possible. From kart racing to shooters, to wack-a-moles the two girls did it all until they were on their final quarter. Iris was panting exhausted as she held the last coin, like her life depended on it. "The last one already? I wanted this to go on forever…"

"Same here. One last game. You pick Alice. Pick the best one."

Alice turned, having her eyes on one in particular. She pointed to the dance rhythm arcade machine eager. "That one, I want that one." Iris nodded, heading over only for the arcade to explode in a pit of darkness. The two began coughing as Alice crawled over to Iris. Finding her sister, Alice looked up in horror shaking. "A- A villain…" A man in a prisoner outfit and chains emerged caped in smoke holding bags of money. "I… I should stop him… Follow my training. Protect Iris."

Alice tried summoning a portal but was too frightened, messing up. The villain turned to her smirking. "Trying to play hero, are you? How cute. Here let me help you!"

The villain aimed his arm at Alice only for it to freeze entirely. He flinched, jumping back as a phoenix made of fire soared through crashing into the villain knocking him back and through the wall. He screamed, pouring back in striking only for a girl with short red hair and an eyepiece mask to swoop in blocking his attack as the phoenix flew around her body. She turned to the twins smiling. "Quickly. I'll hold the villain off. Run!"

Alice took her sister's hand running as a battle of wonder and chaos happened behind them. Dashing out of the smoke, the girl was thrown out, crashing into a lamppost falling to the ground. The villain towered over the girls cackling. "If I'm going to escape from this, I'll need hostages!"

Alice blocked her sister from harm only being able to watch. Inches from being grabbed, the three were knocked back as a figure masked in a cold mist crashed to the ground. Alice watched in awe as the boy dressed in a snow-white hiker's coat matched with a scarf which merged into a small cape stood. The scarf covered his mouth as he stood over the villain trail of snow crumbling from his fingertips. The villain glared on concerned. He snapped, attacking only for the boy to parry the attack holding his freezing him. He threw the man over his shoulder as the ice shattered, causing significant damage. Pulling his fist back a whirlwind of snow crept around before making contact with the villain taking him down for good. He stood up, flicking his hand away, saluting to the camera before turning away fist in the air.

"What the hell was that?" The girl muttered limping over, trying not to laugh.

"O- Oh. I was just thinking of a cool heroic pose to make after winning a battle? Was the salute too much, Sam?"

Sam scoffed, waving her hand around. "For most yeah, came off as extremely cringy. But hey it suits you mister Avalanche."

"Hey, what's that meant to mean?!"

Sam patted him on the back, shaking her head. "I'm just fucking with you, Alton. Stop looking too deep into things… But seriously next time can you not be such a lousy shot…"

"Sorry. I'm still getting used to using my powers properly. But seriously did we have to come all the way out to Rhinefield? What's wrong with Sunset Peak?"

"The big game Alton, the big game." Sam boldly claimed stopping to see the twins. "Oh, you're still here?"

Alice stared blankly at the two before losing her mind. "That was totally wicked! The way you blasted that villain back! When all hope seemed lost, you came in and whoosh! Whip! Bam! The pose everything! Wow, just wow!"

Sam nudged Alton grinning. "Look at that Alt. You've got your number one fan."

Alton rolled his eyes kneeling. "You two, alright? No one hurt?"

Both shook their head. "All thanks to you mister. Thank you." Iris admitted.

"Just doing our job. You're both safe now. Well, umm… Stay safe, good luck."

"Good luck? That's the best you've got?" Sam cackled as the two were walking off with the villain in hand. "You are so hopeless."

"Well, excuse me for being a total newbie at the whole hero work. What did you want me to say with great power comes great responsibility?"

"Sounds better than Good luck. You make it sound like they've got to fend for themselves against the forces of evil."

"Stop mocking me, Sam!"

Alice stared on silent as Iris took a deep breath. "Thank God for that… Who knows what would have happened if they didn't show up… Alice? It's alright. You protected me from the bad guy. It doesn't matter if your powers didn't come through."

"Iris…"

"Yeah?"

Alice turned to her with a gleeful look of inspiration and excitement. "I really want to be a streamer. A streamer like those two! Our heroes."

****

Zinnia swirled around the test tubes dodging beams of light as the lab was being blown away from the tremendous power Alice was unleashing. Zipping behind Zinnia charged a blast of electricity only for a portal to open beside blasting her back with more of the unmatched power. The moment Zinnia hit the wall, Alice swooped in swinging her scythe around. Zinnia parried with her katana kicking Alice away, summoning a bolt of electricity.

Alice slashed her scythe down, creating the portal which sent the attack straight back. Zinnia slid under spinning around, stabbing her sword forward. Alice jumps onto the sword leaping over Zinnia, turning to attack. Blossom pushed her hand forward as roots burst from all corners stopping Alice's onslaught. But just as quickly as they were summoned, Alice cut down each one like it was nothing.

Zinnia took multiple deep breaths rubbing the blood from her forehead. "Alice, I know your still in there! Snap out of it, Hans has you under his spell. Fight it! Don't let him be your puppet."

Alice giggled in a demonic laugh cranking her head around. "Why would I stop? Aren't you having fun? Let's play more!"

Zinnia is jolted back as Alice spins her scythe around behind her, cutting everything apart in her location. Toying with Zinnia, she throws the Scythe away into a portal as three open around Zinnia. The scythe rams through each one forcing Zinnia to be quick on her toes blocking each unrelenting strike. Getting a small window to counter strike a powerful lightning strike extinguished from her blade striking Alice. However, inches from hitting her, the attack vanished into thin air like it never happened. Zinnia was taken back by this force without options as the final ray of light blasted her through the roof and back out in front the titan. Blossom wasn't too far behind jumping between attacks avoiding more with her roots. The two streamers stood at the helm of the Garden as Alice slowly began ascending the stairs smiling. Her other allies had vanished their fates unknown, leaving the two girls at the mercy of Salvation. That's what they were expecting. Gunfire rained down on Alice each bullet vanishing into nothing as Jinx rolled over, clocking two pistols forward. "You guys are always the first to find trouble, aren't you?"

"Should we blame you for that Hollie?" Diego whispered, cracking his knuckles. "I was afraid this might happen…"

"Jinx, Diego? You survived the attack?"

"You kidding me? If we died from a helicopter crash, what sort of streamers are, we?!"

Diego glanced into the future, looking conflicted. "This isn't good. I don't see much room for victory here. We aren't just going up against the number two streamer here but a Child of the Garden. One far outmatching Alton Brantley in combat."

"The odds are always stacked against us. This is no different. No, this is personal. Alice has been there to aid us when needed. She's as much of Team Rhapsody than any one of the others. I refuse to lose when she needs saving."

"I've got your back," Blossom said.

Alice counted how many playmates she now had giggling. "What fun! What fun. This is enough to make my brother jealous."

"Alice, please!"

"Enough!" Alice barked. "I don't want to hear any more about Alice. Eve is out to play now, no one is going to stop her now! Not the Phantom or Geostruction. Not my futile brother or the other stages of grief. Now play with me!"

"This fight isn't going to be easy for you." Bargaining muttered standing alongside Zinnia.

"You! I was wondering when your ugly head would show itself."

"Amusing. This isn't just any Child of the Garden. That is Salvation, even at a much weaker state, she is no match for you. Fortunate for you, I cannot have you die here. Allow me to readjust our contract. Allow me control of your body, and I can stop her."

"You control me?! Are you crazy? Like hell, I would let a stage of grief control me."