V.I.R.A.L

Hans stared at his computer screen with a smug look taking in the threat. He had been staring at such feats for the last twenty minutes finding it amusing none the less. His mindful game was interrupted as Alice walked in. "You called me father?"

"Ah, yes. Dear daughter of mine. I want you to take a look at this."

Turning the screen over, Alice noticed her streaming page hacked with a calling card blocking the stream highlights. "Hans Hawthorne, the desperate rodent of wannabe fame and power. Your barbaric means in becoming famous has left you full of sin, you treat your very own family as nothing but tools for your own self-gain. And yet you refuse to acknowledge such fact, your greedy and prideful manners shall be exposed to the masses. We will expose your exploits and prowess granted by the Garden and rid the world of your corruption. Team Rhapsody is coming to save you, Alice. We will not let Hans' demonic lies consume any more people… They've already made a declaration of war? When was this posted?"

"Nearly an hour ago, they should be here very soon."

"And you waited to tell me this now?"

Hans took his computer back smirking. "I didn't want to let you get any funny ideas. Team Rhapsody, they act so high and mighty. Just because they took down a few weak streamers, they now think they have a chance against me? Ha, give me a break."

"They took down Vanguard all the same. They aren't to be underestimated."

"Vanguard was a weakling who fell to your sister like it was nothing. They have no idea what's truly waiting for them. The power I harness cannot be matched."

"Then shall the Alice ready to intercept the traitors?"

"No. That will be quite fine. The dark replicas should be enough to deal with a few streamers. I'll give these streamers the viral treatment, so they crave. Save you, do they truly believe the words coming from their mouths? You belong to me and me alone. I will not let the world take you once again… What are you still doing here? Report back to Alton, learn what he knows of the Garden and prepare the body. The resurrection of Eve Berry will soon begin."

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Alice bowed, stepping back. "Yes, father…"

****

Alton raised his head coughing seeing Alice holding a bowl of porridge. "The Alice thought you might be hungry."

Alton smirked resting his head. "Good to see you again… Your father wasn't too harsh on you was he?"

Alice chose not to respond to the question in hand-feeding Alton. She looked conflicted whispering softly. "Team Rhapsody sent out their calling card. They intend to end this once and for all."

"It's about time… You won't have to worry much longer Alice we will save you soon."

"Save me? Am I deserving of such a claim?" She remarked, stepping back. "I'm a walking contradiction to all that I stood for. I thought I became a streamer inspired by you and Sam's work. The day you saved us. But that's all just a lie. Preprogrammed into my head to make me feel more real. Truth be told I don't know what's real anymore. All I can do is follow my father's orders like a mere lapdog. What sort of life do I have that I can claim as my own? How much of my life is really mine?"

"Alice…"

Alice sat in the chair, staring at her hands in self-pity. "I am nothing. Nothing to my father, nothing to anyone. I am just a tool for my father's future. I'm not even sure I can call him my father… I am not Alice, not really. Alice Hawthorne died six years ago in Sunset Peak. I am just an echo of her."

"Don't you dare believe those lies? Not for one single moment should you ever bloody believe that!"

Alice jumped at Alton's demands as she couldn't bare to look at him. "Lies? What do you know about lies?"

Alton snapped at his restraints, trying to break free. "More than you could possibly know. Imagine spending your whole life in fear of your father. Constantly hunting you down unknown why. Living every day knowing he's out there coming to get me. Only to learn the truth. I was never their son, my mother and father lied to me since birth. Making out I was their son when, in reality, I was the monster born of the Garden the entire time. My mother selfishly keeping me alive when in all retrospect my father was doing the right thing. I am the least human in this room and most likely don't deserve to live. I've known that for years but am far too afraid to accept that truth. I know the horror I can create. The lives I can take yet I cling onto life like a parasite. I don't want to die. I don't even have a single memory of my childhood, not of mine anyway, all of it was pre-packaged and catered to my families' needs and wants. I don't know a single thing about me. But I'm changing that, I am me and me alone. I won't let what the world sees me as defy my destiny."

Alice looked generally conflicted as she whimpered, hiding her face. "I feel her pull more and more these days—the other voice taunting me, wanting to come out and play. I did so well to keep her at bay. To keep me alive. But I'm afraid Alton, afraid she will take over forever and all those memories, fake or not will disappear forever."

"I won't let it."

Alice turned to Alton, holding back the little tears she had left. "Why? Why do you all care so much about me? You know what I really am. I've lied and deceived you all this time. Both Iris and I yet you still fight for us. Risk your own lives for fakes. Why?! Why!"

"Because of no matter what version of Alice you are. You're my Alice. You're the Alice who saved us from the Cult. You're the Alice who fought alongside me to defeat Paradox. You're the Alice who celebrated Christmas with us all, the one who helped Iris when her world fell apart. You are Alice Hawthorne, and nothing you can say will change that."

Alice turned to Alton feeling a smile creep in. Each time she tried smiling, it would crumble into a frown. "You really think of me like that?"

"All of us do Alice. You don't have to be a pawn for your father. Help us stop him, let us do it together."

"I could never betray someone who means the world to me. You opened my eyes to a world beyond streamers—all of you. Iris would say the same, I cannot bring myself to kill you. I would rather die than do such a task." Alice walked over breaking Alton's chains she caught the streamer holding him up. Alton hugged Alice as she smiled. Snapping back to reality, she brushed her hair out the way. "My father will learn quickly about my betrayal. We must move before we are found out."

"Too late." Hans mocked from a computer screen. "Do you take me for a fool daughter of mine? Did you honestly think I wouldn't be well aware of your fondness for this streamer? You look up to him as a brother, like you were ever going to kill him of your own free will."

"Give it up to old man, can't you see it? Alice will not be controlled by you. My team will be here at any moment, and we will defeat you like we defeated the Garden many other times."

"Well, Alton do you know what? For once, I disagree. You underestimate me and the Garden and my grip on Alice. Today your friends will fall to my power and tomorrow V.I.R.A.L. The Gatekeeper will be resurrected from your sacrifice, and I will have everything I need for my perfect future."

"Resurrecting the Gatekeeper?! Do you understand what will happen if you achieved that? She would go on to bring back the other stages of Grief and in turn, destroy all of Victoria!"

"So simple-minded. The Garden wants to live in harmony with humanity. They only hold hatred for the race that imprisoned them 5000 years ago. But I'm afraid you won't live to see it. Alice, my dear, let's make our dream come true. Kill Alton, kill the Child of the Garden and save the world."

The screen turned off as Alice held her head screaming. She tried fighting it as her mind was being consumed. Alton held Alice trying his best to help. "Fight it, Alice, don't let her take over. You are Alice! Don't lose!"

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Alton was knocked back by a shockwave leaning against the wall. He stood up as a scythe was stabbed into the wall next to him. "It's a pleasure to finally meet mister Alton. Alice has told me so much about you. I've been looking so much to play with you."

"So, you're the infamous Eve Berry I've heard so much about… Give Alice back."

"Alice? Why should I do that for? I've just got to come out and play. You're going to have to fight for her!"

Alton stared on as the chains wrapped around his ankle froze over and shattered. All the warmth from the room died as Alton stared at Alice with spite. "This is my final warning. Give her back or else."

Alice retracted her scythe, holding it in her hand as she began giggling. "This game is going to be so much fun!"