V.I.R.A.L

Diego entered the investigation room staring at the interrogation under the fold. "Anything."

The Commissioner shook his head. "Not a word. We have enough to put this prick away from good, murder, illegal drug trafficking, among other broken laws. But…"

"But?"

"But we don't know a single thing about this man. We haven't got a name, address anything. This man just doesn't exist. Furthermore, we can't get him to give up the whereabouts of the other two either. We've tried everything."

Diego stared at Crypto who hadn't budged from his chair. His dark skin and long black hair matched each other. His appearance was all they could bring together. Sighing, he turned away. "Well work with what we've got. If we put him away, that's good. Any signs of him being an Anti-Human?"

"Not that we've seen. He used a normal gun to kill Alton and try and stop you. We've analysed it, and there's nothing."

"He's hiding something I know it…"

Crypto stared at the police officer, speaking slowly to make sure everyone heard. "I will only speak to Zinnia Trost. Bring me Zinnia. I shall tell her everything."

"Bring him who he wants." The commissioner states.

"You sure that's a good idea?"

Advertisements

He scratched his beard, shaking his head. "We don't have much choice. If we don't book him now, V.I.R.A.L will be here soon to take the lead. They hadn't bothered to ban or investigate him then. They most likely won't know."

"I'll get her."

****

Zinnia sat in the main lobby looking bleak coming to the realisation into what she did. "I killed him. I didn't even hesitate. I just went at him…"

"You were pushed into a corner. It's not your fault." Gale reinsured. "But it's over now. We've caught Alton's killer. Justice has been served."

"Doesn't feel like it." She whispers, shaking off the last bit of smoke from her fingers. "And then there's this… Power. My mother was electricity… My fathers were smoke. Why did I awaken to this power now of all times?"

"All things happen for a reason… I just wish you let me do it."

"Then you would have been in the same position as me. I stand by what I did… Even if that stops making me a hero, it was for the right cause."

"Sometimes, the most heroic actions are the hardest. He can't hurt anyone else now."

Diego walked in, clearing his throat. "Bad time? Listen we can't get this guy to talk. He claims he only wants to talk to you, Trost. We don't have many options left."

Zinnia stood up without a second thought. "Take me to him. I'll hear him out."

The door to the integration room cranked open as Zinnia was escorted inside. Crypto stared at her with a smile. "Zinnia. You came."

"Shut up. Just shut up, I don't even want to hear it." She barks, sitting down. "I only came for one reason."

"And what is that for?"

"To remind you you've lost. You're finished, and you're going to be locked away for a long time for what you did."

"Do you really think Alton is dead?" Crypto questioned, licking his lips, raising his eyebrows. "Well do you?"

"You tell me. You're the one who fucking killed him."

Crypto leaned forward, resting his hands on the table. "The way I see it. Alton is a smart kid. He evaded us for quite a while now. He just wouldn't let himself go like that. I'm slightly dissatisfied. How do you feel when you killed Marco? Justified? Pleasure? Satisfaction? Emptiness?"

"It doesn't matter how I felt about it. The deed is done."

"Funny. Sounds like something Alton would say."

Zinnia folded her arms, looking stressed. "Who are you? You recruit old allies of Alton who hold a grudge against him to kill him? Why? Because you couldn't do it yourself? You didn't have the powers, so you had others do the dirty work for you. Just who the hell are you?"

"The better question is Zinnia, who are you? You see I know all about you and your band of merry men Alton had pouncing about. Scarlett, the girl pretending to be something she's not. Hiding more from you all than you care to know. Emil, the boy who just so desperately wants to fit in but can never find a place to call home. Alice the girl out of time in a war between the past and future. Gale the lonely boy who would do anything to make you happy. And then there's you Zinnia. A wannabe hero who is trying desperately to follow in the footsteps of her parents. I'll tell you this Trost, the way you keep following Alton like a lost child. You couldn't be straying further away from being a hero. No matter how many lives you saved or will save. You have blood on your hands. The world will never let you forget that."

"You act like you know so much about us. If this was just about Alton then why us?"

"Well, I needed a bargaining chip in case I never killed Alton myself. Just in case he tried to flee like Sunset Peak, I would have the people he holds dear held at gunpoint. Like now, in fact."

Slightly thrown off Zinnia gulped. "What do you mean Sunset Peak? You were there?"

"I was. And unfortunately, couldn't do the deed there myself. Too many people got in the way. The leader of that vile Hero's Might Sam Belling. She wouldn't give up, no matter what. I gave her what she deserved."

Zinnia felt a trickle of sweat form as she licked her lips. "You cannot believe to think you've won. We best you, and now you won't hurt anyone again."

"Is that what this is now." He questions, nodding his head. "I see. Why yes it might seem that way to someone as naïve as yourself. For you see, I very much anticipated your defeat over Marco. I even foresaw you killing him. I want you to understand Zinnia all of this was planned from the very start. I even factor in Alton not being dead."

"Why do you keep saying that? You killed him! Alton Brantley is dead!"

"Wrong. Alton Brantley is quite alive, unfortunately. And until I pluck the life from his cold heart, this entire nation is my hostage."

Zinnia fell silent feeling nervous. A small sense of fear began to take motion as she tapped the table, trying to gain her authority back. "That isn't going to happen. Your allies are gone. Scattered. You have no powers, and we have you where we want you." Crypto began to chuckle, throwing everyone off. "What's so funny?"

"Just so bold of you to assume I have no powers." The room fell silent as Zinnia stared on dazed by the words piercing her heart. Crypto fidgeted around nodding. "You wanted to know who I was right? I'll tell you my name." The room fell in temperature as Zinnia's heart dropped into her stomach. Crypto's black hair began to freeze over into a bleach white as his icy cold blue eyes stared at Zinnia. "My name is Brantley. Ragnar Brantley."

Zinnia rose from her seat, backing herself against the wall her heart racing. "No… No way. You're. You're Alton's father, the one who… froze over Sunset Peak."

Ragnar shook his head tutting. "Is that what my son told you? What fibs no, no Zinnia. That is a lie, and unless unchecked the same will happen here." His handcuffs snapped as Ragnar stood from his chair grinning. "All apart of the plan. My plan."

"I… I won't let you. Getaway!" Zinnia whimpered conducting a bolt of lightning in her hand. Before she could even use her weapon, a giant iceberg rippled from Ragnar's hand destroying the entire station leaving it in a cold wasteland. Zinnia was left utterly defeated knocked out by the single attack as Ragnar walked free. Dozens of police stormed the corridor guns at the ready.

Ragnar stopped in his tracks scoffing. "Such futile weapons compared to my might." He kept walking as each officer tried firing their guns only to find them all frozen solid. Walking past each officer, a single touch froze each one over killing them all instantly. Diego emerged from the shadows ambushing Ragnar. A giant ice wall appeared blocking Diego's attack. One-touch from the wall froze three of his fingers entirely leaving purple frostbite. Diego stumbled back as Ragnar turned to him, sending a cold chill down his spine. "Step aside."

Diego didn't think twice out of pure fear giving in letting him go. Ragnar waltz out of the police station looking at the streets of Rhinefield with little pity as the clouds around him turned a colourless grey. A hailstorm began ripping through the city as all of Rhinefield was engulfed in a snowstorm like no other. He grinned, walking away. "The time has finally come."

Gale rushed in helping Zinnia from her frozen prison. "Zinnia! Zinnia! What happened?! This power?"

Zinnia gagged shaking uncontrollably. "Oh, God. Where did he go?! Where did he go!"

"Crypto escaped."

Zinnia shook her head full of fear. "I know who he is. I know the truth. Crypto. He's really Alton's father."

Advertisements

"Alton's father?! The one Alton fears more than anything in the world. The one who destroyed Sunset Peak?!"

"The very same. He played us for fools! He wanted to be here."

Diego walked in, shaking, covering his hand. "I. I couldn't stop him; he was too much. He would have killed me right there… He got away. The city. All of it is trapped in a hailstorm. No one can escape."

"Why the hell would he do that for?"

"All of this was apart of his plan. Alton Brantley isn't dead… That's what he said. And until he is this city is his hostage."