V.I.R.A.L

Chapter 194: Face my Regrets Part 1

Team Rhapsody really did change my life. It wasn't tough to dwindle and climb back into my shell. After Sunset Peak it wasn't long before everyone forgot Avalanche and Hero's Might when I saw that as a blessing alright. I was able to slip back into the norm and live a simple life. It was hard at first, picking all the pieces up scraping together the last of my money to get Sam the treatment she needed. I had somehow gotten her out of Sunset Peak alive in which I still question how to this day. For those first few months, I lived in absolute fear, fear of being found out, fear of him finding me. Fear of Sam not making it. That fear, however, soon faded when nothing changed. No one came for me, I heard less and less about Hero's Might and Sunset Peak and just a year after I lost everything the wall was entirely constructed blocking that past off to me.

At the same time, I managed to get myself a job at a simple gas station. The pay was subjective and the hours horrible, but it was enough to get me by and pay for Sam's treatment. I had no idea how long I could keep it up; however, day in and day out slaving away, breaking myself down for just one goal. To save the life of the last person who meant something to me. I didn't and still don't know if she will ever wake up. But I wouldn't let that shake me. I had to save her no matter what.

It wasn't until I met Zinnia, where my life would once again take a sudden change. At the time, I wouldn't know it, but she really saved me. I was at rock bottom. My job was bringing in little to no income to keep myself afloat. It would only have been a matter of time before it all crumbled apart. It seemed something silly and minor at the time, but Zinnia really was that change in the road that Sam first was. The first one to pay attention to me, the first one to break me from my shell. The first one to give me a second chance. I never once took that second chance to heart I was still always so focused on keeping myself safe from him. And now here I stand once again given a second chance I genuinely don't deserve. Sam, Zinnia, Iris. Everyone believes in me. I guess it was always like that I just never took the time to see that. Team Rhapsody really has changed my life… And I'm not about to let this second chance slip back again. It's time to face my regrets once and for all.

****

The city was a wreak. People fleeing for their lives, others scummed to the endless storm. Everyone was running from where Alton was heading to. Holding his arms over his face, he glared around the empty city anything further than his arms was invisible in the endless blizzard. But Alton wasn't going to give up, not this time. In the not so far distance, Alton made out two figures wandering aimlessly through the foggy snow. Staring down to avoid battering his face, Alton called out. "Diego?! Is that you?!

Diego limped over coughing. "Alton… Shit, this is bad."

"What happened?"

"We infiltrated the underground like you said. I couldn't stop Zinnia killing Marco… We caught your father with hopes of learning the truth and putting him away. The moment Zinnia arrived to talk, he showed his true colours and covered the city in this never-ending winter."

Alton looked away, concerned. "The hell is he thinking? Does he not care a single bit about the innocent people dying?! What about the others?"

"Team Rhapsody were called to the V.I.R.A.L HQ for an emergency meeting. They are most likely going to be tasked to fight Ragnar." Jinx yelled prowling through the snow. "So much for your plan."

Advertisements

"What are we going to do?"

Alton stood slightly dumbfounded, trying to work his brain into coming up with a plan. This turned into a blank stare making Jinx tut. "It's useless to get through to him. The best chance we have is putting this all to rest now."

"I'm going to face him…"

"What?!" Diego yelled, struggling to withstand the storm. "Are you sure?! You said it yourself you cannot beat him."

"I did say that. The truth still stands, I have no chance in defeating him but I must. There is no other way. No matter small the odds are I have to do this once and for all… This is selfish for the asking. But I'm asking for your help once more."

Jinx's annoyed stared turned into one of bliss and joy as she hugged Alton ruffing his hair up. "There's the Alton we all know and hate. Always one to bounce back at the last moment and save the day. God, do I so hate you."

"Leave the kid alone Hollie…" Diego sighed. "But she has a point. I'm glad you aren't running anymore."

"Running got boring. If the old man wants to kill me so bad who I am to deny him that chance? Let's show him what we're made of."

Jinx kneeled down, opening her duffle bag, pulling out an endless number of guns. "Think this is enough?"

"Somehow I'm not sure guns are going to be enough to take him down."

"What are you on about?! I put the barrel of my baby to his head and boom evil Ragnar Brantley is dead."

"Man, why didn't I think of that…" Diego groaned sarcastically. "Will the three of us being enough, though?"

Alton stopped tilted his head around, taking a deep breath. "You two aren't here to help me defeat Ragnar. Far from it." Swinging his hand around Alton dampened the blizzard in the small area revealing Destiny sitting on the car behind them. "That's who we're dealing with here."

Destiny sat on the bonnet of the car with a gloomy look. She kicked her feet against the side, wiping her eyes. "Hey, Alton…"

Jinx picked her gun up, readying it. "I had a feeling we were being watched…"

Diego was slightly thrown off, not seeing this holding his head. "It seems this blizzard is blocking my sight. I didn't even see her coming."

"Long time no see Destiny."

Destiny spun around sniffing. "How you been? How's the new team?"

"You know how it is."

"Yeah… I met them yesterday. Feisty lot they were Ragnar has no idea I'm here. He kept on claiming you were alive, but I just didn't quite believe. Yet here you are standing right in front of me funny how that happens. Well, I suppose we all died on that day, so I'm not one to talk." Destiny whispers holding her broken mask. Feeling her face again, she wiped the blood coming from her right eye. "Sam's alive, right? Did she make it out?"

"I made sure of it. She's being taken care of."

Destiny gave off a tiny smile but only for a second. "I am glad to hear that… We all would have followed her to the ends and back. All of us were fools right to believe we could win."

"What are you doing here?" Alton replies, keeping his guard low. "If my father didn't send you."

"Marco's dead… I saw him die before on that day so I shouldn't be feeling like this… But he didn't deserve to go… No one did. We were saved by your father and recruited into killing you. Not like we had much of choice, but we didn't dare say no. I was merely doing it to survive. Marco was a different story. I think for a short while he really was quite keen to kill you. We weren't doing anything evil were we? We were going to save the world… So why did he have to die? He did nothing wrong… Marco Lee was my best friend. I never told him that in person, but he was the only one at the time who could even tolerate me. Each and every day I would drag him around trying to make stupid videos for V.I.R.A.L. I'm pretty sure he hated it, but he kept around. Whether that was out of pity or curiosity is beyond me. Anyone who can handle me by each passing day is a saint. So why? Why did he have to die, Alton? Tell me…"

"Destiny… I wish, I too wish things were different. If I had never met you guys. If my father had killed me all those years ago… If I dared to stand against him maybe Marco would still be alive. But I can't see it that way anymore. I can't change the past, but I can make up for my misdeeds. I'm not running away anymore."

Destiny dropped her arm, shaking her head. "Do you know what? I blame you… All of this is your fault."