V.I.R.A.L

Chapter 199: Split Apart

"How are you holding up, son?" Jack questioned glancing out the window talking to Alton. "I can't help but feel guilty; we couldn't help you at any time. You did so much for my daughter and us when it came to the Syndicate family, but we failed to help you fight your father."

Alton sat at the end of the desk, looking gloomy. "I didn't actually plan on fighting him… I was more interested in running. But I was also scared of getting people I care for hurt by my own selfish demands. But that didn't stop them fighting, and now because of my actions Gale is dead…"

"You shouldn't blame yourself, Alton. What happened to Gale was horrible, but you couldn't do anything."

"You're right… But it still doesn't hurt. To lose both Gale and my dad…"

Jack walked over, patting Alton's back kneeling to his level. "Losing people always hurt. My parents died a while ago, and it really hit me. I can tell your strong Alton we're quite similar in that, we carry on for the people who can't."

"I'm not sure I can keep doing this sir. No matter how much we fight and stop the next threat, it doesn't feel like we win if people we love die."

"It may feel like the world is falling apart, but it will get better, I promise. Scarlett admires you so much, and you've shown us all that you're capable of." Jack congratulates. "Listen, Alton, I see your future, and I know you will do well. Today is a loss for you but tomorrow doesn't have to be. I've been talking to my wife about this for a while, which is entirely your choice. I want you to join my family, you won't have to worry about that fate anymore. You won't have to be alone."

"You want to adopt me?" Alton questioned startled.

"If that's what you want. The Dawn family had prided itself on saving remarkable people from the world. Elion's clan and Scarlett are just a few who we've taken in. You can be saved too Scarlett would love this."

Alton's mood changed into a small smile. "I don't know what to say."

Advertisements

"You don't have to answer anytime soon, Alton. Take all the time you need. You are more than welcome to stay here while you recover. A miss Trost is waiting for you outside."

****

Alton stepped outside as Zinnia stood from the sofa holding her hands. "Alton… Hey."

"Hey Zin… You been waiting long?"

She shook her head. "No. How are you?"

"I think I'll manage." Zinnia hugged Alton forcing up a gasp. Alton calmed himself, hugging her back. "Thanks… I needed that."

"Before you saved us the other day… I was so sure we were all going to die. We had been winning every fight and so full of rage I thought I could kill him. Because of that Gale…"

"Please don't blame yourself for that."

"But it is my fault. I ordered him to his death. We can't even give him a proper funeral as his body is lost to the wasteland." She whispered. "It's not fair, why did Gale have to die? First Percy and now Gale! I can't keep doing this anymore. I failed again. And then there's you."

"Me…"

"You lied to us. I mourned for you, Alton. Wept at your funeral thinking I couldn't save you. I rushed in thinking of seeking justice for you. You forced me to kill Marco, I killed someone for you. One I cannot escape. I threw away my chances of being a hero to seek revenge to find you never died. You wanted to run away and leave us. V.I.R.A.L lied to me; you've lied to me. Streaming isn't right anymore."

"What are you saying?"

Zinnia bit her lip holding her tears back. "I can't keep following you anymore Alton. All of this isn't right. I need to find my own path now, and that isn't with Team Rhapsody anymore."

Alton's eyes widened as he almost fell over. "You're joking. Please tell me you're joking Zin."

"Don't try and stop me." She whimpers, handing him her mask. "I'm sorry Alton… This is goodbye."

"Wait, Zinnia wait! Don't go! Let's talk about this. You don't need to do this!" Alton argued as Zinnia forced herself not to look back as she left without another word. Alton fell to his knees, holding her mask, feeling the guilt and turmoil build up as he threw the mask to the floor collapsing to the floor. "Zin… Please, don't leave m- I'm… I'm so sorry…"

****

"Are you happy now?" Scarlett questioned sitting on the wall to her home, staring at Alton. "Did breaking his heart and stomping on all the guilt make you feel better? You betraying each and everyone one of us doing this."

"Fuck off… Just fuck off Scarlett… I don't need some lecture from a rich snob who's so desperately trying to get on Alton's good side. Whether you like it or not, he betrayed and lied to us. I killed Marco because of him. I just can't do this. You wouldn't understand."

"That's rather rich coming from you Trost. Alton made it clear not to go after them. We all stood back and honoured his word, yet you just couldn't stand still and let it pass you by. Marc Hill death was entirely on you. Blaming Alton for that is naïve and stupid. Go ahead, run away. Run from all the problems, say what you want about Alton, but it mattered the most when he came back. I may question his choices and hold him responsible for Gale, but he chose to fight with us. That kind of determination should be admired so no matter what I'm standing by Alton's side and when the time is right, he too will do the same." Zinnia snarled sobbing to herself as she ran off into the streets. Scarlett frowned jumping from the wall opening her front door. "That's one less person to worry about…"

****

"I told you it would all work out effectively Vitae. Team Rhapsody always comes through." Kurt boldly claimed cutting through his steak. "Alton Brantley is alive as we expected and all is back too normal."

"The city was almost lost again or did you forget that." Vitae squashed. "Gale Lampard is dead, and we just received Zinnia Trost's plea of her account to be shut down. The group is falling apart, and I fear that the next threat will be their downfall. We cannot rely on your golden team anymore. We must take matters into our own hand. I want to see the body."

"Now? We still haven't gotten it to perfection yet."

"Is there a problem?"

"Sort of," Kurt admits standing up. "The subject still holds many of his former memories. In fact, he is quite tormented by them."

Vitae opens a book unlocking a secret room as she enters seeing a set of test subjects emerged in test tubes. She stares down the last active one with a smile. "The Garden is so close on our doorstep you can practically hear their droning cries. But this time we will be ready fighting fire with fire. Let the subject keep his memories. It will work much better in our favour. You will be our stage of pain." She continues to stare at the tube as a crow bashes against the glass, cracking it. A smirk emerges from Vitae leans forward whispering. "I'll be looking forward to what you will accomplish Truthseeker." Vitae closed the door turning to Kurt. "Have the subject moved to the daybreak facility and begin the next stage. He will be our ticket to finally defeating the Garden once and for all. Our 400-year-old battle with them will soon come to an end."

"Yes, Vitae." Kurt nodded, placing his hand on the light switch. "Sleep dreams, kid."

****