V.I.R.A.L

Serval Police cars raced down the road escorting the convoy which sheltered the Phantom Streamer. Clark had been silent ever since his arrest. Not a single word had crept from his mouth. Nor had the voice helping him till this point spoke. Nor would it ever again. Clark knew deep down he was on his own, that wouldn't stop the smug look on his face. However, this was the biggest he had ever been. He was a part of a Rhapsody takedown stream for the world to see. He even got to meet his inspiration and hero Avalanche in person. He kept telling himself this was nothing more than a minor setback. He will be the number one streamer. As he slouched over planning his next stream, the police van stopped. Looking up, he noticed serval officers leaving the vehicle armed. Chained to the floor, he edged as close as possible looking out the window. A single person was standing in the middle of the road. Dressed in a black rope, they also wore an Oni mask with long red horns. The officers all raised the guns at the unknown masked figure as it stood there saying nothing. Peering behind them all the model saw Clark looking through the small barred windows.

Clark stumbled back something caught at the back of his throat. His hands began to shake as the silence continued; no gunshots were fired. No words were spoken. There was nothing but silence for the moment. Clark jumped, hearing footsteps echoing towards the truck. Reaching the back, it stopped again. Clark licked his lips, waiting. As he moved forward the whole back of the police van was ripped apart and thrown aside. The demon mask stood at the helm with dead police everywhere. Clark turned in a frenzied state speaking up. "Wha, what do you want?"

"Clark Henderson, also known as the Phantom Streamer."

"Ye- yes. What do you want?"

The demon mask stared him down with no sign of remorse or pity in their disguised foreboding voice. Serval more figures in demon masks appeared wielding the guns the police officers had. Before Clark could respond again, he felt his windpipe closing as he was lifted in the air. The chains shattered as the demon mask's eyes began glowing a crimson red. "You have become a threat to our plan, you cannot pass salvation. This is our verdict." Clark trying phasing out but the might of the demon mask was too much for him as he lost all breath he had left. Trying to fight back, he began screaming mustering up all the energy in his body for one final stand. As he was about to launch his counterstrike, the Demon Mask snapped his neck as Clark fell back to the floor dead. As his body hit the floor, he began to whisper. Which, of course, should be impossible.

Nonetheless, the boy was talking like he was alive and well. The demon mask stepped back as the soft whispering grew into roars as his veins began glowing purple. "The Garden grows, The Garden grows! The Garden grows!" The Phantom Streamer exploded into a purple haze as all of the cars and trucks were turned into ash.

 The demon took off their mask, staring at the wannabe carnage with no remorse as they chuckled softly in a soothing tone. "Victoria aut mors." 

****

"Why is it whenever I'm on shift you are always here to bother me, Brantley?" A middle-aged doctor grunted piling through the paperwork he had dawned on him. "You're lucky that wound wasn't infected after cutting it on rusted steel."

Alton leaned his head back on the bed given to him as he yawned. "Yippee…" He sighed glancing over his shoulder out the window. "Can I go now? I'm, good right? I just want to go home."

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The doctor glanced over the papers again shaking his head. "No, no, I need to run tests in the morning. You'll have to stay here tonight."

"Fuck."

"Don't be like that Alton, he's a doctor he knows what he is talking about." Zinnia pestered bobbing left and right in the visitor chair. "You'll be up and ready to go before you know it."

"I like her." The doctor chuckled, lowering the clipboard by his side. "I'll be back to run a blood test soon. Don't go anywhere. Yes, Alton, I'm talking to you, no visiting ward fifteen again."

Alton frowned sulking as he rolled over on his front face squirmed into the pillow. "I hate him so much."

"You come here a lot? That Doctor seems to know you quite well…"

"This isn't a book club." Gale laughed up, walking in with serval codas and bags of raisins. 

Alton looked at the raisins in disgust. "I thought I vividly asked for chocolate flavoured popcorn. I know they have them. It's on the second floor's vending machine in Ward Eight. What is abomination you have cursed thy with?!"

Gale tapped the bag with a dull look. "They are called raisins. Eat up, raisins help to prevent Anaemia. Good for the body."

Alton grumbled ripping open the packet pouring the raisins in his mouth all at once chewing a little bit before swallowing. "There, happy!"

"Using your blood as a weapon to save us is both the coolest and grossest thing I have ever seen."

"Well, excuse me little miss perfect. If we had just discussed taking down this wannabe streamer, we wouldn't be in this situation, would we?!"

"Fighting isn't going to get you anywhere. We should be celebrating not bickering."

Alton pointed towards Percy nodding. "For once, I agree with this guy. No matter how I look at it, you two did a good job even without us. So, there's that. Just please next time, try and wait for us."

Zinnia pressed her hands together bowing. "Yes Sensei, certainly Sensei! Anything for you Sensei!"

Gale leaned against the window yawning. "Whenever I come to hospitals, I feel so sleepy. What a bother."

"You're so strange Gale, oh, oh. While we are all here shouldn't we discuss our celebration party? We did stop a crazed streamer from causing havoc and chaos. I call for another Hot Pot!"

"That's fine, but you're paying for it, and we have it at your place, and it's got to be either Thursday or Friday."

Zinnia slouched over her eye twitching. "Why me?"

"You promised last time. Besides I afraid I might not even have a place to call home when I get out of the hospital…"

"The talks with the landlord not go well?" Gale questioned.

"Not one bit, if I was making any leeway into the situation it was crushed the moment, I caught wind of your stream. Had to run leaving the talks unfinished… Not like I was going anywhere with them anyway…" 

"What are you going to do now then?" Percy asked nudging Alton's bandaged arm.

Alton slapped his hand, wincing at the pain. "Don't go pushing your luck, buddy, and I don't know. Being homeless doesn't exactly tickle my fancy."

"Got any family you can crash with?" Gale questioned sipping on an apple juice carton.

Letting out a longwinded sigh, he shook his head in defeat. "My mum and dad both died a few years back. My Grandparents don't even know I exist, and any other family hates me. So, no that card is off the tables. What a bother. At this rate, I might just have to accept Vanguard's… never mind."

"Can we talk, outside?" Zinnia whispered. The three of them left Alton as they stood outside his room. "We need to do something to help him. We can't leave our leader out on the streets."

"Easier said than done. If we could make consistent Alton wouldn't be in this situation." Gale said. "How many more followers did we get during the takedown stream?"

"Umm, nine. Oh, and we got a ten-dollar donation too."

"So that's enough to pay for the drinks and raisins I brought…"

"I know, I thought we would be killing it right now. We took down two corrupt streamers. I thought we would be on Vanguard's level by now."

"Alton did say this would be a lot harder than we first thought… if money isn't an option, then we need to find him somewhere to stay. I'm out. The hostel I live at is already at max capacity, and I can't afford to be paying for two people."

Percy frowned, shaking his head in disappointment. "I live alone with my mum. She's already upset with me for the streaming gig bringing home a stranger and streamer wouldn't sit well with her."

Zinnia stared blankly nodding. "I guess there's only one option then."

"Let him stay at the hospital."

"Let him live with you." The two boys said, cutting her off.

Zinnia flinched, yelling out in shock. "What?! No, me?! I couldn't possibly do that. That's out of the question. Impossible. Simply impossible."

"It's not like we don't want Alton but we simply can't. Come on help our leader out here Zinnia."

Zinnia began going red, slamming her foot on the ground, ready to blow. "I indeed have the room, but given the circumstances, I am in the possibility of Alton living in the same household to me is but zero to one. You cannot begin to comprehend the situation you have put me in. But no matter, I wouldn't expect mere mortals to understand the great strides I take to protect my livelihood and the people I hold dear."

The two boys stared blankly at her just as confused. "Do you have any idea?"

"No idea at all."

Zinnia smirked flicking her hair behind her. "The almighty Zinnia has spoken."

"Tch, what a shame. I guess with Alton homeless we might have to give up on team Rhapsody." Percy muttered. He shook his head, smacking his knee. "Damn it, and we had only just begun."

"If I were Alton, I wouldn't want to be a streamer if I couldn't even sleep in a place called my own."

Zinnia went pale falling for the twos game as she looked away conflicted. "Alton… giving up… no, no. No! Alright, fine… if, if Alton is kicked from his home I might, consider helping him."

"Atta girl."

"Jeez don't make this anymore embarrassing for me. This isn't going to work at all."

"Let's go and tell Alton!"

"No! Wait!" She snaps, standing in the doorway. "Let's not. We still aren't 100% sure if he is or not. Let's just leave it for now, yeah?"

"Yeah, I suppose."

Zinnia let out a sigh of relief pulling the door open skipping in. "We're back, how are you feeling Alton?!"

"Umm, fine?" Alton whispered slightly disturbed by Zinnia's sudden attuite change. "What were you talking about?"

"Boys! What boys we like."

"You, Gale and Percy were talking about what boys you all liked…"

"Yes?" She said unsure as Gale and Percy shook their head in disapproval.

"Oh yeah? Who do you like then Zin?"

Zinnia chocked on her orange juice looking flustered. "Umm. Who did I say? Guys?"

"Don't bring us into this."

Zinnia coughed, losing her battle as she grumbled. "I said you."

"Oh, really? You feel that way about me?"

"No…"

"Thought so. Would have turned you down if you were confessing. I won't push further on your little game of Chinese Whispers. You should all probably get going visiting hours are almost up."

"We hear you, boss. We'll see you tomorrow!"

The three began piling out, giving Alton a much-needed time to breathe. He finished watching back the stream tutting to himself. The nurse came in with his dinner as she began setting it up. "Is there anything else I can get you, Mr Brantley?"

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"No, I'm alright, thank you." The Nurse began to leave as Alton remembered something. "Oh, there is one thing. Is it alright if I visit Ward 15? I know visiting hours are almost up, but I wanted to quickly pop down there."

"Ward 15? Let me see. Ward 15. Right, one patient." She spoke before going silent. "Oh, I'm sorry. Miss Belling cannot accept any visitors at this moment. Her condition is worsening."

"It. It is?" He whimpered, looking worried. "I see."

"Oh, but don't worry. She'll get through. Miss Belling is a real fighter! She'll beat her condition and be back to normal in no time don't you worry Mr Brantley!"

The Nurse left as Alton stared out of the window, the sun starting to set as he tried to pull his best smile staring at his reflection. "That she is."