Chapter 46: Happy Birthday! (1/2)
The age of heroes is dead. The concept of great power comes great responsibility is nothing more than a fairy tale told to very few. The idea of people saving others, risking their lives for nothing more than goodwill is mad to imagine. No. Heroes don't exist. Instead, we have a brave new golden age. An age of streamers. Superhumans who use their powers to save people but not for any right measures. Streamers are in it only for fame and fortune—people from all backgrounds with all one common goal. Become the most famous streamer in history. The number one place isn't easy to reach. Each streamer has its tactics. Fake giveaways, scams, flexing Money and many other methods which would generally be frowned on. However, in this day and age, if it means the chance at getting the piece of the pie, many streamers will do anything. With the Number one streamer Vanguard behind bars, the spot is now left vacant. It's a battle of wits and willpower as everyone has their eyes on this empty spot. Both good and evil. And while some will work their way up for it. Others will take a more villainous method…
*****
”Give me a break. That old granny had hardly any liquid on her. What a joke and we even took the time out of our day to stop that thief.” A streamer ranted lying on his back, counting the small amount of cash they took. He began flipping the wallet around sighing. ”Think this is worth anything nice?
Another streamer took the wallet glaring at the prize shrugging his shoulder. ”Look old. Might be a hidden gem at auction.” He opened the wallet seeing a photo of the older woman and a man around her age too. ”Think it belonged to him?”
”Who cares? Let's give her back the money. Keep the wallet. Make her repurchase it. If it's that important to her, maybe she will be willing to part with a larger sum?”
The two began laughing as the second streamer began reading the chat, which was also just as amused by the situation. ”Chat is saying we should take the Money. As much as possible.”
”I knew I could count on you guys!”
”Oh, wait to hang on we've got a donation… what the?” He whispered, looking lost. The donation was from someone he didn't recognise from the usual crowd. P4R4D0X. ”Must be some glitch?”
”Huh?”
”Oh, nothing it's just we got a donation from someone going by umm Paradox? The donation was nothing.”
”How can you donate nothing and it appears on the chat? Fuck sake is this another mass glitch V.I.R.A.L has. Don't bother reading the troll's comment.”
The streamer nodded, looking at the comment flinching. He began to sweat, looking petrified. ”Are we enjoying the stream, David…” The streamer turned off the stream looking paranoid. ”Mitch, come here!”
”What is it now?!”
”I paused the stream. Look. How do they know my name?”
Mitch laughed it off. ”Probably found your personal information online who cares? They are just a troll.” He looked at the chat as another donation came from P4R4D0X. ”I am no troll… you said you paused the stream, right?”
”Yeah, why?”
Mitch gave a dodgy look as the stream died for a moment. The chat faded only to come back with only one name. P4R4D0X. They began typing in the same thing over and over. You are not worthy.
Then where the stream would take place, a dark figure appeared on the screen. They wore a skull mask which would change colour glitching in and out. ”Shall we play a game?”
”Shit have we been hacked?!”
”Hold it; this might be fun. Record a DDOS attack and get mega views. Let's play along. ”Alright, we'll play your little game.”
”I will ask you serval questions. Answer truthy.” The distorted voice spoke.
A question appeared on the screen. What means more to you? Happiness or Money?
”Money. Can't be happy without money.” They both agreed on.
What is more important to you. Saving lives or fame?
They both laughed not taking the questions seriously. ”Fame! Duh. Who cares about saving lives, leave that to the professionals?”
Final question. Who should I kill? Mitch or David? Both boys went silent. They began to laugh as the question wouldn't disappear nervously. It kept taunting them. The voice spoke in a daunting manner. ”I see. The questions you've answered are fascinating. Like I expected, however. You both have lost the game.”
”What? But we didn't answer the question!” Mitch yelled, holding his phone. The questions stopped as everything seemed to return to normal. Mitch chuckled slightly. ”What was that all about?” As he was about to turn the stream back on the figure reached out, grabbing him through the screen by the neck. Mitch yelled out, throwing his phone. As his phone moved, the figure was drawn out of the phone standing in front of Mitch, holding him in the air strangling him.
David fell back in shock as small electrical wires grew from the figure's arms. Wrapping around Mitch, they dug into his skin, burning him to a crisp. P4R4D0X dropped his dead body turning to David. He jumped up, running for his life jumping between the rooftops they were stationed on. As he was about to escape, his stream drone flew in front of him. P4R4D0X stood idly behind him as they whispered. ”You are not worthy to be a Streamer.”
The drone locked onto David as a set of turrets emerged from the drone. David tried screaming out for help but was too late as he was shot to pieces by his streaming drone. He fell from the roof crashing into the street below. P4R4D0X stood over their prey a gleeful look through their mask as they spoke to the drone in which the stream was showing the murders. ”Only the worthy will survive.”
****
”Happy birthday Zinnia! Happy birthday to you!”
”Make a wish Zin.”
Zinnia thought for a little while before nodding to herself, blowing the candles. Everyone gave out a massive cheer as Zinnia blushed looking slightly embarrassed. Iris began throwing confetti everywhere, overly excited by the surprise party. ”So? You think your wish is going to come true?” Alton asked.
Zinnia placed a hand on her chest as she looked up at the night sky nodding. ”Yes!”
August 31st. Not only was this the last week before summer breaks were over but also, in fact, Zinnia's birthday. Although her actual date of birth wasn't known it was this day sixteen years ago when she was left at the orphanage, so it was treated as her birthday. Team Rhapsody and Iris had arranged a surprise party to celebrate the occasion with the help of Rebecca, Zinnia's carer, to make sure it was the best birthday ever. And to Zinnia it was.
Gale began cutting the cake, making sure each slice was perfect. This took much longer than anyone was hoping as he kept stalling nerves kicking in. Eventually, however, everyone got a slice of cake. ”Wow! This is delicious!” Zinnia exclaimed humming to herself. ”I can't believe you made this Alton!”