Chapter 58: Confess to Your Sins (1/2)
It had begun to snow. It had begun to snow in the middle of summer. Of course, this wasn't normal, a side effect, a curse bested on Alton. He had managed to break free from his chains and defeat the Moss and save everyone. This would come at a cost, however. Amid the battle, only he and Scarlett had survived. The lost children had fallen to the garden, Alton was now carrying Scarlett on his back wandering through the forest aimlessly hoping to find the way back. This would be now near impossible thanks to the night sky blinding his view and blended with the exhaustion and injuries he faced he knew finding the village before dawn would be pointless. Nonetheless, he kept walking never giving up hope.
”We should stop,” Scarlett whispered, leaning in on Alton's shoulder breathing heavily. ”You need to rest.”
”And you need help. We can't stop now.”
”Don't be stupid. I'm fine. I can keep going!” She waited. ”Alton.”
”Have some faith in me will ya? This is nothing.” He crocked falling to the floor all the energy almost gone. Scarlett collapsed as well as both lay back looking at the night sky through the cracks of the trees. ”Alright. We'll stop.”
”Thank you.”
”I'll start a fire.”
Scarlett stopped Alton holding his arm. ”Not right now. Let's just lie here.”
”But it's cold. We'll freeze.”
”Alton it's boiling.” She whispered. ”Yet it's snowing…”
Alton stayed put, feeling his eyes becoming heavy. ”We couldn't save those children.”
”Is that why it's snowing?” She asked, moving her hand away from Alton as she went numb. ”You can't control your powers.”
”Not these ones no. I've been using them carefree for a while now. I'll say ever since Vanguard I've used the frozen wasteland inside of me like it was nothing. I forgot the repercussion, the reason I don't use this curse.”
”It's an incredible power. Freezing anything in sight. Being able to change the weather for it to snow. Why don't you want to use that power?”
Alton placed Scarlett's hand on his chest. She was shocked by his heartbeat. It was slow. Much slower than expected. ”Alton. Are you?”
”I'm fine. This is what this power does to me. The more I use it. The more I play the hero without a care in the world, my heart freezes. Slowly but surely it will slow down until it is frozen solid.”
”That would kill you.”
”I really wish that was the case. I wouldn't be so fearful. No. With my frozen heart, I will still live. But I won't be me anymore. Alton Brantley will die. But I will still live on robbed of compassion, robbed of mercy, kindness or justice. I will become just like him. Just like my father. I don't want that day ever to come; I would rather die.”
Scarlett moved her hand back in horror gulping. ”There has to be a way to stop it? Reverse the effect?”
”No. I can only stop it by not using the powers. These days I find that harder and harder to achieve. I'm going to make that fire now.” Alton forced himself off the ground dragging his feet. He turned to Scarlett who was now resting by a tree. ”Do me a favour. Don't tell Zinnia about this.”
”Why not?”
”If she finds out. She'll think it's her problem one which she can fix. She had enough to worry about than me.”
”You care about her that much?”
”What do you think?” Alton sighs refusing to look at Scarlett. ”She reminds me too much of Sam. I can't go through that again…”
Walking off Scarlett fidgeted around shaking her head in disapproval. ”That isn't going to get you anywhere.”
****
Alton lowered his head as the fire crackled, keeping him awake. He peered over at Scarlett, who was fast asleep. However, they hadn't seen a sign of any Moss in hours that wouldn't allow him to keep his guard down. It was still lightly snowing as the fire didn't help keep him warm at all. Shivering Alton curled up, breathing into his hands. He still felt guilty for not being able to save the children for allowing Lucas to be kidnapped. He wasn't quite prepared for the reaction he would receive when they do arrive back at the village. Resting his eyes for a short moment, they soon snapped back open as a voice called to him. ”Alton Brantley, denier of the past.”
Alton stood up, looking around on confusion. Scarlett hadn't noticed anything. Playing it off as his imagination, he sat back down, letting his guard down falling fast asleep. Little time past as he awoke. He was no longer in the forest but a frozen wasteland dead of life. Scarlett was gone. In the distance was serval buildings all frozen over. In the snow evident remains of people. Alton stepped back paranoid. ”What the hell is this?”