Chapter 106: My Hero (2/2)
Helga's hand began glowing as a symbol appeared similar to a lock. Holding her hand over Alton, he jerked upwards as the blizzard started to intensify, almost knocking everyone back as Alton began screaming. ”Hold him down!”
Zinnia panicked holding Alton down as he was going out of control, screaming in the utmost pain. Zinnia was horrified as the ice was pulled from his body. Helga looked like she was struggling too shaking uncontrollably to the sheer force behind his powers. Zinnia held Alton's hand yelling. ”Stop it! You're killing him!”
”If we stop now Alton will never come back!” Joan yelled. ”Almost there Helga just a little bit more.”
Alton jerked up once more as his eyes snapped open being entirely yellow. He began shaking as his head snapped left and right. ”I am the Garden! You cannot hold me! We are forever growing, never dying. Never dying! Always infinite!”
The ice shattered everywhere as Helga was knocked back. ”Oh, my God!”
”It's fighting back! Zinnia calm him!”
Zinnia was petrified as Alton's transformation as the Garden was fighting for control. Zinnia gripped Alton tightly hugging him. ”Don't let it take you, Alton! Please fight it!”
”All of you are signification to the power of the Garden! Slumber in an endless winter!”
Helga twisted her hand as the lock connected holding chains all around Alton as the last of the ice was ripped out. Alton screamed out as Helga crushed her hand. ”Gotcha!”
”No!”
Alton was blasted back into the wall as Zinnia fell over. Lying on the floor, Alton held his hand out, pulling himself up swaying left and right. Holding his hand tightly, he began laughing sinisterly. ”You fool, all of you. Did you honestly think you could contain me?”
”Oh, no… It didn't work!”
Zinnia pulled everyone behind her as her hand began to crackle with a purple streak. ”Everyone behind me.”
About to strike Alton flinched waving his hands around in a panic. ”Wait, stop Zinnia it's me! I was joking! It's a joke!”
Zinnia stopped as Helga almost fell over in shock. ”That isn't funny, you know! You almost gave me a heart attack!”
Alton began nervously laughing, rubbing the back of his head. ”I'm sorry. I thought it would be funny at the heat of the moment. Guess I was wrong…”
Zinnia walked up to him, hitting him over the head. Alton dropped to his knees in pain. ”You idiot! You had us all worried!”
Alton looked up at a teary-eyed Zinnia as she lowered his head in shame. ”I'm sorry, Zin. But I'm fine now promise.”
Helga wiped her nose smirking. ”Of course, he is, this is me we're talking about.”
”What did you do?”
”I merely sealed away his powers. No more snowstorms of Garden outbursts mister!”
Alton clapped his hands together bowing. ”Yes, mam!”
”So, he's alright?”
”Why don't you check?”
Zinnia placed her head against Alton's chest, hearing his heartbeat back to normal. This brought her to tears as she hugged Alton. ”See, back to the good old me.”
”That good old you better not try and use those ice powers for a long time. I thought for a moment I couldn't stop it. If this happens again, I'm not sure even my powers can hold its wrath.”
”Noted. I'll be more careful next time.”
Helga gave a confused look turning to her Grandmother. ”Is he even listening?”
”Leave him be for now. He understands what's at risk. Just take it easy for the next few days Alton, no deaths battle you hear!”
”Yes, mam.”
Joan smiled. ”Good looks like our work here is done. Helga, have the finishing touches done. He should remain here for the next few days. I'll have my granddaughter keep an eye on him for any spikes. The worst is over though.”
Zinnia wiped her eyes standing up. ”I am glad. I thought we were really going to lose him for a moment.”
”It takes a lot more than a sniffle to beat Alton Brantley… Ow, ow Helga that hurts.”
Joan sighed, shaking her head. ”Still such a child. Zinnia can I have a word with you in private.” Zinnia nodded following Joan outside. She stared out the window mumbling. ”I take it with how you handled yourself back there, all of this is new to you?”
”Yes.”
”Thought so, the last group he was with were just as startled. Alton doesn't like talking about his past. It's nothing against you, it's not a trust thing he's just too afraid to mention it. His old friends, his family, the Garden all of it is treading on old soil for him. He'd rather not go there. But I can see it in his eyes he really cares about you. All of you, I haven't seen him like this in a long time. After his mother died, he vanished, and I feared the worse.”
Zinnia nodded. ”I knew something was different about him. I was pulled to his presence by my powers. The wind guided me.”
”Fate? No, I don't believe in such terms. Alton is a good boy; he's caring and very protective over the people he cares for. He would give his life in a heartbeat to save anyone. But he always assumes he's alone. I want you to break down those walls. Force him to open up. If you can't do it, well I'm afraid no one will.”
”I'll try, but I'm not sure even I can get through to him… What happens now?”
”We let him rest. In time he will return to normal and be out there saving the day like always. Just keep an eye on him reel him in when he is going too far and remind him, he doesn't have to work alone.” Joan smiled, hugging Zinnia. ”You remind me a lot of Sam.”
”Was Sam his girlfriend?”
”No, those two were more like brother and sister. They would constantly be fighting all the time, but when it came down to it, they would always have each other's back. She was just as understanding as you were. That girl, hoo, she kept him in check. Take good care of Alton for me, I spent so much time with him looking after the family he's like the son I never had. He doesn't deserve any of this.”
”I'll do my best.”
”Thank you, Zinnia. If there's any trouble feel free to call me. He's in your hands now. Tell your friends they can visit now. I'm happy for him.”
”Why is that?”
Joan turned back, wiping her eye. ”I've never seen so much passion in his eyes before. This Team Rhapsody, I'm glad he's found a place to call home.”
”Me too, me too…”