Chapter 124: Fragile Minds Part 1 (2/2)

Sam stared blankly before snickering. ”I was only fucking with you. I didn't give a fuck about how big we got. It was about making a difference. You still believe in that right?”

Alton curled up tighter hiding his face. ”I don't care about any of that anymore. Just leave me alone.”

”What a poor excuse. If that was the case, then why did you save Zinnia back on that night you met? You could have just let her rot away. But you made a deal with the Montagues to free her.”

”What?” Zinnia whispered.

”Or how about when you gave yourself up to fight off Vanguard knowing all too well you would lose. It was to save your friends, no?”

Alton lifted his head up, staring at Sam. ”How the hell do you know this?”

”I'm not real, remember? A mere illusion created from your memories. I know everything that goes through your mind—the wish to be free of all your powers and return to a normal life. But yet you yearn for that life with me—Hero's Might. You want nothing more than to be a hero again. So conflicted.”

Alton laughed, standing up. ”I'm no hero. Never have and never will be. If you were Sam, you would know that.”

Sam sighed, giving off a smug look. ”Perhaps, but if that was the case, why did you make that deal?”

”Deal? What deal? What is she talking about Alton?”

”Don't listen to her. She's trying to get in our heads and make us even more confused. In this fictional world, our minds are hanging on a string. We can't lose sight of who we are.”

Sam kept laughing pointing at Alton. ”Lose sight of who we are? So, tell me, Alton, just who are you then? The hero of Sunset Peak? The unstoppable Avalanche of Hero's Might? Or maybe your just Alton Brantley, the boy who works two part-time jobs with no real dream insight? Are you Dauntless, leader of Team Rhapsody heroes of V.I.R.A.L.? No, maybe you're the monster. Child of the Garden and Victoria's doom. After what you agreed to do, I'm thinking the latter.”

”What did you do?”

”Would you like to know? Alton wouldn't. It's our secret. You don't understand the lengths he goes through to keep you safe sweet Zinnia. Is it out of hospitality? Love? Guilt or maybe redemption. When you find out what he agreed to with Bargaining. Well, it might just break your little heart.”

The school began to catch on fire as Sam was ablaze laughing. Alton stepped back, looking over the edge biting his lip. ”Zinnia listen to me.”

Zinnia was trapped in a daze unsure of what was going on. ”What did she mean Alton? You made a deal with Bargaining? Why? What was it? What did you do?”

”Zinnia!” Screamed Alton as he took deep breaths. ”Do you trust me?”

Zinnia thought for a short while before looking at Alton in despair. ”No.”

Feeling that hit like a truck, Alton nodded. ”That's what I feared.” He pushed Zinnia off the roof before jumping himself. Both fell into a thick layer of snow. The darkness began to subside as the thing in the distance started to reveal itself. Alton lifted his head from the snow as Zinnia was on her knees, looking on in despair. In the not so far distance was a giant tree, one the size of a skyscraper towering over the land. Its leaves were corrupted, hanging with a purple glow. The area around it was dead consumed by the same purple leaves. ”It can't be… How does EOR know about this?”

”We are what will come. We are what will always occur. You may fight it, run from it, delay it. But like death, we are inevitable. You feel denial. Anger swells. You wish to bargain. You fall into the abyss of depression. And finally, you accept us with open arms. We are this world's salvation, and we are here. Come find us, we will be waiting.”

Zinnia fell back shiver giving up. Alton crawled forward also collapsing he gritted his teeth crying out. ”Zinnia. Zinnia, please.” He held his hand out, feeling his vision fading. ”I need you. I beg of you, please save me. Save me from me.”

Zinnia's dead eyes awoke to see Alton reaching out with a plea. She didn't hesitate to be the hero she was. She reached out as their fingers touched. ”I will.”

****

Eyes Over Reality was done. He had his fun, but the game to him was over. He had, of course, won without any effort. That's what he thought anyway. That was until the air got colder than before sending a shiver down his spine, matched with the crackle of thunder and lightning caught his attention. Turning back, his eyes widened, seeing Alton and Zinnia growing in power. ”Impossible. No, that isn't possible. That should have drowned to their own doubts and sin! This is impossible!”

A shockwave knocked him back as both were just standing their powers on full display. Alton almost fell over but was caught by Zinnia. ”I've got you.”

”This… This doesn't change anything. You know that. But our friends are in danger and evil is knocking. So, let's put our differences aside for now and just for the hell of it be heroes. You ready Zinnia?”

”Ready as I'll always be. Let's take this villain down once and for all. As a team.”

Eyes Over Reality laughed as illusions began forming everywhere. ”Just who the hell do you two think you are? Don't you know who I am?!”

”Don't know, don't care. All you need to know is Team Rhapsody is ending this!”