Chapter 140: Always Two Steps Ahead (1/2)
The eternal flames could be seen for miles. The entire street was cornered off as firefighters took to the scene. Alton hadn't stopped running since the orphanage and although his legs felt like they were going to give way he refused to give in. He soon made it to the scene of the crime as he barged past the crowds ducking under the tape ignoring the police. Looking around paranoid, his heart sunk as he saw Scarlett sitting on the steps to her blown up home with bandages wrapped around her left eye. ”Scarlett!”
Scarlett glanced up looking hopeless as Alton ran over. ”Alton…”
Alton picked Scarlett upholding her tightly trembling. ”I saw the explosion… I thought… Shit, I thought I lost you.”
Scarlett stared blankly looking startled. ”What are you talking about… It's going to take more than this to kill me…”
”Scarlett.”
She began tearing up sobbing in Alton's arms. ”I lost my home, Alton… It's gone, I wasn't quick enough to see the attack coming. One of my maids didn't make it.”
The other members of Rhapsody turned up looked shocked by the turn of events. No one chose to say anything during this time as Alton comforted a distort and broken Scarlett…
****
Scarlett sat on the back of an ambulance getting her check-up. The doctor sighed, shaking his head. ”You seem mostly unharmed, but your left eye was too badly injured. I don't see you recovering.” Scarlett remained silent as the doctor gave a small reinsuring smile. ”Apart from that, you're good to go.”
Team Rhapsody stood by as Scarlett's mother walked overlooking weary. ”Thank you all for helping clear the mess.”
”It's the least we can do Mrs Dawn.”
”I insist you call me Lilith.” She added. ”I was always afraid this day would come. We got away from that wretched family so long ago, it was only a matter of time before they took their revenge on us.”
”The Demon Mask, she is Scarlett's twin sister, yeah?” Alton muttered. ”Why did you never go back for her?”
Lilith looked away sighing. ”It always breaks my heart, no mother should ever abandon their child when they need them the most, but Riley was too far gone. The Syndicate family had twisted her mind so much she only hates chaos and hatred deep within. I had to stop that happening to Scarlett.”
”So, you made a deal with the Dawn family? If you don't mind me asking Lilith why did you never go to V.I.R.A.L about this? The Syndicate family is dangerous and something the CEOs would be very much want to know.”
”Our families do not have the greatest relationship with V.I.R.A.L. They were the ones who brought us down 400 years ago. Besides, we do not like showing weakness. Looking for help in this desperate hour doesn't sit well with most of the family.”
Alton folded his arms, agreeing. ”It seems many key members of the Dawn family still hold onto old traditions. Most despise the idea of heroes. Yet Scarlett became one? Why?”
”I'll be honest it was very out of the blue. She approached Jack and me about it. Of course, we were both shocked but not too surprised. These days everyone wants to be streamers, and she has the powers to back that up although she did seem quite keen to hide those powers behind fake tarot cards.”
”Maybe she thought becoming a streamer could help take down Syndicate?” Zinnia debated. ”I just wish she told us.”
”I don't blame her for not doing so… Having that sort of secret in your past which could easily be taken out of context isn't easy to admit. Most people think it's easier just to let it remain dormant.” Alton figured. ”First, they attack one of our targets, Harmony and Rodger, then they attack Harmony and me again. And now they are taking the fight directly to all of us. Why have they got such a grudge against us?”
”It's because you are different,” Scarlett mutters slouching from the ambulance. ”Other streamers don't waste their time taking down corrupt streamers or saving everyone. You have brought back the idea of heroes into the mix and Syndicate doesn't like that. Any chance of the hero's society returning is a huge blow in their plan. Disposing of you all will send a message to any wannabe heroes.”
”But now we're all sitting ducks, as Riley said all our information is on full display. Syndicate know everything about us so they could easily strike or attack people we care about.”
”Speaking of which, how did you all manage to survive the attack?” Iris questioned.
”That would be my doing.” Diego gloated leaning against the ambulance. ”Sup.”
”Diego? What are you doing here?” Alton wondered.
”He was there when Syndicate attacked. Fought alongside us.” Gale said.
”Well, I wouldn't go that far. I was just merely defending myself. I didn't really need any of you to help.”
”Diego here warned us of the attack. It gave us enough time to soften the blow when the attack did come.”
”How did you know about the attack?” Emil questioned suspiciously. ”Your powers only let you see a few seconds into the future.”
”Well, you aren't totally wrong there. While it is true, my imagination allows me to predict the future clearly for a few seconds, I can see far further than just a few seconds. I can quite possibly see hours or even days into the future, all be it the further I look the blurrier the vision. I can only see about two hours into the future easily enough to make out small details. I had my suspicions on the attack when the first distraction happened. So, I looked further forward and made out a building exploding. I couldn't for the life of me make out what it was, but I could very quickly put the pieces together and know this would be the most likely place to be hit.”
”It's very unlike you to risk your life for others.” Iris jabbed.