Chapter 141: Inner Conflict (1/2)

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house. Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. This peaceful slumber was paused as faint whispers slivered into an unexpected streamer.

”Alton… Alton… Time to wake up son of mine.”

Alton shot up in a panic from his chair panting. He felt a chill forever running down his spine as the whispers rang through his ears taunting him. Scarlett was fast asleep on the sofa. Taking long deep breaths, Alton calmed himself down, collapsing back into his chair. The moment he did so, a cold set of breaths snapped at the back of his neck. Alton stiffed up in utter fear as a devastating voice whispered in his ear. ”This is a very nice place you have here Alton. You got here all by yourself? I'm proud of you son of mine.”

Alton was frozen with fear as the voice chuckled. Building up the courage Alton spun around, moving from his seat, finding no one there. Thoughts burst through his mind as he scanned the room like a frenzied animal being hunted.

”How long did you think it was going to take before I found you? Or did you hope that day might never come? I thought you to be smarter than that.”

Alton didn't move from his spot, the voice always bouncing around the room, taunting his every sense.

”You work fast, though don't you? Not even seven years on and you're already mingling with a new team. Did you not learn anything from last time? How many times must I keep teaching you the same lesson until it's burned into your mind?”

Alton flinched as he felt a hand on his shoulder he didn't look behind, he dared not to. He felt a rough beard rub against his cheek. ”I will make up for my sins. You will die.”

Alton jumped back, ready to strike a frozen bombardment at hand to find yet again nothing. Nothing apart from the front door wide open. Feeling like his heart could rip from his chest Alton pinned himself against the door glancing out into the corridor. It was lifeless and silent as ever, but Alton persisted staring out into the darkness for what seemed like an entirety.

”What are you doing?” Scarlett yawned standing idly by confused. ”Did you see something?”

Alton choked on his breath as he shook his head slowly still dazed unsure if what he witnessed was real or not. Closing the door behind him, he doubled locked it turning to Scarlett. ”No, must have been my imagination.”

”I don't see why you must keep watch for? Syndicate won't find us.”

”You sound so sure of that.”

”What are you trying to say?” Scarlett questioned an eyebrow raised.

Alton sighed, shaking his head. ”Doesn't matter… I'm going to keep watch.”

”Did you not hear what I just said?”

”I'm not keeping watch for them.”

”Who? Don't tell me.”

Alton looked weary as he began shaking his leg. ”My father, I know he's back. He's taunting me.”

”Is this what's been keeping you up at night? Why you have not been getting much sleep? How can you be certain?” She questioned.

Alton held out an old family photo, one from which he was torn. ”I first started having visions of him after the tournament. Then I found this photo on the floor. I haven't seen it in years I keep seeing him… I think. These days I can't tell if it's actually him or I'm going crazy.”

Scarlett stared at the photo of a man with long white hair and crystal blue eyes. ”Why didn't you say anything? We could have helped.”

”Not with this. Not against him. You've seen nothing like him before.”

Scarlett remained silent, handing the picture back. ”You could have come to me.” She glanced at Alton's bedroom. The door locked from the outside. ”I've said it before, and I will repeat it, I don't like having her here. Whose to stop her slitting your throat in your sleep? I know you care about her but putting your own life at risk.”

”I've been putting my life at risk from the moment I started streaming Scarlett. The more Team Rhapsody grows the more attention I get. It would only be a matter of time before he finds out. I wasn't working two part-time jobs before just to avoid using my powers. It was to hide from him. Nothing the Garden could make Zinnia do is in comparison to what my father will do.”

Scarlett looked down at her phone on the tableside as it buzzed. Staring at it, her eyes widened. ”Found you. I knew Clara would pull it in the clutch for me.”

”What's this?”

Scarlett flipped her phone around, showing an address. ”I found where Syndicate's hideout is.”

”How on earth did you do that?”

”Does it matter? We can bring them down now. You've got to back me up on this one.”

Alton stared at his bedroom, nodding. ”Ok. Let's go.”

Scarlett smiled, slipping her shoes on. ”I knew I could count on you, Alton. Let's finish this.”

****

”Holy shit, you were right. What the hell are the Syndicate family doing in some scrapyard?” Alton whispered perched on a railing above them.

Scarlett leaned forward staring down her enemies. ”I don't know, and I don't care. I'm going to end this!”