Chapter 145: The Nightmare Before Christmas Part 1 (1/2)
Zinnia kneeled pouring the glass milk by the fire, wiping the glass perfectly she stood up admiring the carrots and cookies left. ”Zinnia we need to go now… Oh.”
Zinnia turned to nod. ”I'm ready now.”
”You don't believe in that shit, do you?”
”Santa? Wait he's not real… I'm kidding. I know, it's a tradition I would do with the other children in the orphanage. I'm going to do it no matter what.”
”Well, that's nice. But seriously we need to go.”
Alton turned ready to walk away as Zinnia built up the courage to speak. ”Alton. We need to talk.”
With his hand on the doorknob, he glanced at her, letting go. ”Now?”
”We keep dodging each other keeping away, but sooner or later this will need to stop. I live with you now, and for the time being you lock me in your room every night. I can't live like this.”
”You think I want this either? Treating you like a prisoner. Believe me, Zinnia I too would love to go back to being able to be friends. But how?”
”He hasn't talked to me since your contract with him. Not a word, not a whisper. This has something to do with you, right?”
Alton turned having enough. ”You want to know what I agreed to? Is that it? Will that finally make you satisfied?”
”Yes.”
Alton let go of the door walking up to Zinnia. The two stared at each other as Alton gave her a look of pity. ”Each and every day I look at you, it breaks my heart. It really does, your kindness and heroic nature parallel hers so much. I look at you, and I question if I can do it this time. Make up for my mistakes and redeem myself.”
”Redeem yourself from what?”
Alton went to touch Zinnia, but his hand dropped to his side as he sighed. ”The deal I made with Bargaining. It was to save you. In return, I would have to become one of the five stages of grief.”
Zinnia's eyes widened as she shook her head in disbelief. She was so taken back she stepped back almost tripping over the table. ”Say that ain't so. Don't you dare tell me you would do something stupid like that?”
”Like I had any other choice!” Alton snapped. ”Just what did you think I would do?”
”Anything but that! You would throw away any semblance of your humanity. Betray Victoria for me? Why? What could it possibly be? You don't want to die? You love me, that's it, isn't it? I don't understand Alton how could you love someone so much to destroy the world?”
”I won't kill you like I did them!” Alton screeched panting. ”I can't go through with that again. Not this time. Destiny, Marco, Clyde… Sam. I killed them all. Because of him, because of what he made me do they all died! And now here I am back with that choice again. Kill you and live or save you. I choose to go against my fate and save you.”
Zinnia turned to the window. Glancing back, she sprinted swinging it open leaning back. ”I won't let you do that. If I die, it not only breaks my contract but yours too.”
”Zinnia. Step away from the window. I said, step the fuck away!”
”If I do this, it will save you. He won't have a hold on you. You won't have to throw your life away.”
”Listen to me. Is this what you want? What Gale or Emil would want? How about Percy? Better yet, your mother?”
”If it's saving you, they will understand. And if they don't, I don't care.”
Zinnia let go, but her fall was halted as the entire area was frozen over. Zinnia slumped down to the floor, curled up sobbing. She looked at Alton devastated as his eyes were bright yellow. ”That's enough. As the leader of Team Rhapsody, I order you to stop.”
”You should just kill me…”
”Maybe I should. Would be much easier, save us both yeah?” Alton barked kneeling to her level. ”But that's the easy way out. The coward and villainous way. We are not cowards. We are heroes, and we will find a way no matter what to make things right. But you need to trust me on this. Please.”
Zinnia wiped her eyes conflicted. ”But how? We can't win this. The Garden is too strong.”
”You let me worry about that. I'm not about to let some slave to evil control me. He hasn't won yet. I have a plan, one which I cannot tell you of but one that will save us both. But you need to trust me now more than ever.”
”Did Sam trust you? Did she trust you till the very end?”
Alton held his hand out nodding. ”She did.”
Zinnia still debating gave in as she took Alton hand being pulled up from the ground. ”Alton… I'm sorry. I always seem to be putting you in tight spots without a second thought. First, it was streaming now this. You must really hate me.”
”If you think that Zinnia, you're dumber than I made you out to be.”
She snorted, punching his arm. ”That's not very nice. Are you calling me dumb?”
Alton rubbed his shoulder scoffing. ”Damn right, I am. We're heroes that's already a dumb move in itself. Now come on we have Christmas to save.”
****
Scarlett watched the crowds pouring in. She stood backstage sweaty. ”Why the hell did I agree to this?”