Chapter 149: The Nightmare Before Christmas Part 5 (2/2)

Jack kneeled to her level nodding. ”Of course, anything.”

”I want you to save my mother. She was the only one there for me. I can't go on without her… Please mister Dawn save my mother.”

”Worry not Scarlett. I will do all in my power to save her… But might I ask if I am correct you have a sister too no?”

Scarlett gripped the bedsheets in anger. ”Not anymore. She is not my sister anymore…”

****

Scarlett and Riley walked around in circles taunting each other. The others watched in concern, and although they wanted to help Zinnia in particular, this was between them. Alton tried to break free from his chains as Scarlett held her hand out, pushing him back. ”No… Don't get involved… This is between my sister and me.”

”After all this time you're finally acknowledging me, now are you? What's changed. When you were stolen from me, you claimed to have no sister. As they came and saved our mother, I was left behind. Forgotten! How could you do that to me?!”

Scarlett blocked the psychic blast managing to stay standing. Breathing in Scarlett stopped coming to grips with her past. ”You fell in with their goals too quickly. We were meant to run away, never look back and free ourselves from their grips. Yet you became their pet. Let yourself be their tool for domination.”

”What else was I suppose to do?! No one was coming to save us. No one still is! I was to become stronger, more powerful so one day we could overthrow the family. Yet you abandoned me. You were always the more powerful sister. The family held you up with high hopes while I was always the leftovers. When you went, they relied on me!”

Scarlett dodged another psychic blast all while blocking an explosion. Falling to one knee, Scarlett stood herself up, wiping her bloody lip. ”I never gave up hope. I dreamed one day someone would save us. That we could come to this ball as sisters and not fear what happens tomorrow. I still do, yet you turned your back on our promise.”

”This is the harsh reality, dear sweet sister. No one will save you from yourself. Only you can do that. I've become more powerful than any Syndicate member. I can easily overthrow our father and destroy the Dawn family. I've fulfilled my purpose in life. Can you say the same? From being the pet of one family to another what difference does it make?! I'm the only one who's truly free.”

Scarlett snapped at these remarks throwing serval pieces of rubble at Riley. Deflecting each one she retaliated by a single explosion. Scarlett was hit falling back to the floor as she was picked up and swung around. Letting her anger swell Scarlett broke free sending a shockwave which knocked everyone back. Flowing forward, she roared past Riley throwing her into the stalls. A pause met by violent explosions as Riley flew in the air with serval knives floating around her. Snapping each one at Scarlett she reflected and blocked most with a couple grazing and stabbing her. Scarlett's eyes began glowing bright red as she flung her arm down smashing Riley to the ground pressing her tighter into the snow. Walking up to her former sister with a look of spite and no mercy, she stared her sister down scoffing. ”Free? Do you really see that? Syndicate has abandoned you. Left you for dead again. It's over Riley you have nothing and will end with nothing.”

Riley lay on the ground, curled up, holding her head in shame. ”No… they wouldn't. They couldn't. They need me!”

Scarlett kicked Riley back, yelling. ”It's over! Give it up before you make this any worse for yourself.”

Riley began tearing at her hair sobbing. ”Any worse… Any worse. It cannot get any worse!” Scarlett felt a sharp pain pierce her head as she stumbled back almost collapsing from the pain. Riley stood up as her eyes began glowing the same as Scarlett's. Her hands and arms began burning from the ripples of explosions coming from her arms. She stared up with despair. ”I know the truth of all things! I know the truth they hide from you! You are all puppets on strings being controlled by both parties. You've forgotten your true calling Scarlett. They stole those from you to make you obedient.”

Scarlett tried standing, but she was far too weak to even move a muscle wincing in pain. ”What are you talking about?”

”You live on a throne of lies. All of you do, you honestly think you're free Scarlett?! Allow me to jog your memory.” Riley held her arm out as her explosion began charging up into a large beam.

The attack was ignited blowing the area apart. Alton tackled Scarlett as the two hit the ground just avoiding the attack. ”Are you alright?”

Scarlett looked traumatised shaking. ”Lies? What does she mean by that? Stolen memories… Why is that eating away at me?!”

”Scarlett!” Alton barked snapping her to her senses. ”We don't have time to dwell on that. Leave that for another day. We have to stop her before she destroys the city.”

”Ok… I can't do this alone after all… I'm weak.”

”No, you're not. She's just too strong. That's what we're here for. I promised you I would help you take down Syndicate. I'm not about to give up on that now.” Alton demanded. Helping her up Alton turned to the others. ”Get everyone else out of here.”

Zinnia nodded, helping Iris and Alice with the rest of the public. Alton turned back to Riley whose eyes were burned with hate. Her hand began shaking as she moved it over her face revealing the Demon Mask burned into memory. ”You've been robbed of everything Scarlett like I have. Robbed of my future. Robbed of Alton. I plan on taking it all back once and for all!”

Alton took Scarlett's hand, bringing her to senses. ”We can do this.”

Scarlett took a deep breath nodding. ”Yeah. We can… Let's put Riley out of her misery once and for all.”