Chapter 151: Its A Wonderful Life (1/2)
Scarlett glanced around the destroyed ball, feeling empty. Picking up a broken ornament, she frowned. ”I didn't think this would hurt as much.”
”Alton Scarlett!” Zinnia yelled alongside Emil and Gale. ”Are you guys, alright?”
Alton was still engulfed in his trance as he licked his lips. ”Yeah… Time to go home now?”
”Go home? But what about the ball? What about Christmas?!” Zinnia cried.
”Look around Zinnia, there's nothing less. We stopped Syndicate but at the cost of the ball. This was my fault pushing the people at risk…” Alton was about to walk off when he stepped on a pile of snow that began to fizzle and fall apart around him. ”What the hell?”
The once destroyed ball began fading away into an empty lot with nothing. In the not so far distance lights burst into the sky. Gale and Emil started chuckling to themselves as Scarlett raised her eyebrow. ”Something funny?”
”Perhaps I should explain?” Florence giggled nervously swirling her feet in the snow. ”Emil and Gale approached me before the ball about a plan. Operation Lockhart, they called it?”
”Ah, ignore that… Basically, we set up a dupe ball to set a trap for Syndicate. The real Crystal Night ball is safe same with the citizens. No one was hurt.”
Alton smirked faintly before this turned into a scoff and that into a full howl of laughter. ”How the hell did I fall for something like that again?! You would think after Eyes Over Reality illusion powers wouldn't faze me…”
”So the ball is still on?” Scarlett whispered in shock.
”The ball is most certainly on.”
Scarlett touched her cheek, seeing tears forming. She began rubbing her eyes, trying to stop the waterworks smiling. ”Thank goodness.”
****
”Finally decided to join us now, huh?” Diego teased sipping his hot chocolate. ”I heard quite the uproar down the road. Your handiwork Alton?”
”A little help would have been nice.”
Diego threw his cup aside. ”Nah, you'd be just fine without me. Besides we were the backup incase Syndicate hit the real joint. You have the Hawthorne twins if shit hit the fan.”
”Alice!” Alton mutters. He turns, seeing her sitting on the wall with an ice bag on her head. ”Alice… Are you alright?”
”The Alice does, in fact, feel much better to thank you. However, she will require hot cocoa with extra marshmallows.”
”That's the least I can do.” He responded, turning to Iris. ”Iris listen about what happened.”
”Don't sweat it. You were in the heat of the moment. Alice doesn't remember it so she can't hold a grudge. I might hold a little one but you… You were only doing the right thing. I don't want to talk about it we were just about to head home. Hans doesn't like us being out this late. See you next year.”
”What did she mean by seeing you next year?” Zinnia questioned.
As Alton was to answer the crowd began roaring with excitement. ”It's Harmony.”
Harmony, Tempo and Melody stood on stage, readying their instruments with Tempo on the drums and Melody on the guitar. Harmony approached the mic smiling. ”Thank you all for coming… This is our first performance since we lost one of our own. Vivace, this goes out to you. This song is one we wrote for people who we owe a lot to. Heroes who saved not only my life but the lives of many others. Team Rhapsody this is for you.”
The streamers began blending into the crowd as the high performance of drums and guitar began blazing. A fast tempo and upbeat melody were interjoined within perfect harmony as the band started playing. People began dancing to the instrumental as Scarlett had her heart to heart with Alton. ”I wanted to apologise.”
Alton leaned in, getting a better understanding of what she was saying. ”What do you have to apologise for?”
”For everything you, everyone had to go through. My horrible family. Having to put my sister down and all on Christmas. I'm a really horrible friend, right?”
Alton punched her shoulder, shaking his head. ”Don't be such a Scrooge; it all worked out in the end. Who would I be to turn my back on a friend? Besides, you would do the same for me in my shoes. None of us had the greatest upbringing… But helping you, putting that fuel between you and Riley to rest feels good. Like I almost did the same for my father and me.”
Scarlett took Alton's hand comforting him. ”No matter what. I'll have your back. You put your faith in me, and I'll do the same. When he comes for you, I'll fight with you.”