Chapter 152: The Day Of Reckoning (1/2)
”I want that data recovered this minute. We do not leave until we find out where the interference came from.” One of the CEOs barked standing in the frozen wasteland of Sunset Peak. He was unaffected by the snow as his elite workers slaved away struggling.
”Hade, sir. It's almost impossible to see anything out here. The source of the anomaly should be right here, but something is blocking the signal.”
”Is it the storm?”
”No, sir. Our tech can handle a storm; it's like someone is blocking it.”
Hade scowled staring on through the storm at nothing. His long black hair wrapped into a ponytail flapped in the wind, and his dead eyes scouted the area. ”V.I.R.A.L made it very clear what our goal was. Now me being here should make it crystal clear how important all of this is.”
”I understand Hade sir… But.”
”We found a body!” Hade pushed past the scientist staring down at the body of a hiker. ”They must have snuck past the wall exploring the dead zone.”
Hade kneeled checking the body. The moment he touched them, he retracted standing holding his hand in pain. ”The body is hot. Boiling in fact. How is that possible?”
”We don't know, sir we are running tests now.”
”Get with it! I don't like this.” As Hade was about to call base, he stopped feeling something tug at him. A whisper in his ear. One he was far too familiar with. Jolting around Hade took a few steps forward staring up. The blizzard subsided for a short moment revealing a giant tree standing out in the remains of the city. Hade's eyes widened in absolute fear. ”Impossible… That's not possible… They're already here!”
Hade panicked jumping to action trying to call HQ. As his call was going through, he quickly noticed of the scientists gone their equipment left on the floor. Hade walked back to his team with force. Everything was fine… For the time being anyway. One of the Scientists stood up, turning to him only for his whole body to rip back into the storm his gurgled screams fading away.
The other scientists didn't have time to respond as one by one they were taken from plain sight vanishing into the blizzard never to be seen again. The last scientist was dropped from the sky dozens of arrows wedged into his skull. Hade stood still glancing around his hand, emitting a dim glow as the snow began to burn around him. He turned, punching the air as the stench of death lingered in that area. He stopped startled only to be dragged through the snow by the unknown attacker never to be seen again with his tracker sending the distress call, one he never sent out for…
****
Zinnia was taking down the last of the Christmas decorations frowning. ”I can't believe Christmas is over already. New years eve is just four days away. When did Alton say he was coming back?”
”He didn't. I guilted him into coming back by New year so hopefully just a few days.”
Zinnia held the box of lights sighing. ”To think he would just put the role of leader on me like that and leave without many words. If you didn't say anything, he would have gone without even saying goodbye.”
”Everyone needs time off. Alton more than most people. While most streamers are having the week off, we should rest too. Make the place spotless for when he comes back.”
”I suppose…” She whispers, still unsure. ”Don't you find it odd, though? I mean it's been almost a year since we joined forces and he's never left. He doesn't have any other family apart from his father, right?”
”I think Helga was the closest to a family he's got. It's not exactly like he can visit his old home either with it being frozen in a never-ending blizzard.”
”How does a wall keep the ice age out, I wonder?”
”The many wonders of V.I.R.A.L. oh, in good news I'll be able to move back into my house next week. The repairs went quicker than we first thought. I can give Alton the breathing room he needs.”
”Wish I could say the same…” Zinnia groaned. ”The orphanage is never going to be rebuilt at this rate.”
”I think you're the first orphan who actually misses being away from the home.”
”It's not that. I just don't like being a burden to Alton. Even if we are on slightly better terms right now, I still don't feel comfortable being around him for so long. Bargaining is just waiting for his chance to strike I know it.”
Scarlett dropped another box of decorations on Zinnia scolding. ”That can go with my other belongs. When I make a move, my maids will collect it.”
Zinnia began weaving around the apartment almost crashing into the only framed photo Alton had of him and Sam during prom. She let out a sigh of relief missing it as she dropped the boxes. ”Do you think we will have a new years party?”
”I don't know yet,” Scarlett yelled out, dusting her room. ”If we do it will probably only be Team Rhapsody. No one has heard from Iris or Alice since Christmas.”
”Maybe we should visit them over the weekend? I'm sure they wouldn't mind.”
”Talk to Gale about that, I've got more important things to think about right now.”