Chapter 153: The End of the World (2/2)
”Now just hold on a minute! We didn't sign up for this!” A streamer yelled.
”I just signed up because I was bored, I don't want to throw my life away for this! I refuse.” Another one demanded. This rowed up serval other streamers as they all started yelling the same. ”You cannot do this!”
Kurt closed his eyes nodding. ”I see. So, your one of those are you?”
”One of those?”
”The lowest of the low am I wrong?” Kurt asked, staring a cold stare at the streamers with a blank smile. No one responded as a chill was sent down everyone's spine. ”Running away from the invadable is fine. In fact, I recommend a small group of streamers stay behind and defend our borders in case the mission fails… But you weren't thinking that was you? You wouldn't protect a single person if your life depended on it. No, you would just run and hide like the slime you are. Pathetic to think we have people who dare call themselves streamers.”
”Hey… Hey, we didn't sign up to become your soldiers…”
”Quite right. Then please, your pass.” Kurt slowly said, holding his hand out. ”Cowards like you have no place in V.I.R.A.L.”
The streamer scoffed storming over with his pass. ”Whatever, V.I.R.A.L is old news anyway…” As he handed the pass over Kurt gripped onto the streamer not letting go. ”Hey! What are yo- Stop! Stop!”
The streamer screamed in pain his body dissolving into ash as his streamer pass fell into the pile. Kurt adjusted his wrist scorning at the dead streamer. The others were left in disarray. Horror. Zinnia began trembling unsure what she had just witnessed. ”You… You killed him… You just killed him!”
Kurt turned to each of them tutting. ”That isn't true. I put the mutt out of his misery. Showed him kindness the Garden wouldn't. We do not have time or the patience to bare witness cowards. We are at war, and we need everyone to aid us if you want to survive. Victory will see us as heroes. Surely you want to be seen as a hero to the people Zinnia?”
Zinnia fell silent as Diego stared at the dead body shaking his head sighing. ”What's our reward for this? This isn't the Cult we're dealing with, so the pay-out should be much bigger no?”
”Your lives aren't already enough of a reward? You win you live. I see that as a reward in its self. There're no rewards for survival apart from living to see another day. Now does anyone else fancy handing me their pass?” No one dared to. ”Wonderful. I'm glad we all came to an understanding if everyone would wait in the rooms assigned to them, we will set up the squads you will go in with. We will begin the operation tonight. You are all dismissed.”
The CEOs left as a lot of the streamers stood dazed by what happened. ”This can't actually be happening…” Florence whispered.
”Well, it's happening. With all the fuckery the Garden has thrown our way I'm surprised it didn't happen sooner.” Diego admitted. ”Doesn't stop it from sucking any less.”
”Typical though isn't it. The day the Garden decides to strike Alton vanishes on a little vacation. What the hell was his reason for anyway?” Butch argued.
Zinnia shrugged her shoulders, unsure. ”He didn't give me much of a reason. He just said he had some things to do and left me in charge… Being the leader over Christmas didn't sound too bad but this… I'm not sure if I can handle this…”
”You don't have to. We will stick together, no matter what.” Gale claims.
”Is no one going to bring up the fact this might be Alton's doing?” Jinx questions.
Scarlett snaps her vision to her. ”What did you say?!”
Jinx frowned, stopping her handshaking. ”I don't want to think this myself. But Alton is a Child of the Garden. He just happens to vanish alongside Alice when the Garden arrives. I'm not one to jump to conclusions, but I can't help but feel like he could be involved.”
”We… Cannot overlook this possibility…” Zinnia whispered. ”But I can't accept that Alton would betray us all… Unless. Scarlett, can I talk to you alone?”
Scarlett stepped away, crossing her arms. ”Yeah?”
”Alton told me everything. You know about my contract with Bargaining.”
”Yes, I do. I was and still am ready to put you down if I have to.”
”I take it he didn't tell you that he too made a contract with the stage of grief as well?” Scarlett looked conflicted as Zinnia nodded. ”Thought so… The deal he made with Bargaining was to free me of his grasp if he became a stage of grief himself.”
”He what?! How could he do something like that?!” Scarlett snapped, squeezing her fist. ”Why the hell would he do that?”
Zinnia rubbed her face. ”It only hit me, though. If the Garden is back, could this be Alton's doing to see out his contract?”
Scarlett bit her lip frowning. ”I won't believe it. How dare you even come to this conclusion. Don't bring this up to me or anyone else again.”
”Scarlett! Scarlett, we cannot ignore this!” Zinnia yelled, watching her storm off. Stopping herself, she turned towards the ash of the former streamer as Zinnia stared on with a feeling of dread. ”Or that either…”