Chapter 154: They Are Already Here (1/2)
”I don't understand going away? Going where?”
”I just need to do something… Alone. Something has been bothering me now, for a while. I need to prepare and make things right.”
Zinnia fidgeted on the wall looking at Alton lost. ”Is something wrong? If there's something, we can help.”
Alton shook his head, staring at the snowflake hovering above his hand. ”This is something only I can do. I've just been delaying it for far too long. I should only be gone a week or two the most. The apartment is in your hands until then.”
”Alton… I don't.”
”You'll also be in charge. See it as a temporary promotion to leader of Team Rhapsody. You're now more than ready to take the helm.”
”Are you leaving Rhapsody?”
Alton remained silent sighing. ”Not if I can help it. Don't worry about me, it's Christmas. Spend time with friends and family, and before you know it, I'll be back.”
”But you're my family Alton! Everyone at Rhapsody. Don't go, I can't do this alone. Please whatever has you troubled let me help you.”
”See you around Zin…”
****
Emil shook Zinnia's shoulder as she snapped from her daydreaming sitting in the cockpit of the helicopter. ”You still with us, leader?”
Zinnia rubbed her face scoffing. ”Don't think I'm ever going to get used to you saying that.”
”Well, it's only until Alton gets back.” Scarlett reminds her. ”When he gets back.”
Gale steps on decked out in a winter jacket, boots and goggles matching the sailor tire he is used to wearing. With his father's company badge on one shoulder and Rhapsody's one on the other. ”You think this is enough? I remember it being bloody cold last time.”
”That's an understatement,” Emil replied. ”I don't think it matters the number of layers we put on… It's still going to freeze our ass off. That's if the Garden doesn't kill us beforehand.”
Zinnia curled up sighing, staring out the window. ”The Garden… The legendary heroes… My parents couldn't stop them… We're going to die, aren't we?”
Everyone fell short of an answer as Scarlett shook her head, leaning forward, shaking her leg. ”Way to kill the mood leader…”
”Sorry. Stick together till the end?”
”This won't be like the cult. No splitting up. We will fight together till the very end.”
Gale sat down, rubbing his gloves together. ”I would feel that little safer if Alton was here.”
”Think we all would.”
The other helicopters all began taking off as everyone else felt the nerves building. ”Here we go…”
As the helicopter was about to take off, they halted as a group of people stopped the flight. Zinnia peered to her left as a woman in a long trench coat waltz over. She had long black hair, and the same lifeless look in her eye; the other CEOs also shared. Wearing heels, she stepped onto the helicopter staring at each of the streamers. ”So, I finally get to meet faces to the stories. Zinnia Trost, Scarlett Syndicate, Gale Lampard and Emil Montague. Team Rhapsody. A pity Alton Brantley is not apart of this task force but no matter. I am one of the CEOs you may address me as Morto, and I will be joining you for this mission.”
”A CEO joining us? Is there a reason for us, particularly?” Emil questions.
”That does not concern you.” She insists sitting next to Zinnia. ”We may now leave.” The pilot acknowledged as it began to take flight moving in on the location provided. Everyone stared uncomfortably at Morto as she smiled, adjusting her glasses. ”If questions you hold dear ask away for a short time we have left.”
”We haven't seen you before at any of the other callings. We've only truly known of Kurt.” Zinnia is the first to bring forward.
”Correct. I do not take part in the main dilemmas of the foundation compared to the likes of the foundling Kurt. I take on more drastic measures like foreign intermissions and classified projects.”
”Like the Garden? Guess the cat is out of the bag for that one.”