Chapter 158: Nowhere Left to Run (2/2)
”If you say so…” Iris whispers still not sure. ”Tell me, what is this place?”
”An old hand me down, you could say. It used to be a storage building used by the company Sam's dad owned… Oh, you would know her as Unity, right? After… After Sunset Peak, I took this place over as a hiding place in case my father ever caught onto me.”
”Your father? That's why you're hiding here? He must be the real deal if someone like you would hide from him.”
”He's the one who froze over Sunset Peak and killed my team and my mother…”
”Oh… I'm sorry.”
”Don't bother. I don't have time for apologies. This was exactly why I didn't want back in the world of streamers. Yet here I am unable to keep away. You see Iris I've gotten too big. Turned a lot of heads. It was only a matter of time before he would come looking.”
”What are you going to do about it?”
”At this moment in time? Nothing. We've got to fix your little mess now. Not only does your sister want you dead but now the rest of the network. I can guess this was an order from your father.”
”My father? What reason would he want me dead?”
Alton pulled up a chair sitting on it, leaning on the back. ”Did you discover something you shouldn't have? A secret or plot he was putting together?”
”Nothing of the such. My father isn't the sort of person to do that.”
”Hmm… What about your sister. You were quite well known about the fact she too was a Child of the Garden. How long have you known that for?”
”Most of my life. It's not something to kill me over. My dad actually is glad, I know. I keep Alice in check and make sure she doesn't break down into that other her.”
Alton sighed, scratching his head. ”Then I have no clue…”
”Wait.” She mutters, looking distort. ”For as long as I could remember, our father has always drilled in the idea of his dream. He made sure to train us to be the best streamers we could be from the moment we could walk. When my sister showed much more progress than me, his attention drifted to her. He has put everything into making her his prize student. She's missed Christmases and our own Birthdays for a chance to go up the ladder. I'm pretty sure he doesn't even see me as his own daughter anymore. Anytime Alice and I would spend time together playing or schoolwork, he would go mental. He always claimed I was holding her back from true greatness.”
”Is that really enough to try and kill your own daughter? What was his dream?”
”To rule V.I.R.A.L.”
This made Alton look nervous as he stood up, pacing back and forth. ”I should have seen this coming… Just how many threats are going to keep slipping under my nose? Those wack jobs wanna be streamers are child's play but Alice. Not only is she a Child of the Garden but she seems to be the reincarnation of the legendary hero… Someone like that could easily overthrow V.I.R.A.L… I know what I need to do. I will strike Frizzle Tooth and take your father down. Whatever he's got up his sleeve I'll deal with it.”
”Not without me, you're not,” Iris demanded standing up wincing in pain. ”If my sister is in trouble, I want to help.”
”What is it with sisters being so hellbent on killing each other lately? First Scarlett, now you? Fine. But you will let me do the fighting. You are in no condition to battle.” Alton ordered. He threw his cloak back on stopping looking at Iris uneasily. ”Say, Iris… Alice is a Child of the Garden. You wouldn't happen to…”
”Not that I'm aware of no. I haven't shown any signs of the Garden at all. You sound concerned?”
”Forget it. I'm just hoping that my theory I have right now is wrong.”
”What would that be?”
”Trust me, Iris. You shouldn't know.” Alton walks off, getting his things together. Iris pulls herself up, walking over to pack her things. She stops staring down a small board with pictures and letters clipped on. She walks overseeing serval people she knew on the board: Team Rhapsody, Sam and herself and Alice. Alton's father was also there with his own picture in the middle circled and crossed out. Iris ripped a note attached to his face. Death might be the only way out. ”Alton… What the hell are you planning?”