Chapter 161: The Dark Replicas (2/2)
”Unlike your copies. I am an actual Child of the Garden. Think of the knowledge you could learn?”
Iris looked distressed, unsure what Alton was up to. ”Alton… What is going on? You have a plan, right?”
Alton turned to Iris, staring at her, confirming her fears. He didn't have any plan. This was no bluff, he was really giving up for her sake. ”So, Hans? Do we have a deal?”
”Allow me a moment to think it over?”
The room fell silent as Alton turned back to Iris. ”This is clearly a trap…”
”You now only just realised?!”
”There's not much we can do…”
Iris crawled over sitting next to Alton, leaning on his shoulder. ”Yes, there is, don't give up. Fight them. I don't care what happens to me. Stop him before he hurts anyone else.”
Alton places his arm around Iris, comforting her shaking his head. ”I cannot do that, Iris. He said it himself even if I fought his entire platoon. I don't have much chance of victory without losing you or dying myself…”
”So what? We just give up?”
”Fraid so…”
”Unity wouldn't have given up.”
”No… She wouldn't have.” Alton whispered. ”If she was here, she would slap me and tell me to snap out of it. She was just so one minded. No matter how much the odds were stacked against her, she would fight no matter what.”
”Then let us do that. Together we can beat them.”
”Sam's dead Iris…”
”What…”
Alton held his head in shame. ”She died back in Sunset Peak, and it's my fault. We were in the same position. An unstoppable force we had no hopes in beating… That force was my father. I wanted to run so badly, but she insisted we stand a fight. Rallied up the others to do the same as the leader she was. We were so drunk off motivation for a short while I honestly believed we could. But then the fight happened. We fell one by one. The city froze over, and I was the only one standing. If I had just run away, taken Sam with me, none of that would have happened. I play hero and people die. I'm not letting the same events play out here.”
”Alton… I didn't.”
Alton stood upholding his side smirking. ”It's fine. Just trust me on this one. Everything is going to be alright. Find your sister. My team tell them what happened. Everyone needs to know what is coming.”
”Good news Avalanche, I'll accept your terms. Come out now, and I'll let Iris run free.”
Alton held his hand out to Iris. ”Come on, let's go.”
Alton pushed the door open as the two walked out in the open. Hans clapped slowly laughing. ”You're not as dumb as I thought Alton. Even you realised you had no hope. I respect that.”
”Now you keep your end of the deal.”
Sighing, he waved his hand. ”Get out of here Iris… Scram!” Alton nodded as Iris ran away, knowing what she had to do. ”Now that she's out of the way.” Before Alton could unleash his Garden form, he was shot by dozens of arrows forcing him to fall to his knees. ”Do you take me for a fool Alton? Did you seriously think we wouldn't suspect you to fight back once she was gone?”
Alton managed to stand up, leaning his head back panting. ”No. But that was never my intention. I know what you really want. What all of this is about, you're wrong. Believe me, no matter how many replicas you make, you will never be a Child of the Garden.”
One of the replicas spun their scythe around, cutting Alton down as he collapsed down for the count. Hans walked over, lifting Alton by his head kneeling to his level scoffing. ”And soon neither will you.”