Chapter 201: The Day Shes Been Dreading Part 1 (2/2)
”Kurt Hatching, CEO to V.I.R.A.L, your death will usher the new golden age of Neo Syndicate.”
Kurt stared on as the area darkened. His face was covered in darkness as a sinister grin appeared and a sly chuckle. ”Is that so? Who deemed you worthy of kill myself?” The three Neo Syndicate members stopped unable to move. They held their throats, unable to breathe. Each fell to the floor growing with age as their life essence faded, leaving nothing but a rotten corpse behind. Their shadows were stolen as Kurt walked past, shaking his head. ”This is the Syndicate family I am quite aware of. So, you want to settle the score we made 400 years ago? So be it, after all, it's your funeral.”
****
The crowd of Syndicate members were quickly taken care of by Alton alone. Turning to Scarlett, he called out to her. ”Scarlett are you alright? What's wrong?”
Scarlett was staring blankly forward as Alton turned gritting his teeth. ”So, we finally meet once more Alton Brantley.”
”Emi Syndicate… I should have known the surviving member of the high council would be behind this.”
Emi stepped onto the stage, wagging her finger. ”Nah, ah, ah. You are merely mistaken; I was never worthy of being in charge. This is all thanks to our new queen.”
”Queen, huh? What a joke to deal with the likes of you now of all places. Know this Syndicate scum, I've defeated your kind before, and I can do it again.”
”Not this time pretender,” Emi smirked igniting her psychic powers through her fists. She slammed the ground leaving a small crater charging forward. Alton prepared himself only to realise before it was too late Emi wasn't targeting him but Scarlett instead. Scarlett was still trapped in a dazed state unable to move.
Alton rushed to her aid, holding her taking the hit himself. Both friends were smashed upwards, breaking through the roof onto the top of the stadium. Alton lay on his back a small distance from Scarlett coughing. ”Crap, that hurt… Scarlett are you alright?!” Alton rolled overseeing Scarlett, staring at the city below holding her hand. ”Scarlett?”
”What is this city worth to you Alton?”
”Excuse me? Is now really a time for this?”
”Some people see a bustling growing nation with streamers at the helm. Others might see it as a shining reminder of humanity's last city and the sacrifices we've made to get here. I, on the other hand, see it as a prison. A prison we all willing submit too and will continue to do unless we change. I've seen that in your eyes, Alton, more so than anyone else. You understand me, don't you? Tell me, you understand.”
”What are you getting at? Syndicate w-…”
”Just answer the question please!”
”I'm not sure I follow. But I do see it from a certain point. A city we are trapped in unable to leave due to the world beyond being one of death and carnage.”
Scarlett smiled, faintly nodding. ”I knew you would understand. You always did your different Alton to everyone else. That's what I love so much about you.”
Alton walked over, holding his arm. ”Scarlett, what's wrong? Why are you saying this?”
”Well, truth be told I'm the Queen of Neo Syndicate. Ha, sounds rather funny when you say it out loud.”
Alton stared blankly at Scarlett as the wind blew ripping the Team Rhapsody posters off. Time past before Alton gave off a small chuckle. ”Very funny Scarlett, that's a joke. You'd never fall that low to fall back into the same family that killed your sister… Enough messing around, right?!” A bolt of lightning struck lighting the area for a split second an Oni mask appeared on Scarlett's face. Alton fell back shaking his head. ”That's impossible. That mask, no. No!”
Scarlett kneeled down, picking up the crown given to Team Rhapsody, spinning it around in her hand. ”Such pathetic means of holding us, prisoner. V.I.R.A.L, streamers. All of it needs to die. You're different Alton. You understand my pain, you understand how vile the overlords are. You are my everything. I want you to join me, Alton, help me take down V.I.R.A.L once and for altogether. It's the only way to free us all.”
Emi rippled from the stadium kneeling. ”My Queen, is it time? Has our time finally come?”
”That has Emi. Neo Syndicate's time has come.” She responded only to cough on the final word feeling stinging cold feeling at the back of her throat. The thunder and lightning grew in intensity as the air fell in temperature. Scarlett's eyes pivoted to Alton who had shards of ice breaking off him. Her heart dropped as she stumbled back. ”Alton, no. Please don't do this! Alton!”
Alton glared up at Scarlett with his sharp yellow eyes making her freeze in shock. His hands began shaking rapidly as snowflakes fell off him. Hissing with immense rage, he swung his arm around, causing a massive blitz of ice to burst out destroying half the stadium as he screamed, breaking his voice. ”YOU GODDAMN TRAITOR!!!”