Chapter 223: Rise of a Hero Part 3 (1/2)
Stepping outside the pawnshop, Alton took a longwinded breath of fresh air, having escaped the jaws of the beast for the time being. Even if he was never in any real danger here, he couldn't help but feel scared for his life all the same. Shane glanced at his watch, nodding. ”We should still have time. Say, Kurt, what say we head out to our usual spot? You don't have to get back to your roommate, do you?”
”Shouldn't I be off looking for this Oncoming Storm?” Alton questioned, not trusting of the other Syndicate members.
Kira sighed, leaning on Alton's shoulder, letting out a fake yawn. ”God, you can be so boring. Father didn't say you have to do it today. The false villain can't skip town, so she'll be forced to hide away until she slips up. Loosen up and have some fun.”
”I'd all honestly rather not.”
Shane turned to a beeping sound, checking his pager. ”Well, now you don't have any choice. Parker has summoned us, and you cannot turn her down.”
”Parker?”
”Don't say you've forgotten your girlfriend, Kurt… What the hell is wrong with you today?”
Alton rubbed his neck, grumbling, giving a small nod. ”I guess you're right… I'll hang out for a bit.”
Kira clapped her hands together, pushing Alton forward. ”Groovy, dude. Trust me, you won't beat my high score this time.”
”We'll see about that.” He challenges remembering to keep in character walking ahead.
Shane leans over to Kira, whispering. ”Surely you've noticed yourself now? I can't be the only one suspecting the same thing.”
Kira began tapping her foot, grinning. ”You read me like a book, Fury. That is, without a doubt, not Kurt Hatching. Father mentioned Alton Brantley. I don't know how but he's most certainly a fake, have Parker look up anyone named Brantley living in this city.”
”Yeah, and what are you going to do?”
”We're going to party, right? I'll bring the big guns; we'll see how this Alton Brantley deals with them.”
****
Alton stood rather uncomfortable at the sight he was witnessing, never seeing anything like this. The building was packed with people dressed in brightly coloured clothes and wigs dancing with no care in the world. Staring blankly, he looked around, already feeling the nerves kicking in. ”What the hell is this…”
”Wow! The club is sure packed today! I thought we'd never get in!” Kira yelled out.
”You cannot be serious, right? Did you forget your family owns this club, Kira?”
”You really don't get sarcasm, do you, Jasmine? Remind me how you became a lieutenant again?”
Jasmine tilted her head, looking clueless. ”Sarcasm? Are you making fun of me again?” Alton stared idly at the girl, not saying a word. She was wearing exaggerated, wearing bright yellow short shorts, a glossy blue jacket and green sunglasses. This was a vase difference compared to her, preferably a plain face and simple down brown hair. Lowering her glasses, she looked at Alton with her neon green eyes. ”Are you going to say something, Kurt?”
”Huh? Oh, sorry…”
”Don't mind Kurt today; he just met father. He's still a bit shaken; the sign of his true love must have sent him into overdrive.”
Jasmine frowned, slightly nodding. ”He scared the ever-loving Christ out of me when I first met him too. Try not to let it get to you; his bark is worse than his bite. Or at least Kira tells me that. I'm sure a song or two will cheer you up.”
Alton stared at the dancefloor, lost. ”And this is?”
”Is Kurt also using this so-called sarcasm on me, too, Kira? You know what disco is, Alton.”
”Yeah, of course.” He lied, not hearing of such a past time back in Rhinefield.
”Are you guys seriously going to dance in your school clothes?”
”Of course not. Kurt, dude, go change.” Kira insisted, throwing him a small backpack. ”You left your clothes here last time.”
Alton looked into the bag, sighing walking into the backroom to change. Jasmine took her glasses off, looking troubled. ”Who was that?”
”I knew you would realise. You read his mind?”
”I tried, at least. Kurt isn't that hard to read, but just now, I could hardly get a read on him. The bits I did get made no sense.”
”What did you see?” Shane asked, bobbing his head to the music.
”A city I hardly recognised. Pain, sorrow and well… Someone who looked very similar to you, Kira.”
”Me? Well, that make things even more bizarre right? Anything else?”
”I'm afraid no. Most of his mind was covered in like a blizzard. It was hard seeing anything.” She responded. ”You brought him here for a reason, right?”
Kira placed a hand on Jasmine, staring at her in the eyes. ”Read all about it and play along.”