Chapter 246: She Must Overcome Her Guilt Part 2 (1/2)

”Back so soon?”

Riley turned, finding Scarlett staring at her from the bedroom door. Riley sat on her bed, trying to keep her smile from showing. ”Sister, how are you? Are you here for the mission report? Well, it's going very well, amazing, in fact. Team Rhapsody and I just got back from this small island off the main coast; it's the home of one of Gale's members. Hear this, it was home to the Garden, a small crack had gotten through, and we went and stopped them. Don't worry, I played my abilities down incredibly. Alton saved my life; they all have my full trust.”

Scarlett stared at her sister, clenching her fist hissing. ”It sounds like you're enjoying yourself. Do I need to remind you why you are doing this, dear sweet sister?”

Riley's eye began to twitch as she sighed. ”I get it. Are you mad for using your identity? Sorry, but you're the only sibling registered as a Dawn; it would be suspicious if I used my real name. They could easily work out I'm not who I say I am.”

”You know damn well that's not what I'm talking about, Riley Syndicate!” Scarlett snapped, punching the wall. ”The mission is just an excuse, isn't it?! You've got the taste of the outside world. A small drop, and now it's all you can think about!”

”Are you jealous? I'm sorry if I offended you in any way, Scarlett, but… I just can't help it. I've been curious about the outside world for years, you know that...”

”Jealous? Jealous?! For what reason would or should I be jealous of a failure like you?! The only reason you were chosen is that you are expendable! I'm the one destined to change the world, not you!”

”Scarlett…”

Scarlett snapped, throwing a chair across the room with her mind. ”It was meant to be us! We were meant to run away and find a life outside these walls together! You've left me behind again…”

Riley moved away from her bed, standing in front of Scarlett. ”You're tired, sis… The training is too much for you.”

”I've told father about this.”

”You what?!” Riley cried, stepping back. ”Why, why would you do that? Scarlett!”

Scarlett gritted her teeth, frustrated. ”You led me with no choice. You're betraying the family. You're betraying me… The outside world means nothing to me; my duties as a member of this family comes first. I am to destroy V.I.R.A.L and anyone who stands with them, that includes your futile Team Rhapsody as well.”

”You're lying, you're lying to yourself, Scarlett… This isn't about the family at all, is it? You really want the only thing I've got, don't you?”

This was when Scarlett snapped. Her eyes emitted a red haze as crackles of fire rippled around her body. Letting it all out, she screeched at the top of her lungs, blowing Riley's room apart. ”SHUT UP!”

Riley was blown out of the manor. All memories on display of the pair were destroyed in that very moment, with that everything stood still as time stopped. Percy wandered in, looking around the carnage being caused. ”Isn't this an impressive feat of events? You turned on the only person in your life who cared for you like it was nothing. The pain in your heart at that very moment was unbearing, wasn't it? What went through your mind at that point, Scarlett?”

Scarlett stood staring at her memory, feeling empty as she spoke softly. ”I thought she was going to leave me—Runaway with her new friends. I didn't have much to offer her, neither did the family. We did all that we could, but it was always going to end this way in the end. I grew jealous and wary of her to the extent I would be alone again. Refusing to let this happen, I tried killing her…”

”And what happened after?”

”I took her place. Acted as if nothing changed and began my journey as a member of Team Rhapsody.”

”Did anyone suspect you?”