Chapter 251: Hollow Chasm (1/2)
”No shit, sherlock. It's your powers. Your actual power. It's not ice or water manipulation. It's inspiration.”
”Inspiration?”
”My mind is connected to yours. I see what you see. I know what you feel; this is inspiration. Your ability to link with people you have a deep connection with. They share memories with you and you the same. You can also take on and learn their abilities. This, in turn, occurred with your father for freeing you from the Garden and giving you a home. As well as your mother for protecting you regardless of the truth.”
”My deep connection with others? Like you?” Alton questions as snow began to fall. ”I don't understand.”
Sam held her hand out, letting the snowfall onto her hand. ”I don't quite understand either. But our bond has already begun to show. Look.” The snowflakes began to set on fire, lighting the sky up. ”Your powers are incredible, Alton; I've never seen anything like this.”
”This is us?”
”Our combined powers. Truly remarkable. I was right to take you under my wing.”
Alton smirked, laughing. ”You took me under your wing? Wasn't it I who stole the show?”
”That's not how I remember it? Wasn't it you who called me your older sister?”
Alton looked away, embarrassed, muttering. ”What? No… I did say that right…”
Sam ruffed up Alton hair laughing. ”You are so easy to tease. Come on, Alton, you need to go back before it's too late.”
”Wait… You said I had the power to change things. How do I get you back? How do you wake up?”
Sam walked in the middle of the road leaning over, wagging her finger, grinning. ”You just have to ask. Now come, let's take him out together one last time.”
****
The blazing sun Alton had behind him had dwindled to nothing, a complete blackout with no sign of it ever coming back. Iris was pinned down, struggling to fight as Alton stood panting. He was stronger; he knew that, but the overwhelming force Pain had going was far too much for Alton to withstand. On his last lifeline, he moved his arm around as one more clone was lifted in the air before tossed aside like nothing. Using his wide range of abilities too much was taking a toll on him. Trying to call his ice powers once more, Alton collapsed onto his knees, coughing up blood. He slouched over, staring down as Percy stood over him with a smug look. ”Well, you weren't wrong there. The battle really was over before it began. How do you feel, Alton? Does it hurt knowing, no matter how hard you try, you were destined to lose? That's exactly how I felt, to die before ever making a difference. I wanted to save hundreds of people, I wanted to be like you and Zinnia, but all of that was a lie. I died for nothing when, in turn, the only person I should be saving is myself. Do you finally understand now? Do you feel the pain I do?”
”No matter how hard I fight, no matter what I do, people I care about die… I always found it so unfair why others didn't have to go through the pain I did. Why do I lose people for no good reason while others never know the guilt I felt…? I would always feel defenceless with no real power to overcome my enemy… I would stand alone as a total failure.”
”No… Alton, don't listen to him.” Iris argued.
Percy smirked, kneeling to Alton's level tapping his face. ”So, you finally understand my pain? Good, now then you can die in peace.”
”I used to think like that.”
”What?”
”But I know differently. I don't have to fight alone; I don't have to protect everyone. Isn't that right? You taught me that all those years ago. I can ask for help! Well, I'm asking now, no, I need your help! Sam! Sam! Please, Sam, if you can hear me help me! I need your help now more than ever! I can't do this without you, so please keep that promise and help me!” Alton screeched at the top of his lungs, falling silent, slouching overhead down. ”Please… Save me.”
Percy looked around, waiting just to tease Alton. ”Well? Are you quite done? I'm sorry to disappoint you, Alton, but no one is coming to save you. Look up. I said, look!” Alton's line of sight was forced to the empty sky, one void of light as the swarm of crows blocked out any ray of sunshine. ”This is how you die; all the light is taken from you.” Standing up, Percy pulled a sword from thin air, scoffing. ”Help me rid of this pain, Alton Brantley!” Closing his eyes, Alton was about to give up before the impossible happen. Light began creeping in. Percy stared up, gritting his teeth. ”Impossible…”
Soon enough, all the crows disintegrated into nothing, leaving a clear perfect sky. A blinding light of brilliant fire crashed down a fair distance from the sanctuary leaving all the clones looking weary. Alton glossed up, unable to react as his eyes were glued to the hills beyond whimpering. ”It can't be… There's no way.”
”So, you remembered our little promise, Alt? It makes me happy you built up the courage to ask for my help. That must be hard for someone like you. Even six years later, though, and you're still causing trouble, why am I not surprised?” Sam said with a reinsuring tone appearing from the hill's bottom in a biker jacket and jeans. She crossed her arms, staring at whistling. ”Oh, it's the run of the mill villain again. Wow, there's loads of you, your poor mother.”
Percy stared on, looking slightly wary. ”You… Don't think this situation will play out like last time, girl. I'm not holding anything back.”