Chapter 262: Return of The Phantom Part 2 (1/2)
The city was dead, voices of the damned had fallen silent, and there was nothing but the grim reminder of the past. Kurt lay on the floor, bleeding out, watching his city burn around him. Giant trees matching the very skyscrapers plagued the city as his battle was over. Crawling forward, leaving a trail of blood behind, Kurt groaned, collapsing, losing all strength to fight. His was all alone now, with his allies' fate unclear. Everything he worked hard for had been wiped clean with the chance of victory. At that moment, he felt hopeless and weak with everything until now leading up to failure. Darkness began consuming the city as Kurt was just forced to watch it all occur. That was until a small boy walked by, turning to the hero. ”Well, isn't this some sort of fate? It's been far too long legendary hero.” Kurt looked up at the boy, not saying a word as he smirked. ”You've truly lost all hope, haven't you? I did warn you this would happen, but you had to go and act so proud being the Phantom. For you see, Kurt, I can never die, and the Garden will grow forever. May this be reminder humanity doesn't stand a chance against the Garden.”
The boy turned as Kurt reached his hand out, grabbing the boy's leg. ”Please… Help me.”
Mortem turned snickering. ”Help you? Are you actually asking for my help? The irony, pure irony. I offered you a place at my side during the new golden age, but you had to fight back and destroy everything I worked so hard to make. Now you know how it feels. The others are most likely dead or will soon be. You've lost Phantom; even Adam realised that and joined us. What a hypocrite.”
”Help… me.”
Mortem crouched down, staring right into Kurt's eyes. ”Is that what you truly want, Kurt Hatching? If you agree, there is no going back. Yes, I can save you; I can grant you the power to overthrow the Garden and take back this world. But you would now be my puppet forever. Or until I find someone more powerful. That is my condition. What say you?”
Mortem stood up, prepared for Kurt to turn it down, so what happened next shocked it even further. ”Do it… Do whatever you want with me; just give me the power to save the people I love!”
”What? You're serious? After all these years, desperation was the key to getting you? Ha, I'm slightly disappointed.” Mortem scoffed, walking around Kurt. ”But I won't complain too much; after all, the legendary Kurt Hatching will be mine. I've been so looking forwards to this. Take my hand, Kurt. Take my hand and pledge allegiance to me.”
With his life fading before his eyes, Kurt reached his hand out, whispering. ”Hannah, Zinnia… Forgive me.”
Taking the little boy's hand, the entity was transferred as the boy collapsed dead. Kurt fell too but stopped himself, staring at the floor, feeling like a new man. His eyes turned dead, and a snicker came from him. ”You made the right choice Kurt Hatching. Don't ever regret this choice. I will hold my end of the bargain now and destroy the Garden once and for all.”
****
”I will take your body for my own. You belong to me!”
”Oi Mortem.” A voice croaked, forcing Mortem to stop staring on with fear. Kurt stood up, staring Mortem down. ”What's wrong? Was my body not good enough for you?”
Mortem turned, stumbling back at the sight of the Phantom in the blood. ”You should be dead. Leaving you should burn you up.”
”Should it now? Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I just don't know when to quit.” He said with a cocky tone flicking his hand down. ”If you want to hurt my daughter, you're going to have to go through me. Your fight is with the Phantom of New York. Prepare yourself, Mortem. Let's finish what we started 400 years ago.”
Zinnia watched in disbelief. ”Dad?”
The Phantom turned to Zinnia with a heroic smile. ”Worry not, Zinnia, you can rest easy now. I'll take care of the rest; I'll be the hero you see me as once and for all. Watch me and learn villain as I stop your reign of evil once and for all!”
Mortem jumped back, pointing to the Phantom paranoid. ”You stay the hell away from me, Kurt Hatching. Don't you dare take another step you hear me! After all, I did for you, you'd betray me! Need I remind you I was the one who gave you the tools to stop the Garden? I saved your life and allowed you the opportunity to see your daughter in the flesh. You should be on your knees grovelling for forgiveness for defying us!”