Chapter 274: The Fall of Victoria Part 1 (2/2)
”Alton? Is Zinnia with you?!”
”Afraid not. Look, there's no time, I'm here to get you all out of here, but we need to hurry.”
Turning on the spot, Alton held his shoulder, bearing the pain. Rebecca was slightly taken back as she spoke, upholding one of the younger girls in her arms. ”Why are you helping us for?”
”I most likely wouldn't have… But all considering if Zinnia was here to fight, she would have taken my place. Regardless of the matter, I'll help the people she cares about; it's the least I can do.” The moment Alton turned ready to clear a path, the whole orphanage was destroyed in an instant. Crashing to the ground, Alton turned, yelling out. ”Are you all alri-.” Alton froze, staring on in horror as nothing was left standing. Crawling back, Alton noticed the bodies of the girls burrowed under the rubble. He stared on, trembling, unable to process what just happened.
”Aww, I missed that's no fun.” Alton slowly turned his head as Denial floated down, balancing on a lamppost nearby. She frowned, crossing her arms. ”I was aiming for Alton, not the orphans… Oh well, no one will miss them!”
Alton stood himself up, gripping his fist tightly moving his hand forward. ”Do you have any idea what the fuck you just did?!” He screeched, creating a giant iceberg consuming all around him.
Letting out a cold breath, Denial floated down behind him, teasing Alton. ”How fun! But it's going to take a lot more than that to take me down, big brother.” Alton gritted his teeth, swinging his arm around again, sending more icicles at the girl in which. She jumped around, avoiding each one with a childish smile plastered on her face. ”Come on, you're almost there. Ooh, so close. Just hit me; you can do it! Believe in yourself, big bro!”
Alton slammed forward, grabbing Denial's leg throwing her across the street. Slightly startled by this, she quickly caught her balance spinning around another lamppost before quickly climbing up it starting back at square one. Alton tutted, holding his hand back as clumps of ice began charging. Pushing to his limits, he crushed the clusters yelling. ”Whiteout!”
Denial was covered in a thick layer of fog and snow, unable to see. She looked around in awe at the sudden raw power clapping her hands. ”I haven't had this much fun in almost 400 years. Bargaining was right about you; big brother Alton facing you is so much fun!” She turned around, facing Alton directly, throwing him off entirely. ”Wouldn't you agree?”
Crashing to the side, avoiding her, Alton stood up as the fog began to fade with a red tinge in the wait. Blood trickled down his arm as Alton twisted his hand, pushing it forward. ”Torrent blow!”
Denial turned as the attack was about to hit her head-on. She did next sent shivers down Alton's back as Denial smacked the attack away, making Alton stumble back. Denial noticed this as her sweet childish nature turned into a sadistic nature as she turned on Alton, her blanket growing a dark purple. ”It's all over now for you, Alton Brantley.”
Just as she was about to attack back, Denial quickly turned, being blown up from where she stood. Crashing back against the roof, she saved herself, jumping back to her feet. Scarlett walked in, shaking her hand, tutting. ”Damn it…”
”Scarlett?! What are you doing here?”
Scarlett pulled Alton up, turning to Denial. ”What does it look like? You told me to fight until I find what I love in life; I'm not letting you die on me until I find out what it is.”
”Oh dear, oh no.” Denial whispered. ”I wanted to play with big brother Alton, not you, Scarlett Syndicate… This just won't do.”
”Who the hell is the kid?”
”Correct me if I'm wrong, but you're one of the Stages of Grief?”
”Yup, I am! I represent the Stage of Denial. But in life, I was called Jehovah Law.”
”She's one of the Stages of Grief?! I would have never guessed. But she took a head-on explosion like it was nothing… Not even you can do that.”
Denial began sulking, slamming her foot to the ground serval times. ”I don't like being teamed up on… I don't want to play anymore…”
Denial flew off as Scarlett tried running after her. Alton held his hand out, blocking her pursuit. ”Don't bother. We don't have time to chase Stages all day.”
”But she's on the run! We could take her together!”
”There's something off about that little girl. She blocked all my attacks like it was a mere game. Before you stepped in for a split moment, I felt an overwhelming power that even grew past my own. Until we know what their Stage does, we shouldn't engage. Protecting the people of Rhinefield is our top priority; we should meet up with the others before more Stages arrive…”
”Fine… Why did this have to happen now? We're really screwed, aren't we?”
Scarlett flew away as Alton was left alone. He turned to the destroyed orphanage biting his lip cursing under his breath. ”I'm sorry, Zinnia… I couldn't save them, but I promise I'll make the Garden pay. You have my word on that.”