Chapter 280: Aftermath (1/2)

”I'll keep my promise, Alton. We'll stop our attack for now. Mourn your dead before we return. If you wish to win this battle, Alton Brantley gathers the Stages. Take them as your own and make your dream come true. Until then.”

”Alton… I'm sorry.”

Alton crawled forward, holding his hand out, screaming. ”Alice, no Alice!” Wings ripped from Bargaining's back as he flew off with Alice in hand away from the city. Alton stared on, losing conscience whispering to himself. ”No… Give her back. Give Alice back to me… Don't go.”

****

Rhinefield was lost; the city was dead with no hope of return. Out of everyone, Alton knew this the most. He knew when hope was lost ever since Sunset Peak. Coming back to his senses, he found himself being carried by Sam on her back through the streets. She was sauntering, passing by the dead and the living who were mourning. All Alton could do was watch and curse himself for not being able to do more. ”Why did this have to happen?”

”You're awake… Please, try not to move. We're getting out of here.”

”What about everyone else?”

Sam paused for a moment, sighing. ”There was an emergency broadcast not too long ago; Victoria is lost. No one is coming to help us. People are fleeing before the Garden returns.”

”But there's nothing out there but the wasteland. They'd all die!”

”I know,” Sam muttered, devastated. ”But there's nothing more we can do. We've lost. Alice is gone, Iris has been taken by Acceptance and V.I.R.A.L has fallen to ruin. We've got nothing left.”

Alton began struggling, falling from Sam tumbling to the floor, lying on the ground coughing. ”There's got to be something!”

”Alton, please, you're in no condition to move.”

Alton began slamming the ground, frustrated screaming. ”Damn it! I failed them all; I couldn't even stop one Stage of Grief… What the hell is wrong with me.”

Sam dragged Alton to his feet, helping him move as she put his arm over her shoulder. ”You can't blame yourself. We weren't prepared.”

”How could we prepare for this?” He mutters, looking at the chaos and Titans spread for miles. ”We… We should meet with the others.”

”I'm not sure if the others are even here… Emil and the other Montagues have already fled with survivors. They're long gone. We lost comms with Blossom a while back; no one has heard or seen from Scarlett.”

Alton kept limping forward, turning his head pointing down the alleyway. ”Take me there.”

”What's down there?”

”Just trust me.”