Chapter 300: The Long Whisper Part 1 (1/2)
Alton found himself at the foot of an old park. Staring on at the rusted worn-down playground with broken swings and a destroyed gate, he found himself confused. Was this the start of his trials? Indeed it must have been something else. But he couldn't lie but feel sick by sight with a pungent stench in the air making him want to vomit. But on the edge of that was also the feeling of nostalgia.
Three young children ran through Alton, making him stumble back as he watched them going off to play. There were two boys and one girl playing with the ruins of the playground without much care. The first boy had medium green hair curled up and messy matched with yellow eyes. He was pushing the only swing left for the girl who Alton didn't take long to recognise. Clearly, from first sight, it was Eve, far younger than before. ”Push me harder, Lucas! I want to go as far as possible!”
”I'm not strong enough to push you that hard, Eve!” Lucas complained, turning to the lone boy crouched down pushing chains around. ”Alton, come and help me!”
The other boy reacted, standing up with a sigh but bold laugh. ”I always have to do everything for you, am I not Lucas?!
The little boy ran over, pushing Eve with all his might getting further than Lucas ever could. This made Alton stare blankly, shaking his head. ”What is this? What the hell are those Gardeners trying to trick me with?”
”This is no trick.” The Woman spoke, standing idly next to Alton without much care. ”Everything you see here happened at one point or another. We are succumbing to your past, Alton Brantley. Before you were found by your father.”
”I was born in the Garden?”
”Correct, that you were. Like many other poor souls, you were born into a world of terror and pain: a world where the sun never rises and one we are forever trapped in. Anyone raised like that would want change, wouldn't they? To be free from their chains and break out into your world.”
”I always had a faint idea my origins were with the Garden. But why show me this? What has this got to do with my trials?”
The Woman sipped her tea, giving a nod of acknowledgement. ”At this current moment in time, nothing. We simply wanted to remind you just where you came from. Your life was much simpler back then, before the war. Before everything changed, you would play with your two best friends Lucas and Eve, almost every day without fail. None the wiser that, in fact, one of your friends was a traitor and member of Fairy-Tale, it wouldn't be long before you found this out, however.”
The memory faded into darkness as another came to be as Alton found himself in a training camp, his younger self working with Lucas on hand-to-hand combat. Lucas was sent to the ground with one block, startled by the events as the young Alton held his hand out. ”You need to keep your concentration, Lucas. The enemy won't be so kind.”
Taking his arm, Lucas shot up to his feet with a smirk. ”You're one to talk. Aren't you always encaptivated by Eve? When the hell are you going to make your move already?”
”It's not like that,” Alton explained, scratching his head. ”I don't know what it is, but I don't see Eve like that.”
Lucas wrapped his arms around his wooden sword, leaning forward nodding. ”I hear ya. I don't think she's too fond of you either. Does this mean I can make my move?”
Alton laughed, punching Lucas' shoulder. ”You bloody idiot…. I heard the Stages of Grief are getting ready to start the war against the outside.”
”They are? Huh…. Do you think we can win?”
Alton shot Lucas a dodgy look, pissed off. ”What sort of reply is that?! Of course, we can! Those devils damned us to this hell for no reason. We suffer here every day while they live like kings. We have to win!”
”Very good, Alton, but perhaps keep your voice down, no?” Adam exclaimed, adjusting Alton's leg making him stumble. ”Try to remember to always keep on guard. Your closest ally could be an enemy in disguise.”
Alton stood up, snarling. ”Not funny, Adam….”
Adam smiled, looking around. ”I shouldn't be telling you boys this, but you've heard the rumours of war, right?”
”How can we not? It's all people talk about these days.”
”Right, well, they aren't just rumours. They are true; the Gardener Stella has already dispatched Mortem to scout the outside world to corrupt their people to our cause. I've been tasked in keeping everything in check out there.”
”You're going to the outside world?!” Lucas yelled, getting people's attention. Slouched down, he whispered. ”Sorry…. But seriously.”
Grumbling to himself, Adam nodded. ”You and your big mouth Lucas. But yes, that's the truth. It's almost time.”
”What about Eve. Is she going too?” Alton questioned.
”About that…. Alton, before we go, Eve and I want to talk to you. In private. Don't worry, you'll get back to your training soon enough; an afternoon with training won't hurt your chances of being the next in line to become one of the Stages of Grief.”
Alton looked to Lucas, unsure. ”Is that alright?”
”No sweat, man, I might just overtake you with those extra hours, though.”
”As if. You've already well overtaken me.” He jokes, shaking hands with Lucas. ”See you soon, Lucas.”
”Catch you later, Alton.”