Chapter 315: Who Is Rhapsody? (1/2)
The sun began to set as Iris was mindlessly wandering through the streets of Sunset Peak, lost and alone. First, she was gripping the watch handed to her by Alton with no clue what to do. Next, the rain had just recently stopped, but this didn't help Iris in any sense.
She started having doubts about herself once again; being alone for periods did this to her. She believed she was unfit to even carry on such a mission, especially after being by herself. She felt like she so desperately needed others to save her; to defeat the bad guy, she had no confidence to do anything alone. Standing by the side of the road staring at the cinema, Iris sighed, looking down at the watch. ”What am I supposed to do, Alice?”
”Well, isn't this a sight for sore eyes? I feel so sick I might just go blind.” Iris looked up, seeing Riley standing on the rooftops mocking Iris. ”The Hawthorne loser who can't do anything with Alice's blessing.”
”You…. You're Riley Syndicate. But you're dead.”
”It will take more than that to kill lady Riley! Know your place, peasant!” Haggis boomed, standing alongside Riley.
”Haggis, I can speak for myself. Shut your trap.”
”Sorry, Lady Riley, it's just I cannot go on allowing someone to disrespect you like that!”
Shaking her head, she crossed her arms, staring down at Iris. ”No, she isn't too far off. I guess we've all died a bit inside now, haven't we? Just look at you falling apart to your own self-doubts and pity.”
”What do you want?”
Tilting her head, Riley began tapping her foot against the ground, smirking. ”I'm actually impressed. Zinnia and Emil both attacked me the moment I showed up. You haven't. Things must be nasty.”
”You can say that…. I just struggle to find the motivation to keep fighting these days. The more I fight, the more I question what's the point.”
Riley squatted down, rubbing small chunks of rubble between her fingertips. ”You know, I like your thinking. What is the point in this all? I mean, just look around you. This place seems nice enough. Yeah, that bastard Alton is running the place, but you get used to it. In fact, this place isn't too bad.”
”You don't want to break out?”
Haggis snarled at the comment looking up. ”Breaking out and fighting Alton would only put Lady Riley's life at risk. I'm opposed to anything in the slightest.”
”It's not that we don't. If given a chance, we wouldn't think twice about leaving. We're merely on the fence on the whole situation. Either way out is fine. Whether that's returning to our world and destroying the Garden or living our lives in this make-belief world. Either one doesn't sound too bad.” Riley brushed off. ”It wasn't long before Alton found us a few months back; he wasn't exactly that surprised to find us. He told us we could do whatever we want if we don't harm the residents here. He'd even let us fight as many safeties as possible. That boy knows exactly how to bribe me.”
”So that's it. You're just giving up after everything that happened. The Garden killed your sister.”
Riley nodded with a smug look. ”I know, but not to worry. I have everything I need to act out an act of possible revenge…. You can come out, sweetheart.”
Jehovah was dragged out, trembling her head hung low. She had a rope tied around her hands and legs, making escape impossible. Iris was taken back by this to see a small child being held, prisoner. ”Jehovah! What is the meaning of this, Riley?! This is madness even for you!”
”So, you know this little devil as well? Go figures. Do you know what she is?”
Gripping her fist, she slowly nodded. ”I do, Zinnia told me. She was a Stage of Grief at one point. But she's just an innocent girl now!”
”Innocent?! Just because she isn't what she used to be doesn't make her innocent. A dictator isn't innocent because he was overthrown; a murderer isn't innocent because he confessed. She's a resident of the Garden. The same Garden that took our homes, crushed our families and stole our future. This girl killed my sister. She killed Scarlett in cold blood with a smile on her fucking face!”
Iris was taken back, looking up at Jehovah, not quite sure what to believe. ”She killed Scarlett? That's not possible.”
”It is! Tell her, girl. Tell her!”
Jehovah jumped, nodding to this sniffing. ”It's true. I killed the girl you knew as Scarlett. I killed her for the sole reason because it was fun.”
Riley jumped down, gripping Jehovah by her collar dragging her along. ”I found the snout a few days ago wandering the park aimlessly. I guess she didn't put into account that I'd find her. I've been debating what to do with this little devil for a few days, but now you're here. You can help decide.”
”Me? Why me?”
”Why not? People make the hardest decisions best when under pressure. You seem desperate with nothing to lose. So why not let you choose. Just remember Iris, she took our homes. Slaughtered innocent people. People who did nothing wrong, people who didn't deserve to die. She was responsible for the deaths of Scarlett and Emil; they would still be here with us if it wasn't for her. She deserves to pay, does she not?”
”Yes, I mean she does…. But not like this. This isn't the way.”
”I knew this one was weak, Lady Riley! She isn't worth our time!” Haggis boasted.
”Will you put a sock in its Haggis for five fucking minutes. There's no other way Iris, the Garden wouldn't spare us so easily. If we don't deal with this evil monster, who knows what she'll do. What she's capable of. She could turn on us at any moment. Take out Zinnia or Alton. Kill your sister; nothing is off the table. So, what will it be, Iris? Will you be a hero or a coward?!”
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