Chapter 326: The Girl in the Shadows Part 2 (2/2)
But now, I'm not sure that moment will ever come….
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”Iris, Iris. You can't give up Iris, you're stronger. I know you are. Iris, you have to save everyone. Your friends, your sister!”
”That voice…. It can't be? Mother?”
As the attack landed, everything stopped as Iris found herself trapped in an endless void of nothing. Something she was far too familiar with. Looking around, she began jumping to conclusions falling to her knees breaking down. ”No…. It can't end like this. I can't just accept this! I never got my chance, my chance to save them! To make up for my mistakes, to show Alice I can be something too!”
”You don't have to do anything like that.” Iris froze with fresh tears turning her head. A woman with green eyes and chestnut brown hair matching Iris' stood with a bold smile. ”You never had to anything like that, my Iris.”
”Mother….” Iris whimpered, wiping her eyes. ”Am I dead?”
”No. There's still time. You can still save them, Iris; they need you.”
Iris lowered her head, shaking it in shame. ”They don't need me; they've never needed me. It's Alice they need.”
”Alice? Alice wasn't the one who stopped Vanguard; Alice wasn't the one who fought Paradox to protect her sister alone. Alice wasn't the one who saved Alton from his demons and got him back on his feet. That was you.”
”Alice could have done it better.”
Maya gave a faint nod smiling. ”She might have, but she didn't. You did. Do you know why I never compared you to your sister Iris?”
”No?”
Maya kneeled down, placing her hand over the back of Iris' neck, tutting with a smile. ”It's because I didn't have to. You may not be the number one streamer or the most powerful Anti-Human, you may not be a part of Team Rhapsody, but do you know what you are? My daughter, and that's all you have to be. Nothing is more special than that. There was never a shadow you were trapped in because you were the brightest star out there to me. The spotlight has always been on you, Iris and always will be. It's up to you how you use that time.”
Sniffing, Iris wiped her nose, chuckling to herself. ”You always knew the words to cheer me up, mum.”
”I'm glad to hear that. Now, what are you going to do?”
Iris stood up, looking at her cube, holding it tight to her chest. ”What can I do? I don't stand a chance against Anger; she keeps coming back time and time again. Even if I killed her!”
”You're thinking about it too much. Thinker simpler, easier. How do you stop her?”
Iris gasped, realising the truth. ”Her Stage. If I took her Stage, she would lose her power. I can do it, mum; I know I can.”
Maya hugged Iris, nodding. ”I know you can, sweetie. Save the world, and remember your mother is always rooting for you.”
”I wished I had more time to talk.”
”You will soon. I'll be waiting.”