Chapter 341: The Lying Kiss (1/2)
Alton slouched up his back against the cell as he had dozed off waiting. He would be suddenly awoken to a loud commotion. ”I'm sorry, Zinnia, but we've been told not to let you see him.”
”Let me see him now! I have a right!”
”Easy, their hero, it's alright. Let her through.” Riley informed.
”But Riley, we were told.”
”Alice isn't here right now; I'm in charge so let her through.”
The guards moved out of the way as Zinnia entered. Opening one eye, Alton tutted, keeping his guard up. ”So, are you here to interrogate me for Alice? She sees me as the bad guy. Me of all people, if you're here to make it worse, don't bother.”
”You shouldn't be in here. No matter what you did, this isn't right.”
Alton gave a faint nod, slowly falling to the floor curled up. ”You're right…. Being in here reminds me of when I was Mortem's pet for a few years. My room wouldn't be much bigger than this…. The isolation matches. I don't understand…. What did I do wrong?”
”I don't know. They won't tell me.”
Alton glossed over his shoulder, sighing. ”You too, huh? Ever since Iris Alice has lost the plot. She's trying to keep it all together, but it's only a matter of time. Heck, I wouldn't be surprised if they plan on taking my Stages and killing me.”
”Kill you?! Alice would never do that; she's our friend!”
”You're not wrong there.” He spoke, standing up sitting on the bed slouched over. ”How are you holding up, feeling any better?”
Zinnia shook her head, unsure. ”I'm not sure. My memory is so hazy these days…. I can't remember much from before.”
Alton glanced up, eyebrow raised. ”No? I suppose the Garden worm did eat at your memories. What do you remember?”
”Bits and pieces. Joining Team Rhapsody, Percy's death, Alice joining us. Emil dying and us fighting the Garden…. Anything else, though, is a blank slate.”
Alton sat still thinking before a smirk came across his face leaving as he looked up to Zinnia. ”I see. That is troubling. Do you remember leaving Team Rhapsody? Do you remember fighting Acceptance?”
”No. It's all just one big blur…. I hate it so much.”
Walking to the bars, Alton pressed his head against it looking discouraged. ”I'm so sorry, Zin. If only I was there to save you quicker, none of this would have happened. I'm just so glad you're safe and sound.”
”But it got you thrown in jail…. Why?”
”Alice is afraid of me. She's scared of me because I'm more powerful than her. I have harnessed the power of Acceptance and Pain; I did this all for you, Zin.”
”For me?”
”That's right. To save you from Bargaining. To protect the others I care about from the Garden. This is the truth, and Alice is afraid of that.”
”That doesn't make any sense, Alice is….” Zinnia stopped calming herself down. ”Alice has no reason to fear you.”
Alton began pacing, his arms folded, looking troubled. ”I'm afraid it's much worse than I imagined. I believe Alice is now under the influence of the Garden.”
”That's not possible.”
”I'm afraid it is. I don't know how, but really, I should have seen this coming. She was always connected with Eve and was created from the Garden. She may not even know it, but she is following their will even now.” Alton whispered, biting his thumb. ”They haven't told you, have they?”
”Haven't told me what?”
”I was afraid of this. I overheard the guards talking about it. They plan on killing me.”
”No. They would never do that. How could they?!” Zinnia snapped, furious. ”After all you did for them….”
”I can only fear the worst from here on end. If they didn't tell you and Alice ordered the guards not to let you see me, they are already moving their plan into motion. They know you can stop it, so they kept you in the dark. Only you can save me, Zinnia; only you can set me free.”