V.I.R.A.L

Chapter 124: Fragile Minds Part 1

It was pitch black, so much so it was impossible to see outside the building. The long-winded school was crippled and lost to time. It was just like before, to Alton at least. His fall to EOR had him trapped in the one place he always returns to in his dreams this time; however, it was no dream but something far worse. Lifting his head from the desk, he saw a hole in the whiteboard. The classroom had an ominous haze lingering over and outside was blind to the very eye with nothing in sight. From the spot, a green vibrant and almost cosmic light poured out, reacting to Alton's movement. Standing up, he pushed his desk aside this time choosing to leave the classroom right away, not looking back at Sam's desk. Now in the hallway, he could quickly make out shadows roaming around between classrooms. Figuring it would best to avoid them for some reason, he walked oppositely. He was well aware he was trapped in EOR's reality one far more believable than he could possibly imagine. It wouldn't be as simple as just snapping out of it. He needed to escape, no matter what. As he took another step forward, he stopped feeling a faint rumble under his right foot. Jumping back a broad set of roots rippled through the ground and up onto the roof, blocking his path. The vegetation seemed alive somehow watching Alton change course and towards the shadows in the distance. Turning the corner, he saw other students walking around, opening lockers or chatting silently. Glancing at each one, none of them could hold eye contact their vision darting about everywhere.

None of them seemed hostile… Yet. Already recognising the school like the back of his hand, Alton moved towards the exit to the roof. Climbing up the stairs, he pushed against the doors falling to his knees on the roof although still almost pitch dark he could make out someone standing at the edge idly. Pulling himself up, he walked, overseeing Zinnia, staring out into the distance. Alton stood by glancing at her before looking into the distance. He could just about make out something large far off, but it was too difficult to make out the details. "What is this place?" Zinnia asked with a slight hint of fear in her tone.

"This used to be my school… Before the accident."

"Your father, yeah?" Alton remained silent before giving a small nod. Turning back to Zinnia, he grabbed her by the face forcing eye contact as he moved in closer, getting a better look. Going bright red, she tried breaking free. "What the hell are you doing?"

Alton let go giving off a sigh of relief stepping away. "Well, that's one bit of good news so far. You aren't an illusion."

Zinnia turned away, trying to calm herself down. "How do you know that?"

"I picked up on a small weakness in Eyes Over Reality's powers. His illusions are almost unnoticeable apart from people. If you were an illusion, you wouldn't be able to keep eye contact."

"I thought you were going to kiss me or something for a moment."

"Sorry, I couldn't see properly I wanted to make sure." He admitted walking further away from her.

Zinnia turned back around, clenching her fist. "Wait a moment. How do I know you're not an illusion?"

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"Fair enough. You want to check too? You'll have to get really close to properly know."

"Ah, you know what, I'll just take your word this time around. Might I ask why do you keep moving away from me? You know I'm not an illusion."

Alton looked around again, chuckling nervously. "Sorry if I seem a little on edge. Just at this current moment in time, I'm not sure I can trust you."

"Well, I don't blame you for that I suppose…"

"Bargaining? Seriously, out of all the people you turn to him?"

"What did you expect me to do? I couldn't watch my friends die!"

Alton shook his head, laughing to himself. "And there's where the problem lies. Always thinking it's down to you and you alone to save the world. Newsflash Zinnia it doesn't. Typical heroes."

"What wrong with heroes?"

"Nothing at large. But it's always down to us to clean up your fucking mess afterwards. It's alright though you did it. You saved the day, and the bad guy is behind bars. Those couple dozen deaths and the eventual escape of the bad guy is someone else's problem the hero saved the day who cares about tomorrow?"

"What is your problem?!" Said Zinnia, who was losing her temper. "Always so negative and quick to downplay people who want to help. Is that what this place is? Your regret?!"

Alton jumped back on the edge of the roof, holding his hands out. "You need to learn a hard truth Zinnia. After all this time I thought you would have come to the conclusion we all live in. But it seems you've been trapped in an illusion still. Stepping back again, he almost fell off. "Some people don't want to be saved."

Zinnia stared on in shock as Alton was about to jump. She gasped whispering out. "No…"

Alton sighed, stepping forward, sitting on the edge sighing. "Like I was going to jump. I'm not that sort of person. When are you going to realise Zinnia, not everyone is worth saving? The only person worth saving first and foremost is yourself. Being a hero only brings pain…"

"He speaks from experience, you know." A voice stated. Alton twisted around seeing Sam coming from the entrance to the school. She was in her streamer outfit. A long blue cape and a bomber jacket with badges and stickers lined all up. Around her neck was her gas mask. "You always did like to be so down in the dumps didn't you Alton. Always so fixated on the past."

Staring at her, he noticed she couldn't keep eye contact. He snarled slouching over. "I have nothing to say to an illusion."

Sam ruffed up her short red hair shrugging. "But you can listen?" Turning to Zinnia, she began pacing. "Why are you feeding this girl with lies?"

Zinnia felt uneasy as she had her eyes peeled on both Alton and Sam. "What does she mean?"

Sam tutted slouching down next to Alton, smacking him on the back. "How you've been holding up champ? I hope you haven't forgotten about me too quickly now quite the new team you've got. I wish we got as big as you did. I'm super jealous."

"liar," Alton whispered.

Sam stared blankly before snickering. "I was only fucking with you. I didn't give a fuck about how big we got. It was about making a difference. You still believe in that right?"

Alton curled up tighter hiding his face. "I don't care about any of that anymore. Just leave me alone."

"What a poor excuse. If that was the case, then why did you save Zinnia back on that night you met? You could have just let her rot away. But you made a deal with the Montagues to free her."

"What?" Zinnia whispered.

"Or how about when you gave yourself up to fight off Vanguard knowing all too well you would lose. It was to save your friends, no?"

Alton lifted his head up, staring at Sam. "How the hell do you know this?"

"I'm not real, remember? A mere illusion created from your memories. I know everything that goes through your mind—the wish to be free of all your powers and return to a normal life. But yet you yearn for that life with me—Hero's Might. You want nothing more than to be a hero again. So conflicted."

Alton laughed, standing up. "I'm no hero. Never have and never will be. If you were Sam, you would know that."

Sam sighed, giving off a smug look. "Perhaps, but if that was the case, why did you make that deal?"

"Deal? What deal? What is she talking about Alton?"

"Don't listen to her. She's trying to get in our heads and make us even more confused. In this fictional world, our minds are hanging on a string. We can't lose sight of who we are."

Sam kept laughing pointing at Alton. "Lose sight of who we are? So, tell me, Alton, just who are you then? The hero of Sunset Peak? The unstoppable Avalanche of Hero's Might? Or maybe your just Alton Brantley, the boy who works two part-time jobs with no real dream insight? Are you Dauntless, leader of Team Rhapsody heroes of V.I.R.A.L.? No, maybe you're the monster. Child of the Garden and Victoria's doom. After what you agreed to do, I'm thinking the latter."

"What did you do?"

"Would you like to know? Alton wouldn't. It's our secret. You don't understand the lengths he goes through to keep you safe sweet Zinnia. Is it out of hospitality? Love? Guilt or maybe redemption. When you find out what he agreed to with Bargaining. Well, it might just break your little heart."

The school began to catch on fire as Sam was ablaze laughing. Alton stepped back, looking over the edge biting his lip. "Zinnia listen to me."

Zinnia was trapped in a daze unsure of what was going on. "What did she mean Alton? You made a deal with Bargaining? Why? What was it? What did you do?"

"Zinnia!" Screamed Alton as he took deep breaths. "Do you trust me?"

Zinnia thought for a short while before looking at Alton in despair. "No."

Feeling that hit like a truck, Alton nodded. "That's what I feared." He pushed Zinnia off the roof before jumping himself. Both fell into a thick layer of snow. The darkness began to subside as the thing in the distance started to reveal itself. Alton lifted his head from the snow as Zinnia was on her knees, looking on in despair. In the not so far distance was a giant tree, one the size of a skyscraper towering over the land. Its leaves were corrupted, hanging with a purple glow. The area around it was dead consumed by the same purple leaves. "It can't be… How does EOR know about this?"

"We are what will come. We are what will always occur. You may fight it, run from it, delay it. But like death, we are inevitable. You feel denial. Anger swells. You wish to bargain. You fall into the abyss of depression. And finally, you accept us with open arms. We are this world's salvation, and we are here. Come find us, we will be waiting."

Zinnia fell back shiver giving up. Alton crawled forward also collapsing he gritted his teeth crying out. "Zinnia. Zinnia, please." He held his hand out, feeling his vision fading. "I need you. I beg of you, please save me. Save me from me."

Zinnia's dead eyes awoke to see Alton reaching out with a plea. She didn't hesitate to be the hero she was. She reached out as their fingers touched. "I will."

****

Eyes Over Reality was done. He had his fun, but the game to him was over. He had, of course, won without any effort. That's what he thought anyway. That was until the air got colder than before sending a shiver down his spine, matched with the crackle of thunder and lightning caught his attention. Turning back, his eyes widened, seeing Alton and Zinnia growing in power. "Impossible. No, that isn't possible. That should have drowned to their own doubts and sin! This is impossible!"