V.I.R.A.L

A Streamer's chat can be a mixture of many things. Diehard fans begging for attention copying and pasting their comment over and over in the hopes the streamer will respond. The followers who just copy whatever the masses put in the chat in hopes of being apart of the action. The Moderator banning spam and spiteful comments and lastly the troll, the one who hopes to trick the Streamer into slipping up for a good laugh or to get a reaction for their complication channel. These group of people come together to make the average Streamer chat. However, it's the ones that go against this norm that will change everything—a plea for help.

Team Rhapsody had been streaming for little over an hour now. Although they had yet to foil a crime being too caught up in what to do, they had managed to keep their small audience of just over 100 people entertained till then. Readying their next move Zinnia was cooped up on her phone half on the chat the other half on the web as she began looking for their next big hit. "Yo, Zinnia! We're heading to the bowling alley. Move your ass." Alton barked hopping side to side down the street, preferably in a much better mood than usual.

Zinnia glossed up, seeing her friends on the move. As she was about to head off with them, she looked down at the chat thrown off by a single comment. Help me. Before Zinnia could even click on the profile of the individual, the statement was automatically deleted by the auto moderator. Lost in confusion, she quickly gave up running after her friends.

****

Gale lined up the bowling ball perfectly. Eyeing down the alley, he closed one eye with his tongue stuck out adjusting his targeting. Everyone else was bored out of their mind forced to watch Gale perform this motion for the past ten minutes. Eventually, he went with the flow, throwing the ball straight ahead. The ball rolled to the side, missing each pin. Gale jumped up, letting a huge celebration. "Beat that loser."

"Gale, do you even know how to play bowling?"

"Pfft, what sort of question is that? Umm, of course, I do. You're not meant to hit any pins duh."

"Jesus Christ…"

Percy's turn was next as he leaned back smirking as a clone of Vanguard appeared readying the ball. Like expected from Percy's hero, he got an easy strike. "Unlucky man, there's always next time." Gale mustered up.

Alton grumbled slightly annoyed. "Using our powers is kinda unfair…" He stood up letting the barriers go up as Alton threw the ball entirely off only hitting three pins. This didn't get much better as he only managed another two pins on his second go. The barriers dropped, and he walked back to his seat in shame. Zinnia chose not to play. She was far too caught up with the comment she read. It was probably nothing she thought, but she couldn't help but wonder if it did mean something. Alton flicked Zinnia's head whinging to himself. "Is there a reason you're not playing? I hate being in dead last…"

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Zinnia looked up frowning. "Just have something on my mind. Earlier I was reading the chat. Someone called out for help. Before I could look into it more, the comment vanished. It's probably nothing, but it's just bugging me, you know."

"Probably just spam, a bot trying to troll us. It was removed and for good reasons. Don't let it bother you."

"But what if someone is calling out for help? They might need us, and we are here just bowling."

"Oi, Gale mind helping Zinnia grabbing drinks?"

"What? I'm not…"

Gale smirked getting zero pins again as he nodded. "No problem. I think my crazed skills could use a break. I will only drink fruit pop, though!"

Zinnia walked over to the vending machine as Gale was in the middle of choosing his drink. She looked down at her phone her heart skipping a beat seeing the comment again, this time a link to a video. Before the comment could be deleted furthermore, she snapped open the link as a separate video popped up. The moment she saw the clip sent her blood began to boil. She recognised the streamer without a second doubt, the cluttered and expensive jewellery, heaps of detailed tattoos and the well-groomed and looked after yet scruffy blonde hair. It was no doubt the man who put her and Alton in the circumstances. Monty Montague. She watched the short video in disgust as the Montagues were harassing strangers in public taking money and whatever else they wanted. "Gale, look at this…"

Gale peered over her shoulder, watching the video also ticked off. "What a prick… I know my days as a stream sniper is over but this! I want to beat the ever-loving shit out of this guy."

"That's Monty Montague."

"For real?! The git who got you and Alton arrested? Didn't he blackmail you into paying him?!"

"That's the one. He's a real monster. Using his fame and the family name, he does whatever he wants to only his greed and self-gain."

Gale snarled seeing Monty bullying a shop into giving him free stuff. "We take down corrupt streamers, he ticks every box. Why not take this fucktard down?!"

"I've put the idea forward to Alton. But he turned down the idea. Said it was far too risky with the dirt he has on us."

Gale kicked the vending machine raged. "This is bullshit! If we are too afraid to take down a crooked streamer what sort of heroes are, we?!"

"Wait? You're not suggesting?"

Gale snatched her phone nodding. "We're going to prove to Alton we can do this. We're taking down Monty! If someone is calling for help, who are we to deny that cry?!"

Zinnia's eyes shot up as she began jumping about nodding. "Taking down crooked streamers is our speciality. Where is he?"

"He is streaming with his brother… wow it's just ten minutes from here. It must be fate!"

Zinnia smirked cracking her knuckles. "Then let's show this fucker that he messed with the wrong streamers. Change the title. We're exposing this prick once and for all!"

Gale and Zinnia high on adrenaline rushed out of the bowling alley as Alton soon caught wind. Glimpsing at his phone, he too saw the link Zinnia had been obsessed over. The user name struck him slightly. Rodger_Vanguard. Clicking on the link, he froze seeing the clip of Monty. Although he too felt angered Alton knew there was nothing he can do. That was until he saw the title of their stream had been updated. Exposing Monty Montague, crooked bully of V.I.R.A.L. Alton jumped up looking horrified. "Holy fuck! No, no, no, no?! What are they doing?! This is bad, really fucking bad! Percy, we need to go!"

"What's wrong? Are Zinnia and Gale in trouble?"

"No, but they are about to be…"

****

Alton had his phone locked on Zinnia's location. She wasn't far. He gritted his teeth, knowing what she was planning. Percy wasn't far behind being brought up to scratch on the situation. He too knew it was a dumb move, but that was beyond them now. They needed to save Zinnia and Gale from doing something stupid.

Flying around the corner, they quickly found their target. Zinnia laid on the floor bloody and beaten as Monty stood on her with one foot all while a gun pointed to her head. "Zinnia!"

Monty looked up smirking dragging her back towards the wall which had graffiti all over the wall of baseball bats, guns and even a person. He pressed his foot tighter on her waving the gun around. "I should have known you fuckers were going to show up sooner or later. The nerve you had to try and expose me! Take me down?! Are you out of your fucking mind?! We let you off easy, and this is how you repay us?!"

Gale gripped his fists together ready to fight, but with Zinnia in harm's way, he was forced to stand by. Alton moved forward a look of fury in his eyes. "Don't do anything stupid, Monty. This is between you and me."

"You don't get to decide that. After my humiliating defeat against you, I had to rebrand. Start from scratch."

"Your brand wasn't hurt?! You got us more fucked over if anything."

"I don't care about streaming. It's got nothing to do with that. You damned my pride as a Montague. Losing to a low life like you?! Give me a bloody break. I've never seen anything so disgusting in my life. Dropped my useless brother for that reason. If one member of the Montagues can't enrich my experience, there is always another one waiting to take his place."

"You're insane."

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"No, I'm just ahead of the pack. I wanted to watch you suffer and burn in debt, crawling like a rat to me, begging for forgiveness. But it seems just like the rat you are you draw to other rats. I should exterminate you all right here! But I want to regain my pride get on your hands and knees and beg. Beg for me not to kill her!"

Alton began slowly crouching down, looking at Zinnia who looked petrified. He bit his lip in disagreement lowering his hands. He would play along until the perfect moment. Falling slowly still he noticed the small drop of blood Zinnia had was dripping onto the floor and right next to Monty. As he was about to start his counterstrike, Alton saw something in the corner of his eye. The graffiti covering the streets were coming to life. A boy dressed similarly to Monty with a skinhead and green eyes ripped from the wall kicking Alton in the face sending him flying back smashing to the ground. The attack Alton had planned fell apart as Monty smirked. "You think I was going to fall for another cheap trick Alton Brantley?!"

Alton glimpsed up at the new streamer as he gave off a cocky smile taunting Alton into attacking. Being in reaching distance, Alton swept his legs, throwing a punch. The boy suddenly collapsed into the ground looking like the graffiti Alton saw before. He quickly transformed back into his usual self, uppercutting Alton. The new streamer began clapping in a motion mocking Alton. "This kid ain't shit Monty. I can take him."

"You fucking better waste of space."

"You don't have to question my ordeal brother; I'll earn the family name. Emil Montague is ready to teach team Rhapsody a lesson."