V.I.R.A.L - Chapter 246

“Back so soon?”

Riley turned, finding Scarlett staring at her from the bedroom door. Riley sat on her bed, trying to keep her smile from showing. “Sister, how are you? Are you here for the mission report? Well, it’s going very well, amazing, in fact. Team Rhapsody and I just got back from this small island off the main coast; it’s the home of one of Gale’s members. Hear this, it was home to the Garden, a small crack had gotten through, and we went and stopped them. Don’t worry, I played my abilities down incredibly. Alton saved my life; they all have my full trust.”

Scarlett stared at her sister, clenching her fist hissing. “It sounds like you’re enjoying yourself. Do I need to remind you why you are doing this, dear sweet sister?”

Riley’s eye began to twitch as she sighed. “I get it. Are you mad for using your identity? Sorry, but you’re the only sibling registered as a Dawn; it would be suspicious if I used my real name. They could easily work out I’m not who I say I am.”

“You know damn well that’s not what I’m talking about, Riley Syndicate!” Scarlett snapped, punching the wall. “The mission is just an excuse, isn’t it?! You’ve got the taste of the outside world. A small drop, and now it’s all you can think about!”

“Are you jealous? I’m sorry if I offended you in any way, Scarlett, but… I just can’t help it. I’ve been curious about the outside world for years, you know that…”

“Jealous? Jealous?! For what reason would or should I be jealous of a failure like you?! The only reason you were chosen is that you are expendable! I’m the one destined to change the world, not you!”

“Scarlett…”

Scarlett snapped, throwing a chair across the room with her mind. “It was meant to be us! We were meant to run away and find a life outside these walls together! You’ve left me behind again…”

Riley moved away from her bed, standing in front of Scarlett. “You’re tired, sis… The training is too much for you.”

“I’ve told father about this.”

“You what?!” Riley cried, stepping back. “Why, why would you do that? Scarlett!”

Scarlett gritted her teeth, frustrated. “You led me with no choice. You’re betraying the family. You’re betraying me… The outside world means nothing to me; my duties as a member of this family comes first. I am to destroy V.I.R.A.L and anyone who stands with them, that includes your futile Team Rhapsody as well.”

“You’re lying, you’re lying to yourself, Scarlett… This isn’t about the family at all, is it? You really want the only thing I’ve got, don’t you?”

This was when Scarlett snapped. Her eyes emitted a red haze as crackles of fire rippled around her body. Letting it all out, she screeched at the top of her lungs, blowing Riley’s room apart. “SHUT UP!”

Riley was blown out of the manor. All memories on display of the pair were destroyed in that very moment, with that everything stood still as time stopped. Percy wandered in, looking around the carnage being caused. “Isn’t this an impressive feat of events? You turned on the only person in your life who cared for you like it was nothing. The pain in your heart at that very moment was unbearing, wasn’t it? What went through your mind at that point, Scarlett?”

Scarlett stood staring at her memory, feeling empty as she spoke softly. “I thought she was going to leave me—Runaway with her new friends. I didn’t have much to offer her, neither did the family. We did all that we could, but it was always going to end this way in the end. I grew jealous and wary of her to the extent I would be alone again. Refusing to let this happen, I tried killing her…”

“And what happened after?”

“I took her place. Acted as if nothing changed and began my journey as a member of Team Rhapsody.”

“Did anyone suspect you?”

“No. Not, to begin with, it was all going to plan. Well, until I understood how Riley felt, I got myself caught in the same spell as her. When you’ve had the taste of a better life, one where everything just seems perfect. How the hell can you go back to the old life just like that? Riley knew that and tried destroying the family… That idiot.”

“Why did she do that for?”

“I can’t really say for sure.”

Percy walked up to the past, Scarlett staring at her with a smug look. “I know, she loved you, Scarlett. Loved you till the very end; she saw the life you gained, and although it pained her dearly, she wanted you to be happy. Why did you think she attacked the Syndicate family? Not as an act of revenge, quite the opposite it was to save you.”

“That’s enough… I don’t want to see anymore. Leave me at once phantom, I don’t care what the echoes of the past have to say.”

“Very well, but know this, Scarlett. This was the catalyst. The first ripple that caused you all the pain and guilt you feel today. One simple choice changed your fate and the destiny of those around you forever.” Percy taunted. “If the past cannot make you see your way, then perhaps a horrid future can.”

****

Fireworks crackle and burst to life, lightning up the damaged city. A celebration was set into motion, and all those were letting it all out. From the top of an old clocktower overlooking the CEOs’ headquarters, Scarlett and Alton stood standing off. Scarlett with a destroyed look of hate and pain, losing all sense of who she was and Alton a calm and collective look with nothing to match. He showed no pity or remorse for this former ally as both were at a standoff. “There’s no point even asking you this anymore. You’re nothing but a mad dog who fell apart the moment her destiny caved in on itself.”

Scarlett never took her gaze away from Alton as she bit her lip until it bled. “You lecture me, yet we are two peas in a pod. What makes you so different and special to me?! I’ve been fighting this fight my whole life! You only stepped in when it affected you; you’re nothing but a hypocrite with no right to stand there all tall and mighty! You took everything from me!”

Alton looked around the city, shaking his head. “You did that yourself. You had everything you needed right here, but you threw that away. Riley understood, and that’s why I spared her. She’s free from her chains while you took that key and threw it away, tightened the grip they had on you and never looked back!”

“Shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up! Don’t you dare mention that name to me! I never had a fucking sister! She betrayed me, just like you did!”

Alton held his hand out like a blade made from ice slowly withered into his hand. “Then there is nothing left to say to you, Syndicate.” Scarlett turned her hand as two swords appeared floating around her. Both stared on, waiting for the other to strike. Alton raised his ice blade above his head, ready as Scarlett held hers behind her. As the second wave of fireworks was set off, the explosion was the bell for them. Both slashed past each other, the sound of swords clashing negated by the fireworks. Each stood where the other once did, but only one fell. Scarlett looked down, seeing an open wound as she fell to her knees, collapsing. Alton didn’t show any mercy as he swiped his blade around, holding it above Scarlett. “You brought this on yourself, old friend…”

Scarlett watched Alton cut her future self-down without hesitation. Looking away, she gritted her teeth, mumbling. “Damn it… That bastard, always looking down on me. This isn’t how it will go. I’ll change my fate and kill him with my own two hands.”

“Wrong.” Percy taunted, arms folded. “Your pain has blinded you. You hold so much hate for him because of your own failures. Not for your family but for the team you once called home. The guilt consumed you; if you choose to walk down this path, the ending will always be the same. Your death by the hands of Alton Brantley.”

“So what?! You expect me to just change like that! Forgive Alton for everything he put me through and rejoin Team Rhapsody like nothing happened?! Never! I’ll never fall that low.”

“I expect you to forgive yourself,” Percy ordered, making Scarlett flinch. “Take it as you want. I only show you the future you’re running to. I can only show you the fate of your pain-filled existence. The fate where you defy that is up to you.”

Percy destroyed the predicted future as they were brought back to the manor. About to leave, Scarlett spoke up, angered. “Why did you show me this? What good does a stage of grief get from tormenting me?”

“It wasn’t meant to torment you. Out of everyone who wronged me in the past, you weren’t one of them. But for the brief time, we knew each other, Scarlett, I could just tell you were hurting. Behind all of that fake persona you had going on, I could see the pain in your eyes. Unnecessary pain is the worst kind. The old Percy is long dead, but… He would have wanted you to be happy.”

The stage of pain vanished as Scarlett stared blankly. Leaving her home, she stood in the middle of the road drowning in her sorrows, staring at her hands. Clenching them tightly, she threw it aside. “I won’t allow that future to control me… I’ll tear it all down and make my own future. With or without Team Rhapsody. Friend or foe Alton Brantley, I’ll leave you to decide that one.”