V.I.R.A.L

We live in a word of wonder and fantasy! The idea of superheroes and villains are more than just a comic book they are real. Known as Anti-Humans these individuals all harness a wide range of powers and abilities which can change the world. It was said to be a Golden age for mankind with these powers being used to push the possibility of technology as far as possible. And with superheroes tackling the criminals looking to damage the utopia the world lived in harmony and peace, until one fateful day when that all changed. An ancient evil said to be the source of the Anti-Humans' power rose from the deep and took everything. The world plunged into darkness, and the majority of the population fell to the evil known only as the Garden. This wasn't the end, however, far from it. This was simply a new beginning as hundreds of years from those events. Humanity's last remanets have banded together hiding behind the comfort of walls protected by a new wave of Anti-Humans known only as streamers.

****

"Holy shit, have you seen it? Haze's stream is going nuts."

"Who is that guy Haze is fighting? Is he another streamer?"

"No, I haven't heard of this guy."

"He's the most-watched streamer right now! Watch out Vanguard!"

"My money is on Haze!"

"No one can defeat the blitzing Haze!"

  ****

"I too was hoping for no conflict. My brother does like to play the part. However, I cannot overlook such an insult to my family. You are going to regret crossing us." The dragon tattoo on his neck moved around, climbing down to his arm as his hand began to crackle with small flames.

The liquid from the sauce jar came back to Alton hovering in small condensed balls over his hands. "The only one who is going to regret something is you walking through those doors." Both superhumans stood their ground, neither one moving. Small droplets of sauce crashed to the ground, while the smog of the flames danced across the store. Haze began stretching his fingers, licking his lips, anticipating his one-hit attack. It wasn't that he was concerned about his opponent's abilities. It was quite the opposite; he was so interlined to the thought he would win his mind was unequivocal. He wasn't looking for a way to best Alton, he was looking for the coolest way to beat him for his viewers.

The streaming drone edged around the supermarket, getting a good look at the two. It zoomed in getting a close up of Alton, making him stare at it uneasily. That was all Haze needed to strike as his tattoo burned bright jolting around his body spewing out quick bursts of flames. Alton drove back leaping over the counter, avoiding the blaze. Leaning his head back against the counter, he closed his eyes, moving his hand very cautiously as the small droplets of sauce drizzled on the floor began swarming around Haze. Without his knowledge, it crawled up his leg and around his foot. Alton eyes still closed, started counting down whispering to himself. "Two, One!" The liquid swept Haze off his feet, causing him to crash against the bread aisle. Taking the opportunity, Alton dived over the counter looking for a better vantage point.

Alton touched the ground as Haze burst a giant pit of flames towards him. All the liquid in the room flooded back creating a wall to stop the fire as much as possible. This only caused the outbreak of more flames. Alton was knocked back into a wall. Fire echoed towards him. The liquid on the floor ran like a stream pulling him across to safety. Hiding behind another aisle, he came face to face with Zinnia who was also hiding there. He began patting himself down, putting out the flames. "You have powers, right? Think you can give a hand knowing you started this mess."

"My powers aren't the fighting kind." Zinnia yelped back as hails of bullets railed the area. "You're saying you can't beat this guy?"

"Just give me a minute, I'm thinking."

Haze threw the Tommy gun to the floor running out of bullets. He took his shirt off as a tattoo of the exact weapon enlarged before becoming a 3D object in his hand. He cocked the gun firing like crazy laughing to himself. "Well, can you think of something quickly!"

Alton smacked his head against the food isle pissed off. "Fuck! I was hoping the cops would show up by now!"

"The cops aren't coming. You see that drone. It's marked this place as a streamer crime zone. No cops will show up as the streamers have the situation handled."

"You've got to be shitting me!" Alton cursed, kicking his feet against the floor. "This suck… so, if I take out the drone the cops would eventually show up?"

"Well, yeah. They would think the situation is either under control or the streamer couldn't handle it." Zinnia agreed curled up, avoiding the gunfire.

Alton sighed, knowing he was fully pinned down. At least that's what he wanted Haze to think. There was a reason why the stream dragged him down to the exact aisle he was hiding in. Alton crawled forward opening the door to the fridge. Haze focused fire on that precise location shattering the glass. Alton crashed down to the floor as cartons of milk were blown up, causing milk to explode everywhere. Alton coughed spitting milk from his mouth. "I hate milk…" With the floors being drenched Alton swept his arm around in a circle as all the milk rushed around the small supermarket roaring up the walls and eventually the ceiling. Not a single drop left the top as the milk started slowing down before completely freezing over. Haze looked up, firing at the icicles only for his gun to run out of ammo. Alton took this chance and gambled. Slamming his hands down the ice crashed down clipping Haze as he dodged the bombardment of ice which didn't stop. Alton stood up as the last of the ice crashed down. Haze was still standing with deep cuts all over his body. Alton smirked wagging his finger forward while arms crossed. "Checkmate."

"What the fuck are you on about scum? I'm still standing."

"I wasn't aiming for you." He gloated. Haze shot his head around, seeing the drone smashed to pieces with icicles dug into it. "Gotcha."

Haze grinded his teeth, shaking in pure anger. "You bastard. Don't you know who I am? You'll pay for this!" The dragon tattoo flew around his body, digging onto his arm mouth opened. A massive concentrated blast of fire shot at Alton. Not given much time to react he rounded up the last of the liquid he could find blasting it back at him. The two forces of nature clashed as the flames were quickly putting out the water due to the sheer power and heat of the matter. Alton had no escape from this attack as he kept stepping back trapped, blocking the flames with the punt amount of liquids he had left. His efforts came shorthanded as the fire extinguished past hitting Alton with all its force sending him flying and through the building's window. Alton smashed to the ground the glass cutting him to pieces. He lay on his back, panting unable to move. Any sort of wounds was covered up with ice as his bloody wounds were frozen solid. Haze jumped out the window cracking his knuckles as the knife tattoo on his knuckles rippled out and into his hands. Alton lifted his head groaning, watching the streamer limping towards him. "I'm going to make you scream for what you've done. Not only did you insult and humiliate my family and me in front of the world, but you dare raise a hand to Monty Montague."

Alton laid his head back, letting the blood from Haze drip onto his face. Channelling the blood, he was about to counterattack when car light blitzes the area and police sirens roared out the silence. Alton looked back seeing police cars swarm the area as he chuckled to himself. "Saved by the bell, huh? Give it up, buddy. It's over."

Haze snarled to himself, stepping away the blade retracting back into his hand. The police began leaving their cars as Haze spat at the ground a smug look tracking over his face. "You're right. It is over, for you."

The police stood over Alton their guns raised, Alton took a deep breath having the feeling of relief sweep over him. "Thank god, this madman with mental issues robbed from my store and tried killing me. I tried defending myself."

The police officers looked up all feeling uncomfortable insight of Haze. "Montague sir? Are you quite, alright?"

Haze dabbed his bloody head with a tissue nodding. "All the finer that you are here. I was going about my business when this barbaric villain attacked my brother and me. I, of course, took care of him as someone of his magnitude couldn't hope to best me in battle. Arrest him at once for the charge of assault with the intent to kill."

Alton looked at the officers in dismal screaming. "You've got to be fucking kidding me! Are you seriously going to believe this guy!"

The officers picked Alton up, handcuffing him on the spot without a second thought. He was dragged to the police car as Zinnia bolted out, catching her breath. "Officers, please! He's telling the truth. This boy did nothing wrong. He saved my life."

"She's lying!" Haze barked. "She was in with him too. They are both as guilty."

"No way…" Zinnia whispered as she was as quickly handcuffed and dragged to the car. Unlike Alton, she began putting up more of a fight before being thrown into the back, and the door slammed on her. Zinnia started bashing against the door, yelling. "They can't do this! We did nothing wrong!"

Haze walked over to the car, leaning down to eye level. "We did warn you what would happen if you crossed us. Enjoy the rest of your life living in hell." He cackled, tapping the car as the police car drove them both away.

Alton stared blankly forward, trapped in a daze. He couldn't believe this was happening. It was too farfetched to be real. Just a twisted fucked up dream. He couldn't be going to prison. He couldn't afford to. His whole world was crashing down because of his powers again. Zinnia gave up trying to escape as she slouched in her seat, giving out a huff. "This is a joke. They arrested us when we did the right thing. You saved my life for cry out loud."

"I did no such thing," Alton whispered.

Zinnia looked at him oddly twisting around. "Of course, you did. You stopped those men from harming me. You saved me, just like a superhero."

Alton bit his lip in anger looking away. "Don't get the wrong idea I only interfered because he threatened me. It has nothing to do with your childish fantasy. I wanted nothing to do with the situation at hand. But you wouldn't just let it go. Had to play the hero, look where that got us! Now we could be locked up for the rest of our lives because you wanted to be a bigshot superhero."

Zinnia looked down in disappointment and guilt as she began fidgeting around fiddling with her hands. She didn't make any sort of eye contact with Alton as she whimpered softly to herself. "I'm sorry… I didn't know you thought of it that way…"

Alton snarled leaning his head against the car window watching the city pass him by. He held back his tears as he began bashing his head against the car. "Sorry won't get you anywhere. What is done is done. Just don't forget you didn't just damn yourself or me you also damned her! You damned her to death…"