V.I.R.A.L

The age of heroes is dead. The concept of great power comes great responsibility is nothing more than a fairy tale told to very few. The idea of people saving others, risking their lives for nothing more than goodwill is mad to imagine. No. Heroes don't exist. Instead, we have a brave new golden age. An age of streamers. Superhumans who use their powers to save people but not for any right measures. Streamers are in it only for fame and fortune—people from all backgrounds with all one common goal. Become the most famous streamer in history. The number one place isn't easy to reach. Each streamer has its tactics. Fake giveaways, scams, flexing Money and many other methods which would generally be frowned on. However, in this day and age, if it means the chance at getting the piece of the pie, many streamers will do anything. With the Number one streamer Vanguard behind bars, the spot is now left vacant. It's a battle of wits and willpower as everyone has their eyes on this empty spot. Both good and evil. And while some will work their way up for it. Others will take a more villainous method…

*****

"Give me a break. That old granny had hardly any liquid on her. What a joke and we even took the time out of our day to stop that thief." A streamer ranted lying on his back, counting the small amount of cash they took. He began flipping the wallet around sighing. "Think this is worth anything nice?

Another streamer took the wallet glaring at the prize shrugging his shoulder. "Look old. Might be a hidden gem at auction." He opened the wallet seeing a photo of the older woman and a man around her age too. "Think it belonged to him?"

"Who cares? Let's give her back the money. Keep the wallet. Make her repurchase it. If it's that important to her, maybe she will be willing to part with a larger sum?"

The two began laughing as the second streamer began reading the chat, which was also just as amused by the situation. "Chat is saying we should take the Money. As much as possible."

"I knew I could count on you guys!"

"Oh, wait to hang on we've got a donation… what the?" He whispered, looking lost. The donation was from someone he didn't recognise from the usual crowd. P4R4D0X. "Must be some glitch?"

"Huh?"

"Oh, nothing it's just we got a donation from someone going by umm Paradox? The donation was nothing."

"How can you donate nothing and it appears on the chat? Fuck sake is this another mass glitch V.I.R.A.L has. Don't bother reading the troll's comment."

The streamer nodded, looking at the comment flinching. He began to sweat, looking petrified. "Are we enjoying the stream, David…" The streamer turned off the stream looking paranoid. "Mitch, come here!"

"What is it now?!"

"I paused the stream. Look. How do they know my name?"

Mitch laughed it off. "Probably found your personal information online who cares? They are just a troll." He looked at the chat as another donation came from P4R4D0X. "I am no troll… you said you paused the stream, right?"

"Yeah, why?"

Mitch gave a dodgy look as the stream died for a moment. The chat faded only to come back with only one name. P4R4D0X. They began typing in the same thing over and over. You are not worthy.

Then where the stream would take place, a dark figure appeared on the screen. They wore a skull mask which would change colour glitching in and out. "Shall we play a game?"

"Shit have we been hacked?!"

"Hold it; this might be fun. Record a DDOS attack and get mega views. Let's play along. "Alright, we'll play your little game."

"I will ask you serval questions. Answer truthy." The distorted voice spoke.

A question appeared on the screen. What means more to you? Happiness or Money?

"Money. Can't be happy without money." They both agreed on.

What is more important to you. Saving lives or fame?

They both laughed not taking the questions seriously. "Fame! Duh. Who cares about saving lives, leave that to the professionals?"

Final question. Who should I kill? Mitch or David? Both boys went silent. They began to laugh as the question wouldn't disappear nervously. It kept taunting them. The voice spoke in a daunting manner. "I see. The questions you've answered are fascinating. Like I expected, however. You both have lost the game."

"What? But we didn't answer the question!" Mitch yelled, holding his phone. The questions stopped as everything seemed to return to normal. Mitch chuckled slightly. "What was that all about?" As he was about to turn the stream back on the figure reached out, grabbing him through the screen by the neck. Mitch yelled out, throwing his phone. As his phone moved, the figure was drawn out of the phone standing in front of Mitch, holding him in the air strangling him.

David fell back in shock as small electrical wires grew from the figure's arms. Wrapping around Mitch, they dug into his skin, burning him to a crisp. P4R4D0X dropped his dead body turning to David. He jumped up, running for his life jumping between the rooftops they were stationed on. As he was about to escape, his stream drone flew in front of him. P4R4D0X stood idly behind him as they whispered. "You are not worthy to be a Streamer."

The drone locked onto David as a set of turrets emerged from the drone. David tried screaming out for help but was too late as he was shot to pieces by his streaming drone. He fell from the roof crashing into the street below. P4R4D0X stood over their prey a gleeful look through their mask as they spoke to the drone in which the stream was showing the murders. "Only the worthy will survive."

****

"Happy birthday Zinnia! Happy birthday to you!"

"Make a wish Zin."

Zinnia thought for a little while before nodding to herself, blowing the candles. Everyone gave out a massive cheer as Zinnia blushed looking slightly embarrassed. Iris began throwing confetti everywhere, overly excited by the surprise party. "So? You think your wish is going to come true?" Alton asked.

Zinnia placed a hand on her chest as she looked up at the night sky nodding. "Yes!"

August 31st. Not only was this the last week before summer breaks were over but also, in fact, Zinnia's birthday. Although her actual date of birth wasn't known it was this day sixteen years ago when she was left at the orphanage, so it was treated as her birthday. Team Rhapsody and Iris had arranged a surprise party to celebrate the occasion with the help of Rebecca, Zinnia's carer, to make sure it was the best birthday ever. And to Zinnia it was.

Gale began cutting the cake, making sure each slice was perfect. This took much longer than anyone was hoping as he kept stalling nerves kicking in. Eventually, however, everyone got a slice of cake. "Wow! This is delicious!" Zinnia exclaimed humming to herself. "I can't believe you made this Alton!"

"Eh, a cake is easy to make. I just needed some flour, sugar, eggs and cream and the rest was history. Mind you; this was my third attempt. The other two are best left, not seeing the light of day."

"I still can't believe you did this all for me… you didn't have to."

"Poppycock! You only turn sixteen, once right?" Iris yelled, scooping the last bit of cake into her mouth. "This calls for a party!"

"We didn't bring any alcohol, right?" She asked.

"I think she's just drunk off the atmosphere."

"That doesn't make sense. Why is sixteen so special for? You turn any age only once. Wouldn't it make more sense to celebrate every year as much as your sixteenth? Although I do not see the point of birthdays? For fearing death so much, it strikes me as bizarre why we celebrate the day we get a year closer to the cold, harsh reality of death." Gale spoke without much thought. He bit into his cake looking slightly put off by everyone giving him a strange look. "I mean. As long as Zinnia is happy…"

"How long did it take to arrange all of this?" Zinnia wondered looking at the balloons and other decorations made up.

"It wasn't as bad as we first thought." Said Percy, who was carrying the box of presents. "Once we told Alton the idea he got in touch with Rebecca and got the whole thing arranged very quickly. He pulled a few all-nighters making those crappy origami birds mind you."

"Huh?! You did?"

"Ah, it was nothing." He yawned brushing it off. "It was worth it though everyone is happy."

"Although I must question why I was invited?" Scarlett spoke looking slightly confused.

"Scarlett! You came!" Zinnia cheered hugging her. "I knew you would."

Alton gave a strange look confused. "Wait, who is this? I didn't invite her."

"Oh, I knew something was up by how strange Emil was acting, I invited Scarlett. She helped us discover the truth about Vanguard. She sort of saved your life, I could say."

"That's right I vaguely remember hearing something about that," Alton remembered. "Anywho I guess I should be thanking you, Scarlett."

Alton held out his hand as a greeting. Scarlett gave a smug look smacking his hand before grabbing his head and pulling him in for a kiss. Zinnia choked on her cake as Scarlett pushed him away smirking. "You didn't tell me he was this gorgeous Zinnia. I'm jealous you keep him for yourself."

Alton was left daze still processing what just happened. Iris came over confused by everyone looking so flushed. "We're about to umm. Open presents… everything, alright?"

"Just peachy." Scarlett giggled. "Why don't we open presents, Zinnia?"

"Huh?! Oh, yeah!"

Alton managed to snap from his trance as Scarlett shook her head, laughing like a little girl. She walked past him winking, making Alton even more flustered. "What's her problem?" Emil blubbered talking with his mouth full of breadsticks. "Girls like that to me are trouble."

"Yeah?"

"Are you even listening to me?"

"Yeah." He replied, staring at Scarlett. "Sorry, I don't know what came over me."

"Hey, I'm not one to judge. A smoking hot babe kisses me, and I would be all oogly boogly over her too. Heard she's from some wealthy family. Bet it's nice being rich."

"Weren't you apart of a rich family at one point?"

"Touché."

Zinnia looked at her presents in glee never receiving these many gifts before. Scarlett cleared her throat, handing her an envelope. "Here Zinnia, this is just a little something."

Zinnia took the card, noticing it was quite heavy. She took a look reading the card only to gasp closing the envelope. "Alton, you take a look."

Alton gave a strange look taking the envelope as he went pale. "What the fuck. There's like 20 grand in here…"

"22 actually… sorry It is not enough? I know it's a rather small amount."

Alton took the card out of the envelope. "I'm sorry we can't accept this. Please take it back."

"Oh? Alright…"

"Before we continue, I want to give this to Zinnia," Rebecca informed. In her hand was a warn down letter. "It was left with you as a baby. The letter had strict instruction only to let you have it on your sixteenth birthday."

Zinnia looked at the letter as her heart skipped a beat. "It's. It's from my mum?" She looked nervous, holding the letter. She slowly opened it as the letter only had one thing on the front. "To my little hero…" Enclosed was a damaged photo which had seen part of it torn off. But the photo showed a young woman with looks that strictly resembled Zinnia. In her arms was a baby no older than a few months. Zinnia held the picture tightly unsure what to feel. "Is that? Is that my mother?"

Zinnia handed the photo to Alton who gave it a look over smiling. "I think it just might be Zin… I would bet my life it is." He gave a closer look seeing a third person there, but they were torn from the photo. He turned the photo around slightly shocked. "When the time is right, I shall come back for you."

"What?" Zinnia took the picture looking at the back confirming what Alton said. She began to cry as she wiped her eyes, smiling like never before. "I knew she wouldn't forget me…"