V.I.R.A.L

The night proved to be a reasonably peaceful at best. However, there was a small surface of Moss thanks to the quick actions of Alton and Scarlett they were handled before causing any real damage. Now the sun had risen and the real challenge would begin. Being informed that the Moss is much more active during the day Alton, with little rest, moved onto the next line of defences. Carrying a broad set of logs, he stopped overhearing serval children arguing with Scarlett. Alton wandered over yawning all while trying to get his words out. "What's going on?"

"You're Alton? The leader of Team Rhapsody?"

"I'm Alton, yes, but you've got it all wrong. Zinnia is the leader, not me. You must be Gale's little brother it like looking at a mirror when it comes to you two."

"My name is Lucas." He responded. "My friends and I wanted to go fishing down by the coast, but this scary woman refuses."

"Scary? I must say I am terribly offended by such claims. Your mind may not have developed enough to apricate a real woman, but I'll have you kids know this here is the ideal woman. Alton agrees."

"I what?!" He yelps. "I did not say such things."

"Actions speak much louder than words. I've seen you looking."

"Have not!"

"I'm only joking."

Alton cleared his throat, turning to the children. "Scarlett is right though. It's dangerous out there. Too many people have gone missing." The kids all frowned looking disappointed as Alton nudged Scarlett. "That's why we will come with you?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"I need to fortify that area anywhere, so, we can escort the children there, and while I'm raising our defences you can watch the kids."

"Babysitting?! I must protest. I Scarlett Dawn am no babysitter!"

"Oh, that's fine, I guess. I'll protect them all by myself, I guess. If something were to happen, I wouldn't be sure if I could protect them. I could end up dying."

"I know what you are doing. You are trying to guilt me into taking sides. I don't do that. It won't work." Scarlett claims before looking away. "But it would be nice to spend some time with our leader."

"Oh, really?" He snorts. "Sounds like one big excuse. Besides I'm not the leader of Rhapsody."

"Even so. A day with my dear sweet Alton is a day well spent."

"You think of me too highly." He said half-heartedly feeling almost bad that Scarlett was that fond of him. "Come on than kids; daylight is breaking."

The children all took hold of their flimsy fishing rods running ahead as Scarlett sighed. "I really don't see the point in kids doing all of this."

"They're just kids being kids. No harmed done. Don't tell me you weren't like that as a kid?"

"I cannot say I was. Being brought up as a Dawn, I was taught from a very young age respect and dignity. I never went to any public schools, nor was I allowed to play with the other children. I was raised in the care of my servants and tutors."

"Sounds rough. I know how that feels, though, although having no childhood at all is never healthy. Being brought up as nothing more than a tool for your family is nothing more than horrible."

Scarlett kept walking through the stream, debating how to respond. She gives a dead chuckle. "I suppose you are not wrong there. Nonetheless, it was not all bad. I was taught ballet from a very young age. I had the best teachers in the country, I am not one to brag, but I am pretty good. Also, I learned both French and Spanish. As well as that I did quite a bit of painting although I was never quite good at it."

"Sounds like something your parents wanted, not you."

"Don't parents always want what is best for their child? Both my mother and father raised my well enough, I don't hold any sort of grudge against them, and I can't exactly compare that to anyone else when neither Zinnia nor Emil knew their family and Percy lost his father at an early age. Gale seems to have grips with his mother, as well."

"We sure are a bunch of misfits, huh? Speaking of Gale, what do you think his deal is?"

"What do you mean?"

Alton shrugs his shoulders. "Ah, I don't know. He was so reluctant to come here, and he didn't want us helping."

"You think he's hiding something?"

"No. I think it's more the lines he ashamed of something." Alton said in a conflicted manner as Lucas turned to them both. "Say Lucas what can you tell us about your brother?"

"I don't know much. He ran away from home when I was only a baby. Mummy and he got into a fight, and he left." He recalled looking confused. "But he's back now, and he can protect us forever."

"Forever?"

"Yes, that's what mummy wants. It the duty of ours to protect this village with our lives."

"Hmm, now something is starting to piece together."

The children began throwing their fishing lines into the river as Scarlett scouted the area. "Seem secure for now, it would probably be best to move all the children further down the stream I don't like close the trees are."

Alton nodded, looking at the transparent glass, blocking them all off from the outside world. "This really is like a greenhouse isn't it? The thought hasn't occurred to me, but what if we are trapped here."

"The thought crossed my mind last night."

"Any ideas?"

Scarlett tilted her head humming to herself. "To be honest, not a whole lot. No matter what happens, I'm more than sure my family would come looking. The more I thought about it, the more I came to the conclusion I would escape."

"I guess you're right. However, it wouldn't be that bad to live out here, of course without the whole Moss situation. Out of the way from the issues like V.I.R.A.L and the cult. It would be pretty peaceful. I think after everything that's happened that would be nice. Peace and quiet."

"Is that your cryptic way of telling me you want to live here forever with me?"

"You sure love teasing me, don't you?"

"I see it as nothing more than harmless fun. Keeps our spirits going."

Alton shook his head, laughing it off as he began planning out the defences. "You aren't entirely wrong. Oh, and umm I'm sorry?"

"I do not quite understand why you are apologising."

Alton ruffed up his hair, looking away embarrassed. "I'm sorry about what I said about your family. I'm sure they care about you, dearly. Everyone is brought up different. I guess I was just sort of jealous in the way your parents did so much for you. My mother shielded me from the world. We were constantly on the move transfer from school to school. Never able to make true friends. Birthdays would consist of just us two in a small rundown apartment playing Uno. I kept living like that, knowing no difference."

Scarlett smiled, shaking her head. "You have nothing to be sorry for then. Your mother cared for you, dearly."

"Yeah, she probably did. Can't say the same for my old man. Let's just say I will not be introducing you."

"Is that a proposal I hear my dear sweet Alton?"

"Please don't start that again." Alton beckoned, noticing something was wrong. He turned, feeling sick. "Where did the children go?"

"They were just here!" Scarlett swore walking around. "I had my eyes on Lucas just a second ago."

"Lucas! Kids! This is not good!" He cries. Moving towards the forest serval of the Moss appear catching Alton off guard. He falls back sliding down the small hill into the river. As the Moss venture forward Alton casts his arms forward as the river blasts the Moss away. Each of them falls to the floor, crumbling away, revealing people inside. "What the?!"

Scarlett helps Alton to his feet as the two investigate the sight. "The children. It can't be."

"Jesus, Christ. All the missing villagers. They were right under our noses. The Moss are the villagers. I count three Moss. How did they take them all so quickly…There were five children?"

"We need to hurry!"

Alton heard faint screams as they rushed into the forest as a small girl was surrounded. Alton jumped in between the Moss shielding the girl. Scarlett cast a card as she blasted all of the Moss back. "Lucas! The monsters took Lucas!"

"Shit. We need to get after him."

"There's too many; we need to get back to the village!"

Alton bit his lip backed into a corner as more Moss began to appear. "Scarlett grabs the children; I'll grab the other we need to run!"

Scarlett held two of the children in her arms as every possible escape route was being lost. "Run where?!"

Alton looked around seeing a small slip in the Moss. "Quickly, there! Follow my lead!"

The two ran as Alton held the little girl's hand as they dodged through the endless horde. Seeing an end, Alton began to speed up not taking into regards Scarlett's position. He gave a glance around as Scarlett was cut down. She fell to the floor, dropping both of the children. "Shit! Scarlett!" Alton turned to the little girl. "Keep running! Get back to the village!"

Alton dived back as he was now entirely surrounded by the Moss. He looked around, helping Scarlett up. Ready to run, he remembered the children. He knew he couldn't leave them. "Hold onto me." Scarlett rested on Alton's back, holding on as he managed to hold both children struggling. He tried running only to stall being attacked by the Moss. Blocking the attack with his arm, he was cut deep. Using the blood, he ripped serval back before being stabbed in the back. He yelled out, falling to the knee, destroying the Moss behind him. Dropping Scarlett Alton was already feeling light-headed as the horde kept coming, never stopping. Alton stood up legs shaking as he spat the chunk of blood from his mouth before clenching his fists together, screaming ready to fight for his life.