The Beginning of the End

"Make this easy for me. Give yourself up, and I'll let everyone else here live."

"Don't do it, Zinnia! The Garden isn't somewhere you should ever go! He'll kill you!"

"If I go with you, do you promise to let Alton and the others live? You'd leave them unharmed."

"Promises are for weaklings. Let's sign a contract. Make it official." Bargaining smirked, pulling a piece of paper out of his chest holding it in front of Zinnia. "Sign here, and they will all be saved. Truly that's what the superhero Ingrid wants, right?"

"I'm sorry, Alton, there's no other way…." She whispered, signing it without any hesitation turning around. "Please. Don't come for me."

The moment the contract was signed, Bargaining placed his hand on Zinnia shoulder, the two vanished from sight. Breaking from his Stage, Alton fell to the floor, stumbling forward, scratching at the snow, horrified. "No! No, Zinnia, no! Give her back; you give her back right now! FUCK!"