♡ chapter 21 - Rose ♡

            Numbness; the only thing my brain was able to decipher coursing through my body. I couldn't feel, I couldn't hear, I couldn't speak. Not after the injection Marcus so bluntly stabbed into my neck. He had paralyzed me, my thoughts, my actions. I was under his control now and he knew it. Oh boy, did he know it.

            My throat was dry from the previous scream I had belted out, but that didn't seem to matter much as Marcus roughly dragged me out of his little makeshift cabin. The cabin was just for looks whereas underground held all his diabolical secrets. It stretched out unbelievably far, not to mention still containing excessive space in return for all his gadgets. It was half packed, half empty for whatever else he decided to vaguely toss away. I wouldn't be surprised if he kept dead bodies for awkward experiments.

            He had informed me of his countless tries to obtain magic from other's decaying corpses. The many Council members and innocent people he killed just for his own selfish reasons. He wanted all the power in the world, and that's why he captured me. I already told him I didn't know what I was, or how I controlled it, but he told me it didn't matter if I knew how to work my magic—he would take care of it.

            Translation; he was manipulating me without my consent.

            I didn't know where he was taking me, but I knew it couldn't bring any good. He hadn't told me a single bit of his apposed plan, and quite honestly, I wasn't sure if I even wanted to know. He could keep it to himself. I'd rather stupidly and without a choice torture people than know exactly what I'm doing, if he's even going to make me do something so horrible. But I wouldn't put it past him. He's capable of practically anything, and that word alone gives him endless options.

            Assuming I've been gone for nearly three days, I haven't let my mind drift to dangerous territories that may cause mental breakdowns. I think the one topic is quite clear, but I still haven't been able to fully avoid it. Maybe I have shed a few tears here and there, but wouldn't you in my position? Being snatched out of the blue and suddenly manipulated for some evil plan to conquer the world?

            No pressure.

            I'm still in love with you.

            The words have been haunting me nonstop. Maybe I was foolish to rid of my bracelet, but I was speechless in that moment. He had vented to me about how much I annoyed him, how much trouble I had caused him, and yet he still loved me.

            He loved me.

            And I never got the chance to tell him how I feel.

            The feeling of his soft lips have lingered on mine for so long, it's tantalizing. The moment was so sweet, so passionate, and then obliterated as soon as it happened. It was ruined by someone so shallow that he didn't care about putting many lives at risk. He didn't care about the bodies that would soon fall limply to the ground. All he craved was power, something that has been demolishing the world for centuries.

            I wanted to escape. I wanted to be with Harry. I wanted to forget all about this. I wanted to run away with him like a pathetic Romeo and Juliet story. I wanted to create our own story.

            But sadly deep down, I knew all of those things would never be reality.

            "Do as I say and we won't have any problem," he muttered in my ear, a cynical chuckle quickly falling from his lips afterwards. "My dear, Rose. This is how you take over the world. One country at a time. And you, my love, will rule right by my side."

 ♡ Harry ♡

            There were only a few other times where I remember feeling this much panic. One was when I saw Henry and Zach marching up the hill with Annabelle in their grasp. The other was coming home to find my beloved mother slaughtered on the living room floor. This moment, however, is the fact that Rose may be getting killed, brainwashed, tortured—it's too much to bear. I can't handle the rotating thoughts, which is why I need to assure myself they won't be reality.

            I'll save her.

            I have to.

            Daniel was struggling to keep up with my rigid pace, but I hardly paid any mind to him as I forced myself to go faster. No other scream abruptly hit my ears. No other noises aside from our feet crunching on twigs were audible. Something much worse had taken the scream's place.

            Silence.

            I dreaded silence almost as much as I dreaded losing Rose. You never know what's happening when it's dead quiet. Someone could've been killed, someone could've been captured, or they might've just had a hand slapped over their mouth to shush them. But I hated silence. I hated it with a passion.

            Slowing down just the slightest when we reached a clearing, I assumed this was where the scream came from. I halted, looking around hastily while Daniel hunched over to catch his breath. I held back a scoff that threatened to leave my lips at how out of shape he was, but I guess everyone wasn't constantly on the run like I was. They had no reason to run like maniacs all the time through the woods. They had no reason to avoid people like the Black Plague. They had no reason to be scared of being captured, simply because none of them were me. The world's most wanted.

            Pretty badass, if I do say so myself.

            "Where... d-do you think... she is?" Daniel stammered out through his ragged breaths, finally glancing up at me.

            My jaw clenched as I stared through the thickness of the trees, trying to tune in on any sound imaginable. My ears were quite adapted to quiet noises, and even the slightest movement would be audible to me. It was one of my gifts, I suppose, but it damn sure was being a bitch right now. I wasn't hearing a single thing.

            "I don't know," I mumbled quietly, still trying to listen out for any signs of some form of life nearby.

            Damn woods being so fucking big.

            Right when I was about to give up, I heard the faintest, very vague pitch of a voice. My heart leaped, my eyes squinting as I caught the familiar tone of Marcus. He was speaking lowly, but he was close enough for my ears to catch onto. I was praising them at the moment for having been gifted so greatly, but that moment have celebration quickly faded when I realized I still didn't have Rose in my arms.

            "This way," I said quickly, not waiting for Daniel as I took off into a sprint.

            I was able to make out a groan, though, and something along the lines of, "running should be banned from society," but I'm not quite sure.

            Somehow he managed to fall into (somewhat) step beside me as we ran through the trees, dodging hanging and fallen branches. I was determined, and I was a bit relieved to see Daniel was still willing to help me. He didn't send off any bad vibes, but I think it was mainly because he was too timid to try anything anyways. I could give him something as simple as a glare, and he'll quickly apologize before looking away. But I like that about him, for some odd reason. It almost makes him trustworthy.

            Of course I'd never rely on him to cover me in a gruesome battle against the Council, but hey, he might get an A for effort.

            Stumbling out into yet another clearing, I stopped Daniel with my forearm when I caught sight of Marcus' back not too far away. He hadn't heard us ungracefully clutter out of the woods, but I still didn't ensure our safety until I tugged us both behind a think oak tree. I peeked around the side, straining to get a look at what was going on, but he was facing out towards the horizon, the sun ever so slowly creeping into hiding.

            Please let Rose be here, please let her be alive.

            The chants continued to rumble in my mind before I finally let out a breath of relief, the side of her body showing just the slightest when Marcus turned. My heart pounded in exhilaration, adrenaline pumping as I wanted nothing more than to jump out and snap his neck right there. How dare he look so triumph after stealing the love of my life from me. How dare he.

            "Uh oh," Daniel murmured beside me.

            My head snapped towards him. "What? What is it? Don't say 'uh oh'. 'Uh oh' is never good. Don't say that," I whispered harshly to him, my eyes bugging to know more of what he was suddenly so cautious of.

            Daniel gulped. "He's already paralyzed her. Can't you see the limpness in her movements? Her face is practically expressionless. His working his plan into phase three, by now."

            My eyes widened. "Phase three? How many phases are there?"

            Daniel shrugged. "More than three."

            Puffing out air from my cheeks, I ruffled my hair before muttering to Daniel the timing to jump out. We would have to sneak up on him somehow, but Daniel is a klutz and I don't exactly trust him to be as quiet as I need him to be. I decided he would just be back up, although that won't do much good either. He's a shape shifter, not a miracle worker.

            My eyes brightened.

            "Daniel, you can shift into anything, right?"

            He slowly nodded, his eyebrows pulled together in confusion. "Yeah, except food. Like, I can't turn myself into a cheeseburger and then eat it. But wouldn't that be cannibalism since—?"

            "It doesn't matter," I cut him off, my eyes still lightened with giddy. "Do you think you could maybe shift into me or one of his workers—if he has any—for a distraction?"

            "And then you come out to attack him or something while I'm distracting him and most likely risking my life?"

            I nodded.

            Daniel pursed his lips, then gradually began to nod. "Yeah, I don't see why not."

            While the glee settled in me, Daniel stood a bit straighter and looked me up and down. My eyes widened a bit when his form became somewhat watery, his body morphing to fit mine. Within seconds I was facing practically my reflection, and I had to say that Daniel did a pretty damn good job at replicating me. He even had my signature scowl on point, which is very difficult to do for some people.

            "Damn," I said in disbelief, my smile stretching. "That's pretty sick, you know?"

            Daniel grinned. "Really? You think it's cool?"

            I nodded, then realized that he probably felt accomplished in impressing me. Not many people even get the chance to speak with me before I well, you know... So I can understand that he probably feels proud of himself. Granted he almost died the minute I discovered he wasn't the real Rose, but something made me keep this kid around, and that something is quite obvious now.

            Who the hell doesn't want to know a shape shifter?

            "All right, just go in and try to act like me. Don't talk, but just be kind of stiff and you know... dangerous looking, okay? I won't let him hurt you, I promise." I felt almost stupid for saying this to him, but he looked quite relieved.

            "All right, got it. Please don't let me die," he said quickly, clasping his hands together in front of him.

            I rolled my eyes. "I won't. Now go before he hurts Rose."

            Daniel nodded, slowly creeping out from behind the tree. I began to move sideways around the clearing, keeping an eye on Daniel but also keeping coverage. I snuck glimpses at Rose to assure her safety, but Daniel drew my attention back to him whenever he finally opened his mouth.

            "Yo, excuse me. May I ask what you're doing?"

            Cue mental face palm.

            I shook my head in disappointment, but moved a bit faster in case Marcus were to quickly find out it wasn't me. Which, if Daniel keeps saying shit like that, will be quite soon. Marcus may be ditsy by taking Rose, but he isn't stupid in common sense. And I'm pretty sure almost anyone would know that wasn't me by the awkward way Daniel was walking.

            Do I really walk like I have shit in my pants?

            Ridding the thoughts from my mind, Marcus began walking towards the fake me, his eyebrows pulled together as if he were curious, but also very wary of his new guest. Meanwhile, he left Rose tied against a tree, her arms pinned to her sides and the rope looked nearly suffocating. My heart clenched for her, but also in anger on how horrible Marcus was treating her. Not like I expected anything greater from him, but it was just the sight that was infuriating me.

            Daniel was currently trying to convince Marcus he was, and I quote, "not an imposter trying to save the girl of his dreams, but his actual, fully healthy, and mean—very mean son." Way to save the day, Daniel. Someone remind me to tell him he's my hero whenever this shit is over with.

            For right now, all I could do was shake my head before checking if I was eligible to run out to Rose. When the coast was clear, I wasted no time in sprinting from my hiding spot, dashing right over to her while Daniel horrifically covered for me. But he was keeping Marcus distracted, and that's all I needed.

            "Rose," I whispered sharply, trying to grasp her attention.

            My heart sank when her eyes began to droop.

            "Come on, Rose. Stay with me," I encouraged as I fumbled with the knot of the rope, but then remembered knots were for losers. The heat in my hands grew as I clasped the rope, burning it easily off the trunk. I had to catch Rose before she toppled over due to her mindless state. My arms tightened around her waist as I pressed our fronts together, in the midst of pulling her up bridal but didn't get the chance.

            Marcus had spotted me.

            Whatever I thought I expected him to do, he did the opposite; he laughed. He began clapping stoically, as if this whole thing had been a film he were watching on television. His lips curled into a sly grin, his hands falling to his hips as Daniel shot me a nervous look, now transforming to his own body. My heart pounded faster with each step Marcus took, but my firm hold on Rose only tightened at the fear of losing her once more. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if that were to be the case.

            "Well done, son. That was a brilliant little skit. Perhaps a little more acting could've made you successful," Marcus said as he smirked back at Daniel, causing him to shrink back.

            My jaw clenched. "Leave him alone, you asshole. He was only helping me."

            "Wasn't much of a help so much as he was a dunce."

            I narrowed my eyes, but my power failed against my father. He stronger, more equipped and more accustomed to what I could use against him. He had his defense high, knowing that my attack could possibly be higher. Per mentioned before, my father is not always an idiot when it comes to fighting. If anything, he's one of the cleverest people I know.

            "Look, all I want is—"

            But my sentence was cut short abruptly, the sound of guns clicking filling the clearing. My grip didn't falter, my eyes narrowing as I glanced all around us, trying to find the source of the sound. Even Marcus stilled, clearly not expecting whatever was about to jump out at us. Daniel slowly walked over to me, and I almost laughed as he cowered behind me. But instead I stood taller, not willing to let two people I care about get taken away. Daniel is like the real brother I never had and Rose is the love of my life. Two people I'm not willing to give up.

            And then the traitor himself stepped out.

            Jessie.

            A grin was tugging at his lips, one of satisfaction, of cockiness. He knew he had us surrounded, and I could only assume it was members of the Council. Hunters, to be exact. He planned this. That's why he had been so concerned of our daily conversations. He needed to know when and where he needed to be. The little prick thought he was clever, but really it was common sense. Common sense I should've suspected but stupidly looked over.

            "Well, brother. Father. Quite a nice meeting, might I say." Jessie smirked as he gazed at the two of us. His eyes landed on Rose, his lips forming a fake pout. "How pitiful she's out of her mind. Too bad I mean that in a literal form."

            My eyes narrowed, but Jessie was unaffected.

            Curse his stupid fucking shield power. Whatever the hell it is.

            "Nice try, Harry. But I'm afraid I know your antics too well to be affected by them," he said as if reading my mind, just as six hunters stepped out from the woods, guns raised. Jessie motioned to them. "You see, I'm having you turned into the Council for a proper trial and sentence. As for Marcus, you'll no doubt be sentenced to death. And poor Rose." Jessie gave me an innocent smile. "The poor girl couldn't stop herself from falling in love with an evil bastard. Looks like she'll spend quite some time imprisoned as well. Shame."

            "Jessie, you fuc—"

            "I would hold my tongue if I were you, dear brother." Jessie flicked his hands towards the hunters. "Please. Let's not make this longer than it needs to be."

            My heart nearly busted out of my chest as hunters were soon surrounding us, three of them heading straight to pry Rose out of my arms—again. I was in panic mode, trying to keep her out of their reach while the poor thing couldn't even process anything happening in the first place. She was practically unconscious, but the hunters didn't seem to care as they gripped either an arm or a leg. I was shouting at them, trying to use my power to stop them but my fear overrode any ability I might have at the moment. I was losing her again. I was losing her and I couldn't stop it.

            Some senses kicked in when she was ripped from my arms, and I sent my elbow back into one hunter's nose, the sickening crunch of it sounding through my ears. Daniel was hopeless, lost in the large mass of hunters while I put up the best fight I could. But I was too late as they had my arms pinned behind me, the sight of Rose being dragged away the only thing I could see.

            "Rose!" I screamed, my voice going raw, my pulse throbbing at the thought of what they would do to her. But before I could process it, one hunter snatched a syringe out of his jacket pocket, jamming it into my neck.

            And everything went black.

-

-

A/N: Early update and long chapter, holaaa <33 Love you all (: xx

Follow me on Instagram: @writetobleed

and on Twitter: @write2bleed

*VOTE. COMMENT. SHARE.* ;)