♡ chapter 24 - Harry ♡

            Anxiety pumped through me, each thought colliding with another to create a jumbled mess in my brain. The guards coming for Rose's trial early is not what paranoid me—that was normal. Trials were always being rescheduled without the defendant's consent, so that was not the problem here.

            The problem was why they took her.

            Not once in my life that I've been down here (which is sadly a long, long time added together) have I ever seen a guard that won't inform you about your trial. They do it while they get you out of your cell. I've never seen them so discrete before but I didn't like it. It worried me because I wouldn't be there in case something went wrong. Rose doesn't know how to control her powers, so would she be able to save herself?

            It wasn't a risk I was willing to take.

            "Hey, Harry."

            "What, Daniel?" I muttered as I picked at my fingernails, continuing to pace the cell as if it would do me any good.

            "Do you like strawberries?" he asked from the cell next to me, and I could almost hear that goofy smile of his.

            "No."

            "Why not?"

            "They resemble blood too much. It's disgusting."

            Daniel snorted. "So you can kill a butt load of people, but then strawberries gross you out because of blood? Do you even drink fruit punch?"

            "No, I don't. Are you done being irrelevant yet?" I tugged at my hair roots, glancing to the bars as I tried to remember how I had escaped two other times. How the hell could I not remember? It was only two months ago that I had done it.

            "How am I being irrelevant? We weren't even talking about anything."

            "Exactly. It was silent and now you ruined it."

            "Jerk."

            I rolled my eyes, walking to the far left wall and gliding my hand over it as if I expected to feel something. I didn't exactly plan on escaping now, but if Rose didn't get back soon I would. The average time my trials have been were at the maximum an hour. The Council hardly let you spoke to begin with. You were accused, charged, and then sentenced back down here. They don't let you intervene.

            "What are you doing anyways?" Daniel asked.

            "Blocking you out," I muttered through gritted teeth. "I'm trying to remember how I got out."

            "The first time?"

            "No, last time. The first time was too damn long ago," I said.

            Daniel chuckled. "You know something, Harry? You're kind of a badass."

            "Gee, thanks."

            "No, I mean it." Daniel's feet slid against the concrete, giving me the impression that he was moving. "I mean, you basically risk your life every day just by stepping out of the shadows. Then when someone does see you, you just kill me. I mean, BAM! You kill them dead, Harry."

            I snorted, stifling a chuckle. "I kill them dead, huh?"

            Daniel was silent for a moment before he said, "Ahh... Now I can see why you're making fun of me now."

            I smiled to myself before walking over to the bars. Why had I lost my memory of escaping here? It's not like anyone had recaptured me to snatch them away. Had I bumped my head on the way out? Was I electrocuted to the point where it fogged my memory? But I can remember so much, except for that point in time.

            "Hey, Harry?"

            Huffing in annoyance, I turned around and let my head fall against the wall. "Daniel, please stop talking for five seconds so I can figure this out."

            "But I might—"

            "Shh..."

            Daniel sighed, and I could picture him mocking me. "I was just gonna say I found hole..."

            "It's just your genitals, Daniel."

            "No, ew!" Daniel groaned. "That's not what I meant. There's a hole in the wall over here in the corner."

            My head perked up, my hopes rising. When I was actually starting to believe Daniel had walked out of line too soon when God was giving out brains, he proved me wrong. Here I thought I had done something spectacular, but it was really the cell I was in that held the power.

            And we were going to put that power to the test now and find Rose.

♡ Rose ♡

            My eyes peeled open, my back aching as a groan fled my lips. I slowly sat up, taking in my sightings when the panic sunk in. I wasn't in my cell, nor was I in the courtroom. I was in a different part of the building—what looked to be a study. Books lined the shelves masking the walls, scattered pieces of furniture for comfort edging out. That's when I realized I was on an old couch that looked too worn out for its own good.

            I blinked, my heart picking up pace as I stood to my feet. The sudden movement made my head spin and I had to pause for my vision to go straight again. Panicking, I spotted the door and ran to it, but a voice cut me short.

            "Slowly, or you'll get a headache."

            Whipping around at the sound, I backed myself into the door and felt the hand, but it was locked, of course. "Who are you?" I asked into the—what seemed to be—empty study, keeping my body flat against the door as if it may safe me.

            That's when the familiar silhouette appeared in the far corner of the room, near a door that almost looked like it could be a balcony. I gaped at her, noting her brown hair that met her lower back, resembling mine along with her caramel brown eyes. She was short, hardly taller than me and I cursed her for being so small and I cursed genetics for giving me the same petite frame. But then I noticed the little smile she had on her lips. Not one of hatred, but not one of decency either.        

            "Hello, Rosie, darling." My mother stepped towards me, tilting her head some. "I've missed you."

            I snorted. "I find that highly doubtable."

            Mom gave me a wry smile. "You've become quite the independent one," she noted as she pulled herself up on the desk, crossing her legs.

            "I sort of didn't have a choice considering you left me with an abusive bastard that couldn't give two shits about me."

            Her smile vanished, a glint in her eye shimmering but I couldn't depict it. "You must understand that I had my reasons, Rosalie."

            "I prefer the term excuses."

            Mom situated the collar of her uniform, then slid off the desk. "Please, come out to the balcony with me. I think some fresh air will do both of us good."

            Rolling my eyes, I stayed still. "I'm not going anywhere with you. Now let me out of here."

            "I can't do that, Rose."

            "I don't care what you can or can't do. Let me out!" My palms grew hot.

            Harry. I need to get back to Harry and Daniel and then we can all three get out of here. It'll work. It has to.

            "You must learn to control your temper, Rose, or your powers will forever be sporadic." She narrowed her eyes at me. "How would you like waking up in a random room every time you blacked out due to a pathetic little tantrum?"

            "Pathetic?" I laughed the words, but they stung my heart. "Don't you dare call me pathetic when you couldn't even stand up for your own self!"

            "I had no choice!" she shouted back, her cheeks flushing. She spun on her heel, slinging the balcony door open and walking out onto it. I heard her heave a sigh before she glanced over her shoulder at me. "Please, Rose. I would like to talk to you."

            "The feeling is not mutual."

            "Rose, please."

            Sighing, I raked a hand through my hair and hesitantly made my way over to her. I kept a generous distance as I leaned against the railing, taking in the view before me. Nothing but trees covered the area surrounding the Council building, but in the far distance I could make out a village. The village I used to live in. It was there in front of me, yet I was (somewhat) free.

            Mom was staring at me. "You've grown to be a beautiful young woman."

            I snorted.

            "I mean it, Rose." She turned to me, eyes boring into the side of my face as I refused to make eye contact. "You've got a wonderful life ahead of you."

            I laughed. "Really now? Because last time I checked I was considered a criminal and people are debating on murdering me. Such a happy ending, huh?"

            Mom sighed. "Rose, there's many things I could be explaining to you right now, but there's something very significant you need to know."

            "I bet."

            Her jaw clenched. "I need you to be honest with me." She pursed her lips, as if hesitating. "Have you been around Harry Styles?"

            "Oh my God, why does everyone keep asking?" I groaned in annoyance, rubbing my temples. "I mean, I get he's an outlaw and everything, but really. What's the big deal? He hasn't killed me, has he? He hasn't bruised me, has he? I don't get what's so bad about him."

            Because you're in love with him.

            Shut up subconscious, this is not the time.

            "He is not the boy you think he is." Mom took in a deep breath.

            "Okay, well then please explain how you know him so well since you've spent two straight months with him."

            Mom glared at me. "Has his smart mouth rubbed off on you?"

            "No," I lied. "I've had a sarcastic quality the majority of my life."

            "Because you've spoken with so many people."

            "Yeah, well maybe I would have if my mother wouldn't have abandoned me," I spat, my voice raising as I finally turned to give her an icy glare.

            She averted her gaze.

            "Rose, I will never be able to tell you how truly sorry I am. But this is very important. Please listen to me."

            "You have my ears," I muttered as I rested my elbow on the railing, my chin on my palm.

            "You can't love Harry."

            I rolled my eyes in annoyance. "And why on earth would you say that?"

    "Because..." She sucked in a deep breath. "Because he's your brother."

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A/N: WOW GUYS WUT JUST HAPPENED? Don't you just love plot twists and cliffhangers? (: Anywayssss.... I just wanted to thank you all so much for reading and commenting and getting this book rated #53 in Paranormal. It's so crazy, and you guys are amazing. Love you all (: xx

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