A sob ripped through her wounded heart and in no second, she was full-blown crying. Pressing her knees to her chest, Rose buried her face in her knees and cried and cried until she was left out of tears. Her shoulders were burdened with responsibilities. She had only one will to live, to keep her sister safe and sound until she goes into safe hands. But now, she is beleaguered with troubles. His captor branded her like an animal. How will she gonna survive now? How will she be able to act savior when she herself needed one?
Rose lifted her head, her soulless eyes stared at naught. Leaning her head against the tree, she started speaking in a heavy voice.
“I am sorry, Jasmine. Don’t hate your sister who is a useless, pathetic woman who can’t do anything except lament her sordid life. But now this guilt is killing me, Jasmine. My hands are tied now. That monster marked me and now even if I try to run, I can’t escape him.” She sobbed and closed her eyes freeing the crystal streaks from captivity.
All of a sudden, she felt some shuffling beside her. Rose opened her eyes but flinched when a cool breeze kissed her bare skin making her shiver. She looked around in panic when her eyes landed on a dark shadow in front of her. Dread rose in her heart. The sky today was deprived of moonlight so it was hard for her to discern that adumbrate.
Fisting her gown, she stood up on staggering legs and looked at that ambiguous figure.
“W-Who are you?”
Her voice trembled as she was scared to her core. This world had only given her endless pain. Moreover, the evil and creepy creatures lurking around in the shadows were just another names for death. Hungry beasts who hunt for innocent souls.
Rose slowly sized that figure only to conclude that she was a girl. She flinched hard when that female abruptly took a step toward her making her take several steps backward.
“Your savior.”
Her eyes widened at her response. Rose kept quiet and waited for her to reveal herself but she stopped at a good distance from her, her face was still hidden. The only thing Rose could see was her purple eyes that sparkled because of a streak of light coming from the lamppost.
“How come you are my savior? You look like an intruder to me. How did you get inside?“, Rose shot questions in a row. The female let out a chuckle and shook her head when she noticed her hard expression.
“Chill Rose, you need help and I am willing to give it to you. Your sister is in danger and you are trapped here. Don’t you want to save her?”
Rose froze at her words.
“H-How do you know all this?“, she asked her in disbelief.
“That doesn’t matter. The thing which matter is your consent. I can help you reach Jasmine and in return, you need to do something for me.” The cloaked woman replied curtly making her beam with joy.
But her happiness died midway when she realized that she doesn’t even know her. She had already seen the outcomes of trusting a stranger.
Her eyes stung with tears. She was again letting the chance of meeting her sister slip from her fingers.
Rose masked her pain and vigorously shook her head before speaking firmly, “I don’t take help from a person who is even ashamed to show himself. Whoever you are, it will be better for you to leave or I will call the guards.”
She gritted the last part and shot her a glare. But to her surprise, the woman snorted in response, “You could have done the latter earlier Rose. But you didn’t which shows that you want my help.”
Rose looked at her in shock as she was caught red-handed. It was true that a small part of her that was desperate to help her sister wanted to make a deal with this unknown woman. But she chose to ignore it as it could be risky and on top of that, she didn’t want to face Calix’s wrath.
Rose squared her shoulders and raged, “You’re testing my limits woman. I am giving you one last chance to run and save your life. Don’t push me off my limits, I am afraid you wouldn’t be able to deal with it.”
She practically yelled at her releasing all her bottled-up emotions. She was so enraged with Calix and all the things which had been going on with her lately. And this hideous woman was only making her madder than she was.
The woman raised her hands in surrender, “Alright Rose. If that’s what you want so I would grant your wish. But mark my words, after one day you will come looking for me.”
Rose let out a dry chuckle and crossed her arms over her chest, “And how are you so sure about that?”
Her eyes narrowed into thin slits when that figure abruptly retreated her steps but what caught her attention was a yellow, resplendent circle forming behind her.
“It is because your sister has been locked up in a dungeon by Theodore and the reason behind is your best friend’s husband.”
She finally dropped the bomb.
A deafening silence fell between them. The only sound which could be heard was the cool breeze and rustling of leaves.
Rose was too stunned to react.
“Jasmine?”
“Your sister has been locked up in a dungeon by Theodore and the reason behind is your best friend’s husband.”
Her chest tightened; she couldn’t breathe. Her knees gave up as she stumbled backward in shock. Supporting herself with the tree, she lifted her heavy eyelids and stared at the dark figure.
“N-No”
She mumbled as her mind still couldn’t believe this horrifying reality. Her mind was jammed and the only thing she could see was her sister’s face.
A fresh set of tears stained her already soaked cheeks as she let out a snivel.
“N-No, that can’t happen. YOU’RE LYING!!! MY JASMINE IS SAFE!!”
Rose screamed and pulled out her dagger that was tucked in the belt of her gown. White-hot anger coursed through her veins. Gripping the dagger tightly between her fingers, she lunged at the messenger of such ominous words but her words halted her actions.
“Keep believing the shit which is being fed to you by your pathetic excuse of a man. You would shed tears of blood Rose if you ignore my warnings. This is your only chance to save her. I can help you only if you want to.” The woman retorted, this time her tone held seriousness and anger which frightened Rose. She was not lying and this thought alone made her restless.
“N-No please don’t say this-”
“HEY, WHO ARE YOU?”
Rose jumped to her place when she heard a ferocious roar from behind. It belonged to none other than Calix. His screams were soon followed by the fast footsteps of guards who marched towards that intruder while aiming their weapons at her.
Rose hurriedly looked at that woman only to see her running towards her conduit.
“NO, YOU CAN’T GO!! PLEASE DON’T LEAVE ME HERE HANGING!! TAKE ME TO MY SISTER, DON’T LEAVE!!“, she shouted in desperation and ran to her. Rose lost all her patience and even forget about her suspicions. Her scared heart was ready to take the risk, ready to believe a stranger’s words whom she met just a few minutes before. The mere thought of her sister being locked up in a scary, dark dungeon was enough to stop her heart. She forgot about Calix who was continuously yelling from behind to stop.
The woman stopped in her tracks when she heard her pleadings. Turning around, she stared into her begging eyes that were filled with fear for her sister.
“I will come tomorrow and this time your answer will be yes. And to clear your doubts, keep your eyes fixed at my back until the loop collapses.”
With that, she jumped in the loop. Rose kept staring at her back without blinking until she disappeared from her sight.
“FREE ME THEODORE!!! HELP, SOMEONE HELP!!!”
An agonizing scream rang in her ears. Rose stilled in her place when she saw a blurry figure of Jasmine tied up with iron chains and crying for help.
She was too shocked to react but the moment that loop vanished in thin air, reality struck her.
“Oh no, JASMINE!!!”