Drip. Drip. Drip.
There is something in the darkness that is like a promise, like a world before dawn. Before it is set ablaze. With each movement something new came to his hand, a tiny fragment and I know I can expect the pain to wash over me again. Except this time, because as he slices the blade through my skin, I feel nothing. Just numbing cold. But I scream anyway.
He enjoys that. Enjoys when I scream.
Maybe it will keep me alive longer. Long enough for them to find me. If anyone is even looking. If even I want to live after this? If I could live after this.
His cold, cold eyes stare deep into mine. Dead eyes that light briefly with each sound of pain that I make. Concrete walls surround us, no windows, no life. The only light is that of a single light swinging side to side above my chair. There is nothing alive in this room. The thing in front of me is too monstrous for me to consider him alive. And me... I can my life draining away with each drop of my blood that hits the floor.
Drip. Drip.Drip
The ghosts of the women before me dance around my chair. Their screams of terror and pain echo off the concrete walls, melding with mine as they wait for me to join them. "Pretty." He murmurs, placing his tools down. "So pretty." He says again, now stroking my face with his leather glove. Maybe it's leather, I don't know. He pushes my hair behind my ear and I drag my eyes to his.
I am never leaving this place. Another Rose Girl for him to collect. My mind realises, but I don't feel anything. Not yet. Soon.
Drip. Drip. Drip
"So pretty on the outside," he whispers as if someone other than me can hear what he is saying, "but so rotten on the inside." What little feeling I possess spikes with fear as he smiles. Still stroking my hair. Almost tenderly as he leans close, staring into my eyes. "Such pretty Blues. Such a pretty colour." He laughs with manic glee, dropping his hold on my hair and turning away.
The clanking of metal indicates his pick as he shows me the metal rod, with a half-circle on the end. An ice cream scoop. My mind conjures up the object, even as the monster steps closer, his smile sinister. Not an ice cream scoop. But that is all I can see. Even as he stops beside my chair, eyes wild.
Drip.Drip.Drip.
"Will you give them to me, such pretty blue?" The scream builds in my throat but refuses to fall, only mumbles and groans make it past my lips. Plea's to let me go falling on deaf ears. "Yes?" He questions, eyes glinting as he pushes my head back and I can't move. "Just one then? Yes?" Frozen as the ice cream scooper comes close to my eyes.
I want to close them. To never see this monster again.
But I am forced to watch as it comes closer and closer.
And I see everything.
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I watch as I am carried from the room. Concrete walls of death give way to the fresh air of the sky that I cannot feel. Smoke. Fire. I see and smell it as he places me ever so gently in his vehicle. On and on and on we drive. Buildings giving way to trees. And trees giving way to nothing. And still on he goes, taking me far away from the concrete room.
Until we stop.
He lifts me from the car, the black skirt of my dress, hanging from his arms, almost trailing on the leaf-covered floor. I don't feel the sting of water as he began to wade through the lake, me in his arms. I don't feel the water enveloping my body as he gently lays me down. Spreading my red hair into a halo above me, my body half sunk beneath the surface, arms wide on either side of me. Legs together, black dress floating in a pretty arc around my legs.
He positions me perfectly, beautifully. I don't feel his lips as he kisses me on the forehead, he gives me the rose before leaving me in the lake. Alone. Cold.
I don't know how long I lay there. The day slowly passes into the night. Black blanketing the sky, devoid of stars. As if the gods know what has happened and hide from my accusing, blank gaze. It feels like an eternity before they arrive. Wings tucked tight, outfits as black as my dress. Eyes as cold as my skin. Wolves approach the lake, whining softly as they come close. Growls of anger and sorrow.
Snap. Snap. Snap. I hear. So like the drip on the concrete.
Pictures, I guess. Flashes of light as more and more come and visit me. Watch me lay in the lake. Longer and longer, more flashes, low conversations before someone finally enters the waters and carries me out of the water. Laying me so gently on the grass. Like a fragile doll they are scared to break.
Can they not see he broke me already?
Voices. I hear the faint sound of voices speaking above me. As I watch from the ground. "Another White Rose" Someone is saying, and I cry. Pretty he said. He left me something pretty.
He left me the same thing he leaves all his girls. He left us alone; wandering.
Someone kneels beside me. Staring into my empty blue eye. The winged one leans over me, his arm reaching up, hand moving towards my eyes.
And I scream.
'No, look at me. I am here. Please. I am here. Please. Please.' I beg and cry, the darkness waiting patiently for my presence. 'I want my mom. Where is my mom? Momma. I want my Momma.' But the darkness takes my hand as the wolf closes my only eye. 'Momma, please.' I beg once more, one final try before everything fades. I am so cold. So very cold.
I just want to go home. Let me go home.
But no one hears. No one ever hears us. I grasp the White Rose. The other women stand around, white roses in their grasps too. And we wait together in the dark. Together and yet alone.
We wait to see again. To go home.