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✔ ROSES for RACHEL
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Episode_12
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I decided to skip the pity p@rty in my room and instead went on the lookout again for a TV or computer. I wanted to see what they were saying about me on the stupid program. The first couple of places I checked were no good, but then I remembered there was a lounge area on level 3. Most places like that have TVs, so I headed for that, keeping my composure as I walked pas-sed people in the busy corridors. Finally the crowds died down, and for the first time since I’ve been here, something finally went right for me.
The lounge was dark and empty. Closed, I as-sume, for the competition. I scurried throu-gh the doors and around to the backside of the bar. Sure enough, there was a nice flat screen TV mounted onto the wall there just begging to be watched. I turned it on and sank down to sit in the floor behind the bar and tuned in.
They were showing more footage from Calvin and Lexton’s d@t£. Apparently it was a movie d@t£, which I’d alre-ady guessed, but this was a more in depth look into it. There was no sound other than the commentators talking about Calvin’s b©dy language, so I had to try to guess what they were chatting about. Whatever it was, the conversation was plea-sant. They both smiled the whole time, even laughing multi-ple times. I felt a sick wave of nausea wash over me as Calvin stood from the table, extending his hand to her. With a blus-h, she took it and he pu-ll-ed her close, leading her in a ro-mantic dance around the table in the candlelight.
Next they cut to new footage from his d@t£ with disgusting Tessa. Although I can’t stand her, he didn’t seem all that uncomfortable with her. They were at some kind of arcade looking place and he coached her how to hold a pool stick and then they pla-yed air hockey, chumming it up easily. Tessa made my skin crawl the way she kept ma-king sure her che-st was noticeable, as if anyone could not notice he fact she was practically spilling out of the t©p of her dress.
Finally, it c@m£ to tonight’s events. There we all were on stage, things going great, until they added the sound of tires squealing right before I answered my question about why I wanted to be princess.
“People!” The newscaster laughed. “Are we serious with this girl? Could she be any more unappealing?” That was like a kick in the gut. “Don’t get me wrong, the first night I had my hopes up for her, she is clearly beautiful, and the prince seemed taken with her right away, which as we all know is quite a surprise as he has always been such a loner. Anyway, I’m getting off t©pic.” She giggled. “I liked her then, but the more we’ve seen of her, the more she makes me want to barf.”
The man sitting beside her nodded his head. “I couldn’t agree more.” He said. “I’d honestly be pretty surprised if after tonight she is even kept in the competition at all. Seemed pretty clear she has better places to be, and I’m sure the prince will s£nd her on her merry way before tomorrow night.”
With all the different emotions I had bouncing around in me, all I could do was laugh. “Me too.” I agreed with the man. I tossed my head back dramatically and it knocked into the bottles all stacked neatly on the shelf behind me. I caught one of the bigger ones before it rolled to the ground and I examined its dark purple contents. “Well,” I said to myself. “I’m about to be s£nt out to be auctioned, might as well have a little fun first.”
I yanked the cap off of the bottle, tossing it aside, then I leaned on back and started to drink.
The dark purple liquid burned on its way down my throat, feeling a little like nee-dle pricks as it hit my stomach, but after a few big swigs the taste and pain didn’t really bother me anymore.
I kicked off my boots and sat cross legged on the floor watching the competition coverage in the dark lounge. Every time I’d hear voices come from out in the corridor, I’d switch off the TV and squee-ze my eyes shut as if that would keep me hidden. Once I was sure I was in the clear, the TV would be back on.
My head felt fuzzy, and my b©dy was becoming more and more relaxed. After an hour, it didn’t even bother me when the news anchors went around asking random people who they were hoping to see win, and not a one said my name. What do I care about the opinions of a bunch of vampires? They’re the reason I didn’t get to have a normal life. I should have never left my mother’s side that day. From what they’ve told us though, if I hadn’t been “lucky” enough to have been brou-ght to Drighten, I would have been slaughtered with the majority of the human race when the vampires c@m£ out of their un-derground world and took control.
Weighing my options, I honestly wish I could have spent the remainder of my life with my sweet momma, however short a life it might have been. I don’t know if it’s the drinking or if I just have so much pent up anger and grief that it finally b!ows, but I bur-st into h0t tears. Before I know it I’m full out bawling. My b©dy shakes with sobs and they only get stronger as the TV changes from the annoying people debating whether or not I’m even worth any money at this point, to a small ‘exclusive’ cl!pfrom tonight’s d@t£.
Calvin leads Regina, full of giggles, throu-gh two beautifully ornate golden doors and the c@m£ra moves around them to show a gorgeous green house. Everywhere the c@m£ra turns there are beautiful flowers and plants. The ground looks like gras-s, and the lights they have hanging all across the ceiling are shaped like little suns.
I wanted to turn off the stupid TV, unable to stand watching Regina on my special d@t£, but I couldn’t find the freaking remote. I started fumbling around on the ground in the dark looking for it but the dang thing seemed to have just gotten up and walked away. My tear filled swollen eyes weren’t helping in the search at all and I only cried louder at the annoyance.
I was so flvstered I didn’t hear anyone coming.
The lights overhead flashed on, illuminating the room and the ba-refoot girl on the floor on her hands and knees crying beside an empty bottle.
“What the hell?” The large man dressed in the typical all black guards’ uniform yelled. “What are you doing in here?” He asked, taking a step closer to me. “Guards!” He yelled over his shoulder and three more men appeared before me, or maybe there was four, it was ha-rd to tell throu-gh my eyes.
The first one covered his mouth with his hands, containing a laugh, while the others stared at me in disbelief. I knew I must look like a complete train wreck so I tried to stand up to explain myself, but my legs wouldn’t cooperate and I ended up right back on the cold ground. “What should we do?” The guard who found me first asked his friends.
“I can think of one thing.” The man in the back with beady eyes answered, l!çk!ng hisl-ips while he watched me.
The others all gave him a look and the one who wanted to laugh pu-ll-ed out a phone and dialed a couple of numbers. “I’m supposed to be watching this one.” He finally let a snicker pas-s hisl-ips. “Prince Calvin asked me to call him if she got herself into any trouble.” My tears bec@m£ angry ones while they continued discussing me as if I wasn’t even here.
“What are you doing in her girl?” One of them asked me, but it was too foggy to be sure which one.
“Just…just looking…” I searched my br@in for words, but they were hiding and running away and my head was just an empty pool of nons-en-se. “I was…thirsty?” It c@m£ out as a question rather than an answer and I laughed despite my anger.
“Prince wants to know what she drank.” The one on the phone told his buddies.
“Not his bu-business.” I snapped.
Beady eyes took that as an opportunity to come over to kneel beside me and pick up the empty bottle at my side. He gave me a creepy wi-nk, then looked at the bottle in his hands, his face turning white as snow. “Oh $h!t!” He yelled, his eyes wi-de. “Did you drink all of this or did you spill some?” He asked urgently then he shook me by my shoulders. “Answer!”
I heard his question, but I couldn’t give him my answer. I was too busy with reminding my b©dy over and over that it nee-ded to breathe. Something was wrong. I inched away from the guy so I could find a nice sp©t on the floor to lie down.
I heard them bustling around me and their whispering, but I didn’t care. The cold floor felt nice against my flaming cheek and my eyes closed on their own accord.
“Get out of my way!” I heard a voice boom throu-gh the room, radiating in my ears. I opened my eyes just enough to see Calvin shoving past the guards. He looked crazed. His eyes were changing back and forth from black to his usual smoky blue color. “What have you done, Rachel?” He yelled. “You stupid, stupid girl.” He gr@bb£d my head and pu-ll-ed it into his l@p, forcing me to open my eyes and look at him. “Can you hear me?”
I was ba-rely able to nod a response. My vision was starting to go black, even with him holding my eyes open. “Guards, leave us!”
He shouted and then moved out from un-der me for only a second. He c@m£ back to me with a knife in his hand and my heart beat fas-ter as I watched him slash the inside of his hand with it. “You have to drink.” He said bringing his hand down to cover my mouth. I tried to scream and to move away from it. “Rachel, drink or die!” With those words I opened my mouth obe-diently and let the cold iron tasting blood seep into my mouth.
I gagged multi-ple times, but he just kept holding his hand over my mouth.
Finally, everything went black.
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To_be_Continued