The Prophecy (12 page)

I shrugged and headed toward the back. Hanging with Rose could prove to be just the distraction I was needing. If all else failed we could just beat the hell out of each other. I took a sip of my coffee and sighed in appreciation as I found the door and set off up the small hallway. I paused as I came to the end and braced myself before gently rapping on the door. A part of me hoped that Rose wouldn't answer so I could slink off without notice. The other part of me was almost hoping that she'd be there. Weird, I know.
 

I lost my balance as the door opened abruptly. My heart was in my throat as I caught myself before falling down the stairs. That wouldn't have been good. I turned a glare on Rose, but stopped short when I saw what she was wearing.

She crossed her arms and cocked her hip while glaring at me. “What are you doing here?”

I looked her over and couldn't quite contain my laughter.
“Seriously, Rose? You already get mistaken for a kid because of how short you are. Are you seriously wearing
Rainbow Bright
P.J.'s?”

She glanced down at her small frame. Her bright purple baby tee had a colorful
Rainbow Bright
across the front of it, with small purple shorts with a rainbow on the butt to match. “What? They're comfy.” She tapped her foot impatiently as she waited for me to stop laughing. “So? What are you doing here?”

“
Oh, your mom caught me in the store and sent me this way. Apparently she wants you to go out with me. Something about living while you're young.”

“
Ugh, she always does that.” She waved me in with a sigh. “Alright, since apparently you can't get enough of me, and if we don't show up downstairs within the next ten minutes mom will come looking for us, we'll go out.” She pointed to the couch for me to sit and started walking down the hall to her bedroom. “Just give me a minute to get changed.”

“
But the P.J.'s are soooo comfy!” Rose flipping me off was the only reply she gave me, as I smiled sweetly.

I looked around the apartment and took in the cozy setting. Everything was done in warm earth tones with jewel colored splashes thrown in. It had a well lived-in feel, and wasn't nearly as pristine as my house. I wasn't complaining. Sometimes our home felt like it was a model home, with everything in its place and clean. I was used to it. Mom couldn't work in a dirty house and over the years had become OCD about cleaning. Still, it was nice to see a home that actually looked like one.

I noticed years’ worth of pictures of Rose and Mary Beth, but nowhere in the pictures did I see any clue about Rose's father. I shoved that oddity to the back of my mind for later.

I turned at the sound of Rose's approach and took in her appearance. Gone were the Rainbow Bright P.J.'s and in their place was ragged cut short shorts and a tight fitting black tank. She raised her brow at me.
“What? Do I not meet your esteemed approval?”

I rolled my eyes and got off the couch to walk behind Rose to the back door that led to the alley between the buildings.
“So, where are we going?”

She shrugged and headed down the stairwell.
“Not a clue, but I figured anywhere is better than here, even if you are all that I have for company.”

C
hapter Fourteen

We walked around town for a while and I noticed that the only thing open now besides the bars was The Nook. I looked at the clock on my iPhone, frowning.

“
Yeah, this place is pretty much dead after six.”

“
Huh? How can you stand living here? I mean, seriously, there's literally nothing here.”

“
Well, I was born here. I know that you wouldn't understand, but when you're raised in a small town, this is what you come to expect.”

I looked over and her and saw the honesty reflecting in her face.
“Don't you ever want more than this?”

She stayed silent for a moment, gazing down the street ahead of us with a small crease between her brows.
“Sometimes I do. I've had dreams of leaving Shiloh, going to some big city and making a name for myself there. But, no matter the glitz or glamor of a city, they will never hold a candle to the beauty small places like this have.”

“
You can’t be serious. I mean, sure the trees and mountains are pretty, but there's nothing to
do
here. I'd go out of my mind if I had to live here forever.”

“
Of course someone like you wouldn't understand, and I don't expect you too.”

“
What wouldn't I understand?”

She sighed and crossed her arms, reaching out with her foot to start kicking a small pebble down the bricked sidewalk.
“It's familiar here. There are no strangers, no real sense of danger. Sure, it’s annoying when everyone knows your business within the hour, but that in itself is a form of security. That’s the beauty of a small town. It's not the scenery or what we don't or do have. It's the community.” She shrugged and continued kicking the pebble. The soft click-click filled the contemplative silence.

I looked over at her and thought about bringing up her missing father. I'll just ease into it. That way she won't snap on me. If I'm lucky
.
“So, where's your Dad?” I looked quickly away from Rose with a grimace. Way to go, dumb ass. I could feel waves of anger rolling off of Rose. I stared straight ahead, not daring to even glance at her.

“
He left.” Bitterness coated her words, giving them a bite.

“
Oh.” I didn't know what to say so I stayed silent, hoping nothing stupid would come out.

“
My mother loved him, and I loved him only because he was my dad. I thought they were happy, but then again I was nine and didn't know any better. My mom worshiped the ground he walked on, but he was always looking for the next big thing. Wanting more than what this town had to offer.” She looked pointedly at me. I could understand, though I started to feel guilty for thinking along the same lines as her father.

“
One day, he just up and left. Mom found a note on the counter saying that he couldn't handle living here anymore, that he wanted more than just ordinary.” She laughed bitterly and picked up her pace, kicking the pebble more aggressively. I quickened my steps to keep up with her. “My mom couldn't handle it. She went into a major depression. I thought I'd lost her a couple of times. Eventually, we won over her depression, and I got my mother back. We opened the store, and keeping busy with the running of it has helped her mind stay away from him. I can still hear her crying at night though.” With a final kick she sent the pebble bouncing into the distance.

“
How long?”

“
How long what?” she snapped.

“
How long have you had to keep everything together? Keep your mom safe and whole?”

She looked over at me and I could see the tears she held at bay.
“Since the day he left. I won't let anyone hurt her again.”

“
Or yourself.”

She nodded and looked off into the distance.

I thought about everything Rose would have had to have gone through and finally understood why she was so cold and bitter. Honestly, I couldn't blame her. I don't know what I would have done if I was in her shoes. My heart hurt for her, for the child that had to grow up too fast too soon.

“
C'mon, let’s go find something for us to do.” I returned her grin, even though it was half-hearted and quickly followed after her.

We continued on in silence, both of us lost in our own thoughts. I didn't know this section of town. Actually, I didn't know the town at all and was rather surprised there was a seedy area in it. Bars lined both sides of the street. Loud music competed with each other as the patrons yelled to be heard. Turns out there was a lot to do here, if you were twenty-one or older.

We came around a corner onto a darker side street. The foot traffic wasn't as heavy, though there were still tourists out. The sun had fully set, casting shadows across the streets where the lamp's weak light didn't reach. A chill was slowly creeping in. I shivered, huddling into myself. I thought about walking closer to Rose but didn't want to end up getting slapped. I didn't know how Rose could handle walking around in such short shorts. She must be freezing.

We slowed our pace as we heard cat-calls down the street. A man stepped out from the shadows of one of the bars doorway. He walked toward us, or more like swayed toward us. Even from a distance I could tell he was drunk.
“What are you two lovelies doing out tonight?” his words were slurred and his glazed eyes shone with interest as he looked at Rose's expanse of legs.

“
None of your business.” Rose snapped, attempting to move passed him. He grabbed her arm and pulled her to a stop. I could feel the darkness rearing its head alongside my disgust.

“
Hey now, no need for the attitude doll. Where's the hospitality I've heard about you country girls?” he was in his thirties, balding, and obviously a tourist if his floral shirt was any indication. His leer caused my stomach to roll as waves of nausea hit the back of my throat.

“
I hope I don't think you're implying what it sounds like you are.” Rose spat out, face flushing in anger. She grabbed hold of his hand and tried to remove it. “Dude! Remove your freaking hand!”

He pulled her closer, grabbed her ass and squeezed it. I felt my temper flare at Rose's grimace. I felt the currents build within me, begging for release. My body shook with the force of my control. He was just a drunk. A perverted drunk, but a drunk nonetheless.

“What do you think I'm implying?” Pictures of Jason flashed through my head. I tried to shove them away but they were replaced by Rose. Rose attacked. Rose in pain. My mind was a torture chamber of images. 

Rose struggled and tried to remove herself from his grasp.
“I like them feisty— why don't you come on over to the— oomph!” Rose fell to the bricked sidewalk as he released her, scrapping her palms and leg from the fall.

“
You are
not
allowed to touch her, you filthy fucking pig!” I stood behind him, complete rage filling me, pouring out of me. I felt the currents move furiously throughout my body. The darkness seemed to be screaming at me, egging me on and testing for control. For once, I was glad of its presence and wasn't afraid of it. Feeling it reaching out, I focused all of my rage on the drunk.

He straightened and turned his focus onto me. Good. Rose crawled backwards, fear crossing her face. I wasn't sure if she feared me, or him. At that moment I didn't care.

He rubbed his back from where I shoved him and let out a snarl as he advanced toward me. I stood my ground, wanting him to come. I was so consumed with the rage and trying to control the currents that were sparking almost painfully along my body that I didn't see his hand fly out until my head snapped back from the force of his slap. “You fucking cunt!” he roared into my face, raising his hand again for another strike.

Time seemed to stand still. Sounds faded as I felt the ever present rage and darkness build within me to a frightening crescendo. I could feel the change in me, reflecting in my eyes just like they did when I fought with Rose, only this time was different. This time felt more—
 powerful. I knew without a doubt that my eyes would be glowing an almost liquid silver, so intense was my hatred of that man. My hair started to lift in time with the pulsing currents. I would have freaked out if I was in control of myself, but I wasn't. Darkness held me in its grasp and wasn't letting go.

I watched in slow motion as the drunks hand moved closer to my face, spittle flying from his lips as he roared. All I heard was silence. Pulse-pulse-pulse. I felt the currents move in an ever increasing rhythm. When his hand was a millimeter from my face, I felt an almost all-consuming freedom as the electric-like currents shot out of my body. The darkness leading the way.

When the last tendril left, everything moved at its regular pace. I saw the drunks eyes widen as his body flew backwards into a nearby car. The sound of his body smacking into the metal snapped me out of my daze. I watched in horror as the man fell to the ground, blood pooling from his mouth and the back of his head. I looked from his body to the car he was leaning against and saw a perfect indentation of where his body hit.

My emotions released as the darkness left me. I freaked out, and ran to him, checking for any sign of life. My head snapped around as I heard movement behind me. I stared at Rose a she neared, her hands up in supplication as if trying to pacify a wild animal.

“It's alright.” She said, her voice shaking.

“
Are you okay?” My, eyes frantically searching over Rose's body, looking for any sign of damage. I was afraid to move toward her, petrified that I had hurt her.

She knelt down and gently laid her hand on my shoulder.
“I'm fine, really, the only thing I have is scratches from hitting the ground when the ass dropped me.” She smiled slightly, nervously. As she peered into my eyes I could see relief seep into her body.

I ran my hand frantically through my long hair.
“I think I might have killed him—” pain and fear filled my words, my soul.

She leaned past me and checked for the drunks vital signs. The last of the tension left her as she felt a small, steady pulse. She wrapped her arm around my shoulders, pulling my shocked body into the comfort of her own.
“He's fine, just knocked out. He might have a concussion, but the fucking ass deserved it.”

I looked into Rose's warm, green eyes and broke down sobbing.
“I don't know what happened! What am I?” 

“
Hell, as far as I'm concerned, you're my hero.”

I looked up at Rose and stared in disbelief.
“How in the hell am I a hero? Didn't you see what I just did?”

She smiled softly and patted me gently on my head.
“Yeah, I did. You just saved me from possibly being raped by that drunk asshole. And who knows? Maybe you saved other girls too. C'mon, let’s go back to my place. You can spend the night there, and if you promise not to snore, then I promise not to kick you out of bed in the middle of the night.”

I looked at the man still crumpled before me.
“But what about him? We just can't leave him here.”

“
Well, the hardware store won't be open until the morning, so I don't know where we could stash him until we can buy the cement and rope.”

“
That's not funny, Rose.”

She laughed and reached down to pull me up.
“You'll be laughing about it later. For now, why don't you go wait while I run in, and tell someone that he's out here.”

I nodded as the shock started to wear off, leaving uncontrollable tremors racking my body. Rose quickly went inside to relay the message. I was unable to look away from him. I replayed over and over again his body as it impacted and crumpled to the ground. While I stood there, motionless. Emotionally barren. I began to fear myself and what I could unknowingly do to people.
“I'll never be able to laugh about this—” I whispered as silent tears ran unnoticed down my face.