Dark Reincarnation: Nightshade

Chapter 32

                      Alice's POV

      When I came to I realized that I was no longer in the dungeon. I actually didn't know where I was. Looking around I noticed that I was sitting in the middle of a dense forest completely surrounded by insanely tall trees. Then, feeling something move on my lap, I glanced down to see the little girl from earlier laying on my lap and looking around confused.

     When she finally looked to me and I to her I pulled her into a hug and I completely lost it. Holding the girl in a tight embrace I cried and cried. It all came out as reality hit me. Lily was really gone, taken away from me in a stupid dungeon just like Jace and Sky. Yet again I had lost someone I loved, the only person I truly had in this world. I was alone.

       When I was finally able to calm down a bit and I had no more tears left to cry, I remembered the little girl in my arms. Now I felt completely selfish. Here I was all emotional and bawling my eyes out while this tiny little girl was holding herself together better then me.

      Who knows what all she had actually gone through. She was ripped away from her loved ones and everyone else she knew, dragged into a dangerous dungeon, chain up and forced to watch as the kids she grew up with were mercilessly slaughtered and had almost been sacrificed herself.

      She must be truly torn apart, likely the shock of it all being the reason to her calmness. Quickly collecting myself I took one of my jackets from my spacial storage and wrapped it around her to cover her up since what was left of her clothes didn't exactly cover much.

           "...thank..." I barely heard her start to say. It was practically a whisper so I had to ask what she had said.

      "I'm sorry, what was that sweetie?"

              "......thank you...for saving me..."

       "No problem at all little one, I'm just glad we made it out in one piece."

               "That girl... Was she your friend?"

   Barely able to keep from choking up or losing it again I simply nodded.

            "Yes.. she was... She was more then that though, she was starting to become my everything...."

          "I'm sorry..." She said while looking down, a year sliding down her cheeks. "It's my fault she's gone... If you wouldn't have came for me she wouldn't have died..."

       At first I didn't know what to say... This poor girl actually believed it was her fault that all happened... Acting more on instinct then anything else I slowly lifted her chin so as to look her in the eye and I gave a slight smile.

                "What's your name little one?"

       "Rose... My name is rose..."

                 "Listen to me Rose, it's not your fault that a pathetic demon kidnapped you and your friends. It's not your fault that me and Lily came to try and save you. And it's for damn sure not your fault that Lily and the others are gone.

      "That fault lies with the piece of shit demon that thought it was ok to put you guys through all this. And that's why that bastard got what he rightfully deserved. Understand little one?"

     She simply nodded in response but I noticed that she was no longer crying. Hopefully she takes what I said to heart, she's way too young to have that on her shoulders.

      "Well, we probably shouldn't just keep sitting here, it's starting to get pretty dark. Do you know in which direction your home is?"

              "Gone..." She whispered as she started to tear up again.

        "Gone? What do you mean sweetie?"

                "It's gone... At least my house is.... When the demon took me, he made me watch as he killed my mama and then he set the house on fire.... When Papa came home he made me watch as he killed him too....." She was full on crying now. This poor kid... I was furious. That piece of shit didn't deserve to die the way he must have, I should have fought to stay conscious and made sure that he suffered a slow and extremely painful death...

    To not only take a child against their will but to force them to watch as their parents were murdered.... It's unforgivable...

     I quickly pulled Rose back into my chest and held her tight as she finally let it all out. I can't imagine the pain she must be in right.... I ended up sitting there letting her cry it all out for a couple hours. Holding her close the entire time. When she was able to calm down a bit she looked up at me with a lost look on her face.

          "What am I going to do now miss? Where will I go?"

   I wasn't actually sure how to answer that. But as I looked down once more I ended up looking directly into her beautiful silver eyes. Instantly I knew what to do, without even a slight doubt in my mind. I'm going to protect this little girl for as long as I can. I'll be her family, I'll give her a home. I made a silent vow to myself right then and there that this girl WILL be happy again. I'll make sure of it and nothing will ever harm her again.

        "Say Rose, how about you come stay with me? I'm not your mom and I honestly can't even say I'm a good person. But I can promise you that no harm will ever come to you again."

                "I... I can stay with you?... You want me?..."

         "Yes my love, you can stay with me."

                 "You won't leave me too?"

        "Never. I swear it on my own life Rose, you'll never be alone as long as I live..."

                 ".....you promise?.."

           "I promise."

   With that she threw her arms around me and buried her face in my chest. But not before I saw a small smile on her face. Pulling her back and using my sleeve to wipe the tears from her eyes I gave her a smile of my own and stood us up.

          "Come little one, let's go home."