Purple Roses

Chapter 8 - Into the Darkness

I'm shook awake by Oscar, I look around drowsily... forgetting what we are here to do for a reason.

I state to the clock, it reads "2:37 AM" in its dim green glow.

"Right... let's hope that this entrance is still there." Oscar sighs

I feel as if I'm being dragged out instantly by Oscar. Within minutes we are dressed, Oscar has packed a backpack carrying all the essentials: water, some snacks, torches, etc.

The sky is dim as dark clouds cover the sky, perfect.

"Right... let's go!" Oscar whispers

We tiptoe silently down the stairs and we emerge out of the front door, the city is barren, the roads silent, the birds that once sang so loud now hush.

Oscar signals for me to follow him and I oblige

We enter the forest and begin following a path, a very familiar path. As we approach I can see the large concrete wall for the sun side approach.

We slide down a small embankment and Oscar reaches a bush... he pulls it back and the opening remains like it did a month or so ago.

"Well... that's good." Oscar says

"Not in the clear yet though" I reply, "they might have patched the air vent system."

Oscar just silently nods but proceeds towards the shadow side

As we walk through the woods I see the dim sky fade darker and darker. Oscar pulls out the torches and we keep going. Through the torchlight I once again can see the purple roses lining the ground, it just reminds me of when we escaped. Now we are going back, going back there... maybe they"ve hurt him... no... no it's not that bad.

I take a deep breath and keep walking forward. The greenery of the forest becomes more and more scarce as we get closer to the wall, the grass gets browner, the trees become less and less frequent... that's when we see it

I look up and come face to face with the noir concrete wall, spanning for what looks like miles about ground, reinforced and reinforced again.

I see Oscar look around for the vent, he very swiftly spots it.

"Yes! It's still loose!" Oscar celebrates

He lifts the vent off and gets ready to crawl in.

"Wait!" I call out

Oscar looks back at me.

"Do we have any real plan? Do we even know where James is? It might be dangerous?" I say

"Oh... I didn't really think of that, he's probably where he was before, and you know where the crystal is kept. All good then right?" Oscar replies

"Well... yes, but-" I'm cutoff by Oscar

"Perfect then! Let's go get him!" Oscar says enthusiastically

I feel my chest getting tighter and everything feels so large for a moment.

"I..." I stutter, "I can't go back in there!"

Oscar looks back in confusion

"Well, I'm sure we will be okay-"

This time I cut him off

"No... it's just... it's too perfect, it's not like my father to leave things unchecked.... He would have definitely fixed this... it's a trap!" I blurt out

"Surely he would have come to us?" Oscar queries

"I... I'm so scared to go back there." I admit, beginning to cry a little bit, my breathing is getting heavier and harder. "You don't understand what he did to us... what he will do to us... I want to save James so much but I can't face going back there... they will kill me and I don't want to die!"