Rise of Red Re-written (Book 1)

Chapter 6

"So this is the black lagoon?" They walk closer to the water, hoping to find this secret hideout that the VK's have. They heard noises all around them, creatures of the night, no doubt, before they heard them. The VK's. "I thought you were a beautiful flamingo, Uli." "Knock it off!" She shouts. Chloe and Red crouch down as they come closer. "It's the VK's." Red whispered. They start walking closer to the lake, Uli blows into her conch shell necklace before a cave that looked alot like an angler fish emerges from out of the water.

They wait until the VK's enter the cave before they stand and follow them. "Wait, we'll be caught for sure." Chloe stops her. Red looks around and notices the spin of the cave goes around the top. "Over here." They run to the side and Red helps Chloe get on the roof of the cave, not without checking out her behind, of course. Chloe turns around and offers her hand to Red who happily takes it. She helps her up on the roof before they make their way further. Red pries open a small hole in the roof so they can watch what the VK's are planning. They see Uliana calling on the spirits to help her plot her revenge on Bridget. The spirits show a cookbook that they can use with a recipe that will turn Bridget into a monster. That's it! The VK's then leave their lair and start plotting. "We'll bake our own treat, and turn her into a monster."

They start to climb down from the roof, Red landing first since she was used to climbing and jumping off rooftops. She turns around to help Chloe when she sees her lose her footing. "Chloe!" She manages to catch her with Chloe landing on top of her. "Ow, fucking rabbits." Red groans. "Are you ok?" Chloe tries to get up. "Me? You're the one that fell on me. Are you ok?" Chloe helps her stand. "Yeah, thanks for breaking my fall." Red rolls her eyes. "You're welcome. Come on, let's go." They jump from one rock to another and try to make their way across the lagoon. "What is that?" A lake monster appears from behind them. "Hurry!" "Come on!" They rush to get to the other side. Red makes it before Chloe does, who ends up tripping on a rock. She lands on the ground near the lake, where the creature tries to get at her. Red quickly grabs a stick and smacks it on the head before it retreats into the lagoon. "You ok?" She helps Chloe stand. "Yeah. Thanks." In that moment, Red wants to tell her but she couldn't find the courage to. "You're no good to me as fish food." She places her hand on her shoulder. Chloe, while a little disappointed, understand her hesitation. Chloe still had some feelings that she wasn't quite ready to come to terms with either.

"We can still stop them before Castlecoming, but that means-" "We got a book to find." Red starts making her way back to school with Chloe close behind. They finally reach their dorm before they both take off their jackets and brainstorm. "Where could that book be? Who could we ask? Not Ella. I still can't believe how awful her family was to her. I just- i don't understand how someone could grow up like that, and turn into, well my mom." Chloe sits after pacing for a few minutes. "I mean, how can one person change so much?" Red scoffs. "Tell me about it. My mom changed her entire personality. It's like everything she does now is to make people afraid of her and..and to hide that fact that she used to actually be nice." Chloe walks over to the bed and sits. "Well whatever we do, we gotta make sure she stays that way. My mom's life depends on it." Red looks at her. "I mean, think about it. What if your mom had grown up to be like Bridget?" Chloe sits on her bed. Red slowly turns her body towards Chloe and lays on her side in a way that does things to her, but lets not get into that.

"You mean, completely clueless?" Red asks. "Or kind, generous and open hearted. She wouldn't have become a tyrant." Chloe shakes her head. Red chuckles slightly. "Yeah, i could eat what i want, and sleep when i want, and wear what i want, and be what i want, and love who i want!" Red sits up. "I'd be free of my mom, and her rules, and her judge-y face." "She might not be judge-y at all. She might be loving and kind." Chloe smiles. "It doesn't matter. It's not like I actually care about that." Red shakes her head. "I think...maybe you do." Red stares at her for a second, something about the way the rhinestones around her eyes shine.... Chloe pulls out the pocket watch from her jacket pocket. "Speaking of Bridget, what if the watch brought us back here because what you really want is a mom who can love you the way that you are? A mom like Bridget." Red sighs and looks away. "She'd probably still be making cupcakes." Chloe smiles. Cupcakes. "That's it, we should ask Bridget about the cookbook." Chloe nods. "You're right. But first thing in the morning. It's been a long night." Red nods. "Agreed." They both settle into bed before turning off the lights. "Hey," Chloe says in the dark. "Yeah?" "Thanks again for earlier tonight. You know, for saving my life." She smiles. "What are friends for?" Red smiles to herself as she bites her lip. "I think it's safe to say we're more than friends at this point." Chloe whispered to herself. Red heard her, of course she did. She was just hesitant to truly believe her so she didn't comment. Red closes her eyes and smiles to herself. Chloe turns to her side and stares at Red for a moment, noticing a smile on her face. It makes her wonder, no pun intended, what the red headed girl was dreaming of, unbeknownst to her that she actually heard her earlier. Chloe closes her eyes as well before falling asleep.