Lussaria; Her Final Blade

chapter 12

Rosa sat on the edge of the bed, her heart still racing. She tried to calm herself, inhaling deeply, but the tension from the weapons room lingered in her chest. Her eyes darted to the small bag she had packed earlier, ready for the journey ahead. The room was dimly lit, casting shadows that seemed to stretch and shift with every flicker of the light. She could hear faint murmurs from downstairs—Nolan giving orders, Ander grumbling as usual.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the door creaking open. Rosa looked up, her body tensing instinctively.

Sonia stood in the doorway, her arms folded, a smug smile playing on her lips. She was dressed in tight, tactical gear, black and sleek, as if she had just stepped out of a war zone. Her blonde hair was pulled into a tight ponytail, and the deep red of her lipstick seemed even more vivid under the dim light.

"Packing already?" Sonia asked, her tone light but laced with mockery. She took a step into the room, her eyes never leaving Rosa’s face. "I didn’t take you for someone who’d run, why not stay, defend yourself, because of you we're all moving to a safe house half way across the city"

Rosa clenched her jaw and stood up, facing Sonia. "No one asked you to come, and I’m not running," she said firmly. "I’m surviving."

Sonia let out a low, throaty laugh. "Surviving? You’ve been a prisoner here for days. You think just because Nolan’s giving you a chance, you’re part of this? You’re nothing more than a liability."

Rosa’s fists tightened. She wasn’t in the mood for this. “What’s your problem with me, Sonia? Why does it bother you so much that I’m here?”

Sonia’s smile faltered for a second, and her eyes darkened. She stepped closer, her voice lowering. “You think I don’t see it? The way Nolan looks at you, the way he tries to protect you. He’s risking everything because of you.” She was now inches away, her breath warm against Rosa’s face. “You’re going to get him killed.”

Rosa met her gaze, refusing to back down. "I didn’t ask for any of this. And I don’t owe you an explanation."

The smirk returned to Sonia’s lips, but this time it was colder, more dangerous. "You don’t belong here," she whispered. "And I’m going to make sure you know it."

Before Rosa could react, Sonia lunged. Her hand shot out, grabbing Rosa by the throat, shoving her hard against the wall. The impact sent a jolt of pain through Rosa’s back, but she didn’t cry out. Sonia’s strength was overwhelming, her grip tightening as she sneered. “You’re not cut out for this,” she hissed, her eyes glinting with malice.

But Rosa wasn’t going to let herself be intimidated. She kicked out hard, her boot connecting with Sonia’s shin. Sonia yelped in pain, her grip loosening just enough for Rosa to shove her away. Rosa didn’t hesitate—she swung her fist, aiming for Sonia’s face, but Sonia dodged, countering with a punch of her own that landed squarely on Rosa’s jaw.

The blow knocked Rosa back, but she recovered quickly, her vision blurring for only a second. Rage coursed through her veins now, fueling her movements. She tackled Sonia, slamming her into the side of the bed, the two of them tumbling to the ground in a tangle of limbs. Sonia was strong—stronger than Rosa had anticipated—but Rosa was fast.

They grappled, each trying to get the upper hand. Sonia landed a knee to Rosa’s ribs, but Rosa retaliated with a swift elbow to Sonia’s stomach. The air left Sonia’s lungs in a sharp gasp, and for a moment, Rosa saw her opening. She shoved Sonia onto her back, pinning her down, her hands gripping Sonia’s wrists as she loomed over her, breathing heavily.

“Enough!” Rosa growled, her voice low and fierce. “I’m not going anywhere. And if you try to get in my way again, I won’t hold back.”

Sonia glared up at her, her chest heaving. For a moment, it seemed like she would lash out again, but then, slowly, her expression shifted. The smirk returned, though it was weaker now. “So, you do have some fight in you,” she muttered, her voice thick with resentment. “Maybe you’re not completely useless.”

Rosa released her grip and stood up, stepping back. Sonia stayed on the floor for a moment, catching her breath, before getting to her feet, brushing herself off as if nothing had happened. “This isn’t over,” she said, her eyes narrowing. “But for now, I’ll play nice. For Nolan.”

Rosa didn’t respond. She grabbed her bag, slinging it over her shoulder, her body still buzzing from the adrenaline of the fight.

Sonia headed toward the door, glancing over her shoulder as she left. “See you at dawn, princess.”

Rosa stood in the quiet room for a moment, her heart still racing. The fight had drained her, but it also reminded her of something important. She wasn’t weak. She wasn’t helpless. She had survived this long, and she wasn’t about to let Sonia—or anyone else—push her around.

When dawn came, Rosa was ready.

The group assembled outside the house, the early morning light casting long shadows across the ground. Nolan stood by the vehicle, checking the supplies one last time. Ander was off to the side, muttering something under his breath as he strapped a rifle to his back.

Sonia stood nearby, her face calm but her eyes flashing with the unspoken tension from the night before. She didn’t look at Rosa, but Rosa could feel the weight of her presence.

Nolan approached, his expression serious. “We’re heading out. Stay close, and do exactly as I say.”

Rosa nodded, gripping the strap of her bag tightly as she climbed into the vehicle. As they set off toward the safehouse, the road ahead was long, filled with danger and uncertainty.

But one thing was clear: Rosa wasn’t going to let anyone control her fate anymore.