The New Rose

Chapter 35: Fight for your Life!

Warning: Those of a sensitive nature may wish not to read this chapter as it includes themes you might find disturbing such as terrorism, domestic disputes, and murder. Viewer discretion is advised.

Ruby looked on in shock as her aunt's red blade held her gapping mouth closed at it pressed her chin up. She was terrified beyond belief as she locked her silver eyes upon the crimson ones that haunted her dreams for weeks.

"No, you have to be fucking kidding me! Not her again! Not now! I don't have any power left!" a terrified Ruby thought, her arms trembling as she felt a burn arise from them despite their usual numbness. The sting on her arms was nothing compared to her heart as it felt like exploding as she heard her Aunt utter.

"Hello petal! Nice night to die right?" Her aunt's cold words, her arrogant smirk; both infuriated and horrified Ruby. She could barely move, her body trembling as she struggled to remember her method of quelling her trauma Klein taught her.

"D-Do I…do I punch my side? NO! Ruby it's bite your…finger…lip? GAH!" Ruby grit her teeth in frustration.

Honestly, Ruby felt more than helpless, she felt utterly frustrated at her state. She had trained under her father for years to quell her fear in the face of demonic beasts, yet she couldn't ease her mind to face one right in front of her!? She couldn't help but think he would be so ashamed of her. Luckily, as Ruby looked down in shame, consumed by this bitter thought, she caught sight of her boyfriend's side; one of her pistols was still there. With that, a new sense of hope arose within that quelled Ruby's fear.

"Awesome! A chance!" Ruby thought confidently, but Raven had caught sight of her source of hope as well.

As Ruby quickly reached for the gun, the heel of a black boot dug into her charred hand, eliciting a painful screech from Ruby as she froze, the last of her strength spent on that cry.

"Ruby! Leave her alo-"Seth roared in anger before his face was stomped on by Cinder's own boot, pressing his mouth closed and smashed against the concrete floor to his fury.

She knelt down and grabbed his face, using her black nails to force open his eyelids, making sure he saw her smile filled with sadism, as well as his lover's look of despair as Cinder gripped her throat and pressed the blade to it.

"Wait your turn Dreyer. I'm going to enjoy watching the look on your face when you see your precious rose wilt, knowing you were helpless to save her." Cinder said mockingly. Seth paled to Schnee levels of color as Cinder's words sunk in.

"N-NO! DON'T DO IT!" Seth hollered in fright, but Raven rolled her eyes in annoyance, having nothing but contempt for the exhausted teenager's pleas.

She could see her daughter lying unconscious ahead of her, her body covered in bruises as her gauntlets were exuding steam. Raven knew she had overused her semblance and caused damage to the charred arena around her, as well as to her charred niece before her just to win the contest. While her might was impressive, Raven couldn't help but silently admonish her daughter.

All she ever knew was raw power, not the finesse needed to hone its full potential. Without such technique she could never survive in the wilds with her tribe, let alone protect her cousin, whom she eyed with disdain as well for falling to a temper tantrum. She honestly wanted a fight when coming here, but felt Ruby had disappointed her, for the last time.

"Pathetic. Wasted your entire aura and energy on a silly competition, that's why you both never had what it took to survive." Raven sneered at them as she kicked Ruby's gun away, disappointment in her tone.

"But we didn't." Blake's cold voice resonated behind Raven as she felt a chill to her spine.

Blake had appeared in a flash using a glyph from Weiss to boost her speed. She drew Gambrol Shroud's black blade in a curved formation, aiming for Raven's throat. Raven actually smirked as she felt the blade draw near, impressed at the ex-white fang soldier's stealth, she might have made a great bandit.