Seven Nights and Seven Roses

Chapter Three

 "Yes, survive. To survive here you need to learn things, the 'ways of life in the garden' as he puts it." Was "he" the man I've been seeing here?

"What is his name? Wait, what's your name?" I'd been so caught up in this man's identity that I'd forgotten to ask this woman hers.

"My real name is Emily." She looked down at her wrists as if she was ashamed.

"Why are you here? Why are we here?" I sat up straight, hoping for an answer.

"You're going to want to get comfortable, this is a long and confusing story." She shifted her position and continued, "I'm going to be blunt with you; we're stuck here." I tensed up. Stuck? What did she mean? She saw me panic, "Wait, wait wait wait. Before you panic let me explain." I took a deep breath and nodded. She continued once again, " This man, we don't know his real name of course but he calls himself Mack. He's been obsessed with roses ever since he found his mother with one in her hand after she committed suicide. Now, you're not supposed to know that. I only know because I was the first Rose. And, since you're the last Rose, you and I are connected." I didn't know what to say. How to think. Why was she so calm?

"H-how are you so okay with this? We're being kidnapped! Held hostage! Taken prisoner! WHY ARE YOU SO CALM!?" I freaked out. I couldn't breathe, everything was getting smaller. My world was collapsing. I clutched my chest, I felt my heart in my throat.

"Rose, rose calm down. It's okay. Shhhh, you'll be okay. It's not so bad here, I promise." Emily rubbed my back, which surprisingly calmed my nerves a bit. "What do you mean, 'It's not so bad here,' ??? We're being kidnapped!" Was this real? I couldn't bring myself to accept that this was actually happening.

"Rose, calm down. It's okay. I'll explain everything to you. You need to obey and understand otherwise you'll..." Her voice trailed off. "You'll get hurt, Rose." She said bluntly.

"Fine, what do I have to do?"

"Pretty soon, you'll be allowed in the house. Don't try to run, don't yell for help - no one will be able to hear you. Trust me, I've tried...multiple times." She let out a breath, and looked at her wrists again. "We have rules. You have to dress how he wants you, eat what he gives us to eat, and most importantly; don't complain." I studied her outfit. A knee length old fashioned housewife dress. It was blue. "And before you know it, you'll soon remember who you are. It will be hard, because then you'll remember what happened to you."

"What happened to me?" I felt like I knew what she meant, but I didn't want to believe it. I couldn't believe it.

There was a knock on door, and it was almost as if she was on a timer, Emily stood up. "I have to go now, Rose. I'll be back for you soon." She quickly walked to the door. "Oh, here." She dropped a box where the door ended, and left.

Once again, I was left with my thoughts. The questions spun in my mind like a huge tornado - sucking up all other possible thoughts. The held in emotions over flowed like a tsunami. I was curled up in a ball; defenseless, weak, and scared. The weight of my fear kept me from getting up, kept me from everything. I did not only fear for myself, I feared for Emily. How long had she been here to make it okay for her? Would I end up like Emily? Or would my fate be worse?

I had finally worked up the courage to go and see what the box contained. The seven foot walk to the door felt like miles. Each step seeming to take a decade to finish. A red bow was tied around the paste white box, with a single flower placed on the top. Some would find this romantic but I found it disgusting; masking a horrible crime with gifts, making it "okay."

I sat down next to the box, carefully pulling off the bow. Inside the box was a dress identical to Emily's but, it wasn't blue it was green. My mind drifted back to a meadow. I can feel the warm spring breeze on my skin as if I was there. The sky looked like cotton candy as sun was beginning to rise. And there I am, lying on the tall grass next to him. The boy looked into my eyes, and in that single moment, as his eyes, as green as a forest, gazed into my dark eyes, I felt safe. I found home in his eyes.

In this moment, I felt free. Nothing on my mind but the boy and his green eyes. I don't remember his name, or if he is even real. But maybe if I held onto the thought of that meadow a little longer, It may just be okay.

That moment soon ended with a knock on the door. A simple gesture that was growing to terrify me more and more. The three-second long knock, had awoken me from my daydream. The door swung open, causing me to jump. It was Emily again, I sighed in relief, for I had thought it was the man again.

"Rose, it's time." Emily walked towards me and grabbed my hand. I wasn't sure if I should get up and go with her, or if I should refuse. But, what would happen if I chose to refuse?

I shook my head, "No I won't go with you. Take me home! I want to leave." I prayed that passed for assertive. Emily frowned, "Rose. You need to put your dress on and trust me. The girls and I will keep you safe." Wait, girls? As in plural???

"There's more than just us? How many girls has he taken??" I felt sick. This man was ruining more than Emily and I's, he was ruining more.

"You're the seventh Rose." Emily said faintly.