Flawless

Ambushed

Rose rubbed her forehead with her index finger.  Sweat beads clumped on the side of her face as she sat at her desk.  The translucent door that sat in front of her desk opened.  One of the cops that was on the mission on capturing Thorne stood there.  Thorne.  Oh Thorne C. Thyme I will enjoy watching get you and your crazy blue eyes and black bow tie and popped collar.  I never want to see your smug, long, charismatic face and squared jaw and...  Rose pinched herself.  Now his charms were taking control of her!  Curse you Thorne C. Thyme!  

"Hello, what do you want."  Rose sighed.  

"Um, w-we need you down in the experimental station.  Dr. Theodore Duke wants you."  the police officer stuttered.    

Rose picked her head up at the sound of his name.  "What now?"  she mumbled as she stood up, chin held high.  She marched down the hall till she saw the lab door.  A scream erupted from the room as Duke's assistant ran out and slammed the door.  

"He's mad!"  he whispered to Rose.  "Be careful Ms. Wynter!"  the assistant ran down the hall.  Rose took a deep breath and slammed open the door.  Her determined look soon faded to a fearful one as she saw Duke standing there.  And by god... he was filthy.  Sweaty.  Absurd.  He was standing with his legs apart, staring right at her.  His teeth, grinding together as his intense brown eyes stared her down.  His black hair was soaked with sweat and his white lab coat was open, revealing his black undershirt.  

She gaped at him, jaw wide open.  "D-Duke."  she said collecting her confidence.  "Are you-"

"Absurd?  Yes."  he growled.  The room was destroyed.  Papers everywhere, machine's broken.  "Where is Thyme.  I will KILL HIM!  YOU HEAR ME?"  he growled, marching to Rose.  "I want you to get him and bring him back.  Crap, this is happening again..."  

Rose blinked at the mention of Thorne.  "Duke?  What do you mean-"  

"Oh, him... that idiot thinks he can steal my research..."  he shook his head.  "Not THIS TIME!"  

Rose marched up to him and shook his shoulders.  "WHAT HAPPENED LAST TIME?"  The suspense was killing her.  What happened then?  "You knew Thorne?"  

"Knew him?"  Duke laughed hysterically.  "How do you think he knew how to blow up my lab with a microwave?"  Duke leaned in closer to Rose and whispered, "I taught him."  

Rose gaped at him.  "You taught him?"  

"Oh how intelligent he was as a child.  Very high IQ, one of my favorite students."  Duke looked at the door behind Rose, tracing his top row of teeth with his tongue.  "Then, he changed.  After his father left, he stayed in school a little longer, but by then he was completely poor and couldn't pay for school.  And to make money, he stole my research.  Sold it.  Only seven but god he was smart.  

"He ditched school after that.  gave up education.  Who knows what became of his knowledge now...  he was in eighth grade at seven!"  Duke shook his head.  "That little thief.  AND NOW HE STOLE MY TICKET TO FAME!"  

Rose stepped back as Duke ran over to another machine and threw it out the window.  "Well, Mr. Duke sir, I have to go..."  

"GET HIM AND BRING HIM TO ME!  I WILL BREAK HIM-"  Rose ran out of the room, too nervous to hear the end.  What had happened to the jolly Duke she used to know?  

"Oh Thyme,"  she choked, a tear rolling down her cheek.  "You cursed us all."

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