Tales of the Broken: Roses in the Wind

Chapter Four: The Big City

Rose looked up at the buildings in amazement, she always did. Rose adored the city, the buildings were astonishing, the bustling streets were baffling, and most of all, she was amazed at how this was the last city in the Thread. Sure, there may be small settlements dotted about the landscapes of the various worlds, but those could hardly be called cities. Rose stopped abruptly on her path, taking a sudden turn into an alleyway. Her friend Vika was leaning against the wall, watching out for Rose. Vika smiled at Rose, giving her a warm welcome. Rose couldn't help but stare at Vika's neck, which was marked with tattoos from her previous mistakes. Vika subconsciously put her hand on the back of her neck, covering up her tattoos,

"We oughta get going, the others'll be waitin' for us." Vika said, sliding her hand off her neck. Rose nodded, she wanted to apologize to Vika every time she was caught staring at the markings, but Vika would always insist that she didn't care. Rose walked along side Vika, listening to her sword clatter against her armor. Rose looked to the side at Vika, watching the fur lining on her collar flutter in the icy wind. Rose turned her attention away from Vika, watching birds fly above, and rats scuttle beneath them. Rose loved the smell of the city, it was ugly for most, sure, but Rose liked how much it differed from the cabin. Rose and Vika came upon a demolished subway entrance, and after Vika pressed a tile that bore no difference to the other tiles, part of the rubble gave way to a tunnel leading down into the rest of the subway.

"Hey, hey, Vika!" Yelled young children in the subway,
Vika rolled her eyes, "Yeah?"

"Truth?" Asked one child,
"Or dare?" Said the other.

Vika gave a disgusted sigh, "This again? I've told you truth for the past ten times and you keep asking the same thing. There is no man on this planet that I want to kiss. Now scram." The children just stared at her. Vika rolled her eyes again, "Truth." She said, with a peculiar air of hatred, but also one of love and admiration around her, presumably because she admired how persistent these children were, after all there were like younger sisters to her.

The children giggled and asked in unison, "What do those markings mean on your neck?"

Vika took a step back, putting her hand over her markings, "I-I... uhm... I can't answer that." She said, her voice filling with sadness with every word. Before the children could object, Vika grabbed Rose by the wrist and dragged her along with her, rushing down the train tracks.

"Where are we going, Vika?" Asked Rose

Vika glanced back at her, "Don't ask anymore damn questions." She said with venom in her voice. Rose couldn't blame her anger, Vika was... sensitive about her past, to say the least. Those children probably thought those markings meant some fond words, or perhaps they were just for vanity. But Rose knew a bit of Vika's past. She knew that Vika's name meant "Trouble" in Grizzleheim, where Vika grew up. Vika once wore the name Orvokki. Rose had also learned that she was the first human berserker in... well, ever. Rose remembered how Vika spoke fondly of the mentor that had taught her, a bear that had the same rage capabilities Vika had. Vika always told Rose that she knew Rose had some "of my 'serker sense in your instincts." Vika rushed past Gio's room, and Rose faintly heard the tune of singing and a violin playing. Gio was cute to Rose, she had always liked him. Though at the moment there were just friends, and for now, Rose was happy with that. Though she had a sneaking suspicion that Gio wanted more, he always seemed to be flirting with her... sure, Rose was flattered by it, but she couldn't help but feel pushed away by it.

"We're here," Vika said, throwing Rose into her own room. Vika's room was pretty scarce, all that was in there was a bed and a large mechanical arm that Vika kept cleaned and in working order. In the corner was a small desk with a tv hanging above it. On the desk we're stacks of paper, with art supplies on the side. Rose knew that Vika loved to draw. Vika leaned over her bed, grabbing two wooden swords. Rose peered around the room, and saw Vika's casual clothes, which were almost never worn... so the casual description doesn't really fit. Vika tossed a sword to Rose, then she shoved Rose out of the door onto the tracks. Vika raised the point of her sword at Rose's chest,

"Ready? GO!" Vika roared. Rose parried Vika's first jab, and deflected the next slash. Rose launched a counter attack against Vika, almost striking her on the leg before she jumped out of the way.

"You can do better than that, lassie!" Vika yelled. Rose grit her teeth and stabbed at Vika, who calmly slid out of the way.

"You slow little twat! KEEP UP!" Vika roared. Rose started to get angry, and she slashed st Vika again, who blocked and struck back, nailing Rose on the top of the head.

"Where has all that cardio exercise gone? And what about your brain, hmm? IT LOOKS LIKE THAT NOGGIN IS EMPTY!" Vika cried.

Rose's senses started to fuzz out, almost as if they were numbing. Then, suddenly small points on Vika started to shine, they were almost imperceptible, but Rose could barely make them out. Rose jabbed at one point on Vika's thigh, causing her to stumble down. Another point opened up on Vika's chest, so Rose swung the sword and nailed Vika in the center of her chest, sending her sprawling to the floor.

Rose slowly crept up to Vika, scared to see her furious face. Instead of pure, unadulterated rage, Vika started to laugh,

"Nice job, lass. You finally managed to best me." Vika said, grabbing Rose's extended hand as an aid to standing back up.

Vika hugged Rose, "You're doing much better than before. Keep this up, and I may just let you join me on my little... adventures."

Rose smiled warmly at Vika, after all, Rose thought of her as family, an Vika thought of Rose much the same.

"Hey, Rose?" Vika said,

"Yeah, Vika?" Rose replied with,

"Call me Orvokki." Vika said, Rose glanced back at Vika after sitting down on a support column,

"I'm sorry... what now?" Rose replied with. She knew of her real name, but Rose had never heard or said "Orvokki" out loud, she'd only seen it in Vika's journals.

"Oar-vo-key." Said Vika, sounding out the name slowly,  "That'd be my real name."

Rose nodded her head, "I'll try to remember that."