Tales of the Broken: Roses in the Wind

Chapter Seven: Uncovering

Rose strolled along the narrow sidewalk of the city alongside Vika, or Orvokki. The cobbles of the street were wet with the light drizzle from above. Even though she told Rose her real name, Rose still called her Vika. It was much more comfortable to say, and in Rose's own opinion, it rolled off the tongue more easily. Some of the shopkeepers on the side walls of the building started to yell at the duo, beckoning them over to buy. One of the shopkeepers even whistled at them, making flirtatious comments at them. Vika gave a sound of disgust,

"These damned shopkeepers. Most of them only care about coin. It seems the only good ones are the poor ones."

"I can agree with that." Rose said, kicking an empty tin can across the way. A large truck shot past them on the road, its wheels running through a water puddle, spraying water all over Rose, who mumbled about her new cloak.

"Thanks for blocking the water for me." Vika said with a hint of cheerfulness in her voice. Rose responded with a look of toxicity. Without another word, Rose continued on. The sound of Vika's metal-rimmed, hard leather boots on the cobbles was oddly soothing for Rose. It seemed like a lot of sounds calmed her down.

Vika stopped in front of a dimly lot shop,

"This is the place." She said. When Vika entered the shop, with Rose close behind, a loud bark rang out through the room. Vika looked around, her head looking almost robotic with her search. In the darkness, a muted clatter could be heard. A form leaped out from the shadows, tackling down Vika. Rose's hand instantly went for her small dagger, but then Rose saw that the form was a strangely big dog that was merely licking Vika's face into oblivion.

"Please get this mutt off me." Vika managed to say through all the slobber. Rose just stared and watched on for awhile longer. After it registered to Rose what Vika had said, she looped her arms underneath the dog, lifting it up in the air and moving it to the side, lowering it down safely on the ground. Vika stood up, wiping the slobber off her face. An elderly looking man hobbled out the shadows from where the dog came,

"Ah, Vika!" He exclaimed, "So you've come for yer pet?"

Vika nodded at him, "Yeah. I've decided to leave the subway. After what happened with Ashnir... well, that kinda tipped me over the edge."

The man smiled at Vika, "So yer goin to keep this young dog 'a yours?"

Vika, once again, nodded. Rose peered over at Vika,

"Since when have you owned a dog?" Rose said inquisitively.

Vika glanced up at Rose, "Ever since I was ban- since I left my home. My real home."

Vika once again put her hand over her markings, when she realized she was covering them up, she quickly slid her hand off of her neck. Vika stood up after she finished scratching the dog's ear. The dog looked so pleased with the scratching that when Vika stopped, it whimpered a little.

"C'mon, Runetooth." Vika said.

Rose put her hands on her hips, raising an eyebrow, "Runetooth?"

Vika glanced back at Rose, a fire burning in her eyes, "It reminds me of home."

With that being said, Vika turned and walked out the door. She only gave a small nod to the elderly man, who waved in return. Rose followed Vika outside, strolling along side her down the sidewalk. More cars started to pass, but this time Rose hugged the wall of the building, safely hidden away from the showers of water the cars flung up. Vika turned onto an abandoned road, slipping under the barricades, with Runetooth and Rose right on her tail. Vika brushed aside some withered vines, revealing a lush green clearing in the thick foliage that had grown in he unkempt road. Rose took one step in, instantly feeling the cold breeze echo throughout the opening. Rose followed the cobbled road, looking around. Vika followed her from afar, keeping an eye on her.

"This is my home away from home. My escape place, if you will." Explained Vika.

Rose stepped onto a loose cobble, causing her to fall over, scraping up her hands and knees. Vika rolled her eyes, but she had a charmed look in her eyes. Vika stepped over to help Rose up when the floor rumbled. After trying to slowly step off, the floor crumbled to dust, leaving Rose to fall into a dark hole. Vika cursed, this area was littered with potholes, the main reason why this road was abandoned. Runetooth barked loudly down at Rose, Vika called out for Rose, but no reply reached her ears. Runetooth leaped to an outcropping on the side of the wall. The dog bounded from side to side, making his way down. Vika pulled out a pick from her belt, etching it into the stone. Vika looped her hand around the rope attached to the end of the pick, slowly making her way down the pit.

When Vika hit the ground, all sign of Rose was gone. After surveying the area, Vika noticed a light down at the end of an abandoned mineshaft. Murmuring could also be heard from that direction, so Vika made her way over to the noise, as silent as a fox. Runetooth was close behind, crouching down in an effort to be stealthy as well. Vika put her hand on the end of a tunnel, peering over the corner. Two men were standing over a fire, both of them having barged wire tattoos on their arms. Vika instantly ducked back under the wall, she didn't want a fight. She never did. Instead of fighting, Vika tuned her ear to listen to what the men were saying.

"You have any idea who this woman is, Kyle?"
Asked one

Kyle gave a short bark, "How the hell would I? I don't know half the people in the city."

The first man bopped Kyle on the back of the head, "You don't need to! Her eyes are a dead giveaway. Pure purple eyes. She's his daughter."

Kyle shook his head, "Those are stories for kids, Rupert. Even if she is, we can still catch s pretty penny for turning her into the boss."

Rupert nodded, "I suppose that we could if we give her to him."

Vika's head shot up when she heard about their captive's purple eyes. Vika's markings flared to life for a second, glowing brightly in the dim tunnel. Vika gripped her neck, her markings sizzling with heat. Every time the tattoos glowed, it burned into her neck. The two men instantly got up after seeing the flash. Vika heard the sound of guns being readied. Vika had no choice here, she couldn't fight two guns with a sword in such a small space. Vika turned on her heel and bolted out to the pothole entrance, gripping the rope. Before the ascended, she picked up Runetooth with some difficulty, throwing him onto a ledge so he could bound out. Vika started her ascent, slowly making her way up. The men had ran out and spotted her by now and they let loose some shots. One of the bullets struck the rock above her, and the other deflected off Vika's sheathed sword, tearing a hole in her cloak in the process. Vika gripped the ledge, scrambling to get up it. Vika turned to dislodge the pick from the rock, she felt a bullet whizz by her face, shaving off the hair of her eyebrow. Vika fell back, but instead of getting up, Vika kicked the pick, tossing it down into the cavern. The two men had started chasing her up the rope, so there was no time to recover it. Vika looked down the hole, seeing the two men shake their heads and walk back,

"Let's just get back to the boss. Chasing that girl is too much work."

"Yeah, besides, he'll be happy we have the other girl."

Vika grit her teeth, Rose had been taken captive by some unknown organization.