Rose

Prologue

"Burn them!" chanted the crowd.

"Mam what's going on?" I said innocently, clueless to the reality of the situation.

"E-everything is fine. You go outside and find your auntie. Please. We will meet again." she sounded horrified. She was stammering and sweat was running down her forehead. Yet she's able to wear such a brave face. She smiled warmly at me. "Just trust me." she said, still wearing her beautiful smile.

"Okay mam!" I said cheerfully. I decided to smile brightly back at my mum. I started skipping towards the exit of the hall that would lead outside.

"Wait!" my mum shouted. I turned around to face my mum in surprise. I saw her running towards me, diving to her knees and then hugging me tightly. She withdrew from the hug and held out a miniature, white pearl with black dots sparkling in it in both of her hands as if this pearl could kill her if she dropped it.

"What is this mam?" I asked curiously asked while staring at the mesmerizing pearl.

"You'll find out. Just always keep it in this book. You'll find out on your 16th birthday." she told me softly as she slammed the pearl in a strange book. It's appearance is ancient and thick. It was only plain black. There wasn't any words on the outside of the book that I could see. She gently tapped the small lock on the side of the book. She held it out for me to take.

I reluctantly extended my arm to accept the strange book. I didn't feel the need to ask her what the book and pearl was because she said that we would meet again.

"Goodbye. I love you." She said in her normal soft voice. I swore that I could see a glimpse of of tears in her eyes. I could see that she was trembling. Her neko ears and tails were unusually still, normally she would try and tickle me with them when we had to part ways.

"I love you too!" I said joyfully.

Little did I know that this would be our last conversation.

I slowly walked away looking back over my shoulder to see my mum, for some reason. She kept smiling at me warmly. I clutched the book closer to my chest and I felt the urge to cry but I kept smiling for her.

My head automatically turned to look if my mum was still there. But she had already gone back to the arena.

I wonder why they were all chanting 'Burn them!'? Maybe there was someone slaying a monster in the arena.

I kept playing possible scenarios that would cause a crowd to say 'Burn Them' in an aggressive tone.

I reached the outside of the arena. I couldn't see my auntie anywhere. I heard the crowd cheer loudly.

I sat on the steps waiting for my auntie.

What is taking her so long?

Just when I was about to stand up and go back into the arena to find my mum...

"Wait!" a familiar voice shouted.

I turned my whole body hastily to find a familiar black car at the bottom of the steps. And the driver was none other than my auntie.

She swung open her driver's door and ran towards me. She lifted me up in her arms. She was holding me unusually tight. I could hear her pants and I could feel her shaky voice.

She opened a door for the back seats. She carefully but quickly put me down at the middle seat and put on my seat belts.

She slammed the door and walked over to the other side to get to the driver's seat.

The car's engine started and we were out of there. I felt something off with her.

"Are you o-okay?" I asked concerningly.

"Yes. Everything will be fine. Listen, you might have to stay with me for a while. Your mum has some things to do." she said but I think she was oblivious to her trembling voice.

"Okay!" I said happily as we drove into the darkness of the forest.

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Beep Beep!

I could hear continuous beeps next to me.

Something was sitting on my stomach.
"Hey! Wake up you lazy feline!" a soft voice said.

"Just five more minutes, please~!" I begged desperately.

"Fine. But I'm not going to help you turn off your alarm clock. Hey. Isn't today your...first day of...I don't know. HIGH SCHOOL!" she screeched in my ear!

I instantly jumped out of bed.

"What! Why didn't you tell me sooner!" I wined.

"Hey. Look at that. You finally got your lazy butt out of bed. There's breakfast downstairs. I've got to go to work but I have all your stationary on your desk. So have a good day at school today." she said in a singsong tone as she walked out of the room, then she tilted her head in the doorway and said "And don't forget to lock the doors okay."

"Yeah, I got it mum." I said tiredly and trying to stand up straight.

I started to remember the events from my dream.

What was that dream that I had?

Was that even a dream, it felt so...real?!

And who was that woman that I was calling mam, why was I calling mum my auntie?!

It's probably nothing. Right now I have to focus on getting ready for school!

What time is it?

07:00!!!

Why did she wake me up so early. School starts at 08:35! She is really going to feel my wrath this time!

I jumped out of my window, landing on the trampoline in our back garden.
I jumped out of the trampoline and ran to the entrance as fast as I could.

But I was too late.

She was already driving away in her car!

It had a piece of paper stuck on the back window that said "Sorry for waking you up early! Nevermind because I'm really not! ♡♥•_•♥♡LOL!"

I clenched my fist and mumbled under my breath "I'll get you for this!"

I sigh and chuckle at how silly this situation was.

And also how she always thinks she a comedian. She really isn't.