The Rose of Anthacena

Chapter 18

"She still at it?" Arin asked wearily.

"I'm afraid so," Will admitted reluctantly. Arin groaned, and his head dropped onto his heads.

"How long can she keep going?" he asked in a whisper. "It's already been four days!" Will sighed.

"I don't know, master. I just don't know," he repeated. Arin stared unseeing into the fire.

"She does have water, correct?" he spoke abruptly, his voice loud in the silence.

"Yes, master," Will replied. "If she wants water, she has access to it."

"Good," Arin said quietly.

"Master," Will said suddenly, "don't give up hope yet. She is not-she is not-dead. And you know what they say-while there's life, there's hope." Arin shook his head.

"Will-I'm out of hope," he said in a choked voice. "I don't have any more." Will stood up straighter, even though Arin couldn't see him.

"Then take some of mine!"

* * *

It was getting harder and harder for Violet to sleep well. Her extremely empty stomach prevented her from falling asleep easily as well as preventing her from getting a deep sleep. She was too starved by now to know how long it had been since she had last eaten, but she knew she wouldn't last much longer, one way or another.

It took her a long time to fall asleep that night, but as soon as she did, she had a dream that felt very real to her.

* * *

Her family all sat around the table. They were eating dinner in silence, until Mrs. O'reilly spoke suddenly.

"I wonder how she's doing," she said quietly. Nobody needed to ask who she meant. Kaysey reached over and put her hand on her mother's arm.

"I'm sure Rose is doing well, Mom," she said in a gentle voice. Mrs. O'Reilly sighed.

"Oh, I don't know." She paused. "The-The last week or so, I've had a strange feeling about her. Like-something wasn't right. Like she's going to die or something. And-she chooses to do it!" Every face at the table went pale, and silence reigned for a minute or two.

"I'm sure," Dereck said slowly, "that-if Rose had the choice, she would choose to live. For us."

"Maybe," his mother allowed. "But-I just don't feel good about it. That's all."

"Don't worry, Mom," said Kaysey firmly. "She'll be fine."

* * *

Violet woke up to find tears streaming down her cheeks. Even if what she had seen hadn't actually happened, she knew she couldn't go through with it. Dereck was right. She would live. If not for herself, for them. For her family.

* * *

Will burst into Arin's room, where he knew Arin would be awake already.

"Master!" he called excitedly. Arin turned away from the window, where he had been standing.

"What is it?" he asked.

"Sarah told me a few minutes ago," Will said, his happiness beaming out through his voice. "She-She just asked for food!" A grin spread across Arin's face.

"Really?" he whispered, too overcome to speak out loud. "She did?" Will laughed gleefully.

"Indeed she did, master!" he cried. Arin covered his face with his hands.