Strange Magic

Prisoner

Rose's perspective:

As the bell rang out, Rose saw the teacher wave Jenna over. She sure does know how to land herself in trouble. Jenna had hurried out before she could catch up with her. She wondered what the hurry was. She thought Jenna had somewhere she needed to go to and that she already left without her. She joined Ryan and his friends and went out.

Ryan was the sweetest guy she'd ever met. She couldn't believe why Jenna loathed him so much. Zack was equally nice. But about Lichang, she couldn't help but grin at Jenna's assumptions. Lichang certainly was weird. Maybe like Jenna said, she really was jealous because Ryan and she were getting closer each day.

They walked out of the school together. Ryan gave her a quick peck on her cheek before driving off. Rose saw Lichang flinch as Ryan kissed her.

After they left, she strolled slowly. She could've hailed a cab or let Ryan drive her home but she wanted to walk a little bit. She was worried about Jenna. Of course she'd always been a stuck up loner and a rebel but lately, she could see something disturbing her sister. Ever since they joined the school, Jenna wasn't her normal self. She was becoming quite jumpy and always behaved as though something was disturbing her. Rose tells her news about her friends hoping that she would in turn tell her about what was going on but she didn't manage to get a thing out of her.

The sun was going down. She didn't realize how far she'd walked. She took a cab and got out a few miles before reaching home. She needed air. There was nothing to do in the apartment anyway. It was already dusk. She quickened her pace. She was just a block away from her apartment when something happened.

She heard footsteps behind her. Rapid footsteps. She turned around and saw a man whose face was hidden under the cap of his hoodie, fast approaching her. Her heart raced. She looked around to see if there was anyone else on the street but there wasn't any passers by. She walked faster but the man caught up to her and grabbed her shoulder and spun her around.

She didn't know what happened next. All she knew was that something really painful landed on her head and she blacked out.

When she came around, she was surprised to find herself lying on a bed in an unfamiliar room. She looked around. The room was big but not huge. Very classic. No windows. Her head pounded from where she was hit. She felt a bump in her head and winced in pain. She ran towards the door and tried to open it but it was locked from outside. She pounded on the door.

"Let me out," she cried. "Please. Anybody there? Let me out."

After five minutes of pounding and screaming and still no response, she sank down on the floor and cried. Where am I? What's happening? She didn't even know if it was day or night. Not a single natural light came into the room, apart from the lone fluorescent bulb that hung in the middle of the ceiling. She fumbled for her phone. She couldn't find it. What do they want with me? What's gonna happen to me? She shuddered as she thought of the possibilities. She was so scared. There was no way out. She wished it was a dream but it wasn't. This is reality and this reality include her being locked in a room without her knowing where or what she had done to deserve it.

She yielded to her fate and sat on the bed hugging herself. There was no escape until the door was opened. Is this the end for me? She watched her fingers curl and uncurl. She thought of Jenna, of Ryan. She wondered if they already knew that she's missing and if they would come looking for her. She couldn't imagine how she got into this mess. She wondered what would someone else do if they were in her place. She wondered what Jenna would do. She would probably break the walls down. She suddenly wished she had Jenna's rebellious trait. Is this the way I'm supposed to die?

Suddenly the door opened making her jump. A pretty brunette sashayed in carrying a tray with some cookies and a glass of milk.

Rose was suddenly on her feet.

"What's going on? Where am I? Please let me out," she started.

The girl slammed the tray on the bedside table almost overturning the glass.

"I have stooped this low to serve a creature like you," she said mildly but something about the tone of her voice shut Rose up. "And I'm definitely not gonna let you talk to me about anything. Is that clear?"

"Who are you?" Rose asked, quite surprised.

"I asked a question," she rasped.

"But answer mine first," she protested. "What's going on? Why am I here? What is this place?"

"Don't get on my nerve," the brunette growled, leaning close to her. "You have no idea what I am capable of. I can break you into two and tear you into pieces in a blink of an eye."

She stared at Rose with full of spite. Rose couldn't imagine what she had done to earn the brunette's hatred but fear made her shut up.

"And I will," she snarled.

"Leave her alone Helena," a voice said.

They both turned and saw a guy with straight blonde hair and piercing blue eyes.

"Oh I was just playing with our guest, Ethan," the girl cooed and left Rose's side. Rose let out a brief sigh of relief.

"Don't you touch her, Helena," he said. "Or I myself will see to your fate."

What the hell is going on?

"I wouldn't dream of it," she replied sweetly and sashayed out of the room after giving Rose a piercing look.

"What's going on?" Rose asked the guy timidly.

"I'm in no position to tell you that," he rasped at her, frowning. "Don't act smart and try to escape. The consequence will be worse than death."

With that, he left the room. Rose heard the door being locked from outside.

The consequence will be worse than death? Does that mean I'm gonna die?