The Roses

Prologue

It has been one thousand, eight hundred and sixty-four years since the world fell. Most of us remained in hiding. not many of us were left. It started off slow in small towns nobody really cared about. Then in one fell swoop hit big cities, but that was so long ago. Only a select few within the fewer know.

The only survivours were those immune to the virus. Immunity kept you only so safe. If your immunity was discovered you'd be captured and taken to one of the Royals. Your fate was in their hands.

If you remained undetected you had to join a colony or take your chances above ground. Only five of the immune were allowed out. The Roses, were born once every fifty years. They were immune, but with mutations from the virus.

The mutations varied from generation to generation. The original Roses were blessed with powers. They each had their own. Christian controlled fire, Dallas controlled water, Sebastian wielded air, Lilly-An bent the minds of animals and Jarold could morph the earth to his will. We all remembered them fondly from stories long passed down from the beginning.

Our new Roses are kept secret. Long ago we let the public believe that the Roses are no longer reborn. We can no longer risk word getting out to bounty hunters. As time goes on Munies, the common term for the immune, have been turning to the Royals. They're being promised impossible things in return for information on the Roses.

How is it that I know so much on this forbidden subject? Well, a tattoo of a red crescent moon has appeared on my irises.

I am a Rose.