A Rose With Teeth and Claws

Help may not come

She woke up panting. What the hell had that been about? Is this some sort of way to torture herself because it's working.

"I really need therapy or something."

"I thought I told you to go home." Mary said as Talia walked through the door. "You look like a train wreck."

"Ha ha, very funny. But I have something that I thought you could help me with." She sighed as she kicked off her shoes and sat in a booth, signaling for Mary to join her. Grumbling, the old lady sat down opposite her.

"So, what do you need of me?"

"Well, I had a dream last night. It was strange to say the least." She began, "but something about it was just so... real."

So she told Mary about her dream, the old lady only interrupting every now and again to ask a question. "...and that's it. I woke up and came almost straight here."  

"Well, sounds to me like you need to find out what the dream is about."

Talia sighed long through her nose. "Oh yeah, someone is definitely gonna believe my story about running through the forest chased by big, bad monsters." 

Mary rolled her eyes and huffed playfully. Talia had always been difficult but she knew what she had to do. With another look of disapproval from her mother figure, Talia reluctantly agreed to see a professional and maybe find out why she keeps having the dream. 

See, that's the strangest part of all. She has had this dream before. She only now sought out her parental figure's guidance because she doesn't want to have them anymore. 

Screw seeing a psychologist. There was nothing wrong with her and she would not admit to being crazy so she went on her way to town to walk along the streets and meet the vendors out today. 

As she was thinking about her dream, her mind wandered to Andras and his too damn perfect face and body and god he smells like heaven and- what the hell are you thinking? He was some weirdo on the bridge who watched you embarrass yourself, moron. Stop thinking about him! 

But she couldn't. She thought about him all day, wondering why he said the things he did. 

"Your smell will attract anything within five miles." I am almost positive I didn't smell bad that day, but he seemed to smell me and he sounded worried. 

"I hope you feel better by sunrise." Again, I never told him I felt bad. Is he an enpath? I don't know what to make of that.

And most confusing of all is when he said, "I'm not sure you will want to be crossing paths with me again. You could get into some pretty big trouble if you go around telling people you met a strange man named Thorne." Why would it be bad if people knew I met him? Is he in a gang? What the hell does that even mean?

So she went about her day, confused as hell over the mysterious Andras and any threat he may pose.