The Hidden Rose(Book One In The Rose Pedal Series) /✔

Chapter Ten

the ray of light disappeared as quickly as it appeared, making the room dark again. then two soldiers stepped into the spotlight with a boy between them. his hair was black and his face was beat purple. I've seen this guy somewhere. but where? dammit, brain work! i shook my head, clearing it and looked at the soldiers.

"back up." i said. they took several steps back until i could no longer see them in the darkness. i walked over to the guy in the spotlight. he looked down at me from his height. he was at least 6' 2" and i was over here, basically cowering in my 5' 3".  Rose does not cower.

"get down on your knees." i narrow my eyes at him. he didn't move.

"why." he asked. the soldiers behind his gasped at his challenge.

"because i do not cower beneath men's heights, you bastard." he still didn't move. i gestured to the soldiers and one came forward, pushing his shoulders down until he knelt. i now hovered over him, looking down.

"feel powerful now?" he asked. i growled and backhanded him. his head snapped down, looking at the ground. he looked back up at me. there was blood on his teeth and lips but that didn't stop him from smiling at me.

"your going to the pit. you won't last a day in there." i whispered in his face, bending over. he reached up, grabbing the hood of my cloak and threw it off. then before i registered what was happening, he pulled my mask down to look at me face.

almost faster than light, i stood up, punching him until he was on the ground, groaning. i fixed my mask and hood. i looked around at the soldiers. they all had their backs turned. they knew when they saw my face they died. i looked back down at the guy by my feet. he looked at me, shocked. he opened his mouth, and i could see the words coming off his tongue before he said them, Ashlyn. i punched him again. then something clicked. his face was familiar. i know why.

i grabbed his upper arm and headed for the door. i dragged him down the hallway to the cells that were for temporary containment. they were for if i had to leave but i had to kill the guy myself. i opened one of them and shoved him in there. then i went back out and pulled a chair out from under the guard. he complained as his ass hit the floor with a thump. i grabbed several zip ties from the table and went back in. the guy was in the corner, looking at me shocked and terrified. i slammed the chair on the floor then grabbed a fistful of his hair. i put him in the chair, then zip tied his arms and legs to it. i tore off a strip from his shirt and used it, wrapping it over his eyes and tying it tightly at the back of his head.

"Nick!" i yelled a soldier came in with me.

"ya, Rose?" he asked.

"you're going to be locked in here with him. you are not to talk to him, you're not to touch him. you're to make sure he doesn't escape. you may only leave this room to use the toilet. if you talk to him, or answer any of his questions, you will die." i growled. "do i make myself clear."

"y-yes ma'am." he looked at me terrified. i gave him a short nod and left. i locked the door behind me and turned to the guard.

"Tyler, you're only to let Nick out to pee. the prisoner is to not be released for any reason until i say so." i say. "if you fail to do this, you will die."

"y-y-yes Rose." he said, stuttering. i stormed off, Noah behind me.

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i sat in our private room with Noah. both our masks were off.

"why didn't you kill him? he saw your face!" Noah Exclaimed.

"i know him, Noah." i growl. "he was the guy i beat up at school." Noah's eyes widened.

"Noah, go get him and bring him in here. he's already seen my face anyway." Noah nodded and went off, going to get him. the only thing is, i didn't know his name. and for some reason, i didn't want to kill him. why didn't i kill that bastard? I've killed men who i didn't know their names before. why was he any different?

it's because of something you got goin on for him. my inner voice whispered. no. why would i like him? he's a criminal! so are you. no. well, i am but no. why does it matter! because you liked the high school senior. no. that doesn't make a difference. yes it does. no it doesn't! yes it- SHUT UP! god!

i looked around the room for something to distract me. i saw nothing. shit. i guess I'm stuck with the voice inside my head.

the door opened and Noah stepped in with the guy in front of him. maybe i won't be stuck with my thoughts after all.

"Ashlyn. how can you be Rose. Faceless? how the fuck can you be her?" he looked at me. i backhanded him.

"why can't i be Rose?" i asked.

"because you're normal!" he exclaimed. Noah had left the room, leaving me and this guy alone. i grabbed his face and turned it, making sure it was the guy from school. sure enough, there was the rose i had carved into his jaw.

"normal is overrated." i dismissed. "normal doesn't even technically exist."

"how. normal is real. it means your not a phyco. it means your not a murderer or a criminal boss."

"what's normal for the spider is chaos for the fly." i state. he blinks and looks away, realizing I'm right.

"what's your name, anyway?" i tilt my head and ask. he looked at me and hesitated. he opened his mouth then closed it again. he did this a few times, making him look like a fish. i shifted my weight from one foot to the other, putting a hand on my hip.

"my name's Luke." he said, looking around. "Luke Murphey."

i feel my mouth drop open. Luke Murphey as in, Luke Murphey, the bad boy of the school and the son of the chief of police? holey shit.

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hey y'all. I've updated twice today, but hey. I'm homeschooled and i ain't got anything better to do other than play on my phone or watch TV. this is still digital, but at least I'm not screwing around. it's writing! lol  so ya. hope you're enjoying the story so far! i know i am and I'm the one writing it.

 (PS i think i might've lost a few readers with that last chapter. eek my mind is a scary dark void)

thanks for reading! don't forget to vote and share it with your friends if you like it!

❤ sillylovebug432