Daggers and Flowers

Chapter 9- Tug

Rosso sat up from the thin cell bed as Cloud and Tifa entered. Her eyebrow rose as she eyed the flower pot in Tifa's hands.

"What is this?" She asked. Tifa sat the flower pot on the white table in the center of the cell. She crossed her arms and stood back.

"The girl you tried to capture to take to your crazy boss thought you would like to have these," Tifa said. "She is very forgiving. Do not take this kindness for granted."

Rosso stared at the lilies, her crimson eyes wide. She walked across the cell, dragging the reinforced metal shackles across the cold concrete floor. She looked much better today. Her infected wounds were cleaned and healing nicely and her scars metal extremities were cleaned and bandaged at the ends that met her skin. She rubbed a yellow petal with her organic hand then sniffed the flowers. She jumped back with a look of surprise on her face.

"They smell good!" She deeply inhaled the scent of the lilies again. "I didn't know something could smell this good! They smell better than food!"

Cloud and Tifa shared a look, Tifa trying not to smile. As dangerous as Rosso was, this was comical to watch. They let her have her fun studying the flowers. The only sound in the room was Rosso sniffing the flowers and murmuring to herself.

"You know, Dr. Jeal isn't my boss," Rosso said as she studied her flowers. "He sent me here and promised me my freedom."

"And would you actually get your freedom if you went back?"

Rosso looked up from the lilies, meeting Tifa's eyes. "No. I don't believe he would actually grant me it."

The cell door opened and Rosso's breakfast was brought in by a WRO soldier. He nodded at Cloud and Tifa and he left. Rosso sat down and didn't even touch the plastic fork. She ate the grits and sausage bits with her fingers. She ate lightning fast and wiped her fingers with the napkins that had come with her food.

Tifa was impressed. If Rosso was in an eating contest with Denzel, she didn't know who would win.

"Why are you here today?" Rosso asked, folding her hands on the table before her. "Sending me back to Dr. Jael? Locking me in another dark windowless cell? Cleaning my wounds? Asking me the same questions over and over again?"

"No, actually," Cloud answered. "The cell you'll be moving into is much more comfortable than this."

Rosso slowly blinked, clearly not anticipating this. "What do you mean? Why?"

"It's been discussed and agreed upon that you can learn and heal and re-enter society one day," Tifa began slowly. Rosso sat back in her chair, furrowing her eyebrows.

"But what do you mean more comfortable? And what do you mean by learn?" Rosso looked between the two, looking more and more nervous and confused as they continued to explain that she would be staying in the WRO in the hospital ward. Cloud and Tifa explained that she would have a therapist to talk to and hopefully would make friends. The goal of her staying at the WRO would be for Rosso to move on from her life in DeepGround.

"And Dr. Jael?" She asked when they finished.

"We'll keep him away from you," Tifa promised. "He sent you after our friend. If he shows up here, he won't be allowed anywhere near you."

Rosso was silent for a moment. "Can I meet the little mouse again?"

Tifa faltered.

"If she wants to," Cloud said, but he was mostly talking to Tifa. "Honestly, Lyra doesn't seem to be holding a grudge against Rosso."