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

Chapter Twenty-One

i slipped into my tight leather pants, not even bothering to put my underwear back on. i didn't put on my shirt, leaving me in my swim suit, leather pants and boots. Flora did the same and we headed to her house.

i quickly hugged her, leaving her at her house, making sure she got to the door. then i tore off, my backpack strapped on to me with my clothes and books. i pulled into my driveway and ran inside. i stripped out of my clothes, taking the rest of them out of my bag, and tossed them in the hamper. i jumped in the shower, washing out the mud in my hair and scrubbed my hair with my rose, scented shampoo and conditioner. i jumped out and put on my underwear and bra, grabbing some clothes for Rose, slipping them on quickly. after i put on my clothes, i put on some dark eyeshadow, with winged eyeliner and thick black lashes. i grabbed my tube of lipstick and swiped it over my lips, making them appear bloody.

i ran down the stairs to find Noah already wearing his full leather outfit, with his mask in his hand. he knew me so well. we went out to the car and hopped in. we switched cars and then headed to the warehouse in the bright red corvette.

we pulled up and i hopped out, my cloak swirling under my feet and my mask tight on my face. i strode through the door and down the hallway. my paces were long and precise. Noah kept up with me easily with his longer legs and we were in the gym.

"i need the man who was assigned to watch Luke Murphey here now!" i called out. they all looked up at me then around the room, eyes wide. they shrugged and went back to what they were doing. one man went over and knocked on the bathroom door, speaking something. i couldn't hear it over the clanks of the weights or the sound of men talking and the treadmills, but the door quickly opened and another man stepped out, looking around. he saw me and jogged towards me.

"Rose." he nodded.

"are you the man who is watching Luke Murphey during the day?" i asked. he nodded.

"yes ma'am."

"when the other man comes back, tell him you are no longer required to watch him." he nodded and looked at me. "that's all." i dismissed, he nodded once more than jogged off. i walked back to the hallway and turned left, going deeper into the warehouse. i went down a flight of stairs with Noah behind me and i opened a heavy metal door labeled storage. but it was no longer storage for whoever built this place. it was now called the pit. i stepped into it and looked around. all the cheering stopped and they all turned to me. the pit was basically a room with a really big hole in the middle. we had built an arena with viewing places along the railings above it. it was where the prisoners went. certain ones of course.

but if the prisoners were sent to the pit, they would fight another prisoner to the death. if they won, they went to a cell to be held. they would all fight one on one until the number of prisoners had halved. they stayed prisoners until they were dead, or there were no more prisoners. which was nearly impossible, because new prisoners were constantly being sent to the pit. if they were the last man standing, they were set free. there were no rules, and they were given no weapons. there was a knife and a sword that hung from chains just barely out of most jumping reaches, and a rope was hidden in the sand somewhere. a pair of prisoners were fighting, one of them stood over the other, and the other lay in the sand, his face bloodied and battered. his leg was snapped at an odd angle. the man standing over him reached down and grabbed his arm in two places. his wrist and just above his elbow. he grunted as he pulled. the man's arm ripped off from his elbow and he howled in agony. this victor's strength was impressive. the man finally grabbed the lower man's neck, twisting it around, snapping it and making him fall into the sand, lifeless.

i held up my hand to stop the cheers, and they slowly died down. the victorious prisoner looked at me, eyes shining in blood lust. the arena finally fell silent.

"how long has that man been here." i pointed at the victor.

"he's been here for almost three months." the announcer said through the speakers.

"pull him aside, and put him in his own cell. train him to be loyal to me. he's be a hit man." the man's eyes widened in shock as he was pulled out of the arena through a door. the dead man was dragged out through a different door to where there was a truck the truck was full of the bodies and they would be taken far away to be burned in the middle of nowhere. the next to prisoners entered the arena and looked around, wild eyed at all the viewers. they looked at eat other and began to fight, throwing punches and kicks. i turned and left the arena, heading for the car. i hopped in and Noah started to drive.

my phone vibrated on the way home and i saw it was from Luke.

thanks for taking the guard off my back. want to go out some time? maybe tonight? i smiled and typed a reply.

Ashlyn: sure. when and where? do i need to look nice?

Luke: around midnight. i'll come pick you up. no need to look too nice. but don't do casual. it'd be weird for me. maybe a nice casual dress?

Ashlyn: k. ttyl gotta get ready. :)

i went in the house and up to my room. i glanced at the clock and saw it was 11:19. no time to shower if I'm going to look nice. i stripped out of my clothes and wiped off my makeup. i put on a red lace cheekster and bra. then i pulled out a black dress and a pair of my mom's heels.

then i redid my makeup much lighter. i put on eyeliner and mascara, making my lashes thick and long. i went downstairs to the door and stepped out into the summer night air. well, technically, it was spring, but the city was in Hawaii, so it was almost always summer. i stepped out onto the sidewalk and glanced at Luke's truck. i smiled and climbed in, shutting it behind me and looking at Luke.

_________________

hey y'all!! yayyyy their finally getting along! and very well at that.

hope you're enjoying the book so far! don't forget to vote and comment if you like it!!

❤ sillylovebug432