The Burden on Her Shoulders

Forbidden Fruit Part 2

Rosalyn remains on the floor by her bed as the alarms blare in the outpost. Her back burns from the brands. She can only imagine what's there. The mark? An upsidedown cross? A pentagram?

Her tears slow as she remembers what he said. 'Disowned. I'm no longer pure, not fit for my father any longer.' She may not go to heaven, but she can kill the one that ruined her.

Rosalyn's eyes flash black, quickly turning back to normal as a Gray knocks on the door. "Miss Minchen?"

"Yes?" She replies.

"Ms. Venable has called an emergency meeting in 5 minutes."

"Thank you!" She hears the Gray walk away and takes a deep breath. 'Revenge can wait.' 

~

Everyone sits in the common room. Ms. Venable stands in the doorway and Grays stand by the walls. "These past several months have been difficult for all of us. And, perhaps, in my efforts to keep us safe, punitive measures have been taken too far. I believe now what we need is a moment of celebration, camaraderie. Which is why this weekend, as a gesture of goodwill, we will have a Halloween soiree in the style of a Victorian masquerade ball.

"We've all lost track of time a bit. And this festive occasion is the perfect opportunity to remedy this. And I encourage you all to use your imaginations, to create what I'm sure will be exquisite costumes. Attendance is mandatory."

Venable walks away as soon as she finishes.

Rosalyn looks around the room, knowing she's the only one that's going to leave the ball without help.

~

Rosalyn is the first to arrive. She sits in the armchair in front of the fire and takes the glass that a male Gray offers her. She doesn't say anything as he eyes her exposed legs and semi-exposed breasts. She gets various components as the others begin to arrive.

"Rosalyn!" Dinah comes in. "That's awfully . . . skimpy. I'm sure your father wouldn't approve."

"I'm sure he wouldn't, Di. But he doesn't matter anymore." The girl says nonchalantly. "What's done is done. And I'm done playing nice." She looks up to the balcony as Mallory announces Coco's arrival.

Mead has rolled in a cart of apples and begins putting them in a large bucket of water.

Rosalyn snorts as Venable startles the blonde before starting her speech. "Tonight is All Hallows' Eve, which marks the beginning of the dark half of the year, when the boundary between this world and the other thins and lost souls pierce the firmament, desperate to find their way home. It is a night to remember the dead, and there have been far too many to mourn. But also to celebrate that we have yet to join them.

"We delight in the small things that were once taken for granted. To eat. To drink. Music and dance. Everyone, and I mean everyone, should savor this night as if it were their last."

Rosalyn sits, watching as the others dance. She sips the mineral water turned wine as everyone dances. She stands and goes over to Venable and Mead. "Ladies. Don't think I'm out of the loop. I know about the poisoned apples." They don't look at her, but they acknowledge that they heard her. "Have a good evening ladies."

She goes back to her armchair until it's to bob for apples. Everyone looks at her as she remains sitting instead of lining up. "Allergic to apples." She lies smoothly. "I'll get hives and projectile vomit. Better for everyone that I don't."

Rosalyn watches as everyone gets an apple then bites into them. The crunch rings in her ears as she leaves the room, then the gagging, vomiting. Her eyes turn pitch black as her dress changes and the veins in her face and chest become visible.

Rosalyn walks to the elevator that leads to the entrance of the outpost. As the doors open, an invisible force pushes the fog away from her, and she breathes in cool, clean oxygen. She enjoys the fresh air before she makes her way through the small maze of a structure that hides the elevator. And as she exits the maze, she hears the gates creak open in the distance.

The witches are back.