The sunny stay sanitarium

Chapter 2 in your professional opinion

Rose grimaced as she trudged up the stupidly long driveway to her childhood home. Relishing the familiar sound of gravel crunching under her boots, letting the memories dredged up by the noise washed over her, filling her with a dangerous mix of emotions, her nose filling with the phantom scent of booze, and floor cleaner.
She struggled to keep a frown from her sculpted mask of a face, having taken such care to construct it in her bathroom mirror before setting out to her old place. Covering her dark bags and with makeup and filling her ears with the Flight of the Valkyries, as she tried to drown out the whispers curling into her head.
Slowly, like a criminal marching to the nose, Rose made her way to the ever-looming house. Its swooping architecture was distinctly reminding her of a pitcher plant, with herself Being the poor unfortunate bird about to be trapped in its metaphorical maw.
Soon she found herself stepping off the Gravel and found herself coolly staring down an awfully familiar wooden door.
It seemed a tangible thing, hewn from oak and carved to perfection. Roses purple-hued eyes wandered for a few seconds as she took in the forest surrounding her old childhood home.
She was only stopping when the buzz and whispers began to rush forth as her phone battery sung its swansong, leaving her ears music free hastening her and brutally reminding her of her reason for coming.
She reached out and knocked three times, praying for her mother's swift arrival, hoping she was not passed out in some random corner of the house with an empty bottle or two at her feet.
After a few moments, the door was suddenly flung wide. Startling Rose and causing her to take a step back, the whispers seemed to dissolve at the sight of her mother. Almost as though her very presence warded them off, sending even the loudest of the bunch scurrying back into the deeper quarters of Roses mind.
"Rose?" came the slurred voice of her clearly tipsy mother; Rose let out a breath of relief as the voices receded even as the slightly confused and hazy eyes of her mother sent hot pangs of resentment shooting through our dear protagonist.
"Hello, mother," Rose drawled, letting her words fall easily from her black-painted lips like drops of ice, only to shatter in the crisp air. "I've come seeking your professional opinion,"
At hearing a mention of her profession, something switched in her mother. It was almost unnoticeable by the untrained eye. Still, Rose had dealt with her mother's unchecked alcoholism and random bouts of professionalism to know when her mom was in business mode.
Her mother's hunched posture snapped ramrod straight as she fully realized who was standing on her doorstep; it was like her mother's dark teal eyes begin to analyze her as though Rose was a piece of undercooked steak, dumped on her plate at a fancy restaurant.
Just like that, her mother's defences slid into place, albeit slightly slower than expected due to the early morning drinks she had clearly imbibed.
"Come in," she said, her reply curt and calculating. The shift irreparably made from absentee mother to calculating doctor.
The Woman turned from her daughter and trotted down the long front hall, to where Rose presumed their verbal jousting match would begin, the living room.
She shut the beatified door behind her and started after her mother taking only a moment to glance at her mothers' past achievements garishly mounted on the walls, like some sort of horrid set of trophy's.
Or should Rose say, patents? Most, if not all, of them, Allron in species. She could see many as she wandered by, a troll, and Arachne, and even a member of the Allron royal family could be seen standing shoulder to shoulder with her mother, a saccharine-sweet smile placed perfectly in each photo As well as many others. You see, "Mythic" creatures were Her mother's specialty Afterall. Rose felt another pang of resentment flash through her, indeed. She told herself as she shook her head, she was not jealous of these poor, mentally unstable people who got to spend quality time with her mother, as Rose so often wished she would spend even part of an afternoon with her sober? No time to think of that now, she decided, as she shook her head. She needed to prepare for what was coming. she knew the verbal jousting match that was heading her way would be a lost cause.
Although that did not mean she intended to go down without a fight, she had some dignity left Afterall. So, with a smile, she trailed behind her dear mother.
She meandered her way into the living room, taking as long as she wanted to perch on the lush sofa that made its home in the middle of the room; her mother reappeared moments later. A silver platter carrying all the needed amenities for their match was placed on the glass table.
Her mother's chosen weapons laid before our hero. Two cups and a steaming tea kettle. Of course, her mother would play at the perfect host, it was her home turf after all, and she always went with the "High ground."
"Sugar?" the cold-eyed doctor asked. Her hand carefully pouring out two glasses of earl grey tea.
The effect would have been very prim and proper if her mother's words did not slur, and her hand did not shake. Not to mention the smell of overpowering brandy wafting from her mouth like a vapour as she spoke; Rose could practically see the noxious fumes drift from between her mother's perfect teeth and panted lips.
"thank you, mother." Rose politely declined, pausing momentarily to gather her thoughts and school her expression before she spoke again.
"my many apologies, mother dear, for stopping by unannounced. Although I find myself in an overly concerning predicament." Her mother glanced up. And dam, Rose could not help but internally flinch at the fast movement. Her pulse speeding from the remote start.
Why did her mother always have to jerk around like that?
After turning her own tea, a much lighter colour with the aid of sugar, milk, and Rose has no doubt, a healthy dousing of scotch, her mother replied.
"Oh, well, my sweet daughter. I find myself confused. You said you needed my own professional expertise. Not the help of some," she reached out her hand as though trying to grasp the words. "Socially inclined baboon, as you know, I am a qualified doctor of phycology dear; not some over willful debutante. If you wished to discuss drama, you should have saved it for your friends for school."
Rose let out a dainty puff of air through her nose. Folding her hands carefully in her lap and doing her best not to take her mother's passive-aggressive bate.
"Of course, mother, I would never presume such a thing. I have a close acquaintance, and you see, they seem to be suffering from very severe auditory and visual hallucinations." Rose stopped again and sipped the bitter brew in her cup, allowing the taste to steady her, as her pinky daintily pointed outwards, like a salute only ever used in her mother's cold presence.
"I have come to ask what you think I should do for them."
The buzzed matron regarded her Descendant, taking her own dainty swig from her glass tea receptacle. "well, my darling daughter, I would have to talk to them in person to diagnose their affliction, and thus, the treatment. Oh but, you have my curiosity now. Tell me, to what extent have these delusions spiralled?"
A pause and Rose could almost feel the dynamic shift. Her mother smelt her blood in the water, and she was getting ready to pounce. No doubt wanting to snatch up whatever trauma ridden university student Rose was offering up on a silver platter, so Why not lay it on thick? Rose opened her eyes wide, letting a small note of sympathy edge into her voice, as she made a slight sniffle.
"Oh, they have spiralled quite far. My dear acquaintance has assured me that she is terrified. She has taken to hiding out in her dorm room. Quite honestly, she's been failing classes because of it."
Another slow, calculated sip and a well-placed concerned frown.
"If I remember correctly, she's even gone so far as to say the hallucinations Interacted with her. causing extreme migraines and other things of such duplicitous nature."
The sudden and slight head tilt of her mother told Rose thousands of things. One of them being, she had indeed caught her mothers' interest. How funny; after all these years, all she needed to get her mother's attention was to go batshit insane; how quaint.
"Well, to start off. Has your friend told her parents?" it was a simple question, but oh how Rose dreaded it all the same. She had half hoped there would be some more verbal discourse, perhaps a snide remark here or there. But no, it was not in the cards Rose supposed, she was about to show her- to turn a phrase, she was about to show her hand.
"No, I suppose, however, that should have been her first course of action." With that said, Rose readied herself, placing her tea. Cup, saucer, and all. Onto the table as she straightened her posture even more.
She always was one for dramatics; slowly, she slipped her cold mask back on as she stared deep into her mother's calculating gaze. Dropping her false emotions and with all the kindness of a speeding truck, she said.
"Well then, mother, I regret to inform you. It seems your... dear sweet daughter has finally lost it." Rose felt her throat tightening again as she looked at her mother. Caught off guard mid-sip.
"Rose, surely you don't mean." She stopped, taking a deep breath as she, too, placed her tea down. Rose tried to ignore the horrifying quaver in her mother's voice, gently stroking her own thumb with its pair, in a pathetic attempt at self- soothing one learned over years of calming herself.
She assured herself that her mother was across the room and had imbibed a good deal of alcohol. She would not lock her in her place. She would not, she assured herself.
"Yes, mother, dear, and I wish I could put this in a more sophisticated Way. Although It seems that I have lost my mind."
The small flicker of emotion across her mother's cold face felt. Almost gratifying in a way, the tight, overly sweet smile always placed there quivering for a fraction of a second.
"Well, that's no good; now is it?" Rose already knew what was coming. Her mother had an image to uphold. She had already guessed precisely what her mother would do. If she were right, it would be a hollow victory, but a win, nonetheless.
And that was how Rose found herself packed up in her mother's car, a silver Porsche. That spoke of her mother's wealth. She has gained through her many years of phycological work and study.
Rose made sure to pack light, some clothes. A book to draw in, and quite a few different pends and pencells utensils for art. Of course, she also brought along her self-grooming supplies. Her toothbrush and paste, her face wash, and of course, her most favoured lipstick. All amenities scavenged from her old room.
One that she quickly scampered out of, ignoring the marks on her door from her past self, throwing her full force at the door, never able to come out until her mother remembered she had been placed there.
She packed quickly and quietly, desperate to escape the oppressive atmosphere that filled her childhood home.
She also made sure to stay well away from her mother, who seemed to appear into thin air when she sat demurely down into the car, her face a mask that hides the warring emotions that felt as though they were tearing her chest apart.
It only took four quiet hours and 47 listless minutes of comfortable banter; to reach the Starport. Rose could tell, she had counted. Every second in the car with her mother damaging her self-image even more, as her mother added carefully crafted jabs to the light conversation that, to the untrained, sounded more like compliments.
Thankfully, Rose did not have to endure the false kindness of her ever-cruel matron much longer as the large hulking shape of the chosen place of transport began to shift into view.
For a moment, she had dared hope whatever institution her mother would dump her in would at least be on earth, across the world, perhaps.
but as they drew nearer the looming sky port Rose-cut those Fuzzy thoughts from her mental tapestry. they arrived, the silver vehicle was left in a large and okay- filled parking lot.
The typical off-world customs song and dance began. She first walked through various high-tech devices meant to sniff out any explosives, drugs, or illegal weaponry. Roses' mother was forced to empty her flask subtly before putting herself through the same Earthen slash Allron tech Rose did.
thankfully, the metal archways only buzzed green as the two ladies moved slowly through the sky port, though Rose guessed the large wad of cash her mother slipped to one of the guards might have helped with that.
Rose took a deep breath as they passed through a large cylinder that clamped shut on either side, locking them in and preparing to safely detonate any explosives on the two women.
Barbaric? Yes, but effective.
Predictably no explosives went off, and both ladies kept all their limbs. It unlocked and let them out, next to the Light scan.
Rose and her mother were handed a pair of goggles, both panted pitch black, and Rose went first. Placing the glasses on her head and pulling them down, she stood in front of the ample light as the technician hid behind the protective barrier.
Thankfully, Rose saw nothing for the next few minutes, from what she had heard having her optic nerves exposed to light this bright could permanently blind her. What on earth could be going on? You might be wondering reader, well.
Have you ever taken a high-power flashlight to your hand? Imagine that, but for one's whole body, from Roses understanding, this screenings purpose is to mainly see-through one's skin.
To see if anything was being hidden within, honestly, Rose is simply happy cavity searches are only a thing she had read about in her history books. The technician informed Rose that she could now remove her goggles and step through into the Sky port proper, now officially cleared for space flight.
Her dear mother followed soon after, her hair only slightly mussed from the goggle's straps.
"I'll go and get our tickets, stay here." Her mother said, her tone as cold as ever with no one there too judge her motherly affection. Not wanting her mother to start a fit, she stayed put.
But Rose could not help but do some large-scale people watching.
Observing the different varying casts of Allrons and their interactions, the Allrons Rose had grown up with over the years that grew outside the rigid system tended to view the Cast system the same way most humans see the old religious rules.
The ones that once dictated the way earth used to run things. Some assuredly did still practice, and some yet follow the rules even though scrutiny did not judge them kindly for it. But judging by the way the Allrons coming from off-world were acting, the planets not under earthen law seem to hold the system in quite a high regard.
Rose could not help but stare as a top caste carnivore, and possibly a member of the Allron royal bloodline walked along, a trail of subservient omnivores and herbivores carrying her baggage.
Rose could only send along a silent prayer for the poor souls and hope they would not find themselves at the end of their employer's claws anytime soon. Rose soon turned her attention away from her varied compatriots that flocked to the sky port.
Instead of turning her gaze to her mother as she began to get the tickets for their chosen flight, she dared hope her mother would send her only a few quadrants away, perhaps the moon? Mars? Hell, even alpha century.
If it fell under earthen law Rose would be able to deal with it, she smiled, judging by the size of the envelope of cash handed over she would probably be going someplace relatively close! Yet as her mother began to walk towards her, the two tickets were colored red... red like blood, like the eyes of the devil, like poisonous creatures flaring a warning for the world to see. telling her that wherever they were headed, was in Allron jurisdiction.
In fact, her blood boiled as her lovely mother began leading her to a space vessel set to fly to one of the farthest planets from Roses beloved Earth, with a scoff Rose was sent wondering how she had stupidly thought it might be any different. Glancing around, Rose found the waiting area to be oddly small, as well as empty.
The light path displayed across the monitors began to sit and wait for their craft to be ready to board. Rose realized her mother was sending her to one of the most brutally classist planets out there.
Right in the center of the Allrons half of the known galaxy, her mother was sending her to the planet known as Tideswell. A shudder rain down Roses spine, of course; all schools teach at least a subset of Allron law, but where Rose was going, everything would be different, she had never gone off-world before, and this? It felt like she was being thrown into the deep end without swim lessons, and the only floatation device was being taken far away by her mother.
Soon enough, the time to board came and Rose realized that she and her mother appeared to be entering a personal cruiser. Its interior seemed like a mix of Allron and earthen design, the onboard pilot system consisting of an excellent virtual hub, the Spellbarmatrix.
Rose shuddered to think about how much this flight must have cost her mother, then the thought hit her that she had probably just bought this whole cruiser in a bought of drunken spending. Many things in Roses life had appeared thanks to something like that, her childhood pet cat, its two-tailed mutation probably being the reason her mother had snapped it up in her drunken haze, she always did love her oddities.
Rose glanced around the Allron cruiser and took note of how its structures and equipment seemed to be organic and thinking back to her biology classes as a child. If she remembered correctly, most metalloids in the Allron empire are somehow grown like bio components; A form of living metal if you will.
With a shake of her head Rose found a seat trying to place herself as far away from the boozy stench that seemed to follow her mother more loyally then a dog, soon she leaned back and closed her eyes. Preparing for takeoff. 
Many hours follow in which she did her best to pretend to be asleep as her mother pretended not to notice, though Rose did glean from her mothers' constant badgering that they would be landing directly at the destination. How her mother had pulled that off? She did not want to know. Cruiser landing pads were normally restricted to sky ports, or military bases.
Three hours later, Roses original suspicions were confirmed, as the cruiser broke through the atmosphere, and zoomed towards their destination at astonishing speed. Through the small window, Rose saw something approaching.
A large building loomed in the distance surrounded by dense forest. Rose happily noted that the trees here had silver bark and bright red leaves.
As they edged closer, The flight path red their destination off as one place...
The sunny stay sanatorium.
Rose could only frown as the building met her violet eyes. It was frustratingly cheery-looking, and its wooden fences had no barbed wire visible, though small shoots of shiny metal were seen laced in a nice pattern on the outside.
Roses frown stretched further when she realized its looming figure was not under the shadow of heavy storm clouds, was there any ominous signage at least? Negative. It looked safe, it looked like a place of healing, and to be honest?
It set Rose on edge. Something was not right, it seemed too good, and it reminded Rose of a pitcher plant. Plant analogies aside however, the car came to a stop. The parking lot seemed just as lovely the rest of the massive facility. The well-kept asphalt allowed good maneuvering for Rose's suitcase. As the young Girl and her only slightly tipsy mother made their way inside.
The metal door surprised both females as it swung inwards at their approach. With a sharp look at her patiently waiting mother, Rose took the first few steps inside.
"well, come on in!" called a cheery voice. It welcomed them into a well-lit. Foyer Rose obliged, dragging her luggage in behind her. Her inebriated mother daintily padding along. The click-click of her high heels acting like a precisely toned harbinger of doom. After precisely 10 of the clacks across the floor, the layout of the room came fully into view.
As well as the strange person that presided over the front desk.
An Allron, Rose noted with a smile. An adorable one at that, she stood at the front desk and laid claim to a very pronounced set of curling ram's horns.
That curled elegantly out of her dark mop of long black hair. For once, Rose let her genuine emotions show on her face as she walked towards the unidentified creature. Careful to keep her back to her mother, lest she sees even slight weakness as Rose let her mask fall for a moment.
The creature standing attentively at the desk smiled back. She wore a black shirt that suited her quite well that bore a v like a symbol on the front. A lightning-fast glance downwards showed Rose a lack of shoes. Instead, she viewed a well-kept pair of hooves. This young lady appears to be a satyr.
"Hello, I assume you wish to check-in, yes?"
The young Satyr asked. Her eyes an empty silver color, reflecting Rose's own face back towards her, no sclera or pupil to be seen. Her hand's ghost near a keyboard and a kind smile graced her face. The nametag read out a scratchy name in old Allron, Rose was not very well versed, but she thought it might say. Medago?
"yes, my daughter Here is named Rose Stananger; I believe I reserved a tour as well as a room for her here." Her mother said her words sounding as though she was checking Rose into a hotel, and not a loony bin. The Girl at the desk nodded and typed something into the keyboard with startingly fast fingers.
"now I'll need to ask a few questions, then I'll take you to processing! then if we have time, the grand tour."
Once again, before Rose could answer any questions, her mother began answering for her. Her blood type, her age, etc. Many other things that Rose began to tune out. Before long, her mother had stopped speaking, and the Satyr had stopped asking.
"all right then! Right this way and ill-"the Satyr paused as the sound of a metal door clunked shut. Rose sent a mournful glance behind her; her it seemed her mother had filled her yearly allowance of matronly work. letting a massive sigh tumble from her lips, she turned to the small Allron, shooting her a pitying smile before walking close, and making her mask slip back into place.
"We can continue. She will not be returning for an, exceedingly long time."
Slowly realization dawned on the workers face, soon followed by pity; before the Satyr simply nodded. Motioning for Rose to follow, she led her through a door; that, in turn, let to a large room. Rose quickly guessed it was a mess hall of sorts.
"Well, Miss, right off the bat is a mandatory physical." The satyr cautioned, leading her out of the large dining area and into what Rose assumed is the medical wing.
"Now, there's nothing to worry about; just head on in, and I'll take your bag to your room."
Before Rose could protest, the nimble Girl had snatched her bag and already begun to walk away. "I'll show you your room when you're done!"
And just like that, she was alone standing in an archway that seemed to lead into a well-lit huge room. Taking a few steps in Rose saw many beds laid out with white curtains to divide them, as well as a menagerie of medical supplies.
A few familiar looking testing tables covered in that annoyingly crinkly paper was meant to keep it sterile.
"Hello there."
An exceptionally smooth voice reached Roses Ears, breaking her out of her curious study of the room. She glanced at one of the tables arranged neatly in a corner, seeing a tall, graceful woman standing beside it.
Rose could not help but study the Woman as she approached, her long elegant frame moving gracefully towards her like an acrobats. dark black hair framing her tan face, with two beautiful green eyes that peered at Rose from beneath long curving lashes sending her pulse racing just a bit faster.
"My name is Kann, it's a pleasure to meet you."
Rose glanced at the outstretched hand her own hesitating for a moment before clasping it within a gentle and polite handshake.
"They call me Rose, and the pleasure is all mine."
Rose noted that the Woman In front of her was wearing an exciting outfit, almost looking as though she was in a very fashion-forward set of scrubs. Just as it began to dawn on Rose that this lovely young lady might work here, she outright confirmed it.
"Why thank you, I've been informed you will need a physical. if you would be so kind as to take a seat?" Kann asked, gesturing gently towards one of the examination beds. Though the crinkly paper made a horrid sound, Rose obliged, wanting to get this over with as soon as possible.
As kann made her way around to gather a small horde of instruments for Roses inevitable testing, Rose decided to do her best to make light conversation, never one for long silence.
"So, what is a nice lady like you doing in a place such as this?" Rose asked, feeling it as good a place to start as any. Kann raised her head slightly, her jewel-like green eyes meeting Roses own purple ones for a moment, before a kind smile wound its way onto Kann's face.
"Well, after the last head nurse was-" here she paused, an expression of confusion written across her face as she searched for words "Indisposed, I was hired; I can only imagine its thanks to my gleaming resume."
Rose felt the dark lump that had found itself lodged in her chest lift a slight bit, it seemed she had found a peer, at least for the time being.
She could not help but become intrigued, Kann's way of speaking becoming quite interesting, she pronounced every word very meticulously, as though a team of English professors were grading her every word. The result seemed to be an accent Rose just could not place.
"A purveyor of many mental institutes, are you?" Rose asked as Kann came to stand beside her, a large dolly of many different sets of equipment laid out before them. Kann reached for the arguably most mundane object first before turning to Rose with a reply.
"Oh no, this is my first time working in an institution such as this. Actually, this is my first week."
Rose nodded, surprised at the sudden and quick trust seemingly bestowed upon her, as Kann approached her with what appeared to be an everyday comb. Rose raised her eyebrow and looked pointedly at the fine-toothed comb.
"this?" Kann asked, holding the instrument aloft, clearly reading Roses confused expression. "don't worry, your hair is very much in place, I simply need to check you for lice."
Rose smiled internally, already beginning to play out a humor's scenario in her mind, in seconds she let her face fall into a mask of mock hurt. "my darling nurse!" she cried, placing her hand flush against her chest to help her emphasize her overzealous sarcasm. "you think I am bearing some sort of nefarious parasite?"
Rose expected some sort of gilded yet kind form of friendly sarcasm to be shot back at her, what she was not expecting was for Kann to be quite sincere, as her jade eyes stretched wide and her shoulders jumped upwards.
"Oh no! absolutely not, I assure you." She said, her hands turned outwards, in what Rose recognized as genuine sincerity. Its presence at the same time, setting her on edge and at ease due to its lack of familiarity.
"I apologize If I hurt your feelings miss, I mean no offence; its simply the rules of this institute," Kann said doing her best to placate the already calm Rose.
Very quickly, Rose realized her Joke had not landed. And instantly tried to get her foot out of her mouth.
"Oh! No, I was simply being sarcastic," Rose tried to explain, and much to her relief watched as some of the tension eased out of Kann's shoulders.
To further her extension of the olive branch, she removed her headband and leaned her head towards the nurse.
Shooting her a look that said, "well?"
With a slightly relieved sigh, Kann moved to begin her inspection, drawing the brush towards Roses pale blond hair, and gently running it through.
not to Roses surprise, no knots were to be found, and no pests were spotted; eventually. Kann had to reposition herself standing behind Rose to finish the inspection, all in all, the gentle tugging and prodding only took a few seconds.


"All right! Congratulations, your first test is finished. Now we move onto the next!" Kann said, softly placing the comb back onto the small medical cart, and so they went; short tests like blood pressure, hand-eye coordination, and many more. Each one bringing more confusion then the last, Rose was positive that her ability to hold her breath did not matter when regarding her mental health.
But Rose couldn't bring herself to ask for a break, or even to question the odd tests, far too busy basking in Kann's udder lack of sarcasm, made up for entirely by her fantastic mixture of sharp wit, good intent, and absolute sincerity.
At least, Rose could not ask for a break until...
One of the last tests, finally the giant needle and bags meant to hold her blood, gave her pause. Their placement on the cart had initially hid them from view, once her purple eyes met them held aloft in Kann's steady hands, the whispers that had been much quieter that day began to stir.
Along with the sensation of Deja-vu' and a building pressure behind her eyes, she truly did not appreciate it. Her breathing began to speed up, in tandem with the rapid pounding of her heart, for a moment; the world was lost to the shadows inclosing on the edges of her vision. She wrapped her arms around herself in another of her pitiful attempts at self- soothing, desperately trying to take deep breaths as it felt as though an elephant had taken a seat on her chest. Due to this, she failed to take in that both needle and bag were quickly discarded after Kann took note of her near-instant reaction; Rose also failed to notice the gentle hand rubbing soothing pats up and down one of her tense arms slowly trying to bring her out of her frazzled and panicked state.
It took Rose around ten minutes to get her breathing half working once again, realizing that the soothing and oddly accented voice of Kann had begun to walk her through the steps of calming down.
Distantly, the words of her phycology textbook rang back to her, informing her in some backwards way; that she had just experienced some form of the episode.
"thank you." Rose practically whispered, her breath still in low supply. A spark of appreciation blooming in her chest for the odd nurse. Then, trying to save face and avoid any more needles, Rose began to speak, intent on finding her room.
"I'm not sure why that happened, my apologies, but I think-" just as Rose began to stand, she felt the room shift before her.
the slight shadows in her vision spiked forwards and consumed almost everything as the whispers in her ears nearly drowned the startled cry from Kann as Rose pitched forward towards the tiled floor. The firm sent of cleaner met her nose, but she did not feel the impact of the cold tiles.
That last thing Rose saw as darkness took her were a pair of overly concerned looking Jade eyes.