The Awakening

Chapter Nine: Decisions, Decisions

My entire world freezes as I watch him turn the gun in Yuki's direction. It's like everything is happening in slow motion. The world is in sharp detail. My eyes dart around, frantically looking for an escape. Rose stares at the Boss wide-eyed, but when i look deeper its not fear in her eyes...its something else that I can't quite interpret. Yuki is still pale, but she stands tall, her chin tilted slightly upwards. I look back and forth between the two girls. I can't let anything happen to them. I won't. 

I take a deep, shaky breath and look the Boss directly in the eyes. Or where his eyes should be anyway. The  mirrored sunglasses hide them from my sight. He towers over me, and I know that despite my strength, he could easily overpower me. Once more I glance at Yuki. She's trembling and I can tell that she's terrified. The gun is still pointed directly at her forehead, and I know the Boss would not hesitate to pull that trigger. Anger stirs inside me. I won't let him pull that trigger. I WON'T.

An evil smirk twists his thin lips. "A little reluctant there, sweetheart? Maybe if your little friend over here stopped breathing it would be easier--"

"Don't you fucking call me 'sweetheart', you son of a bitch! And don't you DARE threaten her!" I snarl with fury, hoping to startle him. I had to make my move NOW. With a quick prayer, I lunge at Yuki, knocking her to the ground. I wrap my arms around her thin midsection and cradle her head to break the fall. Something pops and suddenly a blinding flash of white-hot pain shoots through my left leg. I scream; the pain is too much to bear. There's another pop, and I brace myself for another flash of agony, but the scream that cuts the air isn't mine. 

I untangle myself with Yuki, gritting my teeth as the pain in my leg intensifies. I turn just in time to see Rose stagger backwards, clutching her side. A crimson rose blossoms from underneath her hand. Our eyes meet, and Rose smiles weakly. Then she reaches behind her and pulls out a dagger. Before I can register what's happened, the dagger is gone from her hand, she's slumping to the ground, a triumphant smile is on her beautiful face. The Boss groans and I turn to see him fall to the ground, pulling Rose's dagger from his stomach. Blood gushes out, and I resist the urge to gag. His shades have fallen from his face and for a second our eyes meet. His eyes are the same color as Rick's. I see fear, anger, and wounded pride. I see a corrupted man. And then he closes his eyes and stops moving. 

"Rose!" someone screams. I whirl around yet again and see Yuki kneeling over the girl. Rose's eyes flutter open for a moment and she reaches up to touch Yuki's face. Tears fall from Yuki's blue eyes. "Hey, Rose, you gotta stay with me, okay?" The tears continue to fall. "Dammit, Rose, don't leave! Don't leave..." Rose coughs weakly and smiles softly, "Hey...I'm not going anywhere, love. See? I'm right..." Her eyes flutter and then her head rolls backward. 

Horror fills me when I realize what just happened. I stagger upwards and for a second the pain is too much, and I almost black out. I fall backwards, and close my eyes, tears of agony streaming down my face.

That's when something happens to me. Something tingles deep inside of me. I open my eyes and almost gasp. The world is so...so beautiful. Everything is in amazing clarity, colors stand out, lines are sharp. I look at my leg and my mouth drops open as I see the huge bloody gash in my left thigh. But right in front of my eyes the wound is closing, the red draining away. I'm...i'm healing! I watch as the wound closes completely, then hold my breath and roll up my pant leg. All that remains is a small pink scar that vanishes in seconds. 

And then the tingling starts to turn painful. I frown but the painful tingling persists. What was happening to me?!

The pain increases and its all i can do not to cry out. It increases and i can't take it anymore. I thrash around, screaming, and all i am aware of is pure, hot, complete AGONY. I arch my back and then...and then its gone. As fast as it had come, all the pain is gone. I blink and stand up. I look at Yuki. She stares at me, open-mouthed. 

"What's wrong?" My voice comes out a melody, rising and falling like a song. I cover my mouth, the realization hitting me like a punch in the stomach. I had CHANGED, whatever that meant. The memory of Rick arching his back in pain, then standing up, the most gorgeous person ever, young and healthy once again flashes through my mind. His voice had gotten deeper...mine had gotten more melodic. 

Then I remember Rose, and my eyes widen with fear. I run to her side and press my fingers to her neck. Oh God...I pray. Please let there be a pulse...please don't let her die...I wait and wait and wait, but I don't feel a pulse. Anger and sadness overwhelms me, and the tingling feeling returns. My stomach drops, remembering the agony I had just been through, But the tingling doesn't become painful, but intsead spreads throughout my body. I look down and gasp. Golden light radiates from my skin. My hands are glowing! 

Wait...could I cure Rose? It was far-fetched, but, hey, stranger things have happened. I look Yuki in the eyes. "Hey...I'm still me, okay? I know I sound like Tinkerbell, but I'm still Vess." 

Yuki smiles, but her eyes are sad. "I know, its just strange. Can you...?"

I smile. "I don't know...I'm gonna try."

Flexing my fingers, still astounded by the light emanating from them, I place my hands onto the wound in Rose's side. I try to ignore the squishy, warm feeling and press harder, willing all my strength to flow through my hands and into the girl in front of me. 

STRENGTH. FLOOOOOOWWW. FLOOOOWWWWW INTO ROOOOOOSE. NOOOOOW. 

I squint my eyes shut and imagine the golden light flowing from my hands into Rose, closing her wound, stitching it up, making the blood disappear. I imagine the golden light jumpstarting her heart, bringing her back from the edge of death. And then I hear a gasp.

Suddenly exhausted beyond belief, I slump backwards into Yuki's arms. Forcing my eyes open, I stare at the girl in front of me. She gasps again and her hands fly up to her heart. 

"Oh my God..." I hear Yuki say. 

Rose sits up, a smile of wonder and disbelief on her face. She looks down at her side, then looks up at Yuki and I, shaking her head. "How?" she asks, obvious happiness in her voice.

I smile weakly at her. "Cause I'm just that awesome." I wink at her and then close my eyes, letting the beauty of rest seize me and pull me under. 

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Hey guys! I know, I know, it took forever for me to update...sorry!! Things are so hectic nowadays, but I'll try harder, I promise!

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