"Start walking rose"
I walked slowly and steadily. I walked and walked until my feet were swollen and then I walked some more. I might have reached the bank sooner but I had to stop at a gas station and clean up a little. I hadn't realized I was crying until I looked in the bathroom mirror.
My hair hung limply down the sides of my face and I couldn't see anything that was "me" anymore. No, the old rose was dead she was left in that cave with Dimtri and I didn't think I'd ever see her again. I rinsed my face and clutched the paper with the account number Adrian gave me.
The bank teller was a chubby man who was balding he looked like he was in his late forties. He seemed pretty graceful and out of place in the bank. I sat down and painted a smile that didn't reach my eyes.
"Hello I'm here to withdraw some money." I unfolded the paper I had clutched in my hand.
"Okay I need your account number and a way to verify your identity."
"Umm well I have the account number 2189192, but I don't have an I.D"
He studied my paper and then his face flashed with what look like happiness and fear.
"Oh dear I'm so sorry Ms. Hathaway , I should have recognized you by the way you walked in. your account is ready. How much would you like to take out today?"
He looked toward my neck but, my hair hid my tattoos the last thing. I wanted was to be known. I sighed.
"All of it."
"All of it? Well the account refills after it is emptied."
"Well I'll take what's there now." I had to look less surprised, how much money did he give me.
"It will be just one moment Ms. Hathaway."
I watched him scurry back behind a huge wall. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I felt the pull, Lissa was crying.
"Oh I should have known Christian. I should have helped her." He wrapped his arms around her carefully.
"No one knew, she wanted it that way. Don't worry she'll come back"
"No Im her best friend I should have helped out some how. Why didn't she tell me?"
A different voice answered the question, " She was protecting you." It was Eddie. He wasn't smiling but he didn't seem upset.
I felt lissa's guilt. She sniffled. " I wouldn't have cared I would have wanted them together."
" she knew that." Eddie sat next to them and threw a rock at the ground.
" She wouldn't have been able to protect you. Neither of them would have."
Lissa felt confused and I could tell she believed Eddie was right. And the weirdest thing was that he was. " But, Rose is a great guardian."
"Yes she was, and so was Mason but, he went back for her. So she would go for Dimtri and he would have gone for her." Lissa closed her eyes and tears flowed more steadily.
I pulled out of her had and sighed. Eddie was right. I would have gone back, I mean here I was going to find Dimtri, leaving Lissa and endangering my life.
Wow Rose you sure know what your doing.
When the man came back he counted out twenty thousand dollars.
"you have a nice night Ms. Hathaway."
" you too."
I walked to the near bay hotel and checked in. I was pretty sure that this journey wasn't over and I was pretty sure it wouldn't be for a while.
