Author Note

Hello, hello, it's good to be back. Sorry about the delay folks, I was away for the weekend last time. But if it makes any of you feel better, it was absolutely boring. And cold. Can't forget that. This weekend I was at a sleepover, which was awesome, so I feel bad about that part.

Thanks for reviewing this chapter as well poisonliz, kiwiuchi and Art-sama, you must really like my story to review both chapters, and I'm glad you did.

I also received a review from Memmi, who unfortunately doesn't have any stories posted as of yet, and a review from klv. I couldn't reply to your comment klv, so I hope you don't mind me crediting you. Thanks for the awesome reviews everyone.

Now if I remember correctly, last time I left everyone on a cliff-hanger. Sorry about that, but I did tell you the cliff-hanger would give me the incentive to write, and here I am. Time to find out all the answers to those questions I left running through your minds, or at least some of them. *evil cackle*

Before all that, we must skip to the disclaimer, because now I have even less money than I did last week, and my computer has broken yet again. I got it fixed, had it back for a week, and something pops on the inside, or there's no power supply. It's one of the two. But none of that matters now, because I got it fixed again. Let's just hope nothing else goes wrong. Fingers crossed. Anyway, the disclaimer...

Disclaimer: One Piece belongs to Eiichiro Oda, Toei and Funimation. I own nothing but Rose, and all other OC's unless I've stated their creator's name in my Author Note or End Note. Weapons made by Rose belong to me, unless stated or you can tell the obviously don't belong to me; because I did not create the gun, I'm nowhere near old enough. Also any plot not relevant or in any way related to the One Piece one is mine, unless someone inputted an awesome idea. And I've gone off on a rant. Let's just start the story.


Normal POV

'Thoughts'

Foot notes

Flashbacks will be in 3rd POV and will be sectioned off


Previously:

'Great he pities me, yet he still hungers for me. Just what I need. But what did he mean by "She'll tell us eventually." Tell them what? Please tell me it's not what I think it is.'


We can discover this meaning in life in three different ways: (1) by doing a deed; (2) by experiencing a value; and (3) by suffering. ~ Victor Frankl


Chapter 2

It was just as I thought. I would receive no help from the guard, or any of the others.

That was 2 weeks ago now.

They say 'the eyes are the windows to the soul', how true that is. A fiery spirit, frozen to the very core, a crystallised heart left in its wake. It's like looking into the scorching fires of Hell itself. Burning you with its intensity, yet colder than ice. Once filled with power, intelligence and determination, those eyes, they are long gone. Now, they're just pools of pain and suffering.

Everything my gaze lingers on seems to stop and fall silent. Like a predator stalking its prey, a child hiding under the table, hoping that if it stays silent, the killer will just walk by, noticing nothing. Those eyes know cruelty and pain. But they do not invoke pity, only fear. Fear of death. No qualms about killing to be free. I would murder every single person who's holding me here, just to see the sunlight again. Feel the breeze on my skin, ruffling my hair and clothes as it passes. Breathe clean, fresh, probably polluted air, instead of the stale, dank one I'm breathing in now. Even the rain, the typical English weather, temperamental no matter the time of year: the rain pouring down soaking everything and the cold wind chilling me to the bone. Oh, how I long for it. The things I took for granted, and freedom, never again will I let anybody keep me from doing what I want to do. I will be free.

White hair clings to my face, obscuring eyes of glacial crimson. A disguise used for years to hide my abnormality, torn straight off me, leaving behind in its place: hair white beyond its years, and eyes of blood like a demon straight from the deepest pits of Hell. My appearance once hidden in fear and shame, paraded about for all to see. To mock, and laugh at. Exotic. Unique. Freak. Belittled for having a few flawed genes.

I stare, boring a hole in the wall, willing it to fall apart with only my gaze. Cold, dull, and lifeless eyes. Hatred and pain, the only emotions left there, fester, raging into an arctic blaze. I feel a deep, overwhelming rage at my captors, her and myself.

How could I have let this happen? I knew they were there, I could sense them following me, and yet I still got jumped by them. To top it off, I was subdued by chloroform. Chloroform of all things. So cliché. And then I had this damn metallically taste in my mouth for ages.

All this running through my mind constantly. The past 2 weeks over, and over, and over again. It's hard not to. There's nothing to distract myself with. Boxed in a dark and dank room underneath a house, no windows, and only one door. Chained to the back wall, facing the only escape to freedom, almost taunting me, mocking my strength and situation.

The pain is my only other distraction. Racking pain courses through my body. Bruises stain my pale skin gruesome colours. Cuts, grazes and whip marks, old and new, cover every inch of me. My life source leaks out, marking paths of scarlet down my body, until it drips onto the floor, joining the puddles beneath me. Some dry, some not. Either way, I relive each moment in my memories, the pain a constant reminder of yesterday, today and tomorrow.

They stripped me of my power when they stripped me of my clothes. My intelligence is belittled and mocked, I will not correct them for fear of more beatings or they discover I'm lying. Determination is there but hidden and beaten into submission, at least that's what they're led to believe. A strong and proud girl, broken and beaten into nothing more than a limp doll.

I am a sorry excuse of my former self. A damaged shell. And it's all her fault.


"What do you want from me? Why am I here?" The questions that have much needed answers tumble out of lips slowly turning blue in the cold, in a voice too high in pitch to be considered normal.

"You don't know?" was the dumbfounded answer from one of her captors.

"No, I wouldn't ask if I did. Oh yeah, who the hell are you?" Her usual sarcastic comments' flying from her mouth as she completely forgets her fear and surroundings. Muttering accompanies her stupid exclamations.

"She's playing dumb." A voice calls down from by the door. Click, clack. Click, clack. Follows as they descend down the stairs, the tell tale signs of high heels giving away her gender, and a female silhouette blocks what little light there is. Blackness consumes her vision for mere moments, but as she comes into view, an almost inaudible "Katie" is heard.

"See, I told you, she's playing dumb. It's all part of her plan. That way you'll underestimate her, let your guard down, and she'll be able to escape."

"Katie, what are you doing here? Is this some kind of joke? Because it isn't funny." Shock, confusion, and betrayal flash across her face, before settling on an uneasy smile.

"Now, now, Rose." A hand grabs her face, holding it in a vice like grip.

"Drop the act." One swift tug and white hair falls out from underneath the blonde wig, settling in its rightful place on her shoulders and nestling on her back.

"You're fooling no-one." The blonde wig is waved about in front of her face as if to prove this. Gasps follow as the men come to realise her appearance.

"Don't forget the contacts." Well manicured fingers ease open her eyes and probe about, until withdrawing with a small plastic contact lense, its honey coloured concave sitting perfectly atop it. Sudden intakes of breath among all the men, their eyes locked with the single crimson one. Disbelief at this sudden revelation in all their eyes, yet anger and malice in hers. A smug smile tugs at Katie's lips at her 'friends' hostility towards her now.

"Well done my dear. There is more to her than meets the eye, apparently. She truly is as you described." He walks forward and kisses her cheek, only for her to blush like a love struck teenager.

"And even with such an appearance, she is still beautiful. A Siren like quality embedded into her, alluring men into lusting after her. Such natural beauty." The lust never once left his eyes, causing her to involuntarily shiver in disgust, and Katie's smirk turned to a vicious snarl. Like an animal she has staked her territory and will fight for the male.

"Why?" A heart wrenching whimper pours out of her lips. The painful emotions the betrayal caused evident in her stature. Limp and lifeless.

"Why? Because we want the Apocalypse." Malevolent, greedy and power hungry smirks filled every person in the room. And still the guard still gives me a pitying look.


Sighing, I cannot help but contemplate. The Apocalypse. Why on earth did I create them? I always knew they were too dangerous, that they'd get me into trouble, that's why I kept them away from prying eyes. And yet here I am. Paying for it with blood, sweat and tears. Betrayal clawing at my heart, never mind the actual claw marks on my chest.

Slumping against the wall, more pain seizes me as healing wounds are reopened. Tears gather, but I will not let them fall. I resigned myself to being strong; I will not give them the satisfaction of seeing me in pain. I am better than that.

Nor will I ever tell them what they want. Even if more weeks pass, slowly turning to months. I will not give in. The destruction that would cause. The deaths. How could I condemn hundred of thousands of people to death just so I can be free? It would defeat the point really. I'd be released into a world where they could kill me with the very thing that gave me freedom.

So I will bide my time, until the day I will escape, and freedom will be mine once again. From then on, I will forever fight to keep my freedom, no matter what it takes.

Fresh blood pours down my back, absorbed by the already disgusting rags. What's a little more blood to an already blood stained cloth. Resting against the wall may have alleviated the ache in my muscles for standing for so long. Or was I kneeling? But it was only replaced by the stabbing pain every where else.

Eyes slowly drift closed, exhaustion consuming me. I let the dimness turn to darkness. Sleep. I'll do that. If only for a slight reprieve, because I know it won't last. It never does. Nightmares plague me. I wish they were nightmares, because then everything that's happened would just be a dream, then I'll wake up in my bed with everything as it should be.

However, I know it won't happen. This is my reality now. Just not for much longer.


End Note

Hah, another chapter up. Ladies and gentlemen, enjoy. Review, comment, criticize and advise. If not then just stay tuned until the next chapter. All ideas are welcome for future adventures, and if anyone would like their OC to star in the story, message me and we'll work out something.