Chapter 10: New Beginnings

From the moment she walked down stairs that morning, she knew that something had happened the previous night.

For starters, Jake was nowhere to be seen. He was always there. Always. Especially now, during the summer when he didn't attend school. It was almost noon.

Then her eyes drifted to Lao Shi, who was covered in cuts and bruises and bandages. Something had definitely happened the night before…

And then she remembered her nightmare. She shuddered at the memory. She had been unable to sleep, so she had been awake when the dragons returned home from the night patrol. She had heard them banging around frantically.

In the many months she had spent there, she had never heard them come home from the night patrol before. They were always quiet.

But as she stared at the elderly man and the pudgy dog, she concluded that it was not any of her business, and it would be out of place to ask questions or show that she even cared.

She mentally stabbed herself. She didn't care, so she would just stop thinking about it.

But even as she denied her curiosity, the question was left unanswered in the back of her mind. Somehow she had a feeling she knew who Jake and Lao Shi had fought the night before, and she couldn't help but notice the dreadful pit that filled her stomach.

XX

It had been Lao Shi's idea for her to go up to the roof. He told her that some fresh air would do her good.

And it definitely did feel good. The breeze blew gently through her hair as she stared out across the city lights, the sun setting in the distance. She had forgotten how beautiful the city looked at night, and she had forgotten the feel of the wind against her skin.

She couldn't help but let her mind drift back to her dreams. Whenever she closed her eyes, the Huntsman was there. His cold eyes glaring at her with disapproval and disappointment. The only things she had ever even known.

And this realization terrified her. She didn't even know what it was to feel joy…or hope…or love…did it even exist?

She shook her head. She was merely an empty shell of a person, and it took leaving the Huntsclan for her to realize it.

"Mind if I join you?" She jumped a little upon hearing a voice come from behind her. She turned around to see Jake standing casually just a few feet behind her.

She nodded silently, pulling her knees to her chest as he plopped down beside her.

Even though it was dark, she could see the cuts and bandages on his arms, as well as the bandage that was wrapped around his head. He looked worse than Lao Shi had. Still, she couldn't help but wonder where he had been all day.

"I love coming up here at night," Jake broke the silence. She glanced over at him and noticed that he was staring off into the distance.

"It helps me think sometimes," he added, finally looking her in the eyes.

"I couldn't sleep last night." She blurted out. "I heard you come back…"

Her voice drifted off, and she could tell that he knew where she was going. She didn't even ask as he began to explain what had happened.

"Well," Jake sighed, "we were on the night patrol…as usual," he began slowly. "We were almost done, it had to have been close to midnight, and we ran into the Huntsman on the outskirts of the city."

She felt her heart drop from her chest. It had been the Huntsman. She looked away, almost feeling guilty.

"He had this…wooden box. Man…it was dark, but I think it had some ancient carvings on the side. And…and it had a big metal lock on it."

She looked away, remaining quiet and allowing him to continue his explanation.

"Of course he wouldn't want it for no reason," Jake continued, "so we fought. And I hit my head…and that's the last thing I remember."

She looked back at him, hoping that the guilt she was feeling wasn't showing through her facial expressions.

She did feel guilty. And she wasn't quite sure why. She shouldn't…she didn't give him those cuts, it wasn't her job to protect him…he was just lucky that she didn't try to kill him in his sleep.

So instead of saying anything at all, she remained silent and swung her legs over the edge of the building, pretending to be fascinated by the New York skyline.

However, she could still feel his presence behind her, waiting for her to say something…or do something, and the thought of him expecting anything out of her irritated the young woman.

Naturally, she was caught off guard when he began talking again.

"You know," he spoke softly, "the Huntsman is a bad guy. He's…twisted and…and it might not even be his fault. Just like I'm sure it was never your fault you were in the Huntsclan, but…he needs to be stopped."

"I'm pretty good at seeing the good in people," he continued, "but…I look at him…and I see nothing but evil."

"You on the other hand…" he hesitated for a moment, trying to find the right thing to say, "you are capable of being a good person. I know you are…"

"And…you would really….really be helping us out if you told us everything you know about this twisted little plan of his," he concluded hopefully.

She hesitated for a moment, debating on whether or not to say anything at all. But then, without her even realizing what she was doing, it all came out.

"The last few months I was in the Huntsclan," she began, her voice cracking slightly, "the Huntsman didn't trust me at all. I was losing focus, and…and I guess I was beginning to question myself a little bit. Like you said, it had never been a life I would have chosen for myself."

"But I'd never known anything different," she explained. "I guess…I guess in a way I was brainwashed to look at things from his point of view. So…when I started failing missions, I was punished…and abused in ways…And he stopped telling me things…Like important details in his plans.

"Then, after losing a fight with," she stopped to think for a moment, "you actually, he lost it. I was becoming a failure, and failure was not acceptable in his eyes. That was the day that he kicked me out, and that was the day you found me on the streets."

"For…the longest time, I hated you for making me fail, and for getting me kicked out, and for locking me up in this shop," she continued.

"It confused me how you and your grandfather treated me," she confessed. "I was supposed to be the enemy, and you treated me more like a friend. Better than the Huntsman ever had."

"I guess that's when I began to question my loyalty to him, but then I discovered something else…"

"I was sort of…snooping around in my room one night…and I found a dream charm," she admitted glancing over at him for the first time since she had began talking. He didn't look mad by any means, so she continued on.

"I don't know what possessed me to use it, but I did…and I went back into my memories. It was hard for me…to see the way the Huntsman always treated me, and I guess that proved to me that he was a horrible person."

"Then, I discovered something else…When I was little, the Huntsman always told me that my parents had died when I was very young, and that I would never be able to remember them or see them again. And I always believed him because…I guess I really didn't have a reason not to," she shrugged.

"But when I was in the dream world, the last memory that I saw was of me the day I was born. The doctors all noticed my birthmark," she held up her arm and examined it. "And eventually, the Huntsman showed up…and he took me away from my parents."

She sighed, suddenly realizing that she had basically just spilled her heart out to this random boy who was supposed to be her greatest enemy. It had felt good though to tell someone, and unlike anyone she had ever known in her life, he had actually kept quiet and listened to her.

Somewhat embarrassed, she looked away. She hadn't really even answered his question. "I don't even know why I'm telling you all of this…"

"No…no," he replied almost instantly, "it's fine. That's…that's a lot for you to have to deal with."

She sighed and couldn't help but smile slightly. "Yeah…it is."

"I'm sorry," he said, and she could hear the sincerity in his voice.

"I'm sorry too," she replied quietly. "For judging you the way that I did and…well…trying to kill you," she laughed a little.

"It's not your fault, you know," he looked over at her, "don't be too hard on yourself."

She looked away, taking in his words. How could she have ever judged him the way that she had? Hated him and thought of him as a disgusting monster, when all this time, he had been this normal, kind, and funny human being.

She could almost feel the controversy in her mind beginning to subside, and the evil part of her getting weaker and weaker.

"Well," he stood up and stretched his arms, "it's getting late. I should probably go home and get some sleep."

"Me too," she stood up and began to walk toward the stairs to go back into the shop.

"Nice talking to you…uhhh…miss," Jake addressed her awkwardly.

She laughed a little and turned around to face him one last time.

"Rose," she said.

"My name is Rose."

"Well then," he smiled slightly, "nice to meet you, Rose."

XX

*Glances at clock* Whoa! It's later than I thought it was…guess I just got caught up trying to finish this. I think it's the longest chapter yet. But…it was fun to write. :D

Sorry it took a little while *cue lame excuse* I just got back from vacation and I was gone for like two weeks.

It is getting harder to write though with so many other things going on, so in all honesty, your support is very very helpful and I appreciate it a lot. Thank you all very much. :) You are all my favorite people!

Seeya next time,

ada