Begonia 34

Disclaimer: this chapter contains forms of manipulation that some may find disturbing. If you relate to anything in this chapter please seek help from a professional.

Begonia- beware dark thoughts.

Edoka Auditorium
Isabelle's pov
8:02 pm(this is after the show)

The crowd gathered around me, camera flashed, people were talking over one another in hopes of being heard. I ignored them, I ignored them all and walked toward the backstage entrance.

"Where are you going, miss?" One reporter asked.

"Away from you," I retorted, closing the heavy metal door behind me. I sighed heavily,"Why can't people understand I want to be left alone?" I asked as I walked down the hall to my dressing room.

Inside the light was on, the air smelled sickly sweet. Whatever it was I didn't like it.

I stepped inside, cautiously.

"I've been expecting you Rose," An unnervingly calm voice said.

I turned to see a tall, blonde, rather feminine figure. I recognized him at once . . .Gunther. We'd met only once before during my show in France.

"I thought you had another show in Europe," I said, trying to hide any alarm in my voice.

"Yes well, I wanted to see how my little girl was doing (author's note: Gunther is not related to her in any way, they call each other using familial terms because their performances are quite similar in routine it's just a joke between the two), Your skills have improved, I admit I'm quite Impressed."

"Well, Dad, I learn from the best," I said.

"You flatter me."

"Don't pride yourself, I was talking about Gandalf," I retorted.

He laughed,"Ah Rose, typical Rose, seems you haven't changed one bit."

Gunther sat down in seat by the counter and gestured to a chair in front of him.

"Why are you here Spider?" I demanded.

"Oh let's not get angry, I just came here to talk," he said in a hushed, faux innocent tone.

"What are you going to do, kill me?"

"Kill you?" he laughed, if you could even call it a laugh. He looked at me dead in the eyes, the mere sight of those cold empty eyes sent shivers down my spine,"I'm not going to kill you, I have something better planned. I want to ask you a favor."

I found myself involuntarily taking a seat, like a cold set of hands was pushing me down into that chair.

"A favor. You're insane to think that I'd agree help you," I hopelessly protested.

He smiled crookedly. He reached into his pocket and pulled out several chess pieces, a black king, a black pawn, a black queen, a white knight, and two rooks one black one white,"Oh I hate to do this Rose, I really do," he stood up and placed the in a row on the counter,"You won't have to agree to anything because you'll have no choice."

"And how would you do that?"

He stood behind my chair and turned it to face the mirror, he grabbed a brush and began combing through my hair. Normally I'd like the comfort of someone brushing through my hair, but this, this was crossing the line. I tried to get up, but Spider simply pushed me down again.

"Oh you insolent girl," He said, forcefully lifting my head to look at his reflection. his hands were pale and cold like a corpse,"It's useless to fight against me Isabelle Margret Arens," he hissed into my ear tightening his grip on my jaw.

I froze, I wanted to yell at him, I wanted to scream, I wanted to throw up, I wanted to ... anything, I just wanted to be rid of that man's cold unforgiving presence. I couldn't move, I just sat there.

"Yes, that name," He said, rearranging the pieces on the counter. The Queen, the knight, and the white rook were together. The king and the pawn were together leaving the black rook alone, "All it would take is that name to get out. Then your abusive father will come and march you back home," He said, moving the queen over with the King and pawn,"Of course that would leave our beloved white knight alone and heartbroken, no one would second guess it if he took his own life."

"N-no he wouldn't," I choked.

He knocked the knight over with the black rook, "Oh then I guess I'll have to help him."

Those words 'I'll have to help him' in any other situation, said by any other person, would not have bothered me in any way. But that, that made my stomach churn, In the mirror I could see my face grow pale.

Spider continued brushing through my hair, displaying a deranged smile,"I would threaten to kill your sister, but unfortunately someone else is already trying to take her out of the picture. But if you help me I'll tell you who that is."

I tried to open my mouth and speak, but I was too shocked to do anything.

Gunther took notice of this and chuckled to himself,"Don't worry I'm not going to make you kill anyone. In nine days Kid will have his next heist, all I want you to do is, after the heist make sure he's alone in an area without security, make sure he doesn't leave until I get there, and I think you know what'll happen if you tell anyone," He looked at a clock on the wall,"I'll give you eight days to make your decision, till them my puppet," He said, dispersing in a ray of light.

He was gone, I was alone, the bittersweet smell was gone. The only thing that reassured me that he was actually there were the chess pieces on the counter and the brush that had clattered to the floor.

I sat there trying to take in what just happened. My mind was spinning. Thought after thought, emotion after emotion.

A knock came at the door,"Princess it's me, may I come in?" Saguru's voice called out.

A wave of relief crashed over me,"Y-yeah."

Saguru stepped into the room with a bouquet of pink roses,"Are you feeling well, your white as a sheet," he exclaimed, dropping the roses on the counter and rushing over to where I stood. He cupped my cheek with his right hand.

"I thought you were at the heist," I said, trying to change the subject.

"It's over now," he said getting that out of the way," But are you alright?"

"Y-yeah," the lie felt like a blade twisted in the wound,"I just remembered that again."

Word count: 1049