A/N: I'm going to keep this short because I'm not entirely sure what to say. This chapter feels 'short' despite being 10k+ words but I think it's because it's taken me for ages to write this chapter. I hope you guys enjoy it, I've enjoyed writing it despite the struggle, but it's always fun figuring out where these characters are going to take me.
WARNING! MAJOR VIOLENCE! WARNING!
DON"T FORGET TO REVIEW!
No Mercy
Rosemarie Hathaway
Chapter Five
Freedom. That's what this felt like. I lifted my face to the sky and closed my eyes as I felt the sun shining down on my skin- the breeze smelt of salt and I could feel the little spits of water on my face from the ocean. The sound of the waves hitting the shore and rocks further down was like sweet melody- freedom.
I opened my eyes and looked out across the ocean. I couldn't wipe the smile off my face as I untied the towel around my waist and let it fall as I walked towards the water- I'd only taken a few steps before I started running. I felt like myself again! My skin was no longer pale and covered in welts and bruises- my ribs no longer showed, and my stomach was smooth and toned just like it was before.
The water was unusually cold but I didn't care. I was free. The waves brushed the tips of my fingers and I lifted my hands to my face closing my eyes as I felt the water touch my skin… I found myself smiling as my fingers traced my lips.
My lips were no longer cracked and dry but soft and full. The taste of blood no longer filled my mouth, and my throat no longer felt like sandpaper. I found myself laughing as I spun around in waves and fell backwards into the waves letting them take me further out.
Freedom. I broke the surface of the water and blinked the salt water from my eyes staring back up the shore. There was a man there watching me- I recognized him- "Dimitri!"
The corner of his mouth lifted in a smile. "You finally remember."
"The water is amazing!" I encouraged waving him closer. "Join me?"
"I can't." Dimitri responded remaining on shore. "You're too far away, Roza. Come back."
Confused, I stared at him shaking my head. "I can't."
"Yes, you can." Dimitri insisted. "Just swim."
"I'm free." I whispered staring at Dimitri.
Dimitri looked as if he was in pain. "You're dying, Roza."
I've never felt more alive. "Don't be silly!" I giggled holding out my hands for him. "Come on, Comrade. The water is just as I remember it."
"Roza." Dimitri continued to plead. "This isn't real, Roza."
"I'm not going back, Dimitri." I told him as I turned my back letting myself fall beneath the surface as a wave rippled the surface above me- I shot out of the water laughing as I splashed my hands letting myself. I'd forgotten what it was like to laugh. "I like it here."
"Roza! You can't stay here forever." I tilted my head to the sky holding my arms out as the waves crashed against my body. "You know that, don't you? You don't belong here."
Frustrated, I sighed and turned back to him throwing up my hands. "And where exactly do I belong, Dimitri Belikov? Because the alternative to here is THERE!"
"There are people out there who need you." Dimitri reminded me. "You have to keep fighting, Roza. You need to get back to the people who love you. Lissa, Chris, Abe, Janine… Me."
"Where are these people now that I need them? Huh? Where's my rescue my team- where are you, Comrade? I've been waiting for you-! WHERE ARE YOU?" I screamed punching the water as I fought back the tears that wanted to fall. "Where are you, Dimitri Belikov?"
Dimitri stared at me his arms crossed over his chest. "I don't know."
"Exactly!" I screamed. "So, shut the hell up!"
"Roza."
"Don't, Roza, Me!" I snapped standing on my own two feet as I stared at him. "I'm not going back, Comrade. You can't make me."
"You are dying."
I stared into his brown eyes and felt the tightness in my chest. "I've been dying for a while, Dimitri Belikov. It's the circle of life. You're born, you live, and you die…" I turned my back to him but before I could sink further into the water his hand wrapped around my arm and spun me around. I stared up at him with wide eyes as he stood chest deep in the ocean fully clothed. "…Comrade…"
Dimitri's lips sealed mine as his hands cradled my face… I whimpered against his lips and slid my arms around his neck as I buried my hands in his hair as I savored the kiss. This is how it was supposed to be.
I'm dying. I could feel it. At first I'd felt relief- I'd finally be at peace- I'd never have to go back. Every time I thought 'It couldn't possibly get any worse' it got worse. The hidden compartment within the exam table that pulled out like a coffin was my breaking point.
I couldn't breathe inside that box- I'd scream until the darkness swallowed me, and then I'd wake up back inside the box and I could hear them. The screaming never stopped! The straightjacket Augustine had forced me into restricted my movements and stopped me from being able to cover my ears.
I'd sworn he'd never hurt another girl. I'd failed. I deserved to die, didn't I?
Dimitri lifted my chin forcing me to look into his eyes. "There's still time."
"I'm scared." I admitted facing the beach.
"That's good, Roza, being scared means you have something lose." Dimitri insisted urging me forward. "You're a survivor. You can survive this."
… Reality …
My lungs felt if they were on fire, like I was drowning, I struggled against the arms that held me from behind forcing me underneath the cold water. I was gasping for breath and coughing at the same time- the effort caused a sharp pain to shoot through my chest straight to my heart.
"Breathe." Augustine whispered brushing my hair out of my eyes. "Count to 10."
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
I had to do this several times until I was able to catch my breath. In the entire time I'd been here I don't think I'd ever heard Augustine sound- genuinely concerned. "W-what happened?"
"You died." Augustine confessed his grip tightening on me. "That cannot happen."
I laughed weakly wincing at the pain it caused in my chest. "If I didn't know better I'd say you cared."
"I've grown fond of you." Augustine's finger traced the side of my face. "You're my favorite toy."
A memory came back to me then and I found myself smiling. "When I was a little girl- my father- brought me a toy. It was a pretty doll with a whole closet of pretty silk dresses and more accessories then I knew what to do with. Of course I lost most of the accessories within the first week but I loved that doll. She was the favorite of all my toys."
"You sound like a typical little girl."
I smiled weakly and let my head fall back onto his chest. "At that age I was- as you say- a typical little girl but then school started. I couldn't bear the thought of leaving my doll and her pretty dresses behind- so- I took them with me to the academy. My toy was stolen and I found it a week later destroyed- the older boys had cut off all her hair and cut up her pretty dresses- it broke my heart."
"Does this story have a purpose?" Augustine sounded as if he was growing agitated.
"After I discovered my favorite toy destroyed I was plagued by nightmares where the pretty doll with the tight ringlets and silk dress would chase me- then kill me. She'd stab me over and over with the same pair of plastic paper scissors that the boys used to hatchet her dress."
"Sounds like the mind of an overly imaginative child."
You've got no idea. "The purpose of the story is that like my favorite toy- I will haunt your dreams- I've accepted that nobody is coming for me and that I will most likely die here." I confessed staring up at the ceiling contemplating my next move.
"You're Rosemarie Mazur!" I felt my chest tighten at the sound of my father's voice. I'd forgotten what it sounded like. If I'd closed my eyes I could almost imagine I was a little girl wrapped in his arms but the arms wrapped around me were wrong. "You're my daughter, Little Girl. A Mazur- you do not lie down and wait to die! You're not weak. You're resilient, and ruthless. You're my daughter. Fight, survive, and destroy those who sought to destroy you. No Mercy."
No Mercy.
Augustine's hand travelled to my naked chest- I couldn't have stopped him if I tried- Augustine focused on the lashes from his best across my chest and breasts. "It looks like it hurts." I didn't bother to look instead began to form a plan inside my head. It could very well be the worst plan I'd ever concocted. "All this ugly business could have been avoided if you'd just yes like a good girl."
Dr. Augustine tortured and abused women in every ugly, disgusting, and violating way. The sick fuck was creative. I'd give him that. Bit by bit the girls would break under the torture and consent to letting them rape him knowing hell awaited them but hoping it'd lead to a quick death.
The only reason I was still alive was because I hadn't consented. It was a magic word that would lead to a quick death- I refused to say yes- and it was beginning to take a toll of Augustine's patience making him more frustrated and violent but also more creative.
Once the girls consented they never lasted longer then 3 days.
How did I know? Augustine taped every session- including my own- there were hundreds of files on his laptop with different dates, names, and even hospitals. Augustine had started sharing his personal favorites and the highlights of others.
As I was restrained in my chair forced to watch the homemade horror movie staring Dr. Augustine and yet another young girl Augustine kissed a trail of kisses along my throat. "The time is getting close, Rosie. I can taste it. You can't take much more." Augustine taunted. "It's been fun, I'll admit, your pain threshold certainly makes our sessions more interesting." I'd chosen to ignore his taunts and focused on the girl on the screen. "I think her name was Georgia… Her beauty doesn't even begin to compare to yours… Of course all women are beautiful in their own unique way… Georgia was the record holder before you arrived. I doubt it'll be a long time before anybody surpasses you."
Fight. Survive. Destroy. No Mercy. "Yes."
The only sound that could be heard in the bathroom was the sound of running water and my shallow breathing. "…What did you just say?" Was the son of a bitch really going to make me say it twice? Augustine lifted me and turned me in his lap brushing my hair out of my face as the water from the shower continued to rain down on me. "What did you say?"
The look on his face was a mixture of surprise and delight. "Yes."
"Let's get you cleaned up." Augustine lifted me off his lap and stood up lifting me to my feet. I stood under the shower and tilted my head back. The feel of Augustine's hands on my body made me violently ill. The shower began to fill with steam and the smell of soap surrounded me. I couldn't remember the last time I felt this clean.
As if the water somehow washed away a layer of skin and left me feeling refreshed with a newfound level of consciousness and strength. I stepped out of the shower and lost my footing falling into the bathroom sink.
I breathed deeply and tightened my grip on the sink as I lifted my head and caught sight of my reflection. A part of me didn't even recognize the woman staring back at me. My skin was pale and from the neck down I was covered in yellow, purple, and black bruises. The disgusting belt lash across my collarbone was disgusting and despite the shower had an infected smell to it.
I'd lost a lot of weight and it'd take its toll on my appearance. My eyes were sunken back into my skull, and my cheekbones stood out amongst my cheek. I was also pale- sickly pale- I couldn't recall ever looking this sick in my entire life.
Apart from the bruises and lashes from Augustine's belt there were also scars from the electroshock. On the left and right side of my temple my skin was burnt and slightly discolored- the scars on my wrist were from the restraints I'd worn everyday since I arrived.
It felt as if the scars overlapped each other.
The ugliest scars of all were those on my chest… I raised my hand to touch the two bullet wounds on the left side of my chest before I traced the length of the scar in the center of my chest from surgery.
Since I opened my eyes I felt as if I'd regained a fraction of my memories… However they were faded and unclear as if they were a piece of a puzzle that changed it's shape or image to throw you off. Even as I thought of my father earlier- heard his voice inside my head- I couldn't tell you if the face that matched my fathers voice was really his?
The only memory that didn't feel like that was of being in that parking lot with Guardian Randall and Ivan Zeklos. It surprised me that I could still remember their names… I remember every detail of that parking lot, every word, every breath, every step.
The warmth of my own blood soaking my shirt- I remember the pain in my chest as if a giant was standing on top of me- I remember the look of surprise in Randall's eyes as I thrusted my knife into his throat and his blood poured out of his neck and onto me.
A part of me was angry that of all the memories that I could recall with perfect clarity that it had to be that one… Of the people whose names I could remember it have to be them? And yet a part of me was relieved that I remembered their faces- remembered their names- it made hunting them easier.
Fight. Survive. Destroy. No Mercy.
Dr. Augustine appeared behind me lifting my hair over my right shoulder as he kissed the left side of my neck just below my ear. "I thought I'd lost you, Rose. None of that matters now… I'm finally going to have what is mine."
"You are mine, Roza." I tensed at the sound of the Russian's voice inside my head. It felt like a memory different to my 'here not here' memories. It felt faded, unfocused, and distant. "And I am yours."
In that moment with strength I didn't know I had I spun around and grabbed the back of his skull. My hand twisting into his black salt and pepper hair- I screamed at him as I slammed his face into the basin over and over again until Augustine was lifeless in my hand.
I stared at his face before I released my grip on his hair watching as his body collapsed on the floor. I felt myself sliding to the floor beside him as blood began to gather on the tiles- I laid face down on the floor next to Augustine staring into his empty black eyes.
I could feel my eyes growing heavy as I stared at him. "I always keep my promises."
…3 Hours Later…
I opened my eyes staring at the pale dead face of Dr. Augustine… His skull was caved in and his right eye was half hanging out of it's socket and his nose was broken and several of his front teeth laid on the tiles surrounded by a pool of blood.
I reached down and lifted myself off the cold tile floors slipping in the blood. I gasped and forced myself up looking down at my stomach as Augustine's clotted blood slid down the front of my stomach and legs.
I grabbed hold of the sink and used it to help myself to my feet. I looked in the reflection and the entire left side of my face covered in blood with blood splatter covering the rest of my face. Flashes of what happened flickered through my mind and I felt my stomach begin to churn.
Get. It. Together. I mentally scolded myself as I made my way over to the shower. It needed to be quick- I'd lost too much time already- I was confident that nobody would come looking for me since I'd spent the last 7 days trapped inside a coffin like box under Augustine's examination bench.
I turned on the hot water and stepped beneath the scolding hot stream. I closed my eyes lifting my face to the showerhead running my hands over my face and through my hair washing away Augustine's blood- I reached for the special body wash often found in most hospitals to disinfect my wounds- it stung like a bitch but I breathed through the pain knowing it could only help.
Once I stepped out of the shower I dried myself off and dressed in the surgical scrubs that Augustine kept inside the little drawers by the sink. I stared at my reflection brushing my hair back from my face and tying it with one of the hair bands I'd found.
I stepped over Augustine's body and walked towards the bathroom door. I didn't bother looking back as I shut the door behind me- I stepped into Augustine's office taking it all in- there was a young girl restrained in the same seat that had restrained me for so long. She was naked and conscious staring at me with wide eyes.
"W-where is-"
"Augustine is dead." I answered springing into action as I retrieved a pair of pajamas from the bottom drawer of Augustine's filing cabinet. I placed them in the girls lap before I unrestrained her wrists and ankles before I stood. "Are you able to move?"
"Y-Yes." The girl nodded already pulling on the shirt. "Dr. Augustine was about to give me the drugs when an alarming started beeping and he ran into the exam room and came back with you… You were dead… I'd never seen anybody so… dead."
"As you can see I am not dead." I forced a smile as I circled the desk shifting through files before taking a seat in the chair opening his drawers. The top drawer had a mobile phone, wallet, car keys, and security keys to the building allowing you to get through one ward after another.
I vaguely remembered a stairwell not to far from the office that theoretically should lead straight down to the parking garage. It was a long shot. Even if we can get off this floor without being noticed and then get into the stairwell I'd have to make it down past every level and into the garage past security and go through the parking lot of who knows how many cars to find his.
I shoved everything into the pockets of the scrubs and moved towards the medical cabinet. I grabbed the waste bag and grabbed anything I could- medications, medical equipment, bandages, ect ect. I picked up a scalpel and tossed it around in my hand testing the lightness.
"Do you have a plan to get us out of here?" The girl questioned picking up a pair of surgical scissors. I turned my head and looked at her- I paused- the girl wasn't a girl at all but a woman. Her skin was tanned orange and her hair was black cut above her shoulders with tattoos up and down her arms and her eyes were a forest green after a heavy rain. She was definitely pretty. "Hello? Did you hear me? I'd like to get out of here before that crazy bitch in the habit comes looking for me."
Sister Fiona. Shite. I'd almost forgotten about Satan's whore. "I'm hoping the security key will give us access to the stairwell where we'll be able to get down to the garage."
"Why do you need all those drugs?"
"Insurance… In case we make it we'll need money." I explained tying a knot in the bag reaching for the lab coat without Dr. Augustine's name on it. "I'm Rose."
"Leigh."
"How long have you been here?"
"A week… The judge sentenced me to 6 months… Sister Fiona greeted me on the first day and introduced me to Dr. Augustine that night." Leigh explained. "How long have you been here?"
"4 months? Give or take." I admitted stopping at the desk to pick up the file labeled. R.H. I was curious as to what exactly Leigh had done to get herself thrown into a mental asylum on judge's orders but I didn't have time to focus on the unimportant details. "Let's get the hell out of here." I stepped out into the hallway taking Leigh's arm as she stepped out of the office. I reached up and swiped the out of office sign before I turned to her. "I don't suppose you remember seeing a stairwell on your way up?"
"Yes! It's this way." Leigh started walking down the hall. The hallway was vacant and made getting to the stairwell easier then I'd expected but just as the stairwell had come into view so did Sister Fiona and a Security Guard.
If it'd been anybody else I think we would've gotten away.
"Shite." I cursed under my breath. "So much for low profile."
Leigh looked at me with a tiny smirk. "I'll take the guard."
That left the Devil's whore. I grabbed hold of her arm as she ran at me and spun her face first into the wall grabbing her by the throat forcing her to look at me as I ripped the crucifix from her neck and plunged it into her throat. I closed my eyes and leaned in close pressing my forehead to hers as her eyes widened in fear as she stared at me. "God may forgive you but I don't."
I reached beside Sister Fiona and opened the door to a storage closet. I pushed her inside taking a moment to stare at her between the dirty mop bucket and cleaning products. Leigh dragged the lifeless body of the security guard and threw him inside next to Sister Fiona. "You okay?"
I lifted my gaze to Leigh's as I shut the closet door. "I'm good."
Leigh held up the security guards gun smiling. "At least we've got a real weapon." I reached into my pocket pulling out the security key swiping it on the stairwell security pad. "If we make it out of here alive I'm buying you a drink."
"Let's get out of here first." It was harder than I thought navigating the stairwell. I tripped over my own feet several times, and each time Leigh caught my arm and lifted me up forcing me forward when all I wanted to do was curl up and go back to sleep.
My hands were shaking and my knees were wobbly enough to slow us both down.
Don't. Stop. "We're almost there." Leigh encouraged sliding an arm around my waist holding me up. "You're not dying today-" Leigh was cut off by the sound of a door opening above us. "-We've got to make a run for it."
Leigh tightened her grip around my waist and the two of us took the steps two at a time running as fast as we could without breaking our necks on the way down. We'd reached the garage faster then expected and I reached into my pocket for the security key swiping it against the security pad. Leigh pushed the door open cursing. "There's another security guard."
I peaked out the door taking her hand as I knelt down pulling her with me. The two of us snuck along the wall before ducking behind a car making our way towards the back… I pulled out the car key and pressed the button. I heard a faint beep in the distance and the two of us made our way towards it.
Leigh and I knelt in front of Augustine's car and Leigh reached taking the keys. I closed my fist around the keys and looked at her. "What do you think you're doing?"
"I didn't get this far to get wrapped around a tree." Leigh whispered forcibly as she tugged the keys out of my grip. "You're five seconds from passing out."
"Fine." I snuck around the side of the car opening the passenger door. Leigh climbed into the drivers seat and adjusts the seat so her feet reached the petals. The two of us closed our doors quietly before Leigh revved the engine to life a soft grin crossing her face. "Leigh."
Leigh rolled her eyes reversing the car out of the parking spot before driving up to the security gate. "Should I drive through beam?"
"No." I whispered pointing to the spikes sticking out the cement. "Let's play it cool…" I reached for the gun sitting between Leigh's legs. I checked it for bullets before switching off the safety. The guard stepped out of his seat and circled the car tapping the hood before pressing a button on his belt. The security gate lifted.
Leigh and I both released a sigh and shared a look before the car revved to life and pulled out of the underground parking garage. "I don't suppose you thought beyond the parking garage?"
I didn't count on getting that far. "Let's figure out where we are first…" I trailed off reaching for the GPS hanging from the windshield. I tried turning it on but the stupid piece of crap was cheaper than Augustine's fake Italian shoes. "Fuck!"
"Calm. Down." Leigh answered tightening her grip on the steering wheel. "We're in Boston." I ripped the GPS from the windscreen and through it into the backseat. "Feel better?"
A little. "We need a plan." I whispered pulling my knees up to my chest. "How familiar are you with Boston? Do you think you can find a mall? We need supplies."
"You're in luck! I spent most of my life on the streets of Boston." Leigh turned onto a highway putting her foot on the gas. "What kind of supplies do we need?"
"We're going to need a change of clothes." I pulled out Augustine's iPhone and wallet. Inside the wallet were $200 dollars and several credit cards. "We're also going to need to ditch the car… As well as a first aid kit."
"You're going to need more than a first aid kit." Leigh reached out placing her hand on my arm. "You're not going to pass out on me?"
"No." I pulled my arm from hers and forced myself to sit up in the seat. "I'm good."
Leigh sighed shaking her head a half smile lifting up the corner of her mouth. "You're hardcore, Rose. I'll give you that… I don't know how you're still breathing."
I didn't say anything as I looked out at the passenger window. Truthfully- I felt hollow as if somebody had reached inside my body and ripped out all my insides. A part of me questioned if this was real or just another hallucination… I felt as if at any moment I'd wake up in Augustine's exam room and still be locked inside that tiny, dark, damp, smelly coffin.
I stared at the cars on the highway and felt my eyelids grow heavy. I tried to fight it but eventually the darkness consumed me… "Rose? Rose- Wake. Up." My eyes snapped open and I sat up- I was breathing heavily- darkness surrounded me and I felt like I was trapped. "ROSE! Calm. Down. It's okay! It's me! It's Leigh. Breathe. Listen to my voice."
The light overhead turned on but it didn't matter. I was trapped inside my own fear. Leigh leaned across the console and grabbed my face slapping me hard across the left side of my face- I stared wide eyed at her as I held my cheek tasting blood but I immediately felt myself calm. "Leigh."
"It's me." Leigh sighed dropping her head in relief. "Sorry."
"No. It's fine. Thank you." I breathed sitting back in the seat as I looked around the underground parking lot. There were cars all around us with shoppers coming and going with their trollies and shopping bags- kids on skateboards- and crying babies in trollies.
"I'm barely holding it together." Leigh confessed after several minutes of silence. I turned my head to look at her only to find her with tears rolling down her face staring at her shaking hands. Her wrists were red raw from the restraints but they'd head. I doubt they would scar. "I was only there a week. Whatever he did to me doesn't begin to compare to whatever you went through-"
I found myself reaching out to take one of her shaking hands. "Don't." I whispered squeezing her fingers until she looked up and met my eyes. "You survived a week in that hellhole. A week. Believe me when I tell you that it's longer than most girls. I failed. If I'd tried harder perhaps I could have killed him before he hurt anybody else."
"You didn't fail, Rose. You killed him. We're sitting here right now because of you." Leigh insisted squeezing my hand in hers. "I won't hear you say otherwise."
I stared at her blinking back the tears that filled my eyes. "I wouldn't have gotten out of there if it wasn't for you either."
The corner of Leigh's mouth lifted into a half smile. "We make a good team."
… One Hour Later …
I closed the bathroom door and leaned against it closing my eyes. 1. 2. 3. "I can do this." I told myself trying to sound confident. I opened my eyes and forced myself to stand in front of the motel mirror gathering my hair into a ponytail on top of my head. I tilted my head to the side running my fingers along the length of my neck.
I closed my eyes when I felt the tiny chip beneath the skin. It's fine. All I needed to do was make a tiny cut and pull it out- it'd be easy- hypothetically. I looked down at the bench and untied the medical hazard bag I'd taken from Augustine's office as well as the first aid kit I'd brought from Kmart.
"I can do this." I repeated reaching for the scalpel in my back pocket. I placed it on the bench grabbing the vodka I'd stolen from the liquor store. I poured it over the instruments I'd be using before wetting a wipe and cleaning the length of my neck before taking several swings from the bottle.
I used my fingers to trap the chip before I made the tiny cut. I clenched my jaw forcing my eyes to remain open as I watched the blood begin to coat my fingers and slip down my throat- I covered the cut with the gauze soaked in Vodka as I grabbed for the tweezers.
"I just cooked- ROSE!" Leigh screamed running to my side. "What the fuck!"
I closed my eyes holding the tweezers. "Calm. Down. Fuck." I hissed placing the gauze back to my throat. "There is a chip inside my neck- I need it removed before they realize I've escaped- either help me or shut up! The tiniest bump and I could nip an artery and bleed out."
Leigh stared at me like I was insane her eyes searching mine. "You're serious?"
"You don't need to stay."
"I'm staying." Leigh stood up a little straighter shaking her head taking the tweezers. "If it's any consolation, I'm the reigning champion of the 'operation' board game."
I stared at her raising an eyebrow. "It isn't."
"Shut up." Leigh smiled stepping closer. "Let's see what we're working with… Holy shit…" Leigh pulled back looking at me. "I can see it."
"That's great." I breathed through clenched teeth. "Take it out." I felt the tiniest pressure and a tiny sting before Leigh stepped back holding up a tiny grain. It was like a very tiny bullet smaller then a grain of rice. "Give it to me."
"What do we do with it?" Leigh questioned placing fresh vodka soaked gauze on my neck. "Rose?"
"We're going to leave it for them to find." I stared at the tiny chip letting it roll in my hand. "I want to send a message."
"How long do you think we have?"
"Not long." I flinched as she began stitching the wound. After Leigh finished playing nurse I cleaned myself up and pulled on my new clothes: black bra, panties, skinny jeans, and a black singlet, and black leather ankle biker boots.
Leigh was just zipping up a duffle bag with our belongings when I entered the room. Leigh was dressed in black ripped skinny jeans, a white singlet, and a green cameo jacket, and high-top sneakers. Her jet-black hair was braided and hanging over her shoulder. "You ready?"
I picked up the gun from the bed and placed it into my belt. "You don't have to come with me."
Leigh's head shot up and she met my gaze. "Rose."
"You have no idea what you're getting yourself into."
"Either do you, Rose. You said your self that your memory was fried." Leigh snapped. "You need somebody to watch your back and I'm all you've got."
I couldn't entirely argue with that. "You don't owe me anything."
"You saved my life!"
"And I'll get you killed if you come with me." I found myself standing in front of her grabbing her by the shoulders. "The people who put me in Briarcliff will send people like me to either kill or retrieve me… You mean nothing to them and they will kill you or send you back to Briarcliff if you're lucky… You can take the rest of the money and go-"
"I have no where to go!" Leigh pulled away. "I don't have a family! I don't have friends either! The one person who meant anything to me is DEAD! I have nothing left."
I stared at her shaking my head. "Leigh…"
Leigh turned to me running a hand over her forehead. "Shut. Up. You're stuck with me, Rose. The only way you walk out that door without me is if you're prepared to put a bullet between my eyes or restraint me to the bed."
I flinched staring at Leigh's wrists as she held them out in front of her. "Let's get out of here…" I trailed off as Augustine's phone lit up on the bed. I'd planned to leave the phone behind along with the chip and a note that said 'I'm coming for you. Rose.'
"Who is it?" Leigh questioned lifting the duffle onto her shoulder.
"Dr. Xavier Matheson." I answered reading the text aloud. "Did you finish the report on R.H? Victor wants to conference call tonight to discuss the patient."
"Whose R.H?" Leigh questioned.
"Me." I answered. "Rosemarie Hathaway."
"What are you doing?" Leigh questioned moving to stand beside me. I'd scrolled quickly through their message history and saw they usually met outside the office at the same place every time. "You're going to meet him?"
"Yep." I slid the phone into my pocket stepping around her. "Let's go."
"I guess it's a good thing we didn't ditch the car." Leigh followed me out of the motel room. "Do you at least have a plan?"
I smiled at Leigh over the top of the car. "I always have a plan."
"You know-" Leigh sighed sliding into the drivers seat. "-That isn't very comforting." I rolled my eyes and read out the address to Leigh before sliding the phone back into my pocket. "So… We're just talking to him, right?"
"Actually, I'm going to be talking to him." I lifted my hand before Leigh could argue. "While I'm talking to, Dr. Matheson, you're going to be acquiring us a new set of wheels. I'll meet you at the abandoned warehouse that we just past."
Leigh sighed pulling the car onto the side of the road before turning to me. "I don't like the idea of separating."
I met her gaze knowing what she was really worried about. "You're worried I'll leave you behind."
"You don't want my help."
"No, I don't." I didn't bother denying it. "However, I'm not ignorant to the fact that I will need your help. So, despite the tiny voice inside my head telling me to abandon you for your own safety, I'm listening to the self-fish voice inside my head that is willing to take advantage you and the unnecessary notion that you owe me."
"Fine." Leigh reached into the backseat grabbing the duffle bag. "I'll just have to trust you." I caught Leigh's arm as she opened the driver's door. "Rose?"
"If everything goes the way it's supposed to I'll meet you at warehouse." I promised meeting her gaze as I reached into my pocket pulling out a piece of paper. "If it doesn't, ring this number, let it ring out before you hang up and then do it again this time somebody will answer. Ask for Zmey and tell them you have a message from Rose."
Leigh stared at the piece of paper in her hands. "Why not ring it yourself?"
I'm not ready to face them. "Because I don't know if I can."
"I'll give you until mid-night." Leigh folded the paper and placed it inside her jacket. "I have one question: whose Zmey?"
"Zmey is Plan B." I answered sliding across the console into the drivers seat and looked up at Leigh. "He's also the most dangerous man you'll ever meet… Also, he's my father."
… 20 Minutes Later …
The moment Dr. Matheson stepped out of his shiny black Audi I recognized him… I hadn't personally met him but he'd visited me once in Dr. Augustine's office. It was the first time I'd encountered anybody other then Augustine, Sister Fiona, and the Security Guards.
"Rose?" I felt my head roll back as I tried to lift it but it was too heavy- a pair of hands gently lifted my head and I forced my eyes to open. At first I felt relieved- I was saved- I found myself staring into the biggest brown eyes and my first thought was of him.
"You came." I managed to say though it sounded slurred. "D-imi-tri."
"Dr. Matheson." Augustine's outraged voice filled his office. "What do you think you're doing?"
"I came to check on my patient."
Augustine laughed. "Your patient?"
Dr. Matheson stood his ground and stepped between Augustine and I. "The girl isn't one of your playthings, Dr. Augustine. Mr. Dashkov will not be pleased-" Augustine looked bored as he stared at Dr. Matheson. "-Do you even care?"
"Not particularly." Augustine answered. "Mr. Dashkov doesn't care what happens… The girl is dead as far as the rest of the world knows… If you have feelings for the girl perhaps you'd like to stay."
Dr. Matheson balled his hands into fists. "She won't break."
Augustine chuckled walking towards me as he slid his hand inside my shirt. "She will." Augustine tilted my head back and kissed me. "It's just a matter of time."
My eyes locked with Dr. Matheson's and I felt a tear slide down my cheek. "H-help me." Augustine pulled his hand back and slapped me across the face.
Dr. Matheson grabbed Augustine's hand as he pulled it back to hit me a second time. "Stop." I felt my heart leap in my throat as I stared at him. "The door is open do you really want the entire hospital knowing what you're doing in here."
Augustine breathed and pulled his arm from Dr. Matheson's grip. "I'm sorry, Love. That was foolish of me." Augustine stroked my cheek his black eyes staring into mine. "Perhaps next time you'll keep your mouth shut unless I tell you otherwise. Yes?" Augustine turned my head to look at him when I tried to look at Dr. Matheson. "He's not going to help you, Sweetheart. Nobody is. We're going to have some fun with you- isn't that right, Doctor?"
The passenger door opened and I braced myself as Dr. Matheson slid into the seat shutting the door behind him. Dr. Xavier Matheson turned in his seat releasing an irritated sigh. "Augustine-" Dr. Matheson lifted his gaze and focused on the gun currently pointed at his head before his eyes shifted me his mouth opening just slightly. "-Rose."
"It's nice to see you, Dr. Matheson." I stared into his brown eyes shaking my head. "I've got a few questions for you."
"Rose-" I hit him across the face with the butt of the gun. "-Arhh."
"I didn't say you could talk." I felt a smile tug at my lips as I stared at him. "You know who I am don't you?" I wasn't just asking Dr. Matheson if he knew my name.
"Yes."
"You don't look all that surprised to see me."
"No. I'm not surprised." Dr. Matheson wiped the blood from his lip. "I knew it was only a matter of time before you escaped." Dr. Matheson lifted his gaze to mine. "I hope you killed him."
"I did."
"Are you going to kill me?"
I raised an eyebrow staring at him. "What do you think, Dr. Matheson?"
"Xavier." Xavier insisted. "I think you'll kill me."
"And why would you think that?"
"Because you're smart." Xavier answered trying to distract me as he reached for the weapon hidden in his boot. "I'm sorry-" Xavier moved quickly pulling out a knife slashing my arm. I blocked his attack and knocked the knife out of his hand before putting a bullet in his stomach. "-ARRHH!"
"That looks like it hurts." I chuckled climbing over the seat until I was almost straddling his waist. Xavier was a big guy and this was a tiny piece of shit car. "It's going to take a while for you to die." I ripped open his shirt sending buttons everywhere before placing the gun back into my belt as I ran my hands along his stomach slowly making my way towards the hole in his abdomen. "You're the surgeon. How long do you think you have?"
Xavier slammed his head back reaching to touch me but I snapped both his wrists… "ARHHHHH!"
"I'd say you've got at least 15-20 minutes." I answered my own question as I circled the bullet wound before I pushed my index finger inside the wound making him jolt. "Victor Dashkov?" I questioned grabbing his face with my freehand. "You mentioned him in Augustine's office that day."
"Go to hell."
"I've already brought real estate." I tightened my hold on his jaw. "Dude. You're dying. It can either be quick and less painless or…" I twisted my finger inside of his stomach causing him to release a shout that seemed to vibrate the car. "Victor. Dashkov."
Xavier gasped for breath. "You'd have died if it wasn't for him… The 1st extraction was sent in to separate you from the girl. Vasilisa Dragomir. You killed all 7 of our men. I was a part of the 2nd extraction team. The guys were just going to leave you there- dying- I recognized you and tried to convince my captain to take you in but it wasn't until he received direct orders from Mr. Dashkov that he'd allowed me to save your life. I managed to stabilize you and I got you to a hospital where Dr. Augustine operated and saved your life."
"How did I end up at Briarcliff?"
"You were in a coma." Xavier was beginning to pale. "I didn't think you'd wake up. Your brain had been without oxygen for several minutes during surgery… Victor wanted you returned to your family so they could say goodbye and he'd been in the process of making the arrangements when news broke that a body had been found and identified as Guardian Rosemarie Hathaway-Mazur. Your family believed you were dead – Dr. Augustine recommended Briarcliff."
"…I woke up…"
"You did." Xavier breathed. "It was a miracle."
"It was a nightmare." I corrected staring into his eyes. "I thought you'd come to save me."
Xavier stared at me. "I meant too."
"No, you didn't." I chuckled staring into his eyes as I unbuckled his belt. "You did what you did because you wanted a piece of me." I grabbed the knife I'd knocked out of Xavier's grip and placed it against the length of his cock. "Was it worth it?" I questioned leaning in close so I could look into his eyes as I cut the blade through his cock making him scream louder then he'd done previously. "Answer. Me."
"YES!" Xavier shouted his eyes wide and full of rage. "You ARE worth it." I dropped his cock on the floor and reached for the phone inside his jean pocket. "I l-love you."
I climbed back into the drivers seat both my hands covered in blood as I stared at him in disgust taking my gun as I emptied the round into his chest. I watched as life faded out of his eyes before I reached over and wiped blood with my hand leaving a message on the windscreen.
I climbed out of the car and left the driver's door open. I walked across the abandoned street and caught sight of a surveillance camera and instead of shying away I looked directly in the camera and smiled before I pulled up the hood of my jacket and disappeared into the darkness.
I was half way down the block when I felt Xavier's phone begin to ring. I swiped the screen to answer it placing it to my ear. "Xavier… Is Dr. Augustine with you?"
I chuckled into the phone. "Hello… Uncle Victor."
There was an intake of breathe on the other end. "Rosemarie?"
"What?" I forged feelings of hurt. "I'd have thought you'd be happy to hear from me."
"My dear…" Victor seemed to be stumbling over his words. "…I don't know what you remember."
"You'd be surprised." I strolled through the dark alley. "I find myself extremely disappointed."
"Rose."
"Enough. I'm done playing games, Victor. Your doctors are dead and I'm coming for you next." I barely recognized the tone of my own voice. It was eerie calm and sent chills down my spine. "Get your affairs in order."
I dropped the phone to the ground and smashed the heel of my boot into the screen. "I take it the phone call went well?" I looked up at the sound of Leigh's voice as she leaned on the hood of a black BMW. It was a little flashier then I'd have expected. "Hungry?"
I leaned against the hood of the car taking the half eaten burger from her hands.
"Is that your blood?"
"Nope."
"Is Dr. Matheson dead?"
"Yep."
"So…" Leigh sighed crossing her arms over her chest. "…Whose next?"
No Mercy
Dimitri Belikov
… 2 Weeks Later …
I leaned against the brick wall and stared up at the Eiffel Tower lit up in the distance. The sun was just beginning to set and the streetlights had begun to flicker up as Restaurants and Cafés begun to exchange their daytime menus for night.
I couldn't help thinking of the last time I'd been in Paris. I'd surprised Roza during her trip with Lissa. It was in Paris that Roza finally opened up about her past; the drugs, the suicide attempt, and the rehab. She'd been terrified that I'd leave her because she wasn't 'perfect' but by the end of our trip I'd fallen even further in-love with her.
The strength of that woman astounded me and after everything she'd been through she'd refused to be defeated and used her past to help others.
"Dimitri?"
My head snapped in the direction of the familiar voice. "Vasilisa?"
"Oh My God!" Lissa leapt forward throwing her arms around my neck. I chuckled catching her a little awkwardly due to the sizable bump between us. Lissa pulled back staring at me with tears in her beautiful blue-ish violet eyes. "I can't believe it's you! I almost didn't recognize you- I can't believe you cut your hair!"
I pushed off the wall standing in front of her as I took in her appearance. "You look beautiful."
"I think the word you're looking for is HUGE!" Lissa giggled placing a hand on her growing belly. "Can you believe I'm 6 months pregnant?"
"No." I chuckled staring at the bump. "Do you know if Baby Ozera is a boy or a girl?" I questioned smiling at Grant standing a few feet behind Lissa. "Roza and I had a bet."
I almost regretted mentioning Roza when Lissa's eyes filled with tears. "It's a girl."
"Congratulations." I smiled reaching out to hold her hand.
Lissa smiled a little watery smile as she squeezed my hands. "Will you join us for lunch? It's been so long and it'd mean a lot if we could just talk?"
"I'd like that." 5 minutes later the 3 of us were seated in a booth. "How Christian?"
"Great." Lissa opened her napkin. "He's at home setting up the Nursery."
"Home?" I questioned not able to hide my surprise. "You guys live in Paris?"
"Christian didn't feel it was safe for us to stay." Lissa admitted breaking a breadstick. "Nobody even knows we're in Paris except our parents, Uncle Victor, and of course Ibrahim."
"Good. The less people who know where you are the safer it is… Speaking of Ibrahim is he any closer to finding out whose been coming after you?"
"No." Grant answered. "Ibrahim has been focused on Rose's killer."
My hands tightened into fists on top of the table. "Have there been any other attempts on Lissa?"
"No." Grant answered. "Serena and I are taking every precaution."
I released a sigh of relief as I ran a hand over my face. "I've been doing a little digging into Roza's death myself…" Neither of them looked surprised. "…The men you saw in the parking lot were apart of an extraction team: Hired Guardian Assassins. They'd come for you, Lissa. The man I spoke to was a member of the 2nd extraction team sent in and he told me that when they'd arrived Roza was lying among their dead with a bloody knife in her hand and Randall was lying beside her with a knife wound to his throat."
"Rose stabbed Randall?" Grant questioned sitting back in his seat. "She must have figured it out."
I looked between Grant and Lissa raising an eyebrow. "Figured what out?"
"That Randall was mole." Lissa answered staring down at her hands. "Randall was murdered 2 days after the funeral."
"I heard."
"I was in the bathroom when it happened." Lissa admitted lifting her gaze to mine. "Whoever killed Randall was terrified that you'd find out the truth about what happened in that parking lot. He knew you'd left the country- he mentioned your grandmother by name- he also mentioned that you'd sworn vengeance at the funeral."
Grant continued. "The same gun used in the parking lot was used to kill Randall."
… That Night …
The basement of the church was dark and smelt of moths. It reminded me of the attic at Ivan's grandmother's house from when we'd visited her during the holidays as children. I lit up a cigarette and leaned back in the chair as I waited for Father Travis to wake up.
"What- Arhh!" Father Travis threw his head back breathing through his teeth. I couldn't help but chuckle at the look on his face when he realized that I'd literally nailed him to the cross. There were 3 nails in the palm of each hand and another nail in each of his feet.
Blood had slowly begun to pool on the floor in front of him. "Father Travis." I sat forward in the chair letting the candle light shine on my face. "Do you know who I am?"
"A dead man." Father Travis seethed his eyes almost black as he stared at me.
"Not today." I answered him. "My name is Dimitri Belikov."
Father Travis stilled his movements and stared at me. "I've heard of you."
"Of course you have." I pulled a blade from my belt as I stood up. "I'm curious, exactly what have you heard about me?"
"You're an assassin." Father Travis sneered. "You've made a business out of discovering people's secrets and making them disappear."
"I don't like the term assassin." I admitted standing in front of him. "To tell you the truth, Father Travis. I consider myself a smart businessman with a wide variety of skills. One of those skills is researching my target- I can't take all the credit of course I've got a friend who keeps tabs of men like us- and the information she had on you. I have to admit, I'm not easily impressed, but your work impressed me."
"I suppose I can die now having fulfilled my life's goal of impressing the mighty Dimitri Belikov."
"All in due time." I promised taking my blade and slicing into his stomach. It was a shallow cut. I lifted my eyes to Father Travis leaning forward. "Most people prefer to get straight down to business. I respect that. However I'm unlike most people and I prefer pleasure before business."
It didn't take that long before Father Travis' screams begun to fill the basement. "ARRHHHH!"
"Do you know what I love about these old churches?" I smiled at the snap as Father Travis jerked on the crucifix tearing his hand through one of the screws. "The rooms are soundproof! You can scream- and scream- and SCREAM!" I screamed in his face seeing my spit flying from my mouth and onto his face. "AND NOBODY WILL HEAR YOU!"
Father Travis began praying and I let him have his moment. "Beloved Father-"
I sighed running a blood hand through my hair as I wiggled my toes in the blood gathered on the floor in front of the cross. The feel of the blood between my toes reminded me of what it felt like dipping my toes into the ocean only it was thicker and sticky.
I looked down at my bare chest and found it splattered with Father Travis' blood. "This has turned out messier then I anticipated."
"W-why are y-you doing this?" Father Travis questioned his entire body shaking with his agony.
"I've never crucified a man." I admitted with a tiny shrug as I stared at him. "I thought it might be poetic since you're a priest and all." I smirked at the glare the father shot at me. If only looks could kill. "Rosemarie Hathaway." The colour drained out of Father Travis' face at the mention of her name. "A co-worker of yours told me that the last time he'd seen Roza alive was with you."
Father Travis lifted his head leaning it back against the cross. "This is about the girl-ARH!" I twisted the blade in his thigh as he jerked and tore one of his feet free. He'd tried to swing it out and hit me but I grabbed it with one hand and dropped to one knee as I used my elbow to come down on it and snap it. It hung limply at his side as he screamed like a banshee.
"The girl has a name." I grabbed his throat squeezing tightly. "Say. It."
"Ro-se-mar-ie." Father Travis choked turning purple in my hands. I released my grip on his throat and stepped back flexing my fingers. "Did Zmey hire you?"
I chuckled shaking my head as I pulled out the packet of cigarettes I'd found in Father Travis' jacket. "Nope." I lit up the cigarette and took a drag. "You should be thankful you're here with me instead of my father-in-law. At least you know death is inevitable with me but Zmey is a patient man when it comes to making others suffer. It's a quality I do not have."
"…Father-In-Law…?" Father Travis whispered as his eyes lit with realization.
I pulled up a chair in front of him and sat down. "Did I forget to mention Roza was my fiancée?"
"This won't bring her back." Father Travis' pleaded. "You don't have to do this."
I laughed staring up at Father Travis crucified to the cross. "If I thought killing you would bring my Roza back I'd do it a million times over." I confessed sitting forward on the chair resting my elbows on my knees. "I'd kill a thousand men but sadly that is not how this works… So let me explain something to you, Father Travis. I am not a good man- I was a good man when I was with her- until somebody took her from me and now I am a very, very, bad man. Now. I want the name of the man who killed my fiancée. You will give me his name or so help me god, I will break every bone in your body, tear the skin from muscle, and piece by piece I'll let the rats finish whatever's left."
"Victor Dashkov." Father Travis confessed. "That's the man who hired us."
"Did you see anybody else in the parking lot?"
"Yes, there was a man with a gun." Father Travis admitted. "I only saw the back of him when he bolted into the alley. I wanted to leave but one of my men recognized her- Guardian Hathaway- Victor had been listening into the operation and ordered us to retrieve her."
"What was the surgeons name?" I questioned ignoring the surprise look on his face.
"Dr. Xavier Matheson…" Father Travis answered. "…I don't know what happened to your fiancée after she got to the hospital. The last time I saw her alive Dr. Matheson had his hand inside her chest and he was barking orders at the nurses to page for Dr. Augustine."
"That'll be all I need from you." I placed my left hand on his shoulder taking my hand wrapping it around the blade in my belt before lifting it to his throat and slitting it. I stepped back to admire my handiwork and wiped the bloody blade on the leg of my jeans as I stared at his wide eyes as the life slowly began to disappear. "Forgive me father, for I have sinned."
I changed out of my bloody clothes into the spare set I'd packed. I picked up the duffle bag throwing it over my shoulder before I grabbed the fuel container of gasoline- I poured it over the floor and over Father Travis' body before leading a trail out of the basement into the church and down the center of the aisle and straight to the door. I placed the tin inside the door and knocked it over before stepping outside and lighting a cigarette throwing it inside watching as flames tore through it.
I stepped onto the sidewalk lighting up another cigarette whistling as I walked back towards the city. I arrived at the restaurant just after 8 o'clock. Lissa, Christian, Grant and Serena were already seated with glasses of wine in front of them. "Sorry I'm late."
"Only by an hour but whose counting." Christian said as he stood from the table. "It's good to see you brother." Christian and I embraced before releasing each other allowing me to hug Serena. "What kept you?"
"I was at church." I admitted taking a seat. "I'm starving."
Serena picked up a napkin handing it to me raising an eyebrow. "You've got a bit blood- there." She pointed to the spot just behind her ear. "You might want to clean that up before the staff notices."
Lissa sighed shaking her head. "What were you really doing…?" Lissa trailed off as the TV in the restaurant was suddenly turned up on the news about a church fire and the tragic death of the priest overseeing the church. Father Daniel Travis.
I turned back to the table finding them all staring at me. "I told you." I shrugged as the waitress approached the table. "I was at church."
"Are you ready to order?"
… An Hour Later …
"Did you enjoy your meal?" The hostess questioned politely.
"I did." I answered pulling on my jacket. "I'd like to pay for the tables cheque…" I said pulling out cash and handing it to her. "…Make sure the ladies get an extra big slice of cake to take home… Also could you give this to the gentlemen in the red shirt."
The hostess took the folded piece of paper curiously. "Of course."
"Thank you." I stepped outside the restaurant watching as the hostess approached the table.
The men hired to retrieve Vasilisa were hired by Victor Dashkov.
I'm going after him.
Keep them safe.
D.
... To Be Continued ...
A/N: I'm not even sure where to begin ...
Dr. Augustine is Dead! Dr. Matheson is Dead! Rose's memory isn't as bad as we first thought but it's still pretty bad.
Leigh seems like a legit badass I can't wait to share her story with you guys in the upcoming chapters. Who knows what'll become of Leigh, and how her role will impact Roza's reunion with Dimitri and her family.
VICTOR DASHKOV IS THE DEVIL!
But we already know that. It'll be interesting to see who gets to him first.
Roza or Dimitri?
And of course there is the matter of Ivan Zeklos.
I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter.
Don't forget to review!
