Seventeen years later:
"Grandmother" rose's voice soft, "grandmother?" "Rose what's wrong?" Lauran touched rose's shoulder, making her jump. "Rose what are you doing up so late?" Lauran lead rose to the living room and sat herself down. "I couldn't sleep" rose messed with a black curl that fell in her face, "can you tell me about mother?" rose sat on the floor near Lauran's chair. "Oh homey," Lauran leaned and kissed rose's head. "Of course – what do you want to know?" rose face lit up as of the questions of her childhood came to mind, "why did mother leave me?" "Why did she marry father?" "Why did she just -" rose's face and mind froze. Someone was banging on the door, "rose I want you to hide downstairs in the locked closet". Lauran handed rose a key "hide there and be sure to LOCK yourself in" rose nodded then ran. "Lauran! I know you have her! Open up!" Dylan kicked the door – it fell in. "Dylan! Dylan she not here!" Lauren tried to shove Dylan back outside – he hit her. "Lauran" after falling to the floor Dylan raised Lauren by her nightgown – "tell me were my daughter is or you -" rose stepped out of the darkness. "I'm her father" rose tried not to visibly shake has her father dropped of Lauran, her body lay limp on the floor. "Grandmother!" rose screamed as Dylan threw rose over his shoulder and walked out of the house. In the car:
"I got a nice boy for you to meet rose" Dylan moved the mirror to look rose in the face, "ok father" rose held in the tear of her grandmother's death. The only family member who wouldn't hurt her is now gone, "his name is Charlie -" Dylan pulled up to a house that was not his "father -" Dylan slapped her "shut up rose" 'this is Charlie's house" Dylan looked at rose's night gown the ripped a huge hole down the side. Rose stood scared and half naked as Dylan threw clothes at her, "put those on" rose nodded and got dressed, rose shivered as a late autumn breeze got under her "even smaller then school" skirt, and "to much showing" top. "You look lovely baby" rose wiped off spit from her cheek, "lets' go" Dylan slapped rose's back to get her moving. "Hello Dylan" a badly bruised women opened the door "hello Katherine" Dylan laughed as Katherine flinched "Adam and Charlie are downstairs" Katherine motioned to the door. "I'll call for you in a minute" Dylan whisper in a horse voice in rose's ear. She shivered. "You must be rose" the badly bruised lady stepped forward and took rose's hand, "I hear you ran away, were do you go?" Katherine eyes spoke of hope. "My grandmother' rose's eyes watered, "but she no longer alive" Katherine's eyes lost there hope and returned to a hopeless sea green. " I'm very sorry" rose could tell the women wanted to hug her but couldn't because of the bruises. "Let me help you" rose got up and headed for the kitchen, grabbing many ingredance. About an hour an hour later rose had re-banged Katherine's bruises and scrapes. "There, in a couple of days all will be clear" rose smiled and Katherine flinched "thank you child" she kissed rose forehead. "Rose!" Dylan screamed, Katherine shoved rose downstairs. "Rose this is Charlie" Dylan pushed rose to the middle of the room Adam got up, to size rose up. "Good size" Adam felt rose's butt "good" rose felt disgusted. "Charlie what do you think?" the young man got up and put his arm around rose's upper chest, "she'll servise" Charlie let go of rose and she almost threw up. "Good, good" Dylan shoved rose in Charlie's direction then left with Adam. "So you rose" Charlie's breath smelt of spoiled eggs, he moved a piece of rose's hair to kiss her lower jaw. "Please leave me alone" rose pushed Charlie off and sat on the couch; she sank three inches Charlie laughed. And sat beside her, "you're cute" Charlie laughed and kissed rose's ear, "can by any chance you stop touching me or kissing me!?" rose shoved Charlie off and ran upstairs, "rose were leaving" Dylan roughly gripped rose's arm causing a bruise. Rose thanked him. "Goodbye Charlie, Katherine, Adam" Dylan threw rose into the car and sped out the driveway
Twenty years later:
Three weeks earlier:
"Hey rose" Chris sighed "the park- sure" Chris nodded, looking up the park rose mentioned. "yah- Friday, ok- hey rose?" Chris could sense the problem in her voice, "are you ok?" "No? Why, rose tell me what's wrong" Chris held the phone tightly. As rose said "I ca- I'm coming" "goodbye Chris" rose sighed then hung up the phone.
Now:
"Rose" Charlie gripped roses shoulder tightly- "Charlie you're hurting me" rose whispered as a small tear fell from her cheek. Charlie let go and held rose's chin "rose I'm not-" he was interrupted by a young man calling for rose, "rose!" Chris pulled rose into a light hug. She smiled faintly "hello Chris", "rose who is this?" Charlie stabs a finger at Chris. "He's a friend" rose's smile fanshied as he hit her. "Your friend!" rose landed on the leafy ground holding her cheek, Charlie about to kick her until Chris stepped in the way. "move" Charlie got close and lifted Chris off the ground, "Chris!" rose got up and held Charlie's arm., "Charlie no!" he hit her again, sending her to the ground. He dropped Chris and stepped toward rose, "no – this is our fight not hers" Chris steps in Charlie's way "fine" Charlie's smile made Chris flinch – he again gripped Chris shirt. Lifting him from the ground, "we'll play your way" Charlie threw Chris to the ground near rose. Chris got up and wiped his lip – Charlie laughed "you should have stayed on the ground" Charlie punched Chris in the stomach – sending him to the ground again. "Never" Chris stumped as he stood, Charlie kick his legs form underneath him and stood – his foot on Chris shoulder. "You should give up" he spit "I got you to the ground pinned and you've never thrown a punch at me" Charlie moved his foot from Chris's shoulder to the middle of his rib cage – and applied pressure. "give up" Charlie laughed as Chris swarmed under the pressure "no' Chris twisted Charlie's foot, you little-" Charlie shouted as Chris got up and smiled "what you can't take me?" Charlie growled as he walked up to Chris. "You wish" he held by his neck pined to a tree and slowly rising, "Charlie drop him" rose held up a gun. "Ha!" Charlie laughed "shot me – if you have the guts" Charlie drops Chris and his body hits the ground with a sickening thud, "shot me baby" this pushed rose over the edge, she shot three times. "Rose" Chris ran to her side as she clapped to the ground near Charlie's body – sirens could be heard from a distance. People coming close. "Chris are you ok?" he couldn't see her eyes, "I'm fine – but what about you?" rose laughed a real laugh that's been held in for ages. "Never better". About a week later rose's trial - she left free with self defiance, "Chris!' rose ran to him, ending in a huge hug. "rose - I've wanted to give you this for a while" Chris kneeled and opened a dark blue velvet box, "rose Lauran – will you marry m-" rise nodded "but Chris I have something to tell you –"Chris got up with a concerned look, "what?" rose smiled and touched her stomach "I'm pregnant with Charlie's child" Chris's concerned look turned to a smile "boy or girl?" rose smiled now "girl". "Good – I've always wanted a daughter" rose laughed "good".
