Rose of Anarchy

The first thing she noticed was the smell. It was sickly, a mixture of sewage and something rotting, gaggingly sweet. It encased her. She took it in with every breath.

Then the cold. The way it numbed her fingers, the rest of her body, and stung her face.

And then the stickiness surrounding her body. Her arms were pressed into it. It coated the back of her neck, matted her hair to her scalp, stuck her white dress to her skin.

She opened her eyes to a sky grey and cloudy. She felt tired, but more so than that, she was confused.

She raised her body to a sitting position, her eyes widened as she took in the area around her. The first word that came to her was Apocalypse. The ground was flooded with filth and murky water, buildings were rugged and breaking down, and all was deserted expect for the sinister bodies of small rats shifting around. The sight matched the smell. She found herself terrified.

And then it all flooded to her, and Rosemary remembered the whale, the mark, and of course, the portal. Nathaniel and Alyssa must be mortified. She pulled her arms toward herself and discovered the strange carved gear was still in her hand.

"Did everything happen because of this?" She whispered out, her voice dry. She tried to stand up, the muscles in her body protesting from non-use, but she still felt it, that strange power surging through her. When she got to her feet, she took a few steps tentatively, wondering if it was safe to look around out in the open like this. The buildings towered over, silent, but she knew inside them there could be waiting danger. Danger that could probably see her right now.

She knew better than to shout out for someone to help her.

So she moved her shivering body to the shadows and pressed up up against one of those walls, moving with careful steps as her dress-shoes sank in the mud. There would be a foot-trail, it was inevitable. She tucked the strange gear into the front of her shirt.

When she got a few yards, she froze. There was noises of groaning, like someone was in agony, and she found when she listened, there were other voices following. She didn't know why, but on instinct she wanted to get higher. She searched above her and a couple feet forward she saw a fire escape. She sneaked further forward, and a shock of terror passed thorough her when she realized how close the moaning sounded now. It was as close as around the corner beside her.

So not daring to breathe, she grabbed hold of a pole and braced her feet against the wall. Her dress-shoes slid down it. She tried again, and then undid her shoes, fastening the straps around her wrist. she could grip the brick of the wall better with her bare feet, and she tried to maneuver herself, her small fingers struggling to keep a grip. The groan sounded suddenly closer, and the sound radiated up her spine.

The newest stroke of urgency made her pull her arms up, and they burned as she tried to work one foot up, and then the other. She continued this process, careful more than anything to keep her grip on the pole. If she fell, it was over. After her arms began to shake so hard her grip was loosing it, she reach the fire escape, and with one more pull, got herself to go up and swing under the railing. She breathed in and out, her body lying limply on the metal balcony.

When she turned around to look below her she gasped. Looking her straight in the face was another person, blood coated his mouth and tarnished shirt, his skin was emaciated, his eyes sunken. He opened his mouth and screeched out those horrible sounds, and clawed at the pole she had climbed in a was that was savage. She found herself scooting till her back found the wall, even though he couldn't reach her. Suddenly the person turned to the side and expelled a mouthful of blood. She noticed bugs crawling around his infected body.

Plague. That person was diseased. Could that have been the cause of the sickly smell? Her chest clenched when she realized she had been breathing the air all this time. Was it airborne? Or was it something that could only be transferred by blood-stream?

She found herself getting up and running around the side of the balcony, wanting to get as far away as possible. It appeared to be all around the building, and then there was another level that reached higher. "Oh God." She whispered, noticing others had collected below. Her feet made noise on the metal. When she reached the place where the fire escape was above, relief rushed through her as she realized the latter was down. She climbed up, hoping there wasn't any plagued people above, and got to the second balcony. She scooted once again into the shadows and contemplated what to do. Her first priority was safety, but where would she get clean water and food? She wouldn't be able to last more than three days without it.

Her only hope was if the mob below would disperse soon, and not come back. She would probably have to look in the buildings for food, perhaps something canned. She tucked her knees to her chest and once again looked at the mark on the back of her hand. What did this power do? How could she use it? But for now, she just rested her head on her knees, and gave into her exhaustion.

"Master, we haven't had anyone stationed at the left side for a while." His hands were placed on the large desk as he hunched over, deep voice muffled by his mask.

"I see, take one of our new recruits and go then. Make it quick." Daud spoke authority with his rough voice, but his eyes were very distant.

Thomas gave his a nod, knowing not to press Daud further when he got like this, and teleported. He arrived in seconds at the edge of the rotting hideout, immediately pinpointing one of their newest recruits. "Alexsander, come with me, we are going to keep look out on the left side."

"Sir." He sauntered up to him with an arrogance in the way he walked and they way his head was cocked, but at least he had remembered respect.

He followed Thomas as they sprang from the hideout to building rooftops. Thomas made the leaps small, as Alexsander hadn't inherited as much of Daud's magic as him. It varied from person to person, he understood that, but it still did not stop him from silently labeling the other as a hindrance.

After a few more strides he saw the ocean in view, until Alexsander's body abruptly stopped, his head studying something down below. "Sir, look down there!" Thomas threw his head in the direction he was indicating. "Strange, doesn't look like a weeper. I thought this area was cleared of civilians."

"There are a whole lot of weepers down there, though."

Thomas followed his gaze and nodded, a sigh rumbling through his chest. "She must have stirred up a lot of noise. Surely she should have known better than that."

"She doesn't seem like she would be someone dangerous then. Maybe she's a rat that wandered in here through the sewer." A dark, amused chuckle followed his remark.

"I wouldn't be so sure," Thomas said wearily. "Let's check out the situation."

The assassins bounded closer to her, blinking across the roof to land perched on the railing of the balcony. Naturally, the girl didn't notice them. Her blonde, matted head was buried in her knees and she was crying.

Thomas gave a flick of his head in indication to Alexsander.

The new recruit got off the railing and stalked quietly over to the female, till he was ominously looming over her. Then he just waited, and when she didn't raise her head, gave a stomp on the metal lightly with his foot to alert her of his presence.

When the girl raised her head and saw him, she screeched loudly, recoiling away. "Hello~" Alexsander hissed, lowering his voice to sound menacing, and he grabbed her shoulder flinging her against the wall.

Thomas shook his head with frustration. Alexsander was the type to toy with his victims then. Such antics were unprofessional. Thomas found his dislike for him increase.

Alexsander then leaned in close to her horrified face. "And what might have brought you here?"

The girl was too stunned to respond, she just stood paralyzed, breathing rapidly. She probably felt like cornered prey. He jerked her shoulder a bit, and no words were coming out as she shook her head rapidly.

"Oh, you're going to tell me nothing?" His body was shaking with laughter. "And what is this in the front of your dress?" She let out another shriek as he pulled the object out, turning it around in his hands.

"A rune." Thomas breathed in recognition, while Alexander tipped his head in confusion, handing it to him. He looked down and inspected the finely carved bone, running his fingers around the edges, confirming it was authentic. "Why does she have this? Alexsander, we need to check for-"

Thomas stopped mid-sentence and raised his head as he heard a familiar clinking noise. He narrowed his eyes as Alexsander started unbuckling his pants. They girl's blue eyes became horror-stricken. "Oh, please don't let him-" She tried to scream but he forced his rough hand over her mouth.

Thomas felt disgust hit the pit of his stomach. He slid off the rail and stepped over. "Whoa, absolutely not. Not in front of me."

"Then leave, Sir." Alexsander snapped in an irritated tone, his attention focused on forcing her frilly dress up.

"Alexsander!" He said in a deadly tone, drawing his blade with the speed and dexterity of many seasons. In a flash, he had it pointed at his throat, and held there steadily, tempted to slice.

Alexsander scoffed in return, still holding that arrogant posture. He looked so relaxed Thomas almost went ahead with it. "What? It's not like I'm going to kill her. Want her too?"

"You have been given orders, and you are on a mission. You will obey and execute your duty." He used that deadly tone again.

Alexsander laughed again. "Heh. Of course you wouldn't like it. You're so devoted to Daud, I bet you're gay for him. You want Daud's-"

"Enough!" Thomas hissed, scraping the blade across his skin though the black fabric. He was shaking with anger, but withdrew the weapon as Alexsander finally realized the severity of his seriousness and backed off, his gloved hand darting to cup the cut on his neck.

Thomas took a deep in-take of breath, letting it flow into him and calm his nerves. He then collected himself again; composed and cold. "I'll deliver your consequences later."

He then turned away and stepped up to the shivering girl. She cringed away, and Thomas grabbed her wrist in his hand, turning it over. "I thought so." He muttered, running his thumb over the familiar mark. Some kind of fire lit off in the girl and she had new drive, trying to yank herself away. Probably anger had replaced the fear.

He stopped her by bracing her arm harder in his grip, which made her cry out slightly in pain, and then twisted it, bringing her head down to hit the metal.

He turned back to face Alexsander. "She has the mark of the Outsider. We're taking her back to Master Daud. Maybe he can use her."

So that's the second chapter.

- Graceful Peony