This is it, people. The final ten. Yes, you heard me, people - including this one, there are only ten more chapters until the end of A Different Kind of World. But that doesn't mean this tale is over. On the contrary, it's only just beginning. You may have noticed that this story is only told from the point of view of the girls. But what about the guys? How do they react to all of this? How do they feel? Wanna find out? Well, you just might be able to. I've been debating writing (or I guess you could say rewriting) A Different Kind of World from the boys' perspectives. But I want to know what you think. There isn't a poll, so just write a review and tell me what you think and whether or not you'd be interested in hearing the boys' take on the events of this story. I'm truly curious!

Disclaimer: Still don't own them. Doesn't mean I can't bend them to my will.

Chapter 21 – Heroes and Villains (Rosalie's POV)

I spent the rest of the day at Emmett's house. We enjoyed lunch and tea with his parents, but most of the time we spent alone, reveling in the fact that we could be together and that we loved each other. Time passed and the sky grew progressively darker as Emmett and I continued to celebrate that we were in love. Eventually, night came and I had to return home. Since my carriage wasn't here, I decided to walk into town and get a ride from someone I knew. Emmett wasn't thrilled, but I finally persuaded him that it wasn't that far and that I would be okay. Reluctantly, he let me go.

As I left his house, I noticed two men standing outside, as if they were waiting for something. They stood in the shadows so I couldn't see their faces. I ignored them and set off for town.

A ways later, I happened to glance behind me and noticed that the two men from before were following me. I panicked and started walking faster A little ways on I glanced behind me again. They were closer and gaining on me quickly. I tried to run, but didn't get far. One of the men grabbed me and pulled me back roughly, so I slammed into him. I tried to scream, but he slapped a hand over my mouth, muffling my scream. His other arm wrapped around my arms and waist, holding me captive. Desperate to escape, I bit his hand. He released his hand over my mouth, swearing loudly. I tried to scream again, but my captor slapped me hard across the face. I staggered, but quickly regained my composure and tried to scream again.

"You can try to scream all you want, Rosalie, but there's no one around to hear you, so it doesn't do you any good." The voice made my blood run cold. Royce stepped into the patch of light where I now struggled futilely against my captor. He walked up to where we stood and slowly stroked the tips of his fingers across my cheek. I lashed out at him, only to earn another slap across the face. "Enough, John," Royce snapped. "You know we can't leave anything behind that could link this to us."

"What do you want from me, Royce?" I snapped.

"Didn't I tell you that you'd regret choosing him, Rosalie?"

I felt the blood drain from my face. "Wh-what are you going to do to me?" I stammered.

"I plan to take away the one thing that gives you any worth as a woman, Rosalie. I'm going to take it, and when your precious Emmett finds out it's gone, he won't want you. No man will. No man but me."

"If you think that would stop Emmett, you're wrong," I said. "Emmett would still love me."

"Maybe it wouldn't bother Emmett, but it certainly would bother his parents. Think about it: they pay the full price for a virgin bride for their son, only to find out that the bride wasn't a virgin after all. Do you really think they'll just ignore it?"

I was trapped. "No," I mumbled, defeated.

Royce laughed a cold, bitter, mocking laugh. "Exactly, Rosalie," he said. "His parents would have you two divorced in a second. And then what happens to you? The divorced girl who's no longer a virgin. No respectable man will ever want you as his wife. Your parents will be so desperate to get you married that they'll give you to me without a second thought."

"But what if I refuse?"

"Do you think that will matter to your parents? Need I remind you of the situation you will be putting them in?"

"Hey, Royce," John drawled in a Georgian accent, "we probably should move somewhere less visible. People might start getting suspicious."

"Fine," Royce snapped. "Let's move into the alley." Still struggling, they proceeded to drag me deep into the alley. Several yards in, Royce turned to John. "Give her to me. You stay here and stand guard." John let go of me and I tried to run, but Royce grabbed me. "Let's go," he ordered. We started to walk further into the alley. Abruptly, Royce shoved me and I fell onto the ground, my breath knocked out of me. Royce stood over me, watching me with a malicious expression on his face. Out of no where, he pulled out a knife. He bent over me and cut through the strings on my bodice before pulling it aside, revealing my corset. He ripped aside my skirt and pushed my legs open, tearing my petticoat in the process. I closed my eyes as he slashed my corset and bent over me, hoping it would be over soon.

Then his weight on my body disappeared and I heard the sound of a fist connecting with someone's face. Another loud slamming noise sounded after the first, followed by the sound of a body sliding down a brick wall. Then someone was next to me, calling my name. "Rosalie!" they called. Fingers pressed at my wrists, my neck, my forehead. "Rosalie, can you hear me? Rosalie!" I opened my eyes and found Emmett kneeling beside me, a look a terror on his face.

"Emmett?" I said weakly.

"Rosalie? Are you okay?" he asked me, concerned.

"Oh, Emmett," I cried, throwing myself into his arms. They wrapped tightly around me, holding me close as I sobbed uncontrollably on his shoulder.

"Ssh, Rosalie, it's alright, I found you, you'll be okay," he comforted me as I cried. It took me a few minutes to finally stop crying. I looked up at him with red, bloodshot eyes.

"How did you find me, Emmett?" I asked him.

"I saw Royce following you, so I followed him," he answered me.

"Did… did you hear what he said to me?"

"I didn't, but I don't need to. The scene I just found explains it all. He tried to rape you, didn't he, Rosalie?"

I nodded, the hysteria beginning. "He… he was g…going to rape m…me so that you w…wouldn't want t…to marry me and he w…would b…be able to in…instead."

Emmett growled at my words. "He'll never touch you, Rose," he said. "Not while I'm here." He pulled me closer as he spoke.

I shook my head. "It's not just me I'm worried about," I sobbed. "Royce won't stop until he successfully manages to hurt either of us. I would never forgive myself if something happened to you because of me."

Emmett held me closer still. "Don't worry Rosalie. He'll never hurt either of us. Not now, not ever." Slowly, my tears began to stop.

I looked up at Emmett gratefully. "Thank you, Emmett," I said.

Emmett kissed the top of my head. "You're welcome, Rosalie," he said.

"Can you take me home, Emmett?"

"Of course." He pulled us into a standing position and surveyed my appearance. I remembered my slashed clothes and blushed furiously, turning away from Emmett. He blushed too, and averted his eyes. "Uh…maybe taking you home isn't the best idea. Why don't you come back to my house and clean yourself up, and then I'll take you home?"

"Okay," I said. Emmett took my hand and started to walk, but I hesitated. He turned to look at me, confused. "Uh, Emmett, my clothes?" I reminded him.

"Right." Emmett slipped off his coat and handed it to me. Gratefully, I slipped it on. It didn't hide the damage completely, but it covered up the worst of it, where I needed the coverage most. Emmett took my hand again and we started walking towards his house.

We reached his house within a few minutes. We had barely walked a few feet into the entrance hall when we were accosted by Emmett's parents. "Oh, Emmett, there you are," Mrs. McCarty cried. "We were so worried about you!"

"Where were you, son?" Mr. McCarty asked sternly.

"I'll explain later," Emmett said. "Right now, we have other things to deal with."

Mrs. McCarty noticed me standing next to Emmett. "Oh, Rosalie dear, I didn't notice you there. How are…" Her voice trailed off and her eyes widened as she took in my tattered clothes, disheveled hair, and wild eyes. "Rosalie, dear, whatever happened?"

"Royce King the Second tried to rape her," Emmett said grimly.

Emmett's parents stared at us in shock. Mr. McCarty recovered first. "Is she okay?" he asked, concerned.

"I'm okay," I answered. "Just a little shaken."

"All the same, I think you'll feel better once you've had a bath and some food. You'll also need a change of clothes," Mrs. McCarty said. "Come with me dear, I'll take care of it." Mrs. McCarty hustled me up the stairs into her room, where two maids converged on us immediately and began taking care of a bath, clothes, and food for me.

An hour later, Mrs. McCarty and I went back down stairs and found Emmett and Mr. McCarty waiting for us. As soon as we reached the bottom of the stairs, Mr. McCarty said, "Rosalie, I have some good news. The local deputy has been informed of Royce's attempted rape and is on the lookout for him. They've already arrested his accomplice, John, and currently questioning him in the hope of discovering where Royce is. Mr. and Mrs. King have already been informed, along with your parents. Hopefully, things should be resolved soon."

"Thank you," I said. "All of you. For everything."

"You're welcome, Rosalie dear," Mrs. McCarty said. Mr. McCarty nodded. Emmett came over and wrapped me in a hug. I leaned my head against his chest, sleepily.

"Come on, Rose," he said. "Let's get you home." We proceeded outside to their carriage and Emmett helped me in, climbing in once I was settled. Then Mrs. McCarty climbed in, followed by Mr. McCarty. I turned to Emmett, surprised, and he laughed. "They insisted on coming," he explained. "They wanted to see your parents."

When we reached my house, my butler showed us into the sitting room, where my parents were waiting. Their faces shifted from concerned to relieve when they saw me with Emmett, apparently unharmed. "Oh, Rosalie," my mother cried, rushing over and embracing me. "Are you alright, sweetheart?"

"I'm fine, mother," I said. "I'm lucky that Emmett arrived when he did."

My father turned to Emmett. "Thank you for rescuing her, Emmett," he said. "Mrs. Hale and I will forever be in your debt."

"I'm not sure that that's really necessary, sir," Emmett said. "I can think of an easier way for you to express your gratitude."

"And what is it?" my father asked.

"All I want is to be able to spend the rest of my life with your daughter. I love her and she loves me. All I ask for is her hand in marriage, that she will be mine and I will be hers for the rest of our lives."

"I think the person you really need to ask is Rosalie," my father said.

"And if she accepts?"

"If she accepts then I will give you both my blessing."

Emmett turned to me. He got down on one knee and took my hands in his. "Rosalie, I love you. I always have, and I always will. Will you marry me?"

"I love you too, Emmett. Of course I'll marry you," I said.

Emmett stood and looked over at my father. "Do we have your blessing, Mr. Hale?"

"You have my blessing, children," my father answered. Emmett smiled.

"We can discuss all the details tomorrow," Mr. McCarty said. "It's getting late, and I'm sure Rosalie must be very tired."

"Very well," my father said. "We will see you all tomorrow."

Emmett walked swiftly to my side and pulled me into a hug. "Until tomorrow, my bride-to-be," he said.

I laughed happily. "I'll be waiting, my husband-to-be." Emmett smiled and placed another tender kiss on the top of my head, before releasing me and following his parents out the door. Still smiling, I walked slowly up the stairs and went to bed, thrilled at the prospect of what tomorrow would bring.

One couple down, two to go. Still expect plot twists, though. Just because I've decided to resolve the madness I created once and for all, doesn't mean I can't shock you in the process. Where's the fun in just letting things revert to the way they should be without stirring up a little more trouble?

Don't forget to let me know what you think!

xoxoxoxoxo, TwilightTeen212