*Updated 29-04-2018*

Chapter 9 - A New Start

I am just giving chapters away here guy! I have the writing bug and I wrote 2 chapters last night and two today. I wanted to not post for a few days to keep you in suspense but I know how that feels and I just couldn't do it! So 4 chapters in one day! You lucky buggers.

3 years later

20 years old. That how old Rosa was when she awoke. It was her birthday.

Over the 3 years, she had grown into an even more beautiful woman, one of, if not the, most skilled fighters in the compound. Hoyt's privates were no longer pirates and instead, privateers and mercenaries. The training programme that Hoyt had brought in had worked and now the men were a lot more organised and were better equipped and disciplined.

Hoyt himself had aged even more. The wrinkles on his face represented his work as he smoked more cigars and drank even more whiskey. Rosa however was magnificent. Her hair had grown even longer and more voluptuous, her breasts had grown as she looked more mature. Day-to-day, she wore a red, fitted, strappy, tank, lower cut than what she used to wear. Instead of jeans, she now wore a black mini skirt and her now signature, black heeled boots. She still donned her red lipstick and wore black eyeliner which extenuated her features. All of Hoyt's men wanted her even more but she hadn't let any of them close. She was a feared fighter amongst the men, being able to kill anyone with her bare hands. Hoyt had continued her training and taught her everything that he knew.

She was now one of the best.

Making her way to Hoyt's office, Rich stopped Rosa.
"Happy birthday, Rosa." Rich said.
Rosa smiled, her dazzlingly white, perfect teeth on show.
"Thank you, Rich" she replied.
"20 years old. Jesus, I feel ancient now. Today is the day you decide your fate." he said,making 'oohh' noises, like a ghost.
Rosa laughed.
"You are ancient. And I'm on my way to decide my fate now."
And with that she tried to move past Rich but he stopped her.
"You've been like the daughter I never had Rosa. You're an amazing girl."
"You're the best, Rich, don't forget it."
Rosa kissed him on the cheek and giggled, wiping off the lipstick. Rich took her hand and sighed.
"Go."

Hoyt stood in the middle of the room with a pink helium balloon which read 'Happy Birthday' as he smiled a Rosa.
"Happy birthday, my English Rose." he said and he passed the balloon to Rosa.
She took a hold of it but let it go to rise to the ceiling; easy to retrieve.
"Thank you, Hoyt." she replied and she grinned.
"Sit down, Rosa, we have things to discuss."
Rosa grabbed the chair in front of Hoyt's desk and sat down, Hoyt doing the same with his chair.

"So, Rosa. It's your 20th birthday and as promised."
Hoyt pulled open his desk drawer and pulled out a green, glittery box and slid it over to Rosa. She took it and pulled of the lid, gasping. Inside was a custom Hi Power gun and engraved on the barrel was a beautiful rose. Rosa didn't know what to say.
"Thank you" she whispered, "It's incredible."
Hoyt chuckled.
"Now, Rosa. I have always told you that on your 20th birthday, you can choose what you want to do with your life. You can go back into the world, you can stay here, you can take over my empire. Name it and you can have it." Rosa took in a deep breath.

"I want to go and live in the North Island." she said and she looked at Hoyt.
"Is that what you truly want?" said Hoyt, breaking the silence that had fallen between the two.
"More than anything in the world." Rosa replied, her voice quiet.
"Is it because of Vaas?" Hoyt asked.

Hoyt had kept in regular contact with Vaas and made monthly trips over to the North Island. Rosa was never allowed to accompany him. Hoyt told her that he could tell her what Vaas was doing but she didn't want to know. It hurt too much to think of him living his best life on the other island, without her, as selfish as it sounded. Not that she wanted him to be miserable, but it was better if she was kept in the dark.

"Yes. Of course it is because of Vaas." Rosa said and she looked at Hoyt.
He looked sad.
"As long as you are not leaving either island, then I accept your decision. I am a man of my word and if that's what you want."
Rosa got to her feet and walked over to Hoyt. She looked at him and then sat on his knee and hugged him, taking him by surprise.
"Thank you." she whispered and Hoyt held her tighter.

"I know you are not my biological daughter but that has never mattered to me. You are my daughter and you have given me everything I could have ever wanted. I am so happy that you are my family and that have someone that I can call my own. I thought I would have been lonely forever but you changed that."
"How come you decided to keep me? The ruthless tyrant of all people." Rosa said, chuckling a little.
"When you arrived on the island and one of my men passed you to me, I fell in love with you completely. I looked down at this little baby who couldn't defend for herself and thought 'This is what I want' so I kept you. And you have never failed to make me a happy man. You have grown into a beautiful woman that I am proud of every single day."
Rosa was speechless, she had never known that Hoyt loved her that much.
"I love you, Dad." she whispered and she knew that Hoyt was smiling.

Rosa knew that this would be the last time that she was going to be a full resident of South Island. She had packed her things into a backpack and had her gun and a knife in her weapon holster as well as some ammo and medicine. All of the privateers were stood in two lines as Rosa walked out of the building and she felt humbled.

As she walked down the line, many of the privateers were saying things like 'Good luck, Rosa' and 'Happy birthday, Miss Volker, you're one of the best'.
At the end of the line, stood Hoyt and Rich. Rich hugged Rosa and kissed her cheek. He wiped away a tear as Rosa was trying hard not to get upset. Neither of them said anything but they were both thinking the same thing. Then Rosa stood in front of Hoyt. He was attempting not to be saddened by Rosa's departure but he couldn't help it. He was all she had besides his business.

"Don't get upset now, Hoyt." said Rosa, "I'm not dying and I will be speaking to you and see you all of the time."
"I don't know how people in the real world do this." replied Hoyt, his voice masked with upset.
"We're not in the real world though, are we? This is wonderland." said Rosa as she kissed Hoyt on the cheek.
"Don't be a pussy, Hoyt." Rosa said and started laughing, making Hoyt and Rich chuckle as well.
"That's my girl, there." said Hoyt to Rich, putting an arm around the man's shoulder, "Go on then, and call me when you get there."

Rosa grabbed the chopper door, opening it as the feeling felt too similar. She pulled on the headset and sat on the chair, one of the privateers walking over to shut the door.
"Remember, Rosa. Time changes people!" shouted Hoyt over the sound of the choppers engine starting up.
Rosa saluted Hoyt as the door was closed and Rich, Hoyt and all of his men saluted back. As the chopper lifted into the air, Rosa looked down onto the South Island. She smiled to herself.

"We will be at North Island soon, Miss Volker and we will be landing just outside Vaas Montenegro's camp" said the pilot over the headset.

Rosa felt that Hoyt's words were meant as a warning and hoped that they wouldn't come to haunt her.

She just pushed the feeling aside and stared down at the ocean.