*Updated 04-05-2018*
Chapter 29 - The Beach
"Rosa, stay with me."
"BRING HER BACK TO ME!"
"Rosa, I love you, please come back."
"YOU'RE NOT FUCKING DYING ON ME, OKAY? I WON'T LET YOU!"
"I get how you felt now, princesa. You've ripped my fucking heart out."
"You can't do this to me."
"Why won't she wake up? FUCK. Please, I need her to wake up."
"Vaas, come on, its been 6 days. You've not moved from her side."
Rosa was idly strolling on a beach, the sand beneath her a crisp white colour, the sea a deep turquoise.
She wore a white summer dress which highlighted her golden tan, her hair looking thicker and shinier. Her makeup was done to perfection; she looked utterly radiant. Rosa hummed to herself as she walked into the sea slightly, getting her feet wet in the warm ocean.
Continuing along the beach, she came to a small shack and approached it; how had she not noticed this before? It just looked like a regular shanty from Badtown or one within the compounds. She gently pushed the door open, it creaking slightly against her touch.
Inside Rosa discovered a man sat on a chair, mumbling something unintelligible. The man was wearing a red tank top, had a mohawk and a scar down the side of his head. The more Rosa entered the shack the more she saw, the man seemingly paying no mind to her. He was holding a girl's hand that lay in the bed, stroking it softly.
It took a few seconds for Rosa to fully register the man - it was Vaas.
She then slowly turned to the bed and gasped.
It was her.
She looked as pale as the white bed sheets, her hair billowing out onto the pillow. She looked gaunt and ill, her face free of any makeup, extenuating her hollowing cheekbones. Rosa waved her hand in Vaas' face.
"Hello? Vaas! It's me! Hellooo?"
Vaas didn't respond or even notice Rosa stood behind him.
"Why haven't you woken up yet? Please, hermana, I need you. I can't live without you."
That was when Rosa realised. Everything she was experiencing in that moment, on the beach, wasn't real. In shock, she stepped backwards out of the shack. Once she had left it, the door ominously closed by itself before the whole shack dissolved into the air.
"What is going on?" she asked herself, her staggering footsteps causing her to fall back onto the sand.
Rosa sat on the beach for a while, running her fingers through her hair. She didn't understand what was happening. Everything was so confusing. Where was she?
Suddenly, she felt something touch her shoulder causing her to look up. Behind her stood a woman with a kind looking face, smiling. She also had blonde hair and blue eyes like Rosa's, so much so, that Rosa felt like they could have passed for sisters, yet the lady looked considerably older than Rosa. She wore a long, light green dress and had no shoes on her feet. She looked quite stunning.
"Who are you?" Rosa asked.
The woman sat herself down next to Rosa, continuing to smile warmly.
"I did not expect my own daughter to recognise me, considering you have never seen what I look like." said the woman, chuckling slightly.
Rosa's mouth hung open in disbelief.
"Don't have your mouth open like that, you'll catch flies."
"M-My mother?" asked Rosa, stuttering.
"Yes dear. You don't have to look so shocked."
"Wha -? How?"
"You're in the in between, my girl. I have been here for a long time, but I can pass from place to place. Shortly after you were born, your biological father found out about you. I had no other option but to leave you on that boat; I didn't want him to kill you too."
"You're dead?" Rosa asked, blinking dumbly.
"Unfortunately, yes. I never did have the best taste in men, I just never foresaw one becoming my final downfall, that's all."
"That's horrible. My father did that to you?"
"Everything that happened to me, happened because of the choices that I made. Once I had passed onto the other side, I spent a long time filled with regret about what I did to you. At the time, I felt I had no other option. I hope you can forgive me."
"Of course. I have never once resented what you did. Your choice gave me this life." Rosa said with a small smile.
"It gives me great joy to see you happy. It seems like Mr Volker has done a fine job of raising you into a beautiful young woman; I'll choose to overlook all the killings." the woman said, chuckling.
Rosa found herself now speechless, struggling to find the right words to say.
"Rosa?"
"Am I dead?" Rosa blurted out.
"No, dear. This is the place in between life and death. The decision is totally your own. However, I sense that there are a few reasons that you want to live; one of then being Mr Montenegro."
Rosa blushed slightly like a little girl at the mention of his name; Vaas' face flooded her thoughts as his face appeared in the clouds above her.
Oh, how she missed him.
Rosa just wanted to hug him and tell him that she loved him. She just wanted to be back with him.
"Oh Vaas." she replied, "He's the best thing that had ever happened to me."
"I see. And there are some unresolved issues surrounding Mr Volker?"
"Yes. How do you know about Hoyt?"
"I have watched you grow up. I know all about Hoyt and Vaas. I know that they are both very special men in your life and that you depend on them both."
Rosa stared at the sand and dug her hands in.
"They're everything to me, they all I have on the island, now that Rich has died."
"He's fine, Rosa, don't worry." said her mother, "He says that he wishes he could have had a proper goodbye."
Rosa felt a lump in her throat.
"You spoke to Rich?" she croaked out.
"Yes, he is telling you not to worry about anything. He says you're strong."
"I love that man." Rosa laughed as she wiped away a stray tear from the corner of her eye.
"I bet you're wondering why I am here."
"Kinda." Rosa said, raising an eyebrow.
"Rosa, I am here to guide you in your choice; life or death."
It was a lot to take in as Rosa ly back on the sands, groaning. Her mother got to her feet and began walking away.
"Wait! Where are you going?" Rosa called after her.
"When you've made a decision, you'll know what to do. Good luck, Rosa, and remember that I'm always with you."
"Wait!" Rosa called, "I don't even know your name!"
"Good things come to those who wait!" she called back.
Rosa smiled at the woman as she faded with each step she took, until she was no longer there.
Rosa sat in the same position for what seemed like a few hours, just thinking. She didn't know what to do or how to get back to Vaas, or to life in itself.
Rosa's mood became dark; she just couldn't figure it out. Black clouds formed in sky and a flash of lightening came from above, startling her. Heavy rain started to fall down, soaking her through. A loud beeping started echoing all over the beach, sounding like something she'd heard in Spanish hospital dramas.
All of a sudden, Rosa felt a tightness all over her chest, it feeling like it was collapsing in on itself, her breath now short and rapid. Rosa felt frantic with fear; was she dying? Was this it? She clutched at her chest, gasping like a fish out of water.
"What's going on?"
"She's arresting, I need to give her CPR. Vaas, move out of the way."
"Save her, please Doc. She's all I have."
A loud clap of thunder roared above and Rosa saw this as her sign. With all of her strength, she pulled herself up, approaching the waters.
"I want to go back! Let me go back! Please!" she screamed at the sky.
It seemed like it was no use, nothing was happening. Rosa sat back down on the wet sand and started to cry.
"Hold me close and hold me fast. This magic spell you cast. This is la vie en rose." she sang softly to herself, trying to calm down.
The storm above her raged on, but the feeling in her chest had subsided a little.
"When you kiss me heaven sighs, and though I close my eyes. I see la vie en rose." Rosa continued, "When you press me to your hear, I'm in a world apart. A world where rose's bloom."
The rain was now small droplets falling down onto Rosa's face, the thunder having ceased.
"And when you speak, angels sing from above. Everyday words seem to turn into love songs." sang Rosa, wrapping her arms around herself as she thought of Vaas. She couldn't leave him.
"Give your heart and soul to me and life will always be. La vie en rose." Rosa concluded.
All of a sudden, the sky cleared, glorious sunshine lighting up the beach and drying everything. A huge, bright white light started to grow in front of Rosa as she heard a voice calling.
"Rosa, please, princesa. Come back to me."
The sound of Vaas' voice made Rosa jump up, onto her feet, her heart now racing in a good way.
"VAAS! I DON'T WANT TO DIE! I WANT TO BE WITH YOU!"
The light grew a little more.
"I LOVE HIM! HE NEEDS ME AND I NEED HIM!"
The light became grew in size again, almost engulfing Rosa.
"HE'S MY DEFINITION OF INSANITY!" she screamed.
The light blinded Rosa as she couldn't see anything. She shielded her eyes when she was suddenly being sucked through a stream of what looked like stars. The sensation took Rosa's breath away as she was greeted with another white light ...
"Princesa?"
Rosa took a deep breath and started coughing, her eyes straining open. A searing pain ripped through her stomach as she heard herself cry out for Vaas.
"I'm right here, Rosa, I'm not going anywhere."
Rosa felt a gentle kiss on her hand as she tried to relax her breathing and opened her eyes properly, to find Vaas sat on the edge of the bed.
She was alive.
This chapter kind of seems a little cheesy but I thought that I couldn't just jump straight into her coming back alive and we needed a little something in between. What did you guys think of the previous chapter? I would love to know! Until tomorrow, happy reading!