Rosalina's Hope by D.D. Dass (free novel 24 .txt) 📕

It’s a perfect fit on you, and it makes that skin-tone of yours look a bit less…pale,” Iris argued with me. This morning I frown stubbornly, eyeing the dark skinnies and light pink tank-top with distaste.

 

It wasn’t that the outfit was ugly, not really, it just wasn’t me. The shirt showed too much cleavage. Sighing, I looked for another excuse as to why I couldn’t wear it, but, to my extreme disappointment, found none.

 

“Fine, but I’m wearing my hoodie over it,” I allowed grudgingly, staring out the window. Hopefully, I thought, the clouds would appear and cry down on us.

 

“You are not. You’re going to wear it with that cute white cardigan under your pillow,” she snapped, yanking it out from where I’d hid it. Dang it, how did she know? Irritated, I bit the inside of my cheek, mustering all the patience I could.

 

“Get out,” I hissed, snatching the thin material in surrender. Iris, glaring with equal anger, headed for her bedroom, grumbling about my mood-swings. With a sigh, guilt settled over my chest, I’d done it again, pushed her away. But I wasn’t the easiest today, running on less than three hours of sleep, haunted by nightmares, by Him.

 

Alone, I dressed in the outfit, letting my hair go loose since my temples were beginning to throb. Tying the laces of my white Converse’, I left the house to find the sunlight beaming –just my luck –so I keep the hoodie in my arms off.

 

As soon as we exited the car at school, everyone stared, the girls with a look of disgust, which had me staring down at my feet, and the guys a look of…interest? I couldn’t tell, but then again, I didn’t really want to. Making my way over to Isaac, I smiled.

 

“Oh my god! Rosa, you look hot!” My face lit in flames as I anxiously glanced down at myself. Then, before I could over think it, I took the time to take in his outfit. Today, he wore a burgundy v-neck with dark, denim jeans and black Converses. I was even more shocked that he held the leather jacket in his right hand.

 

It was working, I realized in relief. People were watching him, some guys as well. He looked like a completely different person, and by the second glances girls were giving him, they thought so too.

 

“I could say the same too you. You clean up nice,” I replied with a saucy grin, unable to ruin Isaac’s good mood with my own sour one. Discreetly, he glanced around, green eyes sparkling with pleasure.

 

The bell rang abruptly, causing us to retreat to Biology. When we were seated, I noticed some guys in my class paid more attention to me than the teacher, and self-consciously, I tugged my shirt up, wondering how any girl was comfortable showing off this much.

 

Listening to the teacher became difficult with the stares boring into my back. It didn’t feel right, their eyes on me…They weren’t hazel, I thought sheepishly. That was the problem.

 

Thankfully enough though, Isaac also took up attention.

 

The dismissal bell started up and we walked our route through the halls until we were stopped by a cherub looking girl, pretty face caked in makeup. She had black, pin-straight hair that hung down to her tight fit ripped black jeans. Beside her was a good-looking guy, with cropped dark hair. He was about five foot ten in a black sweater and jeans. There was a painful looking sever in his throat, it made me wince. I’d never had a weak stomach, but looking at the torn, healing flesh made me lightheaded.

 

Was he mauled by a freakin’ bear?

 

“I’m Zach, and this is Alana.” Zach unknowingly extended his hand, but I just smiled in return, unsure if I could handle the contact. No, this wasn’t Bastien, I wasn’t immune to just anybody.

 

Alana grinned at Isaac, her intent clear. Far back, I thought they’d be a bad couple, but who knew?

 

“Rosa. And this is Isaac,” I introduced quietly. Isaac took each of their hands while I just kept smiling, wanting to continue on my way without seeming rude.

 

“Walk me to art Isaac?” Alana requested, fingers toying with the ends of Isaac’s ruffled hair. Oh no. He shot me a desperate glance, but just as I opened my mouth to blurt an excuse, Zach spoke up.

 

“And I’ll walk Rosa,” he said smoothly. Alana flashed a charming smile before towing Isaac off. Zach smiled, gesturing for us to continue. I tried to keep a fast pace, sensing Zach wasn’t all he was pretending to be. He walked much to close beside me, presence causing more stares. Ugh.

 

“So you new here Rosa?” I nodded, unable to find my voice.

 

“We should get together sometime,” he offered, brown eyes brighter. I wanted to deny, but stupidly I found myself nodding.

 

“Sure,” I agreed, sure I wouldn’t hold up to that offer. At the classroom door, I smiled in farewell, starting to turn. My skin prickled with awareness, legs jerking away from the hand reaching for me. At that, he dropped the hand.

 

He’d done that on purpose…

 

“Will you sit with me at lunch today, Rosy?” Rosy? My eyebrows creased at the nickname.

 

I opened my mouth to answer, but suddenly, the air was freezing cold and a shiver ran up my spine. Then Bastien was there, large hand taking up most of Zach’s shoulder. My eyes widened at the fury in the…black of his eyes. I resisted the urge to rub my own eyes, rooted in spot as Zach turn to him in a glare of pure hatred, which Bastien returned.

 

The stress level skyrocketed as the two sized each other up. Bastien, the taller, looked down at Zach, his eyes daring. Too nervous to do anything, I winced.

 

“Stay out of this Lacriox.” The bell rang then, but I stood there, petrified as Zach turned his black eyes back to me.

 

“So, that a yes Rosy?” I swallowed because somehow, in the course of two seconds, Zach’s eyes returned to a friendly brown. Oh, no…I was finally losing it. Absently, I nodded before entering the classroom and heading to my seat. There, I chewed nervously at my lips, flinching when the chair beside me pulled back. Bastien sat silently, broad shoulders stiff, muscles tensed: beyond pissed. But, despite myself, I wasn’t afraid. I knew he wouldn’t hurt me.

 

As if sensing my stare, he turned to look at me, hazel eyes burning with an intensity that held me spellbound. Slowly, the anger waned, replaced with a possessiveness that startled me.

 

“Stay away from Zach,” he commanded in a cool voice, turning away from me. In response, I glared. He was so freakin’ arrogant and bossy. I could hang out with whoever I wanted.

 

“I can’t,” I bit out, a tinge of rebellion in my voice. “I told him I’d sit with him at lunch today.” His jaw worked, I noticed, fists clenching at his thighs. I fidgeted, edgy at the sight.

 

“Cancel,” he gritted simply. As if it was that easy. I just shook my head and focused straight ahead. Class went by without conversation from either of us, my focus solely on the work instead of Bastien. The task was difficult, but I managed surprisingly well, meaning I glanced at him in between questions, which I refused to find pathetic, not with it being him.

 

When the dismissal bell rang, I stormed into the halls until my arm was encased in an iron grasp. Instantly I knew who it was, the electricity sparking up my arm, my heart speeding…

 

“What do you want now?” I hissed, attempting to sound livid as possible. By the grimace he gave, I was succeeding.

 

“I want you to tell me you won’t sit with Zach.” With a scoff I yanked my arm roughly, but I had no chance because he tugged me closer, so close that I could smell that scent and inhaled deeper.

 

And like always, when I was within close proximity of him, my body loosened, wanting him to support me. Traitor, I thought petulantly.

 

“You can’t just expect me to obey your every word! I –,” as we argued a crowd had formed around us, and was now wincing, cheering even. The throng began to clear the way and Bastien’s girlfriend, Hailey I think, was stalked toward us with eyes that blazed. I took the chance to wrench myself free as soon as she took the last steps; somehow I figured Bastien was telling me to go.

 

His hazel eyes were almost…apologetic as he stared at the other girl, who glared at me.

 

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” I bit the inside of my cheek, wishing she would open her pretty eyes and see it was her boyfriend that was pursuing me.

 

“Hail –,” A sharp slap cut Bastien off. My eyes widened at he straightened to his full height, irritation clear in his eyes. Hailey didn’t cower; instead she glared back for a full minute before turning her attention back to me. At the look in her eyes I wanted to roll my eyes, I’d gone through much worse than a jealous girlfriend.

 

“You little slut! I knew you gave yourself to that killer! It’s no wonder he fucked the good out of you!” I stared, shocked as she screamed the words into my face. All I could hear, “It’s no wonder he fucked the crap out of you.”

 

Why did everything always come back to that? My mind began to work slower, my heartbeat erratic as a flash of His eyes came to mind. Oh no. I shut my eyes against it, but there was no escaping it, all I could see were those eyes.

 

“Did you actually think he wanted you? That you could play games? Well you’re used goods darling! Don’t you even th –,” defensively my hands sprawled outwards, in attempt to get her to just stop bringing the memories back. I hadn’t meant to hit her, but when my hands connected with her face, I knew I had. Vision blurry, I opened my eyes to see her on the ground, lip bleeding as she glared daggers at me, lunging.

 

I didn’t feel it when she hit me back as I was sucked back in time. Darling, darling, darling…The word worked to slash at my chest, echoing in my lost memory.

 

“You’re mine. You hear me bitch?! Mine.” The shivers rocked through my thin, beaten frame as those eyes stared at me, blazing with an empty fire. I sobbed viciously as he grabbed my knotted, blood-soaked hair and forced my cracked lips to his.

 

No, no, no, no…His lips pried mine open and I cried harder, disgusted by the taste of blood in his mouth. With sheer will I lifted my arms to push at him, make him just go away already. He growled cannibalistically, making me cringed backwards, my head connecting with the wooden post I was chained to. I didn’t feel it, not then. 

 

“P-please don’t,” I begged. “It h-hurts…” my voice wasn’t mine. It was too rough, to dead. He pulled away though, a sadistic smile spreading across his decimated face. The sharp points of his nails swiped the tears running down my cheeks away before he ripped the chains from the post, hefting me over his shoulder. I was too weak to struggle anymore. As we moved, my eyes stayed on Serenity, who lay on the hay covered ground, face bloodied and lifeless, limbs tied…Oh, God, oh no, no, no, no no no.

 

Then we were moving so fast I saw nothing but a flurry…I was ready to let out, to fly away but we stopped abruptly, somewhere brighter…the sun glaring in my eyes as my lungs took up the clean, fresh air. He gently placed me in a chair, my head rested lifelessly on my shoulder.

 

He left, only to return shortly and begin retying my limbs, except this time it wasn’t chains, it was something…sharp. I cried out at the pain, involuntarily resisting, but only digging it deeper into my skin.

 

“Ah, ah, ah, cease that darling. It’ll only hurt you