Chapter 9: Thorns
It was almost 11 when Rylee clocked out for the night. The 4 hour shift felt like it had taken a lifetime to end. Her shirt was covered in fuzzy lint and her hand was sore from cutting fabric. Tara wasn't home when she let herself in, so she scooped up Bandit and retreated to her room.
Nudging her mouse, Rylee waited for the screen to wake up, and found her way to the latest topic on the forum. They managed to start the kidnap plot yesterday, and as predicted, it was now waiting on her.
Greeting the other players, she hurried to familiarize herself with the newest updates. For the most part, she had known where the story was going, but there were a few surprises along the way.
In her last post, Willow had been taken captive by Crimson Rose, and was unconscious in a cell somewhere. The blackout let the story continue without Rylee's participation, and also added to the drama. While she was gone, Screech had decided to come to the rescue. After Willow saved him from the monster, he felt indebted to help her this time. It felt like RogueOwl was hinting at something more though....
Rylee felt a sense of eagerness building in her stomach. Romance in the role play world was never predictable, which made it fun. Sometimes, two characters had a natural chemistry, and without planning, they could fall for each other. As much as she interacted with RogueOwl, she should have known there would eventually be a good match. She chewed her lip and tried to think like her character. Would Willow fall for someone like Screech? The boy was impulsive, a little conceited, but with Willow's own stubborn nature, it could definitely promise some sparks.
After thinking for a moment, she settled on her reply.
Thorn of the Rose
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FALLENSPARROW // 11:47pm
Willow felt two things when she finally regained consciousness: a monstrous headache, and an unsettling cold. Her fingers tingled slightly, her wrists secured tightly behind her back. She tried to access her powers, but felt no response to her efforts.
'Where am I? That girl, she said something about payback. I don't even know her,' Willow thought, trying to piece the situation together before moving. If she acted too fast, they could knock her out again. She needed to make calculated moves now. The only one who saw the abduction was that boy, Tyler? After fighting that monster together, they seemed to be on good terms, but good enough for a rescue attempt? Ha. Fat chance.
Lifting her head slowly, she head voices at the top of a stairwell. Keeping her eyes shut, she listened, waiting to make her move.
ROGUEOWL // 12:01am
Kidnapping was a waste of time. At least, Tyler felt it was. You find some bait, list your demands, and wait for the rescue attempt. Why drag him all the way to this cliche scene, instead of just hashing this out like adults? Yes, he ticked the girl off by breaking her motorcycle. Total accident. So why did she feel the need to kidnap Willow? The girl had done nothing wrong. And now, he was standing on the doorstep of an unbelievably foreboding mansion, about to ask for his friend's release. He just wanted to end this quickly, for Willow's sake. Not that he cared what happened to her. Or cared about her. Or liked her.
Because he didn't!
He didn't!
Did he?
SHADOWCLAW // 12:15am
Rose watched the boy's approach from her security room, smirking. Sometimes people were just too predictable. Take the girl, and the guy always has to follow. No use wasting energy when you could catch both mice with one trap.
"Screech, darling, so nice of you to join us. Won't you come in for a chat," she purred into the intercom. At the same moment, she watched a different feed, as a microscopic movement caught her eye. Ah, the girl awakens.
A gesture to her guards signaled for them to make sure Willow stayed put.
FALLENSPARROW // 12:22am
No matter how she twisted, Willow didn't have the leverage to free her wrists. Her frustration made her careless, and her movements became more annoyed. Her head was killing her, and she just wanted to rub her temples to sooth the building pressure behind her eyes. When she noticed the guards were in front of her cell, it was too late.
"Stop struggling if you know what's good for you," one announced.
Willow lazily fluttered her eyelashes at them, "Funny, I don't think I've ever known what's good for me," she purred.
As they reached for the door, she threw herself backward, grappling through the barrier with her bound wrist and pulling someone's face into the metal bars. A bang resounded through the chamber and Willow felt a blinding pain in her head with the noise. The warm body behind her dropped quickly to the floor.
She felt a momentary sensation of victory. It was then she noticed that the pain wasn't just in her head... she glanced down where a small red stain was growing on her leg.
Crap... those were her favorite pants.... she stumbled forward, and fell.
ROGUEOWL // 12:45 am
As nice as the mansion seemed, sound proofing must not have been a priority. Screech heard the sound of the gun go off and felt a lurch in his chest. Rage forced the sonic scream from his mouth, shattering windows, the cameras, and finally, the front door. Pushing through the splinters, he tried to pinpoint where the noise has come from. He saw red, hoping it was in his imagination.
"Your problem is with me, Rose! Let her go!"
SHaDOWCLAW // 12:56am
Rose stares at the monitor when the shot went off. She could have sworn she told the guards to carry blanks, but this development had accelerated her plans. She watched the footage as both figures dropped back to the floor, the guard slumped on one side, the girl collapsing the opposite direction. The other man took a step back, obviously torn on what he should do. Rose tightened her lips.
"Secure the door. I warned her, if she bleeds to death, it's her own fault."
Rylee's Room // 12:57 am
The chat box flashed a new message before Rylee has finished reading the latest post.
//sorry guys, I have to get ready for school!// ShAdowClaw announced.
//Noooooo! It was just getting good!// RogueOwl complained.
//Can't wait to see Screech try to take on Crimson Rose. I love a good battle!//
Rylee chuckled to herself. //Don't mind me here with Willow, we will just bleed in the background while you two have all the fun.//
//:D can't wait to see what you post! I'll be back later!// Then ShAdowClaw logged out for good.
RogueOwl's name still sat in the active users list, and Rylee slumped grumpily against her keyboard. Instead of going to the chat box, she sent a private message instead.
'I can't sleep now! The posting got me way too excited!' She told him.
'I know the feeling. Hopefully you don't think it's weird he went to rescue Willow,' he remarked.
'Nah, it's cute! They could be a fun couple,' she observed. It was her way of green lighting the relationship. She looked at the text box, trying to think of what else to add, before finally clicking send.
'Are you going to reply tonight? Or will you leave us hanging until morning?' RogueOwl asked. Rylee considered the question, before re-reading the thread.
'Honestly, I'm not sure where to go with it. You may need to go next,' she remarked.
'What, headstrong Willow is going to let the guy come rescue her? I would have thought you had some wild escape plan formulated by now!'
'Hey, even the headstrong female gets to be the damsel in distress sometimes!' She retorted. As she typed it, her muse returned, and she clicked her way back to the thread.
FALLENSPARROW // 1:11am
Willow has acted rashly, and the pain flowing through her leg told her just how bad she made things. Crimson blood was making her clothing damp, and she couldn't move her hands to try to stop the wound. Without her powers, and the injury, she felt a strange sensation building in her body.
Fear.
When she drove to fast, or acted to wild, she was used to the rush that came with danger. But the helplessness she was faced with was crippling instead. She was Willow, determined, powerful. She didn't need anyone.
But she did need someone. This time, she couldn't do it on her own.
Evan's room // 1:12 am
The post seemed so raw when Evan read the words. Like somehow, he could feel the emotions the character was describing. He stared at the screen in silence, thinking, trying to make sense of the person who put these thoughts into sentences. Did Sparrow feel this way? Alone? He wished he knew more about his online friend. They were two strangers in cyberspace, connected by a forum, letting the words between them minimize the distance.
He felt awkward suddenly, and knew he couldn't respond to this tonight. He was reading too much into it, and that idea brought heat to his face. This was a game. Sparrow was a gifted writer making him relate to her character. He started to log out, but paused long enough to send one last PM.
'I think that's a better place to stop. I'll respond tomorrow. Don't worry Willow! Help is coming!'
Deciding it was carefree enough for now, he sent it, then closed the computer, and forced himself to go to bed.
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