Rose Cut

Unwanted Guest

"She went that way!" shouted a man from behind me, but all I heard was my ragged breaths, and my heels clicking as I sprinted for the elevator. My shoulder smacked hard against the inside wall, as a dozen men poured out of my loft.

Panicking I smashed my hand across the buttons, causing the doors to slowly close. "Come on! COME ON!" I chanted to myself as the doors closed firmly and the elevator began to rise.

"Dammit!" I cursed, coming to the top floor. I hit the wrong button, but by now they would be waiting in the lobby, and possibly coming up the stairs. I peeked out into the hall, and slowly sneaked out of the elevator.

I moved as quietly as I could, checking for anybody's home, but there were no doors. I jumped hearing footsteps trampling up the stair case. I pressed my body close to the wall, having no where to hide.

I saw the Red Numbers taunting me as the elevator rose to the top. Without my gun or anything to use protection. I told myself I wasn't going down without a fight. So, I took off my heels and used one to jam the door as best I could.

I held up the other and braced myself for what was coming next. I backed up as far as I could, and made sure my back was against the wall. I only heard the elevator ding, when I felt hands wrap around my mouth. Yanking me backwards.

The door closed and I used all my energy to jump back and knock over my attacker. We both scrambled to stand . I stood first and braced myself against the door to fight . The person slowly stood revealing a face.

"Mom." I whispered not even hearing my voice. My head was reeling as I stood face to face with the woman that abandoned me. "Move your ass gurl!" she commanded, snatching my wrist pulling me deeper in the hidden room. I snatched my wrist out of her grip, backing away trying to rub away where she touched me.

"This isn't happening." I mumbled feeling weak. "Rosalina we have to go." she stressed, moving to pull me again. "No !" I snapped stepping back.

I searched the room for a way out. Finding none, but the entrance from where I came.

Lupita looked the same, but the drugs took a toll on her. Where she once radiated beauty, she now looked worn out. Her once peach hair, was now an ashy gray, and her face was heavily wrinkled.

Lupita stayed quiet just now feeling the tension. "How long have you been here?" I questioned, as it dawned on me.

"We don't have time for this Rose. We have to leave now." she pleaded. Not answering my question. Our heads snapped towards the door as we heard voices and footsteps.

"Come on hija, they will hear us." she warned, me moving deeper into the apartment. "I am not your Daughter." I whispered harshly.

The thought of going anywhere with her seemed foolish and random. What on earth would make her believe I'd trust her. "You left me years ago, how are you here now?" I pressed. She looked uncomfortable.

"Ok, ok. I will explain but." she paused, as I flinched away from her reaching hand. Her face crumbled, but she pretended to ignore the hurt.

"But please lets move away from the door." she added, as she went into her living room.

I followed behind her, intrigued with my surroundings. I took my time looking around this time. The room was cluttered, but not junky. Clearly she kept unnecessary things, but they didn't belong to her. The more I looked, the more familiar the items seemed to be.

I shook the thought away as Lupita fidgeted around the room gathering bags, and packing them with more items. "I didn't abandon you." she spoke, still packing.

I scoffed, but let her continue. I spotted a ragged binder with ineligible writing tucked away in the mess. I slowly crossed the room to inspect it as she continued. "I left to PROTECT you." she stressed, as I pried the binder out and hid it behind my back.

I straighten up just as Lupita stopped to look at me. Her eyes pleading for forgiveness, that I did not have. "He hurt you bad Rose." she whimpered, sadness in her voice as she resumed packing.

"I had to get better. I knew he would come back for me and maybe you." she explained, while I skimmed through the binder. It held designs I sketched years ago. I threw it out when I moved here.

"I left so he would follow, but he didn't." she continued, not paying attention to me. Something in her voice made me look up. It sounded a lot like shame, and as I watched her, it was clear. She knew he killed my baby.

I launched the binder at her and marched up in her face. The binder sailed past barley missing her making her jump.

"You knew! YOU KNEW AND YOU DID NOTHING." I screamed, stalking her as she backed away against the wall. "You knew what kind of person Dre was. KNOX is !?" I stressed.

I could barely contain my anger looking at her. I backed off and snatched the binder off the floor where it fell.

"How did you get this?" I demanded. "HOW?" I pressed, not even giving her time to answer. Tears were trailing down her face, when I turned to look at her.

Lupita slid down to sit on the floor. She looked broken. Weak. "I always keep your things." she answered me.

That's when I realized that all the clutter belonged to me. Lost, forgotten, and thrown out items she must have collected for years. "You are right to hate me Rose." spoke up Lupita.

"I failed you as a mother." she said, walking up to me. I allowed it, feeling too overwhelmed to protest.

She reached up to touch my face, hesitating a little. "You are so beautiful. Like a Rose your father would say." she continued, as she caressed my face .

She dropped her hand and smiled. "But I never left you, I promise." she rambled on packing again. "I stayed for you and hid. We can leave now and you will be safe and we can be a family." she reasoned, reminding me of family.

"Dorinda!" I gasped. I has completely forgotten about her and the men. "Oh no no no." I mumbled pacing back and forth. "Forget her. We must go now." snapped Lupita, grabbing me by the shoulders.

"I'm not leaving her." I argued. "I can't just leave the people I love. I'm not like you mother." I spat stepping away. I pulled out my phone, ignoring the hurt on her face.

I dialed Jamir, but it kept going to voicemail. "Damn It!" I swore loudly, before calling another number. "Lets leave Rose." my mother begged, as I rolled my eyes.

"Who dis?" answered the voice on the line. "ShaMilla! Thank GOD! Jamir gave me your number and he's not answering and Dorinda..."

"Woah, Woah, Woah." she interrupted, my rambling.

"Slow the f**k down and give me the important stuff."

"First of all I'm fine. Thanks for asking." she replied sarcastically. "WE DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THIS!" I snapped into the phone.

"Damn, My bad. Tune me in." said ShaMilla, getting serious. "Jamir isn't answering his phone. It's going straight to voicemail." I began.

"He's probably handling something, I'll look into it. Next." she said, urging me to get to the point.

"My best friend was snatched in my apartment and these guys are trying to find me." I huffed irritated. "Why didn't you start with that Rose. Damn, I'm on the way." she snapped.

"But i'm .." was all I said before she hung up.

I stared at the phone for a minute, trying to wrap my head around the conversation. What could she possibly do alone. I shook my head and started pacing. I had to think of a plan to save Rinda. I had a feeling it was supposed to be me and I couldn't live with myself if something were to happen.

Lupita coughed and I remembered she was there . We just looked at each other, not saying anything and my phone vibrated. I answered quickly seeing ShaMilla calling.

"I'm coming round back. Be there and Don't get caught." she spoke, before hanging up again. I sighed and headed for the door. "Rose, please don't leave." Lupita continued to beg.

I looked over my shoulder to see her standing close behind me. "I got you, I promise this time ok. Your all I have." she added, her words trailing off. I watched my mom for a minute before turning the knob.

"Were not done here." I spoke over my shoulder, before creeping out into the hallway. It was clear so far and I was still bare foot.

I padded down towards the elevator. I wanted to take the stairs, but the elevator was quicker, and I was pressed for time.

The whole ride down I was anxious bouncing from foot to foot. Finally, I arrived in the garage. I dashed out towards the opening, and didn't stop running until I was outside. I looked over my shoulder to see no one following me, but I ran smack into something solid.

"Look where your going! Sheesh." snapped an irritated ShaMilla, rubbing her head furiously before looking down. "Where's your shoes?" she questioned me, pointing at my bare feet.

"s**t, never mind. Follow me." she ordered, before walking off. I scrambled to catch up as we went behind my building towards a sleek looking motorbike.

"Size 7?" she asked, before stepping out of her sneakers and popping the seat. She was dressed in a all black romper, with a zipper half zipped down the middle. Her cleavage was visible and it was long sleeved. She also had on a nice ass belt, with a round buckle. I didn't hesitate, and slid my feet in the shoes as she busied herself.

She pulled out a grappling hook, some rough looking gloves, and a suction cup, attached to a threaded string and needle. "What the hell?" I questioned, as she dropped them each on the ground, and grabbed some funny looking boots out the seat. Slamming it close.

"That's your window?" she asked, while putting on the shoes. I nodded and folded my arms. "Grab those." ShaMilla commanded, as she walked the bike closer to the building, onto a small patch of greenery and under my huge window to the master bedroom. She parked under the shade of the oak tree on the patch.

I huffed irritated with being a lackey and not saving Dorinda. Reaching for the hook, she took it out of my hands and tapped the side of the bike twice. A minute passed, before a grove slid open big enough for the hook. She wedged it inside until it clicked.

"Grappling Hook Engaged." spoke a computerized voice making me jump. "The f**k Milla!" I gasped. She grabbed, hold of the spine on the hook, and turned it clockwise.

The hook released from the bike with a sphere attached to it the same size as the buckle she wore. Connecting them together, she zipped her romper up to the neck, and placed on the gloves.

"Step back." said ShaMilla, turning and aiming for the roof. I moved hastily out of her way, and watched with awe; as she launched the hook up to the roof, snagging on top. "Hook secured." said the voice again.

ShaMilla took the cup and thread, and then twisted the buckle left. She slowly rose from the ground, before twisting it again, moving faster.

Half padding and running up the wall. She reached the window in no time. Now 3 stories high, she placed her feet to the glass clinging to the window with the boots. She then placed a hand and the suction cup on the glass. Using her free hand, she pulled the string out and traced a nice size hole with the needle.

The needles tip glowed as it sliced right through. ShaMilla wiggled her foot free and kicked at the opening, loosening the glass.

The glass dropped inside pulling her along by foot and hand as the line lacked up from the hook. ShaMilla was inside my loft and reeling in the hook. "STAY THERE." she mouthed, before disappearing inside. I was stunned. What kind of mission impossible bullshit just happened.

I checked my surroundings; seeing nobody around, despite the fact it was broad daylight. This could not be real. I sat down and crossed my legs feeling tired all at once.

Everything was catching up and I needed a moment to think. I just saw my mom. That was heavy, and not to mention under the stress of my best friend possibly being dead.

Shaking my head I ran my hands down my face. I felt so defeated. Every opportunity I had to be strong , I ran just like my mom. Maybe I WAS just like her. I shivered, rubbing my sides to chase away those feelings.

I just wanted everything to be okae and for everyone to be alright. I tried calling Jamir again, but it kept going to voicemail. Sighing, I stood up and brushed myself off. It was time to do something. I went back towards the garage, and made my way to my home. ShaMilla shouldn't have to do this alone.

The elevator dinged as the doors opened revealing the hallway. I stepped out tentatively, looking around. There was sounds of struggle coming from my door.

Walking over, I saw the door was still ajar. Taking a breath, and sending up a prayer, I pushed inside. I gasped, grabbing my mouth seeing blood on the walls.

"Please be alright Dorinda." I pleaded with myself. Entering my living room. I saw her balled up in the doorway of the master bedroom. That's where the noises were coming from.

Dorinda looked shaken, but otherwise unharmed. I stepped over two bodies and ran over to her. Tackling her in a bear hug.

"Thank God, your ok." I breathed, grinning from ear to ear kneeling down beside her. "Yeah me too." she joked, returning my smile.

"thanks to..." she trailed off focusing back in the room. I turned to see ShaMilla beating the s**t out of 3 guys. They seemed trained, but so did she surprisingly.

With a roundhouse kick, she sent one into the other before blocking a punch from the first guy. The two men stumbled, and fell over each other as ShaMilla grabs the first guy's arm, and twisted it behind his back.

Dorinda screamed as ShaMilla smashed his head on the corner of my dresser. One guy finally stood and tried to run. Unfortunately we were in his way.

Out of nowhere, a thin knife pierces the man's eye from behind; protruding out of his face in front of us. He fell to the floor with a bang at our feet. The knife sliding back out.

ShaMilla unzipped her romper, strolling over to the final guy. "Now " she spoke, as he scrambled backwards on his butt away from her.

"I don't know nothing." he quickly rambled over and over. "And I ain't ask you shit." She snapped, sucker punching him and breaking his nose. He cried out holding​ his nose, as blood gushed out. Moaning and rocking back and forth, the man looked terrified.

"Is this really necessary?" I spoke up, not feeling okay with this.

"Hell yeah!" argued Milla. "You wanted to save your friend. Right?" she snapped. "I did that. Now I gotta find my brother." she said, turning on the man again.

"Where is he!" she demanded, punching him again and again.

"SHAMILLA!" I screamed, grabbing her arm. She shook me off. "Look I called Jamir too, and he always answers me. It's clear they came here for you princess and I'm gonna get some answers." she snapped at me. ShaMilla walked into the living room, and came back with a gun from one of the bodies.

She turned the safety off and c****d it aiming at the man. "Oh my gawd. The b***h is crazy." said Dorinda, easing out of the room with her hands over her ears. "Wait ShaMilla." I pleaded. "Rose, It's already four dead bodies in here. What's one more." she said shrugging focusing back on him.

"Knox has him!" he fessed up finally. "We were told to get her and take her to the mansion. That's it." he explained.

"By who?" questioned Milla, pressing the gun to his head. "DORIAN!" he shouted. "That's all I know, I swear." he whined.

"Ok" said ShaMilla, lowering the gun. I let out the breath I was holding.

"I know where that is." I told her, trying to calm things down. "Oh, you do?" she questioned me. I nodded certain I could drive us there.

"Then we don't need him." said ShaMilla, before shooting the man in between the eyes. I stood there as she brushed past me towards the door.

" Come on. Were done here." said ShaMilla switching out.