Love You Seven Times

The Smell Of Rose

Episode Eight

Elsie's POV

"I will get the first aid box", James said and turned. He took a step and turned back, "Why does your blood tastes so sweet?", he asked.

I wasn't sure of what to say to him, I never got to taste blood so I was confused of what he was saying. I thought he was just joking as usual, "Just get the box already", I responded.

He walked to the shelf and picked the box, then returned to me, "I'm serious Elsie, it tastes good", he said again.

I looked at him and smiled, I knew he was just trying to make me feel good. He applied the ointment and put the band aid.

"Thanks James", I murmured.

"Can you start making the food already, I'm famished", he grumbled and sniffed, "What is that smell?", he asked

I sniffed too, "What smell?", I asked him

"The smell of rose", he responded, "Where is that smell coming from?", he mumbled.

I sniffed again and I could smell it. I looked at my wrist, the mark on my wrist was visible again but it wasn't glowing like before. I knew the smell of rose was coming from the mark, but I was confused because it wasn't glowing like before and I couldn't figure out where the smell was coming from.

"I got a new cologne", I lied, I couldn't tell James I had a mark that smells whenever it glows, my parents were the only one who knew about it, and they were gone. I couldn't tell anyone because they wouldn't believe me, they will only think I was sick like the doctor.

He smiled and returned the box.

Minutes later, I was done preparing the meal, we ate in silence.

"I just wish Toby wakes up soon", James murmured under his breath but I could hear him, "I just wish he does", he added.

I lost my appetite as soon as he said that, I was scared that Toby would never wake up and whenever I thought about him, all I felt was anger and I wanted to take my revenge on whoever did that to my parents and my brother.

I wanted to make everyone who was involved in my parent's death pay for what they did and I vowed to do that.

I stood up and packed the remnant, I dropped them in the kitchen and did the dishes.

I was going to perform the last rites of my parents and I need to get their bodies first.

I walked to James, "I will take my leave now", I said to him and turned to leave.

"Hey stop", James said. I turned and he handed the shopping bag he brought earlier to me, "Here", he added.

I took it from him and peeped into it, it was a dress, "What..."

"You should wear it for Mom and Dad's last rite", he mumbled.

I stood still for a while, I had forgotten about the dress for the last rite, I couldn't figure out what I felt at that moment. I looked up at James and smiled, "Thank you", my voice shook.

"Hey, come on", he murmured and pulled me into his arms. James was always acting like Toby. He was sometimes the big brother and some other time he would be the mom's boy. "Go get dress so we can leave", he said.

I nodded and walked back into the room. Minutes later, I walked out of the room, in the black how and black heels, "Come on", I said to him and we took our leave.

We got to the hospital and I collected my parents body, they were taken to the funeral home and their last rites was performed.

I sat on the floor and rested on the wall, I watched as people go to drop flowers in front of their pictures. I've seen a lot of that but I just couldn't imagine my parents being in the same situation.

I've been to lots of burials of victims, I've been to the funeral home several times to pay my last respect go victims of the cases I've worked on but I never thought my parents would be in that position, I had never imagined my parent's pictures in the funeral home.

I sobbed silently, I wanted to turn back time and save my parents, but I couldn't, it has happened and all I could do was find the one behind everything.

"Hello", someone called.

I looked up at the person and he was a stranger, I stood up and bent, "Hello", I responded.

"So sorry for your loss", he said, some other woman joined him, "We are from the hospital", he added.

I cranked my eyes, I was confused, "Okay?", I replied.

"We need you to sign some papers", the woman said.

"What paper?", I asked.

"The death certificate of your parents", she answered.

I staggered back but I supported myself with the walls, I never thought I would get to sign my parents death certificate so soon.

"Please come with us", the man said and I followed then reluctantly.

I sobbed as I walked with them. They opened one of the funeral home and they walked it. I stopped at the door as I was confused of what we were doing there but I had no choice than to follow then in.

I walked in, "Where are the certificates?", I asked so I can get back.

The woman laughed, I couldn't figure out what was funny, "There are no certificate miss", she responded.

I was confused, she told me I was coming to sign the death certificate, "What do you mean?", I asked, I was already becoming uneasy.

The man sped to me, I had never seen someone so fast, it was in a blink and he was in front of me. He pinned me to the wall and choked me, he pulled me up, my leg dangled and kicked against each other.

That was when I realized that I had been tricked again, and they were after my life just like the ones who killed my parents.