The Bargaining Tool
1116 Words
Rose's eyes opened slowly, her thoughts unclear due to the medication her mother had administered. Wait, how did she get here?
The last she remembered was coming back home and facing her mother or was it?
Yet here she was lying down on her bed in her room with her mother watching over her. All the alarm bells in her heart went off at once. What was going on?
Attempting to raise herself, she experienced a sharp throbbing pain at the back of her head, forcing her to recline.
That was when she saw her mother who was regarding her with a thoughtful expression.
"Rose, good morning," Luna greeted warmly. "I notice that you seem to be improving."
Rose attempted to talk, but her voice was rough due to the medication. She coughed, attempting once more. "What...what have you done to me?"
Luna smiled, her eyes shining with wickedness. "Just a small token to ensure your cooperation, my dear. I've been negotiating some agreements, and you're vital to the outcome”.
Rose's thoughts were racing, as she attempted to figure out her mother's intentions. She was aware of Luna's thirst for power, but she underestimated her potential.
"What kind of agreements are you referring to?" Rose inquired, attempting to maintain a steady voice.
Luna leaned closer, her voice lowering to a murmur. “I have been in talks with some...important individuals. And they are ready to do anything necessary to achieve their desires.”
Rose shivered as a cold sensation traveled down her spine. This was all shades of wrong, she knew this meant only one thing: Danger!
Luna's grin expanded further. "Oh, Rose Rose dear" "You are wanted by them."
Luna's excitement shone through her eyes as she unveiled her plan.
“Rose” she began, you possess a specific...potential, as I see it and you are needed by people because of it”.
“What potential?" Rose inquired, her mind filled with confusion yet grateful that her mother was offering to speak about it all.
Luna moved nearer, lowering her voice to a soft murmur. "Rose, your abilities." “Every day, their strength is increasing. And some people are willing to do whatever it takes to control that power for their own gain, and I on the other hand, am willing to give that to them for my own gain.”
A shiver of shock and dread went chorused through her body. Her mother was capable of a lot of things, horrible things but this? This was a whole new level that she has never experienced before.
"What have you done?" Rose inquired with shock evident on her voice
Her mother smiled, her eyes shining with victory. "I have struck an agreement, Rose. A transaction that will guarantee our future, regardless of the price”.
Rose's heart was pounding faster, her mind spinning with potential outcomes. What did her mother do? With whom was she collaborating?
All of a sudden, Luna's face transformed, her eyes becoming more focused. “Rose, there is something that you must understand, you don't have power in this situation. If you attempt to deceive me, there will be repercussions”.
Her mother's gaze felt like it was penetrating Rose's very soul, almost challenging her to resist.
"What are the consequences" Rose inquired, her tone remaining calm even though she was getting more afraid with every word she heard.
Luna's grin expanded, her gaze shimmering with wickedness. "Simply put, Rose, I have insurance." “Insurance that will guarantee your collaboration”.
As she struggles to understand what her mother word meant, That's when it dawned on her.
"The injection for memory," Rose murmured quietly.
Luna's smile briefly weakened before she composed herself again. "Indeed, Rose. The injection for memory. I've been using it to...change your memories, you know. To make you more... cooperative”.
Rose was overwhelmed by a feeling of horror. She had had a feeling that her memories were off, but she never expected this.
"What did you do to me?" Rose inquired with a voice full of anger, trembling.
Luna's eyes appeared to sparkle with enthusiasm. "Oh, Rose," she exclaimed. “I have only just started”
With that, Luna turned around and departed, leaving Rose to herself and her thoughts. Rose felt devastated.
Rose felt her heart beat rapidly as she saw her mother walking away. She needed to do something, she needed to act fast too, she needed to build up her bravery and her confidence before Luna's upcoming action.
She took sharp intake of breath and got up pacing around the room with the little strength she had kedt, her mind filled with ideas and strategies. Now she knew that she wasn't ready to confront her mother at least not by herself. She required help, all the help she could get and a well-thought-out strategy or else she was toast. This was bigger than her, way bigger.
As she continued pacing to and fro in the room, she noticed a tiny, concealed panel on the wall. She could have missed it. But there it was.
She remembered that years ago, she had accidentally stumbled upon it and she knew that it held a secret, a secret that she would do anything to get a hold of.
Filled with determination, Rose opened the panel and retrieved a small book covered in leather. The journal belonged to her mother and contained the concealed history of their family.
Rose started to read, consuming the words written on the pages of the book with reneend zeal. She discovered information about her family's past, their abilities, and their hidden truths. She uncovered a startling revelation about her future fate.
As she continued reading, she could sense that her strength was increasing and her resolve too.
While she had barely finished reading the last page, she caught a soft sound coming from behind her. Her mother. And on her face was a wicked look as she stood in the doorway.
Luna's voice was filled with anger and hatred. “You shouldn't have done that” she said to Rose.
And then, everything turned black.
She was awake. Was she? Was she dead? She asked herself as she continued to slip into oblivion.
As soon as she was sure that Rose was fast asleep, Luna came close to her and gave her another dose of the memory injection. No way was she going to allow Rose ruin her plan.
She had built this plan for years. Now that she was beginning to made significant progress, she wasn'
t about to allow Rose or any one else for that matter come between her and her plans.
- Writer
