Guns 'N' Roses

BLACK ROSE

The bright sunlight hit Jane Doe’s face like a silent alarm clock. She groaned wishing that the light wasn’t bothering her but eventually got up irritated by the sun. She got out of bed stumbling to her bathroom and washed her face then combed her dried hair with her fingers, wincing each time she accidentally pulls strands of her hair out.

She walked out of her room and waited for any noise from anyone that would be awake. She bit her lip when all she heard was silence. Maybe that big hall….. She tiptoed to the stairs and ran down quietly to the big hall where she met everyone by that man’s picture.

The door was already open as she popped her head inside. The only person she saw was Vincent in an empty room of silence. She searched the room just in case someone else was in here. She jumped when Vincent spoke.

“You can come in you know.”

She bit her lip and walked inside and closed the door lightly with her bare foot. She felt a little odd being in the same room with the mafia leader but also because he was her saviour and couldn’t show her gratitude yet.

Vincent stopped reading through papers of work as he inhaled from his e-cigarette and exhaled with a feeling of relaxation entering his body. He observed Jane Doe’s movements as she played with her feet then swung her legs slightly from side to side. What a kid. She’s quite interesting. Vincent laughed a little at his thought before getting up from his chair and sat down on the pale white couch arm.

Jane Doe glanced up and smiled awkwardly at Vincent as he continued smoking. The e-cigarette peaked her interest as she wasn’t sure what he was holding his hand. She came forward to see it more closely.

“It’s called an e-cigarette. For smokers that don’t actually want to smoke real cigarettes.”

“Why not actual cigarettes?”

“It will cause cancer and other stupid disadvantages. Cigarettes took my grandfather away. It wasn’t a big loss since my father took the role as the leader of the group before he died.”

She looked at the e-cigarette he held carefully. She held her head in pain as she lightly groaned. For an instant, a memory came to mind but it was too blurry for her to figure out what it was. Vincent was her first responder to hold her in his arms. Her small hands held on to Vincent’s strong arms as she gasped for air.

“Should I even ask?”

“Sorry, I had a memory but I couldn’t see it, my head felt as if it was going to split in two”

Vincent walked her to the couch then sat on the coffee table to get a better look at her face. Jane Doe took deep breaths and sighed in a peaceful relief as the pain went away. She then looked around once more before her eyes landed on Vincent.

“Sig- I mean Vincent, may I know where Jack is?”

“Jack and Connor went out for a job and possibly won’t be coming back till later. Why”

“Nothing important, I was going to ask Jack if he by any chance can do something about my hair, it’s really painful.” Jane Doe examined the ends of her hair while frowning.

Vincent took a good look at her. Judging by her appearance, she needed soap and shampoo to get the blood out of her hair. Vincent sighed and checked the window then back to her.

“Okay, just this once, I’ll take you out and buy you all the things you need for the time being and suitable clothes. But you better have some casual clothes on in 5 minutes or I will leave you here and forget about this whole plan and go do my personal things.”

Jane nodded and quickly sped walked to her room. She fumbled through the remaining clothes in the bag and switched it to what she was currently wearing. She quietly skipped happily to the stairs, Vincent stood by the front of the stairs while looking up.

“Good, I was just about to leave without you. Now let’s go the car is waiting outside.”

Vincent began walking at a brisk pace with Jane Doe following behind. He opened the black Mercedes S63 passenger door while motioning Jane Doe to sit inside. Jane Doe bit her lip before settling on the passenger seat. Her eyes gradually glanced up at one of the windows to see a pair of harsh eyes staring back at her. She stumbled backwards to Vincent’s arms.

He followed her eyes to Eve staring out the window with intense hate firing out her eyeballs. He already understood the situation as he placed a hand on the small girl’s slim shoulder and spun her around a little. Her large eyes gawked back with curious wonder. He couldn’t help but lightly smile at the girl’s pleasant charms.

“Are you worried about Eve?”

“Eve? Oh, the girl that speaks harsh words at times. Should I be worried, Signor Black Rose?”

“If you value your life.”

“What do you mean by the value of my life, Vincent?”

Vincent had a sudden urge to pat her head the minute he heard her speak his name from her lips. He doesn’t think her more than all the other girls he fooled around with and as his sister at other times like currently.

“She’s known to be quite a strong girl if you get on her bad side. You seemed to be on top of the list for now.”

“Why? Is it because I’m with you?”

“You’re not another space case it seems.” He lightly grinned. “Don’t be bothered by it and get in quickly.”

Once more, she looked at the angry Eve before getting in as instructed. Vincent looked back while walking to the driver’s seat. Eve clenched her fists while gritting her teeth. Vincent shook his head, expecting her attitude to be cruel and got in.

He watched Jane Doe curiously look around the car with wide eyes. Her gaze followed to Vincent’s amused face. Her face slowly turned red as she quickly put her seatbelt on.

“This is the same car that we drove in with you.” Her eyes glanced back at Vincent. “If that was what you were thinking? Jane Doe?”

She softly nodded with a smile. She took a deep breath while clamping her hands together on top of her lap as Vincent started up the car. A smile crept across her face while biting her lip.

“Are you excited about something Jane Doe?”

“I’m excited to go somewhere but I’m also nervous to go somewhere too. I’m not sure how to talk to people or how to react. In fact, my only worry is being a bother to you.”

“Don’t worry about that. You don’t need to socialize with anyone. Just stick with me no matter what. Got it?”

Jane Doe nodded happily while looking out the window with curious wonder of the big world she is starting to see once again. Her mind pondered on how beautiful the blue sky is, how fluffy the white clouds are, how busy the streets are. People talking on the phone, eating on the bench, interacting with others, cars honking and driving off, stores opening up for the public.

Everything astounded her with joy and nervousness at the same time. She wasn’t sure how she spoke to people before she lost her memories. Was she mean to people? Quiet? Maybe very cheerful? She can barely remember what’s her favourite colour let alone what she was like before the memory loss. She lightly sighed without looking away from the window.

Vincent noted very small detail Jane Doe did. He was very intrigued by the mysterious girl. He wasn’t sure why he wanted to know more about her. Her real name, her age, her personal life, everything. The more Vincent wanted to know, the more he felt alerted as if knowing more about her was going to harm him in any way. Vincent doesn’t even believe for a second that such an innocent girl can be a spy but one thing he learned as being leader is that appearance can deceive you no matter how innocent they are. He learned to not trust one openly.

Jane Doe glanced at Vincent staring at her. She tilted her head as he shook his head and watched the road. This time, it was her turn to examine Vincent. The sun blazing on his dark hair makes him look shiny. Someone she can’t reach out to touch. She was scared to know what will happen if she was to reach out and grab on to his presence. She followed every movement Vincent did. His way of driving with his palms while his back rested on the seat. His fingers rubbing his trimmed chin, slowly touching his lips as his eyes glistened by the sunlight.

“Pretty…”

“What?” Vincent glanced at her.

She perked up her body while shaking her head. “No, nothing. I just think your eyes are really pretty.”

He raised an eyebrow while looking in the rear view mirror. “Really now? Pretty?” Vincent wiggled his eyebrows at the mirror while still focused on the road.

Jane Doe couldn’t help but slip out a few giggles at Vincent’s eyebrow movements. Vincent slightly smiled towards her soft giggles before looking at the road.

“We’re here”

Vincent turned into a small market place. Jane Doe looked out the window with amazement as she saw stalls everywhere with people swarming around with excitement and chatters. All the bright colours made her smile more. She looked at Vincent stopping the car and turning the engine off.

“Such a happy place you brought me to Vincent.”

“It’s a small place but has varieties of things we can get here cheap than a mall.”

“Mall?” The word felt familiar to her but she can’t get why it is.

“A big building with a lot of stores to buy things from, eat and sit. It’s resourceful from time to time.”

I probably went to the mall before I lost my memory. She thought while taking her seatbelt off. She turned back to Vincent who was already staring at her. “Can I go there one day? The mall?”

“You want me to take you?” Vincent raised an eyebrow.

Jane Doe worried if I got him annoyed and shook her head as a fast response. “Taking me here is already a big thing to me. I really do not want to be a bother to you. Maybe I can ask Jack”

Vincent suddenly felt annoyed with what she said. His eyebrows slightly wrinkled together. Jane Doe looked around the place through the window, oblivious to what was happening.

“I can take you, to the mall”

Jane Doe stared back at Vincent with wide eyes. “But didn’t you tell Jack that he should be taking care of me?”

Vincent mentally sighed in relief with her response. “That’s only when I’m not around. I paid for your hospital bills and carried the bloody you there too. I’m pretty sure, taking you to a mall isn’t going to kill me.”

Jane Doe felt a pang of happiness from his blunt words. She wasn’t sure how to respond back or why Vincent has so many different sides to him. One minute he’s quiet then next second he’s angry then he’s casually smiling with everyone. She couldn’t figure out Vincent at all but it is to be expected since she couldn’t figure herself out anytime soon.

Vincent watched her stare down her legs with a thinking expression. He laid back on his seat and sighed once more, he felt happy for what he said. He can’t even tell why he’s attached to someone he doesn’t even know. He could still remember the day he saw her on the road, each time the memory replayed in his memory. The way her body was lifeless and how the the pavement surrounding her was drenched dark red, how her face was showing regret on her face. He also remembered how Jack glanced up and he followed as well to see a figure luring over the cliff. The darkness ate up everything but his existence, Vincent even wondered if Jane Doe was another victim of Krane but even he wouldn’t be as low to kidnap a teenage girl.

“Kid.”

Jane Doe jolted upwards to the sudden sound of his voice. She placed a hand on her chest feeling her heartbeat faster than the car they are in. “Y-Yes”

“Do you not even remember how old you are?”

“My age?”

“Since you don’t remember your name, I thought you would remember your age so we can look around for your family.”

“My family?” Jane Doe felt shivers running down her spine. She couldn’t understand why she feels so afraid of finding her family. She also thought about her family and wondered how to find them. She should be happy to get help but she felt more scared than happy.

“Silence isn’t much an answer.”

“Sorry, I just- I’m not sure what my age is. But...” She bit her lip to stop her words. To speak about her other wounds might be too early since she doesn’t even know herself about the fading wounds that have been forcefully forgotten.

“But?”

She shook her head “No, it’s nothing. I just wonder what my family might be doing. If they’re worried about me or are they even looking for me? What if I don’t have a family? I’m the only family I have” She sighed softly while playing with her fingers.

Vincent reached out and patted her head slowly. His mind raced about his family, his mother mostly. The kindness in her smile putting him at ease. As a kid, he wouldn’t understand how such a kind lady like his mother married someone from a mafia-like his father, he understood as he grew up that his mother had a wild side. When she gets mad, he can see the fire in her eyes, ready to shake the world with her spirit. Krane took her away from him and Vincent knew he will never forgive him nor anyone related to Krane. He’s committed to murdering anyone who’s Krane’s family just so Krane can see what he is capable of.

“Vincent?”

“Hmm? What is it?”

“I really wanna see. Can we go?” She pointed by the window to the stalls in the market.

Vincent nodded his head, prioritizing what’s in his eyes right now. He locked the doors as soon as she got out and walked to her side. “Stay close to me. No matter what. Got it?”

She nodded without any hesitation in mind. Vincent took her hand and pulled her close to him as they started walking. Jane Doe glanced down at his rough hand wrapping around her small hand. His hand is rough but gentle. He’s warm too Jane Doe thought as she felt his heat transferring to her arm and down her body. Jane Doe started to giggle happily.

“Is something funny to you?”

“Oh no, sorry. I just thought how I really like holding hands with someone.”

Vincent glanced at her with questionable eyes. “You remember holding hands with someone?”

“Hmm…..” Jane Doe thought for a moment. “I don’t think I remember but I do feel the sense of warmth before. I felt like I held hands with someone before.”

Vincent looked ahead without saying a word. He held Jane Doe close to him while passing through the swarm of people in the small footpath they were given. “We’re almost there, don’t get lost”

“I’ll do my best but I can’t promise anything since there’s a lot of people here.”

“It’s the weekend, I’m not surprised by how crowded it is,” Vincent grunted with an annoyed look on his face.

Vincent dragged Jane Doe away from the main part of the path to one of the stalls. Jane Doe carefully examined the stall she was standing in front of. It was a blue and white stripe giant tent with two squares on both sides indicating it’s a window.

“Diane?” Vincent called out while looking around.

A lady popped out of the floor which surprised Jane Doe. she took deep breaths to calm her heart down. I don’t think I’ll be able to remember anything if I keep getting scared like this. She sighed with that thought before looking at the lady smiling.

“Vincent, it’s great to see you again son.” The lady left the stall and came up and patted Vincent on the back causing him to go forward while coughing.

“You too Diane...” He wiped his mouth.

Jane Doe couldn’t help but laugh softly at the view of Vincent losing his cool in front of Diane. Vincent eyed Jane Doe, she turned her laughter into coughs while looking somewhere else. Vincent lightly flicked her forehead.

“Don’t laugh at me stupid.”

Diane gasped and ran to Jane Doe and hugged her. “Vincent, you know better than to treat a girl like that. Especially when she’s such a gem.” Diane viewed the girl’s features.

Her dark chocolate brown hair shrivelled around her round face with her blueish grey eyes widen and glistering. Her lips as pink as a sakura flower connecting together beautifully with her high cheekbones. Her small structure looking like a stick that can be blown away if the wind blew by.

“Child? Do you even eat? You’re too skinny for your age.” Diane frowned.

“I eat ma’am, I just don’t get that hungry. But I do eat.”

Diane’s frowned turned into a smile. “What’s your name”

Jane Doe glanced up at Vincent with a concerned look in her eyes. Vincent nodded in response while petting her head. She glanced back Diane and smiled softly.

“I don’t remember my name. Everyone in house calls me Jane Doe. So my name is Jane Doe for now ma’am”

Diane gave a look of ‘are you serious?’ towards Vincent. He nodded casually without dropping his hand off her head.

“She lost her memories of an accident and can’t seem to remember where she was from so she’s at my place till her memories come back. Everyone has been calling her Jane Doe so that’s her name till then.”

Diane held Jane Doe’s fragile hands and examined them. Her nails were brittle and chipped, her skin is dried and dead, her touch is however warm to hold on to. Diane smiled sadly and thought of how she can never understand what Jane Doe is going through and chose to trust Vincent. Not a bad choice to trust Vincent. He would take care of her despite his looks and actions. She thought while caressing her soft but dried cheek with her other hand. Jane Doe blinked for a bit then closed her eyes and snuggled in Diane’s palm on her cheek. She wasn’t sure why but she felt happy with the sudden gesture even though she just met Diane. My mind gave an image of a blurred lady in front of her doing the same action Diane was doing.

“This reminds me of my mom. I think..” Jane Doe spoke out.

“Mom? You remember your mom then?” Vincent questioned curiously.

Jane Doe looked up to Vincent and shook her head. “I don’t remember how she looks like, I just thought it could be my mom but I feel that it was someone else that wasn’t my mom but someone else’s mom I think” Jane Doe closed her eyes once more and tried to remember bits and pieces of the lady in her mind. Her eyebrows met together as the lady in her mind slowly disappeared from her thought. Her head started pounding merciless, she held her head and stumbled backwards for Vincent to catch her.

“My dear, don’t force yourself to remember something you can’t remember. It’ll only strain your body. Let your body heal and rest well and let your memories slowly make its way towards you.”

“Diane is right, we don’t need to bring you back to the hospital again. That’s troublesome to me.”

“I’m sorry.” Jane Doe’s face saddened.

Diane pulled on Vincent’s ear while huffing with anger. “Vincent Morrison. I did not raise you like that.”

Vincent rubbed his ear while growling. “You didn’t raise me anyway, You mostly took care of Kasey more than me.”

“Even you needed some care with your odd actions towards people. Your social skills were as bad as a mower not being able to mow the grass. Or a child biting as a greeting.”

“Your analogy is bad as ever Diane. I can never see what Hank ever saw in you.” Vincent mumbled.

Diane raised an eyebrow as she huffed in disbelief. “You’ll understand when you fall in love Vincent.”

“Me? Fall in love? Yeah right, I will never fall in love. I would have to protect the girl from the things I do over and over again. It’s annoying.”

“What about Sarah, Eve and your sister Kasey?” Jane Doe questioned.

“Sarah and Eve can take care of themselves, I have Conner taking care of Kasey. Of course, I would protect Kasey with my life, she’s my little sister. But protecting a girl just because I love her is a bit bothersome to me.”

“What if she can take care of herself?” Jane Doe glanced at Diane who just nodded in agreement before turning to Vincent.

“If she can take care of herself then I think that’s okay.”

“Hmmmm…. So you need a girl that will be able to fight back if she’s in trouble because she’s dating you? That’s a bit hard considering how dangerous your work is.”

Vincent raised an eyebrow towards Jane Doe as he tilted her head up. “How do you know whether if my work is dangerous is or not?”

“Oh, Jack told me about the whole mafia and work mojo before. He explained it would be dangerous but you guys are the good guys so it may look like a bad thing you’re doing but really it’s for the civilians own good” Jane Doe grinned happily proud with her answer.

Diane laughed as Vincent gawked at her, confounded with her answer and her grinned. She looks like a kid in a teen body. Vincent laughed at his own remark while ruffling her hair up. She put up a small fight to stop the mess of the hair but failed terribly and accepted the fate of her hair.

“You know, I’m not gonna protect you either right? That’s Jack’s job.”

Jane Doe nodded while splitting her hair apart from her face. “I know, Jack is my guardian. I won’t disturb you. I can put up a fight, I just have to heal.”

Vincent pondered on who this girl could be to amuse him this much. He never felt such excitement from words of a small girl, especially from someone he never knew before. He smiled and flicked her forehead lightly. She rubbed her forehead while whelping in surprise pain.

“Then can you stay here? I have something to discuss with Diane privately. Don’t wander off like a puppy.”

Jane Doe nodded as she watched Vincent walk to the back. Diane patted her head softly before following him. Jane Doe sat on the stand table, humming random tunes she never heard of. She watched different people pass by, laughing and smiling with friends and families. She started to wonder about her own friends and family and how they are. Are they looking for her? Maybe she doesn’t have anyone to call her as family or friend.

She noticed a cat wandering around the road trying not get to hit by the busy people. The little thing is going to get hurt. She worried while walking away from the people to get the cat. She picked it up and comforted the cat with hugs and kisses and turned around only to find herself away from the stand.

“Where am I? Vincent is going to yell at me.” She bit her lip, holding the cat close to her.

Jane Doe aimlessly roamed around the road, looking for Vincent or the stall. She sighed while holding back her tears. The small cat snuggled her cheek and purred. Jane Doe smiled as she felt the worries decreasing knowing that she’s not alone. She went back on her hunt for Vincent.

There, by the corner of her eye, she spots a tall man with black hair. She let out a huge smile and ran towards his path, calling out his name. “Vincent! Vincent!”

The man turned around, making Jane Doe come to a standstill in front of a stranger’s face. She held the cat close to her as the man slightly smiled. She examined his features. He, indeed does have black hair like Vincent but he looks nothing like him. Vincent looks much more handsome. Such sharp brown eyes and jaw he has. It’s sharp like a knife that you are amazed to draw. Nothing like Vincent of course. Jane Doe remarked mentally.

“I’m sorry, I have the wrong person. Please forgive me.” Jane Doe backed away till her shoulders were grabbed from behind.

She turned her head to see a man with neck length brown hair. His hazel eyes locked her breath with a sly grin. She automatically knew he was trouble. She pulled away from his grasp with a frown, her body was cautious around the two men between her.

“Coby, are you playing with little girls again?”

“No boss, she came to me with. A kitten with a kitten. She accidentally thought I was Vincent.” Coby grinned while placing his hands in his camo sweater.

“What? Vincent?”

Jane Doe shivered at the other man’s husky voice. His eyes glaring with anger as he clenched his hands into fists. All eyes on her. Every strand of hair was up as he walked towards her.

“You know Vincent missy? How delightful this information is. I actually have some things to chat with him about.”

“Are you friends with Vincent?”

“I wouldn’t say friends but we do know each other very well.”

Jane Doe raised an eyebrow while her expression showed doubt and hesitation. “Right. And I believe you.”

“For a shrimp, you’re quite smart. And a looker.” He grazed his eyes up and down Jane Doe while biting his lip.

Her face turned with revolt against his words and moves towards her. He casually slid his index finger around her jawline to her chin, not letting go of his eye-lock with her. His other hand crept behind her waist and pulled Jane Doe to his chest. Jane Doe gritted her teeth as she violently tried to escape from his grip.

“Please let go of me. I have no interest in you touching me like this.”

“So you like the way Vincent touches you then? That’s to be expected.” He laughed.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. I assure you, Vincent never once touched me in a wild manner.”

“Vincent never touched you? That’s quite some news I’m hearing. Not sleeping with girls he brings to his place. You must be pretty special.” He lowered himself to her face level. “I love taking someone’s special things.”

“I’m not an object for you to refer me to as a thing. Let me go or you’ll be sorry.” She pulled away harder.

“Or what? You’ll cat claw me or ask your kitty to do it instead?” He joked.

A hand went on his shoulder and pulled Jane Doe apart from his grasp and into his arms. She glanced up and smiled happily with relief to see Vincent holding her with caution.

“You’ll be dealing with me if you didn’t let her go. What do you want Drake?”

Drake growled Vincent’s name out before letting out a smile. Cody walked behind Drake with a smile as well. Vincent held Jane Doe closer to his side while eyeing the men in front of him. Jane Doe held the cat more close to her while breathing Vincent’s scent in.

“Vincent, I didn’t get to play with her yet.”

“She’s not a toy for you to fool with. She’s with me so back off and no one gets hurt.”

“I’m surprised Vincent, she seems very special to you to be acting up this way. I feel amused to take her from your stead.”

“Do that, and you’ll see daylight for the last time.”

“Cody, look at that. The Black Rose has a new favourite and she’s so pure that it’s adorable.” Drake laughed.

“What’s wrong with being a favourite and not planning on doing something to me? Vincent isn’t evil at all. You’re probably just jealous that I’m more contented with Vincent’s touch than yours, that I approve Vincent more than you.” Jane Doe spoke out.

Drake’s laughter faded, taken by the sudden assert from Jane Doe. Vincent stared at the shivering girl in his arms, locked with anger in her eyes and a confused look. She couldn’t understand why they were speaking ill about Vincent. They all understood that she was serious.

“Kid we’re leaving. Come on.” Vincent grabbed hold of her hand and sped out of the circle. Jane Doe looked back with anger then turned away without saying another word, letting Vincent take her away.

“Boss, are you going to let them go like this? Especially the girl?”

Drake shook his head, watching the two disappear into the streets of busy people. “That girl spoke to the wrong person. And spoke for Black Rose is another thing. She will regret this. And that Black Rose. They both will. Mark my words Cody, They both will.”