Foxfire and Rose Briars: A Rose's Thorns

Chapter 18, Confessions

Rosaleen’s PoV

I sat on the Galaxy Express only partially listening to what Ryder was saying, I felt tired and done. I hadn't realized with a jolt that I had fallen onto Ryder that I snapped out of my deep thoughts.

“My apologi-” He stopped me by hugging me to him in a tight embrace.

“Uhhh-?” I mumbled softly and he just squeezed a bit tighter, I relaxed slightly, hugging him back slightly. My face nuzzling into him more, feeling safe as I sighed.

“Sorry Ryder… I have been so out of it lately, I am so sleep deprived… And I am dealing with some really bad past issues popping up…” I said gently, my anxiety present. He didn’t say anything, his hand rubbing reassuring circles into my back, I went quiet again.

“What’s on your mind Petal?” He whispered into my hair softly and I sighed softly, my body moving now as the train stopped.

“I… Had a mental breakdown yesterday… In front of Alan, Sho, Leo, and Cara… I had a PTSD attack about stuff that happened when I doomed myself to my ghoulish circumstances…” I said as we stepped off the train, I wore a leather jacket with a pair of cowboy themed jeans.

“What happened to you Petal… Talk to me Darling~” He hummed as he fell into step next to me, we were on our way to deal with the last of our case which was to eliminate the anomaly that had cloned the head of the HOA in that community.

“I made a deal… and he killed my sister.” I said with no sugar coating my voice was quivering and sad, as I kept a steady pace making sure I wasn’t overdoing it on myself.

“Rosaleen…” I stopped and turned, lookin at Ryder. My lip quivered slightly as I swallowed the sob that crept up. His crystal blue eyes stared at me wide and concerned.

“You… Are you okay? Do you need to sit this out…?” He asked approaching now, his converse were tied nicely, his jeans low slung as always sat perfectly on his slim hips.

“No. I am fine, I just need to get through his case.” I said firmly my black eyes moving to meet him, as he stared down at me quietly reading my tone and my body language. He was worried about me, and I could tell.

“Okay… If you say so, let's go.” Ryder said rubbing my shoulders gently, it had been a few days since we had been working on this case, we had to get permission to take out the anomaly.

We walked to the community and entered, the atmosphere around me instantly tightened and changed as if the oxygen was removed from my lungs.

I looked around my eyes resting on the two figures standing in the window, of the old HOA leaders. They were no longer alive, or human.

“Ryder… They see us…” I whispered to him, coaxing him to act natural as we smiled at some of the community people. The ones I know aren’t anomalies.

We stepped through the community until we glanced at each other my black eyes indicating we needed to push in, I stepped onto the well made porch. My hand raised to knock as the door opened slightly, I froze making eye contact with the false woman that started back at me.

“How can I help you?” The woman asked her undead eyes stared numbly at me as Ryder strided up the steps next to me, I smiled softly at her as I nodded.

“We wanted to talk to you and your husband.” I started and she opened the door wider inviting me into the home, I smiled looking at Ryder who nodded firmly, his hands resting on his artifact cards that adorned his hip.

I stepped into the home, the vibe did not pass the vibe check for me at all. I frowned and looked around trying to pinpoint where the watching feeling was coming from, my eyes flicked back and forth my anxiety spiked when I felt a large presence behind us and I spun. Seeing the male entity that resided as the husband.

My eyes widened when the door slammed shut, locks appearing as if magic upon the door, my anxiety spiking further as Ryder moved to block the husband from grabbing me. I spun my fans now in hand as I defended behind him against the woman that was posing at the wife.

I stared at the woman down as her body morphed into the anomalies' true form, my jaw clenching gently in unease. My eyes stayed stuck on the beast that was once a human, my eyes narrowed as I sprung forward swiping my fan at it.

The wind power launched forward as it sliced at the entity, my body moved with lethal precision as I sliced again and again the entity dodged all the blades of wind. My arms extended as I growled in frustration at its movements and defense.

“Ryder?” I called back to him, to make sure he was alright, my eyes leaving the entity near me to look back. The male entity was standing over Ryder tall and opposing fear wracked my body when it's hungry gaze fell to me.

“Do you realize how hard we worked to fit in? How hard was it for us to find this perfect little location?” The male entity spat, its venom obvious and I inched closer to Ryder who stood firm in defiance against the male.

“But because of some nosy children, we have to restart.” He growled out launching forward and avoiding Ryder’s attack aiming straight for me, my body moved quickly as I dodged its attack.

“It's not our fault you got sloppy.” I snarled in return throwing a jeweled blade slicing into the flesh of the entity, eliciting a blood curdling screech as I kept pulling on the bladed fan tearing more of the being.

“You b***h!” The female entity screeched, launching at me quickly, tackling me and knocking me on my back and I let out a yell of shock as I landed, my vision blurring at the contact my head made with the floor.

“Rosaleen!” Ryder yelled as the female entity went to bite into my shoulder, a flash and a card had whizzed above my face slicing into the female entity. The card still whipped around and sliced the entity again and again, the movements were sharp and jolting like an erratic attack.

I gasped as the oxygen sucked quickly back into my lungs, and I pushed myself back, sitting up and letting out a sharp exhale of fear and grabbing my fans, putting them up to defend myself if one of the beings would attack.

“Rose… Are you okay? Hey Love, you okay? Look at me.” He said, crouching in front of me now, his hands on my cheeks as he stared at me, his thumb stroking my cheek gently.

“Yeah. Just winded, I think I cracked a rib… But I am okay.” I coughed slightly, blowing some of my hair from my features as I stared back at a concerned Ryder.

“Okay… Let’s go, we need to get back to Darkwick, come on.” His British accent was heavy and he helped me stand back up, the atmosphere felt lighter since we eliminated the entities and I coughed again.

“Come on.” He coaxed as he wrapped his arms around my upper body protectively, I followed and moved from him quickly.

We moved fast and efficiently out of the community, my heeled boots clicking firmly as I sped up, my hands shaking and the fans back on their charm and Ryder was on my heels as we left.

We got to the galaxy express, I boarded and sat down winded my lungs screaming for oxygen as I panted head in my hands. I looked up at Ryder who seemed wholly unaffected by the run, he watched me worry clearly in his clear blue eyes still.

“Petal. Are you okay?” He sat down next to me, his arm reaching around and turning me to look at him, my black tired eyes studying him for a moment as I hung my head.

“Yeah, I am okay now. Just. Need to catch my breath thank you Ryder… You saved my life.” I said looking at him now, my eyes wide as my lip quivered slightly tears pricked my eyes slightly as I stared at Ryder.

“Of course, it’s the least I can do for you Darling~” He said softly, his voice calm and his hand resting on my cheek. Brushing his thumb under my eye as a tear slipped from my eye, and I swallowed the grief that started to pour from my heart.

“I…” I went to speak but my voice cracked as I stopped talking, my eyes burned slightly as tears began to fall and Ryder’s face fell softly as he pulled me closer. His arms wrapping around me as he hugged me tightly again, I sobbed softly into his chest, his hand brushing over my hair softly.

“Shhh…” He whispered softly into my hair, his hands gentle and reassuring, he kissed the top of my head gently as I sobbed softly. My arms wrapped around his chest slightly, my chest hurting slightly similar to the feeling I felt when I was breaking down in front of Alan.

Ryder hummed softly, rocking gently as he rubbed gentle circles into my back after a little while I stopped, drained and tired again. I leaned on Ryder now curled into him pretty much, I found his aura a lifeline and I was going to cling onto it best I could.

“I won’t let you go Petal… I promise as long as I am alive and I bleed red, I am not going anywhere…” He confessed kissing the top of my head once again, I nodded mutely as I stayed where I was slowly falling asleep.

“I am never leaving… Not with how you make me feel…” He whispered out softly, thinking I was asleep and I curled more into him, my head still resting on his lap.

“Thank you…” I whispered which made him jump but he just smiled and ran his hand through my hair.

“Anything for you Love.” He hummed softly, letting me doze. I let out a soft sigh, my body relaxing as I napped for a few minutes.

The express stop woke me up and I was up and awake just as Ryder was about to wake me up, he looked at me amazed as I smiled slightly my hands in my pockets as I stood.

“Wait.” He said firmly, I stopped right as I stepped onto the train station at the school. I turned and Ryder was standing over me not in an intimidating manner, my eyes stared up at him confused as he raised his hand to my cheek gently.

I didn’t move as his hand cupped my cheek, I was confused but still stared up at him, my eyes searching his eyes too as he smiled softly.

“I… Have something I wanted to tell you… These last few days talking and working this case with you… Has been wonderful…” He said softly, his eyes searching over my own features as he continued.

“I like you… A lot… But.” He said softly, his blue eyes searching and stormy in thought as he huffed slightly. I could tell a lot was on his mind but I couldn’t tell what it was.

“I like Alan too.” He said his eyes finally met mine, my jaw dropped slightly as the breath caught in my throat as I tried to recollect my words.

“Me too…” I whispered which caught his attention, his eyes widening slightly as he slowly started to click together what I had meant. His mouth opened and closed slightly like a fish, but his lips finally closed and he smiled slightly. Leaning forward and speaking into my ear softly.

“Well isn’t that a surprise my delicate little Petal, looks like it really is meant to be if we both fell for him.” He whispered softly, making me shiver gently. My hands were shaking slightly as I swallowed softly.

I looked up at Ryder as he pulled back, staring at me quietly. I stared back as my eyes flicked across his features as my eyes began to burn again but not in a bad way, I was being overwhelmed by the feelings that were flowing through me like a raging ocean.

“I need… I…” I tried to get out but the overwhelm was too much and my voice cracked slightly as I bit my lip, he smiled running his thumb over my lower lip pulling it from my teeth.

“Take your time, but keep in mind, any man aside from me or Alan touch you may not have a hand.” He said, I couldn’t tell if he was joking or not and I looked up at him in shock.