What did they mean? I knew who I was, didn't I? I was Rosalia Mallory, a girl left on the doorstep of our town's foster agency to find a new home. From there I went through three homes before at the age of 16 instead of having to live in the group h...
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Rosalia's POV:
Waking up I find myself back in the bed I had woken up in hours before. Shame floods through me at the memory of my own clumsiness. In my defence, I was seriously sleep-deprived and still am. The thought crosses my mind and I find myself sinking back into sleep.
Darkness. All around me. It's all I see. For a moment I think I'm back in the dark subterranean level where I used to be trapped in the cage Master Asher used to leave me in but there are no walls this time. No bars. Just pure darkness. Pushing down my rising nausea I close my eyes until a scene takes shape. I moan softly, knowing this one all too well. It's one of my most frequent nightmares.
The dimly lit dungeon room solidifies out of the darkness around me. I can see Hunter stood at one end and me at the other. His look of pain and resignation cuts to my heart and I try to move. Shackles clink at my ankles and I have to stop. My arms remain limp at my side. "You shouldn't have come." I can hear the tears in my voice but he doesn't seem to notice.
"Why? Don't you want me here? I can help." He comes over and I feel tears pooling in my eyes. Then he notices them and a pained expression shows in his eyes. "Rosa, Rosa talk to me."
"I told Ash to keep you away, Hunter it's not safe for you here. You need to go." I know I have to make him leave by the conviction just isn't in my voice. I already know how this will play out and am merely a passenger in my own body. Powerless to do anything other than letting the scene play out.
"Why aren't I safe Rosa? You're the one in chains in the dungeon. I - I have to help you." he sounds convinced and my heart cracks slightly. He catches sight of my tears. "Rosa, what's wrong?"
"You're in trouble, you need to leave. Now! Before it's too late." I try to convey my urgency with my eyes but he doesn't get it. He never does. It's always the same cycle. He arrives, finds me and tries to get me to let him help. But he never can. He's always too late.
"Too late for what....." He asks as another voice joins us.
"Brother, pleasure seeing you again." I shiver as I recognise Malachai's voice. Hunter stiffens and turns slowly. Upon seeing Malachai's taunting eyes I shrink back in fear. My instinct for self-preservation working to keep me alive. "Shame it had to be under these circumstances."
"Malachai," Hunter's tone is clipped and polite. "Whatever do you mean?" His back is to me but fear wins out and I clasp his hand tightly. Don't anger him. I think to him quickly.
I won't. He replies before addressing his brother out loud: "I don't know what you mean. She's not evil or dangerous."
"She. Is. A. HYBRIS!" Malachai's shout echoes emptily in the room and I cower with fear. Hunter stiffens but keeps a calm tone.
"What do you mean? All I see is a normal girl chained in our family's dungeon wrongly accused. How do you know what she is, assuming you're telling the truth that is."
