(SSSC)Black Rose, page 1

The minute passed as if it was an hour, the fear and anticipation building within her. Where was he? He was usually waiting for her. Terrible thoughts began to race through her head. But suddenly it was over, the clock struck midnight with its loud, resonating voice. She could hear him stirring now, and for a moment, her fear disappeared. It’s Black Rose, she said, this time louder now that he was awake. Enter, Black Rose, came the reply, and she almost wondered if it was an echo she heard. But out of the almost complete darkness of the other side of the room, she could just barely see the outline of his familiar form. She breathed a loud sigh of relief and exclaimed, “There you are, what were you doing hiding from me like that? Trying to scare me or something?” she laughed a nervous laugh because he still had not yet emerged from the darkness. His reply came delayed, a low mumble, “This is the last night, Rose.” What could be wrong? thought Rose. He never acted this way. Maybe he was always a little mysterious, but never like this. What could he be trying to do to her? Fear seized her once again. “Where are you? What’s wrong?” she said, tears stinging her eyes. Then she saw him. It was definitely him, but he seemed so different. “Come here my Black Rose.”

She hesitated a moment, then slowly, silently walked to the place where he dwelt in the shadows. He suddenly grabbed her hand, and she muffled as scream of surprise. His hand was so cold, so pale. For a moment she wondered if it was not him but a corpse. “This is the last night, Black Rose,” he said again. “Why? What do you mean?” asked Rose. He pulled her closer and whispered, “Are you afraid?” “N-no,” she replied although she was truly terrified. Then he said in a barely audible voice, “I am no longer from the world of the living.” What? You mean your dead? she thought or whispered, she didn’t know which. He kissed her, and his lips felt so cold, but she suddenly didn’t care. This was their last night together. “Do you want to come with me Rose?” he asked. She thought for a moment about what he meant, but she already knew the answer. Her choice was to come with him and die or stay alive without him. “Yes,” she said, all of her fear gone. She would leave this world behind forever. “We must hurry, my time here is almost over,” he said “You won’t have time to say goodbye. Are you still sure you want to come with me?” She thought of her family, her life she would leave behind and felt an unbearable pain inside her chest. But she had already made her choice; she would not go back on her word. “What must I do to come with you?” she asked. Her answer came when she looked to her side and saw a shining, jeweled dagger. Fear clouded her mind once again at the realization of what she must do. “Time is almost up, Black Rose.” She looked at the clock, then at him, and took the dagger in her hand. With he eyes closed and heart racing, she whispered, “Tell me when.” “One, two, three.......,” and in one quick motion she plunged the dagger into her heart.