Text My Frozen Roses [A Novel]

[TheApprenticeofKingMickey 3,689]

8D

 

D8

 

WHAI LEXI WHAI

[Think Pink 1,967]

BECAUSE JAYDEN BELONGS TO ME.<33

[TheApprenticeofKingMickey 3,689]

BECAUSE JAYDEN BELONGS TO ME.<33

 

FUQ U HE DOES NOT

[Think Pink 1,967]

FUQ U HE DOES NOT

 

DIDN'T YOUR MOMMY TELL YOU NOT TO LIE?

[TheApprenticeofKingMickey 3,689]

 

DIDN'T YOUR MOMMY TELL YOU NOT TO LIE?

 

I CAN'T LIE

[coolwings 1,546]

Wow this is awesome.... Great work

[Think Pink 1,967]

Chapter 9

 

I realized that no one had woken me up. Sunlight didn't shine in, considering we were in a crudely constructed underground hole, but I knew it had to be morning. Saxon was fiddling around on his laptop, while Mackenzie and Jayden were squished beside me, asleep. Mackenzie was curled up in a neat little ball with her back to me, and Jayden was snoring loudly, sprawled half out of his sleeping bag in an awkward-looking position. I giggled at the sight, and then slowly sat up. I felt a little dizzy, but oddly refreshed.

 

"Hey, Saxon," He glanced up tiredly. "No one woke me up for my rotation on fire watch." Saxon shrugged half-heartedly, and went back to pounding the keys on his laptop. "I'm going to go for a walk. Try to come up with some sort of plan. Okay?"

 

"Sure, you do that," He yawned, and his bright red glasses slipped until they were falling off. Saxon rubbed them clean pointlessly with his dirty t-shirt before re-applying them. "Knock yourself out."

 

I kept close by the safehouse to avoid anymore confrontations with KV. I was walking in a large, oddly shaped oval. No plan really stood out to me other than the obvious one. The immediate plan that came to mind, though it was reckless and stupid. There was always the option of barging in to the Realm and beating KV up or something. Not that such a plan would go over well.

 

I heard a crunching sound behind me. Quick and agile, and I whirled around, expecting to be face-to-face with a monster. Instead was Jayden's worried face. "What are you doing?"

 

"Just walking around," I answered in confusion. I didn't understand why he seemed so upset.

 

"I woke up and Saxon said you'd gone for a walk and had been gone two hours. We thought something must have happened." He blurted, those green eyes glittering.

 

I shook my head and reached out to hold his hand. "I'm fine. I didn't realize it'd been so long--I was just thinking. I don't know what we should do. We need some sort of plan. Some goal. Just some direction to take."

 

"I guess winging it is an option to." His voice took a more serious tone. "I've been thinking too. What if we tried to incite some sort of counter rebellion?"

 

"Counter rebellion?" I repeated. "I don't think I follow."

 

"Like, KV rebelled against Cassidy and her system, although the Realm's government was absolutely fine. He just wanted to be in power. So we get everyone to back us up in rebelling against his rebellion. It puts Cassidy back in power, and since almost the entire population of the Realm hates this new change of KV and his rebels being in charge, we'd have tons of support. It's a good idea, right?"

 

We had stopped walking, and as he spoke I had numbly watched his slightly chapped lips move. I hadn't even considered such an idea.

 

"But Jayden, the people in the Realm are scared. They don't want to be part of any rebellion. They all just want this to end." I pointed out slowly. I started biting my nails, and chipped away the neon pink polish Mackenzie had applied a few weeks ago. While most of the polish had faded on its own, I now made it my mission to get rid of the remaining bits. "I just don't know about that."

 

He seemed inspired, and his emerald eyes were full of excitement. "Come on, Hope! You know we can do it! Saxon can use all his crazy computer stuff to find more people online, and Mackenzie's such an optimist. It'll work! It's going to take time, but it will!"

 

I bit my lip nervously. "What if it doesn't work? KV's going to be furious. He'll kill us and the people we get to protest with us."

 

Jayden didn't lose his enthusiasm. "But it will work! KV hasn't structured any kind of government, and his army isn't well trained. We have to do it soon, while he's still weak and his army his in chaos."

 

Before I had a chance to answer, I heard whispers. The whispers grew into shouts in a matter of seconds. The shouts chanted in familiar voices, "Bad idea. Bad idea little children. Bad idea."

 

I already knew what was coming before I watched KV poof into existence between Jayden and I. He grabbed our wrists gently. "Let's not put up a fight, children," The light started to swirl and I knew we were heading for the Realm. I didn't even have a chance to reach for Sidekick, and we were already in the palace he'd managed to degrade. I ripped my arm away, and saw that there were KV's rebels guards everywhere. They were armed, and one pulled the trigger and shot Sidekick out of my grip.

 

I almost screamed, but fought down the feeling of rising terror. I glanced back and tried to find Jayden. Two of the rebels, with heavy masks that looked they they were from a video game, were in my face. Their voices were distorted through the headgear. "Don't reach for the sword." One snapped harshly. I started to back up in horror, but tripped over myself like a klutz.

 

Jayden screamed, and I strained to see around the rebels. "Jayden!?" I called fearfully. This was answered by another scream. I couldn't see him, and I jumped to my feet in horror.

 

The rebel who had spoken before pushed me back to the ground and spun his gun in a manner meant to intimidate. "Can't move for right now. KV wants you to wait right here."

[TheApprenticeofKingMickey 3,689]

:ooooooooooooooooo

 

Why am I the only that comments after Lexi posts a chapter right away?

[Think Pink 1,967]

I WISH IT WAS MORE THAN YOU.<333

 

Chapter 10

I wasn’t checkmated often, but this was one of those rare occasions. I stared up hopelessly at the guns trained on me. The circle of bulky rebels loaded with gear made it impossible for me to see Jayden. The screaming had stopped at the very least.

 

At some signal I missed, the rebels lowered their weapons and backed away. KV’s twenty-something tanned face was a few feet away. He knelt down beside me. Sidekick was gone, but I raised my fists.

 

“No need to be so angry. I have no gain from killing you.” He apparently thought this was going to calm me down.

“Is he hurt?” I barely whispered.

 

KV shrugged noncommittally, and put a hand on my shoulder. I flinched away, and he sighed furiously. “I’m not going to kill you. I have an idea, though. And it will bring no harm to either you or any of your… allies.” When I didn’t respond, KV elaborated. “Jayden seems reluctant to the thought of training my army. So I thought, what have brilliant minds used for centuries to get what they want?” His dark eyes implored me, somehow expecting me to guess whatever he was thinking. “They use blackmail.”

 

Even KV didn’t have a chance to react when I punched him. I couldn’t do much more, because his rebels immediately reached to restrain me. He rubbed his cheek, already starting to color, and shot me a spiteful look. “You hadn’t let me finish, idiot!” He stomped the ground like a child throwing a temper tantrum. “I said I wasn’t going to hurt you!” He glowered, and tried to control his erratic breathing. A moment later, his voice a forced calm, he finished. “I found some amazing books in Cassidy’s Royal Library. One was quite intriguing. It was on erasing memories and I think I’ve mastered the skill. Now, you’ll truly have to forgive me, because I specifically told Jayden, ‘you can either agree to work for me, or I will make you’. And he said he’d never help me. This is his punishment. I am sincerely regretful that you have to be dragged in.”

 

I was beginning to connect the dots, and I stammered, unable to produce any real words. KV shook his head. “Don’t be so afraid. It doesn’t hurt. I’ll restore all of your memories as soon as Jayden agrees.”

 

“Don’t—” I started, but KV patted my head softly.

 

“This shouldn’t take long, Hope,” He started to murmur something, and dark black light enveloped us both.

 

Chapter 11[Jayden]

 

I had fallen asleep at some point. KV had left me alone in the room for so long I’d lost any hope of getting out on my own. I rubbed my eyes groggily, and knew it’d probably been a few hours. When I awoke, though, KV had returned and was sitting in a wooden chair that matched the rest of the room. I didn’t understand how he’d gotten inside, considering the room was perfectly empty, including the lack of a door.

 

KV cocked his head at me, and I got to my feet, surprised at how slow I was.

 

“I think rest has probably helped you come to a more rational conclusion?”

 

I glared at him, and laughed darkly. “I don’t think I’ll ever come to your idea of a ‘rational conclusion’.”

 

“Really? Well it’s good that I brought a few bargaining tools.” He waved his arm, and a black portal appeared. Two rebels came in, and between them was Hope.

 

I ran over, relieved, and hugged Hope tightly. “Are you okay?”

 

She wriggled out of my arms, and I gave her a weird look. KV laughed somewhat hysterically, and I turned back to him.

 

“I said I was bringing bargaining tools, not a reunion. I learned a great memory erasing spell and it worked flawlessly on Hope.” Her confused stare suddenly made a lot more sense.

 

“Hope?” I asked softly, horrified.

 

KV chuckled again. “She won’t remember you. She’s not going to remember her Guardians, either. Hell, we had to tell her what her name is.” The laughter in his voice faded. “More on topic, though, she’ll never remember anything ever again if you don’t help me.”

 

I didn’t believe him. He’d convinced Hope that he’d do something if she didn’t play along with this silly story. “Hope, please, you’re freaking me out. Don’t play along with KV. He can’t hurt us,”

 

“I…” She hesitated. “I don’t remember you. I’m sorry,”

 

I clenched my teeth, and looked pleadingly at KV. “Will you give all of her memories back if I do help you? All of them?”

 

KV waved his hand. “Well, I’d need to see how well you did before I could agree to such a thing.”

 

“But if I do really well you’ll fix her?” I pressed.

 

He nodded silently.

 

“I—I,” I glanced back at Hope’s blank face. “I’ll help you as long as you swear to change her back.”

 

“I think we have a deal. Thank you for being so reasonable for once.” KV said politely before ushering his rebels and Hope back through the portal. I bit my lip, afraid to see her go. If she didn’t have her memories, then she didn’t remember how to fight, or even who the enemy was. “You can start tomorrow.”

[TheApprenticeofKingMickey 3,689]

I think uh oh is an understatement.

[Sora's Baby 729]

Hope....

[Namine` 28]

evillllll KV.........

[Think Pink 1,967]

Thank you for all the comments and support! I adore getting comments to see if you guys like it!

 

Chapter 12 [Jayden]

I didn’t sleep. I curled up against the wall, the only warm place in the entire room. I thought up stupid escape plan after stupid escape plan. But none of them were useable, considering Hope didn’t remember me, and I didn’t even know where she was. I sighed miserably. My chest literally hurt thinking about Hope and how scared I was for the both of us.

 

Since the room was dimly lit, I couldn’t tell how late or early it was. KV finally came in and urged me through a portal without a word.

 

When I walked through, I was in the palace courtyard. The once beautiful landscape was almost ugly now. Without daily attendance, the flowers had all withered and died. The stone pathways were dirty, with soda cans and junk littering them. Many of the flowerbeds had been pulled up to reveal the ugly dirt underneath, and clear a large space.

 

“You’ll teach them here.” KV motioned towards the dirt area.

 

“Teach them what?” I asked, hoping against hope that Saxon’s theory was wrong.

 

Of course, it wasn’t.

 

“Teach them to shift,”

 

I swallowed, and knew my next card had to be played cautiously. “I don’t believe there’s a way to teach a regular person to shift. Shifters are born as shifters, not trained to shift.” I explained.

 

KV gave me a creepy smirk. “You think I don’t know that? There are spells I can use but, considering they would not have your level of experience at shifting, you’d need to teach them how it works and whatever else.”

 

It took me a moment to comprehend that. “You can make anyone a shifter just using a spell?”

 

KV laughed, and waved his finger like he was scolding a child. “Now, now, I don’t think you’re in much of a position to be asking questions. They’re at breakfast momentarily, but they should be out any minute now. Better teach quickly,” He winked and disappeared.

 

Tears pooled in the corners of my eyes. How was I supposed to teach them anything about shifting? I could hardly do anything more than just shift back and forth. I wiped them away weakly, and heard the clamor of approaching rebels. I took a deep breath and steadied myself. It wasn’t like I had many options.

 

Chapter 13 {Hope}

 

The two men who were guarding me had fallen asleep. Their guns were crookedly hanging out of their arms. I didn’t dare move, even when they were sleeping.

 

I hadn’t any idea what to do or where to go. People talked about things I knew I should understand, but didn’t. I asked question after question until one of the guards got angry and told me I wasn’t allowed to ask anything else.

 

Though I was working off theories more than anything else, I had decided that these guards were probably enemies. I didn’t remember why, though. But who else would be holding me in one place, and waving guns around? It didn’t exactly make a good impression.

 

We were ‘waiting’ in an enormous, decorative hallway. Footsteps clattered against the polished wooden floors, and I turned to see their source.

 

It was the man I’d seen when I’d first woken up. He’d politely explained that he was named KV, and I had severe amnesia. He never clarified what from, though. He scared me, despite the kindness he displayed.

 

“Hello, Hope, remembering much today?” He asked casually.

 

I didn’t know why, but I craved to talk to someone. KV happened to be all that was available, and he seemed nice enough. “Actually, yeah,” I answered optimistically . “Not much, but some names. Makayla, or Mackenzie or something. And a few other ones. Oh, and a little piece! It’s of walking around in the woods with someone talking about coming up with a plan.”

 

Instead of the posative reply I was expecting, KV grabbed my shoulders roughly and growled, “Don’t try to remember anything else. Forget all of it. Don’t mess this up, Hope.”

 

My mouth had dropped into a little ‘o’ of surprise, and KV let go, fuming. “Don’t bring it up again!”

 

I rubbed my arms, and watched him leave.

 

As he was walking away, a crowd of animals came barelling down. Vicious-looking lions and wolves, bears and panthers.

 

I screamed, and shoved on the guards to wake them. “Wake up! Wake up! Shoot them!” I shrieked as the animals got nearer.

 

One of the guards shoved me out of the way to see. He laughed and laid back in his chair again. “Just shifters,”

 

“They’re going to kill us!” I yelped, shaking in fear.

 

The pack abruptly halted, and the terrifying brown wolf seeming to lead them shivered, and shined. When the shine disappeared there was a boy.

 

I practically fainted. I was truly going nuts.

 

He waved his hand at the animals. “Shift!”

 

More light shined, and they all appeared as humans, too. I put my hand to my forehead to check for a fever. “Ohmygod, ohmygod,” I chanted softly to myself.

 

The boy who had been the wolf took slow, measured steps towards me. “Hope—” He stopped and held his hands up. “Don’t worry, nobody’s going to hurt you.”

 

He was only a few steps away, and seemingly ready to turn back into a horrifying monster at any second. “I—I—don’t go back to being a monster.”

 

His expression changed, like the comment had hurt his feelings. He covered it quickly. “Do you remember my name?”

 

I shook my head wordlessly. He sighed and kicked the ground.

 

“Jayden. Does it ring any bells?”

 

Actually, it rang that bell quite loudly. KV had seemed lethal, though, when he told me not to share anything I remembered. He wasn’t a force I wanted to tangle with.

 

“No,” I whispered.

 

He sighed again, and nodded. “Look at the back of your right hand.”

 

I already had observed the tattoo there, but looked again anyway. The same tattoo was on his right hand. “Remember that it’s there. And try to to remember my name, too,” He sounded cheerful, but his eyes were clouded.

 

He took a few steps away before letting the light cover him and turn him back into a wolf. He barked at the group of people, who then turned back into the terrifying pack of animals. They trotted off to my left.

 

I looked back at the tattoo. It was a compass with an intricate and colorful hummingbird on top, and the words Altus Vir.It was pretty, but I didn’t know why I’d even get it. There must’ve been some meaning to it that I didn’t remember. Although not remembering something that I knew I should was becoming all too familiar.

[Sora's Baby 729]

I'm gald Hope's alright.

[TheApprenticeofKingMickey 3,689]

Latin's good.

[Think Pink 1,967]

Latin's good.

 

I figured it was fairly universal.

[Sora's Baby 729]

I figured it was fairly universal.

 

Well it is the root of most languages.

[Think Pink 1,967]

Well it is the root of most languages.

 

Technically not most, considering there are hundreds and it's only the root of the five romance languages. But I was like, eh, besides English and German, it's really all I know. xDD

[Sora's Baby 729]

Technically not most, considering there are hundreds and it's only the root of the five romance languages. But I was like, eh, besides English and German, it's really all I know. xDD

 

Well okay.

[Think Pink 1,967]

Sorry for the chapter delay. As always, I appreciate comments more than anything!

 

Chapter 14 [Jayden]

 

It was a tedious first day. It felt never ending, and the rebels would play pranks on me and shove me around. One even loaded his gun and aimed it at me, laughing a tad hysterically. The black curves of it were only an inch a way from my face--I could even read the tiny 'Springfield Armory' text engraved into the barrel.

 

When the sun was beginning to set and my stomach practically screaming, KV called his rebels inside with promises of dinner. He walked towards me like the villain in a movie—slow and terrifyingly.

 

“I trust that they’re coming along well?” KV asked, gazing up at the sunset. Sunsets in the Realm were different from those on Earth. Instead of warm, colorful tones, they were black and grayish, almost fading into the coming night itself. Everyone who'd grown up in the Realm seemed to enjoy it, but I thought it was just plain creepy.

 

“Yeah,” I replied curtly, and glanced towards the palace. My stomach growled angrily to emphasize my point. The camouflaged shirt KV had provided me with fluttered in the light breeze. Even at night, the heat in the Realm was stifling. I glanced down at the pattern, avoiding looking at KV. It faintly resembled the outdated tigerstripe pattern of the Vietnam era.

 

“Good—it’s nice to know that even true failures can be somewhat decent at something.” I ignored the comment, and he gave me a curious look. “I honestly don’t understand something. How can you stay here? I haven’t a well trained army yet, and you could easily escape. Why bother even keeping up this pretense of barter with Hope?”

 

“Pretense?” I repeated numbly, not understanding what he was implying. I scratched the back of my head nervously. "Listen--"

 

KV waved his hand absentmindedly. “We all know it’s a sham, Jayden—”

 

“You mean it’s fake? You lied!?” My voice climbed an octave. I couldn't feel much. My body felt lifeless, and so did my mind. Moving my lips to speak felt like a God-given miracle.

 

“Let’s be mature here, Jayden. The Prophecies have never been wrong before. And it predicts that if I don’t act, she’ll topple everything I have created. She will ruin everything. I might as well rid myself of her while she can’t fight back. It may be low, but no one ever wins by being honorable.” KV laughed airily, as if we were talking about football and not Hope’s life. He had taken his gaze down from the sky, the sun having set fully. The dead plants around us swayed slightly as another breeze battered us.

 

I sputtered, unable to even conjure up a sentence for the frustration inside of me. “We’re talking about a fourteen-year-old! She’s still legally a kid! We all are!” I screeched, waving my hands stupidly in exaggeration. “That’s—that’s murder!”

 

KV pretended to look offended. “Such a dirty word from such a young child, as you so referred to yourself. Think of it this way—it’s a public service. There’ll be chaos if she tries to stop everything I’ve started. Think of how many people’s lives will be disrupted.”

 

“Only because you started everything!” I could hardly believe what I was hearing. My numbness was beginning to subside, giving way to unbridled fury.

 

KV’s amused expression faded. “I’m beginning the greatest empire this world has ever seen or ever will see. I’m not instigating the monstrosity the Prophecy predicts—she is! History may view you as the so-called ‘heroes’, but you’re not innocent. You fight back. You can’t plead that you’ve never interfered. I do not know how this is going to end, Jayden, but it will not be ending in your favor. Don’t begin blaming the true innocents.”

 

I couldn’t even contain the building rage inside of me. I punched KV as hard as I could, and then shifted. I could do a lot more damage as a wolf than an angry kid without a weapon. Two masses pressed me flat to the ground before I could swipe at KV.

I growled, and struggled under the weight. I realized the masses restraining me were the rebels I’d taught how to shift earlier. I squirmed, but they were too heavy. Eventually, I wore myself out and stopped moving. I didn’t have the energy to stay shifted much longer, and I knew they’d crush me if I turned back. I whimpered, unable to speak in my current form, hoping they’d get the message.

 

The immense pressure lightened, and I shifted again. Breathing heavily, I lay sprawled across the paved stone walkway. KV bent down to meet my eyes.

 

“I hope you have the intelligence to know when a fight cannot be won.” He said tonelessly before walking away. The shifters who had piled on me urged me to my feet. My legs shook, and felt almost like they’d been shattered.

 

I couldn’t seem to pay attention as they led me to my doorless, windowless room. I could hardly even recall my raging hunger. All I could comprehend was pain.

 

I wasn’t sure what hurt worse. Was it the brutal pain of being almost crushed by shifters triple your weight? Or was it knowing that someone you couldn’t stop was plotting to kill the ones you loved? I was barely concious, and wasn’t really able to discern.

 

There was a beautifully familiar voice, though. Talking to me softly, calling me, teasing me and laughing in a carefree way. It was a laugh I didn’t hear often out of Hope. I didn’t see her, but I heard the voice. Was I hallucinating? I chuckled in outrage. How many people were capable of realizing when they were hallucinating? Apparently me, at least.

 

Fuzzy black at the edges of my vision began to creep inwards. Before the blackness overtook everything, I saw Hope everywhere, her face repeated a million times over.

[Namine` 28]

love Love LOVE THIS STORY!!!!!!

[Think Pink 1,967]

Yay! <33 I'm glad y'all like it.

[Think Pink 1,967]

Chapter 15 [Jayden]

 

My eyes felt heavy--almost watery. The scorching heat and blinding sunlight finally woke me. Sunlight? I bolted upright in surprise. I couldn't comprehend where I was at first. I was posative I'd fallen asleep in the empty room, not somewhere outdoors.

 

I caught sight of a familiar face. Hope's eyes were vacant, and she stared blankly ahead, sitting cross-legged beside me. A look I recognized as one of well-concealed terror. I wanted to hug her, to comfort her, but I knew without her memories I was probably scary rather than a source of confidence. "What's going on?" I whispered.

 

I realized that KV was a few meters away, up on a raised platform, speaking loudly into a microphone. Before him was a vast audience, all posed uncomfortably in folding metal chairs. I looked back to Hope, but she was silent. She inclined her head forward, letting her hair obscure her face. She sniffled, and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand.

 

KV shot me a look that seemed to say I really hope you're paying attention. I tried to comprehend what he was saying despite his rapid pace. It sounded legal--like the verdict of a trial. When his language became more understandable, he seemed to be summing up whatever point he had been trying to make.

 

"Therefore it is a disgrace--no, it is a horrible mistake to keep them alive here as prisoners. Wasting the crown's money and resources, always having the possibility of escaping. It goes against every law we have instituted, but I think we can all make an exception for these four abominations."

 

Four. I glanced around, knowing he had to be referring to Saxon and Mackenzie, but they were nowhere in sight. I turned back to face KV. I couldn't really seem absorb his words, but Hope seemed able. She was crying softly into her palm.

 

"It would be best for this entire empire if we extract the nessecary information and then kill them." His voice was almost mocking. I still wasn't really grasping. I had heard him, but it seemed like a dream. Like a nightmare that I would wake up from. I wasn't really here. I had to be dreaming this. It would never, ever come to this.

 

KV patted his hands downwards, signaling the antsy crowd to quiet itself and sit. Hope pushed her hair back behind her ears and looked over at me, face streaked with tears. "I remember some of it." She whispered, barely audible. "Some--some parts about you. And about other people I think I might have been friends with. I think I--I, were were ever... did I..." Hope seemed unsure, and then fell silent.

 

"You remember me?" I echoed gently, feeling the way my eyebrows lifted hopefully.

 

"I--I think so. Not everything, but enough," She threw her arms around my neck, and I sat shocked. She'd remembered all on her own, despite whatever freakish spell KV had casted? I returned her embrace, and stared in awe. I wanted to jump up and down and shout, but there was a teensy tiny roadblock. Hope sort of remembered me, but there might not ever be a chance for her to remember more. After all, we had just been sentenced to die.

[TheApprenticeofKingMickey 3,689]

D'aww.

[Sora's Baby 729]

T_T Death.....T_T