Chapter 2:
As Rose sat in front of the screen, the sound of rain creating a somber atmosphere, her mind began to wander back to her childhood. She was only 7 years old when tragedy struck. Her friend Dazzy had fallen from the chat while they were playing together, and Rose was consumed by guilt and grief. Everyone blamed her for the accident, including her own mother.
The memory of her mother's words still stung. "What have you done, Tala? You're supposed to be the older sibling, why can't you learn from your brother and sister? We'll never forgive you for this," her mother had said, her voice laced with disappointment and anger.
Dazzy's mother had chimed in, "Don't worry, Nita, we've already called the police." Rose's eyes widened in fear as she heard the word "police." She clung to her mother, tears streaming down her face. "Mum... Mum, I didn't do anything! We were just playing with toys, and Dazzy slipped and fell. I swear, I didn't do anything!"
But her pleas fell on deaf ears. Dazzy's mother slapped her, sending her tumbling to the ground. Rose's mother didn't intervene, seemingly numb to her daughter's pain. Just then, Rose's father, James, arrived on the scene. Without hesitation, he began beating Rose mercilessly. The police arrived, and James handed Rose over to them, saying nothing.
As the officers took Rose away, she caught a glimpse of her father's cold, unforgiving eyes. The last thing she remembered was being dragged away, screaming for her mother, before everything went black. She was taken to a mental asylum, a place where she would spend years trying to escape the guilt and trauma of that fateful day.
The memories still haunted Rose, and as she sat in front of the screen, the rain pouring down outside, she couldn't help but wonder if she would ever be able to escape the shadows of her past. The pain and the guilt still lingered, a constant reminder of the tragedy that had changed her life forever.
The memories of the mental asylum still lingered in Rose's mind like an open wound. The pain, the torture, the feeling of being trapped and helpless - it all came flooding back as she sat in front of the screen. The rain outside seemed to match the turmoil brewing inside her.
As the memories intensified, Rose's breathing quickened, and her heart began to pound in her chest. She felt like she was reliving the trauma all over again. The machines beeped faster, monitoring her rising stress levels.
In a panic, Jack quickly turned off the machine, fearing it might malfunction under the strain of Rose's emotions. "Rose, it's okay, it's okay," he said softly, trying to calm her down. "I'm here, you're safe."
But Rose was beyond consolation. The memories were too raw, too painful. She felt like she was drowning in a sea of despair, unable to escape the darkness that had haunted her for so long. Jack's words were like a lifeline, but they were barely audible over the din of her own thoughts.
As the machine fell silent, Rose's body began to relax, her breathing slowing down. But the emotional storm raging inside her was far from over. She knew she had to confront her demons head-on if she wanted to break free from the chains of her past. But for now, she just sat there, frozen in a mix of pain and fear, unsure of what the future held.
Jack looked worried, but I was even more anxious. I needed to know everything about Rose, but it seemed like an impossible task. Jack suggested we required an advanced machine to control Tala's thoughts, ensuring her safety. I asked him, "Tala?" Jack replied, "You didn't know? Her family calls her Tala, though we've known her as Rose all along. Maybe Tala is just a dream." I nodded, "Yeah, maybe it is."
Sophia approached Jack, inquiring, "Jack, why can't our machine be advanced?" Jack explained, "Sophia, it requires A++ coding, which only high-level scientists possess. They don't even need machines for their work."
Just then, my watch emitted a bright light, and a vision of my father appeared before me. Jack asked, surprised, "What's going on?" I casually replied, "My father's call." Jack's expression turned suspicious, "How did this technology get into your watch? Could someone have given it to you?"
Sophia intervened, "This technology belongs to Rowan's dad; he's a scientist." Jack's face lit up, "That's great! If Rowan talks to his dad, our work will become much easier." I pondered the idea, wondering if involving my father could indeed simplify our situation. With his expertise, we might finally uncover the truth about Rose, or Tala, and find a way to control her thoughts without putting her in harm.
I picked up my dad's call and handed it over to Jack. Jack introduced himself, "Sir, I'm Jack Kaif. You might know that we've found a girl in Sir Albert Arnold's cabin, who's been frozen for 150 years and is still alive."
My father's voice was filled with curiosity, "Yes, I've heard about it. Have you figured out her past...?" Jack interrupted, "Not yet, sir. Her mind is filled with thoughts that need to be controlled with an advanced machine."
My father's tone turned serious, "What do you plan to do, Jack?" Jack's voice was laced with determination, "Sir, we need your help. This case could make me a high-profile scientist, and I'm not alone; my team member Sophia is with me."
My father chuckled, "You don't need to beg, Jack. Show me the machine, and I'll fix the bugs." Jack handed him the machine through me, and my father worked his magic, fixing the issues in minutes.
"Now, there won't be any problems in uncovering the story," my father assured Jack. Jack thanked him profusely, and my father asked to speak to me. I took the call, and he said, "Rowan, Sophia's parents are coming over to our house today. Make sure you're not late, either of you."
I nodded, even though he couldn't see me, and ended the call. I felt a mix of emotions - relief that my father had helped Jack, but also a sense of responsibility, knowing that Sophia's parents were coming over. I wondered what the day had in store for us.
Jack suggested that we couldn't continue for the day and would resume collecting information about Tala from tomorrow at regular time. Sophia and I nodded in agreement. As I prepared to leave for home, I remembered that I had another meeting with a criminal to discuss writing their story.
I asked Jack for permission to leave, and as I turned to exit, I felt a sudden grip on my arm. It was Rose's hand. Her face was marred with bruises, and her clothes were stained with blood. I was taken aback, and my eyes widened in shock.
As I stared at her, I felt a strange sensation wash over me. Blood began to trickle from my nose, and my vision started to blur. The room around me began to spin, and I felt myself losing balance. Everything went dark, and I collapsed, unconscious.
The last thing I remembered was Rose's haunting gaze, her eyes filled with a mix of pain and desperation. I wondered what had happened to her, what kind of trauma she had endured. As I fell into the darkness, I couldn't shake off the feeling that I was somehow connected to her, that our fates were intertwined in ways I couldn't yet understand.
As I opened my eyes, my father was sitting in front of me, concern etched on his face. "Why did your nose bleed this time?" he asked gently. I hesitated, trying to process the events that had transpired. "Dad, it was Rose... I felt like she stood up and grabbed my arms. I don't know why, but I feel a deeper connection to her than I do to Sophia."
My father's expression turned thoughtful. "Rowan, some questions are better left unanswered for now. Maybe time will give you the answers, or maybe it will erase those questions from your mind forever." He paused, changing the subject. "Let's put that aside for now. Sophia's parents are downstairs, and they want to discuss your engagement. They need to return to Australia from London soon, so they want to finalize the arrangements quickly."
I nodded, still feeling a bit disoriented. We headed to the dining room, where Sophia, her parents, and my parents were waiting. The conversation turned to our wedding plans, and just as we were getting into the details, my brother Anthony walked in.
My relationship with Anthony was complicated. He was a scientist who had been banned from his field after conducting illegal experiments on humans. Now, he worked in robot manufacturing. We didn't often see eye-to-eye, and our conversations were strained.
Anthony greeted Sophia and her parents politely before excusing himself to his room. The tension between us was palpable, and I couldn't help but wonder what he was thinking. Was he still harboring resentment towards our family, or was he genuinely trying to move on? As the evening wore on, the discussion about our wedding plans continued, but my mind kept wandering back to Rose and the strange connection I felt to her.
As I lay in bed, drifting off to sleep, I felt an intense presence surrounding me. When I woke up, I found myself wrapped in Rose's arms, her grip tight around me. But as I looked into her eyes, the tightness slowly gave way to gentleness, and I felt a wave of comfort wash over me. I opened my arms, and Rose reciprocated, holding me close.
Our eyes locked, and I felt a spark of connection. I leaned in, and our lips met in a gentle kiss. It was as if the world around us had melted away, leaving only the two of us. But suddenly, Rose vanished, and I found myself in a desolate construction site.
I called out to her, my voice echoing through the empty space. "Rose, where are you?" I followed the sound of faint whispers, my heart racing with anticipation. And then, I saw my own lifeless body lying on the ground, Rose kneeling beside it, her eyes streaming with tears.
But her crying abruptly stopped, and she pulled out a cleaver from her pocket. With a chilling calmness, she plunged it into my abdomen, again and again, the brutal repetition sending shivers down my spine. I felt a scream tearing from my throat, and my eyes snapped open.
It was just a dream, but the horror lingered, leaving me drenched in sweat despite the chill of the night. The vividness of the nightmare made it impossible for me to shake off the feeling of dread. I lay awake, my mind racing with questions. What did this dream mean? And why did Rose's presence evoke such conflicting emotions in me? The darkness outside seemed to press in, and I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep again, fearing the return of that terrifying dream.
The next morning, I woke up feeling incredibly weak. After a quick shower and some food, I headed to the Archaeology department with Sophia. Today, I was determined to uncover the truth about Rose's life, no matter what. Ever since I met her, I'd been plagued by a sense of unease. One moment, I felt like she was trying to tell me something, and the next, I felt like she wanted to harm me.
As I walked to the department, my mind was a jumble of questions. What secrets was Rose hiding? What had happened to her in the past? I couldn't shake off the feeling that she was trying to communicate with me, but I couldn't quite decipher her messages. The conflicting emotions I felt towards her only added to my confusion.
Despite the turmoil in my mind, I pushed on, determined to find answers. Finally, I arrived at the department, ready to face whatever lay ahead. I was resolute in my pursuit of the truth about Rose's life, and I wouldn't rest until I uncovered it. With a deep breath, I steeled myself for what was to come, hoping that today would bring me closer to understanding the enigmatic Rose.
To be continue...