Every Rose Has Its Thorns

Sorry, I didn’t know

They were just accidents. He let his mind wander to that day; he couldn’t think about what actually happened. Vin sighed and nodded. It’d been a while since he had someone vocalize they believed in him. It was nice. “Alright, I’ma try again,” a smile in his voice. The boy looked at Rose for a brief second before turning to the hologram. This time, the voices remained in the background of his mind. Vin paid them no attention, instead focusing all of it onto Rose and her smile, the warmth that she gave off. A grin formed on his face; the hologram was still standing, unharmed. “ROSE! I- It! You!” He spun to look towards her.

Rose smiled as she watched the confidence build up in Vincent, happy that he wouldn’t give up. When he stood there for a moment and the hologram stayed still, almost looking bored, Rose smiled even wider. “That was all you, Vinny. You did that.” She walked over to him, placing her hand on his arm. “We’re not monsters, Vinny. We never were.”

Sorry, I didn’t know

Her voice only made him smile larger when she said was crazy as well. Albeit it was a sad one, it was still a smile. He didn’t know if she’d still like him after her told her about his family, how they died. The sadness seeped away when she smiled brighter. I promise I won’t leave you. This was all the confirmation he needed for the time being. She placed a kiss on his forehead before reminding him it was his turn. Shoving himself off the ground, he turned towards the hologram. It was almost taunting to him. Taking a deep breath, he set his mind to the current task. “Sometimes, I get distracted and I end up blacking out. I’ve killed people this way.” Remorse lathered his voice. Vincent, once you tell her, she’ll leave you. He shook his head vigorously. He wasn’t falling for it this time. No, go away. The internal battle etched across his face. Vin focused on his breathing again; this time, the hologram seemed not to react to him. It was still acting normal. Thoughts of Rose were floating about his mind. Hey, if this is what I needed to think about, I’d done it sooner. The longer he thought about it, the happier he got. Until the voice reared its head again. Careful Vincent, don’t gloat too much. With this, the hologram shrieked in pain as steaming liquid ooze from its skin, killing it.

The girl sighed as he said that he had killed people as well. “It’s okay. They were just accidents. You never meant to do those things.” She watched as he was silent for a moment, her eyes flicking between the hologram and Vincent. When the hologram screamed and fell dead again, Rose gave Vincent a reassuring smile. “Don’t listen to the voices, Vinny. They don’t mean anything. You can do this. I believe in you.”

Sorry, I didn’t know

Sobs still shook the boys frame. They weren’t going anywhere fast. Her voice was soothing as she spoke. “Vinny… Look at me. I’m not going to leave you.” A smile was on her face and it comforted him some. He rocked back and forth now, just enough to keep her hand on his back. “I would never leave you. I like you too much.” Tears stained his face; his breathing labored. She doesn’t mean it, Vincent. She’s going to leave. They all do. Vinny finally locked eyes with her. Fear etched into his mahogany brown eyes. “Rose, I’m a fucked up person.” His voice shook, “I’m crazy, Rose, and not the good kind of crazy. I’m not good. Not for you. Not for me.” A slight sigh escaped his lips. This was crazy; he was literally crazy, but he knew better. He knew he wouldn’t be able to stay away from her. “I like you too much too,” he confessed as he adjusted himself to better see her; the sobs completely subsided. Honestly, it felt like forever that he’d known her. “I promise not leave if you do,” a narrow smile formed on his face.

#c: bloodcurdvinny #she's ready

It hurt Rose to see the boy cry. She sighed, continuing to rub his back. “I’m fucked up, too, Vinny. I killed people - that’s about as crazy as they get.” A smile spread across her face once again as she saw him smile. “Good.I’m glad you like me. I promise I won’t leave you. I honestly don’t know what I would do without you.” She placed a light kiss on his forehead, smiling brightly. “I believe it’s your turn to practice, yes?”

Sorry, I didn’t know

He mulled the thought over in his mind. Yes, yes, yes. That was it. “So, you thought of something else? And it only happened when you thought about it?” A smile formed on his face as he watched her. Hand moved down, a giggle immersed from her. A smile formed on her already beautiful face. All this time… Afraid… You. “You thought about me? I’m not afraid, Rose; I have no reason to be. I know you’re not going to hurt me.” He said it confidently; even though he’d only known her for maybe an hour, he trusted her. Trusted she wouldn’t harm him. A sigh escaped from his lips as he locked eyes with her, face turning a light pink. For a moment, all was calm; then he looked away and instantly regretted it.

Vincent, don’t trust her. Vincent, she’ll kill you. Vincent. The voices were back. He hit the ground in one fluid motion. “No. No. No. NO!” He couldn’t control his voice. “Please. I didn’t know. I didn’t mean to. I-I didn’t….” Tears threatened to spill over his lids. “Please, go away. I didn’t ask for this.” Hand met face repetitively, leaving dull red prints. Sobs shook his frame. “Rose, I’m sorry.” He turned his gaze back to the girl. “Please don’t leave.”

“Yeah. I thought of you. You understand me; you make me happy.” She smiled wider, meant for him. But, it quickly disappeared once he fell to the ground and started freaking out. As quick as she could, she ran over, kneeling next to him. “Vinny... Look at me. I’m not going to leave you.” She mustered a smile, pushing the scared thought of killing him from her mind. Instead, she thought of his smile and the laughs they had. Her hand gently rested upon his back, touching his clothing, knowing that clothing was easier than skin for her to touch. She rubbed small circles into his back, whispering to him. “I would never leave you. I like you too much.”

Sorry, I didn’t know

He smiled slightly as he heard her voice again. “Well… I think we’re both fucked up pieces of work…” This was true. He couldn’t deny it. If someone would understood how he’d feel, it’d definitely would be Rose. Poor girl couldn’t touch people without fear. A sigh shook his body. I like you rang through his head; he liked her back, but he was more than terrified to let someone get close to him again. It wouldn’t end well. It never ends well. “As I you,” he blushed. “Yes, please try.” He motioned for her to continue.

Vin watched as she walked up to the hologram; there was a pep in her step. Confidence radiated from her body; a hand reached out to the male’s. Nothing happened. Annoyance and confusion seeped through her voice as confusion marred her beautiful face. “What the fuck? What the fuck was that? He didn’t die immediately when I touched him.” His thoughts scattered when the body dropped. Maybe, just maybe… “Rose, what if- what if you need to think that you can touch someone without killing them? Just to concentrate?” Hope flickered in his eyes.

#c: bloodcurdvinny #hehehe

“But, the thing is... I didn’t think about that when I touched him. I thought about something else. I only thought about it when I touched him.” She furrowed her brows, touching the new hologram that reappeared. A smile spread across her face as she watched the new one not fall down. “I understand it... at least, a little.” Her hand ran down the holgram’s arm, a giggle coming out of her. “All this time... I’ve been so afraid. But this time... I thought about you, and how I knew you wouldn’t run away after you saw what I am.”

Sorry, I didn’t know

He watched as her hand moved forward and touch a shoulder on the hologram. Instantly, the figure dropped. Oh. He no longer watched her; his eyes were fixed where the man re-spawned. Rose’s voice cut through him, “Your turn.” Vincent made no attempt to move; he knew he could do it from where he was standing. All he had to was envision it and it’d happen.

A sigh escaped his lips, “Alright, you might wanna step back some. This is going to be a little messy.” He waited for her to step back against a wall. Taking a deep breath, he began to focus. At first the male seemed unaware before shrieking out in agony. Blood began to ooze from every orifice on the hologram. It pooled at the feet before the thing collapsed to its knees. Red liquid inched outwards from the body. “I can freeze, boil, control someone, make them go unconscious without killing them. You name it, I can do it.” He shook his head. Sorrow filled his eyes as he turned Rose. “Well…?”

#c: bloodcurdvinny #Hmmm did I find a loophole? ;)

Rose did as he asked and backed away, standing behind him, her back resting on the wall. She watched as the hologram stood there, suddenly screaming out in pain. It was difficult for Rose to hear and she almost ran over to stop Vincent from what he was doing - almost forgetting that it wasn’t real. Once the hologram started bleeding, Rose had to look away, closing her eyes to block out the sight.

His voice brought her back and she opened her eyes, looking at him. “Well... I think we’re both fucked up pieces of work...” She sighed, watching the hologram appear again. “But, that’s okay. I like you, anyway.” She shot him a sympathetic smile, seeing how uncomfortable his power made him. They were alike in so many ways, Rose had never felt so attached to someone. “Shall I try again?”

She walked towards the hologram again, letting out a sigh. Fear didn’t strike her heart as she touched the hologram - knowing that whatever happened, happened and that it would just come back. In fact, she seemed confident. Her hand reached out, grabbing the hologram’s hand. The hologram just smiled at her and she furrowed her brows, not feeling the tingly feeling. “What the fuck?” Confusion hit her like a truck and the hologram suddenly fell down dead - the tingly feeling coming back. Her heart was racing and she stared at her hands. “What the fuck was that? He didn’t die immediately when I touched him.”

Sorry, I didn’t know

“Eh, it’s whatever,” he grinned. “As a matter of fact, I do.” He beamed at her as she curtsied for him. Hearing a soft click as the door shut, a hologram appeared. Her question wafted through the air between them. “Uh… You go first. I have no idea what I’d even do or what I’m supposed to do for that matter.” Vin’s face turned a slight shade of pink. Stepping back, he watched her as she gracefully moved about, interacting with the hologram. It’s nice having someone else to be around, to talk to…

“Okay.” Rose walked over to the hologram, taking long strides. He looked at the girl and Rose got a very uneasy feeling in her stomach. She knew that it wasn’t real, but she couldn’t help but be scared. She reached her hand out and rested her hand on the male’s shoulder. The familiar tingling sensation went through her and the hologram dropped to the ground in a big heap. Jumping back, Rose tried to catch her breath, trying to remind herself that it wasn’t real. A moment later, the male appeared, again. “Your turn.”

Sorry, I didn’t know

“Oh. Well. That makes sense. Can’t be held accountable for these killings. That makes sense.” He followed her down dimly lit halls, listening to her chatter. It was nice having someone else to talk to. “Sure, I’d like that a lot actually. My family didn’t really know how to help with it.” His voice caught at the end; Vinny hoped she hadn’t caught it.

He watched Rose play with a screen to the left of the door. Options popped up. “A real body? Like someone to supervise us? Cause if that’s the case, yeah, that’s extremely fucked up.” He jiggled the handle and to much dismay, it didn’t open. “Well, fuck… Alright, I got this.” Vinny pulled out two pins from his sock. “I don’t go anywhere without these. It won’t be hard to open, promise.” Getting onto his knees, Vincent placed the two inside the lock and within a few seconds, the door swung open. “There. Ladies first.”

“You know, it’s probably locked because it’s ten minutes to lights out.” She furrowed her brows when he picked the lock, but smiled quickly after. “Do you always break in to places you’re not supposed to be?” On her way through the door, she clicked the option for ‘humans’ and stepped in. “Thank you.” She did a little curtsy as she passed him.Once the door closed behind them, a hologram of a person appeared, seeming very lifelike. “Would you like to go first, or should I?”

Sorry, I didn’t know

Not being able to touch anybody? That must be extremely lonely. He watched as she seemed to realize something. “At all times, we’ve got to have a buddy? What if you need to pee? Do I have to go with you?” He shook his head yes; Vinny could use the distraction from his mind. Opening the door, he questioned her. “Where’d you have in mind?”

“We just need buddies until this killing thing blows over. And, no, you don’t have to go into the bathroom with me.” She chuckled and got up, following him out of the room. “We’re going to the practice room. I saw it on a map. We can go and practice and shit. I’ll help you control your power, yeah?”

She made her way through the halls, finding the door labeled ‘practice room’. “Ah, perfect.” A screen caught her eye and she poked at it, a bunch of options popping up. “Holy fuck. We can have a real body in there - well, I mean it says it’s just holograms but it acts the same way a person does. That’s fucked up.”

Sorry, I didn’t know

Her hand shot out, stopping inches away. There was an uncomfortable look upon her face. Her voice lowered, “I… I kill people when I touch them.” Oh. Oh, God. He didn’t know what to say; a sigh escaped his lips. “Well, that’s unfortunate,” he stammered. “Is it just your hands, or is it any part of your body?” Vinny was legitimately curious; he never thought there were people “like him” until he came to Bridgegate. “Maybe I could help you too? I mean, it’s definitely worth a shot, unless you’ve already tried…” His voice faded off, getting lost in thought.

“Nobody can touch me - like, at all. I’ve only met one person I could touch, because he was immortal.” Rose sighed, rubbing her temples. “I wish you could help me, but it’s not like I can just go around touching people...” Then she remembered seeing a map that had a practice room on it. “Well, maybe... Are you okay with going somewhere with me? We have to have a buddy wherever we go.”

fuckyeahantoniathomas

#face

Sorry, I didn’t know

“Nah, not really. I’ve been trying to not go crazy. Mind’s been clouded lately. But that shit’s crazy. Do they have any idea as to who? I mean, they really can’t be stumped.” He sighed. A lapse in his mind; a brief change in thought and the voice was back. “..no… no.. not here…,” was mumbled under his breath as he began to shake slightly. His body went rigid for a split second. Her question resurfaced in his mind. What’s your power? He didn’t think of it as a power, more of a curse. “I can manipulate blood. I don’t even have to be touching the person,” he sighed. “It… It really freaks me out. What about you?”

“Nope. They have no clue. I mean, you would think after three bodies being found, they would have some idea. Like, fingerprints or something.” When the boy went rigid and seemed really uncomfortable, Rose reached her hand out, stopping inches away. She pulled her hand away quickly, remembering that she couldn’t comfort him like that. “I’m sorry. Maybe I could help you try to control it.” When he asked about her curse power, she looked away. “I... I kill people when I touch them.”

Sorry, I didn’t know

“Rose, hi. It’s no problem.” He sighed. I should really thank you too. “What’s going on for them to be hectic?” He’d been so out of it since getting her. Other thoughts plagued his mind. “Yeah, only been here about a week. Maybe.” His hand instinctively grazed the back of his head.

“You’ve been here a week and haven’t heard of the dead bodies they found? It’s like, mad crazy out there. They found three bodies so far and they don’t know who the killer is.” Rose let out a humorless laugh. “They’re calling him ‘The Midnight Murderer.’” She rolled her eyes at the name. “So original. Anyway, what brings you here, Vinny? I mean, apart from the hearing voices thing. Like, what’s your power?”

Sorry, I didn’t know

The door softly clicked shut forcing him out of the trance that began to overtake his body. He raised his eyes to hers, vacant of any emotion. The girl lowered finger from her face. It clicked as footsteps grew closer and faded. Her voice was a pleasant relief from the ones only moments before. “Oh, much better now that you’re here.” It was cliche, but true. He was just ecstatic the voices inside his head were gone. “I’m sorry, that’s cheesy. It’s just… I hear things…” Eyes full of emotion now, he gave her a sorrowful look. “Name’s Vincent, but you can call me Vinny. You are…?”

Rose raised a brow. Is this boy hitting on me after just meeting me? Maybe he’s just a sex addict or somethin’. But, when he said he heard thing, her opinion changed. “Ah. Gotchya.” She took a seat at the end of his bed. “Rose. Nice to meet you, Vinny. Thanks for helping me out. Things are just...hectic right now.” Her eyes scanned him, her head tilting. “You new? I don’t think I’ve seen you around.”

Sorry, I didn’t know

Colors whirled around Vincent’s mind. Some were bright; others dull. Slight humming could be heard, but he knew it was just him. There wasn’t another body in his new room. White walls; two small twin mattress, one with a ripped seam; a mirror; two barred windows. This was definitely hell. Thankful that whomever the other inmate was, had broken him out of the literal hell he’d been placed in a week earlier.

Flashbacks because more prominent. The humming grew louder. Shaking, Vinny curled himself into a small ball and forced his hands to cover his ears. It didn’t help; it never did. The voices grew louder. It took everything he had within himself not to start the slapping again. He began to rapidly blink. No. No. No. NO… It was too late though; he felt the sting of the string of palm meeting cheek. From the far left corner, the shadows began to grow. Horror showed in the boys eyes. The shadow man smirked at Vinny before creeping closer. “NO! Please, I beg you.” It’d made it to the end of the bed before he to sob, knowing what would happen. “Unë nuk kam bërë asgjë për të provokuar ju këtë herë. Unë nuk kam bërë asgjë. Te betohem! Pse jeni duke bërë këtë për mua?! Unë nuk kanë; Unë nuk kanë; Unë nuk kanë.”

A cold hand slowly reached out. Inches from his throat, a quick knock sounded from the door. The shadow man vanished, leaving Vincent locked in position. A voice called out.

Rose was wandering around - by herself. She could kill people with a single touch, so she wasn’t worried about being jumped. But, she was worried that the staff would look to her as the prime suspect of the killings. Whenever Rose did kill someone - it was an accident. She had even warned people to stay away, or they could end up dead. Unfortunately, most didn’t listen and ended up ten feet underground.

She kept her hands tucked close to her, making sure not to touch anything. She knew that she was supposed to have a buddy, but Rose hadn’t made any friends and she certainly didn’t want to risk killing another person. A guard had just turned into a hall she was on, causing her to make a sharp left, towards the male bedrooms. Afraid the guard was following her, she knocked on the nearest door. It sounded like someone was crying, so she called out to them, first. “Hello?” The guard was starting to turn down the hall and Rose let herself in, closing the door behind her.

She was now face to face with a boy. He didn’t look much older than her and he was quite handsome. Rose held a tiny finger to her lips, listening to the footsteps pass by the door. Once the coast was clear, she let out a relaxing sigh and looked at the male again. “Sorry ‘bout that. Are you okay?”