My Life - Chapter Three

“What the hell? My name’s not Blake!”
“Oh yeah, then why’d the driver tell me otherwise?”
“I don’t know, maybe to mess with you?” I sensed a hint of truth in his voice, but I just didn’t know who to believe; a bus driver who took this route every single day, or a gorgeous stranger I’d met only a couple of hours ago.
“I’m sorry. What should I call you from now on? I mean, what is your real name?”

Rolling his eyes, he replied. “Rosen Clay. I occasionally use the name Blake Seares as a fake name for when I’m out-“
I cut him off “What? Why would you need a fake name?” I probably should have let him finish.

“If you’d let me finish? Anyway, I use a fake name since I ran away from the army. My mum, she wasn’t in a good state, since I’d left her and my life to join the army. My dad used to knock me, my mum and my two sisters around quite a lot. I figured now that he was older, and I’d frequently taught him a lesson, he wouldn’t dare to lay a finger on them. But he did. I used to receive letters each day from my mother, telling me how awful he was, and what he’d done to my sisters, Erin and Olivia. They’re quite a few years younger than me, I’d take a guess around 13-14, maybe 15 now. Olivia ran away. Erin followed, and got abducted by a bunch of guys in a gang. It was all over the news a few years ago. Nobody knows where Olivia is, but she’s a tough girl, so I’m still hoping she’s alive somehow, somewhere. My mum however, was nowhere near as strong, mentally and physically. He took advantage of this, and exploited her weaknesses.” Rosen paused for a moment. He almost looked like he was snarling at the thought of his father. I held his hand in comfort, and stroked it every couple of minutes.

“One night he beat her within an inch of life. He came to his senses and called for an ambulance, but lied, and said she fell down the stairs or some other pathetic excuse. A couple of days after, I received a letter, formally announcing my mother’s death. I was given a few days leave, and in this time I planned her funeral. I wanted to pay a visit to the man who ripped my family apart – my father, but it wasn’t possible since he’d already skipped town, without a trace. I went back to the army for a while, thinking it all through in my head and what I needed to do.”

I stared back at Rosen for a while, “What was it?” I was hooked into his life story.
“I needed to hunt him down, and kill him.” Rosen went from the seemingly sweet stranger I’d met on the town bench, to a ruthless killing machine. I hadn’t seen him in action, and I didn’t plan to. What he was saying was completely justified, I mean, the man who killed your mother deserves to die right? Anyone who kills another does. I don’t doubt that Rosen could do it, but there was a part of me that didn’t want him to do it. I needed to say something, but I was so shocked from his story to even summon something up. Luckily he broke my silence.

“Oh and the driver, he knows about the army thing, but not the rest of it, he just sees a coward who ran away from a fight. He’s keeping a bargain on my behalf, he uses my fake name to address me, not the Rosen Clay that belongs in the army.”
“That explains a lot, Rosen. Oops, I mean Blake.”
“Call me Rosen, I prefer it to Blake, since it’s not a lie.”
“You’ve lived through so much; it’s unbelievable you’re still standing.” I genuinely admired him.
Rosen smiled at me, “Makes your life look like a piece of cake, huh?”
I nodded, feeling like an idiot for being so shallow. “But it doesn’t make it any easier.”
“Just think, your little sister’s safe and sound, unlike Erin and Olivia, heck I haven’t seen them since I was 14. I can’t even remember their birthdays, it’s been that long! The only memories and identification I have left of them is one tiny picture on my phone of them.” He showed me said picture. There were young girls, one with the same blonde-brown hair as Rosen, the other with dark brown, almost black hair. “The tall one’s Olivia.” She looked just like her big brother, the same leafy green eyes, but with darker skin. Erin looked a lot younger, with her ebony hair and pale skin, she almost looked like Snow White. Rosen took his phone back as I heard him sniffle ever so slightly. I reassured him by gently rubbing his shoulders.

“We’ll find them,” I said, without thinking.
“We? What do you mean we?” He stared straight at me; unlike he had earlier when he was avoiding my eyes, this time he was locked straight onto me. “How are we going to find two girls that are lost in another town, with one picture as evidence, when we’re a 16 year old girl and a runaway soldier?” He sounded angry I’d mentioned it; then again it was a touchy subject.
“I-I’m sorry, what I’d meant wa-“
“No, you didn’t think, did you, Robyn? You just don’t understand!” He got up, and walked off of the bus. I followed after him, trailing behind.
“Rosen, where are you staying?” We were outside in the rain, in a deserted part of Foxford. It looked a lot like a shifty alleyway. I didn’t want to be alone in this alley, but Rosen was here. Well, at least for now. I was certain he would protect me if something attacked me, but then again I was the one who put him in a bad mood.
He sighed and turned to face me. We were about 3 inches apart. “With my cousin, Lucian.”
“Does he know?” It felt like a stupid question, and Rosen agreed, judging by the look on his face.

“What do you think?” His expression went from adorable to annoyed in less than half a second.
I was left speechless, but luckily Lucian came running out of one of the houses nearby.
“Hey Rose’.” He had a slight Italian accent, and boy was it hot. He had jet black hair, lightly tanned skin, and smouldering black eyes. It was hard deciding which of the two was better looking. They were in different classes; Rosen had the adorable factor, whilst Lucian just had that Italian charm, even though I’d heard him say two words. “Who’s this?” He said, pointing to me.

“Robyn, meet Lucian, Lucian meet Robyn.” Rosen introduced us.
“Always a pleasure to meet one of Rosen’s lucky ladies.” Lucian grabbed my hand, and kissed it.
I smiled, but what did he mean by ‘One of Rosen’s lucky ladies’? I was about to ask, but Rosen got in before me.
“She’s just a friend.”
Lucian began to smile, and then looked at me with a sexy glare. “Sei bellissima, ti preghiamo potrei rubare un bacio fuori una bella signora?” He spoke in his native language, Italian. I was flattered, however all I understood was beautiful girl, I think.
“He said: You’re beautiful, let me kiss you.” Rosen sounded unimpressed.
“Hey! It was not! And it sounds a lot sexier coming from me.”
I stood there, looking awkward, not knowing what to say. I wasn’t going to kiss him, even if he was Italian and utterly gorgeous.