The Rose Diaries Ch. 25 - Epilogue

"Who the fuck is this?" Barked a young man with blonde hair who shot up as they waked through the door. She smiled as she nodded to her old compatriot Daisy.

"Hello brothers." She waved.

"Fucking hell." Daisy gasped. "James?"

"In the flesh." She nodded. "Though, I go by Lillian Woods now."

"Y-You were kidnapped again?" A think boy with tanned brown skin stood up as well. She knew him well. It was Jasmine, though he did not recognize him at first glance. Her shy, soft, and gentle demeanor had faded behind years of grime and dirt.

"W-What happened?" Another boy called from behind the couch. It was Clover. Another long-lost friend of hers.

"Oh, fuck guys really?" She sighed. "It's a long fucking story."

"Tell us." Brian sighed shutting the door and hanging the rifle beside it. "We want to know."

"Fuck man," She sighed. "Where to even fucking start..."

--

Blackstone Manor

3 Years Ago

One Day after the Airport Incident.

He had known where he failed. He had known ever since he was dragged screaming back to the manor. Peter had cried when had saw the gates once again. But he wasn't able to sob harder when they arrived at the front of the house. Before them, was the array of Misses and Miss Amanda Stone who sat cross-legged waiting for them. But he did not cry. He knew that he would need to save his sorrow for another day.

"You know where you fucked up, Lily?" Miss A. called as they were thrown from the car and pressed into the dirt. Beside her was a figure in a wheelchair and he couldn't help but cry then.

Dennis, her confidant, her friend, and her fallen brother was bound to a wheelchair his body bloodied and bruised.

"You left someone behind. How sad, how terribly sad." Miss Stone narrowed her eyes. She was positively consumed with fury. All the woman were.

"Cunt." He growled. "I still got out."

"Fuck you." Peter hissed from beside him. "Amanda, you fucking failed."

"I failed?" She laughed loudly. "Look where you are, look what is about to happen. How should I punish you two? What is fucking fitting for the girls responsible FOR HALF OF THE HOUSE GONE MISSING?!" She screamed as she turned red in the face.

"J-James," Lavender moaned. He tried to say something else, but Miss A. quickly narrowed her eyes as she pressed a hand to his arm, and he screamed.

"Look at me, Lily." She growled.

He couldn't help but look.

"You are going to wish that you were dead. Now say goodbye to the cripple."

Dennis opened his eyes for just a moment. Just a glance. It was full of warmth and joy. He smiled sadly.

Then there was a loud roar as all that Dennis was, is, and would be escaped from his forehead in a splash of red mist and his head dropped low.

"You are going to wish that you were dead." Miss A. repeated as the horror slowly sank into his bones.

He screamed. Screamed as loudly as he could. Until the only thing that could be heard was the horror of the events unfolding. Tears ran down his cheeks and his throat began to burn.

Then he fainted.

Instead of a warm room and a bed, she was thrown into the dark dungeons in the basement. The room was just a cold still room made of concrete and fear. Together, both her and Peter were bound to the wall with heavy chains and clad in only their shame. Every morning, a Miss would come, and force feed them. For the first couple of months in that room, some would choke them until they ate. Some would just pour the food on the filthy floor and force them to lick it up. Some were found of combining the portions and then making the two of the fight over it.

They were kept deprived of light and sound. Every time they tried to speak, a crippling shock would run through them and force them into silence. After breakfast, one of them would be chosen. Then they would be unshackled and dragged outside into the fresh hell that awaited them.

Miss A. had reformed a part of the basement into their personal torture chamber. Whenever she was dragged outside, she was shown footage of the newly recaptured Tulip and Petal. She was reminded of her failure. Reminded of her shame. Forced to wear a pair of headphones while their screams echoed in her ears. She was beaten until she bled and sometimes further. Occasionally, whenever the Misses were feeling spiteful, they would break one of her fingers. On some days, she was raped repeatedly by the hungry clientele of Blackstone or even the Misses themselves. Sometimes, she watched her friends being violated all the while they would remind her that this was all her fault. That if she hadn't been so stupid, so weak, and so predictable then she could've saved them all.

But none of it was as bad as the first couple of days in which they sat in quiet silence in their bondage with the slowly rotting corpse of their friend. Eventually when the stench grew too much and they began to grow sick, Dennis' corpse was removed from the room. To be buried amongst the dead of Blackstone in the woods nearby.

Compared to that, she could've had dealt with anything.

But Peter?

Peter Baker did not last long. Instead, perhaps six months or six weeks later. He said a small amount of words to the Misses. Something in a whispered tone. All she remember after that was him looking back with a small sad smile as his chains were undone. Then, he vanished behind the door.

She lasted for several weeks later than that. But eventually, when she was dragged out for the final time. Miss A. was sitting outside waiting for her. Waiting to tell her of a brilliant plan that she had.

A plan to turn her into a Miss. To become what she hated the most.

She was forced under torture and pain to torture her former brothers. That she would some days walk away from Petal, Tulip, and Rose with bloodied hands and tears streaming down her eyes. She remembered how awful it felt to activate their collars as Miss T. held her hand. She remembered how awful it felt when she was told to keep on doing that until she could do without shaking.

That day, Rose passed out from the pain. She passed out in a puddle of her own piss screaming for her to stop.

It took several more weeks for any semblance of her friend to fade away. Her final test came in the form of an auction. Rose had attracted many suitors and all of them vied for her attention. She flitted around the room flirting and laughing like she was trained to do. But when the call for curtains came, Rose had attempted one final plea for mercy. One final attempt to call upon her past.

Lillian did not listen. Instead, she beat her friend into submission. Destroyed what little hope that she had held dear of ever returning to herself as she tossed a nude Rose into a crowd of awaiting suitors. She remembered how loudly she cried. How loudly she screamed. It would be something that she would take to her grave. Lillian turned a deaf ear while the other Misses drank champagne and celebrated their success. In the end, when Rose was barely hanging on for life. When she sat there crying and laughing at the cruelty of it all that she realized what she had done.

There was no more Peter Baker after that day. There was only Rose. Only the monster that she helped resurface.

With the death of her friend on her mind, she became increasingly numb to it all. To the beatings she would give to her former friends and new victims, to the sadistic glee that she was forced to show, to everything in between. She traded her collar and shackles for a room on the fourth floor. She traded dignity and honor for a position amongst the monsters.

Miss L. was born. A newly minted demon that exhibited traits of her creators. The cruelty of Miss K. and the wickedness of Miss A. For the first few months, she was celebrated. Then, she fell into place amongst the others as a part of Blackstone. That is, of course, until she was contacted by an old friend. A friend that placed her in contact with someone who disliked Blackstone Manor just as much as she did. A woman who wished nothing more than to help her achieve her goals. So, in an act of good faith, she gave her a simple message. Of where she could go to find what she long sought after.

--

For a moment there was nothing but silence as the six men before her stared down at the floor. It had been hours since she had begun her tale and her watch reminded her of the incoming darkness. She had little time to celebrate their reunion. Little time to reminisce about a time in which they had almost gotten away.

"Fuck." Brian spoke first, his gruff voice cutting through the silence like a rusty machete. "Fuck. So, Peter's dead?"

She nodded slowly.

"Fuck." He repeated. "And you killed him?"

"Well, I didn't kill him per se."

"But you killed him?" Clover narrowed his eyes. "You murdered Peter Baker."

"Yes." She muttered. "He's no longer there. That monstrous persona of his has complete control."

"So then why the fuck should we trust you? You seem just as bad as the others? Tell me, James, why did you even come here?" Clover growled as he jabbed a finger towards her.

"I came to warn you. I found you all. Blackstone won't be too far behind. Do you want to go back? Do you know what they'll even do it you?"

"I don't buy it." He said. "You're nothing like how you used to be."

"I had to change! I had to adapt! I'm offering you an opportunity to get away from them for good. There's this woman-"

"Why should any of us listen to you? You could be leading us into a trap!" Jasmine spoke sadly.

"Why would I do that?" Her voice was full of panic and anger. "Please trust me!"

"I don't know, Miss L. You tell us?"

"Enough!" Brian yelled. "I trust James. I don't care what the fuck has happened. But I trust him with my life. We wouldn't be anywhere without him. So fucking stop being a bunch of assholes! This is fucking James."

"He could be a Miss! He could be one of them! For all we know he betrayed all of us from the fucking start!"

"I DID NOT!" She roared. "You want to know everything? Fine! I'll tell you exactly what the fuck happened back then, but you all need to get out of here! If you get taken again, you'll put her in danger!"

"Who!" Clover screamed back. "Who?!"

"Elle! My contact! The one who helped us all along!" She hissed.

"The photographer?" Brian blinked. "Wait, Miss K.'s girlfriend?"

"Yes!" She nodded. "She was never a part of Blackstone. Her sole goal was to help us from the start. She got me the remote. She got me the codes. She told me how far to go!"

"So why did you get taken?!" A man with short red hair and a patchy beard called. She would've recognized Petal's voice from anywhere. Even with the years of reclaimed masculinity that clung to it.

"I was stupid." She shook her head. "I thought if we returned to our homes that we would be safe. I made a phone call before in the airport. I just wanted to hear my mother's voice. I just wanted to tell her I was alive. But Blackstone knew. They had already sent someone to monitor my family. I thought I could win, I thought I could escape, but I fucked up. Before I could even hang up, I felt a hand on my shoulder and armed man behind him. I knew I had failed then."

"So, you caused it?" He cocked an eyebrow.

"Yes." She nodded sadly. "I messed everything up."

"So, what woman James?"

"There's a woman in all black sitting at the very back of Saul's in town. Tell her that I sent you. She's going to get you escape from Blackstone forever."

"What about you?" Brian asked as he stood up and walked over to the kitchen. "Are you coming with us?"

"Yes." She nodded. "That is the plan. I need to do something first. What are you doing?"

"Don't worry about it." He called. "Someone grab Nicholas and get out."

"Where is he?" She asked as she looked around the cabin for any sign of another man.

"Dead." Brian's voice echoed from the kitchen. "He couldn't handle life without his brother. With the idea of leaving him behind."

"Oh, I'm sorry." She said softly. "I wish I was there. I-"

"He's in a much better place. Ed, would you mind grabbing him?"

"Sure." Clover spoke as he got to his feet. He gingerly took hold of a small silver urn from nearby.

"Everyone out. Walk as far as you can away from the house. I'll be right there." Brian said as the boys began to file out of the cabin and on to the road

"James that includes you."

"Aren't you coming?" She called back to him. She turned on her heels as she walked towards the door.

"Yeah." Brian spoke as he rushed from the kitchen, a bag over his shoulder. "I'm right beside you."

"Thanks for trusting in me." She whispered.

"You're my friend, James. I will always trust you." He smiled as he started down the steps. From behind, a faint orange glow began to take hold from the depths of the cabin. It was then that she realized what he did. She didn't say another word. She just watched as Brian got in the beat-up truck with the others and drove off down the road.

She didn't even dare to say goodbye to him. How could she? How could she let him know that she wasn't coming with him wherever he went? She watched the car vanish into the woods with a sad smile. Then she turned to face the cabin as the glow grew ever brighter waited. There was still one last thing to do before she could leave this life behind.

Whatever Brian had done in the kitchen, whatever he had plotted before she showed up had finally revealed itself in its magnificent splendor. She watched the sunset as the place where she stood just hours before began to smolder and burn. A wave of sudden heat caressed her face as she watched the roof collapse inwards with a crash sending embers and smoke high into the heavens. She was proud of her brother. He had provided nowhere for the fire to go. Only for it rage and struggle inside the cabin as it wiped away any trace of their existence. Tears formed in her eyes as she heard the vehicle approach. A door slammed shut and ground crunched underfoot as someone approached.

"You." The unmistakable growl of Miss K. echoed from behind. "I cannot believe it."

"Took you long enough." She chuckled.

"Turn around, Lily." Miss K. hissed. "Explain yourself."

"No, I don't think so." Lillian smiled. "I'm done obeying you demented fucks. I'm done pretending to like you. Whatever you want to do, do it. I'm done."

"You knew all along. You knew where they were and you hid them from me, from Amanda, from your family."

"They were my family, Kat."

"Don't you fucking call me that!" She screamed. "You have no right!"

"What are you going to do then? Kill me? Torture me?"

"I should!" Her voice trembled as Lillian heard her shake. She turned slowly around. Miss K., the bitch of Blackstone was crying. Tears ran down her cheeks as the pistol she held extended in her hands trembled with every breath. Lillian smiled as she placed her hands behind her back.

"But you won't. You'd have to admit failure. You'd have to admit to Amanda and your mother that you were wrong and if there's one thing the Stones can't do is admit when they lost." A gunshot rang out as a bullet struck the ground by her foot.

"Shut the fuck up!" Miss K. sobbed.

"No. I'm not going to listen to you anymore. I'm never going to listen to you again. They're gone to where you will never find them, Katelynn. You're finished."

"I swear to god I'll kill you."

"No, you won't. Enough acting tough. You're nothing without Blackstone. I used to be scared of you but you're just a broken-down bitch with a gun. If you want to kill me then do it. It won't change the fact that I won. I beat you all."

For a moment, Miss K. raised the pistol once more and her hands steadied. Lillian drew what could've been her final breath as she stared in her eyes. Then, Miss K.'s face grew redder, her legs trembled, and that was when she knew that she had beaten her. She took a step forward as she tossed the golden flower pin from her jacket on the ground and then continued to walk as a trembling Katelynn trained the gun on her.

But she knew it would never fire. She knew that it was all over. As she walked past her, she heard the woman who ruined her life scream.

"If I ever see you again Lily. I'll fucking kill you! I'll fucking kill you!" She sobbed.

"Likewise." She called back.

Then Lillian Woods made her way down the road and vanished into the night as the last remnant of the boys of Blackstone went up in smoke behind her.

It took her ages to make her way back to town. Back to where she could finally complete the last of her task. She found it waiting for her in the form of a phone number back at the restaurant. With a quiet calm hand, she punched in the number and held her breath.

"Hello?" A man answered. She smiled as she heard his voice.

"Donald Zheng?"

"Speaking." He paused for a moment. "And you are?"

"A friend. It's been awhile, Mr. Wu."

There was silence on the other line. For a moment she was worried that the call had been dropped.

"It's James." She smiled. "I just wanted to let you know you're safe now. They'll never touch you again."

More silence.

"I'm leaving America to go to France. I promised Hearts that I'd work for them in exchange for all I've done."

"Hearts?" Daniel spoke. "The same people who bought me from Blackstone. You're a part of them?"

"Yeah." She nodded. "They been helping me as a thank you for hurting Blackstone."

"I can't believe it. "He paused. "Why?"

"The Madame hates the Stones. It's been a long rivalry between the two that originated when Blackstone was in England. It's why they bought you when you were up for sale. Why they helped bring you back from the brink of insanity."

"They did it," He paused. "They did it out of spite?"

"Yes. Spite and my suggestion." She sighed.

"Thank you." Daniel Wu spoke. "Thank you for everything. How is he?"

"Married." She sighed. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay. I've had a long time to mourn him. I'm just glad its over."

"He never forgot you. Never stopped fighting for you."

"Yeah, that's Pete." He laughed sadly. "Thank you for all you did for him."

"Yeah," She wiped a tear from her eyes. "It's the least I could do."

"To Peter Baker." Daniel said quietly. "To the fucking idiot who couldn't keep it in his pants."

She could feel nothing but a wave of sadness beginning to grip her heart.

"Rest in peace Pete." Daniel spoke. "Thanks for being my friend."

"To Peter Baker. Thank you for everything." She fumbled with the receiver as she hung up the phone. Then she pressed her back against the wall and slowly fell to the ground.

Lillian Woods closed her eyes in a strange place and drew in a shaky deep breath.

And then she began to cry.

Author Notes:

So, we're here aren't we? The ending of The Rose Diaries. A lot of heart, soul, and effort went into telling this story. As much as it may pain some of you, this is the end of Peter Baker's story. He fell to Blackstone after a year of torture. There is no more. Now, only Rose Oberlin remains. Rose, a perfect example of what Blackstone wanted. A persona borne out of trauma and pain.

I made this point amongst the readers on my server. There was no point in writing how, where, and when Peter broke down. It would've have been another one hundred pages of pure torture with no hope for the protagonist. It was over. There was nothing left.

I really want to thank you all for reading my story. It makes me so happy to see how it has made so many others entertained and even enchanted. But I'm not finished with this universe. Not by a long shot.

IN THE SECOND BOOK OF THE PRINCESS UNIVERSE:

When a young artist Dana Morgan accepts a full ride to a prestigious and grand art academy in France, he finds that it is not exactly what he expected when he is caught up in an odd condition that requires him to cross-dress for exactly one day a month. But the school quickly turns out to be a mess of hormones, sexual advances, and debauchery. But Dana can't shake the suspicion that something else is afoot here. What exactly is Hearts Academy? What is going on here? Why are the students so strange? Armed only with his intelligence, creativity, and cleverness Dana sets out to discover the truth.