《Whatever It Takes | Rosekook ✓》11: sneak
Advertisement
Roseanne paced in the living room for a few minutes before heading to her room and changing into dark jeans and a black sweatshirt. She grabbed her bag with her ghost hunting gear and quietly made her way out of her apartment.
A few minutes later, an Uber was picking her up and then dropping her off a block away from the Park Mansion. She slugged her backpack over her shoulder, careful not to push the small camcorder she and Mark used when they were filming ghost-hunting videos.
Tall, black gates surrounded the white-colored mansion. She looked up at the trees surrounding the property, noticing a few cameras aimed at the pond in the middle of the driveway. She looked around, making sure no one was around, before pulling herself up and climbing one of the trees leaning against the fence.
She cursed under breath, wishing she had spent more time working out than sitting in front of the computer watching videos.
Once she had reached the other side of the fence, she closed her eyes and jumped down, her knees hitting the gravel pavement.
Up ahead, she could see three luxury vehicles at the front of the driveway. That told her the place was being rented. Whoever threw the party must've rented the mansion for the full month.
Earlier that year, Mark and Roseanne stumbled across the Park mansion while looking up haunted houses to investigate. They discovered the mansion was for rent at one-hundred grand a month.
Roseanne swallowed her groan of discomfort as she pushed herself up.
She pulled out her camcorder and flipped the switch on. She recorded a few shots of the home before placing her camcorder back into her backpack. She knew there were cameras guarding the place but Roseanne doubted there was anyone watching them. She blew a kiss to one of the cameras before sprinting towards the front door.
Roseanne figured the door would be locked so she didn't bother to open it. Instead, she walked past the front door and towards the side of the mansion where she recalled seeing a trellis alongside the balcony. She pulled on the trellis decorated with roses, attempting to test its strength. She didn't want it to fall under her weight.
Advertisement
"Here goes nothing," Roseanne muttered, placing the front of her foot in between the thin wood of the trellis.
The irony of her breaking and entering after reporting that someone had broken into her apartment was not lost on her. Unfortunately, her ghost-hunting was the only thing she could think of to distract herself from the night's events.
Her father used to tell her death was always a good distraction from your troubles. At the time, she thought her father was weird...or possibly drunk. Now, she understood. Escaping into her obsession of an existence after death was thrilling to her.
She grunted as sweat beaded on her forehead. Her fingers caught on a couple of thorns from the roses and she hissed in pain. Fat droplets of water fell into her and she grunted. She vaguely remembered Mark mentioning something about scattered showers. It was too late to turn back. The car had dropped her off and she was determined to get inside the Park mansion. Her last video had been cut short.
When she got on top of the trellis, she looked to the balcony on her right. She reached out until her hand touched the stone of the balcony. She wasn't sure if she'd be able to jump inside. The light sprinkles transformed into light rain.
Roseanne carefully swung her bag inside the balcony, sending a prayer upward. "Please don't let my camera break." Her bag landed inside the balcony and she grinned. She pushed a hand against her eyes, the water beginning to pound against her face.
"Now, it's my turn." She looked up. "Please don't let me fall and break my neck," a shiver of dread ran down her spine as she thought of Tzuyu, falling to her death.
She squeezed her eyes shut and pushed forward. Her right leg and arm were clutching the balcony's railing. She felt her body slipping against the wet railing. She heaved herself over, a groan escaping her mouth as she landed on her back.
Advertisement
Roseanne opened her eyes, her arms outstretched as she stared at the dark sky. The stars were hidden behind the stormy clouds and she turned her head to avoid water in her mouth. She sat up and reached for her bag, wearing it so the straps were on her back and the bag was against her stomach. Her eyes stared at the French doors behind her. Growing up in foster care, she learned how to pick locks from a girl named Eunbi.
Her sweatshirt was plastered to her small frame as she pulled out a pick and rake, two lock-picking tools she kept in her bag for emergencies. She worked on the door for a few minutes as the rain continued pouring around her. Then she felt the lock click, she smiled and she pushed the door open.
Darkness greeted her as she stepped through, rain attempting to follow her inside like a stray dog. She shut the door behind her, the cold rain continuing to press against the door. Her hands tightened around the door handles and her hot breath clouded a pane of glass.
She turned her back to the door as a cackle of lighting lit the room. She was glad she made it in before the storm worsened. She reached into her bag and pulled out her cellphone. A few text messages were waiting for her. They were from Mark:
Where are you???
Did you go ghost hunting again?
Alone? In the middle of the night?
You're a crazy person! Where are you??? I'm worried.
Roseanne's fingers responded across the screen: I'm fine. Don't worry. Go to sleep.
She didn't wait for him to reply but switched on her flashlight application.
The space was so quiet she couldn't believe anyone was renting the place out. The strobe of light grazed over a white baby piano in the corner of the room. The left wall was lined with shelves of hard-back books. She wondered if anyone had ever read them. She pulled on the strap of her bag and took a step forward. She wanted to head back to the room where Park Jihyo had been murdered.
The door to the room opened with a creak and her breath hitched in her throat. Roseanne stood still, afraid to make another sound.
She slowly stuck her head out the door, looking to her right and then her left. She stepped into the hall, knowing she was on the second floor. She turned off her flashlight in fear it would cause attention to herself.
Roseanne took a few hesitant steps forward until she saw a staircase.
"I must be close by," she muttered, remembering she took the staircase the night of the party. Another text message from Mark came through.
Going out at night while it's raining is stupid? Come home!
Mark was right but the thrill of breaking into the mansion to seek Park Jihyo's ghost was making her forget her fear from earlier that night and the disappointment of the police being wrong about Tzuyu's death. Plus, tonight's adventure would make a great YouTube video. She could see the title of her video now — Breaking into a Haunted Mansion.
She stopped in front of one of the doors. She had to look inside if she ever wanted to find the room. Roseanne took a deep breath and opened the door. The smell of mildew assaulted her noise and she grimaced.
Her body flinched back, away from the stench. The back of her head hit something solid. Roseanne froze. Her heart pounded in her chest as she swallowed her fear.
A pair of string arms wrapped around her. Roseanne screamed as darkness swallowed her whole.
Advertisement
CHAOS: The Youth and The World of Wonders.
What had been forgotten, wasn't worth the memory. The youth woke up with no memories of his past. He didn't know his own name or his own origin, but he knew he wasn't alone, at least in this body. There was another one, and both of them didn't know much about each other. They had a conversation, but their conversation ended with a darkening world. The youth woke again, inside a chamber made of rocks. Two kids around- a twin of girl and a boy- told him that he fell from the upper world into the deepest place, where the sun could never reach and a single-season took all of the year. The youth didn't wait long until he voiced his desire of returning to the upper world, but for some reason, the humans here would prevent him and chase him away... and the little girl who only glared at him eventually told him that someone inside her was saying that youth was the worst being he had ever seen. Not to cause trouble to anyone, the youth decided to go away... but he didn't know that wherever he went trouble would always await.
8 217Mark of the Mountain [formally : the masked queen (drottingr)]
Lyssia - the masked Drottine of Ilvana - has to discover the strength of her own voice and uncover the dark secrets that threaten to undermine the safety of her people while maintaining her own secret, a struggle that may force her to choose between her kingdom and her life. * * * * * * * * * * Participant in the Royal Road Writathon challenge! * * * * * * * * * * Armed with an uncontrollable talent for premonition and a dangerous secret that could cost her her life, Lyssia - the masked Drottine of Ilvana - has to learn to survive in a land designed to weed out the weak. Lyssia always thought her survival at court depended upon her identity as the greatest pretender of all. But when Magnor - the newly crowned King of Dunival - arrives unannounced and threatens the tenuous peace between their two kingdoms, Lyssia soon realizes that he carries secrets even more dangerous than her own. As Lyssia struggles to discover the true intentions behind Magnor's visit, she is faced with an impossible choice: Sacrifice her secret - her freedom - her life to save a dying land... or allow Ilvana to be overcome by what lies hidden in the shadows. Can Lyssia find the strength to stand and fight for her people, or will the lies she has hidden behind her entire life prove too strong to be overcome? * * * * * * * * * * A kongdomr of warriors, though rusted their swords A kongdomr of voices, raised in hopeful song A kongdomr of drakuns, forsaken, forgotten A kongdomr of masks, neither young nor old A kongdomr of faces, expectantly raised To this new chance, a new age A new Drottingr Ilvana of legend Rise, Warriors, Rise * * * * * * * * * * CAST, DEFENITIONS, PLAYLIST CAST Ilvanian (the three-pointed mountain) Lyssia (Lys) - Drottine of Ilvana, heir, present day 22YO Dizean - Kongr of Ilvana, Lyssia's father Azerian (Az) - Lyssia's maternal cousin, present day 22YO Carryn - Lyssia maternal aunt, Azerian's mother Roakev (Ro) - Lyssia's paternal cousin, present day 24YO Eindre - Lyssia's paternal uncle, Roakev's father and Drengr Nimeah - Eindre's wife, Roakev's mother Seaka - old Lach and Lyssia's former caretaker Bjarke - Master Skald, employed the Kongr of Ilvana Aturnel (the guardian) - highest mountain point on Ilvania-Listoria border Thivness (the wildness) – dangerous, impassable cliff between eastern forest and sea Vatn – Lesser mountain named after the lake found at its feet Arvid – Lyssia’s Dubkir horse, named after her great grandfather Sikurd – Roakev’s Dubkir horse, named after an old hero from a Lay Isi - girl Lyssia meets on road to Steiner Mart Diyana - Lyssia's songbird, also Rilken's wife Ofrid - Lyssia's maternal cousin, close to Roakev's age Reeza - Lyssia's older maternal cousin, has a oat named OdilHoney - good natured mare rode by Lyssia Hanne – village representative’s niece celebrating her wedding Ardbon - Karl involved in Steiner Mart fight Liefer - Karl involved in Steiner Mart fight, his son’s name is Nurik Rilken - the last Drakun Kongr of Ilvana Steiner Mart - Eda-Yute Mart held every year in Steiner Field, also called the crossroads Gavin Brinson – young western Jarl, not allied with Halvor, his family crest is a raven Sidne – Gavin’s wife, very pregnant and very helpful Halvor - outspoken jarl from western stead Sorev – Halvor’s son, family crest is a bear in mid-maul, one of eight Jarlsons present, but the only one hailing from the west Fulrik – sonless western Jarl allied with Halvor Calvin – one of the Jarlsons atttending the peacemeet, the oldest and tallest of the lot Angar – eastern Jarl in possession of the Dubkir herd, family crest is a shield painted with bright green and yellow stripes Dubkir heir – Angar’s son…when will Lyssia learn his name? Ingar – former Kongr of Ilvana and Lyssia’s grandfather Scyftan River – the unofficial divide between eastern and western Ilvana Listorian (the five-pointed flower) Andev - Kongr of Listoria Igone (of the green thumb) - Andev's wife, Drottingr of Listoria Thisska - Listorian Drakun, bonded to Igone Linea - Drottine of Listoria, Murel's twin, heir, present day 20YO Murel - Drottine of Listoria, Linea's twin, heir, present day 20YO Ansev - Kongre of Listoria, twin's younger brother Sundric - Kongre of Listoria, twin's younger brother Giall - Jarl that travels to Ilvana with royal party Dunival (the spinning dustdevil) Magnor - recently crowned Kongr of Dunival, present day 25YO Tirne - Kongre-Slad of Dunival, younger son of Rijek, present day 22YO V???? - Magnor’s self-proclaimed “second”…another name Lyssia can’t seem to learn! Deceased Erina - Lyssia's mother, deceased Rijek – former Kongr of Dunival, deceased Anitra – former Drottingr of Dunival, Magnor and Tirne’s mother, deceased The Five Kongdomren - Ilvana, Dunival, Listoria, Sinnet, Nukrevn Aonta...Definition and Cast to be discovered DEFINITIONS Kongr/Kongre - King/Prince Drottingr/Drottine - Queen/Princess Kongdomr (Kongdomren) - Kingdom (Kingdoms) Jarl/Karl - landowner/non-landowner, may be beholden one particular Jarl Lach – healer Fyr/Slad - heir/none Middig/Dreg - master/apprentice Skald - historian and musician Drengr – champion Drakuns - Dragons, the Ancient Ones Bjurn – bear Elke(Elken) – gigantic, majestic elk, native to Ilvana Ban-maudr – “executioner thorns”, found in the eastern forest, very painful and hard to remove Yute - Thanks yearly celebration between cold and growing seasons Urd/Eda/Aon(-Yute) - past/present/future, two weeks each Lay - Ilvanian historical songs Laikari - Listorian historical plays Ridineig - fast-paced dancing tune Drigneig – type of song, a dirge, “opposite” of ridineig Lur - long trumpet like instrument Bowed lyra – larger version of hand lyra, played with a bowed stick Jorki – similar to a pan flute, jokingly called “child’s flute” Drakuns - Dragons, the Ancient Ones Diyana - songbird Wulv – wolf, native to Dunival Wulvken – umm…we’re still not sure Volvstot/wulvstot – “witchbrew/wolfbrew”, dark beer that Magnor brings from Dunival Fovk - fox Vas Morginnen - Good Morning Vas Heill - Good Health Vas Daginnen – Good Day Adhuil - prosperous, prosperity Ami - genderless term of endearment Dunga - insulting way of saying someone is stupid Saedas - sweetness, another way of saying happinessSaedhirte- sweetheart Hviss - an (improper) oath Slegrl – sly Standa – stop An-rivic – be still! Brudpar – “bridal pair”, bride and groom Dubkir – famous Ilvanian horses, half-wild and bred for the hunt * * * * * * * * * * Playlists: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcaiTcdQkK6nXrjYq29srJ7GMsebdd-Sp https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcaiTcdQkK6msFQiYhbaYhZ0VqFJ0mROi Lyssia character portrait by @soretoothproductions!
8 355A Champion's Rise
Haunted by glimpses of his unknown past, tortured by the uncertainty of his present, and troubled by the implications of the future, it is clear that the last human in existence does not have it easy. Chased into a dark cave and lost in a bleak alien world, these aren't even most of the distressed human's worries: indeed, he has no idea who he is or how he got here. All that he does know is he not only left someone behind... but someone nearly killed him. To claim his revenge and find his past, the human will need to toss anything and everything he knows out the nearest metaphorical window as he begins to struggle his way through a galaxy located on the other side of the universe. And in this galaxy torn apart from war after war, he will find no hope except for the little he can take for himself. But perhaps, amongst some bizarre company, he might just find something better than that. For when you go beyond light and beyond hope... All one will see is the full force of Humanity's Will and Ambition. And this galaxy is ready for neither. PART ONE IN THE UPCOMING SERIES: A CHAMPION'S RISE
8 208Douxie x reader- Book 2 From Different worlds
This is Book 2 of Douxie x reader, read book 1 first than book 2 :)
8 179Accidentally ; Marcus Armstrong (vol I)
"And you," I said, "I don't think I've loved anyone this much"
8 261The Hunter's Alpha
Amber Lyndon's future seemed inescapable as a second class human citizen growing up among the hunters, at least until she is rescued from an attack and taken captive by a brooding alpha who is interested in getting answers from her, and a lot more.#1 in Werewolf (12/03/2021)#2 in Vampire (12/03/2021)Mature content including violence, adult themes and sexual content. Not intended for the 18- crowd.
8 195