Chapter Text
Your whispers follow me when I try to leave.
I fight for a love that I don’t truly believe.
In my heart, you’re a risk I’m willing to take.
But my head is telling me there’s too much at stake.
I don’t trust you, but I want to. Please, don’t let me fall.
I gaze up at the midnight sky, can’t find a single star.
There are times when I miss the light. But I’m not afraid of the dark.
The Dark – Beth Crowley
Ruby winced when the bright rays of sunlight struck her.
It felt as though she’d spent a lifetime in darkness, and was just now introduced to sunlight. It was painful and jarring. But, it was more than enough to kick-start her for the day. She pushed on and began walking with her team.
A cold breeze fluttered her skirts and that familiar voice returned, I’ve been cursed, my rose petal. I can’t tell you many details, but I need you to break it. I beg of you, find mercy in your heart and save me.
Ruby pursed her lips together and thought firmly, I will.
A black and blue moth fluttered past her and the words carried on the wind followed her and her team.
Thank you, my sweet rose petal. Thank you.
Ruby pushed ahead.
She stepped over to Jaune and took the map from his backpack and unfolded it. Her eyes danced over the chart.
“Hmm…” She nodded to herself. “We’re… close?”
The uncertainty of her voice made Jaune step closer to her. He turned the map in her hands and pointed to a road.
“We’re here.” He said.
“Oh!” Ruby nodded and then lowered her head, crestfallen and handed the map back to him.
“So, the next village?” She asked.
“We’ll be there by… nightfall.”
“Great!”
“Tomorrow.”
“Not so great,” Ruby sulked.
“Don’t worry,” Nora bounded towards Ruby, wrapping her in a one-armed hug. “I’m sure we’ll make it to Sagiso soon.”
The village’s name sent prickles down Ruby’s spine for a reason she couldn’t identify. She shook the feeling off and continued walking. Everything seemed different this morning.
It felt almost as if the trees and insects had taken on voices. And were speaking to her, warning her of something – someone. But, with all of them clamoring for her attention, she couldn’t understand them.
Instead, she pulled her hood over her head in an attempt to silence them.
“You okay?”
She raised her eyes, spotting her teammates gazing at her, concerned.
“Just tired,” Ruby said, fearing what they would think if she told them the truth.
They’d probably think I’m crazy.
“You didn’t sleep well?” Nora frowned, placing her hand on Ruby’s forehead.
“No,” Ruby admitted.
“Probably, because two people were making a lot of noise all night,” Jaune put his two cents in, making Nora and Ren flush a bright red.
Ruby pried Nora’s hand from her head and continued walking, her ears hot. She didn’t admit to hearing them. But, didn’t deny it either. And didn’t know which was worse.
Come to me, my rose petal.
“How?” She murmured to herself, feeling frustration seize her.
Sagiso.
“But, that’s days away.” She said, louder this time.
“What is?” Ren queried.
Ruby ignored him.
I know a shortcut, my rose petal.
“Where?”
Tsubaki. Find Tsubaki...
Ruby looked around for the source of the voice.
But, found naught but water puddles, wet earth, trees, and foliage.
“What’s going on?”
Ruby’s teammates all but cornered her.
“I don’t know what you’re –”
“Cut the crap,” Jaune said firmly. “You’ve been acting really strange lately. And it’s worrying all of us.”
“I don’t…” Ruby began and finally, she took a deep breath, “You’ll all think I’m crazy.” She said, at last, her voice small.
“No.” Nora said, “We won’t.”
Ruby swallowed thickly, “I’ve been hearing voices. And having these really weird dreams.”
“Weird, how?” Jaune asked, carefully measuring his words.
Ruby could tell by their expressions that this went beyond simple worries and drifted into concerns for her psychological health.
“There’s this guy and he keeps asking me for help.” She responded, exasperated. “I don’t know what it means.”
They opened their mouths, but before they could utter a word, she plowed through, “And then, bugs and plants started talking to me. They’ve been warning me about someone and telling me to go to Tsubaki. I don’t know what to think anymore!” She threw her hands into the air.
“Think it’s a trap?” Nora asked Jaune slowly.
“It definitely sounds like a trap.”
“But, he’s expecting me there.” Ruby said, numbly.
“Who?” Jaune asked, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.
“The Caterpillar.” She responded, feeling stupid.
More so when the others exchanged a glance.
After a moment of silence, they continued on, Jaune in control of the map. Ruby looked over his shoulder, seeing that Tsubaki was in the other direction. Jaune was leading them East. And Tsubaki was West.
She silently snapped a picture of the map and discreetly backed away before tapping her Semblance for a boost. She darted away before they could stop her. If it were a trap, she needed to know.
If it’s a trap, I’ll stop him. She thought, determination fueling her.
She wandered until night fell, her Scroll buzzing every fifteen minutes. But, she didn’t check it. She didn’t need to. Ruby knew that the others had been calling her. And her resolve pushed her to keep going and not look back.
I’m here, my little rose petal…
The voice called to her. Ruby felt the inexplicable pull and followed it. Allowing it to tug her toward the village.
She finally collapsed, exhausted and unfurled her sleeping bag beneath a tree, crawling inside it. She fell into a deep slumber within seconds.
Ruby pushed herself off the ground and examined her surroundings. It certainly wasn’t the Wonderland that Yang told her of. There was something… off. She couldn’t quite put her finger on what.
But, it made her stomach twist into knots.
“Hello?” She called out.
“My little rose petal, at last.” That velvety purr sent thrills down her spine.
And she didn’t like it. Not one bit.
She turned to meet the source of the voice when she awoke in her sleeping bag. Ruby groaned and rubbed her temples before clambering out of her sleeping bag. She ate a handful of the trail mix that’d she’d carried in her bag and washed it down with a sip from her water bottle.
Then, she rolled up her sleeping bag and pressed on. Her stomach gnawed with hunger but, she pushed that feeling aside and kept walking, following the picture of the map on her phone.
She didn’t want to abandon her teammates. But, this man had been haunting her dreams. And she needed to know if he were real. And if so, whether he’d planned a trap for her or not. If that were his intention… Her thoughts briefly flitted to Crescent Rose, nestled safely in her sheath at Ruby’s back.
I’m sorry, guys. She thought before continuing her journey.