Rose Thorne's Links
[In the maze that is the distortion of your old family home, you find her smiling. Playing with something else that’s wearing your face. Unable to distinguish the difference between you and it. Unable to see *you.* He thought she knew him best. Of course, why did he expect anything different?]
Misses her dearly. When Alya wasn’t feeling amicable, and while Atlas was busy spending all his time working, the two of them would spend the most time together. They shared a mutual love of dancing. When Rose died, it made the rift that divided the family worsen. No matter how hard he tried to reach out to his siblings, they would never truly look his way.
[Up, up, the bitter raven climbs. Up the thorny thread, fueled by nothing but spite and bitterness for those you will never forgive. They’re the ones to blame. And when you hit rock bottom once more, she’s there waiting for you. Smiling. Your little sister. The raven clenches her fists, and resumes the climb. She will make them pay.]
Keeps Rose close to her heart. Rose was the only one who seemed able to break through Alya’s cold exterior. She saw a warmth in Alya that she wasn’t keen on showing anyone else. When Rose died, Alya turned to lashing out against what family that remained. That, or ignoring them entirely. It’s easier to avoid the pain that way.
[You spy a glimpse of her, in the pressing darkness. She’s crying. She looks so… weak. Sick. And she simply looks up at you, pleading. ‘Please’. And as always, he has to help. Even if it brings the weight ever closer to crushing him where he stands.]
Thinks about Rose often. He carries a lot of guilt over her death. If only he had given more…. Maybe then, he wouldn’t have had to see her die. Buried himself in his work to avoid his grief, which only served to create more distance between him and his family.
Why did they disturb her grave? They promised her they would bring her back to her family. Not.. this. The transformation was nothing short of agony.
Did I promise that? Maybe I did, I'm sorry little one, but it looks like it's no longer an option...They hardly remember you as you were, and if you returned, they would surely tear themselves apart all over again. [...I did lie to her more than once. It was the only way to get her to listen, and make her feel like she had no other choice than to accept my...other offer.]
Old playmates! At least, they were before Rose got sick. Rose did have fun with her little friend that would hang around the playground with her! It’s a shame Atlas can be so overbearing at times and would always come to pick Rose up at the end of school, cutting their playdates from going on forever. Oh well. See you tomorrow, Sobble! Let’s play again!
(" You smell of dead flowers, I smell of the sewer I rot in. And yet part of her wanted to ask, wanted to scream 'How did you not know?' 'How did you not realize that I was rotten?' ")
Always the small, weak one. The one cared for in sickness and in health. But who is she, really? When left alone with no one to grasp at the idealized ghost of her name?
…We don’t know.