Christmas Rose

"This part of the town is grim and less lively," Helle felt her presence belittled next to Orion Lennox, her guest. Just as they were about to depart from the restaurant, a man gave his full name.

"Is that so, Miss Helle? It would be better if you lengthened your descriptions." Orion meticulously pointed it out, and they departed.

Helle wore a vintage suit owned by her mother in her younger days. It was a white collar shirt with full sleeves a beige waistcoat that sinched her waist and a long, slightly lower knee-length skirt. With braided hair, she accompanied the man, who wore a navy blue suit and additionally a pair of glasses.

The walk to the central bazaar took no less than ten minutes, and on the way, there was much less to see. Most stores were closed, and while a few old shops were open, there were no customers. On the contrary, the town had a central bazaar, which was the most bustling, and from there, a total of five narrow paths led to the nearby stores and residences.

"We are at the heart of the town, as you can see. Since it's expensive to buy at the nearby stores, people walk up here to get a better offer. Though it's mostly the monopoly of the Sylvain. They run most of the factories and own most of the land. From about there."

Helle pointed to the shop at the farthest shop from her. Then, after pointing to the shop near her, "That's about the number of shops they run here."

Orion gave a nod to that information. Fitting the information like a puzzle. It was an ample amount to consider the monopoly.

"Would you like to follow the factory's paths? Or the residency?"

"Isn't there a path that connects to the nearby town?"

"Yes, we have that. Then let's go this way." Compared to a few moments ago, Helle was more comfortable in his presence. The intimidation she felt lurked in the corner of her heart while she showed her around.

The path was filled with farmers and factory workers coming back and forth. Underneath the liveliness was the grappling rumor and the tint of glares, which lasted only for two seconds at Helle. While the young woman accompanied her guest.

"This path leads to the biggest town near us. They have colleges and better facilities like hospitals, more buses, and cars."

"College's? Did you go there to study?" Orion vaguely asked. His focus was more on the gossip surrounding him, like a loom of unsettling air.

"Well yea. I studied accounting there, though I used to spend more time working." Although stunned by his sudden question, Helle briefly answered.

"I see. Then why are you working in such a restaurant?"

"Well. It's my family's-" Just as she was about to justify her reasons, Anton, along with his workers, was returning to the main town. There he spotted Helle with an unknown man. With a salty taste in his mouth, Anton gave a kind smile to his workers and left to be with his acclaimed fiancé.

"Helle. How come you are here instead of being at your house?" Anton walked towards her, disturbing the visit of Orion.

"Well, I am just showing my guest around the town." She gave a weary smile, while Orion gave a meaningful look to Anton, who had knowingly ignored his presence.

"Your guest?"

"Yea. I am Orion Lennox." Anton's face went from surprise to anger to apologetic as he reached out his hand for a shake. "I see. I am Anton Sylvian. The eldest son of t-" Before he could even finish his sentence, Helle was the move. She started to show the man around the town while giving the past information and the recent ones.

Anton was flabbergasted. Taken aback. His pride was hurt, but most of all, he felt betrayed. He had his eyes on Helle first. While he had patiently waited for the flower to bloom, who would have thought that it would be snatched just as the fragrance started to leap?

"You. YO-" Anton crushed the piece of paper in his other hand.

~

"Thank you very much." Helle bowed. Orion had made sure to safely bring her back home before he left.

"Eh. I would prefer you show your gratitude for your actions then." Once again, the words that were supposed to be lofty seemed very respectful. As though she were a friend, and that little smile on his lips as he turned around.

It played a small tug in her heart.

Turning around, she unlocked the door and walked inside the ragged house. This was her reality.

With a willful smile, she walked upstairs to change her clothes, but all of a sudden the main door was unlocked.

"Helle Chevalier," Anton burst through. Anger reaching the top of his head, he stormed towards her.

"Come here; we need to talk." In the middle of the stairs, the man pulled her by the wrist, and as though she were a ragdoll, she was pulled to the table closest to them.

"Wh-why are you pulling my wrists? Let go," she tried to resist. Pulling away her hand in hopes he let go, but instead, the grip on her wrist only got stronger.

"What are you doing? Let go! It hurts" Helle held a slightly louder and ground-staging tone.

Anton let go of her wrist, but a red mark had formed around it. Gesturing to take a seat, they sat opposite each other. A shroud of silence filled the room.

" Helle. Why were you with that man today?" Anton asked. His brows knitted, and there were a few wrinkles at the sides of his eyes. The seriousness consumed the air; meanwhile, Helle had a baffled expression. With a deadpanned look, she replied, "Like I stated. I was simply touring him around the town."

'Thud!' His fist banged on the table. Just one of his ways to intimidate her.

"You think I'd be so foolish to believe that? Do you think that this is why I have been staying by your side? Now that you're older, don't you see the path that has been laid for you? Although you have been engaged to me, how... how could you even stay in a man's presence? Didn't I say I would provide everything for you?? Yet yo-"

The situation had become intense. His anger had crossed the roof, and so had Helle's. Her lips were curved down, and her eyes were staring at his soul. Though not a word was spoken, the intensity was similar rage to his.

Had he always thought that she was his possession? Especially when she had never even engaged to him in the first place. Plus all the nonsense about infidelity.

"I am not your possession to b-" She cut him off in middle of his sentence and so, the man pulled both her wrists in his palm and forcefully pinned her to the closest wall. Slamming her back to the wall, he aggressively tried to get closer to her.

Rage fuming from every cell of his body, like a prediter Anton cupped her cheek. His rough fingers were coarse on her skin.

"You should have been a good girl. I would have provided everyth-"

'Smack!' Helle hit his balls. While he scrunched down in pain, and the grip loosened around her wrist, Helle ran to the door.

"Hell-" Just then Lorraine arrived at the door with a sweaty forehead. Her hands were filled with groceries, and she was faced with the sight of her daughter who had red marks around her skin while the man behind her aggressively tried to grab her.

'thud!'