Pamela's whip pulsed with vitality, the thorned vine tightening around the struggling creature's waist. It pulled against her, moving violently, trying to tear the plant vine from its chest. Pamela's breath came heavy, her hands trembling as she felt the Midnight Rose resist her instinct to release. The vine clung tighter, unwilling to let go.
Her lips parted, a whisper slipping free. "No… hold on." She focused her will into the rose, a strange connection burning hotter in her veins. The vine obeyed, drilling deeper into the creature's torso. A wet tearing sound filled the corridor as blood sprayed across the floor. Pamela gagged but held her ground as the whip surged upward, curling around the creature's neck. With a sharp crack, the glass dome protecting its head shattered into fragments, the pieces scattering loudly across the tiles.
The vine slithered further, burrowing into the creature's ears and into its skull. A sickening crunch echoed through the hall. The monster released a garbled scream that shook Pamela's chest before collapsing to its knees. She gasped, her body convulsing as a second wave of vitality rushed into her. It was warm, intoxicating, and terrifying all at once. Her vision sharpened, her heartbeat echoed in her ears, and her breath came ragged as the monster's life force poured into her bloodstream.
The body collapsed, it's glass helmet clanging loudly as it hit the ground. The corpse shriveled up quickly, skin tightening around protruding vines until it became nothing more than a dry husk. The whip slackened and slid free, retracting in a ripple of motion until it coiled once more around Pamela's wrist. The bracelet formed again, its ten black roses quivering faintly in the silence.
Pamela fell to her knees. Her hand trembled as she pressed it against the floor, eyes locked on the desiccated corpse lying before her. "I… I actually killed someone," she whispered, her voice breaking. Horror laced every word. She shook her head quickly, trying to steady her breath. "No. That wasn't human anymore. That was a monster… a weapon."
Her gaze shifted to her hand, the vine wrapped snugly around it. She curled her fingers into a fist, her jaw tightening. "But even if it was human… what does it matter? Woodrue he turned me into something else. Into this. And Barbara… she needs me." Her chest rose sharply as her voice steadied. "I've always been weak. Always the one left behind, ignored, or used by others. I'm not going to be that girl anymore. If I want to save Barbara, I have to become stronger. Strong enough to kill others if I have to."
The bracelet pulsed against her wrist, a gentle warmth flowing through her skin. She closed her eyes briefly, sensing comfort and reassurance radiating from the Midnight Rose. She let out a shaky breath. "You're right. I'm not weak. I'm done being normal or helpless."
Her expression softened as Barbara's face flashed in her mind. "She's the first person who ever asked me how I was doing. The first person who actually cared. Even after everything… she saw me. Not just some quiet plant nerd. She saw me." Pamela's head lowered, her voice quiet but heavy with guilt. "And now she's in danger because of me."
Her hands steadied as she pushed herself back onto her feet. She stood taller, resolve burning in her green eyes. "I'm going to save her, no matter what it takes. Even if I have to kill every last person in this place to do it."
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