White Rose National Park

Chapter one

She knelt over and stared at the flower. It was perfect in every way, but it would never please her. She was disgusted by it. It’s horrible perfection had made her face scarred with thorns. Roses were evil, she learned four years ago when she was cursed. As a matter of fact, everything on earth was evil. She was not unhappy with the life her curse had given her. The curse had opened her eyes so she could avoid the heartbreak that no one else could. Besides, her lack of compassion made it easy for her to leave behind emotions and rise to power. Even power could not please her, even as she was at a place of such that she could make a new religion and it would be the only one. But Lara J. Everest did not have time for such frivolous things. Her whole life was power and money and greed. The best part was, she liked it that way.

Chapter two

Jackson Hewitt sat in a dingy hotel room that, the night before, had seemed like paradise. The bed he sat in was empty and cold, but last night it was full of people and warmth. He should have learned by now that not everyone is meant to be loved. But he couldn’t stop, no matter how hard he tried. He got up and went to his park, his routine every time he felt like crap. He didn’t actually own it, but he was the only one there most days. He pushed open the rusted gate and it groaned with the thousand sorrows of old age. Sorrows that he could relate to. He walked over to his usual spot only to find another. A woman, crouched over his flowers, the white roses that the park had been named for.

“Excuse me, ma’am?” The figure slowly turned around with a scowl and Jackson found himself falling in love. This time he knew his love would not be returned, not even for a night in bed. This woman looked the type that stayed abstinent her whole life, not because of willpower, but because she hated everyone.

“Ma’am?” Her eyes were on him like a spider on a fly. While he remained ignorant of her curse, she knew that he was the one doomed to love everyone. And she was going to use that.

“What do you want?”

“I- I was just wondering if you liked that flower. I always look at it when I’m stressed,” Jackson stuttered.

“Oh.” Her face brightened in false happiness. “Yes, I love the flower. It is so majestic, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, yeah,” he said in a rush. “I know, it’s so cool, right?”

“Mmm-hmm.”

**to be continued**