So before I get into this, I definitely want to let you all know it is going to get kinda dark, and the winner of the OC fan fiction was Rayne! Note: I worked on this for like 3 days, so I hope you like it. Let's get into it!
Rain Brings the Marigolds
Rayne’s Story
Tuesday Morning
“The ninth case this month.” A tall slender woman clicked her pen several times. She stood holding a clipboard close to her chest.
“So, what do you think of this one, Ms. Amiar?”
Bending down, fingers to the blood, a smaller woman sat perfectly still, as if she was the victim herself.
“Well, this was definitely a cleaner kill than the previous one. I don’t think I know who this was.” The small woman held a flower in her hand. A Wild Rose; Pleasure and Pain. She thought silently to the messages beforehand. These are no accidents.
“Well,” The woman pushed herself up off of her knees. “Nobody has to have a connection with all bodies. We can’t keep blaming suspicious people for our problems.” She said, coldly. “And I’m not an old woman. You can call me Rayne.”
The taller woman nodded in understanding. “Rayne Amiar, any connections to the name, family perhaps?”
Rayne rolled her eyes. “Well, no, not really.” She grabbed a little plastic baggy and preserved the flower gently.
“So…You live alone? The 16 year old prodigy is loved by nobody?” The woman pushed.
Rayne scoffed. “No! Of course not! I live with my Mom.” She said the last part quietly, to herself.
The woman nodded.
Rayne turned back to her work. Her dark chocolate hair was unkempt and messy. The job had left her many sleepless nights, and around six coffee trips. Dark black bags were under her usually liveful eyes. If you didn’t know her, perhaps you would have thought of her as a zombie.
Rayne sighed. “I’m already missing school, and I hardly talk to my mom anymore. I just wish the culprit would turn up, and leave something actually useful, then I would be able to throw their sorry…uh…” She glanced awkwardly at the woman, and shot a quirky grin. The woman smiled.
“I’m sure if anyone can solve these cases, you can. After all, you solved most of the empire’s problems. Honestly, you deserve better.”
Rayne scoffed. “I’m practically a mere pawn. I don’t get paid or anything.” She placed the flower in a thick black case with the other flowers. She closed it and locked it, for it held most of her prized notes and leads in there.
“Well, I suppose it’s time for us to start heading back to the station.” The woman stared at her golden pocket watch that reflected herself on its smooth surface. Her golden brown hair tied back in a ponytail, and bronze eyes. “I’ll take your case, Rayne.” She reached for Rayne’s black case, sympathy in her eyes.
Rayne smiled. “I’d love that.”
She walked towards the front of the carriage that pulled them here, where two beautiful pegasi stood, gazing at the setting sun. Rayne smiled. “Good girl, Eclipsys, Good Boy, River.” She held her hand out to the beautiful creatures, whose coats were that of dappled golden and brown. Their wings were the color of the blood that was on the crime scene. She somehow felt connected to them. “I trust you two to take us home safely.” The pegasi nodded in understanding, and stood up taller, rattling their crimson red feathers.
Rayne, turned around, and boarded the carriage, before closing the door with a slam. The pegasi spread their wings, and shot up into the sky, taking their passengers high into the sky, and back into the safety of their home.
Tuesday Evening
Rayne stepped into her mothers apartment, setting her black case, which she had gotten back from the secretary, on the wooden bench by the front door. “Mom?” she called out.
Rayne walked into the small kitchenette they had. “In here.” Rayne glanced at her mother. Her silky silver hair was in a high bun, and her worn out brown eyes were focused and content on her food. Rayne went to hug her mother.
Rayne let out a shaky sigh. “I’ve been busy all month.” she whispered into her ears.
Her mother sighed. “I know dear, which is why you need to back out.”
Rayne’s eyes widened, she backed away slowly from her mother, hands shaking from exhaustion. “W-what?! No!! I can’t! I’m too close to this!” she staggered downward, and rubbed her eyes with the back of her hands.
“Stop! You’re overdoing it,” Just then, Rayne’s radio buzzed, and the static flared.
Rayne scoffed. “I have work to do. And just so you know, I don’t turn down a challenge.” She turned for the door, grabbed her suitcase and left her mother staring behind her.
Thursday Evening
Rayne sat in the carriage with the secretary, outside, the rain poured down and the sky was left a dull gray. Rayne had spent the last two days awake, and trying to put her flower puzzle together.
“I think we finally are getting somewhere here, then I can take a break.” Rayne commented as they flew to the edge of the forest surrounding the empire. “But, have you examined the body?”
Rayne’s secretary was pale, and she sat in silence as they approached. Rayne tilted her head quizzically. Finally, their eyes met. “I told them not to do anything with it. I wanted you to see for yourself.”
Rayne blinked. “I don’t think I quite understand. Why would I need to see the body?”
Secretary shook her head. “I don’t want to frighten you, but you should not look for too long.”
Rayne looked untouched, but she gripped her briefcase closer to her body. If her mystery murderer could leave messages, so would she. Rayne had an assortment of flowers prepared. She looked out the window as the rain started to pour down harder. Suddenly, the carriage stopped, and the pegasi let out startled and frantic whinnies.
Rayne grabbed her leather hat to hide her messy hair. She grabbed a black umbrella, and jumped out of the carriage. Almost immediately she wished she hadn’[t come at all. She looked down at her feet, where a pool of blood was staining the grass red. Tears threatened her eyes, but she couldn’t look at the body, because she knew all too well that the victim of this murder, was none other than her mother. She choked back sobs.
She closed her eyes, which had become clouded with guilt. Why had she not apologized to her, she should have backed out like her mother had told her. Instead, they had taken advantage of her.
Secretary held her own umbrella, and walked out of the carriage. She walked up to Rayne, and placed her hand on her back. “I found this earlier,” she whispered, and held out her hand. A daisy lay in her hand.
Rayne glanced at it. “I-innocence? H-how can you be innocent after this?! That’s not the clue! I-it has to be something else!” She shot up. “I’m going to go find the real clue.” Rage made its way into her mind, sinking under her skin. Not only had the culprit killed her mother, she must have suffered before she finally took her last breath. The weight of the thought choked her.
She continued deeper into the forest, until she reached a clearing where the sun reflected off of something shiny on a stump in the middle of the clearing. Rayne, rubbing her eyes of tears, went to go see what it was. On the stump, grew a beautiful flower, a yellow marigold. Next to the flower, a note.
“Your thoughts betray you, daughter of thunder and lightning.” Rayne read allowed. “Your pain is watered by your tears.”
Rayne choked on a sob, and delicately picked up the yellow flower. “Grief,” she mumbled.
She clenched her jaw. “How can you grieve for me?” She screamed. Without thinking, she closed her fist, crushing the helpless flower. She didn’t hold back anymore. Tears rolled down her cheeks, and sobs broke out. She sniffed and looked down at her hand with the crushed marigold. Golden liquid seeped through the petals, and splashed onto her hand. Rayne stared in awe, until it started to hurt. It was burning. She immediately unclenched her hands and stared at the flower. It had melted into a puddle of gold, and was forcing its way under her skin. She shrieked at the pain in her hand, making its way around her body. Her screams were the last thing she heard before she blacked out, her vision engulfed in gold.
Sunday Afternoon
Rayne flickered her eyes open gently. Where am I? She sat up uneasily, putting pressure on her left hand, only to realize she had bandages wrapped around it. She hissed with pain.
Rayne looked around, only to realize she was in a hospital wing. Before long, a nurse opened the door. “Oh, good you’re awake.” The nurse began explaining everything that had happened. Rayne listened quietly, the pain of the gold burning her hand, and the pain of losing her mother. When the nurse had finished explaining, Rayne was still dazed.
The nurse reached for her pocket. Rayne shifted her gaze quickly. The nurse held something shiny in her palm. When she opened it, Rayne gasped. In her hand, a golden needle was there.
“I tried to take your blood.” The nurse explained. “But it was pure gold, and soon so was the needle. Your friend said you passed out. I didn’t understand how, until I realized your blood is no longer the crimson it's supposed to be. It’s pure gold. The gold runs in your veins now.”
Rayne stared in shock at the golden needle. She wasn’t going to cry in front of the nurse, especially after what the note had said. She only nodded in understanding. “Is there anything else, or can I leave?”
The nurse retreated out of the room. Only to come back seconds later, mirror in hand. “Look for yourself.”
Rayne took the hand mirror, and nearly faltered backwards. She couldn’t tell who stared back at her in the mirror. Her once messy dark brown hair was glossy and streaked with golden highlights, but the worst of it all, was her eyes. One brown, one gold.
“I need to inform the council of your curse, in case it affects someone else.” The nurse turned to walk away, but Rayne grabbed her arm with both hands.
“No! No, please! You can’t! I’ve already lost everything!” Rayne pleaded, and her eyes were wide with fear. She knew these tests far too well. If the council found her guilty of being able to inflict pain upon others with her curse, she would be executed. Immediately.
The nurse stared in horror at Rayne’s small hands gripping her arm. She half expected something to happen. Something, anything. But nothing came of it. She stared into Rayne’s innocent brown and golden eyes. Finally she sighed.
“Someone send in Mrs. Benedict,” She called into the intercom.
“No can do Natalie, she’s busy with the king right now, she’ll come up tomorrow.”
Rayne watched in dismay. Had her secretary failed her? She looked around nervously to realize her black case wasn’t there either.
“Well,” The nurse - Natalie - turned to Rayne. “The best you can do for now is sleep. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Natalie left, leaving Rayne alone in her room, which felt like a prison.
Monday Morning
Rayne lay on her side, waiting patiently for the guards to come take her away. She sniffled uselessly. Suddenly her door opened gently, and Mrs. Benedict stepped in. “I had an audience with the king yesterday.” She said, holding Rayne’s case in her hands.
“I heard.” Rayne replied miserably. “So when are you going to take me away to die?”
Mrs. Benedict gasped. “No! No sweetie, you have it wrong. I was just setting you up for a new position. One where you won’t be hurt all the time.”
Rayne sat up and stared at Mrs. Benedict. “New Position?”
Benedict nodded. “If you're interested. It probably won’t be as interesting as your old job, which will be given to me, but I think you’d like it.”
Rayne glared at her. “What? What could be more interesting than field work?” she snapped.
Benedict chuckled lightly. “How do you feel about protecting the princess all day long, and living in a castle?”
Rayne cocked her head. “What are you talking about?”
Benedict shrugged. “How would you feel about being lead security for the King and Queen?”
wow! this is really interesting!