The White Rose. Madilina Tresca

stopped talking and looked at her.

      'Cherie … you do remember Cherie, don't you?' asked Mrs Woodley.

      'Yes! She was like a big sister to me,' answered Skyla.

      'After your father called us to tell us what had happened, Cherie had a hunch where Ryan would have headed off to,' continued Mrs Woodley.

      'Wahroonga Park,' nodded Skyla.

      'That's right,' agreed Mrs Woodley.

      Wahroonga Park had always been Ryan's favourite sanctuary to go to when he needed to be alone with his thoughts. Ryan and Skyla had had many romantic moments in that park.

      'Cherie found him pacing up and down. It was pouring rain, so dark with thunder that Cherie could barely make out the outline of Ryan,' recalled Mrs Woodley. She relayed to Skyla the scene that had taken place that night at the park.

      'Ryan! Ryan!' had yelled Cherie.

      Ryan was on his knees clutching at a bunch of roses and his skin bleeding from the pricks of their thorns. He had not heard his sister. Cherie ran up to him.

      'Come on Ryan! My car is parked across the road. Let's get you home quickly!' shouted Cherie.

      As she went to lift his arm to help him get up, a flash of lightening lit up in the sky and Cherie caught sight of Ryan's face. It was disfigured. It scared her. With all the strength she could master, she lifted her brother and dragged him to the car. He was unrecognisable. It was luck that they lived just around the corner from the park. She whispered lovingly to Ryan.

      'Let's get you home fast baby brother!'

      'Then what happened, Mrs Woodley?' implored Skyla.

      Mrs Woodley sat in silence. She appeared to be in her own world as she re-lived the events of that night.

      'Cherie walked in the front door and yelled for me to come downstairs.' Mrs Woodley became emotional. 'My boy looked nothing like my son. We sat him on the couch and,' she paused.

      'And what Mrs Woodley?'

      'He said the strangest things,' continued Mrs Woodley.

      'Like what?'

      'He said, Rose … never return … death … seven.'

      'Huh? It doesn't make sense! What did he mean? What was he talking about?' said a perplexed Skyla.

      Mrs Woodley looked at Skyla, 'I don't know my dear.'

      'Did he say anything else?' Skyla was sounding almost desperate.

      Mrs Woodley shook her head and began to cry. Skyla put her arm around her. Mrs Woodley missed her son terribly.