The only Hope

Hope’s pov:

It was too dark, I couldn’t see anything. I felt my arm getting grabbed, it hurt like hell, but I couldn’t scream. Next thing I know, I hit a wall. I dropped the towel.

Oh shit! The other person was really close to me now and put a gun under my chin! Oh shit I was in pain again. I closed my eyes.

“What the…!?”

I opened them again. The light was on now.

“Hope, what the fuck!” It was Gerard. He was whispering but he sounded somewhat angry.

I was so happy to see him, it scared me. Then I felt his grip relaxed, which made my arm hurt again. I yelped, but then he put his hand over my mouth.

“Please don’t scream…” He looked worried. “You’ll wake the others.”

I nodded. He then looked at his hand, which was covered in blood.

“Oh my… God.” He looked at me. “Hope, what the hell happened?” I noticed the towel on the ground and picked it up.

“I… Uhm, wrecked one of your dummies and I’m sorry for that, but I had to get the anger out of my body and… God… I popped…”

He came closer now.

“…one of my… stitches, I guess.” I looked into his hazel eyes. Man, they were perfect. They were so reassuring as well.

All of a sudden he put his hand on my waist. We glared at each other a moment, but then he looked away, examining my body to see if I was hurt in some other way.

“Look, I’m fine. It’s just my arm.” I whispered, but he kept looking.

I pushed him away a little. “I said I’m fine…” I didn’t want to be ungrateful, but this was making me uncomfortable.

“Okay, good. Come on, you can clean yourself in the bathroom upstairs.” He walked towards the stairs.

I wanted to say it wasn’t necessary, but then I would be lying… So I followed him upstairs.

“What… What were you doing downstairs?” I asked. He grinned.

“I could ask you the same thing.”

I sighed. “Okay, I was hungry…”

“You could’ve just asked.” I remained silent, I was still welcome here? “But anyway, we take turns guarding the diner and tonight it was my turn.” Makes sense…

“Here.” He handed me a clean towel, we had reached the bathroom. He threw the bloodstained one in a corner.

“Thanks.” I put it on the lid of the toilet.

“Okay, well, let me know when you’re done.” He walked towards the door.

“Wait.” I wanted him to stay. He saved me, he cared for me, he took care of me. Why hadn’t I seen that before? Although I wasn’t fully comfortable with him, I knew I could kind of trust him.

“Hmm?” He turned around.

“Please stay.”

I felt my face getting warmer. Oh god, I was blushing.

“Do you want me to?” He just wanted to be sure I guess.

“Yes.” I held back the tears, but wow… I sort of trusted someone again.

“Okay, sure.” He walked over to the toilet, grabbed the towel and sat down. He was really calm and sweet, I liked it.

“Just give me a sign if you need this.” He waved the towel and turned to the side, so he couldn’t see me anymore.

“Yeah, okay.” I turned on the water and filled up the sink. I wasn’t going to shower this time, because that would hurt way too much. It was really weird anyway, ever since I woke up in the barn my whole body hurt again.

I stopped the water and looked at myself in the mirror. There was nothing left of that sweet, innocent girl I used to be when I was younger. I looked like shit. My hair was still in a messy bun, but now it was even messier. My face was pale as hell. Damn…

I let down my hair and put aside the piece of rope I found to keep the bun together in the first place. Gerard noticed it in the corner of his eye.

“What’s that?”

“A piece of rope. I used it to put up my hair.” He smiled.

“Nice solution.”

“Thanks…” I said while brushing my hair with my fingers.

We sat there in silence, until I decided to clean myself. I tried to pull the shirt over my head, but I couldn’t lift my arm… It fucking hurt and a soft moan escaped from my mouth.

“You okay? Need help or something?” Gerard had turned around and saw me struggling with his shirt.

Notes