The only Hope

Gerard’s pov:

I had pointed my gun at her, waiting for her to speak up. She didn’t. She kept quiet and caught her breath.

“You traitor!” I yelled.

She narrowed her eyes. “I’m not the traitor here.”

“What? Of course you are! Korse…”

“Korse made me do it, Gerard!” She interrupted me. “Why else would the Dracs take me back to my room!?” Her voice sounded hysterically now.

“Maybe he doesn’t need you anymore! And if this all really was an act, then why does he know our names!?” I felt like I was pointing my gun at the most precious thing in the world, but if she actually was a spy, I would be fucked.

She ran a hand through her hair. “Gerard, I know how this looks, but Korse was just messing with your head. I swear…” She sighed. Were those tears?

“How can I prove it to you? I can’t, can I?” She looked at me directly. “Korse made me an offer. He said he wouldn’t lay a finger on you and your friends, if I played along. I did, but he didn’t keep his promise!” She was actually crying now.

I slowly lowered my gun, thinking.

“Gerard, I would do anything just to not get you killed and this was what Korse made me do. He just wanted to see you suffer, mentally.” I took a good look at her again.

She was still pointing her gun at me, but her facial expression was real. Fear, anger.

“You still didn’t answer my question!” I lifted the gun again and felt the tears coming. I felt betrayed, torn apart and stepped on. “How does he know our names!?”

Hope wiped away her tears. “He… He trashed the diner and found the pictures. You thought your name wasn’t on there, but it was! As was Mikey’s. He called you by your name, I… I reacted. That’s how he knew your name and Mikey’s!”

He had the pictures? Those were the only things left from our past. We left everything else behind. Son of a bitch!

Hope continued. “I had to tell him Frank’s and Ray’s as well…” She was sobbing and lowered the gun now. Then she lifted her shirt so her stomach was visible. I gasped when I saw the red stains and bruises. Shit. “I… I’m so sorry, Gerard. He… Just wouldn’t stop!”

Suddenly we heard a loud bang. Explosives?

I lowered my gun as well and walked over to Hope. I wasn’t ready for a hug yet, but I did want to comfort her.

“Hope, listen to me. I will get you out of here, but first I need to know something.” She looked me in the eye now. “Where are the pictures?”

“I don’t know, I swear. I was in this… Dark room, I can’t remember where it is. I can recall I was being dragged up the stairs back to my room, which is over there.” She pointed towards a door.

“Okay, let’s search the fourth floor then.” I turned around and walked towards the stairs.

I noticed Hope wasn’t moving at all. I faced her again and saw that she had pointed the gun at me again. Shit.

“Why would I help you, while you didn’t help my father at all?” She narrowed her eyes.

“What?” What the hell was she talking about?

“You heard me. Because of you my mother is dead! You… You didn’t show up!” She was holding back tears.

“Hope, I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about!” I walked towards her, but she moved away. I was careful, for she was still holding the gun.

“No! You do, I know you do! My father knew Korse was coming so he asked Dr. D. for help!” She was shaking all over.

We remained silent for a while, then I spoke up. “Did Korse tell you this?”

Her eyes widened a bit and she looked at the ground. Did she now realize how stupid it sounded? Dr. D. wouldn’t just ignore a request for help.

“Y… Yes.” She muttered.

“Hope, I’m going to get you out of here and after that I’ll take you to Dr. D., okay? We’ll ask him.” I tried to get her to come with me.

She didn’t move. It was like she was frozen, but thinking at the same time.

I came a bit closer to her and placed my hand on the gun. I felt hurt. How could she still be pointing that at me?

“Or just shoot me now. Like you wanted in the very beginning.” Tears were falling from my eyes now.

I waited. She kept blinking and looking at me, holding her breath.

“Hope…”

Notes