The only Hope

Gerard’s pov:

I stepped outside for some fresh air. I barely slept last night, so I was cranky as fuck and I’m pretty sure Hope noticed it.

Hope…

I could’ve sworn she was a Killjoy. The way she fought. But no, just… Hope, no Killjoy name.

I made my way inside again and met Frank.

“How is she doing?” I asked.

“She’s fine, wounds are healing well I think. My question is: are you okay? I know you barely slept, you said that this morning, but go and lie down for a while.”

I rubbed my forehead. We kept our car hidden in a barn behind the diner, but the roof of the barn was leaking and thus letting water get on and into the car. “Maybe, we’ll see. I still have to fix the barn so there won’t be much time for me to lie down, but…”

Frank interrupted me. “Gerard, just go upstairs. We need you like you normally are, not like this. Dracs could knock you over with a sneeze!”

I smiled. “Okay, whatever Frank. Just call me if there is any trouble, okay?”

“Deal.” Frank walked off to the fridge.

When I got upstairs I heard a thud. That could only be one person… I peeked my head around the corner, but all I could see were legs. Wait, what? I entered the room and found her lying on the floor.

“What happened?” I sat next to her, she rubbed the back of her head and looked at me. I lifted her and put her on the bed again, she never took her eyes of mine in the deed.

“You’re gonna tell me what happened yet?” She pushed me away lightly.

“I fell, okay?”

“You fell… What were you going to do?” She looked away.

“Ghoul told me I should take a shower or something, I was on my way to the bathroom.”

“Oh, you’re lightheaded by the way?” She nodded.

“Here.” I put out my arm. She looked at me, a little confused.

Eventually she grabbed it and pulled herself up, taking a towel and underwear with her. Frank must have given that to her.

“Thanks…” She almost whispered.

I showed her to the bathroom, she sat down on the closed lid of the toilet looking at her clothes.

“Yeah, I’m sorry. They’re mine, so they are probably too big for you.” I smiled.

She smiled back, but then her smile disappeared. “You can go now.”

“I’m not leaving.” I said very calm, not trying to freak her out.

“Excuse me?” She tilted her head a bit.

“If you faint in the shower and your head hits something…”

She interrupted me. “That won’t happen, just get out of here!”

“It could happen and you know it.” I looked at her with a stern look, but she was staring at the ground.

“I won’t look I swear, but I am going to stay here. Besides, I have to show you how the shower works.” I walked over to the shower, but she stood up and grabbed my arm.

“I’m pretty sure I can figure that out myself.” She looked at me and I know she thought I didn’t get the hint.

“I don’t want you here.” She sneered this time.

“I know, but I am not going to leave.” I pulled away from her and I was facing the shower now.

“Okay, so this is how you turn on the water.” I looked behind me and saw her standing there with her arms crossed. “And if you turn it the other way, you turn the water off. Now this one is for the temperature, but be careful… The water is some 10 degrees hotter than it actually says it is, so…”

I turned around and walked over to the toilet. I sat down on the lid, my back facing her and the shower. “That’s all. Go ahead.”

I heard her sigh. “Why should I trust you? I mean you could just turn around when I’m in the shower.”

“Well, you just have to trust me on this one, because I’m not leaving.” I said, not looking at her.

“Or I could just leave, that’s fine with me.” I heard her packing her things, she was angry with me.

“Fine, but then you can explain to Ghoul why your wounds are infected.” I still wasn’t looking.

She was quiet, so was I. It remained quiet until I heard the water running. I was relieved, she had listened to me.

“If you turn around, I will shoot you next time I get the chance.” Her voice was a bit calmer now, but she still sounded angry. I smiled.

“You have yourself a deal.” I know I wasn’t going to turn around, I had no desire to.

“Good.” I heard her grabbing some shower gel or shampoo.

“Can I ask you something?” I rested my arms on my knees.

“Well, maybe not.” She sneered again.

“Hey, I said I wasn’t gonna leave. Not that I wasn’t gonna talk to you.” She remained quiet.

“How old are you?” I decided to just pop the question. At first she didn’t answer me, but then she did, very softly.

“Seventeen.”

“Thank you for answering my question.” I felt like I had to say that.

“But… Seventeen? How come you fight like that?” This was my last question, I wouldn’t bother her anymore after this.

She sighed. “I was trained when I was younger.”

I held my tongue, but I wanted to ask her so much more. Then she spoke up again.

“To be a Killjoy…”

My eyes widened, a Killjoy? I almost turned around, but then reminded myself that that was going to cost me my life, sort of.

“Really? So… What happened?” Okay, one last question then.

“Korse got to me, but you already figured that out, didn’t you?” I didn’t hear the water running anymore. How did she know? Wait…

“Ghoul talked to you, didn’t he?”

“Yes, but now I have a question for you.” She walked up behind me.

“Fire away.” I said.

“How did you know?” Her voice was soft and fragile, just like that.

“I uhm… I saw the bed on the seventh floor, with the handcuffs and you were the only one there who wasn’t brainwashed. Besides that, you were scared shitless, so I figured that something might have happened to you.” I couldn’t help but ask.

“Am I right?” The bathroom was completely silent. Okay, I had to fix this.

“Sorry, we could talk about it some other time if you want, of course.”

“Sure, uhm… I kind of wanna lie down again.” Her voice was shaky. I turned around to see if she was okay. She was standing there, only wearing my shirt and underwear. Luckily my shirt was more like a dress to her.

“I’ll bring you to your room.” I got up and reached out my hand again. She bent over to grab the rest of her clothes and wobbled. I immediately supported her.

“Come on, let’s get you back to bed.” Her body looked and felt so weak. I could see she was in pain again, so I decided not to lift her.

I felt really sorry for her. How could anyone break such a beautiful girl as her? Stop. Gerard, focus.

Notes