Make Quiet Things Heard

Chapter 31 : Relationship Troubles (Ep. 2|Part 2)

Hope's POV

When school is over I go back to Dr. Saltzman's office so we can dispose od the trolls body. He hands me a trash bag and we make our way to the basement. When we get there Dr. Saltzman thinks it's the perfect time to ask questions.
"There's, uh, something I want to ask. You know, when we were fighting, how'd I know to throw that bolt to you? It was like muscle memory. We've fought together before, haven't we?" he stops in his tracks and faces me.
"What? That seems totally impossible."
"Yeah, except I live in a world where a creature named Malivore can erase people from your memory." he says.

I try to think of something to answer but he already saw me hesitate.
"I'll take that as a yes."
"Even if I told you, it wouldn't change anything. Okay? It wouldn't bring your memories back. It would just be words. Leaving will be easier if you don't know." I explain. "Well, then, don't leave." he deadpans.
"You told me that the monster attacks had stopped, and then right when I show up, things start happening again. I'm pretty sure I'm the reason. So I can't stay and put all of you in danger." I exclaim and walk past him and turn the corner to the troll's body. But it's gone. "Um..."
"Okay...so... not a troll." he says. I look over to the patch of blood and sigh.

We search the basement for any trails of blood and once we find one it leads once out of the school and down into the alley just across the park.
"Okay, so if it's not a troll, then what else could it be?" I ask.
"I don't know. But it's here. Somewhere. Question is, why?" he answers.
"I'm not sure. I mean, the pattern is that I wound it, and then it runs and hides from me. So it must be sticking to the shadows, waiting for it to get dark."
"Well, when the monsters came last time, they were always after something. See if we can figure out what it's looking for." he says. "Okay."

Dr. Saltzman climbs up the stairs and and continues his search. I follow him but stop dead in my tracks when I see Josie walking in the streets. Sadly she's with Landon. God it hurts. All I want to do is run up to her and kiss her. I want to be with her so badly But I can't. I won't. She's happier with him. It won't do any good if I tell her anyway. It'll just break her heart. It'll hurt her. And I don't want to hurt her again. So I admire beauty for a little bit, just trying to memorize everything about her, I may never get to see her again once I leave town. I eventually look away and follow Dr. Saltzman, because it hurts too much seeing her be with Landon.

Seeing her in the park like this reminds  me of the time we were here. When we were picking up trash. I remember how we walked around the park talking just like what's she's doing now with Landon. I remember how she made me smile, made me laugh that day. It had been so long since I smiled and laughed like that. But after that day it became a regular thing. Josie Saltzman always made me smile, made me laugh even before we were dating. And when we did, it just happened more and more. Josie Saltzman is the light in my life. She will always be the light in my life. Even if she won't remember me. Knowing I got to be loved by her makes my life complete. I guess. I'll be okay. I'll move on. But I'll will carry her with me.

***

Me and Dr. Saltzman decided to wait at the park for when the troll comes out of hiding because it is obviously still here, somewhere, hiding. When the sun sets and the moon rises we see troll appear at the center of the park and I rush to it. Dr. Saltzman grabs his crossbow and follows, but seeing as I'm part wolf I'm faster. The troll seems to be going for someone sitting on a bench so I chant a spell to throw him away. It stands on it's feet and I surge to it and punch it straight in the face. I go back in front of it to strike again but he gets me first and I fall a few feet away from the impact. I get in my knees and the troll approaches me. I try to chant a spell but he shuts me up with his hands and lifts me in the air. I struggle to get of it's grip. And he goes to strike me with his free hand.