You Can't Save Me

FIVE

Chapter Five

Destruction

Hope's head was spinning and she thought she could be dreaming. Josie had given her all the information she needed to realize that Lizzie was a vampire, but seeing it with her own eyes was an entirely different experience. She was unable to understand how Lizzie had died and nobody had noticed. Hope felt her heart break a little at that thought. However, Lizzie was standing directly in front of her with blood trickling down her chin and red eyes; all Hope wanted to do was return some light to her eyes. Lizzie needed Hope, despite her desire to deny it.

"Hope!" Lizzie gave her a wicked grin. "Did you enjoy the show?"

"Lizzie, what...what happened? Why did you do this to yourself?"

"To stop the Merge of course. Maybe that ungrateful sister of mine will finally have something nice to say about me," said Lizzie wiping off the blood from her chin.

Hope's heart, or what was left of it, broke with every word Lizzie said. Lizzie had died, given up her own humanity, so Josie would have a chance to live a normal life without the Merge looming over her head. Hope realized that she was falling even more in love with Lizzie despite the circumstances. Because she was the only one she knew who would make this decision, Lizzie was the strongest person she knew. It probably never even occurred to Josie to do something like this. But the fact that Lizzie didn't discuss it with her first upset Hope. Hope was unaware that Lizzie was considering turning herself.

Hope would've tried to talk her out of it, but Lizzie was stubborn, and in the end Hope would've supported her anyway by teaching her everything she knows. She would've been there for Lizzie, every step of the way.

"Lizzie you didn't have to do this! Your humanity...why did you turn it off?"

Lizzie rolled her eyes. "I killed someone of course, being a newbie vampire and all, and my obnoxious, broken brain couldn't handle it. I'm guessing you can put the rest of the pieces together."

She had grown bored of Hope questioning her. Why wasn't Hope able to simply leave her alone? Hope wondered what would happen if she brought her back. Lizzie wasn't ready to come back and wasn't even sure that she would ever be able to. Her mission was complete; the Merge had been prevented; her mother would soon return; and now everyone could resume their normal lives. They won't involve Lizzie for that; rather, they won't involve an emotionally lifeless person in their midst.

After hearing Lizzie's explanation Hope did, in fact, put the pieces together. Lizzie's mind must've spiraled to the point where she felt like she had no choice than to turn off her emotions. She may have even told herself that everyone would be safer this way.

"I know you don't want to come back, but we can work this out. We can call your mom, tell her to come home. She can help you, we all can."

Lizzie narrowed her eyes. "What makes you think she would want to see me like this?"

"For the same reason why I'm still standing here. I care about you, Liz, you know that. I'd do anything to help you. I'm not afraid of you, or even mad. Your family won't be either, I promise, and if they are, I won't let them hurt you."

Lizzie wanted to believe her - that her family wouldn't be disappointed in her, that the first thing her mother would do when she saw her would be to give her a hug instead of keeping her distance. Lizzie needed, wanted, someone to help her, she knew that deep down, but how long would it be until Hope got tired of her too?