Secrecy (Hosie)

Part 91: Mercy

‼️Disclaimer: This chapter contains some graphic content...‼️

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The next day, Hope and Josie find themselves back at the dock, just enjoying the light breeze, birds chirping, blue skies, and each other's presence.

It's been an overwhelming few months, so Josie wanted to just take a breather, have a private moment with Hope, enjoy some semblance of peace while they can. She doesn't want to think about the Merge, and she doesn't want to talk about that feeling in the pit of her stomach, telling her Hope is going to do what the monsters have tried to do since the beginning—die so that she can finally defeat Malivore.

But no, she won't think about that today. She just wants to stay here, her head laid on Hope's shoulder, their hands intertwined, eyes looking out over the still water.

She's calm, for the first time in a while.

She sighs in content, "I wish I could just stay here with you forever," She admits to the Tribrid.

Hope brings Josie's hand up to her lips, leaving light kisses against her knuckles, "Me too, Jo...But—"

"Nooo, no but. Why does there always have to be a but?" Josie groans.

Hope chuckles lightly, "Jo, you haven't eaten lunch." She reminds the brunette, "Want me to make you something? Anything you want," She offers.

Josie lifts her head from Hope's shoulder to look her in the eyes, as Hope turns to meet her gaze. Josie reaches up with a hand to gently caress Hope's cheek, "Let's get out of town for the night." She randomly suggests.

Hope chuckles again, "Jo, I'm not sure now's the time for a vacation—"

"Please? Just for tonight? My aunt Elena has a nice lake house that we go to sometimes. You'd love it. We could build a fire, and I can cook you dinner, and just...get away..." Josie sighs.

She wants to get away from lurking eyes and pretty much everyone that Hope has to pretend to be someone she's not anytime they come around.

She wants to just spend one night with Hope. Not Hope Marshall or the loophole to Malivore or the target of Triad. Just her Hope.

Hope sees the desperation in her eyes, and she caves, "Okay."

Josie smiles so wide that it reaches her eyes, "Really?!"

Hope nods with a smile, before growing serious for a moment, "But we're doing a boundary spell as soon as we get there to keep any monsters out."

Josie squeals before wrapping her arms around Hope's neck, "Thank you," she says, bringing their lips together for a brief kiss, "Let's go pack a bag," she stands to her feet, reaching a hand down to help Hope up.

They begin their walk back towards the school, through the several rows of trees in-between.

The closer they get to the school, Hope hears something in the distance. It almost seems like the sound comes from the distant sky, a loud whirring sound. She thinks it's a helicopter, coming from the other side of campus. She can't hear much else other than that, the sound isn't as deafening as it would normally be for her supernatural hearing, but it's still loud.

"What the hell?"

They make their way through the trees more quickly, and they make their way around the back of the school, making it to the corner of the brick and peaking around it toward the back school yard.

Sure enough, a helicopter is there, the blades still spinning as it sits on the ground.

A few men and women with thick bulletproof vests stand around it. One of the men seems to be arguing with one of the Salvatore students, Alyssa Chang, "You can't go in there!" The girl holds her hand out towards the man, but nothing happens.