The Last Hope (AU Book 1 of The Last Series)

Chapter 19

I was stirred awake by the sound of someone crying over me and bit back a small groan of tiredness while I became aware of my surroundings but not able to move or open my eyes.

My hand was in someone else's hand, and their grasp was warm, comforting and familiar, bringing me a bit of joy and love in my dim and dark life.

"I am so, so sorry," someone said above me and moved a hand through my hair, and I closed my eyes tighter and bit the inside of my lip. "I am so sorry that I wasn't there to protect you."

What the fuck? I silently asked and furrowed my brows, biting the inside of my lip. What's going on? Why is someone crying over me?

"Please, wake up, Caroline," the person said and moved a hand through my hair some more. "Open your eyes, and give me that amazing smile of yours."

I tried to do what I was told to do and opened my eyes, but for some reason I couldn't. It felt as if my eyes were glued shut with something that I didn't like nor understood.

I bit back an annoyed groan but squeezed the person's hand as if to say that I was there and was awake even if I couldn't do what they told me to do.

The person grew still and bit back a small gasp. Their heart skipped a beat before it started to pound hard and fast in their chest, sounding like a runaway train, even though I had no idea what that sounded like. "Caroline?" the person asked, their voice barely above a whisper. "Can you hear me?"

I squeezed their hand to indicate that I could, and they breathed a small sigh of relief before they cleared their throat to hold back tears.

"Can you open your eyes?"

I didn't squeeze their hand but tried to open my eyes, biting back another groan of annoyance.

The person chuckled softly and relaxed their grasp on my hand. "I take that as a no, huh?" they asked, and I had a feeling they raised an eyebrow in question.

I held back an eye roll and squeezed their hand, silently agreeing with them and earning another chuckle from the person above me.

"Here, I have a bowl of water near me, Caroline. Do you mind if I use it to clean out your eyes?" they asked, their voice barely above a whisper as if they were scared of what I would say.

I didn't, so I squeezed their hand, silently indicating that I didn't mind and would appreciate it, especially since I had no idea who was standing above me.

They breathed a small sigh of relief as if they knew that I didn't mind and nodded. "Ok."

They let go of my hand and shifted away from me, leaving me feeling alone and sad because I enjoyed having their hand in mine.

The sound of a washcloth being wrung out filled my ears before someone started to wipe my eyes and then the rest of my face for some reason, and I couldn't help but groan in annoyance because I had no idea why they did that when they didn't have to.

The person above me chuckled and set the washcloth back into the bowl. "Now, try to open your eyes, Lina," they said, and I instantly knew it was Andrei because he was the only one that called me Lina.

I did what I was told to do and opened my eyes to reveal a Vampire staring at me with an unknown emotion in his eyes, and my heart skipped a beat before it started to pound in my chest.

Oh Goddess...

He smiled and dipped his head closer to his chest. "Hello, Lina," he said softly. "Had a nice nap?" He raised an eyebrow in question, and I couldn't help but roll my eyes and scowl because it wasn't that nice.