We found the hopeless

Lost/ the end

Ricky's pov

Kayla's behavior had been troubling me for several days. She refused to let anyone enter her room, and she wouldn't come out herself. Suddenly, Billy burst out, accusing me, "You hurt her, didn't you?!" I was taken aback and denied it, stating, "I'm trying to protect her." Billy demanded to know what was wrong with Kayla, and I had no answers. As I left the table, I made my way to Kayla's room.

To my surprise, the door was unlocked. I found Kayla asleep, her face stained with dried tears. I sighed and gently pulled her close, trying not to disturb her. As I held her, she confided in me, "Ricky... I lost the baby." I reassured her, "It will be okay." She then asked whether this meant Chris would leave her alone, to which I replied, "I hope so." She nodded slowly, finding a moment of solace in my arms.

I stayed with Kayla for a couple of hours before I had to head out and get some groceries.

Kaylas pov
I woke up to a very loud bang at my window, nobody was here with me to witness anything. I quickly got up from my bed and walked over to the window, as I looked out of it I felt the tension rise higher and higher. After a few moments Chris bangs on the window "TIME IS RUNNING OUT KAYLA!" He shouted and my eyes went wide. "The baby is gone!" I shout and he looked at me in disbelief. "Sorry I'm going to need proof!" He said before disappearing.

Kayla's mind was in a whirlwind as she jolted out of bed, her heart pounding in her chest. With a sense of urgency, she reached for a suitcase and began to frantically pack her belongings. Every item she stuffed into the suitcase felt like a lifeline, a ticket to safety. As she packed, her hands shook as she realized that she had to escape the situation before it escalated any further.

Each item she grabbed held a whirlwind of emotions - the books that brought her comfort, the photographs that held cherished memories, and the clothes that had become a part of her identity. As she zipped up the suitcase, her heart sank when she saw Ricky's hoodie laying at the edge of the bed. Taking a deep breath, she knew that leaving without a trace was the only way to ensure her safety. She couldn't risk anyone besides her immediate family finding her, especially not Ricky, given his connections with Chris and the others.

She reached for Ricky's favorite hoodie lying on the bed and pulled it over her head. Even though she was preparing to leave, she couldn't bear to part with the comforting warmth of Ricky's hoodie. Just then, there was a gentle knock on the door. "Kayla, can I come in?" Ricky's familiar voice called out. In a rush, she quickly tucked her suitcase under the bed. "Yeah, come in," she replied calmly, trying to hide her inner turmoil. As she perched on the edge of the bed, he entered the room carrying a bottle of ginger ale. "How are you feeling? I brought you some ginger ale to help with the pain," Ricky said, his concern evident in his eyes. She managed a small, strained smile, feeling her heart ache silently. "I'm doing okay, just feeling tired," she murmured, trying to keep her emotions in check. Ricky nodded understandingly. "Well, if you need anything, I'll be in the basement setting up your new room," he said, his words causing her eyes to widen in surprise. Despite everything, he still intended to prepare the basement for her, even though she knew deep down that nothing would come of it.

Ricky's pov

As I descended the creaky stairs into the dimly lit basement, I found Billy waiting for me down there. "I'm not thrilled about you turning my basement into a room," he expressed with a hint of frustration. "This isn't your house, and you can't just do whatever you want with it," he added, to which I nodded in understanding. "I know, but if Kayla and I leave, Chris might try to follow us or cause trouble. It's safer for us to stay locked in the basement," I explained. Billy rolled his eyes in response.

"Dude, Emma is pregnant. I can't take the risk of anyone coming into this house anymore. You and Kayla need to find a new place to go, even if it means leaving the state. Emma and I are already planning to move somewhere else because it's too risky to stay here. I hope you two have a plan," he asserted before ascending the stairs while I watched him go.

I sighed in frustration as I sat on the cold, hard basement floor, feeling the weight of the situation bearing down on me. I wracked my brain for a few minutes, trying to come up with something, anything, that could help Kayla. Finally, I got back up and made my way upstairs to her room.

"Kayla, can I come in?" I asked, knocking gently on her door. There was no response. "Kayla?" I called out again as I pushed the door open and stepped inside. To my dismay, she was nowhere to be found.

Frantically, I began searching the room, calling out her name. Then, I noticed a small piece of paper lying on her bed. I sat down heavily and picked up the note, my heart sinking as I read her words. Kayla had expressed a deep sense of fear and desperation, explaining that she believed she was in danger and didn't want anyone to find her. The weight of guilt crashed over me as I realized that I should have acted sooner to get her out of that dangerous situation.

I hurried out of her room, my heart pounding in my chest, and made my way to Billy. "She's gone!" I shouted, and Billy nodded, silently acknowledging her departure. "You knew she left and didn't tell me?" I accused, frustration creeping into my voice. Billy let out a heavy sigh. "She didn't want anyone to come after her. She needs to find a safe place on her own. If she changes her mind, she'll reach out. But for now, she wants to be alone, to start fresh without worrying about Chris or anyone else finding her. It's for the best," Billy explained.

I let out a deep sigh, feeling the weight of the situation bearing down on me. "I'm sorry, Ricky, but you need to figure out what you want to do. Emma and I are planning to move somewhere else soon. I hope you find a place just like Kayla is," Billy said as he closed his bedroom door behind him.

-
A few hours pass

Kayla's pov

It's an incredible feeling to finally experience freedom, away from the dangers that lurked at home. Ricky has been reaching out to me, expressing his concern, but I find it hard to muster the will to respond. Billy has informed him that it will take time for me to be ready to communicate, but it seems difficult for Ricky to comprehend. I am determined to escape the danger that he has inadvertently exposed me to, and now I no longer have to live in fear of Chris finding me.

As time passed, I made my way to New York, a significant distance from home, and now it's time to start afresh in a completely new environment. Even though I miss Billy and Emma, I find solace in the fact that they know how to reach me. There's a possibility that they might relocate closer to me, seeking a fresh start and a safe haven for their growing family.

The end

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Authors notes
I wanted to share that writing Tessa's story has been a bit challenging. Although I enjoyed the process, I found it difficult to maintain motivation. Looking back, I believe I could have done a better job with the story, but I recognize that my writing skills are continually improving. At this point, I don't feel enthusiastic about continuing with or revising this particular story. If I choose to revisit this concept or write something similar in the future, I am confident that I will be able to produce a much better piece. I appreciate all the support from everyone who has followed this story!