IN WHICH - The last thing that Hope Mikaelson expected when she came out of Malivore was to still be alive, the second last thing she expected was to be disowned by most of her living family, and the final last thing she expected was some ancient be...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
THIRD PERSON POV
CHAPTER 8
The sun was rising higher, warming the crisp morning air as Hope stepped out of the house, her focus still lingering on the boys recovering inside. She ran a hand through her hair, her mind preoccupied with the steps she'd need to take to keep them stable. Her thoughts were abruptly interrupted by the sight of the group huddled around the front of the car. The murmurs of conversation reached her ears as she approached, catching fragments of words like "search," "routes," and "missing."
Daryl glanced up first, his expression tense as he met her gaze. His hesitation set her on edge. Hope's brows furrowed, and she stopped a few paces away, crossing her arms. "What's going on?"
Rick straightened, folding the map in his hands as if trying to shield it from her view. "We're planning a search," he started carefully, his tone too neutral.
"For what?" she asked, her sharp tone cutting through the morning stillness.
"For who," Daryl corrected, earning a glare from Shane.
Hope froze, her heart sinking as realization hit. "Someone's missing?" Her voice rose, edged with anger.
Rick sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Sophia. She went missing yesterday during the walker attack. We haven't been able to find her."
Hope's hybrid instincts flared, her magic stirring unbidden as her emotions surged. "And you're just now telling me? A child has been out there for nearly a full day, and no one thought to mention it?"
"Look," Shane snapped, "we've been busy trying to keep everyone alive, including your little group. You're not exactly in charge here."
Daryl's jaw tightened as he stepped closer to Hope, his tone low but firm. "It ain't like we've been sittin' around. We've been searchin' since yesterday. Ain't no one givin' up."
Hope glared at Shane before turning back to Rick. "I could've helped. I can help. A child is missing, and you're all out here playing human search party while I've been inside babysitting two boys who don't even need me right now."
Rick held up a hand, his expression calm despite the tension. "We didn't know how to bring you into this. But if you've got something that can help—"
"I always have something that can help," she snapped, already striding toward the car to study the map herself. Her mind raced with possibilities, her magic simmering just below the surface. If Sophia was out there, Hope would find her.
Hope's fingers brushed the edge of the map as she scanned it, her thoughts scattered with frustration. The idea of Sophia being out there, alone, frightened, and in danger, ignited a fire deep inside her. It wasn't that she didn't trust the group to search. It was more that she didn't trust their methods. She had a different set of tools, and she wasn't about to let Sophia become another casualty of their fumbling efforts.
