Blind

Invaded

Hope grasped for anything solid as she stumbled against the wall. The fear and panic is bright in her eyes. The hospital lights blinded her. Armaros's voice forever rebounded in her mind. A mental repercussion. The palms were clammy slick with sweat as she wiped her hands against her thighs. She stared back at Aiden who is laying peacefully and not disturbed by the growing danger. Hope only has one question on her mind.

How?

The answer eludes her as she stumbles out of the hospital room and barges down the hall. Nurses in blue scrubs stare at her with interest as she half sprint-walks down the hall. Each sound made seems to bounce against her mind. She doesn't know how she responded to Armaros. Even though she knew she should feel some kind of guilt ridden pride she only feels a dread that longed in the base of her bones. Her mind is preoccupied as she races down the hall. So preoccupied that she doesn't see the guy standing in front of her until it is too late. The impact sends Hope sprawling. She lies on the ground coughing as her body aches. On all fours she clambers over to the guy she knocked over. The man wears jeans and a dark shirt with honey gold hair. As he turns his eyes make contact with Hopes and she mentally shudders. His eyes bore into hers and she can't look away. He is gorgeous.

"I'm ssoryy." She stutters, breaking eye contact with the guy.

What was she getting herself into? She thought absentmindedly.
She half expected the guy to stalk off and leave Hope staring at the ground. She is caught off guard when he gently hoists her to her feet.

"No need love." He said, his voice accented and inviting. He looked around Hopes age and she curses under her breath that this is how she always seems to meet good looking guys.

"My name is Ethan Grey." He says patiently extending a hand to Hope. Still to flustered to say anything.

When she doesn't reply he simply asks,
"Your name?" He says this with a chuckle and his broad shoulders move up and down with the motion.

"Ahhh sorry, I'm Hope Thompson." Hope says her ears burning as she stares at her feet. She looks up only to find Ethan smiling down at her.

"Seem to be in a bit of a rush." He says lightly.

"Haha yeah." She replies distantly.

"Making friends already, How sweet." The gravelly voice crackled and once again caught of guard Hope gasps and stumbles, almost falling over her own feet.

"Woah..." Ethan says and extends an arm towards Hope who takes it gladly. "You alright?"

"Yeah." She murmurs but she's not sure if she herself believes it.

"I don't mean to poke and prod at your life, but I can't help but notice, I'm sure I saw you in the paper. Were you the girl that disappeared a couple days ago?" He says cautiously as if breaching a tender topic.

"Yes." She says. And Ethan looks sadly at her.

"I'm really sorry." He says. And he shows true concern.

"No worries." She smiles weakly back at him.

Whilst she stares at Ethan, she tunes out the bustling world around her and seeps into the world where just Ethan and her are. In his presence she feels immediately calm and she is not sure of that's good or not.

"I'm really sorry but I have to go." She says urgently

"Will I see you soon?" His eyes seem to plead with her own.

"I don't know. Will you?" She says before she pushes the double door and gets carried away by the moving sea of people, leaving Ethan staring after her.

The run home allows Hope to clear her mind. She has always liked running. It allows her to concentrate on nothing but the burn of her legs. The pound of her feet against the paved path blocks out the sound of everything else. Darkness seems to approach quickly and the light fades gradually. Her gaze lingers on the branches which cast wiry patterns on the ground. Before she knows what's going on, a white van appears and she is being shoved roughly in the back. A figure dressed in black jeans and a black shirt closes the door swiftly behind her after securing duck tape on around her hands and mouth. The tape cuts into her flesh and she cries out in fright, straining against the bindings. The pedal is slammed down sending Hope flying in the back. Fear burns like a bright lamp inside of her as she struggles. How has this happened to her again? She thinks.
She curses her weakness and wishes she kept karate going from her childhood. In the back she bashes against the cold metal wall of the van. Tears pour down her face smudging her makeup leaving tracks down her face. The car abruptly stops and before a thought of self defence crosses her mind she is chucked out. The figure pulls her by the scruff of her neck. The sky is dark and they seemed to have stopped at a sort of forest. The figure pulls Hope along as their feet crunch heavily on the undergrowth.

Will anyone find her?

What was going on?

They walked for what seems like hours. Reaching a certain point she lifts her eyes only to be bombarded by brightness. A fraction of a second later she is being hurled with unearthly force at the growing brightness. It is not what she expects as she plunges through the surface of the portal. The cool water pierces her torso first then enveloping the rest of her body. Lights pop behind her closed eyelids as she sinks into darkness. A million questions rush through her mind.

A portal?

Who is doing this to her?

Who wants her death branded in red?

The questions stop when her skin slams into earth. She grasps at it's form, feeling for a strong hold on the world that is tipping around her. The cool night air comes towards her in sharp gusts. Her vision is blurred and her eyes sting. Her eyes clear she wishes they hadn't. Armaros's angular face fills her vision, sending her rocking back against the dirt, scrambling.

"Well, well, well. We meet again." He says with venom.

In one instant he is standing before her his clothes rustling in the breeze, the next he is close to Hopes ear.

"Sorry about my delivery guy, he can be rough." He says, fake guilt leaking into his expression.

Her body is tense. She is aware of something cold pressed against her temple. Chilling. Bone cold. A gun.

"You are just to much of a threat. I crave revenge for Lilith. And you will bring it to me." He says

The click of a gun. About to fire. Near the end. A cold sweat. Hopes pounding heart. She squeezes her eyes shut.

In an instant she feels the pressure of the gun pressed against her temple and then it isn't there. Armaros's screams of anger rebound in her mind, rattling her skull. After came silence. It was blissful stillness. Her eyes opened with a start. Crusted blood had formed on her arm as though she fell on something hard. She was remotely aware of leaves under her body and the irregular pound of her heart. But one thing was certain. It was not a dream. Armaros almost killed her. But how did she escape?

To be continued....
Hey everyone,
Hope you like it. Xx What are your thoughts?
-Tahlia