Blind

Friend or Foe?

Heat surges to her already flushed face. Hope leans against Aiden, tired from dancing, even though she knows she would never stop. Carried away by the beat of the music. She couldn't believe it. She had, had her perfect fist kiss with Aiden. She recalled his lips against hers, and an arm encircling her waist protectively. Her eyes are frantic with the beat of the music. She pulls away from Aiden to grab a diet Coke. Before she leaves she stands on her toes to kiss him again and a shiver passes down her arms. As she walks past the dance floor there are lounges with and a table with refreshments. She grabs a red cup filling it with Coke. She stares at other couples costumes for Date Night, a couple had come as beauty and the beast, another came as Romeo and Juliet. Soo not original, she thinks.

"Hey its Hope isn't it." She spins around, her hand clutching the cup. The blonde chick from school stands in front of her. The one who seemed more than interested in Aiden. Internally, Hope groans.

"Yeah that's right." She says, plastering a prosthetic smile on like Blondie has done.

"My names Candy." She says, mirroring Hopes smile. Wow, she thinks, Blondie has a name!

"Cool, nice to meet you." Hope says, staring over her shoulder wishing she was still dancing.

Candy lowers her voice, moving towards Hopes ear, "Yeah, not so much." She replies sarcastically and Hope is taken back. She did not expect that. When Candy pulls back, a smell of strawberry lotion wafts into Hopes face, she slaps the fake smile back on, even though it doesn't reach her eyes.

"Keep your paws off him." She says again, not trying to keep the venom out of her voice.
"I'm watching you." She says. But before Hope can make a snide comeback she staggers back into the crowd. Only if people knew she was Ambrosia, and then they would NOT say that! she thought. After thinking this, she feels a pang of guilt wrap around her heart. She was lying to Aiden. Even though it was better this way, she still feels bad.

Amber and Em waltzed up to Hope looking worryingly, guilty. Their arms looped together.

"What have you girls been up too." Hope says, causing them to giggle. They give Hope a knowing smile.

"Oh." She says. Of course they saw. And now Hope was the one blushing.

"You guys make a cute couple." Em says

"I second that." Amber says raising her red cup filled with who knows what.

Hope groans but a hint of a smile shows on her face.

"See ya later." They call over their shoulders as they saunter back the in opposite direction.

*****

By the time she manages to get back to Aiden, he was surrounded by his mates. She felt slightly intruding but he then pulled her into his arms which made her expression light up.

By 10pm Hope had danced her heart out and agreed to Aiden taking her home. The ride home is quiet. She feels bad for leaving the girls at Aiden's but they said another friend would give them a ride so Hope reluctantly agreed. By the time Aiden pulled up at her driveway the night is chilling sending goose bumps scattering against her skin, and the sky is inky black. Aiden walks her up to her door, hand in hand. Hope leans in to thank him for the night but something catches his eye behind Hope and she follows his line of sight.

Her house door is ajar. The white washed door has multiple streaks on them, that look like sharpie lines, but on closer inspection, the paint is shredded in claw streaks. Fear grips her heart as it pounds in her chest. The outside air seems to suffocate her and she wipes clammy palms on her thighs. The hairs on the end of her neck stand on end as she pushes open the door.

The lights are off inside. Hope takes a shaky step in her silver heels and almost trips on something that stains the floor. It couldn't be, she thinks. Her world comes crashing down as she stares at the thick, red blood that coats the floor. The metallic smell that invades her nose is truly confronting. The blood seems to be streaked across the floor as if someone dragged.....
Hope strains to keep tears from leaking. Behind her, Aiden remains deathly still.
Hope walks further in, flicking on the light. As soon as she lays her eyes on the scene that unfolds, she yelps out loud, the tears now coming freely. A message scrawled in blood on the wall greets her first. The writing is edgy and hard and sends shivers down Hopes spine. She wants to scream. Her throat closes as she reads the message:

Let's trade. Your life for Hers. Midnight Sunday. Pilkion & Son. Don't be late or she will suffer.

Hope cries out. Blood. Her mothers blood is undoubtably scrawled on the wall. She stumbles back and Aiden catches her elbow.

Why is he being so quiet?

As Hope stares at the floor, a light catches her eye. Her mothers wedding ring sits beneath the blood scrawled wall. It shines in the dull light. Hopes sobs seem to eat into Aiden. She stumbles forward and snatches the ring of the ground, cradling it close to her chest while she sobs.

No one else will die because of me, she thinks. I will save mum.

"Armaros." Aiden says quietly. Hope spins around in time to face him. Her tear streaked face completely terrified.

"You. You know him." She asks mortified. "How?!!" She says accusingly.

Aiden draws in a shuddering breath.

"Because he is my father."

Hope gasps, the world seems to slows down. All she can feel is a painful ripping on the left side of her body. She knows this is her heart breaking. Before she can take a swing at Aiden, darkness surrounds her vision, as the lights blur, her body collapses on the ground. She is distantly aware of her finger nails caked with blood and a damp substance seeping into her dress. She is also distantly aware of Aidens voice pleading,
"I'm so sorry." He says, even though his voice is full of unexplained guilt she feels her whole world being pulled from underneath her.
She has no time to react before her body completely surrendered to the darkness.

To be continued....
Will Hopes mother survive at Hopes cost? What will become of Aiden and Hopes relationship? Aiden has lied to her. Will she ever forgive him? Aidens betrayal stings bitterly. Will Hope ever heal from the devastating blow and understanding that Aidens father is her fathers killer?

Hello everyone,
Hope you liked the big twist! :-) Sorry to end it like this xx There will be more soon. Thank you for all the support x Your comments mean so much to me. Feel free to comment your thoughts xx Thanks heaps,
-Tahlia B