A Spark of Hope

Chapter One: Fear

Tears were streaming down Carron's face as she shook uncontrollably with fear. Tyrone had shoved the tip of his Glock into her mouth.

"Don't think I won't kill you girlie. I sure as hell want to." Tyrone glared at Carron, his eyes wild and evil.

How had things gotten so out of control?

---oOo---

A few days earlier...

Carron and Tyrone were sitting on the grass talking. Tyrone was high again. Talking excessively as he usually did when in this state.

He told Carron about the things he and his friends got up to recently, thinking it would amuse her.

"Man, you should have seen the look on their faces. We tied them to a street light and left them there. Baby, I have had my fair share of prostitutes, but please, don't make me sleep with the same ones twice."

"Why did you leave them there? That's so cruel!"

Ty grinned at her with yellow teeth, "Why were you sleeping with prostitutes again? You promised me you would give this lifestyle up of drugs and the loose woman. We are back to square one," Carron folded her arms and let out a loud sigh.

Ty gawked at Carron with a defensive, wounded look, "Baby you don't understand, I have given all of that up. I was with friends... and... and, they were doing it, and I was just along for the ride. I haven't been high in... well... a few weeks now."

Carron stood up, hands on her hips, "Do I look like a fool to you?"

"No baby, you look like my princess," Tyrone stood up and brushed Carron's cheek with the back of his hand.

She slapped his hand away in aggravation, "You are high right now! Your pupils are dilated, and you are babbling." Carron turned on her heels and walked away.

Ty ran after her. He grabbed her by the arm and swung her around, "Where do you think are you going? No one walks away from me!"

"Home, that's where. Ty I'm breaking up with you. You are nothing more than a liar and a cheat. Do you honestly believe I am that naïve to believe all the lies you have been sprouting?" Carron yanked her arm from Ty's grip and started running. He chased after her. She ran into the house and slammed the door, locking it.

"Carron was that necessary?" inquired her mother.

"Which part? Slamming the door or breaking up with Ty?"

"Oh, you broke it off with him. Good. It's about time."

"Carron, you are making a big mistake!" shouted Tyrone.

"Go away! I never want to see you again."

Tyrone started to kick the door. She jumped back.

"I'm going to get you, and when I do, you are going to be very sorry!" He kicked the door a few times and then left.

Later that evening, Carron's parents reassured her she had done the right thing.

"Carron, we would be very upset if you got hooked on drugs or even fell pregnant."

"I'm careful," Carron looked away. "Or rather I was. I don't think there will be any more sex for me for a while. Not till my next relationship anyways."

Carron's parent's glared at her.

"What? It's not like I was taking a lot of drugs, just some here and there which suited the occasion."

"Honey you know drugs are illegal. If you were caught taking them, you would go to jail."

Carron sighed loudly, "Yes I know, and it would ruin my chances of ever finding a job in the future," she rolled her eyes, got up and went to her room. She put on her music and turned up the volume. She plonked down on her bed and screamed into the air. She was so tired of hearing the same lecture from her parents. She enjoyed taking the odd drug which suited the occasion. Her personal favorite was Ecstasy. It made her feel good and was great when being intimate with someone. When someone touched her skin, it brought on feelings of exhilaration. She almost couldn't imagine not using it before having sex.

A few weeks passed. She had a lot of tests to study for and projects to do, which kept her mind and heart distracted from the breakup. College life was a lot of work, but a lot of fun too. The teachers treated students with respect and assumed they would be responsible.

Carron was almost finished with exams. She was attending extra classes on a few subjects she needed help with, but on this particular day, she had a free period just before lunch time, so she decided to spend it at the shops, looking for something different to wear. College was in the center of town, so she didn't have far to walk. It was hot outside, the wind was blowing slightly. The streets were buzzing with people as the lunchtime rush had begun. She was thinking about her wardrobe and what she wanted to add to it as she was tired of wearing the same old clothes. Since the breakup, she decided to dress differently, wear shorter skirts as this complimented her legs. She had changed the color of her hair from brown to blond. Her mom didn't like this color very much and said she looked 'common,' but Carron liked the change. She pierced her belly button and wore shirts that complimented her figure. She was done with wearing baggy clothes. Why Tyrone had insisted on her hiding her lovely slim figure, was beyond her.

Someone abruptly bumped into her, and her bag flew off her shoulder. Carron blinked a few times, looking around to see where she was. She was in such a daydream; she didn't realize she had walked passed her favorite clothing store. She looked down to see where her bag had landed and spotted it lying in the entrance of an alleyway. She bobbed and weaved passed a few people and then hopped into the alley. She was stooping down to pick up her bag when someone grabbed her. She got such a fright; she let out a scream. The person cupped her mouth and pulled her deeper into the alley. Carron was violently thrown to the ground, and another individual stood over her and hit her across the face. She let out a cry and touched her face lightly with her hand. Tyrone was standing over her, gun in hand. He cocked it and shoved it into her mouth.

"I told you, Carron, no one breaks up with me! Goodbye."

Click.