When All Hope Is Lost

-chαptεr εlενεn: the lεttεr-

Chapter eleven- The letter

Toby,

This letter isn't supposed to scare you, but it is supposed to put you in your place. I believe that things happen for a reason and you "rescuing" one of my girls definitely was not meant to happen what-so-ever. Same with your sister, you will never find her, and I know you won't because it's not meant to happen. However, Hope did get lucky, and there is always a possibility for little Tabitha as well. Seeming as things are going with her, though, it doesn't seem very likely. 

I just want to let you know, that I am always there, whether you see me or not, I am always watching. From you forcing poor, scared Hope to help you with searching for your sister, to finding that mysterious baby in the cellar; I am always there. And don't you even consider tattling me out to the police, for then I'm sure finding your sister will be impossible... considering she might be buried six feet under the ground by then, just like her baby will now be.

Kind regards, Renn

I finished reading, my mouth a gap as I looked over to Toby who had tears trapped in his eyes, most likely due to the threats against his sister and figuring out it was in fact her child. I didn't know what to say, nor how to feel, for the letter was nothing I was expecting. I didn't even know who Renn was! However, one thing was for sure, we were not alone and that was not a good feeling...

"Toby, I'm so sorry..." I lingered, looking down to the letter and reading over the haunting words from the mysterious man. "I never expected this to happen, any of this," I told, darting my eyes back up to his blue ones as he wiped dry the tears escaping from them. He stood there like a rock, completely lifeless as he stared down at his hands in front of him entwined with one another. 

"We'll get through it, though, we will! If you let this get to you for too long it'll slow us down and we can't let anything slow us down if we want to find Tabby. Sounds like something you'd say, right?" I slightly laughed, though it wasn't any time to be laughing. Sighing, I sat down onto my bed behind me and placed my head into my hands.

"I'm calling it off, Hope," he whispered, coming over to sit beside me on my bed and fumble with his hands some more. Shocked and also confused by his words, I immediately lifted my head to him.

"Calling what off?" I wondered, putting all my attention into listening to what he had to say. Sighing, like I had done previously, he as well looked up to me.

"Calling this entire search off. It's not worth getting you any more involved than you already are. And for me, well, I can't be doing this anymore either. Like you said, the police will figure things out. I should trust that they know much better than me with things such as kidnappings," he mumbled. "I should probably just stay away from you too. I would never want anything bad to happen to you. Plus, I feel like staying with you and doing what we are doing would only make this Renn even madder."

Upset at his words, I shook my head. "No, no, Toby we don't have to stop looking for Tabby. It's okay, really, I want to help..." I whispered, making him look to me. I never understood how much being with Toby meant to me, for all my soul ached unpleasantly at just the sound of him telling me he wanted to leave.

"No, this is my decision, nothing you say will change it," he said, moving his eyes from mine as he contemplated what to say next I presumed. Panicking, my hands shook uncomfortably at my sides, which I soon decided to do something useful with and brought over to grab a hold of Toby's. I didn't want him to leave me, ever. Being with him over the past couple weeks has been better than anything I had ever presumed it to be.

"Please don't go..." I told, trying my hardest to stop my hands from losing all control. "I've never really realized it before, but I need you. I love every second with you and I couldn't bare to be apart..." I whispered once more, my eyes welling up with tears yet again. 

Today just didn't seem to be a good day for me. I thought, as I closed my eyes and let the wet drops slide down my face slowly. Silence echoed throughout the room then, until I felt Toby squeeze my hand back and pull me over to him. Sitting on his lap like a child, I cried, not loud enough for anyone else to hear, but softly enough to be heard by Toby who comforted me.

"I really am glad I saved you Hope Anne Charsity," Toby whispered into my ear, making me sniffle up my soft sobs and look directly at him. His face looked brighter, as he smiled slightly at me and wiped away my tears. 

"I'm sorry I ever thought about leaving you, I realize now nothing good could have ever came from that. My life is completely worthless without you in it..." he noted, making me smile back as I was so glad that I had indeed changed his mind. Kissing him on the cheek, I crumbled up the letter that nearly decided our fate and threw it out the window.

"Nothing will stop us anymore from finding Tabby. I know how stubborn I was in the beginning, but if you're beside me I'll do anything," I stated, wiping away every trace of tear from my reddened face as Toby situated his hands on my waist and smirked.

"Anything?" he wondered, his hands lingering close to places that he had never before even acknowledged. Laughing, I swiped away his hands and got up off his lap.

"You know what I meant, silly," I laughed once more, smiling down as I watched him stand up before me and brush through my slightly messy hair from waking up not any more than ten minutes ago.

"I know," he told, looking into my eyes and smiling. "I should be going, though, do you want me to pick you up tomorrow and we could go out somewhere? Maybe try to figure out what to do next?" he asked, as I bit my lip and remembered what my parents had said about not being able to see Toby anymore. It made me enraged that they judged him from one moment, if only they knew what was going on...

"You could just stay here for the night, if you'd like? We can figure out tomorrow when it comes," I replied, going over to lock my bedroom door so there was absolutely no chance of my parents catching him.

"Sure, I'd like that," he said back, climbing into the bed with me and gathering me into his strong arms. Nuzzling my head into his chest, I could hear his heart beating softly, soothing me fast to sleep. The last time we had slept together I hadn't even realized it, but this time I sure wasn't going to forget...