Hope Everlasting. [COMPLETED.]

Chapter Thirty Three-A Brewing Storm.

Chapter Thirty Three-A Brewing Storm.

Cory's P.O.V.

So, things had gone well with Ashlynn. I should be over the moon, and admittedly I was happy in that respect. However, with everything that had gone on, I--we--had more things to worry about.

It seemed trivial, really. I'd gotten the girl I wanted--so what? In the grand scheme of things, it seemed stupid. There were lives at stake, people could die, or lose their sanity.

I'd lost a lot, in my time. Not only had I lost my sister, but I had lost my Mom. In fact, although she hadn't died, I'd lost Tabitha, too. And my Dad, although really, I'd never had him at all. Business had, and always would be, my Father's only baby.

It was for these reasons, that I made a vow to myself; I would not lose Ashlynn, in any meaning of the word.

"The doctor says we can see her in a little while," announced a shaky voice. I looked up, my heart leaping as usual when I saw her. Even with her hair untamed, tumbling down her back in rebellious waves, tear marks from her mascara as black as the night's sky streaking down her face, and eyes red and swollen, like she'd had a bad case of hay fever, she still looked amazing in my opinion.

Dylan got up from the couch we were rather awkwardly sat on, breaking the tension slightly. He embraced Ashlynn, who--despite trying to be strong--sniffled slightly into his chest. Bet he’s loving that, I thought darkly. Even now, I felt like going up there and pulling the bumbling idiot off of my girl. Then again, if it would help to comfort her, I could put up with it. Anything, to make her happy.

“You should rest,” I announced. Ashlynn drew back from my Brother, looking up through teary eyes.

“You…how can I…Beckah could die! We’re all in danger, our friend is on death’s doorstep, and all you can do is say to rest?” Her hands were balled into angry fists, face almost as red as her beautiful, figure hugging dress. “I can’t understand how you--“

“Dear?” Mrs. Johnston’s weary voice broke her off, and we all turned to face her. “There now, try not to get upset. I’m sure Becky won’t want her friends all arguing now, would she?”

“I…I guess you’re right. Sorry, Mrs. Johnston,” Ashlynn muttered, anger visually dissipating as she let out a huge breath that I wasn’t even aware of her holding.

“Not to worry dear, just don’t make yourself ill,” the tired lady said. In my opinion, she needed to take her own advice for once. “We’re going to have a small prayer ritual soon. Would you like to join us? I know Rebeckah would be happy for you there. Maybe the Lord will be generous enough to let us keep our daughter…or perhaps He will not. Perhaps this is part of His plan; we cannot interfere. At least they’ll be together, our daughters. I suppose, it isn’t meant to be.”

The silence that followed couldn’t be more awkward. Dylan fidgeted in his seat, while Ashlynn suddenly became very interested in a loose piece of thread in the small shawl she was wearing. I myself, merely stood there awkwardly.

I’d never, in all my life, been religious. We hadn’t been brought up with it, although we had a choice. My parents weren’t devote Christians, but they weren’t exactly Atheists, either; we’d been baptized, and they’d been married in a church, but not really for religious reasons. We were allowed to believe what we wished, which in the case of myself, my Brother and who used to be my Sisters, was not a lot. I had, and always would be, an Atheist from an Agnostic family.

It was Ashlynn, surprisingly, who had the confidence to break the silence. “Yes Mrs. Johnston, of course we will. For Rebeckah. Though, you should know I’m not…” She broke off, and I could easily fill in the gaps.