When Hope is Gone

Chapter 3

Thankfully, finding a sitter for Ash isn't as big of a problem as I thought it would be, and I end up driving to work with a relatively peaceful mind. As soon as I walk in, I notice something is off.

"Hey, uh, where is everyone?" I ask Kristy, too confused to keep up my normal annoying persona.

She looks up at me, startled. "What? Oh, uh, they're here. They left already," she says.

Confused, I frown and ask, "Already? The elevator isn't supposed to leave for another fifteen minutes."

"Oh, I guess you didn't hear then. From now on the elevator leaves at eight rather than eight-fifteen," she says as she brushes her hair behind her ear.

I want to ask about the rest of the people who normally just work on earth, but I can tell she's hiding something from me. I know that trying to get an answer from her would just be a waste of time. I decide to just let it drop.

I walk over to one of the emergency elevators and climb in. This is going to be a long day.

When I get to my station, I check the Wish Collector for new wishes. The first is from a little girl named Helen, who wishes that her mommy would come home soon.

So do I, I think as I try to choke back tears. It's been four years. You'd think I'd be fine by now. But there is no hope for the dead. Wiping the tears from my eyes, I walk to the computer and fulfill Helen's wish.

I check the database for more wishes, and the name Brooke Kryka pops up. I frown. Where had I heard that name before? I think. It dawns on me that the name belongs to Ash's new best friend. I couldn't help but think that this was a coincidence. What could she possibly want? Maybe she wants to see Ash again? Curious, I hit play.

Her thoughts ring out over the speakers. "I wish that Ash Steele was dead."