When Hope is Gone

Chapter 5

I look at Kristy, confused. "You mean to tell me," I say, "that this has been here my entire life, and no one has ever told me about it?"

She grins at my reaction and nods. I look around, astonished. Even though I practically grew up in this building, we're standing in a large hallway on a floor that I never even knew existed. The corridor is filled with people bustling about, going in and out of the many important looking doors.

"But why? I mean, I know I'm young and all and I'm not entirely trusted, but why wouldn't you tell me about something like this? What are you hiding?"

She sighed. "Come on," she said, quickly walking down the hallway without waiting for me, "I've got a lot of explaining to do and not a lot of time."

I scurry after her, not wanting to get lost in the maze. As we walk, I try to peep into the doors to get a sense of the place. Rooms filled with computers, combats, charts of stars. You name it, they had it. I couldn't hold down this overwhelming feeling of confusion. Why did no one tell me about this place? Had I really screwed up that much?

My heart stopped.

What if I was the only Wish Granter who didn't know about this place? What if they didn't tell me because of my daughter? My eyebrows crease, and I become so lost in thought that I don't even notice when Kirsty stops. I run right into her, almost knocking her down.

"Careful." She glares at me. I wince and step back. It had been an accident, but she wouldn't believe me.

She pulls out a key and unlocks the door before us, and we step inside. A table and two chairs. The only contents of the room. I jump at the slam of the door.

"Sit." She practically barks it.

Nervously, I do as she says.

"Toni," she says. She shuts her eyes and sighs. "Where do I even begin?"

"At the beginning." I regret it before the words have even left my mouth.

She glares at me, but doesn't address it. "Toni, only certain Wish Granters are allowed into the basement. Don't feel offended, we had just figured that it wasn't the right time yet." She shifted in her seat. "We were planning on waiting a couple of years before testing you, but now it seems we have no choice."

I could tell that she was lying about letting me in, but one thing she said intrigued me. "What do you mean by 'before testing me?'"
"Well, you see, for a number of years now, we have been trying to fight back."

"Fight back? Why? Against what?"

"Be quiet and I'll tell you," she snaps.