Liberation.

chapter 1

3 months later~

Hope

The morning came just like the last 3 months. I lay awake in bed, staring at the ceiling, hoping today would be better but it wasn't. The clock on the nightstand read 6:39am. I sighed and got up, laying here wishing for something that would never happen was pointless. I went from being a prisoner of a thief to being the prisoner of my own moms. Ironic really, rescue me to lock me up again. If you could call it rescuing to begin with...

Everyday I thought of Ice. Where he was? What he was doining? Was he thinking of me? Like I have been of him every second of the last 3 months. The pain didn't ease, I cried myself to sleep at night; well when I actually slept I should say. I avoided it, because every time I closed my eyes all I could see was brown eyes staring into me, calling out for me. I missed him so much.

I left my room being as quiet as possible, last thing I wanted was to wake anyone up. The house I was now living in wasn't the same one as before I got kidnapped. I wasn't sure it was the same city either, I heard Gotham be mentioned a few times. Perhaps that's where I was now, not that I cared. The house was smaller than the one I arrived at first, but it was still something to admire. It was very cosy looking, wooden floors and floral wallpapers. Such a perfect home for a perfect family, I laughed to myself at the thought. The back garden was probably my least hated part of this house, there was a tire swing attached to a huge tree, I sat on it at this time when I couldn't sleep.

I walked barefoot across the slabs of rock acting as a path down the garden.  My feet grew cold but I didn't care, it was September. Month of my birthday and I wasn't looking forward to it at all. I'll be 16 finally, 3 months ago I thought I'd be spending it with Ice. Somewhere far away from all this shit where we could be happy, that was now too, just a dream.

I stopped for a moment and looked at the small patch of dirt along the fence. A big rock with a name engraved into it sat there, Batsy. I remembered he was my bunny, he died a few months ago, a part of me felt sad because of it then again not like I spent a lot of time with him. I continued my way to the swing, I sat on it and gently rocked myself back and forth. I don't know how long I sat there just swinging. The sun was up and I felt it warm up my bare legs a little, but my heart was still cold.

"Can we talk?", I looked up Startled  for a moment. I relaxed when I saw it was just momma, I shrugged and she proceeded either way. "Hope, I want to say I'm sorry, wh-", "sorry for what? For taking so long to find me? For giving me so much time to feel forgotten? Or for giving me time to fall in love and then rip me from his arms?!". Her eyes were wide, I didn't realise I was crying until I felt a tear tickle my cheek, "I... I'm sorry for letting them take you, I... You fell in love with the beast that took you?". I wiped my cheeks and laughed sarcastically, me and snart in love sounded ridiculous.

"No, I fell in love with the best thing I had at that place. The one thing I looked forward to while being locked up in a cell. The one bloody thing that gave me a home", I was crying rivers right now for sure. The first time I actually speak to momma, ends up with me feeling even more broken. "Hope I didn't know that, but honey, Stockholm syndrome is very-", "what the fuck is that?" I interrupted.  Momma glared at me for a second, "watch your words Hope. Stockholm syndrome is when a person grows feelings of trust and affection towards their kidnappers, it's very common. We'll take you to see someone if you want to understand more".

Was she serious? This wasn't the case, Ice didn't kidnap me. He's different! I shook my head at her nonsense, "No, I fell in love with him at the end, at first we didn't seem to be on the right page but things changed and-, it doesn't matter anymore.  I'll never see him again and forever my heart will ache". "I don't promise I understand, but I can try, if you try and give us a chance" she suggested, I considered it for a moment but thought better of it.

"Alright, because I'm sure you'll understand that your daughter fell in love while in captivity. I'm really sure I'll give you a chance and then you'll let me be with Ice", she stayed silent and I already knew my answer. "Exactly, I didn't think so", with that I got up and pushed past her into the house. My eyes connected with mommy's as i walked around the hall to escape, she must have heard my explosion outside, I shook my head and disappeared up the stairs and into my room. Ready to pour my pain out onto the pillow..