SHEPERD

Welcome Back Party

It had officially been a full week since Hope had arrived home. A full week since she had returned home and discovered the home she once held so close to her heart, was now gone and replaced with a religious cult, which her own dear brother was committed to.

Not only that, but this religious cult thoroughly believed she was the key to their salvation and her own brother would do anything to see this through for his new 'family'.

Her best friend, Mary May and Pastor Jerome, were some sort of leaders to a group called the Resistance in Falls End.

And of course, according to the cultists . . .

A collapse was to come.

Hope laid in her warm bed, staring at the beige ceiling. She knew it was still early in the morning, but her mind was racing - as that was all it seemed to do since she had arrived - and she couldn't find the will in herself to fall asleep completely.

She huffed lightly before grabbing the corner of her duvet and tossing it aside, allowing her feet to touch the wooden floor.

The day began as any other had that week. She took a quick shower, got dressed, brushed her hair up into a tight ponytail, before grabbing a banana from the kitchen counter and leaving the house. She had noticed a note - that her brother had written - was left on the kitchen counter, however, she ignored it. Knowing already what the small parchment would have written on it.

She held no interest.

Today, she decided she was going to attempt to push everything to the side, at least for one day. Whether she would be successful was debatable. She was going to visit a couple of her old friends, Nick and Kim Rye's, which she hadn't seen for almost six and a half years. When they had gotten married, before she was in service, they went on their honeymoon immediately after and were gone for nearly six months.

Taking the usual route she had before her service had began, she was surprised, when she actually arrived at the familiar wooden house, that she had actually made it without getting lost.

She smiled lightly, as she sat in the driver's seat, looking around the small land, everything was almost untouched. Left exactly as it had been years ago. Other than the one spray painted sign she had seen many times before.

Right on their front door were the large words,

SINNER.

She wasn't surprised of course. It seemed all homes in Hope County - who didn't partake in the cultists actions - had a lovely label spray painted on their homes, cars, etc.

As she approached the front door, she could hear the familiar bickering voices of Nick and Kim. She smiled to herself as she brought her dainty fist up to the front door and knocked twice. She listened as the voices came to a sudden halt and the sound of footsteps approaching. The door opened to reveal the gruff looking face of Nick Rye. Hope smiled brightly at him as she watched his eyes turn from confused to surprised in a matter of seconds. He turned to look into the house he had just emerged from.

"Kim! Kim you gotta come see this!" He yelled inside. And as if on cue, Kim opened the door wider and took a long look at Hope.

"Oh my god! Hope!" She screamed, grabbing her shoulders and bringing her into a much needed hug. Hope couldn't help but notice that her once flat stomached friend, was carrying around a large bump.

However, she didn't have time to comment on it as she was suddenly ripped from Kim's grip and brought into the embrace of Nick's strong arms.

"When did you get home, partner?" She heard Nick ask from above her.