When All Hope Is Lost

-chαptєr síх: thє hαnds-

Chapter Six- The Hands

"Now isn't this nice?" my mom said with a laugh, as she sat across from me at a small café in our town, called Vendreta's. We usually never really went out for coffee, but today my mom insisted that we did.

She said I needed to get out more and not stay cooped up in my room forever. Which I really didn't understand, considering yesterday I came out to eat dinner with Toby and everyone else. So, technically I hadn't been cooped up in my room forever like she said. I mean I merely got back three days ago!

"I guess, though, the ambiance is a bit too perky for me," I giggled, as I took a sip of my freshly brewed coffee while looking around some more. The place was as bright as the sun, with windows in every which corner, along with brightly colored paintings to adorn the empty places on the walls.

The floor however, was a dull gray that didn't really fit with the vibrant colors of the rest of the room and surprisingly stood out the most.

"Well it's a coffee house, aren't all coffee houses perked up?" my mom asked, making me giggle a bit and look away embarrassed. "What?" she laughed, before finishing up her coffee and placing it back down on the round shaped table we sat at.

It was then, as if exactly on time that I felt someone grab me from behind, sending me to scream louder than I thought was possible.

"Get off me, stop!" I screamed once more, as I fell off my chair and looked up at who had grabbed my waist. It was, Toby.

"Hope, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to scare you! I just saw you through the window and thought I would surprise you," Toby apologetically said, reaching down to help me back onto the chair. I sighed as I realized it was just him, but blushed a deep red when I saw everyone around us staring at me like I was some alien.

"No, it's my fault. I'm sorry," I whispered, as I looked over to my mother standing up from her seat and walking over to my side.

"Are you alright?" she asked, as she knelt down beside my chair and pushed the hair out of my eyes.

"Yes, I'm fine. I'm fine," I whispered once more, before standing up from my seat and exiting out the small café shop without another word. Once I got outside into the sunny, clear atmosphere I took a deep breath in and tried to calm myself as best I could. I thought Toby was Dee, about to take me back and torture me again in that cabin. I was sure it was him, but once I saw Toby's face looking down at me, I was utterly relieved.

"Hope, I'm sorry," I heard Toby say once more as he came out by me who now sat on a bench, watching the downtown traffic dart past my eyes.

"You're fine," I replied, leaning my elbow against the arm rest and looking over at him. He looked completely concerned about me, as his eyes scanned over every inch of mine, seeming to search for something deeper than what I had said. "It's okay, really," I told him again, standing up and watching as my mom walked on over to us.

"Honey are you sure you are alright?" she said, as she got out her car keys and unlocked our blue SUV which stood not any more than three feet away from us on the curb.

"Yeah, I am," I responded, leaning into the bench beside me. It was then that her phone started beeping, sending her to look down at the text she had received.

"Your father needs some groceries. Why don't you go with Toby while I do that. Call me if you're going to be out late. I love you!" my mom said without any emotion what-so-ever, before kissing me quick on the cheek, hoping into her car, and driving off. 

"Well... okay then," I said, as I sat back down on the bench and looked over to Toby. He didn't look upset at all, yet had the biggest of smiles glued onto his face. "What are you smiling for?" I asked, trying to hold back my own smile as well, even if my mother had just left me here after recently being kidnapped. It made no sense...