Once Upon a Time

Chapter 54

Hope was lying in the snow in the garden. It was snowing and the snowflakes fell softly on her hair. Little ice crystals were stuck in her hair, as a beautiful decoration. Finn laid down next to her, she turned her head to look at him and gave him a small smile. Finn smiled back and took her hand in his. He looked back up at the white sky. Hope smiled, how did she get so lucky? That’s when someone stormed out into the garden and ruined her beautiful fairy tale. It was Maurizio, terror crossed his face, again. Hope ran after him, without saying anything and when they stopped in the door opening, looking out at the front garden, she saw a body lying in the snow. Hope gasped, but didn’t waste a minute to stand there and look at the body in horror. She ran to the body and let herself fall down next to it. She placed her hands on the man’s chest and started to sing. When she looked at the face of the man she saw it was the same guy as the first time. Hope looked at the face and then his eyes opened and his fingers wrapped tightly around her wrist. Hope tried to pull away in shock, but she couldn’t, the man held tightly onto her.

‘This is all your fault!’ he said in a deadly voice.

‘I’m dead because of you and there will be more.’ he said.

Hope shot up in bed, breathing heavily. Hope wanted to lift her hand up to wipe the sweat from her face, but then she noticed her hands were trembling like crazy.

‘Hope?’

Hope didn’t look, she would recognize that voice everywhere.

‘It was just a nightmare.’ Finn said, sitting up straight and placing his hand on her shaking hand.

‘It was horrible.’ Hope breathed softly.

‘I know.’ Finn said placing his hand on her back and making small circles.

‘I know.’ he said softly,

Hope had been having the same nightmare the past week, every single night. The first two nights Hope had slept alone, waking everybody up with her screaming, on the third night Finn walked into her room, undressing himself and getting in her bed. From the moment Finn had slept beside her, the screaming had stopped after one more night, but the nightmares didn’t and they became worse and worse.

‘Same again?’ Finn asked, getting Hope’s mind back to reality.

‘Yes.’ she said softly.

Finn looked at her, concern filling his eyes.

‘Don’t worry.’ Hope said.

‘I’m fine.’ she added softly.

‘You’re not Hope and I can see it.’ Finn said pulling her against him.

Hope rested her head on his shoulder as he took, with his free hand, her hand, making small circles with his thumb on the back of her hand.

‘You haven’t slept properly all week and when you sleep you’ve got the same nightmare, you’re exhausted.’ Finn said kissing the top of her head.

‘I’m sorry I’m not fun to be around.’ Hope said softly, meaning every word she said.

‘Hope, don’t say that. I’ll be by your side even if you’re a hot mess for the rest of the year.’ Finn said.

Hope bit her lip.

‘But I don’t want you too, I want you to be happy and not that you think you’ve got to stay with me because I need someone.’ Hope said.

‘But Hope, I’m only happy when I’m with you.’ Finn said.

Hope looked up and Finn brushed her lips with his. Finn laid down again, waiting for Hope to do the same, before pulling the duvet up.