Notorious Hope

23. Hope for it

North Side Hospital-3: 30 am

3/29/19

It's 3:30 in the morning. It feels like clockwork, watching my beautiful brunette suffer internally without being able to help her. Brunette locks are now dishevelled, bruises are phasing in black and cuts are rising to the surface as the days progress.  

She's always been such a beautiful girl. But as I sit here and just stare at her lifeless body, I see how beautiful her soul truly is.

Reminiscing over the past week makes me regret what I told her before she left. I never meant to hurt her. I threatened to break up with her if she walked out that door and this is what I get for it. 

I caused this. If I had fought harder then she wouldn't be here in this hospital bed. 

But, I'll fight to the end of the earth to get Riley the justice she deserves.

Northside Police Station-7: 30 am

''Mr Babineaux, you are a close friend of Miss Jones', aren't you?''

If anybody knew Riley the best, it was going to be Isaiah Babineaux. 

''She's like my little sister. We've stuck by each other through thick and thin. But ever since the Friar's came into town, she's seemed different. Like she's been manipulated by somebody, somehow.''

Being interrogated about your best friend's abuse case wasn't how Zay planned to start his morning.

''What were the tell-tale signs that Miss Jones wasn't acting like herself?''

He knows Riley better than she knows herself. He noticed her falling into her father's manipulation before she even did.

''She was very intrigued by the new neighbours that moved in next door, the Friars'. She'd had abusive ex-boyfriends in the past, so I found it very strange that she likened to Lucas so quickly. He wasn't the usual type of boy she would go for. The last person she dated like that was Farkle. But I know that there's a history between Mr Jones and Lucas's mother, Mrs Friar. There's this contract that needed to be signed and Mr Jones' manipulated Riley into getting Mrs Friar to sign it. The contract stated that the town of Riverdale would have ownership to the Serpents. With Mrs Friar as Mayor, she would be able to the Serpents full control. The Goolies would be weakened and therefore, trouble would be relinquished from Riverdale. But then Mrs Jones returned and that plan was as good as dust. All I know now is that she was attacked by three guys in an alleyway from the Goolies and that's why she's in the hospital.''

The officer's expression fails to falter. An ice-cold look seeping through his aqua orbs.

''So now, after your perspective on the story, we now have 3 new suspects in the case. Mr Jones, Farkle Minkus and Mrs Friar. We'll bring them down to the station by lunchtime, but Mr Babineaux, we'll need you to fill out a statement form.''

North Side Hospital-9: 45 am

''He's still here?''

The hostility between Gladys and FP seems to of subsided due to the severity of the situation. Their daughter's life is on the line and they've buried the hatchets that've hovered over the two of them long ago.

''Of course, he is. He hasn't left her side since the moment that she was admitted.''

Guilt engulfs and trenches through FP's stomach. He started this.

''You know he loves her, right? At first, this was just a way to manipulate his mother into signing over the town to the Serpents. Although I now see the error of my ways. I need to find a way to fix this.''