Hope (A Tragic Short Story)

Pt. 3

The couple woke up before the sun rose and prepared for their first scheme of revenge. First on the list to be taught a lesson were the caretakers. People who had "care" in their title should know that it's their job to care for the children that others could not, but these caretakers failed their one job. After Laurenza and Chance were done, there would be no more trouble with unfit caretakers at the orphanage and every orphan would find comfort there. Chance placed a black cloak over Laurenza's head, not wanting her identity to be matched with their work, and the two headed out of the mansion. They quietly made their way to the orphanage that stood in the heart of Seattle. Laurenza opened the tear-stained door and took Chance to the caretakers' sleeping quarters. The two growled at the sight of the evil women who were unfit to be in their positions. Laurenza made her way over to the head of the orphanage and lightly shook her awake. The woman slowly blinked her eyes open and sighed disapprovingly, before being hit with utter fear. She violently trembled at the sight of the ominous, cloaked girl, but was given no time to run. A single gunshot rang through the uncouth building, followed by several more, and the head of the orphanage fell back to sleep, along with every other caretaker in the building.

"Chance, are you sure that was the right thing to do?"

"Yes, I'm positive. Just think of how happy the orphans will be when they find that they are free from their abusive captors," Chance grinned as he helped wash the splashes of red off of Laurenza's cloak and hands. They quickly made their way back to the mansion, before the police arrived at the scene. The two vigilantes waited the day out until night to teach their next lesson. The next person who needed to be taught was the husband of Laurenza's mother. He and her mother had divorced a few years ago, so the deed would have to be done in two different locations for the old couple.

Laurenza informed Chance that this apartment would be easy to get into because her "father" was known for coming home drunk and leaving the door open. Sure enough, the door was open and the cloaked girl and sword-wielding boy crept into the apartment room that was pervaded by obnoxious snoring. Laurenza glared at the man her mother forced her to call "father" and was disgusted. She walked over to him and coughed at the smell of various liquors. She had to vigorously shake him to wake him up.

"Who are you... are you?!" The man sloppily sputtered words and Laurenza shook her head. She felt a weird sense of satisfaction knowing that this disgraceful man would be dead soon. However, she did notice the man reach up and pull down her hood. "Hey, you look like that pretty girl who Sage would always yell at. I always liked you, but I knew she was disappointed in you. Not really sure... sure why though. Hey, why does your lil' buddy have a-" The man's words were literally cut off by Chance's doing.

"If you really thought that, you would have told her that earlier and actually cared for her like the parent you were supposed to be. Now you've paid for your wrongdoings," Chance swiftly put Laurenza's hood back up and walked towards the dingy door of the apartment, but Laurenza didn't follow. "Laurie? What's wrong? Come on we've got to go before anyone catches onto us."

"Right, sorry," Laurenza mumbled. Her breath shook as the words her mother's husband said echoed through her head. She silently walked back to the mansion with Chance and told Chance she was heading to her room. Chance stayed up later to wash his sword and sterilize it, but he noticed that Laurenza wasn't actually in her room. He hurried back down to his lair and found Laurenza asleep at the round table. Her brown waves of hair clung to her face and small pools of water surrounded her, along with pictures from her childhood. Heat rose inside of Chance and he stomped over to the girl who had cried herself to sleep. He scoffed at the idea of her getting cold-feet and backing out of the revenge he had worked so hard on for her. He snatched the pictures of her and her "father" off the table and ripped them apart. Chance wouldn't let a drunk man's lies get to Laurenza's head.