The Last Hope

Chapter 1~ Rae

"Don't be late! This is the party you and Kota hooked up at!" Nura Exclaimed. "Yes, Nura, I know. You say that every year."
"And bring snacks!" She said just before hanging up. I laughed to myself and got my keys to go out. Kota wasn't home from work yet. It is only 8AM; I have plenty of time to kill. And it's such a lovely morning. I drove to the local grocery store and was getting chips and snacks people would enjoy. After a few minutes of walking around I noticed a tall, dark woman standing down the aisle from me, and I swear she's looking at me. As I go to pay, she also leaves.

I thank the cashier and walk out the door, that woman is leaning against my car door. "Can I help you?" I asked her. She smiled. Her hair was long and dark, a her bangs are thick and frame the side of her face, the other side has a section above her ear that is shaved. The dark hair and skin emphasize her metallic green eyes. She wears a blank, black t-shirt and regular jeans, torn at the one knee. She seemed taciturn, with a smile that was less creepy and intimidating as I would have expected. It was kind, sincere and inviting.
"You got plans for today?" She asked. Her voice was smooth and slightly deep, and somehow I found it familiar.
"Not exactly." I said with a questioning tone to my voice. Her smile grew bigger.
"Let's drive." I don't know what it is- I may be going mad, but she seems like someone I know, but resembles none of my friends. And I truly trust her, and my sense of people and who are good or bad is very spot-on.
"Oh Yeah? Where?" I asked.
"Anywhere." She suggested as he walked around the car to the other side. I smiled. The thought intrigued me.
"You're not going to kidnap me, are you?" I mocked. Her smile was more apologetic as her voice became hushfull;
"'The robb'd that smiles, steals something from the thief.'"

I tilt my head and squint at her.
"Yet; 'He robs himself that spends a bootless grief.'" The timing of the quote confused me, but before I could question her, she gestured to the car in a way as though asking if we can go.
"Fine... But I drive!" I exclaimed. So I put the bags in the back and got in the driver's seat and she got in to the passenger side next to me.

As we drove, I lost track of the time. Some moments we talked, about mindless things that held no actual informational impact explaining anything about each other. I never told her my name, and yet she kept calling me "Echo." Sometimes we would just turn up the music and would sing to it. I don't usually sing in front of people, but I sang full-heartedly and so did she. After hours of driving, we got to a city. 'Calgary' apparently. As we moved deeper and deeper into the city, numerous cars flowed onto the highway one after the other.
"Just in time for the lunch hour rush I guess." She apologized. We didn't drive too far once we entered city limits when she started directing me off the highway and along unfamiliar roads until we got to a huge building. Living in small towns where Cardstone was the biggest place I've ever been- this was the biggest building I have ever seen in person.

We go in, and there are stores upon stores! I was taken-back by it all. There was a metal dinosaur just a few feet in the door. The girl I was with was just looking at me, that sweet smile on her intimidating, beautiful face again. She reached out, putting one long, strong arm over my shoulder and leading me further into the mall, pulling my eyes off the creature. She was taller than I am, by nearly a foot, I'd put her around 5'10". Her body is built, slender and graceful, in a powerful way. We went into a few shops, and I realized that 'shopping' clearly wasn't for me. So as we were stopping to get frozen yogurt from an oddly named place, I asked;
"So, what do I call you?"
"Whatever you like I suppose." She laughed. I looked at her thinking of a name to give her.
"Ar...." I started, "Arrrr...-" her anticipation clearly grew- I was getting close.
"Ariel!" Her expression dimmed slightly, but only for a moment.
"Or I can just call you 'Guy.'" I offered. She smiled and looked to the counter- we were next
"It's your choice." She smiled. I decided to just call her 'Guy'; I don't know why I said 'Ariel', something about it felt somewhat right... She ordered me a blueberry and chocolate mix, and we went to enjoy it. When she handed me it, she said; "Here-Your favorite."