Scars of Time

Chapter 68: "Destiny"

Hope's POV

My plan was simple: get Alex drunk and sneak out. I hadn't actually mapped out the details, but my only objective was to see him with my own eyes. I craved the moment when I could hold a gun to his head, look into his eyes, and witness him beg for forgiveness.

Beneath his table, Time discreetly keeps his gun hidden in a case, unaware that I have witnessed him entering his passcode on numerous occasions. If he had any inkling that I was aware of his secret, he would have undoubtedly taken measures to change it by now.

Thanks to Alex, my plan may have been ruined, but only for now. I've learned my lesson and this time, I won't leave my destiny in the hands of others.

I won't just stand by and watch him go on with his life as if nothing has happened.

With cautious steps, I made my way towards Time's room, fully aware that I was alone in the house. Every move I made was deliberate and careful. Retrieving the gun from its case, I exited the room, leaving no trace of my presence behind. Placing it securely beneath my pillow, I finally succumbed to sleep's embrace.

The following morning, I jolted awake to the piercing sound of my alarm. Frantically, I reached under my pillow, only to discover that the gun had vanished. A surge of unease coursed through me as I rose from my bed, desperately searching for any trace of it.

Could Time have reclaimed his possession?

Determined to uncover the truth, I made my way towards his room, but the moment I swung open the door to the hallway, an abyss of darkness engulfed me, sending shivers down my spine.

Each step I cautiously took resonated with an unsettling noise, sending shivers down my spine. Frustrated and disoriented, I called out for Time, only to have my voice swallowed by the vast emptiness, leaving me trapped in a chilling void. As I cautiously stepped into his room, an eerie silence enveloped the air. Unable to locate him, I hesitated, convinced he was not there. Yet, a chilling sound resonated from the bathroom, captivating my senses. Without a moment's delay, I flung open the door, only to be confronted by a ghastly sight. Time laying motionless in the blood-filled bathtub, his life force slipping away. Panic surged through me as I rushed towards him, but his lifeless body remained still, devoid of any signs of life. The urgency consumed me as I yearned to reach out to someone, anyone. A chilling realization crept over me, intensifying my desperation. "Where is my phone?" I muttered, my voice trembling. "Time please, wake up. I forgive you. I'm not mad at you anymore. Just wake up." I grasped his hand, only to recoil in horror as the bone-chilling coldness seeped into my very soul. In a moment of terror, I let go, watching his hand fall lifelessly to the ground. The words echoed in my mind, "This can't be."

I rose to my feet and retreated, stepping backwards, distancing myself from the macabre scene. This is not reality. It must be a nightmare.

As my heart pounded in my chest, I made the desperate decision to sprint with all my might. But no matter how hard I tried, the door remained elusive, mocking my futile attempts. The darkness enveloped me, suffocating my every breath. Just when despair threatened to consume me, a glimmer of hope emerged in the form of a flashlight. Relief washed over me, momentarily easing my fear. Yet, as the beam of light pierced through the darkness, it revealed a sight that froze me in terror. His face, adorned with a sinister smirk, materialized before me, his eyes filled with a chilling malevolence. "Hello princess," he whispered, his voice dripping with sadistic delight.

With every ounce of my being, I unleashed a bone-chilling scream, desperately seeking solace in the hope that a soul would lend an ear to my torment.

Someone.

Anyone.

A desperate wisper escaped my lips, "Alex!" He was my my last glimmer of hope in this wretched predicament. Yet, to my dismay, his loathsome grip seized my shoulder. But this time, I refused to be a victim. With a surge of adrenaline, I thrust him aside, sending him crashing to the ground. In an instant, the room was bathed in an eerie glow as the lights abruptly illuminated. I realized that the person on the ground was actualy Alex and I was in my own room.

"Where is Time?" I asked instantly, as he remained on the ground, his eyes fixed on me in utter disbelief.

"I don't know, he doesn't answer the phone."

Taking a moment to collect myself, I closed my eyes and drew in a long, steady breath. The nightmare had come to an end, and I felt a wave of relief wash over me.

"Why? Are you concerned about him now? Did you decide to forgive him?" I shot him a lethal stare and he shut his mouth in an instant. Taking a quick glance at the clock, I realized I was late. Again.

"Why didn't you wake me up?" I asked and and quickly jumped out of bed, running towards my closet.

"Why do you think I'm on the floor right now?"

"Oops, my bad!" I quickly muttered and carried on rummaging through my closet, feeling a bit flustered.

"Wait. What is this?" he said, causing me to immediately cease my actions. I didn't even want to glance at whatever he had stumbled upon. Slowly, I shifted my gaze towards him, unsure of the kind of reaction I would be met with. To my surprise, it was a look of sheer amusement.

.........................

Alex's POV

"What is this?" I exclaimed, grabbing an old photograph from her counter. I'm prety sure this has not been here before. More importantly, I'm completely certain that the woman in this photo is Mother Rose. I couldn't even make out her face since the picture was so worn out, but obviously, I would still be able to recognize her. It caught me off guard when I spotted her in Hope's room. It's amazing how small the world can be!

I was planning to clarify to her that the person in the picture was the one who raised me, but she glanced at me with a tense expression. It felt as though she was already aware.

"Oh, that's a photo that I found recently" she made an attempt to snatch it from my hand, but I didn't allow her to.

"Why is Mother Rose in this photo?"

"Mother Rose? Umm....that's not Mother Rose, it's someone else. I mean, take a closer look at this photo. You can't even make out her face!" she stammered, her voice shaking. But that wasn't a convincing explanation. It seems like she knows her, and it's not just a random encounter.

"I have mentioned multiple times that I am an orphan, haven't I! I've mentioned 'Wings of Angels' to you, right? You knew damn well that I felt like I was not enough for you since I was a nobody, and yet you chose to stay silent!!" My anger reached new heights with every sentence!

"What do you want me to say?" She yelled, trying to surpass my anger.

"The truth, Hope. I want you to tell me the truth. I'm sick and tired of your constant puzzle-like communication! Why can't you and Time just be honest and transparent? It's like you enjoy keeping me in the dark, always leaving out important details. Can't you just trust me for once?"

"I don't trust anyone"

"Sure, go ahead and keep doing what you're doing. But don't be shocked when nobody wants to stick around because you're constantly pushing them away." I stormed towards the door in frustration, but her sudden cry of pain made me freeze and turn to her, my anger quickly turning to concern. She had injured her knee on the bed's corner, and I could tell it was hurting her, especially since she was still recovering from her previous injury the other day.

She noticed that I was looking, so she promptly straightened herself, acting as though nothing had transpired. I couldn't help but snicker, realizing that I'm just not capable of staying upset with people for too long. I want to be able to say what I have to say and get the problem sorted out once and for all. It used to be so simple with Jo. We would have a conversation and never have to bring up the same issue again. However with Hope, it's so dificult. She wants to close the issue without even discusing. She expects me to simply accept that this is the way things are, without asking questions. And this is the second time we're going back and forth on this matter! So, we have two choices at the moment. Either I take matters in my own hands and show her how relashionships are supposed to function, or we simply continue arguing about the same things over and over again until we die. Personally, I prefer the first option.

I swiflty walked towards her and picked her up in my arms.

"What are you doing?" Her eyes widened in panic, clearly taken aback by the unexpected gesture. Choosing not to respond, I carefully carried her to my car and swiftly drove towards the hospital. After the doctor finished treating her wound, I entered the room and knelt down in front of her, gently taking her hand in mine.

"I want you to understand that I'm not upset with you, and I have no intention of walking away. I apologize for my earlier words, as I realize now that I wasn't thinking clearly. Truth be told, I'm angry with myself for having to bring this up again. But, I get frustrated. I just wish you would open up to me, and you never do. I need you to know that I will always be here for you, no matter what you need to share, no matter how difficult it may be" As I gazed at her, hoping for a response, she remained silent, leaving me with the realization that she had no intention of revealing anything, no matter how much I press. Disheartened, I rose from my seat, only to be taken aback when she too stood up, locking eyes with me.

"Time and I are adopted." She said and I couldn't help but look at her with a smile. Among all the things I've learned about her, this is the only thing she has told me herself. I thought Time has already told me everything, but I guess not. I'm not sure why he kept this particular detail hidden but at this moment I was glad that she was the one to share it.

I simply ran a finger through her hair, gently caressing her cheeck and wispered "thank you. It was a response that neither of us expected. However, I already knew what she was going to say, I kinda connected the dots by myself. And the thought that we might have met before suddenly crossed me. Maybe it was truly fate that has brought us together.