Hope Lives: Part 1

HOPE LIVES: PART 1 

  Steven saw her walking across the library courtyard, coming right towards him. He was surely losing his mind. It couldn't be her. It wasn't possible! Yet, there she was. Alive and breathing, looking as beautiful as the last time he saw her two years ago. He instantly thought back to the first time he ever laid eyes upon her...

 Steven did a double-take the first time he saw her. She was a knockout. Long, dark hair swaying in the late night summer breeze. He was glad he'd attended this frat party at the last minute. He wasn't exactly a 'people person', but he was trying to come out of his shell since he just had transferred to this school and was still the new guy. 

 She smiled at him and her blue eyes seemed to shine. He was too nervous to approach her, but got even more nervous when she walked across the yard towards him. 

 "Hey!" she said as neared him. 

 "Hey.." he mumbled in reply. 

 "I don't recall seeing you around campus before. This your freshman year?" she asked with a smile. 

 Steven was trying very hard to focus on what she was saying. The loud, booming music coming from inside the house was making it hard to hear her. 

 "Nope, I'm a sophomore. Just transferred here." 

 "Where are you from?" 

"Fox Lake, Illinois. A small city far from here." 

 "Wow! You are a long way from home! A country boy all the way out here in sunny California!" 

  Steven laughed, "I'm not quite a country boy, but I like country music, if that counts." 

 "What's your name?" she asked curiously. 

 

 "Is this an interview?" Steven asked with a smile. 

 She didn't seem amused. 

 "It's Steven. Steven Brizick. And you?" 

 "I'm Hope Evans, also a sophomore. And it is a pleasure to meet you, Sir Steven!" she giggled and curtseyed. 

Steven looked down at her and smiled. She was adorable. She gazed up at him and stared deep into his eyes. 

 

 He got chills. 

 "Should we head inside?" he asked. 

 "Nah, I'd rather not. It's loud in there. I also can't stand half the people in there." 

 "Ah, a people hater. We will get along just fine. I also don't like these pesky humans." 

 

She did find that amusing. 

"How about we take a walk?" she said. 

 "Sure, why not." 

 She reached out,  placed her small hand in his and led the way. 

 Steven couldn't believe this was happening. He wasn't about to fight it, he would just go with the flow. 

 They walked down a dimly lit path that led to a patio out back. He could still hear the music thumping from inside the house, but it wasn't as loud out here. Plus, there wasn't another person in sight. They were all alone. 

 

 She led him to a set of chairs on the patio. 

 He began to take a seat, but was yanked towards her by her hand still cradled in his. 

 For such a tiny woman, she sure as hell was strong. Not many people could yank around his six foot, 190 pound frame. 

 She pulled his head down and kissed his lips. Steven resisted her at first, but soon leaned deeper into the kiss. 

 When he wrapped his arms around her, she began to scream. 

 "Help!! Help!!" 

 Steven pulled up his head and looked at her in shock. 

 "Huh? Are you ok?" he asked concerned.  

 Something made him think this chick might be crazy. 

 "He's trying to rape me! HELP!" 

 Steven began to walk away. He couldn't afford to be caught up in this mess. 

 She jumped on his back from behind. 

 "Where do you think you're going, RAPIST?!" she screamed as she ripped at his hair and clawed his face. 

 "There was a reason you were outside alone, wasn't there? Like maybe because you're FUCKING CRAZY?!" he yelled and flipped her off his back with all of the force he could muster. 

 When he heard the loud thud, he turned around to see her laying awkwardly on the ground. Her neck looked twisted. She wasn't moving. He walked closer, but was hesitant to touch her. 

 He cringed when he saw her head had landed on a huge rock. Blood was pooling around her long hair. 

 "Oh god.. no.." he said as he finally leaned closer. He took her wrist and felt for a pulse. Nothing. She had no heartbeat. 

He leaned down to her face and checked to see if she was breathing. She wasn't. 

 He knew he should get her help. But he also knew no one would believe it was an accident. He knew it was wrong, but he ran off. He ran all the way back to his dorm room and waited for the police to show up. 

He was positive they would somehow trace it back to him. But it never happened. No one questioned him. No one suspected him. Because no one had seen him with her. Time passed and her death was ruled an accident. They thought she had simply fell. 

 Steven lived with the pain and guilt for two years. Yet here she was now walking towards him. There was no mistaking it.  It was her. He would never forget her face. His heart started to pound as she got closer. He wanted to run. He was surely hallucinating. This couldn't be real. 

 "Hey, there!" she said.  

 Oh shit. It was her. It was even her voice. 

 

 To be continued...