FINAL CHAPTER.
I hope everyone has enjoyed reading up to this point. I thank you again for all the views, reviews, and follows. Honored. This chapter made me cry. I cried while writing it. I hope everyone enjoys the ending.
-Cadence D
Chapter 8
I ran up the stairs screaming her name.
"Hope!"
I looked in my parents room, nothing.
The bathroom was empty.
That left my room.
"Hope!"
I ran right for my bedroom door expecting it to open. It didn't. It was locked.
"Oh no…"
I began beating on the door and jiggling the doorknob.
"HOPE!" I screamed.
Still no answer.
I started to kick the door in. I was about to go alien when the door came open on the 3rd kick. I ran in and found Hope lying in the floor with a knife in her hand. Her bloody hand.
"Oh my God…Hope no….please no…. "
I pushed my bangs back with my fingers trying to relieve my stress and trying to not to cry.
"Hope…"
I slowly sat on my knees and held her in my arms. It was very hard to keep the tears back now. Not to mention the agony in my voice. I tried to not make it sound as if my heart was breaking, but if you listened close enough you could hear it.
"Angel…"
I hugged her tightly and began to rock her back and forth.
"Sweetheart….."
I looked at her and brushed her bangs back, her long white ponytail spiraled out across my lap.
"Baby….."
I held her head and leaned her in toward my chest. I gave her a quick peck on the cheek and hugged her tightly. My tears ran down my face on to her.
"Please don't leave me…Please…."
Suddenly there was a hand on my shoulder. I looked up and saw Paradox standing over me.
"Paradox…."
"You really do love her don't you Ben?"
I let out a sob in front of him, and held Hope tighter. I let out a cough, as my crying began to make me sick.
"She….she makes me happier than I could ever imagined and more loved than I ever thought possible... She made me a better person, as our love for one another is reflected in the way I live my life…. Despite everything we have been through I never want to lose her…..Paradox….why did this have to happen…I thought I saved her? Why give me so much and take it away…"
"In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity…Ben Tennyson…"
I looked up at him.
"You saw her as a true human being with feelings, you saw her when no one else did, because you're a hero, that's what you do."
"I don't feel like a hero…"
"But you are Ben… she was hurting so very much…and you gave her the opportunity she needed to survive…. You gave her a chance… when the world turned its back on you….when the world turned its back on her…You fought against all odds to keep her safe, and to love her for who she is, not where she comes from….You understand people better than anyone Ben…. And now Julie and the others see the mistake…. That trust goes a long way and along the way in the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity."
"They why would she want to leave me Paradox."
"Charmcaster believed that she was hurting your life by staying in it, rather than it going the other way around…. She's as you say, so young, so damaged, she did not understand the opportunity she was given. She did not understand fully why you loved her. She wasn't sure if you really did. Things have changed a lot for her…and for you as well….. She's now officially your Angel Ben…. Forever….. "
"No….no Paradox that's not fair!"
"Ben-"
"IT'S NOT FAIR!" "YOU CAN'T DO THIS TO ME!"
"I'm not doing anything Ben…. I warned you…. She was suffering; I feared she would disappear from this world forever."
"No…. she knew I loved her didn't she?"
"Ben, she knew…."
"Did she not love me?"
"She loved you more than anything…. She loved you so much….she tried to end your quarrel with your friends and family by taking her own life."
"Paradox I..."
"But if you want her here…. If you want her to stay with you forever…. If you want to have a life full of love….a life that's "charmed"….you need to tell her so…..
"How…she's gone…."
"I believe in second chances…. Don't you?"
I looked up at Paradox. Paradox gave a smile.
"If you truly believe she makes you happy…."
"More than anything…."
Paradox nodded and there was a flash of white.
Suddenly I was outside in the rain and Gwen was hugging me. Again?
"I'll be thinking of you…and we're always with you…" Gwen whispered in my ear before letting me go.
"Ben….Life has been different….and we're gonna miss ya… but enjoy your own spoils with Charmcaster okay….I remember Caroline and she was one hell of a woman…and a great kisser….OW!
Gwen pulled Kevin's ear tightly. I laughed, but not as hard as I did the first time.
"Keep an eye on my cousin."
"Always."
Kevin gave me a handshake and then Gwen forced us into a hug. It was a little awkward, but it was okay. I missed both of them, equally. They got in Kevin's car rather quickly as the rain came down harder. The green car with black stripes disappeared down the end of the street. I watched it and ran for the house. I didn't stop to think about shutting the door and ran for my room. The door was locked. I didn't hesitate. I kicked it open. Hope stood by the window holding the knife to her wrist.
"HOPE!" I screamed.
I ran over to her as quick as I could and turned her to face me. She dropped the knife and looked me in the eyes.
"Ben…."
She had tears in her eyes. I suddenly had them in mine.
"You're not ruining my life Hope… you're adding to it."
She stared into my eyes and touched my chest.
"Do you have any idea how important you are too me!?"
The tears were more than I could bear. She stared into my eyes. She was still. No tremble. No noise.
"You are special Charmcaster…I wanted to free you from Hex…. I wanted you to be happy, because you make me happy…. …. I don't want you to hurt anymore…. I don't want you to suffer anymore….I don't want you to be alone anymore….You have my heart, and you have me…."
She began to smile through her tears.
"I want to be your light in the dark, always...when I felt alone… you were my best friend, mentor, playmate, confidence and my greatest challenge….I will fight for you always… You deserve to be happy….you to deserve to be free…. You deserve to have some love in your life…..and I want to give it to you…. I don't care what my family says…what my friends say…. I love you Hope…. You are my everything…. And I promise I will love you the rest of your life and for the rest of mine…"
Her eyes enlarged at my words and tears of happiness flowed down her cheeks.
"So I can't lose you….okay…."
She continued to smile.
"Okay?"
She suddenly kissed me. It was a long heavy kiss that I never wanted to end. My tongue met hers, as we kissed passionately. I had Hope. She had Happiness. Everything was right with the world. We broke our kiss and she looked me in the eyes.
"Tell me…tell me again that you love me."
"I love you…I love you so much…."
She smiled and her teeth sparkled through her lips as she kissed me again. We found our way to the bed as I laid back and she fell on top of me kissing me. She unzipped my white hoodie and ran her fingers along my chest. I smiled. She smiled back as she wrapped her arms around my upper body lying perfectly still within my jacket.
"Cold?"
"Mm-hm"
I smiled and let out a breath as I held her in my arms.
"Better?"
"Mm-hm."
It was like heaven, I could have fallen asleep with my baby on my chest.
"Ben…."
"Yes Angel….."
"What happens now?"
"What do you mean?"
"Do you think…. Think we'll ever get married?"
We looked each other in the eye.
"Anything's possible… in the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity…..there's an opportunity Charmcaster…. There's an opportunity…."
She smiled and laid her head back down on my chest.
"It's gonna be a little strange…I mean me…with my magic…and you with your… watch full of aliens…. It's gonna be a little strange…"
"We can manage…and Hope…don't worry about it, okay… because I have a secret for you…"
She looked up at me again, this time with concerning eyes.
"Because I'm half Anodite."
She smiled. I smiled back and she kissed me.
"I have a secret for you too." She spoke out.
"What?"
"I'm part alien…."
"Really?" I said astounded.
"No…"
Hope let out a laugh and kissed me and placed her head back on my chest laughing.
"Charming." I replied.
It was a better sound to hear, instead of her cries. It was better to see happiness in her spirit then pain. I was happy to have her in my life. I was happy she still had a life. Happy to know that now, we both have what I call a "charmed" life.
