Chapter 16 (Stan Crow)

The echo of her knock on Team CAPR's dorm room door felt resounded in her ears a though Death himself were knocking at her door. Could she really do this? How had she let Patience talk her into this? The people on the other side of the door had blown her off after she'd extended a hand of friendship just days ago. Why in the world would they want to potentially risk their lives to help her now?

"There, now, Girly," Optima whispered soothingly beside her. "We'll be fine. I think they'll be helping us if they know the truth."

Hope turned a shaky smile on her teammate. "Thanks, Optima. I'm just glad Patience is okay. Thanks for healing her as well. She should have died."

"I've solved worse than that," the other girl said with a wink.

Hearing nothing from behind the door, Hope knocked again, reviewing the speech Patience had dictated to her when the team had reunited late on Thursday after their ordeal in the forest. No one had debriefed them, and the few teachers they were able to talk to either downplayed the allegations or were too busy to listen in the first place. Hope had even talked to four other teams, against Patience's suggestion, before coming to Team CAPR's room. None of them offered anything more than well wishes.

"Well," Hope said after a bare second had passed, "I guess no one is home."

"Patience, girl," Optima said. "We barely got here. It'll be fine."

"Patience is who got us into this mess," Hope muttered.

"You are our team lead now, Hope," the tall girl said solemnly. "Responsibility is ultimately yours. For all of us."

Hope sighed. "I hope this works out."

As if to answer her question, the door cracked open suddenly, and a beautiful young woman with Asian features peered through the opening. The door shut again immediately, and Hope turned a frown toward her friend. Before she could say anything, however, the door opened again, and a tall, willow-thin girl with sandy-blond hair peered out at them. It was Team CAPR's lead. Celeste, if Hope remembered right.

"Good evening," Hope begin, praying her nervousness wasn't coming through too clearly in her voice. "Remember me from breakfast the other day?"

Celeste smiled politely, but Hope saw hesitation in her eyes. When the other girl nodded slightly, Hope took the signal to continue.

"We," and she struggled to remember the careful, beautiful way Patience had phrased things, "have heard of your bold moves inside your dorm room and out."

Hope groaned inside and Celeste raised her eyebrows. Where had she come up with such a stupid phrase? "I mean, your exploits in combat are already legendary here at Beacon, even rivaling some of the fourth year students."

The blonde girl—and Hope wished she could be even half as pretty—looked dubious now, and Hope knew she only had one chance left. Tossing aside the rehearsed speech, she let herself shine through.

"Look, there's a super big problem and nobody believes it exists. Professor Ozpin is gone, and the other professors think we're children. Even other teams are too busy to give us a hand. You were nice to me, the other day, and I really, really need some help. Can we please talk for a few minutes?"

Celeste's eyes widened, but she stepped back and gestured into the room.

"Thank you," Hope said, feeling the beginnings of tears.

The dorm room was immaculate. The Asian girl was on her back in bed, pointedly avoiding Hope's gaze. Dark circles hung below her eyes, and she had visible bruises. A boy with similar features lie on the bed across from her; he looked to be asleep. Hope swept her eyes to find the fourth team member. She found him on a bed set apart from the others, his tall, well-muscled body stretched luxuriously on his mattress. His tousled brown hair seemed to rustle in a non-existent breeze. When his navy eyes met hers she felt her heart flutter. Before she could think on it further, Optima nudged her.

"Right," Hope said, coughing lightly and returning her attention to her hostess. "Are you familiar with Team DSPR? Led by Dee Jake De Jude?"

"Why wouldn't we be?" the Asian girl called, her tone biting.

"Of course," Celeste cut in, shooting a look at her comrade. "Why?"

Hope swallowed and looked at the ground, wondering how to say this. Finally, she decided it was best to just spit it out. "We—we think they're building an army of Grimm."

The Asian girl laughed, and pulled her pillow over her face. The cute guy actually sat up.

"And what makes you think that?" Celeste asked.

"We saw them. In the forest. Earlier today. I got footage of it but no one seems interested in seeing it. I've got it right here with me," she added eagerly. "Can I please show it to you?"

"Well," Celeste hedged, waving at her team, "as you can see we've had quite the day. We were, ahem, separated," and she said the word with deliberate volume, "just ahead of some combat with unexpected foes. Victory was inescapable, of course, but not easy."

"Just five minutes, please." Hope stared into the other girl's face, hoping for a minor miracle. Celeste hemmed, and looked back at her teammates. Only Cute Guy was paying any attention. At a nod from him, Celeste relented, her shoulder dropping slightly.

"Very well. Five minutes."

Twenty three minutes later, Hope and Optima emerged from CAPR's dorm room. As soon as they were out of sight of the door, Optima wrapped Hope in a hug.

"I can't believe we did it!" Hope squealed. She'd laid all her cards on the table and somehow— somehow—it had been enough to persuade Team CAPR to lend their aid. Now, they actually stood a chance of success.

Oh, and Cute Guy talked to her more than once.

Her hopes had been more than gratified.