Hope of the Future

by Ariana Browning

  “Three weeks.”

  The click of the phone cut Scott off before he could agree. He slid the handset into the desk cradle and stared at the black screen built inside the top of his desk for a moment.

  After a moment, he tapped a few places in the top corner on the black surface. The screen lit up in fluorescent blue. He tapped a few more buttons and a view of his room popped up in front of him as a 3-D, fully functional hologram. If he chose, he could rotate the room, zoom in, or zoom out.

  What he found when his room came into view was Hope was lying on the bed, fast asleep. Clean and promising. A dark grin slid across his mouth like a snake approaching his prey. Delicious. Under those covers there wasn’t anything but soft skin, bare for the taking.

  Scott tapped the receiver and everything went black in the entire office. He had a far more important meeting to get to now.

  After a week, Hope grew restless. The restlessness came from the need to leave town. She pushed her luck by remaining in the same place for too long. Edginess kept poking at her nerves, but she couldn’t put a finger on why. Rather than wander the streets, she stayed inside the club for her own safety.

  Scott harassed her every night, and Hope grew tired of the pestering faster than normal. It seemed as though Scott was keeping a closer eye on her too, which bothered the hell out of her. Every time she turned around, there he was. When she went to their shared room, he checked on her soon after.

  “Seat taken?” Scott asked, popping up in her face. Again.

  “Go away.” She took a sip of water and scanned the room over the rim of the glass. The water wasn’t the cleanest, but you took what you got.

  “Lion getting a wee bit restless?”

  Hope’s eyebrows raised. “Huh?”

  “Never mind. That haircut only increased how delicious you look.”

  Hope peeked out from beneath the hair that shrouded her face. She’d hacked it with a razor the other day. Long in front, short in back. She could tie it back, or tuck it behind her ears. All to hide her being female. Going without the length for a while was a good idea. It wouldn’t take long to grow her hair back out, but for now, she bleached it and made sure she looked like a complete stranger.

  Hope tugged her hood further over her face. “Didn’t ask, don’t care. Get lost.”

  “I guess you’ll be leaving soon.”

  “Yes. Don’t waste your time trying to convince me to stay. It’s not safe here. I can feel it.” Hope paused and looked past Scott into the past. “Family is gone so I think it’s time I move on from this zone forever.”

  Scott seemed wistful when she brought her attention back to him. No. Scott didn’t feel. He enjoyed screwing her. The most he may be thinking about was that he would no longer have his toy to mess with.

  “You should. Darrok wouldn’t have men wandering the streets looking for you. Wouldn’t waste time passing the word around, either.”

  “What is that supposed to mean? You think he’d hire Freebirds to keep an eye out for me?” Her nerves tightened. That was the last thing she needed.

  “What do you think, Hope? You have a certain je ne sais quoi. . . .” He left the sentence hanging in the air.

  Hope looked off to the side. If that were true, Darrok would contact people who may know of her. Which would mean—

  “He’s contacted you, hasn’t he?” Her cheeks flushed. “You’ve been helping him, haven’t you?” As she leaned over the table, her voice rose and caused a few patrons to snoop on their conversation, “You sonofa—”

  Scott’s hands flew up in defense. “He called. Yes, bab—”

  “Don’t call me—”

  Scott put two fingers on her lips to quiet her. “Do you think I’d give you up so easy? No. Don’t be so paranoid. I did receive a call from him.”

  “Wha—” Hope interjected, only to have a finger placed against her mouth once more. She smacked his hand away.

  “I told him you came and went. You’re cool as a cucumber. Let me make sure the coast is clear before you leave.”

  Scott gave her the most sincere look he could muster, but Hope didn’t buy it for one second. A few more days could get Darrok to the club, or Darrok’s men.

  “Fine,” she said. She wouldn’t trust him. Scott wanted his payday. That’s all he ever wanted. Hope didn’t believe for a second that Scott wanted to protect her out of some friendship duty. He wanted whatever payday Darrok offered, and to sell her out.

  Scott nodded and reached over to flick the underside of her chin with his finger. He got up and left her alone.

  After she took another sip of water, Hope scanned the club again. The overwhelming weight of a gaze crept up and touched her nerves. Hope’s attention landed in one of the darkest corners of Scott’s Club, and found a man had his focus aimed at her. Her breath hitched, her heart paused, heat flared in her cheeks.

  Their eyes locked. An ominous sensation skittered through Hope, only to make her want to take a shower and scrub her body until she was raw as possible. Anything to get the icky feeling off of her.

  It seemed like she should know this man, but as far as she remembered, she had never met him before. A scar ran from his forehead to his neck. His attire was that of old military. Olive shirt, camouflage pants, black lace up boots. He didn’t just sit in the booth, he owned the corner.

  Hope studied him, while he watched her.

  A Hunter? There was a chance he kept an eye on her for Darrok. Unless he sought the ransom on her head that existed from every nook and cranny of this new existence. As far as she could tell, he was interested in her for no reason. What was a man like that doing in a club like this? He seemed out of place. The longer his rock-hard concentration remained on her, the harder it became to drag her attention away from him.

  A shiver swept through Hope.

  Items clattered behind Hope. She started. Glass fragments littered the floor, liquid from whatever the SlaPet waitress had been carrying, and her tray. A man and a woman were lying in a heap at the waitresses feet. They must have walked right into the poor woman. A golden collar hung tight around her neck. Now the pair dragged themselves to their feet and without an apology, or a backward glance, they stalked off.

  When Hope turned back, the man was gone. As if he never existed. Shadows alone held that corner of the club. Frightening shadows when she considered that he may work for Darrok.

  SIX

  HOPE SEDUCED SCOTT THAT night with what he enjoyed most. She did it to convince him she would stick around for a while, but also because she wanted to exhaust Scott. Exhaust she did, but the exertion worked on her as well. Scott’s stamina was hard to deal with at times, worse when she needed the energy to run.

  Hope slid out from beneath the covers and landed on all fours next to the bed. She grabbed her clothes from the carpet beneath the bed where she placed them earlier. Her body protested against waking and moving about so soon, but she made it safely to the bathroom without disturbing Scott.

  Once done quietly dressing in the bathroom, she inched across the room. The doorknob was right there in her grip. With the slowest possible movements to keep from making any noise, she edged the door open. Scott turned over and she froze. Her heart hammered in her chest.

  The two of them remained at a standstill for ages. Him facing her, her waiting for him to open his eyes and find her out. After a time, Scott’s inhales and exhales slowed, and his eyes stayed shut. She eased the door shut behind her with a silent refreshing exhale of her own. For sure she thought he found her out, but she was safe for the moment.

  In the hallway of the large club, silence reigned. A rare treat. During the day and most of the night, grunts, groans, and screams filled the air. As well as music, talking and laughing. It was nice to hear a bit of silence for a change, which seemed out of place.

  Hope shrugged into her coat, then tucked her blade into the belt at her back. A door opened off to the side as she made her way through the hall. She half-stumbled over an older guy
on his way out of one of the interior rooms.

  “Hey sweet stuff, wanna come in?” he asked. Gentry. The old drunk. His alcohol laden breath poured over her.

  Hope flinched and waved a hand in front of her face. “No,” she whispered. “Go back to bed.”

  “Fine! I’m going to tell Scott,” Gentry whined and marched toward Scott’s room.

  “Shit,” Hope griped under her breath. By the time she reached out to grab his robe, Gentry moved out of reach. She didn’t have time to stop him and abandoned the idea.

  Hope rushed the rest of the way, hurrying through the doorway into the club. A strong hand slipped over her mouth. Another clamped around her wrist, twisted, then shoved her arm against her back. Hope bit the hand around her mouth.

  The man dropped his hand away with a mutter, “shit.”

  “Let me go,” Hope shouted as she struggled against his grip.

  One of the others with him, leaned close to the two of them. “Keep her quiet, Tim.” Amaranthine Soldiers. Great. Just what she needed.

  Tim tightened his grip, and focused on Hope. “Calm down or we’ll subdue you.”

  The Soldier in front of Hope used the com in his wrist. “Meet us out front,” he ordered. Soldiers had been posted around the entire club.

  Gentry came into the part of the club the Soldiers held Hope. He was dragging a sleepy Scott by the arm along with him. “Hey, she’s mine,” he griped.

  “Get lost old shit,” the Soldier in front of Hope ordered.

  “No! She’s mine, ask Scott.” Scott took old drunk Gentry’s arm and whispered that it best if the man left. Hope felt no pity for Gentry, or anger, but Scott? That asshole was a different story. Gentry removed himself from Scott’s grip and rushed toward Hope.

  Fhoop. The next sound was the sound of his body when it thudded to the floor.

  Tim spoke from behind her. “We’ll clean this up, Scott. Leave.”

  “You asshole,” Hope screamed at Scott, leaning away from the Soldier, wishing she could reach out and snap Scott’s neck. “I knew I couldn’t trust you.”

  “I am warning you to keep quiet, Hope.” The Soldier who had shot the old man, said with a jerk backward. He pointed the gun at her head.

  “Eat me,” Hope snapped. “How could you?” she asked Scott, giving him a helpless look.

  Scott didn’t say a word. With a final reluctant-to-leave check on Hope, he strode back into his club. Missing her? Never. Bummed about losing his toy? Yes. Betrayal soaked through Hope and it left a bitter taste in her mouth. She clenched her teeth.

  If the Soldiers got her inside one of those vehicles, she was done for. Once Darrok had her, there was no more running. Those vehicles were designed to prevent escape. She had to risk everything. If she didn’t, Darrok would figure out what she was. If he didn’t know already. Nobody was to be found within a few blocks so nobody would see her. She couldn't leave one Solider to speak about what he saw.

  They led her up the stairs and Hope complied. Once she hit the streets, she had one chance. Scott kept a small camera facing the front door so it best to wait until they hit the Streets. Nobody could know. The black bulletproof SUV’s were twenty feet away. Twenty feet was all the room she had.

  Twenty feet between freedom and forever prison.

  She swore never to reveal herself. All her life she had sworn to stay hidden, knowing there was a reason for it. Even without knowing the reason. She had no choice. Just this once.

  The SUV’s grew closer by the breath. The vehicles were fortified inside and the Soldiers would subdue her. The amount of men surrounding the vehicles defied ordinary circumstances. If Darrok didn’t know, he suspected.

  Now or never.

  Ten feet.

  Four armed Amaranthine Soldiers stood in front. Two around her, one holding her, one opening the door. The one holding her had no weapon. She had no use for their electronic weapons. Even if she got the weapon, she couldn’t use the gun. Soldier’s guns were ID’d to the user by DNA so only the Soldiers could discharge them.

  She took a deep breath. This was it. The Amaranthine turned to face her and Hope released the breath she held. A pair of bright violet dots flashed in the blacked out SUV window as the door opened.

  Hope spun and slammed her palm toward the face of the Soldier who held her. Her hand collided with his nose. His head snapped back. Blood splattered. His grip released as his body thudded to the ground.

  Turning to face the Amaranthine who opened the door, the man’s eyes widened when they fell upon her. He grabbed for his weapon, trying to warn the others, “Ete—”

  Hope backed away, and as she did, she extended an arm. The words died on the Soldier’s lips. The man and the SUV somersaulted backward. They crashed into the building behind, debris flew everywhere. The others with him followed suit.

  Fleeing as far and as fast as she could, Hope didn’t stop running until her lungs burned and her legs carried her no more. Day broke and she rested before venturing out to slowly make her way through The Streets, being careful not to be seen. She moved all day, and into the evening, never daring to stop.

  “Time to get off The Streets,” a man muttered from a darkened corner.

  Hope spun around and reached for her blade. “No thanks.”

  The man raised his palms in a gesture of peace. “I was gonna offer a place to sleep. Nothing else.”

  “Exactly,” Hope grumbled half to herself. Judging him a non-threat, she released the blade and went to leave.

  “Are you, or are you not, running from something?” the old man inquired.

  “Not anymore,” Hope said, hoping he got the point.

  The man stepped out of the shadows and Hope kept a wary eye on him. He didn’t give off any dangerous vibes, but out here, you never knew until it was too late. Deep wrinkles etched his face, common of Freebirds. A thing of beauty to her, but to others, the opposite.

  The way he moved also spoke of old age. He posed no harm physically, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t try to trap her, or that he wasn’t working for Scott, or Darrok.

  With a wary glance around the zone, Hope focused on the old guy, cocking her ears with a slight tilt of her head. The man took in how she acted and she straightened up, acting more like a Freebird.

  “If that means what I think it does, you really need a place to sleep tonight. Far from these streets. The Cleaners will come soon. It’s best to get you out of here. My name is Jake.”

  “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll leave me alone,” Hope half-barked. “Move on, Jake.”

  Jake looked at her with nothing more than kindness. “I am trying to help. I had a daughter your age. I seek nothing from you.” His sincerity got to her.

  She crossed her arms. “I don’t have anything to give.”

  “If you don’t want my help, a simple ‘no thank you,’ would suffice.” He turned and left.

  Noticing Jake had no intent to stop, she sighed and called out, “Wait,” causing him to halt.

  Jake raised an eyebrow. “So you would like a place to stay?” He dragged out the last word, waiting for her to give him a name.

  “Yes, but if this is a trap, you better know—” she began before he stopped her.

  “It’s not. I promise I only want to help.”

  Walking beside him, she finished her threat, “If this is a trap, then I will kill you. Hope.”

  “Understood. Hope. I like that. This world needs some of that. You’re welcome to leave anytime.”

  Jake paused and glanced at Hope. “If you stay longer than one night, I can’t help you free of charge. You will have to earn your keep. Clean, wash, scavenge. I can’t do it for two people. It’s difficult enough for one.”

  Hope nodded. “As you said, so be it.” As she kept up with him, Hope took the time to memorize his features. Glasses scratched up from years of a harsh life, harried features, a limp to his walk, torn old trousers and filthy jacket. Years of living on The Streets did that to a person.
>
  “Where are we headed?”

  “Not too far from here,” Jake said. “Bit tricky to get there is all.”

  They made their way through the darkened alleys, staying in the shadows while night fell deeper around them, keeping a close eye and ear out for the Cleaners. Neither of them said a word. At least wherever they were going was away from where she had been. “How old is your daughter?” Hope asked.

  Jake looked grave, making him appear older. “She would have been thirty. Around your age if I’m not mistaken, right?”

  Hope’s heart clenched as she listened to the pain, feeling it as if it were her own. “Close. I’m sorry about your daughter.” The man gave her a shadow of a nod, his eyes glossed over, reddened, and tears pooled along the bottom rims. She looked away.

  “Am I to think by that non-threatening tone and question, you’ve decided I mean you no harm as stated?” he asked to break the tension.

  Hope shrugged. “I will decide if you’re trustworthy when I’ve gone.”

  Jake gave her a fatherly smile. “Fair enough.” He motioned for her to enter a broken down wall. Once through, they made their way quietly across a courtyard and around another building. Then Jake said, “As long as you are aware that sometimes it’s okay to trust people. Not everyone is out to hurt you.”

  Hope stopped. “You’re kidding, right?”

  Jake’s soft smile and pat on her arm got her moving again. Sure, he recognized the world they now lived in. But maybe he was one of those rare individuals who saw a different world from the rest. Hope remembered being like that. Believing people were good. Then “good people” threw her out into The Streets to fend for herself and she came across Scott. She’d lost her family, friends, her entire life.

  She changed.

  In more ways than one.

  Hope ended up staying with Jake longer than planned. She stayed with Jake until the end of his time. He lived longer than he would have. It broke Hope’s heart when she lost him, but because of Jake, she met a network of people who changed the way she viewed the world and the people. She became softer, more vulnerable. Hope reclaimed her human side and dropped the rest.