Hope of the Future

by Ariana Browning

  Hope studied every corner of the vehicle. “Did you hear something, Cayla? I sure didn’t.”

  Ronin seized her chin, causing her to squeak. He turned her to stare at him and said, “Why do I bother?” He let go and shook his head.

  Hope grinned. “You can’t stop yourself. IIII am cute.”

  Ronin turned to show his displeasure. The muscle in his jaw twitched, which didn’t bother her. She enjoyed winding him up. When his attention drifted over her face, her lips, and back, she remembered what they’d shared the previous night and her cheeks brightened. She diverted her attention

  Nobody said a word after that. As hard as Hope tried to defy Ronin’s order to sleep, the exhaustion crept in as the minutes ticked by, her eyelids kept drooping. The soft movement of the vehicle, and Ronin’s warmth against her, acted like a pill that lulled her into sleep.

  Ronin watched how hard Hope attempted to defy his order to sleep, but couldn’t do it. Hope scooted further away to lie down on the cold steel bench with her head near his leg. Ronin shook his head and scooted over, raised her head, and laid it on his lap.

  “Pain in the ass, hmm?” Cayla whispered.

  “Always.”

  Cayla nodded and smiled. Ronin removed his coat, being careful not to wake the woman asleep on his lap. He laid it over her shoulders and back, tucked it around her, to make sure she didn’t get too cold. Her spirit may be back, but she was still pale. He didn’t know why. Hope had always healed with astonishing speed before.

  Cayla told him in the beginning that Hope needed them. Whatever gifts she possessed had gone dormant. She was weak and human for all intent and purposes. Not only did she need more protection, but Ronin had to find out how to bring that back. How to help her. Hope looked better than when they first found her at that laboratory, but whatever lay dormant, needed to come back.

  In his bones he felt that whatever Hope was, was needed. Now. It hit him last night, when he crawled into his sleeping bag. An urgency he never possessed, gripped him when he thought of how weak Hope was. Being vulnerable was bad for her, but he had a feeling it was worse for this world. A world that needed her now more than ever before because something bad was coming.

  THIRTY

  “SHE’S A SELFISH WOMAN, Cayla. After all this, she still tells me—whenever I bother to mention it—that she will never have a child. That we should let her die and stop all this. She won’t stop saying it.”

  Cayla watched the way Ronin paced back and forth in front of her. Hope was stretching her legs and getting a minute of exercise. They’d been on the road for days and everyone needed a break.

  She understood Ronin’s frustration with Hope. As long as she’d known the girl, Hope hadn’t quit saying the same to her. But knowing Hope the way Cayla did, Hope was afraid of what would happen to her, the people around her who cared, any child she may have. Nobody could blame her.

  Ronin watched Hope stretching off in the distance by herself. It dawned on Cayla what was really going on, and she chastised herself for being so stupid. “You love her, don’t you?”

  Ronin spun to face her. “Why the hell would you say that?”

  Bingo. “I can see it in your eyes. I hear it in the way you speak to her, watch over her, protect her. You love her.”

  “You’ve read it wrong.”

  “Well that goes for both of you. She loves you, too. I can see it.”

  “And where does all this come from? The woman will fight me any chance she gets. She does everything in her power to make sure I know how little she cares for me. Once we get her to somewhere safe, Hope will want nothing else to do with me.”

  Cayla gaped at him. He didn’t want to lose her that much. She didn’t expect that. “What makes you think that? Because she fights with you? When haven’t you two fought? When haven’t she and I fought? She always fights. That’s all she knows. She fears letting someone get close because when she does, she gets hurt. Or hell, they try to kill her. They have tried to kill her. And she sure as hell doesn’t want any of us to get hurt.”

  “All excuses. I’ve given her no reason to fear me, let alone not to trust me. She has no reason to fear me.”

  Cayla couldn’t believe her ears. She shook her head in disbelief. “Do you hear yourself? That girl has known nothing but pain, and you expect her to believe that the next who come along aren’t like every single last before? I’m not saying it’s not an excuse, but by god, Ronin, give her a break. I’ve had nothing but resistance from her, but she’s still here. She hasn’t tried to run away. If she didn’t care, she would’ve been long gone. That should tell you everything.”

  Ronin huffed. “That says nothing. She hasn’t been in the position to run.”

  Cayla choked on her laugh and almost fell off the back of the vehicle she was sitting on. “You’re joking, right? Have you not been around the same woman I have? Even when she’s lying in a bed, near death, that girl can run and run hard. Look at her. She may not seem like it, but if she wanted to? Not one of us could stop her. Funny that where she keeps running to . . . is you.”

  Ronin waved her off. “I don’t understand why I bother.”

  Cayla proceeded over to Hope, and as she did, she called back to him, “Only you can answer that.”

  Ronin stalked off.

  “Get down,” a guard shouted. Bullets rang out all around them.

  Cayla screamed at Hope to come back to her side. Ronin rushed over to a guard so he could grab the man’s gun. The man had gone down in a hail of bullets and hadn’t gotten back up.

  They made it to where they were to exchange vehicles, but when they exited the van, the vehicle exploded. The next van went up in a blaze of fire and many of the guards who traveled with them died. Still more were lost who’d been waiting outside of the van. The reason Hope, Cayla, and Ronin made it was because Hope got antsy and hopped up to wander around the parking lot, and Cayla and Ronin followed her.

  A bullet struck Ronin in the shoulder and took him down on his way across the lot.

  “Be careful, Ronin,” Cayla shouted.

  Hope and Cayla were huddled behind an overturned SUV in the parking lot. They couldn’t tell where the bullets originated from. Hope scratched the scabbed area on the back of her neck, wincing when the tracker moved.

  Other guards were huddled behind more vehicles that had either exploded, or flipped over. Everyone was too spread out to help one another so nobody dared move. Every time one of the brave tried, they were shot. Ninety percent of the men who came with them were now dead. Hope didn’t know where Vandren had gone, but suspected him of being behind the explosions because he just happened to disappear during the ruckus.

  When Ronin went down, Hope leapt up, but Cayla dragged her back. Hope had thrown up and wasn’t feeling well so she was no use to anyone. Hope feared the tracker was infecting her and told Cayla as much so Cayla wanted her to stay close, but it made her antsy to remain in one place. The enemy had found them because of the tracker, she was sure of it.

  If either Cayla or Hope raised their head to look for Ronin, bullets whizzed by and the women were forced back down to the cement.

  Ronin’s voice came over the noise, “Stay there, Cayla. My shoulder took a bullet, but I’m fine. Don’t either of you dare move.”

  “Ronin, someone is coming your way. Stay where you—” A guard shouted, but was drowned out by more gunshots followed by another car exploding. The man did a mini dance, stumbled, face planted on the ground, and didn’t move. Cayla grabbed Hope and covered her with her body, until things died down again.

  “We won’t get out of here, Cayla,” Hope said when she sat back up, watching Cayla try to glance around the side of the vehicle to find Ronin. Sweat dripped down Hope’s face. When did it get so hot? Had she never noticed that before? “It’s too much. Those men will die.” She went to stand up and Cayla shoved her down, preventing her from moving.

  “We will get out of here. You need to have faith.”

  “Fait
h in what, Cayla? Why would so many waste their time for me? I’m a nobody. Trust me.” Hope tried shoving her off and Cayla used all her weight to keep her in place. Another explosion rocked the area.

  “I don’t believe that, Hope,” Cayla screamed. “I saw your face when Ronin got hit. You do care. You tell him. You tell him you love him and don’t you dare waste another second. We will get out of here. You will get out of here because I believe in who you are. In what you are. I may not know what that is, but I’ve never known anyone like you and you need to stop hiding that. Let yourself shine. As you were meant to.”

  “I’m not her anymore, Cayla!” Hope threw her hands up in the air. “Don’t you see that? It’s gone. I’m normal. I died when my child died. When the only man I ever loved, or will love, died. I’m nothing to anyone. I’m no good to anyone.”

  Cayla shoved up to a sitting position, moving away from Hope and giving her a chance to run. She motioned to her as if to say, then run. “He feels the same as you. Don’t be afraid to love him as much as you want. He won’t let you down. I promise. But remember . . . if you stand up and get shot? You will leave Ronin alone. Can you live with that? Can you break his heart any more than you can break mine? If you can, then go right ahead. Because he got shot and he’s still here. What are you gonna do for him? Give up?”

  Hope glared at her. How could she put that on her. She fought the urge to cry and turned it instead, to anger. “I never asked—”

  “Exactly. He’s not here because you forced him. You didn’t ask because you’re afraid. Well ask him. You do it right now. Ask him to get you out of here. You ask him for what you want and you listen to him tell you he will make it happen because it’s what you want. He would do anything for you. If that’s not a man who loves you, who’s willing to sacrifice everything for you, I don’t know who is.”

  Hope narrowed her eyes and mouthed the words ‘I hate you’ to Cayla, but Cayla didn’t flinch. Above all the shouting and bullets whizzing, Cayla heard Hope’s sigh loud and clear, which made Cayla’s eyebrows raise in challenge. Hope grumbled to herself and then rose her face to the sky. Clouds of smoke drifted over their heads.

  “Ronin?” she shouted.

  A while later, his muffled reply came, “What?”

  Hope closed her eyes. “I don’t feel good. You need to get out of here and save yourself.” Cayla shook her head and acted like she’d strangle Hope.

  “I’m not leaving you,” Ronin shouted over the commotion. “I made you a promise and I’m keeping it. Don’t you dare move that ass until I tell you.”

  Hope’s cheeks reddened. “Don’t tell me what to do,” she shouted back. Cayla smirked and cocked her head Ronin’s way. Told you the smug face said, which grated on Hope’s nerve. Speaking through clenched teeth, she hissed, “Fine.” Returning her attention to Ronin, she screamed, “Hurry up and get me out of here. You’re slow.”

  “What do you think I’m doing? Shut up already or I’ll take you over my fucking knee.”

  Hope crossed her arms and she slumped down behind the vehicle. “Happy?”

  Cayla nodded. “He means it Hope. Just like I—”

  An explosion ripped through their conversation. The SUV her and Cayla were behind, slammed against Hope sending her away, tumbling end over end. The SUV rose into the air and crashed upside down behind her. When she stopped rolling, she covered her head and curled into the fetal position.

  Another closer explosion struck not a breath later. The car went up into the air and crashed into the pavement with a jarring thud, too close to Hope. Her ears were buzzing, everything became muted, her world spun around her. Smoke filled every nook and cranny of her vision. Warm liquid trickled down the side of her face.

  Hope dragged her body over to a nearby vehicle that had already exploded. Bullets struck the pavement where she had been. She peered around the edge of the vehicle. Cayla’s left foot was lying amongst pieces of the other vehicles. Her right arm was further away. Hope’s eyes welled up and everything blurred, her stomach rolled.

  Another explosion hit. Seconds later, hands wrapped around each side of her face. She panicked and went to kick the person away until Ronin’s face came through the haze. At first, his words made no sense. Then her ears picked up bits and pieces.

  “Didn’t . . . stay put?”

  Hope’s head spun around and around. She went to turn away, unable to focus on anything, and then Ronin’s mouth was on hers and focus she did. On him. On the warmth that swept over her, on the comfort his presence gave her. The life he breathed back into her.

  Ronin let her go and scooted around vehicles, heading Cayla’s way before coming back a few minutes later with a pale face. Hope leaned to the side and this time she couldn’t keep from throwing up. When she sat back up, wiping her mouth, Ronin looked worried. “You sick?”

  Hope thought she shrugged, but wasn’t sure.

  “We’ve got to get you out of—”

  A school bus crashed through the vehicles that surrounded them. Cars and trucks on both sides slid along the ground, clearing a path for the bus, or tumbled on their side. The bus screeched to a stop so fast that it fell to its side. The large thing became a virtual shield from the bullets for the time being.

  The back door of the bus burst open and a man stumbled out, spraying the area with an electrical weapon that shot lines of electrical bolts. He provided cover fire for the other two vehicles that had followed right on the buses backside. The vehicles screeched to a halt next to Ronin and Hope. Vandren leapt out of one of the two vehicles. He motioned for Ronin to bring Hope.

  “Perhaps you’d like a ride,” he asked in that rattling tone of his.

  “Leave me,” the man discharging the electrical weapon shouted. “Got your back.”

  Ronin snaked an arm around Hope’s waist and dragged her with him. Tears streamed down her face. She tried to press him away and go after Cayla. In the rational part of her mind, she knew Cayla was dead. In her heart, she wanted the only mother she had ever known.

  Armed men rushed forward, providing more cover fire. Ronin hitched her up and off the ground and rushed to the vehicle. He shoved her into the backseat, then climbed in.

  As they drove off, Hope tried to look behind them, but Ronin grabbed her chin and stopped her, kissing her again. “Don’t you dare.”

  More tears fell. She buried her face in his shoulder.

  “We are not out of this by far. I would suggest buckling in and holding on,” Vandren said and turned in his seat to glance at Hope, then Ronin.

  THIRTY ONE

  “RONIN, YOU’RE CRAZY.” HOPE put her hands on her hips. “I’ve been on death’s door. I’m not pregnant.”

  After losing Cayla, they’d traveled the road for days, staying as invisible as possible. Vandren remained with them. Over a week later they took refuge in another abandoned home, Ronin and Hope shared a room, then when they were about to hit the road again, Ronin didn’t hesitate to corner her.

  Hope had been sick the entire trip and couldn’t keep what little food they found down. It was the first time they were able to talk and he was of the belief that he’d figured everything out.

  “Are you ever capable of not arguing with me?”

  “No. You’re wrong. I’m sick, not pregnant. We had sex one time. One in which I’m trying to forget.”

  “That bad, huh?” Ronin grinned. “Last time I checked, you didn’t seem to complain.”

  Hope shook her head and lost the fight to avoid smiling. She pressed her lips together until she could keep herself from laughing. Then said, “Tone yourself down there big boy. You’re not that special. Ever think it’s withdrawal from the drugs?”

  “When they had you in that place, they were pumping you full of hormones and about to harvest your eggs. They made you viable. We got you out of there around the same time they were going to take those eggs.”

  “So?”

  Ronin stared at her a long time. “Okay. It’s withdrawal. I don’t
like seeing you so ill.”

  Hope was surprised he gave it up and accepted that it had nothing to do with being pregnant. A little niggling part of her said he still didn’t believe her, but she let it go. “I got it. I can’t heal right away, Ronin. But I can promise you, if something happens, I can pull my own weight. If that’s what you’re all worried over, ya don’t have to be. Got it?”

  Ronin acted like he would strangle her. “You drive me up the wall sometimes. You really do.”

  Hope laughed. “Ah, but you love it.”

  A few of the guards entered the room, but not before Hope swore she caught Ronin muttering, “I do.”

  Hope cornered him later that night when Ronin was standing at the window to their new temporary abode. “I keep wondering why you bothered, Ronin. Why Cayla did.”

  “Because she loved you. It wasn’t just your ability to have children, it was you.”

  “Still doesn’t make sense.”

  Ronin was quiet for a long time before he said, “There was a point when she was you. She was alone. Suffered a miscarriage like you. Nobody helped her. Did she ever tell you that? That she had been a Breeder? They experimented on her just like they did you. They were so sure she would carry to term and have a healthy child. A man paid a lot of money to have it done. When he found out there would be a minor defect and it was female, he grew angry and threw her out of his vehicle. While they were driving. The fall sent her into labor and she was near death when I found her.”

  Hope turned to face him. She never had a clue that Cayla had gone through that. “She never said a thing.” Her eyes welled up. Her bottom lip trembled.

  “She was left to suffer alone.” Ronin’s jaw muscle pulsed over and over again.

  A few tears escaped Hope’s defenses. “Where’d you come in?”

  “Same point I did with you. She didn’t think she’d ever love anyone after that. Let alone trust anyone. I was there. We loved each other, but realized it better if we stayed friends. That’s the PG and short version.”