Ashton

Weeks passed by and life was getting better. Mom was doing just fine. Emily was in Mau and I was glad to see the happiness on her face as we Skyped.

Jane was wrapped in my arms as we sat lazily on the blanket beneath us. It was late at night and we were outside my cottage, cold wind was blowing the sand onto our faces as the sea smoothly moved back and forth on the shore. We were having our little bonfire and I was glad I had convinced Jane to stay here with me for as long as she wanted.

She was safe with me and I needed her to give me all the Hope I needed to keep functioning. Besides, after getting to know that this cottage was my father's gift to my mother, I was convinced I would be staying here even after my Uncle came back.

"Wan mo s'mos?" Hope asked, hardly able to speak as her mouth was stuffed with food. I chuckled and she looked up at me with the same pair of blue eyes I was never getting over.

"You can have them all and I can taste them from from my favorite place," I said, cuddling her in as I licked her lips softly causing her to giggle.

We sat there in silence and pure bliss until I sang "Bring me back to life by the Extreme Music" almost like a whisper into her ear. 

"This is how it all goes tonight, this is what it is like when we collide, this is what it's like when you bring me back to life"

As those words came out of my mouth, Hope closed her eyes and started running her finger all over my lips.

"I love your voice so much. It is like air to me..if that makes sense," she blushed as she brought two fingers to my throat, tracing circles almost as if she was getting some kind of pleasure from the way it vibrated.

My Jane was always relaxed around me. She didn't fear me anymore. She didn't run away. In fact, I was still not over by the way she kissed me in the file room. Hope transformed into someone else, a fox maybe with fire bolting out of her. It was like she wanted me to embrace her and to own her. I fucking loved it. What we did that day was passionate and intense.

"Ashton, can I ask you something?" Hope hesitated, shifting from me to the opposite side of the blanket.

"Yes, Hope," I said, moving closer to her as I held her hands in mine and placed them on my mouth, softly kissing the tips of her fingers.

"How would you feel if you ever lost your voice?" She asked, her lower lip quivered as her feet curled the cloth beneath them.

"Umm?" I was speechless and my eyes popped open. I didn't know why she would ever ask me that. Was there some messed up reason behind it? I hoped not.

"I would be devastated. I love singing, losing my voice would take away something I am good at," I paused and asked, "but why would you ask that?

Her expressions dulled and she looked down without answering. 

"After all the time I have spent with you, I am sure about one thing..you don't just wonder about random things. What is it, babe?"

"What if I lose my voice again?" She blurted.

"Again?" I asked, cupping her face as the horror came upon me. I was trying so hard to hide the emotions from being obvious on my face.

Looking disturbed, she went quiet for a few seconds. This was hard for her, extremely hard. She glanced up at the sky and took a deep breath. She was still processing, maybe looking for the right words.

"I am listening, Hope," I assured, staring right into her eyes.

"Something happened to me long ago, Ashton.. something horrible. I could hear so many voices...my own screams even when I couldn't tell as to where those screeching sounds were coming from." She was hardly audible. It was so hard to make out what she was saying. I needed her to decipher it all because my heart was stinging as I waited. 

I tightened my grip on her fingers and interlocked them with mine, hinting her to continue. 

"I lost my voice," she repeated, clearing her throat.

"I was six when I lost my voice. I lost everything. My world fell apart," she spilled, eating half of the words. Even though she looked vulnerable at the moment, she was still very strong with her confessions.

"Was that before your parents passed away?" I asked without even thinking.

Shit!

Jane's eyes shot up, she wasn't aware that Emily had told me about her parent's death. Hope immediately removed her fingers from mine and her posture became stiff. I could see those sharp eyes glimmering in the dark, she looked alarmed.

Terrified even.

"Emily told me," I quickly added.

What I saw next broke me into pieces and wrecked me completely. She was wiping tears from her eyes. Not letting her break, I instantly closed the distance between us and pulled her into my arms. I could feel her pain. When I held her, I felt as if we were one and all her pain was being injected into my body. I was shivering but I had to be strong for my Hope.

"You don't have to do this right now, baby," I muttered, kissing her eyelids.

"You are right. My head hurts," she whispered and I lifted her up and carried her to my bed.

"Sleep, Hope. You need it. Rest. We can talk in the morning. I will get you some medicines," I said softly, kissing her forehead as I tucked her in the covers.

When I returned with a glass of water, she was already purring in her sleep. I smiled, she was so damn adorable. Despite all the darkness in the room, she was the only light I could see.

But even Jane in my bed was not enough to help me sleep tonight. It was driving me insane thinking about her. The fact that she was not able to talk about her past showed that she was still damaged.

She was just a little child when that happened.

Baby Hope.

I was still in the dark about what exactly happened but she gave me a little chunk of the puzzle piece and it was enough for now. I would soon connect the dots and light up her world. I knew that for sure.

Her parents died.

She was six.

She lost her voice.

What else?

***

NOTE: THIS IS NOT IT. THE NEXT CHAPTER WILL BE THE CONTINUATION OF HER STORY. WILL BE OUT SOON.

P.S: VOTE AND COMMENT.  💕