Good Hope Road Novels & Stories

"She's thinking loud." Aurora smiled. "Thinking loud. I like that." River got up and walked over to Hope. He crouched down. "Do you want the red one?" he asked, offering the circle Hope had rejected. Hope looked at him. She looked at the red circle. She shook her head. "Wrong light," she said seriously. River nodded. He didn't argue. He understood that things had to be in the right place. He put the red circle down and handed her a purple triangle instead.

The sparks spreading through my body drive me crazy with lust and desire for her. 'We need to find directions to Sally’s house.’ Hope nods. 'Excuse me, sir.' she says sweetly to a man walking by. 'Could you tell me where I could find the name of this street, please?' she asks. The man smiles, 'Ten blocks that way.’ he replies, pointing to the right of her. 'Thank you, sir.’ Hope bows her head. 'You’re very welcome beautiful.’ he says, giving her a wink. I rumble a low growl and approach Hope and take her hand. I force a smile at the man and nod in thanks as we walk away.

“Sorry, only Ivan and Nikolai is allowed to be my driver.” “Highway 27.” She says to Ivan as we got in the car with her. “Hey, It’s Mexico One, isn’t it?” She says, talking to someone on the phone. Mexico is a term used in street racing in an effort to keep locations secret. Mexico One, two and Three are off US 27 in South Florida. “Who are you talking to?” I asked Hope. “Just some people I met earlier.” She said. We reached the meet up spot at around 10. It was behind Triple A Center in Miami.

A spark of something forward-moving. Hope.

I yelled as I stumbled onto my feet As we were on our way... We took a detour to avoid the heavy rainfall because at this point the umbrella was pretty much useless. On our way, we stumbled across a person who was a few meters away from us and he seemed to be sitting right at the side of the path while leaning towards the wall and facing downwards. The alley we were walking in was a poverty-stricken area so coming across a scene like this wasn't surprising. When we were only a few feet away from the individual, we realized that it was a girl in her school uniform. Her body trembled as she sat on the cold and grainy road exposed to the chilling rain.

She was in awe to see it. The circle that was drawn many times gave us a path and it landed in district nineteen which is next to the market across the plaza. In Cherry Leaves Lane where the market sits there and next to it is Luster Brooke Avenue where the path can lead to district nineteen which can take more than a twice minute of five - we're there in no time. The problem is where in district nineteen is he pointing out? So she asks again with curiosity. "Where in District nineteen?" Marina said with her eyes in flames giving haze to one another's gaze

being happy about each other's path. “1... 2... 3...Clear...” Being fine ... “Raise the voltage!” ...when you see them walk away from your life. But, me... “Her heartbeat is getting too slow.” ... I'll come with him... We'll end up together again. We'll be happy. He is waiting for me... My hope is not here... I am... Blair... and this is my own happy ending. “Ms. Blair Novak. Time of death May 4, 2020, 9:00 pm.”

He looks at Maya. "Don't look at me," Maya says. "She's right and you know it." He looks back at me. Exhales. "Okay." "Okay," I say. We're wheels up by six. Chen arranges transport — discreet, unmarked, the kind of car that doesn't attract attention. Hope goes to sleep in Maya's arms with heartbreaking ease, like she trusts completely that we'll come back. Like the concept of us not coming back has never occurred to her.

I moved deliberately, showing his picture to question locals, under the guise of a curious traveler, a journalist, anything that would keep me from revealing my true purpose. At first, there were dead ends, false leads that rattled my patience. But then, a shopkeeper, a thin man with wary eyes, leaned close when I showed him Antonioni’s father’s photo. “Yes… I think I know him,” he whispered. “Up in the hills, near an old estate on Hope Road. Lives quietly… keeps to himself.” Hope Road. The name sent a ripple of certainty through me. The rest would be simple when the truth finally surfaces.