Hope In Salvation Novels & Stories

Just then they heard something dissatisfying. “No hope for Ayomide,” Oreoluwa had said. “What did you just say, Ore?” Emmanuel demanded. “I said no hope for Ayo.” He shrugged. “I heard you the first time,” Emmanuel said with clenched teeth. “I only gave you a chance to change what you said.”

She yanked me into a fierce hug, her whole body shuddering with quiet sobs as she kept murmuring, "I came too late. You've been through so much…" I froze at first. Then, slowly, I melted into her arms, letting myself take in the warmth only a mother could offer. I'd prepared myself for this moment. But when it actually happened, the happiness hit me hard along with something deeper, something I couldn't quite pin down. Emma had been Shirley's mother, but now she was mine. I was finally free of Shirley and the system's hold. I should've relished the revenge, but a small pang of guilt crept in when I saw tears running down Emma's face.

How could I have ever believed, even for a moment, that a man like him — a man like Ben, powerful and distant, brought up in a world different from mine — could have been the one who held me so gently in the dark? How could I have been so desperate to believe that the stranger who touched me, who felt like home, could possibly be him? The answer was bitter but clear. Perhaps everyone seeks their own salvation when gripped by fear. Perhaps I had simply wanted someone — anyone — to be my salvation. But salvation, I was learning, was something you made for yourself. I took a slow, steadying breath and closed my eyes. The humiliation, the disappointment, the heartbreak — I let them wash over me,

“You sacrificed my father’s life to save her father.” “And now you tell me you love me?” “Don’t you think your lies are utterly unbelievable?” I walked straight past him— He fell to his knees. Tears and blood streamed down his face; he felt utterly humiliated. “No…don’t go.” “I admit it. I was controlled. I lost my way.” “But everything I did for Pera was because I was deceived.” “The person I love is you!” “I know you won’t believe me.” “So I brought everything I had.”

“So this is inside me?” “Partly.” “Then where is everyone?” The first Hope looked at her. “Where you placed them.” Hope’s eyes widened. “I didn’t place them anywhere.” “You did.” “How?” “When you refused the Origin King’s choice, you made your own.” Hope shook her head. “I chose to save everyone.” “No.” The first Hope stepped closer. “You chose not to sacrifice anyone.” Hope stared. “Isn’t that the same thing?” “No.” The first Hope’s voice became serious.

My heart sped, and hope surged through me. But I felt my blood stop cold as the figures entered the light. Salvation was not what it was. More of Dante's disciples were involved here. And I was going to confront them all.

"No, this cannot happen. Cannot be real. Cannot be possible. Hope cannot die. Hope cannot leave. Hope cannot end. Not Hope. Not the being who saved everyone. Not the one who taught us all to love. Not her. Please not her. Not Hope." Stream wept. "Hope saved me. Hope taught me. Hope showed me how to exist. How to love. How to be something instead of nothing. Hope cannot die. Cannot end. Cannot leave. We need her. I need her. Everyone needs her. Please. Someone help her. Someone save her. Someone fix this."

Not with the crushing weight of chains and obligation, not with the inexorable pull of damnation, but with something entirely different. Invitation. The crack in the sky pulsed with warmth that had nothing to do with temperature and everything to do with the hearts that had torn it open. My children's voices Seraphina's fierce incantation, the echo of Kai Jr. 's lullaby still lingering in the air, Alexander's determined presence. They had offered me hope. And from this time, I began to strongly believe that maybe, someone like me could be saved.

Not weakness. Hope.

"We have. Luna was in the northern plains. We've contacted her, and she said she's willing to come back to see you." Cole's eyes lit up. "She's willing to see me?" Hope flickered in his chest. I was willing to see him. He wondered if that meant I had forgiven him. "Yes. While you were unconscious, she had already returned to our territory." "Where is she? I'll go get her myself!" Cole tried to sit up. Then, he heard my calm voice. "Don't bother. I'm already here." He froze. His head snapped up, and his gaze was filled with hunger and awe as it landed on me. "Soleil… It's been so long. I missed you!"