HOPE TAKE’S CONTROL

 

A Roleplay by Benster and Scarlet

WARNING: This story contains violence (nc, MF). It is to be read by adults only. The principal focus of this story is on hypnotic perils. If this sort of material is not to your liking, then read no further.  

 

*Hope* It was a bright sunny summer day in upstate New York, and the sunlight twinkled as it passed through the many trees surrounding the central courtyard of Thorne's country estate; the estate was disguised as an upscale and private spa.  In one of the conditioning rooms, an eighteen-year-old looking blonde sat in a beautician's chair. The girl's name was Hope--that was short for "Thorne's Hope For Tomorrow." She wore a red, short-sleeve dress, pink socks, and white gym shoes. 

 

*Hope had the power to transmute matter from one form to another, and was a powerful hypnotist.  These powers made the girl invaluable to Thorne, and thus a resource to be carefully guarded and protected.  Until a few months earlier, Thorne had thought the girl lost to him.  She had escaped with her father, who had powers similar to her own, nearly a year ago.  Hope had returned of her own accord.  Evidently she had become bored of life with her overprotective father, though she loved the man dearly.  Nothing could compare with the excitement that surrounded Thorne and his entourage.

 

*Hope* A woman in her late twenties stood in front of Hope, holding a mirror in one hand as she applied shiny bright-red lipstick and shiny.  The beautician was a dark-haired latin-looking woman in her mid-twenties. She was dressed far more exotically than the young woman who she was showing how to properly apply the shiny lipstick.  She was dressed in thigh-high boots, skimpy shorts, and a bustless corset that was greenish in color and seemingly made of some sort of snakeskin. The "beautician" was one of Thornes recent conquests, Firebird; she could project and control an unknown energy that generated heat and thrust.

 

*Hope* Behind the chair was Hope's mentor, Wicked Wanda. Wanda was clad in an open-bust teddy, calf-high boots, thigh-high fishnet stockings, garters, gloves, and choker, all scarlet in color.  She wore golden rings with W's in the center through her nipples. She also wore a circular disk in the center of her forehead, held in place by a soft leather headband, and an oval broach on her choker below her chin, both pieces of jewelry made of silver colored adamantium with large rubies in their center.  The scarlet-clad dominatrix carried a thin, two and a half-foot-long adamantium, ruby-tipped riding crop. Wicked Wanda was a mutant who could alter probability fields causing unlikely phenomena to occur. She is also a powerful magic wielder–a true witch. She could thus make almost anything happen.

 

*Wicked Wanda listened carefully to the mental instructions that Thorne was sending her. The beauty lesson was actually a venue for Thorne to attempt to increase his control over his young, bioengineered ward. The mirror was actually intensifying telepathic commands that Thorne was sending to Hope.

 

*Benster watched through a window, concealed for the moment watching as Hope made herself up. He had traced her to this strange clinic and spa, and was surprised and dismayed to see Wanda here. Benster watched as the beautician pulled out a tube of gloss and pushed the applicator into position. The beautician started to slowly apply the gloss to Hope's lips, the drugs in it combining with the ones in the lipstick that she had already applied to create a highly suggestable state in the young girl's mind.

 

*Hope watched the mirror carefully as Bonita Juarez applied the gloss, mostly unaware of the numb feeling in her brain. Bonita, like most of the other former heroines in Thorne's 'stable' was filling a mentoring role. None of the others were young enough for her to talk to as true friends; only Wicked Wanda served as a confidant.

 

<Hope> Bonita, I really don't see any difference in the results when you apply the gloss than when I apply it. Why don't you just let me go to my room and come back when I'm done?  I'm sure you will be happy with the results.

 

<Bonita> Because Mistress Wanda and Master Thorne instruct me to do so, as well you know!

 

*Benster continued to watch as the beautician slid the applicator over Hope's lips, her lipcolor becoming a sexy and kissable rose color instead of the glaring red it had been. Benster couldn't hear what was being said, but he knew that the girl was talking to Hope as she applied the gloss. Benster couldn't believe how much Hope had matured in the few months since he had last seen her. She was now an incredibly beautiful and seductive woman. Even knowing who she was, his body still reacted to her sensuality.

 

*Bonita finished applying the make up and put down the mirror. She smiled up to Wicked Wanda.

 

<Bonita> Doesn't Hope just look lovely, Mistress? She has really matured into a young woman over the last few months.  I think the men she meets will all be trying to trip her from here on out.

 

<Wicked Wanda> Perhaps, but it is our jobs to make sure that the "tripping" doesn't work.  She is much too valuable to Thorne to let anything happen to her.  Now perhaps, you should work on her hair, and then give her one last look in the mirror when you are done.

 

*Wicked Wanda smiled broadly, as she knew that Thorne would be happy when the mental manipulation was finally complete. She knew that the manipulation was not easy, not even for Thorne, a man who rivaled Professor X when it came to telepathic abilities. Hope had a powerful mind and a strong will.

 

*Benster stared as the beautician put the finishing touches on Hope's hair and handed her the mirror again. Something strange about the way she was looking at herself caused him to move to a nearby wall.

 

*Benster touched the wall and started concentrating on it–concentrating all the power of his mind to change it into a form of foam that looked for the moment just like the wall did.

 

* Thorne became irritated as his head began to ache from the exertion. He wondered if the reprogramming was complete, and then came up with a way to make sure the procedure had been a success. He mentally commanded Firebird to raise the mirror once again, as she finished fiddling with the young blonde's 'doo. Then he used his telepathy to command the girl to repeat his instructions to herself, using her own hypnotic powers on herself.

 

*Hope grew silent as she stared into the mirror, watching her own eyes become spirals of multicolored light that dragged her persona into pupils in the mirror as she silently repeated Thorne's instructions from start to finish. Any doubts she had as to the right or wrong of the instructions were slowly washed away.

 

*Benster suddenly burst through the foam wall, sending pieces of it everywhere. The scene he feared now appeared before him. He could see Hope staring into a mirror, her eyes locked on the spirals in her own eyes, and he could see her lips moving to a silent instruction.

 

*Benster threw himself at Wanda and the beautician, trying to get them out of the way and awaken Hope before whatever was happening could be completed. He started concentrating on the air around him, knowing that things would proceed rapidly since there were two to oppose him this time…not just one.

 

*Wicked^Wanda ducked to the left and cast an invisibility spell on herself, barely avoiding the flying pieces of foam wall.

 

<Wicked Wanda> Firebird, it is benster! He has obviously come for Hope! Fry him!"

 

<Hope> Father? No! You shouldn't be here....

 

*Hope, awakened from her own trance by Benster's timely interruption, leaped out of her chair and wheeled on him just as Firebird stopped her own movement and pointed at the man who had burst upon them.

 

<Hope> No! Stop! You must not hurt him!

 

<Firebird> Too late! I have him now!

 

*Firebird energized and a bright yellow column of flame shot out towards Benster.

 

*Benster crashed through the wall, his trench coat billowing in the air and his fedora firmly on his head.  As he burst into the room scattering foam pieces everywhere, the shot from Firebird grazed his trench coat setting it ablaze. He rolled on the floor to put the fire out. His flannel shirt and blue jeans could be seen through the tatters of his coat. He looked at Hope and then focused on Firebird, realizing that she was his main threat right now.

 

*Wicked Wanda grumbled to herself as she watched Firebird's bolt fail to do its job.  She knew from experience that Benster was a very dangerous opponent.  She quickly turned her invisible form to adamantium and shouted excitedly into a com unit on the scarlet choker around her lovely neck.

    

<Wicked Wanda> Thorne, we have a problem.  Benster is crashing our party.  Did you finish the treatment?

    

*Thorne's voice raged through the come link, "I'm not sure. Subdue the intruder at once!"

    

*Firebird poised again to fire another bolt as she noticed the stranger focus his attention on her.

    

<Firebird> Don't worry, I'll toast him with this second blast.  All I have to do i.....HEY!

    

<Hope> Wait! I told you not to hurt him! Let me handle this!

    

*Hope yelled as she pushed Firebird aside, causing the second bolt to miss badly.

    

<Wicked Wanda> Hope, what are you doing?  This man is a danger to Thorne's operation!  Whatever small ties you feel for Benster must take backstage to the needs of Thorne!

    

*Wicked Wanda moved towards Benster, intending on knocking him unconscious with her right booted foot once she had him in range.

 

*Benster concentrated on Firebird, his mind molding the very atoms of the air into a form of his choosing–a soft cotton pad formed over Firebird's nose and mouth. The pad was held tightly in place with a solid plastic strap with no breaks or latches. Benster knew that Firebird couldn't use her powers on it since it would burst into flame and scar her face horribly. He then concentrated harder on the pad, forming a very powerful, but safe, form of chloroform–a form that would knock her out and keep her out for hours, but would not harm her in anyway.

 

<Hope> Wanda, you know I love you dearly and respect your leadership, but I cannot allow you to harm my father.  I suggest you backoff and leave the matter to me.

    

*Hope turned her head from Firebird, who had just dropped to the patio floor asleep, to the place where Wicked Wanda had called to her from.  She smiled as there was nothing to see.  Wicked Wanda was still as invisible as she was adamantium in form.

    

<Wicked Wanda> You are too young to be trusted with such responsibility, girl.  Take cover while I subdue this man.  I promise I will try not to harm him severely.

 

*Benster barely had time to notice Wanda’s voice, and that she was advancing on him, as he was too wrapped up in taking out Firebird. He tried to dodge her by rolling to the right and coming up facing her.

    

*Wicked Wanda groaned inwardly as her foot barely grazed Benster's hip as he dodged at the last minute.  She had been a fool to be talking to the others. It largely negated the advantage her invisibility should have given her.  She quickly stepped to the left, hoping the move away from Benster would be unexpected, and gestured at the support beam for the roof above them.  The light structure began to collapse downward towards Benster, who had just reached his feet and was facing the spot she had kicked at him from.

 

*Benster instinctively created his air shield over himself as the crossbeams and lighting came down on him. Benster was soon buried under the pile of rubble and used it to hide for the moment. His powerful mind sent out a telepathic probe, seeking Wicked Wanda as the rubble shielded him from view for the moment. Benster didn't allow the probe to connect with Wanda's mind, hoping that she would be unable to detect it that way. He just wanted to pick up surface thoughts and give himself knowledge of her location. He also shielded his own thoughts from his daughter, encase she was probing for him.

 

*Wicked Wanda shrugged as she looked downward at the pile of rubble where Benster had been standing.

 

<Wicked Wanda> Well, that seems to have taken care of the Benster problem. Hope, see to Firebird. Make sure she isn't hurt.  Once she is awake, we can chance pulling Benster out of the rubble.

 

*Hope yelled shrilly back

 

<Hope> Wanda, why did you have to hurt him? I told you that I would handle him. Don't you trust me?

 

<Wicked Wanda> Hope, I trust you just fine. It's just that you have not finished your training yet. Now do as I sa...! Wait move back, I think I am detecting a slight movement within the rubble.

 

*Wicked Wanda moved closer to the rubble, intending to end any trouble that might be in the making before it could be fully developed. She poked the business end of her ruby-tipped riding crop into the rubble and prepared to energize it.

    

*Benster smiled as he heard his daughter's words from his hiding place. He believed he had nothing to fear from her now.  Little did he know, buried in his pile of rubble and so focused on Wanda, that he was making a terrible mistake, as Hope picked up the mirror again and then the tube of drugged gloss. Benster once again called on his mind’s powers and started to convert Wicked Wanda's Disk of Mental Serenity, as he had when he battled her the first time. Benster remained motionless as he summoned up the full power of his mind, converting it so it acted the opposite of the way Wanda would think it would. Benster knew that deep inside Wanda was her alter-ego, the good Scarlet Witch, and if he could release that persona he would have nothing to fear from Wanda.*

 

*Wicked Wanda suddenly dispelled her ruby-tipped riding crop and brought her hands up to clutch at her temples, sensing something terribly wrong.

 

<Wicked Wanda> Hope...somethings wrong! Can you sense what is happening and make it stop?

 

*Wicked Wanda turned to see a distracted Hope staring once again into Thorne's brainwashing mirror, ignoring Firebird who is still unconscious on the floor. Obviously her master was struggling to finish his "education" before anything else could go wrong.

 

*Wicked Wanda barely heard Hope's wispered reply.

 

<Hope> Father is trying to free the other persona within you...the one I am forbidden to mention. He seeks to turn an undefeatable enemy into a valuable ally. I am not yet ready to help you in the Master's cause. Do something to delay Benster's tactic, but please don't hurt my father.

 

*Wicked Wanda rubbed her temples again, recognizing the truth in the girl's words. What to do? She had already dropped a roof on the man to no avail? She could teleport him away, but he could end up in some solid object.  The girl would not forgive her if she harmed the man.  If only she could have prevented their meeting!

 

<Wicked Wanda> Wait! Solid?!? That's it! Not solid, dispel!!!

 

*Wicked Wanda quickly dispelled the floor and earth below the pile of rubble to form a 10-foot deep pit, and watched as gravity began its work.

 

*Benster fell into the deep hole, the girders forming a crisscross pattern above him as they collapsed into the hole also. As Benster lay there stunned at the bottom of the pit, he sensed Thorne's voice ringing through his daughter's mind. He knew he must act swiftly as he could sense Hope's mind becoming more pliable to Thorne's words. Benster concentrated on his air-shield once again, and used it to blast the debris from the pit, freeing him to fight Wanda once more.

 

*Benster hoped that Scarlet, still buried deep within Wanda, and his own daughter’s words would keep Wanda from really harming him.

 

*Wicked Wanda shreeked loudly and covered her face as roof girders flew like toothpicks around her.  She felt lucky not to be impaled by one of the steel beams. Glancing back, she watched Hope calmly set down the mirror and slowly face the now uncovered hole in the ground.  She could only presume that Thorne had accomplished his task. She turned abruptly back to the hole as the debris settled to the ground.

 

<Wicked Wanda> Enough of this nonsense, Benster. Come on out so I can once again remove your memories of Hope.  Even your fascinating powers are no match for a master magic user who also commands the very fabric of reality.....

 

*Wicked Wanda glanced backwards to the calm visage of Hope, and then to the pit before her.

 

<Wicked Wanda> ....who also, as it turns out, has as an ally, a younger version of yourself.

 

*Benster slowly climbed from the pit, his mind completely focused on Wanda.  He could sense her location rather than see her. His mind shot a hypnotic probe into Wanda’s mind, using her Disk of Mental Serenity as the conduit for his power. Wanda's mind could see Hope's hypnotic eyes again, as Scarlet did when Thorne used Hope to release Wanda from the prison Benster had created in her mind to allow the slow assimilation of Wanda’s personality into Scarlet's. Only this time, Benster was using the image to free Scarlet Witch's personality once and for all. For now, Benster was completely unaware of Hope and in what condition her mind was in. Secretly, he did not believe that Hope's mind could be taken over and brainwashed in so short a time.

 

*Wicked Wanda's mind slowly grew clouded as a battle between new ids slowly began within her. She abruptly stopped moving...stopped having any signs of what was going on around her.

 

<Hope> Wanda, what's wrong? Are you okay?

 

*Hope's face was full of concern as she looked from her mentor to her biological father and back again.

 

<Hope> Benster...I mean Father...what have you done to her? Will she be okay?

 

*Benster was too busy concentrating on Wanda to even notice Hope, much less hear her plea. He joined his hypnotic probe with Scarlet's id in her battle to regain dominance over her body and finally combine with the Wanda id. Benster hoped that this would finally end the battle between them as his probe gave Scarlet's id hypnotic powers to use in her battle, and a determination to overcome her evil self. Benster watched the inner battle rage, taking no notice of Hope or what she was doing for the moment.

 

*Wicked Wanda , with a slight gust of wind and a gentle flash of light, was suddenly clad in a rose colored body stocking over which she wore a crimson leotard, calf-high boots, long gloves, headdress, and full cloak, all crimson in color. She wore a circular disk in the center of her headdress and an oval broach on her cloak's collar below her chin, both pieces of jewelry made of silver colored adamantium with large rubies in their center. She carried a 5-foot-long adamantium scepter crowned with a tennis-ball sized ruby. She had changed to her heroic self.

    

*Scarlet Witch moaned softly and collapsed limply to the ground, evidently unconscious.

    

<Hope> You have made a mistake father, for it is I you should fear, not my friend and mentor. By attacking her you have fueled my will to protect Master Thorne's interests.  Look into my eyes father, for shortly your will WILL be mine!

    

*Hope licked her lips to make them shine, and leaned forward so that her face was close to her father's.  Soon their eyes would lock, and the battle begin.

 

*Benster thought quickly and tried to do the unexpected. He threw himself at Hope and started grappling with her. He was too smart to look into his daughter's eyes, since he fully knew their power. As he struggled with Hope, it soon became apparent that Hope was too strong for him, as she had the Amazon strength of her mother.

 

*Hope, after a few seconds of grappling, was able to use her strength and atheletic training to gain physical control over her genetic father.  She gradually forced him backwards and into the chair she had been sitting earlier.  Once she had Benster in a sitting position, she sat herself on his lap facing him, her hands clamping his lower arms to the chair's arms.

 

<Hope> Look into my eyes, Father. You know you must! Thorne demands your memory be altered. Surrender to my will, or perhaps the price of your interference in Justice Club business will become higher. Look into my eyes, my shiny hynotic eyes, and surrender your will.

 

*Hope, as she whispered the words in a soft monotone, licked her shiny lips and concentrated her will to the task at hand.

 

*Benster struggles under Hope, but being only of normal strength he could not pry himself loose from her hold.

 

*Hope had benster pinned in the beautician chair with both hands on his upper arms. She licked her shiny lips and released his left shoulder with her right hand. She brought the right hand up to gently cup Benster's jaw, trying to direct his face to look at hers.

 

<Hope> Benster, look at my shiny lips and glowing eyes! Won't you look at me, your daughter?

 

<Benster> Hope, you can not do this. It will cause tremendous harm to the world as it is now. Thorne will have an unstoppable force in you.

 

*Benster felt Hope turning his face to hers, he tried to resist but was not strong enough.  Soon he was looking at her lips, not wanting to challenge her eyes yet. Not till he was ready.

 

*Hope licked her lips again, and smiled as she concentrated all her will on Benster's face. She smiled broader as she received a telepathic communication from Thorne, letting her know that he will surreptitiously try to aid her in her battle by attempting to directly influence Benster's brain.

 

<Hope> Come now, Father, can you not bring yourself to look me, your lovely daughter in the eye?

 

<Benster> Not yet, my daughter, I know what you wish and I will not fall victim yet.

 

*Benster didn't notice the crystal chandelier start to rotate, sending dazzling multicolored lights that were reflected in Hope's glossy lips. He was too busy fighting Thorne's attacks on his mind's defenses.

 

*Hope released Benster's right arm with her left hand and sat on Benster's lap as she brought that hand to his face as well. She was focusing on an attempt to force her father to look into her eyes, even if she has to pry his eyelids open. It was for his own good, she told herself.

 

<Hope> Father, you have to look into my eyes.  You must let our minds meet and mingle so that I can communicate to you a plan I have.  Please!  Do you not trust your own daughter, even after the many weeks we spent together after you rescued me the last time?

 

<Benster> But you have been missing for months, and here I find you in the clutches of Thorne and Wanda again. And as I looked in I, saw them brainwashing you. No I will not look.

 

*Benster ‘s eyes seemed locked on Hope’s shiny lips, something about those lights playing across them kept his attention there as he battled Thorne. He started to feel light-headed as Hope’s lips began to fill his gaze.

 

*Hope licked her lips yet again as she leaned her head closer to her father's face, gently tilting his head backward as she attempted to redirect his gaze towards her own. She had a sense of urgency nagging at her–she felt she must not let anyone…Benster, Thorne, or even Wicked Wanda sense her plans!

 

<Hope> Look into my eyes, father. I command you to do so!  Your resistance is not only futile, but very, very dangerous to both of us!

 

*Benster found himself once again gazing into his daughter's eyes, but this time they were even more beautiful and dazzling. His gaze sank into her eyes as they drew him in, his mental barriers still keeping Thorne's probes at bay.

 

<Benster> Daughter, it is your need to hypnotize me that is dangerous to us both. Not my trying to stop you.

 

<Hope> Can you be truly sure that you know my intentions, and what is or is not dangerous to both or either of us?

 

*Hope, now that she finally saw her fathers eyes locked with her own, began concentrating…began the hypnosis process. She spoke very softly to her father, her voice sweet and soothing.

 

<Hope> Look into the depths of my gleaming eyes, father.  Are they not beautiful?  Look at the myriad colors and shiny reflections within them.  Concentrate on the colors and reflections.  They draw your gaze ever inward.  Look at how the colors and reflections seem to slowly move, almost as if swirling towards the dark pools of my pupils.  Stare into the depths of those pools father, for it is there that we shall find solace.

 

*Benster saw the crystal chandelier reflected in his daughter's eyes, the lights spinning and swirling in them. He knew the danger, but as he tried to close his eyes to their hypnotic dance he was unable to do so. All he could do was look into his daughter's eyes and watch as the dazzling lights there drew him into her power.

 

<Benster> Please daughter, you don't realize what you are doing. You must release me before it's too late.

 

<Hope> Father, father...its okay

 

*Hope whispered softly, as she tried to generate a vortex effect for the lights and colors of her own eyes. She concentrated all of her might on bringing her father's focus in to the depths of her gleaming orbs.

 

<Hope> Let yourself go, father.  Relax and trust what I am doing.  I know you want to give your trust to me.  Do so, and I promise I will not disappoint you!

 

*Benster felt himself slipping into her eyes, slipping into the swirling spiral of dazzling lights that drew him deeper and deeper, his body relaxing more and more under the guidance of her soothing words. He so wanted to trust her once again, but a slow alarm bell rang in his mind and his will struggled on to overcome her hypnotic spell.

 

*Hope concentrated on creating the vortex of color and light, to make the vortex spiral in to the dark depths that were the center of her hypnotic eyes. She concentrated for all she was worth on making her voice calm and soothing, and exuding confidence and trust.

 

<Hope> Come to me, Father.  Let yourself go.  Do so and I promise you we will be together in happiness from now until forever.

 

<Benster> Nooooo....I will resist you.....my willpower is too strong for you to overcome, my daughter....

 

*Benster ‘s gaze was being sucked into Hope's eyes, the swirling lights and her hypnotic powers combining to suck him into their depths. Nothing could stop it from happening now. He felt himself losing himself in her eyes, falling, drowning deep in her hypnotic eyes.

 

*Hope continued to concentrate on the vortex effect...to bring her father's will into her own. She licked her shiny lips and continued to whisper in her most hypnotic voice.

 

<Hope> That's it father. Look deep into the comfort of my gleaming eyes.  Soon your will and my will are to be one.  It is then that we can leave this place, forever, to finally spend our lives together as father and daughter.

 

*Benster was falling, sinking into Hope's eyes…drawn deeper, ever deeper by the swirling spiral of dazzling lights in her hypnotic eyes. He felt her long smooth nails at his temples, and with each tiny circle they made another piece of his will melt away. How could any man resist the hypnotic beauty of his daughter. How could anyone resist her hypnotic voice.

 

*Hope continued to drain her father's will to resist her soft hypnotic commands with the shiny vortex's of her eyes. She gently massaged his temples in slow circular motions as she talked.

 

<Hope> Come to me, father. Let my will be your will so that we may go home. Don't you want that, father?  To be home, together, as we were always meant to be.  Surrender your will to mine, father, and I promise everlasting happiness...happiness, together.

 

*Benster ‘s mind sank completely into Hope's hypnotic eyes, his will melting away before her hypnotic power. Yes, he did want to go home with her, to save her from the evil's of this world. He wanted to be happy with her as it was always meant to be. He barely remembered why he came here, it must have been to be with her, and he looked once again into her eyes as his will melted away. Soon there was very little of his will left, her soothing touch, hypnotic eyes, and soft voice had slowly drained it away as her voice filled his mind.

 

*Hope , sensing that her father's will is close to being hers, continued her hypnotic Vortex as she whispers ever so softly...

 

<Hope> Tell me that you trust me, father.  Tell me that you will do as I command, so that we may be safe and together forever more...tell me!

 

<Benster> Yesssss......I trust you, daughter......I will.....follow......your..........commands...........

 

*Benster felt the last of his will melt away into the soothing hypnotic beauty that was his daughter. He was a fool to ever think he could resist her hypnotic power. No one could resist her hypnotic eyes, her soft, seductive voice, or the soothing touch of her hands.

 

*Hope smiled as she recognized that her father's will was at last her own.

 

<Hope> Good, my father.  Now we will leave, and no matter what happens, you will not awaken from my trance, you will not let what is said or done trouble you.  Now, we will walk together through the entryway to the north.

 

<Hope> Do you understand this, my father?

 

<Benster> Yessssss........walk with you.......let nothing trouble me.......remain in your hypnotic trance....

 

*Hope stood up from her father's lap and guides him to a standing position. Together they began walking to the north.

 

*Thorne raced onto the room.

 

<Thorne> Girl, where are you taking Benster.  That man is an enemy and must be dealt with.  Subdue him...place him in chains.  I command it!

 

<Hope> Thorne, I am not yours to command.  I never was.  I remained here to be at Wanda's side.  Now I leave to be with my father.  I will never return again.  Tell Wanda that I will always consider her my friend, but if either of you threaten me or my father again...well, even Wanda knows that neither of you stand a chance against the two of us together.  Goodbye, Thorne!

 

*Thorne stood with an open jaw as the girl he had named as "Thorne's Hope For Tomorrow" walked out of his compound with her father, and, perhaps, out of his life forever. He knew not what he would tell Wicked Wanda, or how she would react to losing her student and dearest friend.

 

The End

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