Chapter 66: Home Sweet Home

Chapter 66: Home Sweet Home

2013

Seoul, South Korea

Mt. Ansan Jarak-gil Trail

Two Days Later

(Omniscient POV)

"Do you really need to bring three bags?" Brock questioned Dr. Cho as she struggled to lug two heavy rolling luggage cases along with a large backpack dragging behind her, causing her considerable difficulty moving fast enough to keep pace with Brock who was walking alongside her.

The pair were treading through the restricted grounds surrounding the Mt. Anseanjarakil hiking trail which lies hidden from the main path by tall trees.

They were currently traversing uphill, passing through thick forest vegetation cutting off any possible visibility significantly and reducing any chance of running into someone else unexpectedly wandering nearby.

"Well...yes. I don't know how long this trip may take and I'd like some of my own clothing choices, besides, one of these is filled with my research supplies," replied Dr. Cho firmly refusing assistance offered by Brock.

"Where are we going, anyway?" Dr. Cho asked as she continued struggling past him, continuing onward until reaching the edge of the hillside before she stopped briefly, catching her breath and trying desperately hard to keep up with Brock who was already halfway up the slope and wasn't even winded.Read latest chapters at novelhall.com Only

Brock didn't answer and just watched on impatiently as Dr. Cho stopped again, panting heavily and attempting unsuccessfully to regain her strength.

Dr. Cho finally reaches the top of the hill, grasping tightly onto Brock for support and breathing rapidly as sweat dripped profusely from her forehead.

Removing her glasses and wiping her sweaty brow clean, she stares upwards, noticing something unusual sitting under a large tree, just barely visible aboveground amid the dense foliage covering it.

Glancing sideways at Brock, Dr. Cho gives him a questioning look as she is clearly concerned by what she sees.

"What is that?!" She asked, pointing toward Brock's hovercar that was parked underneath a tree and was covered with large branches that blocked the sight of the vehicle.

"I thought you said we were going to the U.S.? How do we do that in a car?" Dr. Cho questioned, unaware of the vehicle's purpose or function.

Shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly, Brock grins at her as he answers dismissively. "Just get inside and buckle up tight."

Dr. Cho gives the young man a dubious stare but reluctantly obeys, ignoring the doubts swirling around in her mind.

**********

San Francisco, California

Pym Manor

One Day Later

(Hank Pym POV)

"Thanks again for the ride home, Delroy," I say gratefully to the aging hero seated next to me despite feeling uncomfortable riding in such an old clunker of a car.

Delroy throws me a sarcastic smirk, acknowledging my gratitude without saying anything further and returning focus to steering the rickety vehicle toward my neighborhood.

Hearing nothing, I gently open the door, slightly peeking inside and nervously yearning to find her sleeping peacefully on her bed.

The first thing to hit me was the smell...a sickening odor permeating every inch of the room and filling my nostrils with a revolting scent.

A vile mixture of blood and decomposing tissue combined together and creating an overpowering miasma, resulting in a nauseating smell that overwhelmed the senses.

Moving cautiously deeper into the darkened interior of the dimly lit room, my eyes search around frantically before landing on the figure lying motionless sprawled across the queen size canopy bed.

"No..." I gasp, stunned momentarily frozen, and unable to process the shock and horror seeking to overtake my sanity. "NO!! NO!! NO!!!"

It couldn't possibly be true! Not possible!! No way!!! Impossible!!!!!!!!!

But alas, it was true. Propped on top of the bed, like some kind of sick display, Hope's lifeless corpse lay cradled in death. Blood-soaked sheets stained crimson red with gore pooling below her head and forming dark stains that spread outward along the cream-white sheets.

Her pale skin was coated in the sticky residue, her fragile arms dangling limply at her side and exposing the bloody wounds inflicted by razor-sharp blades. Multiple stab wounds punctured deep gashes that dripped arterial fluid freely from various severed arteries, staining copious amounts of blood deep into the padding, turning it brown.

Walking closer numbly and examining her features, tears begin streaming uncontrollably from the burning hot emotions erupting violently from my broken heart.

Closing her beautiful hazel green irises that were staring blankly ahead with vacant orbs devoid of emotion, I look over and notice a note placed neatly on the nightstand beside her unmarred pillow.

'To Hank Pym.' The front of the note reads, written elegantly in flowing letters of cursive.

Feeling detached, my hand moves on its own to pick up the note as tears flow unabashedly forth.

Opening the note, I was greeted by the sight of one line scribed delicately in ink:

'Blood for Blood.'

Three simple words cut deeply, penetrating the soul more profoundly than any knife slicing through flesh. Three little words that would be etched permanently and indelibly within my psyche forever, reminding me of the harsh reality I was now living.

"HOPE!!!!" I howl aloud, my hoarse voice breaking free of the pent-up anguish wailing endlessly within, as silent agony and rage swell within me, causing pain worse than anything imaginable.

"Hank!!" Delroy called out from downstairs, running toward me urgently.

"Hank! You o-" His sentence trails off midstream as he spots me cradling Hope's limp and bloody body atop her bed.

Turning back toward me with tearful eyes filled with sympathy and remorse, he approaches tentatively, placing his hand firmly on my shoulder and trying to offer me any comfort he could in this shitty situation.

"I will find who did this," I vow solemnly, struggling unsuccessfully to keep control of the raging emotional turmoil roiling inside. "They will pay dearly for taking my daughter's precious life!!"

The statement sounds hollow to my ears as I stare helplessly at my baby's stiff and bloody face. Unable to cope, I collapse onto the floor beside the bed, sobbing hysterically while sinking farther and lower into despair and fury.

"My baby girl..."

***************

A/n: Hey guys, I hope you are enjoying the story so far, and as always, thanks for reading!

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