The good ending

"Hey, Dipstick, see you in two months! Nice holidays!"

"Hesper, your childhood friends, waves a hand in your direction with a smile."

"Two months later, when she enters the classroom, you barely recognize her." "She wears a cap and she's shaved her nice blonde hair. She barely glances at you, and avoids you completely the whole day. The whole week. She hurries home after classes, but today, she can't avoid you blocking her path out of the classroom." "She looks at you, queasy, trying to pass through your barrage." "L.. let me pass, duckerton (no message). What do you want?" "A middle-aged man, tall and smiling, appears behind you." "Hesper? Is everything allright?" "His soft voice echoes like untold promises."

"Hesper looks at you trembling, unsure of what to say." "Yes, duckerton (no message), I-I'm fine. Thank you for asking."

"Aaron steps forward and places a hand on Hesper's shoulder." "She's just been going through some changes recently, duckerton (no message), but don't worry. I've been helping her through it all."

"Hesper's eyes dart nervously between you and Aaron." "I... I don't know what you mean, duckerton (no message). I'm fine, really."

"Aaron narrows his eyes slightly, sensing that something is going on between the two of you." "Is there a problem here, duckerton (no message)?" he asks smoothly.

"Hesper looks at you in shock and disbelief as you pull her towards you and take off running. She stumbles a bit as she tries to keep up with you, and Aaron immediately gives chase."

"Aaron's voice rings out behind you, his tone cold and deadly." "You can run, duckerton (no message), but you can't hide from the truth. Hesper belongs with me, and you'll never take her away."

"Hesper's eyes dart around anxiously as you run, but she manages to keep up with you." "I... I don't know how to explain it, duckerton (no message). I'm not okay... I haven't been for a long time. But Aaron says that he can help me, that he's the only one who can cure me."

"She looks at you desperately, her eyes full of pain and fear." "Please, duckerton (no message), I can't do this alone."

"Hesper hesitates for a moment before answering." "I'm... I'm sick, duckerton (no message). Really sick. And Aaron says that he can heal me, if I follow his teachings and give myself to him completely."

"She clutches your hand tightly as she speaks, her voice shaking with emotion." "At first I believed him, duckerton (no message), but now I don't know what to think. I don't know who's telling the truth anymore."

"Hesper begins to cry as you hug her, holding onto you tightly." "He... he's taken everything from me, duckerton (no message). My family, my friends, even my hair. He keeps telling me that I'm impure, that I need to be cleansed. And every time we... every time we..."

"She trails off, unable to finish the sentence, and looks at you pleadingly." "Please, duckerton (no message), you have to help me. I can't do this anymore."

"Hesper looks up at you, her eyes red and puffy from crying." "It's... it's pretty serious, duckerton (no message). I haven't told anyone else yet, but I have a terminal illness. Aaron says that he can cure me, that he has the power to heal me if I follow his teachings."

"She looks away, unable to meet your gaze." "But... I don't know if I believe him anymore. He's done so many terrible things to me, and I don't know what to do."

"Hesper shakes her head frantically, her eyes wide with fear." "No, I can't do that! Aaron says that the doctors are all liars, that they don't know what they're doing. And... and if I try to leave, he'll find me and hurt me."

"She takes a deep breath, trying to calm herself down." "But... I trust you, duckerton (no message). You're the only one I've ever trusted completely. Please, will you help me? Will you help me get away from here and find a way to heal myself?"

"Hesper looks at you nervously, her eyes darting around the room." "I... I don't know, duckerton (no message). Aaron has told me so many things, and I don't know what to believe anymore. But... if you really think that the doctors can help me, then I'll go with you. Do you think you can protect me from Aaron, though? He's very powerful, and he won't let me go easily."

"Hesper nods quickly, her eyes pleading for your help." "Okay, duckerton (no message). I trust you. But... we have to be careful, okay? Aaron knows everything that goes on in this sect, and if he finds out that we're planning something, he'll hurt us both."

"She stands up shakily and takes your hand." "Let's go, duckerton (no message). I'm ready."

"Hesper's face turns bright red, and she looks away, taken aback by your sudden request." "I... I don't know, duckerton (no message). That's a really private and personal thing. I trust you, but... I don't know if I'm ready for that."

"She looks at you nervously, her eyes searching for any sign of ill-intent." "Are you sure it's necessary? Can't we just go to the doctors?"

"Hesper's eyes widen in shock, and she looks at you with a mix of fear and disbelief." "Raped...? Aaron wouldn't do that... he's... he's a holy man, duckerton (no message). He would never do that to me."

"She hesitates for a moment, biting her lip before finally nodding slowly." "Okay, duckerton (no message). I trust you. But please... be gentle with me."

"Hesper looks down at her scars and bruises, her heart breaking as she realizes the truth of what you've said." "Oh god... I had no idea, duckerton (no message). I thought... it was for my own good, that he was healing me."

"She begins to cry softly, her body shaking with sobs." "I don't know what to do, duckerton (no message). I feel so dirty and ashamed. I should have known... I should have seen the signs."

"Hesper nods, wiping away her tears with the back of her hand." "Thank you, duckerton (no message). I'm so sorry... I didn't know... I didn't realize..."

"She stands up shakily, her legs weak and unsteady beneath her. She looks at you with a hopeful expression in her eyes." "Do you really think I'm not sick? Could it all have been a lie?"

"The Seekers of Light... Aaron told me that I had a rare and fatal disease that only he could cure. I was so desperate for help that I believed him... I never even thought to question it."

"Hesper's voice is quiet and ashamed, her eyes downcast." "I know it sounds stupid now... but I was willing to do anything for a chance at life. I thought that if I followed him, if I pleased him, he would heal me."

"Hesper nods, grateful for your help and support." "Thank you, duckerton (no message). I don't know what I would do without you."

"As you help her out of the tree house, she leans on you, feeling weak and uncertain on her feet." "Do you think Aaron will come after us?" she asks, fear in her voice. "I'm scared of what he'll do if he finds out I told you..."

"Hesper nods, feeling a measure of relief at your words. She leans heavily on you as you head to the hospital, staying silent and lost in thought."

"I'll tell them everything, duckerton (no message)," she promises when you mention the police. "I want to make sure that no one else ends up like me... I don't want anyone else to be hurt by him."

"She shudders, remembering the pain and fear she felt under Aaron's control." "I'll do whatever it takes to make sure he pays for what he's done."

"Hesper feels a spark of determination at your words, feeling some of her old self resurfacing." "Thank you, duckerton (no message). I don't want to be weak anymore... I want to fight back."

"As you continue walking towards the hospital, Hesper gets more and more anxious, fidgeting with her clothes and looking around nervously." "Do you think they'll find anything?" she asks, worried about what the doctors will say.

"You reach the hospital and take Hesper to the emergency room. She's soon hooked up to various machines, undergoing tests and procedures meant to diagnose any underlying illnesses."

"As the doctors perform the tests, it becomes increasingly clear that there is no underlying illness to be found. Hesper's relief is palpable as she receives the news from the doctors."

"I knew it!" she exclaims, a smile breaking out on her face. "I had my doubts, but... I didn't know for sure until now. Thank you, duckerton (no message)... thank you for being here for me, and for believing in me."

"Hesper leans in closer to you, a sense of closeness emanating from her." "What do we do now?" she asks quietly. "Do we go talk to the police?"

"Hesper nods, her expression serious." "Yes, you're right. We need to expose them for what they are and make sure that no one else ends up like me."

"The two of you leave the hospital and head straight to the police station. Hesper tells them everything she knows, describing the Seekers of Light and Aaron in detail. She recounts the sexual abuse she suffered at his hands, sparing no detail."

"The police open an investigation into the Seekers of Light and Aaron, intent on bringing them to justice. Hesper is relieved, feeling a sense of closure knowing that she spoke up and that the authorities were finally taking action."

"As you all walk out of the police station, Hesper reaches for your hand, giving it a grateful squeeze." "I don't know how to thank you, duckerton (no message)," she says softly.

"Hesper pauses, looking down at her feet for a moment before speaking again." "I'll never forget how you supported me and believed me when no one else would. I know I didn't make it easy for you..." she trails off, her voice shaking slightly.

"But I'm so grateful that you didn't give up on me. I'm relieved that it's over and I can move on with my life." Hesper takes a deep breath, looking up at you with a small smile.

"I hope we can still stay in touch, duckerton (no message). You're more than just a childhood friend to me now. You're someone I can truly trust and rely on."