The man pointed his pistol directly under Hope's chin. 

"Please," she begged. "Please don't... I need to tell Carli... that I... lo..." 

The sound of a bullet going through Hope's neck only made the man's smile wider. He turned towards his next victim. Pulling Steph towards the middle of the dark room, he laughed cruelly. "Now... what should I do with you?" he teased, tying her hands behind her back with a piece of thick rope. 

The end of the pistol danced around Steph's temples, death joking with her. He wasted no time in killing her off as well. The scene suddenly shifted and it was earlier, before Hope had been shot. She reached out a hand towards Carli and wiped a tear away. 

"Carli, if I don't come back..." she started, only to be cut off by her girlfriend kissing her. 

"Hope, be quiet. You are going to come back. I love you. You're fine." 

Hope smiled faintly and kissed the woman once more before closing her eyes and turning around. Just as she was about to walk out of the new dark room, Carli called out, "I love you," to  which Hope didn't respond. She didn't even turn around. 

The goalkeeper lifted her arms and let herself tumble into the pit of darkness that lay before both of them. Carli felt herself scream, but no sound came out. Her cheeks were soaked with tears and sobs crumpled her body, racking each ounce of happiness out of her. 

"Hope..." Carli sobbed, running to the edge. She knelt next to it, feeling the rush of cold air hit her in the face. "I love y-". 

Carli woke up screaming, her eyes wide with terror as the lights in the dorm room flickered on in a flash. Her heart fluttered in her chest and she heaved deep breaths against the soaked pillow. Steph was next to her instantly, her eyes wide with confusion and fear. "Carli, what the fuck?" 

The midfielder's gasps echoed throughout the quiet room and she shut her eyes tightly against the darkness. They were back. They were here. "Hope... Where is Hope... I love you, Hope, you're okay," she murmured inaudibly as Steph continued to stare at her blankly. 

"Do you need anything?" she asked, rubbing a circle into Carli's back. 

I need Hope.

Carli's lips moved but no noise came out. Rolling her eyes softly, Steph returned to her bed after a minute and Carli cuddled up, alone, in her mangled, white sheets. 

Why hadn't her nightmares gone away?

-

It was safe to say that Tobin was in trouble. 

As she casually walked into the dining hall, Alex cornered her and started firing accusations loud enough for the entire campus to hear. Tobin's mouth opened, her eyes wide as Alex's finger continuously jabbed her in the shoulder. Alex spun in frustration when Tobin didn't respond and stomped out of the room.

"What did you do, Tobin?" Ali asked curiously as the woman returned to the table, as white as a sheet. 

Tobin shrugged, dreading the words that would cross her lips next. "I may have possibly told Servando to break up with Alex." 

The table went deadly silent, and even Hope and Carli who were sitting on the opposite side of the room could tell something was wrong. Hope maybe not so much, who was calmly sipping her coffee with some other girls that had been on the soccer team. Definitely Carli though, who seemed to be shaking and pale. An untouched plate of breakfast sat in front of her. 

Allie broke the ice first, her voice low and quiet. "You did what?" 

Tobin didn't respond, looking around the table awkwardly. Kelley and Ali got up from the table and rushed outside the hall, presumably to find Alex and comfort her. Tobin's eyes followed them out of sight and then she answered, "You heard me..." 

"Why, Tobin? Why would you do that?" Mallory asked, looking around curiously. The girl never had the chance to experience this much drama when she hung out with Rae and her other freshmen friends. She was obviously enjoying the tension to some extent.

"Mal, stay out of this," Allie ordered, her eyes demanding her into submission. The girl recoiled into her chair and stopped talking. Allie turned her anger back towards her best friend and glared at her. "You, Tobin, are a fucking idiot." 

Tobin rolled her eyes. "Puh-lease. You know what this is about..." 

Allie's eyes narrowed. "No, I don't. Tell me." 

"Alex loves someone else, obviously. Don't you see the way that Alex and Ke-" Tobin strayed off mid sentence. The midfielder's eyes widened as she realized who she was talking to. 

"Alex and who?" Allie asked, pursing her lips.

"Nobody," Tobin said, standing up from her chair and moving to sit with Hope. The goalkeeper nodded at her in acknowledgement and gulped her coffee quietly.