Monica burst through the doors to Alaric's office. "Morning Ric, Landon." She greeted, with a smirk on her lips. "Dr Saltzman." Alaric corrected her, as he wore an unamused look.

"Where's MG?" Landon asked nervously, as he felt unnerved around Monica. "Milton dearest is sleeping off a terrible hangover— which means I'm filling in for him today." Monica explained, a smirk on her lips. Landon just nodded sadly, not ready to leave the school.

"Your siblings are gonna be okay here. We'll look out for them." Monica decided, before she put her right hand on Landon's shoulder so she could look at the human in the eye and compel him. Monica's irises dilated and contracted as she attempted to take Landon's memories.

"Now, all you gotta do is go home. Forget everything that you've seen or learned in the past two days. All you need to know is that your friends have found a home where he can live a better life." Monica compelled the boy. Landon blinked as the compulsion seemingly kicked in.

❤︎

At the front of the school, wearing the Salvatore uniform were the Waithe twins. The pair stood with Landon, saying their goodbyes. Rafael and Ruby looked at Landon sadly. "Are you sure?" Rafael asked him, for the fourth time. "Yeah, it's not to late for us to come along with you." Ruby added.

"I'll be fine. I promise." Landon responded to the twins, who still seemed reluctant. The Kirby reached out to bring them in for a hug, which they quickly returned. The trio hugged for a moment before Landon let go, setting off with his backpack as the twins sadly watched.

❤︎

After some time, Ruby found herself standing outside Rafael's dorm, waiting for him to answer as she'd just knocked. "Come in!" Rafael's voice could be heard from inside.

The pink haired girl entered the dorm, closing the door behind her before she faced the taller Waithe. "Hey Rafi." Ruby greeted, as she found her twin seated on his bed, looking glum. "Hey Ru." Rafael responded, turning to face his sister.

"Rafi... I feel like I should have gone with Landon. I was so determined to stay by your side, because we always stay together... but now Landon is out there all alone and I feel terrible." Ruby sighed, rambling her worries. "I know. I feel like shit, thinking about it. I miss him already. The three of us were supposed to stick together." Rafael responded, feeling just as disappointed.

Ruby walked over and plonked herself on the end of Rafael's bed. She then faced him, with a sympathetic look on her face. "Then we go and find him, Rafi. Two werewolves, side by side. We won't stop until we find our lost brother." Ruby suggested as Rafael had a confused expression on his face.

"What do you mean two werewolves?" Rafael asked, as Ruby couldn't help but to smile. "I did some tests yesterday.. it came back positive that I have the werewolf gene, but it is dormant."

❤︎

Alaric stood behind the podium, ready to update the students on what had just happened. "For ten years, we've gone undetected. Protecting you, protecting our secret, has been our singular mission. Tonight, I need your help to find Landon Kirby... before he exposes us all."

The students began to chatter amongst themselves regarding this news. Ruby and Rafael glanced at eachother, frowning as though they didn't know what to believe. Monica and Hope both stood towards the back, both with their arms crossed, as they faced Alaric. Hope wanted revenge.

Once the assembly was dismissed, Josie was walking through the courtyard when Ruby saw her and made a beeline for the ravenette Saltzman. "Josie!" Ruby called out to her. Josie heard the Waithe's voice and scowled, as she continued to walk. "I'm not talking to you, Ruby."

"Hold on!" Ruby pleaded, as Josie finally stopped walking allowing the pinkette to catch up. "I'm sorry about what happened with Penelope. I didn't know she was your ex." Ruby blurted out, all in one breath. Josie looked as though she was about to burst into tears as she asked, "Why does everyone find her so special?"

"I had no intention of hurting you... I promise. She came onto me and I didn't kiss her back." Ruby replied, truthfully. "I really enjoyed your company Jo.. and I want to be your friend. Please don't hate me." Ruby pleaded, as she looked at Josie with sympathy.

Josie noticed the girl was also on the verge of tears, and felt guilty. "I don't hate you, Ruby. I hate her." Josie confessed, before she moved to embraced the girl. Ruby hugged Josie back, before pulling away. "I gotta go find Hope... but I'll see you later Jo." Ruby spoke before she walked away.

Josie nodded, watching as Ruby walked away. Very quickly the Saltzman was distracted by the sound of laughing nearby and began to scowl as she recognised that laugh as Penelope's.

She turned to see Penelope laughing hysterically in conversation with Monica. Tired of how Penelope has been making her feel, she held up her hand, and casted a spell. "Igno lucen."

Suddenly, Penelope's jacket sleeve caught on fire, and she began to scream for help as she tried to snuff out the flames. Monica's eyes widened, and she vamp sped away.

"Ahhh! Ahhh! Put it out!" Penelope shrieked, as Monica reappeared, with a bucket of water she'd nabbed from the school kitchen. She drenched the girl's arm, putting out the fire. "Pen, are you okay?" The vampire asked, genuinely sounding worried. "I am now, thank you Mon." Penelope said, letting out a relieved voice.

"Of course." Monica replied, before her eyes scanned the area, landing on Josie. Josie locked eyes with the vampire, before she turned to walk away. "What a little witch bitch." Monica thought to herself.

❤︎

Hope appeared in the doorway of Josie and Lizzie's dorm, with Ruby by her side. "We need your help." Hope spoke, as Josie scoffed, "Three words more than your annual average. Find someone else."

Hope ignored this dismissal and walked into the room, dragging Ruby with her. The Waithe shut the door behind her so they could continue to talk to Josie privately. Josie was seated on her bed with a book, barely even looking at Hope as she stood in front of her.

"This stuff with Landon is my fault. I can fix it. I know how to track him, but it involves using dark magic..." Hope explained to Josie. "Well, we're not allowed to use dark magic here, so..." Josie dismissed the tribrid again.

Hope's smirked at Josie, "Says the girl who just lit her ex on fire." She admitted, catching Josie's attention now. The witch then deadpanned Ruby, "Did you tell her?" She asked sternly.

Ruby held her hands up awkwardly, "I was so shook, I had to tell someone." She admitted guilty, as Josie sighed to herself. "Are you blackmailing me?" She then asked Hope. "No! I'm just... looking for a kindred spirit in revenge." Hope answered. Ruby looked between the pair, "I don't know Hope... kinda seems like blackmail."

Josie turned to Ruby, "And why are you here?" She asked curiously. "I want to find out where Landon is. I need to know that he is safe." Ruby explained, trying not to allude that herself and Rafael were planning to leave and find him.

Josie reluctantly found herself on the floor moments later, deciding to do the spell with Hope. Josie struck a match and began to light candles while Hope reached into a cardboard box and pulled out a rat. She looked at the creature with a guilty expression. "Sorry..." The Mikealson whispered to the rat, before she squeezed the rat in both hands and snapped its spine, killing it.

Ruby's eyes widened, before she covered her mouth in surprise. Once the preparation was complete, Josie asked "Are you sure about this?" To which Hope nodded, "Absolutely."

Both girls crossed their wrists and grab each others' hands, with Josie siphoning some magic from Hope before they began to chant. "Inveniet hostium et tenebrae. Inveniet hostium et tenebrae. Inveniet hostium et tenebrae." They spoke in unison.

Both girls had their eyes closed and were trying to make sense of the scene they were seeing as wind started to blow papers around the dorm room. Ruby flinched, looking at the papers before she looked back at the girls.

"Do you see anything?" Josie asked. "Just flashes." Hope answered. "I got it. Route 29." The tribrid suddenly said, as she had seen flashes of Landon on a bus, and passing a sign that said Route 29.

"Near the state line." Hope added, as the vision showed Landon pulling the knife out of his jacket pocket and looking at it. "Is that the knife?" Josie asked. "Yeah."

The knife's blade began to glow bright red, as though it was sensing their spell, and Landon looked confused as he squeezeed his eyes closed to avoid being blinded by the knife's light.

"What's it doing?" Josie gasped. "I have no idea." Hope answered, seeming nervous. Ruby tapped her nails on the floorboard as she looked at the witches, "Guys, what is happening?" She asked, feeling really nervous by what they were saying.

❤︎

The next day Alaric, Monica and Hope met up with Matt Donovan, the Sheriff, as they found the bus Landon had been on, though it had exploded. "Called in a favor with a buddy at State Patrol, asked him to lock down the scene 'til we got here. Local PD thinks it was a chemical spill." Matt explained to the group as they examined the scene.

Hope, Monica and Alaric looked horrified by the sight of the bus. "What's the actual story?" Alaric asked. Matt's face took on a grim expression, "I'll leave that to you to figure out."

Alaric nodded, "All right. Thanks, Sheriff." He decided before he and the girls walked toward the bus, heading up the stairs to see what was inside. Monica's eyes widened at the sight before her.

Every person on the bus, from the driver to those seated in the very back, had all been burned so badly they resembled mummified corpses. The only rider not present was Landon... he was nowhere to be found.

Monica has seen some awful things in her life, but even she was absolutely shocked by this. Hope clenched her jaw with hatred in her eyes.