to whom it may concern

I sit in my mom's classroom as she sorts throw a pile of letters Dr. Saltzman gave her. Eleanor, who was still here, pouted as she tossed another letter down. "If I knew joining your school would be this much of a bore, I would have never came back after a millennia of running." Eleanor groaned.

Mom huffed, "Sorry, sister, but now that many of our teachers are gone, we are on a tight budget." She said, "I already told Alaric you and I would work without the paychecks, but that will only help so much." I crossed my arms as I looked around my moms classroom. If you had told me before that my mom would permanently reside in the Salvatore School I wouldn't have believed you. I also wouldn't have believed you if you told me she'd be a teacher, and her sister would join the staff as well. After further consideration and glancing at Eleanor's records, she had been staffed as a Chemistry of Magic teacher.

Eleanor huffed under her breath, leaning over the desk again. "I hate school." She muttered. Mom glanced at me, leaning on her desk.

"Anna, have you talked to Josie as of recent? I heard today's going to be her first day at the muggle school." She hummed, smiling at me.

I rose a brow, "Why would I talk to the girl who cheated on me four times?" I asked bluntly, annoyed. Eleanor snorted, and mom threw a pencil at her.

Mom shrugged, "Well, I just wanted to know because you two were so awfully close, and I thought maybe you two would have became friends by now, at least." I sighed, standing up from the table.

"Things change, Mom. People change." I retort, walking out of her classroom.

♚

Lizzie stuttered nervously as she looked at the students, Hope doing horrible at helping. The doors at the top of the stairs swing open, and I, of course, walk in. "The fun is here!" I call out, waving my arms out.

"Oh thank god." Lizzie groans out. "Everyone, this is-"

"Anastasia Mikaelson-King, daughter of the infamous Nicklaus Mikaelson and the overwhelming Ophelia King." I retort, walking down the steps. "First fully activated tribrid, try not to freak out." I wink at the classmates as I walk by them. With a swing of my hands, music begins to play as lights begin to change colors,  "Welcome to the Salvatore school. Are you ready for the tour?"

After some time, Lizzie and I walked through the school, the students trailing behind us. "The house was rebuilt sometime after the Civil War." I explain.

"The actual Civil War, not like the stuff." Lizzie continued to talk as I turned to Hope. I watched as she stared down a hallway. I pursed my lips, knowing she was lost in thought about Landon. I understood her pain, how hard it must be to lose someone you love without really being able to say goodbye.

I don't really know how I'd feel if that happened to Josie-

Sighing, I look around as the lights begin to flicker. I rush over, grabbing my sisters shoulder. "Hope."

The lights stop, and Hope looks over to me. "Sorry." She mutters. Lizzie walks over with the students, pursing her lips into a fake smile.

"Right this way to the Great Room." She said. Students walked ahead of us, "What was that? Do you have to have another one of your yelling in the woods moments?"

"It's nothing. I'm fine." Hope muttered, crossing her arms over her chest. Lizzie glanced at me, unsure. I shrugged, not really sure what to say myself.

Lizzie walked into the room. "As I was saying, the Great Room is where all the fun stuff happens."

I looked around, seeing the rather empty, bare main room. I walk to Lizzie's side, waving my hands. With Clarke's ring from a few months ago, I create an illusion "You have to picture it with the fireplace on." The students glance at the fireplace in awe, "The other students that pass through on their way to class." The illusion causes Lizzie to look at me, impressed.

" And, uh, witches on the ceiling." The Saltzman adds. I smile, adding the small illusion aswell. The kids look around with intrigue until the illusion fades.

A boy in the back scoffs. "Let's go. This is tragic."

Hope speaks up. "Don't go yet. The other students should be here any minute."

The door suddenly opens, in walking Kaleb, MG, Jed, and Wade. "Perfect timing. Here they are. Meet the Salvatore Stallions." I look behind them, expecting more students to trail in.

However, nobody does.

I cross my arms over my chest, confused. "Where's everybody else?" I ask.

"This is everybody else." MG answers, causing me to pale in shock.

Kaleb shrugged. "None of the other students came back."I purse my lips, looking at Lizzie with a fake and worried smile. This just got worse, I realize. A whole lot worse.

♚

My mom walks into the Great Room, looking at Alaric and the rest of us weirdly, Eleanor by her side. "What's going on?" Mom inquired, looking at the group behind us.

"Oh, they're watching us, so let's just pretend that everything's fine." Alaric said through his teeth. All of us slowly turned, giving them all not so reassuring smiles.

Eleanor raises a hand, confused. "Where are all the other students? There were many when I came here." She explained bluntly.

"None were at the pick-up spot." Said Kaleb. "Must've been some kind of miscommunication."

"Yeah, they're not coming back." Alaric mumbled. Everyone's fake smiles faded as they looked at him. "I received a letter from a group of concerned parents." He explained. Apparently, enlisting the whole school in a battle royale against the Necromancer was the last straw. So they no longer feel it's safe here and they're transferring to other schools."

My mom rose a brow, "And, pray tell, how long has that letter been sitting on your desk?" She asked.

Alaric looked at my mom nervously. "That's not important."

"What about the faculty?"

"Well, without those tuition checks coming in, we can't afford all the teachers." Alaric explained to Kaleb. "So one problem at a time. I will handle the parents." He pointed at us. "Meanwhile, this tour, needs to work out."

"I'll come with you, since you clearly need the help." Lizzie said, slowly trailing away.

Mom grabs my arm. "My daughter and I actually, have a plan." She says awkwardly.

I look up, "We do?" I frown.

"Yep! Come on, Anastasia." She chimed as she pulled me away quickly, leaving Kaleb, Hope, and MG.

"Mom, what's our plan?" I ask, confused.

Mom sighs, turning to me slowly. "I don't have one." She confesses. "I actually just wanted to get you away so I could explain a theory of mine." She said, walking past me as she drags me to her room.

I sit on my moms bed as she paces the floor. "Okay, what's your theory?" I ask. I noticed my moms nervous movements. Something was wrong, or, maybe the opposite.

"Would you believe me if I stated I think your bird friend is alive?"

My breath catches in my throat as I turn to my mom, narrowing my eyes. "Why would you say something like that?" I ask.

Mom pursed her lips into a thin line in thought. "I'm not sure." She says finally. She turned her head to me, "Something just, tells me, Anna. And I think theres a way we can find out." I raise my brows in surprise.

"How!?" I ask.

Mom frowns, moving away from me. "When Malivore was created, a witch, a vampire, and a werewolf combined their blood to create such a creature." She explained. "Ever since Eleanor came to the school, I've wondered what was so different about her." She searches through the closet. "I think your aunt was the vampire in the spell."

I look at my mom in disbelief. "But wouldn't she remember doing it?" I asked in confusion.

"Not if they used a memory spell. Or, even worse, they were eaten by Malivore." Mom said. She pulled out a large grimoire. "This was your grandmothers, from over a thousand years ago. It contains spells I made sure to keep hidden from the world." Mom flipped open the pages, "Including a spell to travel to places beyond our minds expectations. Like a boy trapped in a prison world, or Malivore."

I frown in confusion. "What?" I ask in disbelief.

"You won't be able to stay forever, but long enough that you can find out if Landon is in fact alive and able to be saved." She told me with a hopeful smile. "I don't know how long you'll be gone, but we have to keep this from Hope."

Looking down at the book, I study the page. I could find Landon, my best friend. What if he wasn't dead? What if my moms crazy intuition was right? What if I could bring him back? What if, finally, I could be the hero?

"I'll do it."

♚

"Excuse me, aren't you supposed to.-"

"There will be no singing." Snaps the Necromancer. "Get out!" Landon Kirby watches the blond girl stumble out quickly. "Sorry about that. Constant stream of human debris in here."

The door swings open, and in walks-

Well, me.

I look up, my hair disheveled and a cut healing on my cheek. "Nobody told me how vicious centaurs are." I grumble.

Landon stands up from the wall, "Annie," I look up at him. He was here. He was real. Smiling, I sigh in relief. Landon wraps his arms around me, practically lifting me off my feet. I clutch on tightly, afraid if I let go he'll disappear. He pulls me away, looking be up and down. "What are you doing here? And how did you fight a monster in heels?"

I laugh, hugging him again. "For once my crazy mother was right," I say, burying my head in his chest. I pull away slowly, looking over at the Necromancer.

"How exactly did you get here, young tribrid?" Necromancer asked me. I look over at Landon, then the Necromancer.

"Funny story, actually, but my mom and I realized if Landon was anywhere, it'd be in Malivore. As, according to my sister, he melted." I look at Landon with a confused look. "Anyways, my mom and I did this spell that basically, um, killed me."

Landon's jaw drops. "Wait, you're dead?"

"Not forever!" I point out, waving him off. "I can technically go back whenever I want." I look back at the Necromancer, "But I needed to find Landon first." Glancing back at Landon, I give him a soft smile.

Landon looks down at me, "I have something." He reaches into his pocket, pulling out Hope's Mikaelson necklace. I reach up to take it, but Landon pauses, "You don't have pockets. Let me," I look down slowly, before spinning around slowly. Landon's hand grazes the back of my neck as he shifts all of my hair to one side. I gather it all together, watching Landon place the metal chain around my neck. His calloused fingers fiddle with the chain. "I forgot I broke it."

I pause his movements, turning back around to face him. The two of us look down at the broken chain. "Refectio."The two of us watch as the necklace fixes itself. Landon pulls away, letting the pendant fall past my collar bone. I look up at Landon, before away quickly. I look around the ice cream shop. "So, what is this place?" I inquire. Landon clears his throat, stepping back into the spot he was in before.

"Well, it's my own personal hell." Necromancer answered. "When your sister and bird brains left us in the prison world, Malivore consumed me." I hum surprised. "Then he built this place to torture me, forcing me to serve the humans and creatures stuck in here."

"Why ice cream?" Landon asked, standing next to me.

Necromancer looked up at us, "It's a long story." He muttered. I looked over at Landon again, raising a brow.

Landon shrugged, "Well, if you hate it, why not just break out?" He asked, leaning on the candy dispenser.

"Brilliant! Why didn't I think of that?" Necromancer threw his arms up, showing the two of us his hands chained to the ground."They're enchanted shackles. I can't get them off. I finally found a passing sphinx who was able to read the inscription on the sides." I walk closer, looking down at them. "Apparently, they're spelled to only come off if you do the thing you would never do." He laughs to himself more than Landon and I. "The only thing I can look forward to in this wretched existence is getting the latest gossip from customers." The Necromancer pauses, "Speaking of which, why'd your little Tribrid girlfriend leave you to wander here all alone?" Landon looks down, and Necromancer gasps. "Don't tell me you broke up."

"She didn't leave me. We both escaped to the real world and then...something happened, and I got sent here."

Necromancer hums. "And now you're stuck with no way home."

"Not for long." Landon said, "Hope will find a way to get me back."

Necromancer hummed. "Strange she hasn't done it already, though, isn't it? And yet, here is young Anastasia." Landon looked over at me. "Of course, time moves differently in here. What feels like days in here is probably months out there in the real world." Landon looks down in annoyance. "I mean, she might've already moved on. Are you sure she wants you back?"

Before I can say anything, Landon speaks up. "I don't even know why I'm talking to you. As far as I'm concerned, you deserve to rot in here forever." Landon pushes by, walking towards the door.

"So, if, hypothetically speaking, I knew a way out of Malivore, you wouldn't be interested?" Landon looked back at me. The two of us turned, lookin at Necromancer. "Malivore left me with this, too." He fiddled with the key. "The sphinx said it's a key to a door out of the darkness. Location unknown. Oh, and why would Malivore leave me a way out, you ask? Simple." He furrows his brow. "He likes to torture me with something just out of reach. I can't go and find said door because I'm stuck in here." Necromancer leaned on the counter. "You help me out of these shackles, and I'll find us a way home. What do you say, old-fashioned team-up?"

♚

I sat on the counter, eating an ice cream cone as Landon looked at a notebook. "Have you ever fought in a war?" He asked.

"Done it."

"Betrayed a friend?"

"Please."

I spoke up, "Have you fallen in love?" I asked, licking the ice cream.

Necromancer groaned, "Done it." I rose a brow, wondering who he could have fallen in love with. Maybe I didn't want to know the answer, I thought.

Landon rose a brow. "And then murdered them?"

"Of course." Landon and I sigh in annoyance. The Necromancer chuckled. :Now you see my dilemma. There's nothing I wouldn't do." He says to us both. "You've got to hand it to Malivore. He knows where to stick the knife." Suddenly, everything begins to get dark. "Another way he punishes me. The illusion of time passing. We're only open from 8 to 5 technically."

I shrug, confused. "Isn't that better?

"No, don't you see?" Landon and I shake our heads at the Necromancer. "I spend all night dreading the next day. Knowing that this wretched cycle is doomed to begin all over again." Landon and I look at each other, eating our snacks at the same time. "Malivore knows it's the anticipation that gets you. Everything in here is psychological torture." We watch him break a paper ice cream cone. "The freezer's always locked! He's trying to drive me insane!"

Landon looked at me in thought. I shrugged, unsure what he was looking at. "Or not." I frowned as Landon slowly walked by. "You remember what he said about when he made you human last time? He was trying to teach you a lesson."

"And what lesson would this be?" Necromancer asked in annoyance. "Never work in food service?"

Landon looked at me. "The customer's always right." He said, the two of us making eye contact. I smiled softly as he looked back at the Necromacer. He shook the tip jar. "He wants you to humiliate yourself in front of the human debris."

"Well, he can forget it. Because singing that asinine song is something I'll-" Necomance stopped, groaning. I smiled at his realization. "Never do."

"What's worse torture than hiding something in plain sight?" Landon asked.

Necomancer whined, not wanting to sing. I stand up from the counter. "Come on, you want to be free or not?" I asked him.

Necromancer glared at me for a long moment. "If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands." I sheepishly clapped my hands. Landon clicked his tongue.

"Oh, I think it has to be louder." Landon followed, causing me to giggle.

"If you're happy and you know it, then your face will surely show it. If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands." Necromancer clapped his hands together slowly, and I watched as the chains quickly fell off. He hummed, "Oh. You wonderful kids." He beamed, walking over. Suddenly, he grabs me, snapping my neck.

Rude, much.

♚

I groaned, cracking my neck as I woke up. "Wakey, wakey." I turned my head, seeing an unconscious Landon. He began to stir, looking at me. I looked at the Necromancer in front of us, who had just finished with the chains he attached to him and Landon."By the way, I lied about our little deal. The mythical door out of Malivore only lets one person through. We couldn't have both used it to get out."

"Then why are you chaining us together?" Landon asked.

"Because I'm not looking for the door." Necromancer began. He stood up, Landon and I looking up at him in confusion. "Malivore wants to torture me by giving me a key and having me search endlessly in the dark for some escape hatch that's probably not even there? Pass." He scoffed, "It probably only leads to the prison world where Malivore's body's trapped anyway. Besides, I have a better escape plan." Necromancer pointed at Landon and I. "You two."

"Us?" Landon inquired. "I can't escape this place."

Necromancer bursted out laughing, "Oh, dear boy!" He chuckled lowly. "No one would ever think you could escape by yourself." I looked at Landon, furrowing my brow.  But you were right about Hope. And I've seen her mind, and Anastasia's." Landon glanced over at me, and I didn't say a word. "They are their father's daughter. They'll cross every line to save what she loves. They'll do whatever it takes, unlike," He trailed off, looking at the Kirby. "You, who just, waits to be saved."

I growl, kicking his ankle. Necromancer shouts in pain as I stand up, narrowing my eyes. "Don't talk about him like that." I snap. "Landon has been through just as many horrible things as any of us. He is kind. He tries his best. He will go to the ends to help any of us." I look down at Landon, who just stared back at me. "He's my best friend." I turned to the Necromancer. "And you don't get to say a word when you don't know him like I do." I snipped. Necromancer smirked at me, waving his fingers.

"I was wondering why you came here. With no Hope, no Josie, nothing." He paused, looking at me. "Oh, I forgot, you and little witch broke up, didn't you?" My jaw clenched as he awed, "Well, if it makes you feel better, I know you're practically useless here. Since you're really not here. Not like he and I, anyways." Necromancer's nail grazed my cheek, "But maybe you'll be gracious enough to help your sweet sweet mortal best friend out, with me along the ride." I said nothing as I glared him down. Necromancer tisked, pulling Landon to his feet. "Come on."

It felt like forever the three of us sat outside the door of the ice cream shop. Necromancer, waiting for Hope. Landon, waiting for the Necromancer. And me, too stubborn to help the Necromancer. "So, this is your big plan? Just wait for Hope to show up?" Landon asked in annoyance.

"Do you have somewhere to be?" Necromancer asked. "It's infinite darkness. I'm not wasting my energy looking for some mythical door that's probably not even there." Necromancer muttered. I rolled my eyes, crossing my arms. "Plus, isn't waiting to be saved what you were doing when you found me?"

Landon sat down, and I paced the floor in thought. "Is there any inscription or anything on the key? Like, with the shackles?" He asked. I looked over at the Necromancer.

"Just a few words about a snowstorm, or something."

I shrugged, "Well, maybe the words are a riddle or a clue."

Landon nodded, "What exactly does it say?" He asked.

Necromancer took the key off, "Knock yourself out. Literally. I liked you better when you were unconscious." He handed Landon the key, the two of us looking it over as he laid back down.

"Blizzard Breeze?" I asked. The name wasn't really familiar to me.

"I remember that name from working at the Grill." Landon told me. Necromancer sat up, :Yeah, they're a company. They make appliances, like refrigerators and coolers and,"

"Freezers." The three of us said in thought. Landon and the Necromancer looked at each other, then at me, then the door. Landon broke into a sprint. "Wait, no!" Necromancer pulled Landon to the ground. He took the key, beginning to run off. Landon grabbed him by the ankle, causing him to fall. I watched the two fight as I slowly walked over, picking up the key myself.

I waited for the two to fight, crawling on top of one another as they tried to get closer to me and the key. There was little to no progress. Impatient, and annoyed, I quickly walked over and grab the two by the back of their shirts. With a quick throw, they fly through the door of the ice cream shop. I walk through the now broken door, sighing. "Can we hurry up? I'm bored."

Necromancer looked at me with an annoyed stare. He crawled to his feet, kicking Landon out of the way before punching me. My head snaps back, but I use magic to send him into the wall. He grunts, and I speed over, my hand around his neck. "If you're happy, and you know it, clap your hands." I frown in confusion as to why he's even singing, when suddenly the chain is around my wrist. I look over at Landon, who's still in pain. I rush to his aid, the Necromancer unlocking the freezer.

"You were right." Landon and I turn to look at him. "Malivore hid it in plain sight, the cheeky bastard." Landon and I made eye contact, forming a quick plan. We rush forward, wrapping the chain around the Necromancer and pulling him backwards. Landon pushes me backwards on accident, falling on top of Necromancer. I watch as Landon loses control, punching the Necromancer, over and over again.

"Landon, stop!" I plead, watching his hands become bloody. I couldn't tell if it was his own or the Necromancer's.

Landon stumbled back, looking down in horror. The chain snapped off his wrist, and he looked at me with wide eyes. "You have to get them off." He told me.

I shook my head, "I don't know how. There's not much I wouldn't do." I said slowly. Landon looked at me with a startled look. We had to figure something out, and quick. I'd kill someone, thats for sure. I've done it. That was the worst thing I could do.

"Um, would you kiss the Necromancer?"

I scrunched my nose in disgust. "I wouldn't even kiss you. Never-" Landon and I looked at each other in realization. "Oh, gross!"

"We have to get out of here, Annie. Just quick, and we'll never talk about it again." I could hear the desperation in his voice. He wanted out of here just as much as I wanted him out.

Sighing, I step forward. "Never speak of this." I whisper before taking his face in my hands, pulling him into a kiss. It was cold, probably from the freezer. But his lips were soft and, thankfully, not as horrible as it was when I kissed Jed when we were younger. I pulled away when I heard the chains falling to the ground. I sighed in relief, looking up at Landon. A memory grazed my brain, something that didn't happen, but it felt like it did.

"You know, this is what I like about you." He says.

I furrow my brows in confusion. "What?"

"You're so...different. I mean, you're not stuck up like your friends. And you're not wearing a tight sparkly dress to look older than you are. You came to homecoming with a loser, despite who your friends are-"

"Maybe because real friends care more about someone's happiness." I say softly. I watch Lizzie and Josie walk in, bickering away. I frown, realizing I'm sacrificing my family, my life for Lizzies happiness. I purse my lips, turning back to Landon. "I never thought that you and I would ever be...this close." I admit.

Landon smiles. "Me either. But I'm glad we are." Before I can answer, Landon's lips are on mine. To say the least, I'm shocked, slightly disgusted, and terrified. Real Hope would kill
me right now.

Blinking out of it, I look at Landon, the real Landon. Not whatever...that was. "Let's get out of here." Landon said to me. I nodded, the two of us looking into what seemed to be a never ending pit of a freezer.

And we jumped.

♚

"To whom it may concern.

My name is Landon Kirby, and if you found this note, you're the second person in the universe who knows I'm alive. After Anastasia Mikaelson, who found me.

We've been trapped in an alternate dimension for what feels like forever, and I have no idea how to get out. Anastasia's only here from a spell, and can leave at any moment. I'm a normal human without magic or powers, or an ingenious plan. My girlfriend Hope was always the one I could count on for those. So unless she figures out some way to save me, there's a pretty good chance I'm never getting home.

But that doesn't mean I'm going to stop trying.

Somewhere in this prison world is a way back, and I'm not waiting around for someone else to find me. I will get myself home, no matter what it takes."

I looked at Landon with an impressed look. "You're hopeful."

"I have you by my side, don't I?"

I shrug at him, smiling softly. "Until I go back home." I said. A wave of sadness overcomes me, and I look down. Landon was stuck here, and at some point I'd have to go back to tell the others he was alive.

Landon hugged me tightly, letting me burry my face in his chest for comfort. He ran his hand through my hair. The two of us knew a he'd have to be out here alone, and that was my worst fear. "You'll find me again, Annie, you always do."

Sniffling, I pull away, putting my hands on his shoulders. "I know, but I'm not going to leave you until I have to." I said. Landon smiled as I linked my arm with his. We walked down the path, letting the prison world do it's thing as we spoke. "So, where to next?"

"Well, I was thinking getting some milkshakes, if the Mystic Grill is still standing." Landon hummed.

"Oh, now that sounds delicious." I counter, smiling up at him. I fiddle with Hope's pendant as we spoke, wondering exactly how I'm going to bring it back home.

The two of us walk side by side. Best friends, always and forever.