❝I felt the darkness as it tried to pull me down❞
•

I groaned heavily as my phone rang beneath me and a headache started to form. I sit up slowly, realizing I'm still in last night's outfit and that I passed out. Now I'm trying to figure out how I got home..

I scoot myself off my bed and reached for my phone, which was warm from my body heat, and lift it to my ear after seeing it was Caroline, "Hello?" My voice was scratchy and dry, causing me to cringe visibly.

"Hey, how you feeling?" She asked me as a stood from my bed, placing my phone between my ear and shoulder, shrugging off my dress. Well, Klaus's dress. I bend down, taking the dress, and walk towards my closet, grabbing a hanger and putting the dress on it.

"I'm okay. I feel better." I lied easily, clearing my throat from the lump in my throat. I feel terrible. All I remember is going to the preserve and having guns pointed at me. And I feel that everyone knows now what I am. "What's up?"

"Well, I want you to meet me at the school, so you can take your mind of everything and help me clean up." I groaned, processing her words, "Come on, please. Maybe after we could hang out at Elena's or something and you can invite Dylan."

I huffed, "Okay. Just let me take a shower find something nice to wear." She agreed before hanging up, leaving me in the silence of my own room. I tossed my phone on my bed, before grabbing my towel and going into the bathroom to take a shower.

I have to admit, it's been one hell of a week. I deserve this shower.

When I get out, I pick out a peach floral dress and grey combat boots with a grey sweater to match. I let out a sigh as I grabbed my phone and keys before making my way downstairs to my car. I wanted to go back in my comfortable bed, wait until Klaus and his demon family was out of our lives completely. I knew it wouldn't happen since I'm convinced that Klaus does have feelings for me.

I get into my car, driving off towards the school, which wasn't far. When I make it, I turn on my engine and take out my keys, seeing Caroline leaning against her car. I walk up to her and she looks up, a small smile on her face.

"Hey, Tyler was supposed to be here, but he just called and said that Klaus needs him." She said, a small frown on her face. She never talked much about her relationship with Tyler, especially since he left to change his way. Tyler does mention how he's happy with her and I'm proud of that, it just seems he doesn't enjoy when Klaus is near me, which makes me think Klaus is only doing all this to spite Tyler.

I nodded my head, wishing Klaus was gone and I could be happy with Dylan, because he's really leaving me conflicted and it's frustrating.

Sexually. Like it's tempting, but so wrong when you think about the guy Klaus is. But in all honesty, it just puts me further into the dark side of Klaus.

We walk towards the gym and I listen to her give a recap of last night, of how Alaric willingly died, which broke my heart. When I figured out he would die in the near future, I didn't think it would be in a cemetery. My dream of his death was a place with a coffin and a bunch of storage lockers. I can't deal with all this death. That's why I didn't return calls or messages; because I can't take it. I cried about George O'Malley, from Grey's Anatomy, dying for a week. It's still an emotional topic.

"I thought you said Matt would be here to help." I spoke, confused when we walked into the gym only to see Rebekah cleaning up. She was placing empty plastic glasses into the recycling bin. Caroline mentioned how Esther took over Rebekah's body, which made sense as to why I didn't see her at the dance.

"He bailed. Got called into work last minute." Rebekah sighed, tossing another piece of trash into the bin. Caroline made a frustrating sigh, looking at me sympathetically. She knows this isn't how I wanted to spend my day. "You're late. Clean up committee started at eight o'clock."

"But it's 8:02." I state and she sent a glare my way, like I'm the one that pretended to be dying, but actually switched bodies.

"Why are you here anyways?" She asked me and I scoff.

"Why, is Barbie Klaus mad because this is the second dance she didn't attend?" I cooed, playfully, ignoring the daggers she shot at me. She was easy to taunt no matter how old she is. She's still naive.

"I'm here cleaning up a dance that I organized, but didn't attend, so pretty much." She snarled, "You may be Klaus's little toy, but trust me, I can still tear you limb from limb."

"Try me. I would love to see you try, but fail." I dared, stepping close, but Caroline held me back.

"Can we just clean up?" Caroline interjects and we turn our attention to her, nodding slightly. Rebekah never scared me. Klaus maybe, especially because he holds all my friend's lives in his hands. With a scowl, she picked up more trash from the tables, "I'm sorry about your mom."

After a few moments of silence, Rebekah nods, "And I'm sorry about your teacher. He seemed like a nice guy." She looks at us both with sympathy as she dumped the bin into a bigger garbage and I am only able to suppress my lips into forming into a thin line. I couldn't trust no original. Not even Elijah after all his doing in this. "I'm going to get started on the gym."

She soon walks away, leaving Caroline and I to the rest of the decorations, which I groaned at. I pick up a balloon that was on the ground, frowning involuntarily, "This is supposed to be a distraction, Care?" I asked, but when I heard no response, I turned around to see she was gone. "Caroline?"

I heard slamming, which made me run out the cafeteria and see Ric against the locker with a stake in him. "Alaric!" I run to him, but he pulls the stake out himself, standing upright. I look at him confused, thinking of how Caroline told me he was dead. "I thought you died."

"I did." And before I got to respond, I was thrown against the lockers with a forceful backhand hit, making me groan in pain. He walked up to me, grabbing me by hair and hitting me against the lockers again, making my vision become blurry.

•
•

My eyes felt scratchy as I opened them, feeling my body forced down. I look up from the desk and to Alaric who east in front of me. I grunt as I tried to sit up, but I let out a cry as I saw a knife jabbed into my right shoulder and thigh.

"Had to keep you restrained with your own weapons." He spoke, making me shiver. This isn't the Ric I knew.

"What are you going to do to me, Ric?"

"Well, lately, I did a lot of observing and I realized how everyone would come running to save you like they do with Elena, because your human. And I know Klaus would be first in line when it comes to you." He said, a defiant smirk played on his lips.

"He's not going to risk his life for me. He's leaving town." I breath out, beginning to feel lightheaded. "Just let me go, Ric."

"You shouldn't have associated with vampires. You wouldn't be here if you didn't." And that was true, I had to admit. I would be happy and cheerful. Not in a chair, tied against my will, bleeding to death. "And Klaus wouldn't mind making a pit stop anyways for you."

"I'm going to bleed out." I whimpered, trying to get out, but it only made things worse as the knife in my shoulder dug further.

"Not if they come in time. Elena is on her way and I know Damon and Stefan would come, trailing behind her." He smiled, standing up from his desk chair and walked towards the front of his desk, "Right on time."

I listen carefully and hear footsteps from afar, guessing it's Elena. I grunt out in pain when he leans forward and digs the knife further into my shoulder. I assumed Elena heard my cry and came running, seeing my tied to a chair.

"Rowan." She sighed, probably glad I'm still breathing. I'm glad too, despite I feel my breathing faltering. "Let her go, Alaric."

A few months ago, I would not regret watching the Notebook all over again. I would enjoy that emotional pain, than this physical pain that is excruciating.

"Free her yourself." He waved his hand over to me and she cautiously walked towards me, placing her hands on me face, looking at me sadly.

"Start with my leg. If you pull this out, I'll bleed out." I whimpered and she nodding, carefully pulling at the knife in my leg. It was almost out, when Alaric pushed her away and pushed in back down, making me tear up. "If you weren't some big bad vampire slayer and my friend, I would kill you." I seethed.

"What did you do that for?" Elena shouted, glaring him down. I taught her that!

"I don't get how you both can be friends with vampires!" He said, disgustedly, making me laugh dryly.

"If I do recall, you befriended one of the most terrible vampires, so I don't see your point here." I hissed, trying to ignore the numb feeling in my arm. "If I become paralyzed, you are so dead, Ric. More dead than you are now!"

"Look what they did to you, Rowan." He spoked, "You aren't like this freshman or sophomore year, right? You were living a happy normal life. Both of you. And I know you miss it, Rowan."

"Yeah, of course I do. I'm not into dying at my high school because my history teacher revived and is now a vampire killer." I huffed out, leaning my head against the chair.

"And how would you feel if you would turned?"

"Well, being a vampire banshee seems to have a ring to it, so." I halfheartedly shrugged, grimacing as I felt pain shot up my right side.

Alaric pulled out his phone and dialed a number, "Sit." He forced Elena and she complied before he put the phone to his bear, "Stefan. I have Elena and Rowan here at the school and if you ever want to seem them alive, Klaus needs to give himself in."

With that, he hung up, making me chuckle, "I enjoy how you'd think that will work. Klaus Mikaelson won't hand himself over on a platter. It's Klaus. He'd rather have others die than himself."

"You underestimate him." Ric stated, "He'd do anything for people he loves."

•
•

I let out another sob as he stabbed me by my collarbone, "Alaric stop." Elena commanded, about to stand up, but Ric pushed her back down.

"Do you prefer a hole drilled in her head like the rest of her kind?" He snapped and she stayed quiet instantly, "Now, shut up." He grabbed another knife in his hand and I held back my tears. "I want you to stab her in the heart."

"What? Ric-"

"Do it, or I will. You need to learn how to kill the supernatural or you'll just be as bad as them." He interrupted. My voice was to dry and pasty to speak. When I opened it to protest, nothing came out but a wheeze. Alaric grabbed Elena roughly and forced the blade into her hand, "Do it, Elena!"

I close my eyes, ready for the impact. Ready for things to end like this. I think of if I told my mom and sister that I loved them before this day, but I come empty handed, my thoughts not strong enough to hold onto. I didn't think this is how I would die. I thought I would die in a honorable manner, peacefully and no pain that makes me want to die already.

I wasn't supposed to die this way. But I guess, we all have to die one day. No one lives forever. Not even vampires.

When I felt nothing but blood dripping down to my fingertips, I peak through my eyes, seeing Elena trying to attack Ric. "I thought I taught you better than that." He sneered.

"You did." With that, she stabbed him roughly, before hitting him with the glass that sat at the desk. He yelled out in pain, so she took that as the time to untie my wrist and took the knife out my leg like I asked before. "Run and get help." If only I could. I stood up from the desk quickly and limped out the classroom as fast as I could, hoping Ric wouldn't follow me. I turned a corner and leaned against the wall, gripping the knife that was in my collarbone, before yanking it out.

I wasn't able to let out a scream because a hand clamped over my mouth, causing it to be muffled. "Shush." Klaus whispered, "Focus on me. And nothing else, okay?" I nodded my head weakly, staring up at him. I see he looked nervous and scared, but a little relief. As my eyes begin to droop, I feel the knife in my shoulder being pulled out. I cry into his hand, feeling my legs go weak beneath me, "Hey, stand up, sweetheart."

I try to stand up as I watch him bite into his wrist. I would be stubborn and resist, but I had a window that was open, so I wearily took his hand and drank from his wrist. It was an odd taste, but it was good. It was so indescribable, mostly.

"I want you to run to your car, drive home and stay there." He order, after I pushed his arm away. I stand up weakly, so he grabbed my shoulders gently, pulling my attention towards him although I've been focused on him since he danced with me at his family party. "Rowan, do you understand?"

His voice was serious, but concerned, which made me nod. I never seen him like this. Everyone was right I guess, even Alaric. "O-Okay. Thank you."

"Now go." He gave me a slight push, making me run. I ran to my car, no longer hurting and no longer in pain. I get into my car and quickly drive home.

I've officially learned not to let Caroline plan a distraction for me.

•
•

"They'll like you, Dylan." I coax when we walk up Elena's stairs. "Trust me."

"Okay." He said, and I was about to open the door, when he pulled me back, to kiss me. I wasn't sure how long it was, but I was on Cloud nine. When we pull apart, I see his cheeks bright pink. "Now we can go."

We walked inside the house, closing it behind us, "Rowan?"

"Yeah." I walked towards the kitchen, Dylan shyly following behind. When we get to the kitchen, they all smile at me, only to see Dylan behind. "Guys, this is Dylan. Please be kind." I warn, but I meant no talk about Klaus or Ric. They nodded, waving at Dylan and he waved back awkwardly.

"Here." I look up and see Tyler giving us two shots. We take it, and I down mine before Dylan. "I'm glad your happy."

"I'm glad I'm happy to." I smiled, but I wasn't telling the truth. I wasn't happy.