CHAPTER ONE:
unexpected changes

    Something was very sinister about this night. The way the air itself felt thicker than normal, it made even a beast remain inside with uneasiness.

Stefan Salvatore spent most of his life trying to avoid Mystic Falls, even after his tragic death and the capture of his love. He refused to even step foot back inside, he couldn't bare it.

The sights, the memories and the overall place he once called home. It was all distant to him, when he left he felt free for once.

However, no one could truly stay out of Mystic Falls. Stefan Salvatore held onto his steering wheel tightly, frowning at the fog surrounding the roads.

It was hard for him to even see anything, the thought of hitting someone made him feel sick. Thunder entered the air, making him slightly jump at the suddenness of it.

He sighed deeply when his radio cut off, the music blasting out of it now silent. "Stupid thing" he smacked it harshly smiling when music played once more.

He didn't plan on staying long. Maybe for a week at most and then run off somewhere else for a few years. But Zachery needed him, so he was here.

The man claimed something was truly wrong, it made Stefan drive right over. He found himself lost in his own thoughts, not noticing the car heading down the road.

A little girl sat against her window seal, looking outside as her father drove off with rage. Tears stained her eyes as she listened to the sound of her mother crying and shouting.

Her big brother Matt took all the harsh words she shouted, her words vile and full of hatred. "Your father left because of you!" Zoey hated the way her mother screamed.

She held herself tightly, her tiny fingers wrapped around a teddy bear she was gifted by her sister. Her birthday was yesterday and Vicki insisted she deserved to have a teddy bear of her own.

Zoey was just glad Vicki let her pick out the one she wanted the most. "I never should have had you! He never would've left if it weren't for you!".

She could hear the light sniffles Matt tried to force away. Vicki stormed out of her room the second those words slipped out of their mothers lips.

Vicki always felt responsible for Matt and Zoey, but she'd never actually say it out loud. In her mothers eyes, she was a horrible sister.

Always treated her siblings like crap and made them feel so small and unwanted. But that wasn't Vicki, that was their mother.

Zoey cried at the sound of Vicki yelling, she stood up off the window running towards her doorway. She could see her mother smack Vicki.

It was so loud making Zoey grip her bear tightly, the fur of it soothing her flesh. She didn't enjoy the sight of her family being hurt.

"Get out!" Vicki pushed their mother into the counter making the woman hiss with discomfort. Zoey practically saw the rage entering her eyes.

She stood her ground and eyed Vicki and Matt, the children she hated the most. "You both can stay here for all I care! I'm taking Zoey and I'm leaving".

Zoey felt so small as her mother pushed the door open grabbing hold of her arm roughly. "No you can't take her! Mom stop!".

Vicki moved forward trying to pry her mothers hand off of Zoey. She failed miserably when the woman pushed past her dragging Zoey outside.

"Mommy, where are we going?" Zoey tried to stay strong and not act so scared. Her grip on the bear was still strong as her mother pushed her into the car. "We're getting out of here Zoe, starting over".

The car started and Zoey let out a tiny whimper as she looked out the window. Matt and Vicki running after the car screaming for Zoey.

"Mommy, what about Matt and Vicki? We can't leave them...". Her mother scoffed not speaking any longer. She turned the radio on, the loudness of it making Zoey nervous.

She looked outside the window watching as fog began to cover the road. She couldn't see anything at all, making her hold her bear close to her chest.

She looked forward to a bright light entering her eyesight and she screamed loudly. The car in front of them slamming directly into them.

She felt this intense agony slamming into her skull and body. Her tiny body felt so light as she felt the shards of glass slamming into her flesh.

She couldn't focus on anything, it all happened so fast. Her body hugged the hood of the car as she felt shards of glass slam into her legs and stomach.

She couldn't do anything except scream, hoping the pain would just fade away. Rain slammed down harshly onto her, the bear she once held.

Tore into pieces as it slumped to the road, Zoey screamed loudly trying to crawl forward. Her legs stuck forcing her to remain completely still.

Her mothers loud groan entered the air as the car came to a stop. She didn't call out for her child, she pushed the car door open walking off down the road. Ignoring the screams of Zoey.

Shards of glass coated her hair and fingertips as she tried to move even an inch forward. She tasted blood on her lips as she cried.

"Oh my god! I didn't see..." Stefan Salvatore ran forward as fast as he could. Looking down at the small child who cried out for an end to it all.

He gripped her tiny little hand "hey, it's okay.. I'm gonna help you" she cried out "I can't move, my legs are stuck... please help me".

Her voice cracked as he grabbed hold of his phone, she didn't hear what he was saying. Her hearing was distant as she tried to stay awake.

She felt lightheaded, blood seeping out of her body second by second. Stefan held control for the moment, the blood oddly not taunting him.

He held onto the girl's hand, he never let it go not even when sirens entered the air. "You're gonna be okay, they'll be here soon".

Zoey let out a shaky breath, the pain all of a sudden fading away. It was a dull ache on her upper half, it was a slight discomfort, nothing more.

She felt odd, she didn't enjoy this weird feeling at all, it made her feel terrified. "Zoey! Oh god!" Vicki and Matt ran forward.

Escorted by Elizabeth Forbes, the woman picking them up after receiving the call of Zoey. The person claimed the little girl was dead, but here she was.

Alive and well, crying at the sight of her siblings as a stranger held her hand tightly. He didn't even hold a scratch on his flesh, Zoey found it weird.

"Matt! Vicki!" her fingers moved and latched around Vicki's. "I'm so sorry, I tried to stop her.. I tried to stop mom from taking you".

Zoey blinked her breathing heavily as she paused for a moment, her eyes lingering on her legs. She had remembered trying to move them when that odd feeling hit her.

They didn't hurt, they didn't burn and they most certainly hadn't even moved an inch. Not even now as she focused on moving her toes.

Vicki saw the panic on her little sister's face "don't worry, they'll get your legs off the window, it'll only hurt for a little bit".

Zoey shocks her head harshly "Vicki.." She felt so scared as she moved towards the girl. Her legs dragging behind her.

"Zoey stop, you're gonna hurt yourself" she let out a small whimper "I can't feel my legs".

—

   The sun was rising in the distance, the girl slept peacefully as the outside world faded away from her thoughts. The distant creak of the door opening didn't alert her, she kept her eyes shut, her breathing slow and steady as she held onto herself.

She let out a heavy breath when the curtains were ripped open, the sunlight hitting her face. She scrunched her nose in discomfort as she opened her eyes slightly, her hand shielding away the light.

"Matt, what the hell" her voice cracked as she sat up slightly, her hair a mess as she looked at her brother. He seemed odd, his posture was completely perfect as he smiled at her. His pupils doubled in size as he sat down at the end of her bed.

"I have good news Zoey" he flashed his teeth at her and she smiled weakly, he must've been drunk or something. "Okay, and what's the news?" he pressed his hands together, his gaze looking outside the window. "You're finally getting out of here, I signed the papers... you can come home".

She frowned deeply, her brother definitely was drunk "you mean... you're actually letting me leave this place? You're the one who said it was better if I stayed here until things died down.. whatever that means". Matt smiled and it was creepy almost as he stood up, he wiped his hands off on his jeans.

His footsteps were loud as he walked across the room towards the small table near the window. "Isn't that what you want? To be out of this place, everyone misses you, they're gonna be excited to see you".

She let out a weak chuckle "I doubt that, no one took that time to visit me here, so what makes you think they'll see me when I'm back home?". Matt chuckled "because you're there friend Zoey, everyone's just been busy, but I promise they'll have time".

Zoey grumbled under her breath "sure they will" luckily Matt didn't hear her words. He was too busy packing her bag and making sure her wheelchair was set up. She pulled the blanket off herself, the cold air wrapping around her, she shivered.

"They're just gonna let you take me out of here? Isn't there paperwork? Or someone who should help me outside to the car? This all kinda seems... weird".

Matt chucked "I handled all of those things, stop worrying so much Zoey". She nodded as she looked outside, this entire thing still felt odd, Matt never visited her this early, why the hell was he here?

She didn't object when he helped her into her wheelchair. It all felt wrong, she had spent so many months inside this room, inside this building. It was more comfortable than home.

She knew back at home the walls were empty, Vicki's bedroom was shut off and the girl's body was six feet under ground. Her death was still unsolved, most claimed it was an overdose, but Zoey didn't believe it.

She saw the way Matt would flinch sometimes whenever she asked about Vicki's death. He knew something, he was always hiding something from her. She let herself try not to overthink as Matt pushed her outside, not a single nurse or patient looked at her.

It was almost as if she didn't even exist as Matt carefully helped her into his truck. "Mystic Falls is an hour drive at best, I hope you aren't hungry, I wanna get there before it's too late".

She frowned deeply "too late for what? It's ten in the morning, I doubt you'll miss anything important". Matt started the truck as he looked at her "but that's the thing, we don't wanna miss anything, trust me you'll love being back home. It's different".

She looked outside the window "apparently you are too this lovely morning.. but maybe it's just drugs or something". She didn't see Matt's face change at the joke, his gaze just focused on the road.

He didn't even flinch when she poked his arm, she let out a weak chuckle as she looked at the radio. It was silent so she turned it on, letting the music make the situation less awkward. Matt just kept his eyes forward the entire car ride, at least until they passed the mystic falls sign. It was like he had woken up, his eyes widened for a second as he looked at Zoey.

He seemed confused, but it faded away once he parked in their driveway. Zoey frowned deeply "what's with that creepy house I saw down the road? That's never been here before". Matt let out a heavy breath "just some rich family, they're building a house".

Zoey let out a sigh "of course I miss all the interesting things while I'm gone, then again you never tell me anything, cause you think I'm a kid still".

Matt looked at her "you're my sister, it's my responsibility to make sure you're taken care of, besides, you didn't even miss much... some rich assholes moved in, what's it matter".

Zoey rolled her eyes "no one ever moves to this town, it seems kinda interesting, you never tell me anything whenever you call, which is rare... ever since Vicki died you've just been avoiding me or something. It's like you're hiding things from me".

Matt sighed "if it was important I would've told you, besides the most you missed is boring things. Aside from work and school, I don't do much around here".

Zoey took off her seatbelt as she looked at Matt "why did you even let me come back? Last time we talked you said I'd be home after the semester...you specifically planned out the year for me".

Matt blinked, his hands gripping the steering wheel as he shrugged "you seemed better, so I thought it was time you get out of that place, besides you can see your friends again, and finish school".

He climbed out of the car and Zoey watched as he trailed around the car towards her door. When he pushed the door open she looked at him "do the others even know I'm back in town? I feel like they would've been here to see me, it's been months since I've seen everyone".

Matt smiled slightly as he grabbed a hold of her "they're busy, but don't worry, I'm sure you'll see them later". Zoey held onto him tightly as he set her down into her wheelchair.

"I don't know Matt, this whole thing seems so sudden and weird. But you're my brother so I'll trust you. But seriously what did I miss?".

She gripped her wheels carefully as she pushed herself towards the doorway. "Well I don't even know where to start, I'll tell you later. I just want to get you settled in first, make sure you're comfortable".

Zoey frowned deeply as she looked at a box in front of the door. "What's this?" she rolled forward slightly, locking her wheels in place as she grabbed the box.

Matt looked tense as she grabbed the envelope on top "the Mikaelsons, is that those rich assholes who moved in town? Apparently they're holding a ball tomorrow evening and we're invited. Wonder what's inside of the box, seems kinda heavy".

She smiled slightly as she opened the box pushing the lid onto the ground as she lifted up the dress. "Holy shit, this must've cost a fortune. I don't even think our house is worth this much".

She ran her hand along the material "why would they send such a fancy dress to me? I don't even know them". She looked at the invitation again "maybe I should stop by... maybe they've sent it to the wrong address? I mean that makes sense".

Matt went to protest, he really wanted to at least, but something else blocked it. His words felt forced as he smiled "yeah, maybe it was just sent to the wrong house, I can take you there if you want?".

Zoey shook her head "no, it's down the road I can just roll over. Besides I need to get used to being outside again, it'll only be a quick trip. Maybe once I get back we can order pizza, I'm dying for some good food".

She put the lit back on the box as Matt chuckled "pizza it is, I'll make sure it's here by the time you're back, I also sorta forgot to set up your room. So this gives me the time... just be careful".

—

  Zoey pushed herself down the sidewalk for ages, she ignored the ache in her hands as she made sure the box didn't fall off her lap. "An easy trip... a fast trip, gosh this is gonna take forever".

She sighed deeply as she pushed herself towards the house, she saw cars parked outside. Which meant this trip wasn't for nothing. She let out a breath of relief when she finally made it in front of the house.

Her smile faded away from her face at the sight of stairs in front of her. "Well shit" she looked down at the box on her lap, then backed up at the door.

The one thing she hated more than high school was stairs. She locked her wheels in place as she placed the box on the ground in front of her.

She let out a frustrated breath as she pushed herself onto the ground. She grabbed the box as she took a small break on the step.

She went to push herself up the next step but stopped at the sight of the door opening. She let out a breath of relief at the sight of the man.

"What on earth are you doing down there?" he questioned as he kneeled down towards her, his gaze overlooking the box in her hands.

"I.. I think you sent this to the wrong address, I was trying to return it, but the stairs aren't really my friend". He chuckled "you've come all this way, to return a dress? I'll never hear the end of it if I don't help you off these steps".

Zoey let out a surprised gasp when he lifted her up, placing her back into her wheelchair. "I dropped that off myself, Rebekah spent ages trying to write the bloody address, in the end I figured it out".

Zoey let out a nervous breath as she was pushed up the stairs with ease. Clearly this guy just worked out or something, he didn't even struggle once.

Zoey looked inside of the house when she was pushed inside, her hands grabbing the box in her lap. "You really didn't have to bring me inside... I just wanted to return this dress. There's no way I can accept this".

She turned at the sight of someone walking down the steps "ah brother, seems you are useful after all". The man holding onto her wheelchair scoffed, "better I hold my tongue, seeing you'll only dagger me if I disagree with your little bender".

Zoey looked between the two men with discomfort "I just wanted to return this, I have to get home". The door behind her was pushed shut making her flinch.

"Nonsense, you are home. I was going to send Kol after you, but seeing you're here. It just makes our life's a tad easier, I've had someone prepare your room. Rebekah will be thrilled you're here".

Zoey frowned deeply "I don't even know who you people are". The man laughed and she couldn't tell if this was a joke or not. "Please. Surely your little friends haven't told you of us. They've kept you hidden away far too long, clearly they want you protected or hidden".

She rolled herself back slowly "I'm just gonna go... I don't want any trouble". She yelped when her wheelchair was stopped in place, she couldn't even move it an inch back. "What my brother means is, you're more than welcome to leave. She is not a prisoner here Niklaus, let the girl go".

She let out a breath of relief when her handlebars were let go of. The boy who she learned was Kol moving away from her with annoyance.

She looked at the man that walked into the room, his hand fixing his tie. "Now you'll help this girl back home, no detours and be sure she's not seen".

Zoey didn't have time to set the box down, given she was already being pushed outside. Then before she knew it, she was already home and Kol was gone.

authors notes:
I made this chapter extra long for such the long wait, it's not much but it's better then nothing. I was in a bit of a writers block the last few days so it was just sitting here. But thankfully I managed to finish it.