𝟙.𝟜: ℍ𝕠𝕡𝕖 𝕀𝕤 ℕ𝕠𝕥 𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝔾𝕠𝕒𝕝

—Narrator's perspective—

"This is ridiculous and horrific." Arabella said in a forced smile while walking besides Hope. She took off the headband on her head and gave it to Landon who caught up with them from out of no where.

"Let me guess. Pigtails spilled her guts and confessed to kidnapping Dana and Sasha. Case closed." He said and awkwardly look at the headband before tossing it away.

"Cheryl and not exactly. But she did invite Hope to try our for the cheerleading team. Rest assured we can see our very own tribrid doing splits midair." She joked and Hope chuckled at what she said.

Landon looked at them weirdly. "Who are you right now? And why does that thing still on your head?" He looked up to Hope's head.

"It's a gift. From Cheryl." She answered and held the tip of the headband, fondling with it while they walk.

"You're better this, Hope."

Hope rolled her eyes and scoffed. "Relax, Eeoyore. Dana gave it to her. It's potential locator spell material. Plus, even though Sasha and Connor are dating, Dana was sleeping with him behind her back."

"Such a surprise." Arabella sighed and her eyes caught a trophy case nearby. She walked towards it, a class picture of 2006 sat in front of a gold trophy. "Oh..." She whispered and noticed many familiar faces such as Elena, Caroline, Stefan, Bonnie and even Matt.

At times like these she wished she could go back in time for her sake. It was much more simple than fighting a Gargoyle and Dragons.

"You know them?" Landon asked when the two noticed Arabella staring at the picture for far too long than what she anticipated.

Arabella cleared her throat and caught up with them. "So will I or will I not beat the crap out of Connor? I am in a mood." She crossed her arms when they saw Connor by the end of the hallway.

"What's gotten you riled up?" Hope asked and looked at the trophy case and saw a glimpse of Elena Salvatore when she was younger.

"While you two were off making friends I did some sleuthing of my own. Scarf in Virginia heat? Sounds like a lead, I think they call it." He said and started to follow the students who was wearing a scarf, quite obvious. "Are we even sure it isn't Arabella?"

Hope and Arabella looked at him in disbelief. Beforehe Vampire could even tell her no, Hope stepped up. "She was with me the entire time yesterday and today. It couldn't be her, she's not actually dumb enough to let a student roam around Mystic Falls with a scarf around her neck." She said, equally as angry when Landon had the audacity to point fingers.

Arabella sighed and zipped her mouth shut when they walked outside to see Kaleb with the girl, about to bite her.

"Let her go." Hope talked once they got close enough to Kaleb who looked annoyed and rolled his eyes.

"Dates over. It's not me, it's you. Now forget this ever happened and get back to class." Kaleb compelled the student which she happily, with no questions asked, left them alone.

"Great. Hope's already here." Lizzie complained besides Mg who arrived just in time together.

Kaleb looked at Mg. "Thought we were cool, bruh."

"Don't bruh him. Second place or not, we know you killed Dana." The Blonde siphoner spat to Kaleb who looked at her weirdly.

"Wait. Dana's dead?" Hope questioned in shock.

"Dr. Saltzman said thet found her dead from a vampire bite." Mg explained and they all looked at Kaleb, being as the one who was caught almost feeding on an innocent person.

"I didn't kill her, so y'all need to get the hell outta my face." Kaleb spat and before they knew it, he used his vampire speed and left.

Arabella was older and much more faster so she caught up with him, putting her hand up to his chest to make him stop. "Either me or Lizzie will fry your brain. Literally." She said sorry and made him look behind him.

"Not so fast, Kaleb." Lizzie and the others managed to caugh up with the two vampires. With Arabella right behind Kaleb so he wouldn't go speeding away again.

"I told you, all I did was feed. Torture me if you want to but my answer's gonna remain the same. Because I didn't kill Dana." He said seriously, looking each on their eye.

"Uh, he's right." Landon spoke up, looking behind Kaleb and saw the familiar blonde human limping.

Lizzie turned around. "What, so you're a mind reader now, Landon?" She asked in a sarcastic tone.

"Call it a hunch." Landon pointed on the edge of the woods, all of them snapped their heads to see Dana with a bloody shirt.

Eventually, Kaleb and Arabella helped the girl sit down on one of the benches outside Mystic High. Arabella had to frown when she saw a nasty bite on the girl's neck.

"We were on the way to graffiti that mill at your school. It was a harmless prank. But then I got snatched. Next thing I remember, I woke up in a ditch. So enjoy it while you can, Lizzie. I'm sure I look like crap." She finished and touched her neck making her panic when she felt something. "Oh my god. What is that?!"

Hope looked at it with no sense of what to say, neither of them did. "It's... Someone help me out here." She said.

"It's the mother of all hickeys. You're fine, Dana, You're just a little slutty." Lizzie assured which made Arabella snort.

Dana scoffed. "I don't even like any of you. I should be talking to the cops." She stood up and tried to leave but Landon blocked her way.

"I can't let you do that." He said waving his hands around awkwardly.

"Ad somnum." Hope clenched her fist into a ball and Dana immediately passed out on the ground.

"I mean, she can't let you do that." Landon muttered.

Lizzie turned around and looked at Kaleb with an angered look. "So you didn't kill her. You freaking turned her?"

"Turned her? You think I want to sit and listen to that for all eternity?" He replied back with a blank expression. Arabella sighed, knowing full well Kaleb is innocent.

"Well, someone did, meaning that we have a transitioning vampire on our hands." Hope pointed at Dana's unconscious body. "So what are we gonna do with her?" She questioned and everyone went silent.

They decided on going to a much more secluded spot, the bus they rode all the way to town. Mg carried Dana over his shoulder and carefully placed her down on the bus floor.

"So let me get this straight." Landon started when he helped Mg with Dana. "Dana died with Vampire blood in her system so she came back to life and now she's in transition, and she needs to feed or die?"

"Nailed it bro. Easy decision, right?" Mg asked once they got off the bus again and huddled in the middle to discuss.

"All right, so, we give her human blood, it's not that simple." Kaleb shrugged easily.

Arabella rolled her eyes. "Not everyone wants to be part of this world." She crossed her arms and looked away.

"Some people just want to be normal." Hope added, looking over Bella who was shifting uncomfortably on her feet.

"Dana's traumatised, you guys. This is a huge decision. Maybe we should give her a day or two—" Lizzie tried to advice before Hope quickly stopped her from talking.

"—She'll be dead in a day if she doesn't feed."

Lizzie chuckled and shrugged. "Oops. I suck at math."

While they were fighting and/or discussing Dana's faith, Arabella felt herself tense under the radar. It's not everyday you see a random girl die with Vampire blood on her system and have to make a decision that hard.

For Arabella was quite different than Dana's situation. Marcel gave her no choice and practically slammed a girl's slashed neck to her because he doesn't want to lose a bestfriend like her. Jokes on him because Marcel did lose his bestfriend that night, she was furious and hated his guts.

"Surgere." Hope flicked her hand and Dana woke up with still a confused mind and wondered on what was going on.

"Did I pass out? I don't feel so well." Dana groaned and held onto the bus' door frame to steady herself.

"We know how you feel. And it's okay, You're just hungry." Hope said as gently as she could.

"Anorexia was sophomore year. This is something else." Dana looked down again, feeling something rise on her throat.

"You'll feel better after you feed. I promise." Mg, who was besides her spoke with ease.

Dana raised her hand and readied herself. "Oh shut up. For real. Even thinking about eating makes me want to—" Her words got cut short because the girl puked badly.

Arabella had to pull Hope backwards before they black substance could get to them, the vampire looking at Dana with a concerned look.

"Oh, damn. What'd that girl eat?" Kaleb questioned while looking at the puke on the road.

"I think her soul just got on my shoes. Ew." Lizzie flicked ber hair aback and shuddered in disgust.

"I think I'm-a be sick, too." Mg gagged and covered his mouth while he had to watch the blonde hurl her stomach up.

Landon closed his eyes shut and looked away. "Is this normal?" He questioned trying to get the image of the puke away from his head.

"Ha... okay..." Arabella winced, forcing out a smile and turned her head away.

"She's puking her guts out. Literally. Dana. Dana!" Hope called out but was no use since the puking blood became more and more dried out until she finally stopped.

Only that when Dana stopped, her life stopped as well and her skin dropped to the black substance. She hurled her guts out until she dropped dead.

"Should we call your dad?" Hope asked when they were all in a circle, looking down on a worn out body.

"Why? So he can take another bullet for you?" Lizzie spat making Hope look up to her.

"No. Because whatever did this is not a vampire. It's got to be another monster from the knife."

Arabella's phone rang, Alaric's name popped out and everyone turned to her. She looked up and excused herself, walking away from their little group before answering the phone.

"Dr. Saltzman." She stated while crossing her arms, looking over Hope from afar.

"Arabella. Please tell me you had nothing to do with this." Instead of Alaric's voice, it was Matt's who's tone was cold.

It made Arabella scoff in disbelief. "You had the nerve to call me right after what you did? Some 'friend' you are, Donovan." She spat and turned around in anger.

"I asked a question, Ara. Tell me the truth." He said cautiously and by his tone, he was not playing games but neither was Arabella who took in a deep breath.

"Like you'll believe me anyways. No, I didn't do it you asshole." She said one last time before hanging up the call. Arabella gripped the phone so tight that it shattered. Since it was no use to her, she strung her arm back and threw it over the field.

Arabella took in a heavy breath, clenching her fist into a ball and huffed. All that anger made her want to kill the sheriff but everyone didn't want poor Matt to die. Caroline had to practically chain her up in the cellar in the Salvatore house so she can't hurt Matt. It was cruel but Arabella was determined to kill the boy for killing and betraying her.

"Hey." Hope jogged over to her, holding her shoulder when she reached Arabella making her jump slightly. "What happened?" She asked in concern.

Arabella scoffed and shook her head. "Nothing..." She whispered and turned around meeting her eyes. "Where the hell is Landon?" She asked when she noticed the human was no longer with the others.

☘︎︎