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❝ 𝘐'𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦
𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 ❞
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"You sold us out!" Elena and I yell in unison, both glaring daggers at Alaric.

Our supposed ally had done the unthinkable—he told Damon our location. Fantastic. So much for a peaceful research trip.

"You think I'd let you wander into a mountain range full of werewolves on a full moon without backup?" Alaric shoots back, his tone calm but pointed.

"Yeah, great backup," I reply sarcastically, shooting Damon a side glance.

Damon rolls his eyes dramatically. "Get out of the water, Elena," he snaps, sounding more annoyed by the second.

I sigh, exasperated. Damon Salvatore, everyone: a man who sways between heroic concern and complete apathy in record time. First, he's begging us to save Stefan, and now he's acting like this entire mission is a waste of time. Oh, and let's not forget—he threw Elena into the lake. Why did I agree to come along again?

"If I get out of the water, you're just going to make us go home," Elena bites back, refusing to budge.

"Yeah, because I'm not an idiot like—" Damon starts, his words cutting like usual.

"Are you kidding me right now?" I interrupt, stepping between them. "I came back to Mystic Falls for one reason: to find Stefan. You're the one who called me, remember? I'm not leaving, and neither is Elena."

Damon's face tightens, but before he can retort, Alaric raises his hands in a futile attempt to mediate. "Right now, all of you are acting like idiots."

I shoot him a glare. "Oh, shut up, Ric. If you hadn't called Damon, Elena wouldn't be in the lake, and we wouldn't be having this stupid conversation right now."

Elena cuts through the tension, her voice steady but filled with hurt. "You gave up on him, Damon."

Damon finally turns to her, his expression colder than usual. "I didn't give up on him, Elena. I faced reality. Now, get out of the water."

I sigh heavily and throw my hands in the air. "Oh God, here we go again." Without another word, I turn and start walking away, searching for a place where I won't have to listen to their endless bickering.

"Where are you going?" Alaric calls out, rummaging through his backpack.

"I'll be back in five minutes," I say over my shoulder. "I'm just tired of hearing them argue. Again." I pause, glancing back with a smirk. "Oh, and Ric? Make sure Damon doesn't drown Elena while I'm gone."

...

"Amazing," I mutter to myself as I glance up at the darkening sky. The once-clear atmosphere was now heavy with looming clouds. "Damon's actually going to kill me this time. I've been gone too long."

I freeze as a strange noise breaks through the stillness. It's faint, coming from a nearby path deeper into the woods, but it's enough to send a shiver down my spine.

"What the hell?" I mumble, my instincts screaming at me to turn back. But curiosity is a dangerous thing. Against my better judgment, I inch closer to the source.

Suddenly, I feel a strong hand clamp over my mouth from behind.

"Shhh," a familiar voice whispers urgently. The grip loosens, and I'm spun around to face—

"Stefan!" I gasp, relief washing over me. "Oh my God, are you okay?"

His face is a mix of exhaustion and frustration, his eyes darting around the forest as if expecting someone—or something—to appear. "What the hell are you doing here? You were supposed to be in New York."

I cross my arms, meeting his angry glare with defiance. "Wow, great to see you too, Stefan," I say dryly. "This isn't exactly the welcome I was expecting, but hey, at least you're alive."

Stefan sighs, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "You don't get it. You shouldn't be here. It's not safe."

"I think I can handle myself, thanks," I reply, stepping closer. "Now, come on. We need to hurry before the hybrid freak realizes you're not with him. How did you even escape Klaus?"

Stefan's jaw tightens, and he avoids my gaze. "You need to leave, Maddison. Go back to New York."

"What? No way," I say firmly. "I'm not leaving without you."

Stefan grabs my arm, his grip firm but not painful. "If he sees you here..." His voice trails off, his expression clouding with something I can't quite place.

"Who? Klaus? I don't care," I snap. "Honestly, given the chance, I'll—"

"He was right," Stefan interrupts, his voice barely above a whisper. His entire demeanor shifts—his anger giving way to something heavier, darker. "You really don't remember."

I freeze, confusion swirling in my mind. "Remember what?" I ask, my voice shaking.

But before he can answer, a strange sensation overtakes me. My eyelids grow heavy, and my body feels like it's being pulled under water.

"Stefan..." I whisper, my legs giving out beneath me. The last thing I see is his panicked face before everything goes black.

...

___

Sorry for not updating
for two months :")

I actually have no excuse but from now on I am gonna update sooner, I promise :)

-chrysa