Unstoppable | The Vampire Diaries

123. Let the Right One In

The crackle of Matt's police radio spluttered out an alert. "All units, we have a six-car pileup on eastbound 60 at Franklin Drive. Injuries reported. Please respond."

"Crap," Bonnie said under her breath, as it became clear that they were about to be stuck in a monumental amount of traffic – and Caroline and Stefan were stuck in front of them.

"What?" Riley asked worriedly.

"We're on 60," Matt informed her, looking behind him. "We're stuck, there's too many cars behind us. We can't move."

"You guys have to do something," Bonnie said down the phone, fear completely evident in her tone. "We can't hold her back for long."

As she spoke, Riley was moving her rope-tied wrists back and forth against each other, using the friction to slowly untie herself. It was working.

"They're getting closer," she said abruptly, sensing how nearby their presence was. "Bonnie, why are they getting closer?"

"You just have to let them pass us," she said in a soothing voice. Caroline and Stefan had no choice but to move in their direction.

"I can't!" Riley yelled. Within seconds they got so close that she felt like her skin was being ripped off her body. She had to follow them.

Using all her strength, she wrenched her hands apart and broke free of the ropes. Viciously launching herself into the front of the cruiser, she grabbed the steering wheel, turning it out of Matt's grasp.

"Riley!" Matt yelled, turning the wheel back in his direction. Unfortunately, Riley's grip was stronger than his. Their jostling of the wheel ran the car off the road, down the embankment and into a forest.

"Brake!" Bonnie yelled, dropping her phone on the ground as the car skidded through the woods. "Matt, brake!"

Matt slammed his foot on the brake, but he couldn't stop the car. It kept skidding, spinning out of control, and crashed into a nearby tree, turning on its side. All three of the passengers within were unconscious.

***

"Someone has a plan. Care to share?"

"It's messy."

"I fear you've forgotten just how messy I can be."

The conversation between Enzo and Damon pulled Riley out of her unconscious state. She groaned and tried to sit up, despite the fact that the car was still on its side.

"Riley?" Matt called out to her, clearly in pain.

"Is Bonnie okay?" she asked, trying to see into the front seats. Her eye caught the smashed windshield and she instantly felt guilty. But she couldn't stay guilty for long.

"She's knocked out," Matt told her, trying to wrench his leg out of its awkward position. "But I think she's okay."

"And you?" Riley asked, pushing her body-weight against the door. "Are you okay?"

After a moment, he nodded. "Just stuck."

She let out a breath. "Good." Then another breath, as she tried to think of the best way to frame her next sentence. "Matt, I'm so sorry that I have to leave you guys here."

"No," Matt said immediately, his eyes widening with dread. "No, no, no, don't leave me here, Riley. I can't stop you from doing this if you leave."

Riley shook her head sadly. "It's not your job to stop me, Matt. This isn't your fight." She sighed. "I'll send help. Just... stay with Bonnie, okay?"