𝖁𝕴 : Something Wicked This Way Comes.
✡
"THE WEATHER'S TERRIBLE. WHY DIDN'T YOU JUST GO WITH ELENA?"
Alaska grimaced, picking up on the subdued irritation in Jenna's voice. She could practically picture her highly strung aunt, sitting near the kitchen counter, surrounded by a large stack of college related papers, a pen being anxiously twirled between her fingers as she kept imagining the worst outcomes of her niece's reluctance to travel in cars. Even during the night.
"The weather looks fine to me, aunt Jenna," Alaska sighed, her tone placative. She pressed her phone to her other ear, leaning her chest against Caroline's SUV that idled in the cul-de-sac, resting one of her elbows on the roof as she watched the pulsating party from afar. "I did get here safely. Didn't I? Besides, it's not like I walked all the way here. I have my bike with me. I don't know what you're so worried about."
"What I'm worried about? Really?" Alaska heard her let out a scoff of disbelief. "Please pray tell, how are you planning get back home tonight?"
"Um. . . by my bike?"
"No!" Jenna shrieked, causing the brunette to almost drop her phone. "Jesus! You're the mature one out of the four of us, Alaska! You can't stress me out like this. You are not allowed too!"
Alaska's mouth fell open in bewilderment. "Wha-"
"You cannot just pedal home so late at night, alright? It's not safe. Either come with Elena or let me pick you up!"
Alaska swallowed a large breath, trying to ignore the prickle in her skin at the thought of getting inside a car. She shook her head and let out a dry chuckle "Are you trying to take up the role of my youth pastor or something? Cause I'm super confused right now. It's a party, Janna. I'm not jumping into a ring of fire. You're the one who encouraged me to come."
"With safety precautions."
"This isn't tartarus."
"I can't be the cool aunt when you're doing stupid things like this, Alaska."
Alaska furrowed her eyebrows. "You've never had problems with my bike before."
"I don't have problems with your bike. I have problems with the complete disregard you have for your own safety. It's night time."
"It's Mystic Falls, aunt Jenna!" Alaska exclaimed rather loudly, causing Caroline, who was sitting on the bonnet of her car, to raise an amused eyebrow at her.
"Don't yell at me, young lady!"
Alaska almost snorted at her aunt's miserable attempt at being stern. From her peripheral vision, she could see Caroline tuning into the conversation with an amused look in her eyes. The brunette ignored her friend and took a deep breath, trying her best to not sound off balanced. "Okay. You know what? For your sake, I will catch a ride with Bonnie and Elena tonight and I'll have Francis drop off my bike later on," she lied through her teeth before adding meekly. "Happy?"
"Hm. Alright. Very good," pause. "Wow, that worked out quite fast."
"Yep," Alaska said monotonously, resisting the urge to roll her eyes. "You're getting so good at this."
Jenna didn't seem to catch the underlying sarcasm in her voice.
"Can you stop chewing off my ear now?"
"Sure! Can you check up on Jer, by the way? He sneaked out earlier. Just make sure he doesn't take off with his stoner buddies. I don't want him passanging with those assholes."
Alaska snorted, pointing out, "I don't think passanging's a word."
"Sure it is, I just used it in a sentence."
Alaska sighed once more, but this time there was a fond smile on her face. "Yeah, noted. I'm gonna hang up now. Love you or whatever."
"Love you too! Make good choices!'
"Aye, aye, Captain."
Finally hanging up the phone with a long exhale, Alaska turned her attention back to the party scene. Caroline had already gotten up from her seat and was now standing beside her. Even though they were situated a street away, she could hear the music pounding through the place, shaking the trees and juddering the SUV. Alaska tapped her fingers against the roof, watching as inebriated kids yelled, sang and milled all around. She closed her eyes for a second, clenched one of her fists and thumped it against her thighs-- something she did often when she was nervous, though she had no idea why she'd be nervous about going to a party that was in full-swing, when it was her own decision to delve back into the high-school 'normalcy'.
Breaking her train of thoughts, Caroline shoulder-bumped her. "That went well?"
"Yeah, I guess," Alaska replied, managing a smile despite the feeling of rapid guilt seeping in through her skin."You know how paranoid Jenna can get sometimes."
Caroline gave her a contemplative look. "You just lied to her," she said. "Didn't you?"
"Don't you start too."
"I overheard a bit," Caroline admitted anyway. "She isn't exactly wrong, you know? You shouldn't be out with only your bike so late at night."
"Well, it must be a good thing that I have a functioning brain and I know karate, huh?"
Caroline didn't look amused. "You may be smart. You may take care of people but you're shit at taking care of yourself."
Alaska crossed her arms over her stomach. "Is this a subtle way of insulting my fighting skills?"
"Absolutely not. But you'd never let Elena or me do the same stuff-"
"Caroline," Alaska grabbed her shoulders and looked her straight in the eye. She could tell that her friend was one second away from descending into a shit-blistering rant about how she needed to stop treating cars like they were gonna eat her alive. She would be absolutely right with her concern. Because as bitter as it sounded, Alaska was in fact letting that tiny fear dictate her life. She knew it. But was it too cruel to forget about it for one night? "You know me, right? I am a rational person. I like to live a clutter free and orderly life which is why I also happen to love my bike and the solace it gives me. I am not the type to compromise with my safety. You'll see me flying around and rioting in my car in no time. But tonight-"
"-is not that night." the blonde finished for her, shoulders sagging.
Alaska grinned, looping her arms with her friends and tugging her towards the party, prompting an involuntary giggle from the girl. "Exactly. Now c'mon."
The party was held down by the river, near the waterfall and on the edge of the forest. There was a wooden gazebo, along with a big bonfire, blazing in the night. The red, orange and yellow ball of rage roared upward eating its way through the wooden pyramid at its base. Plumes of grey were buffeted into the dark sky, carried aimlessly by a chill wind. The further they went, the louder and hotter it got and-well, Jesus Christ, it was really loud. The temperature swung up ten degrees once they reached the centre, and it was at least forty percent more humid. Alaska's grip on Caroline's hand tightened and soon the blonde was following her like an obedient companion through the crush of people. Alaska seamlessly managed to get them past a large group giggling freshmen who were pushing each other around. She chuckled as Caroline bounced on her feet and whooped in excitement. Alaska's glossed-up lips and the long slicks of eyeliner turned her expression feline. People were staring already. It was hard to miss the two of them. Caroline's buoyant, chaotic energy was a stark contrast to Alaska's serene, liquid grace. But they managed to compliment each other.
People surrounded them, some standing in large groups, others in smaller groups with no more than three or four people. Some laughed, and joked with one another, telling each person what they had been up to over the summer break, while others drank, danced and took photos, trying to make this night a memorable one. Some couples were huddled close together, whispering to one another and hugging, while others were making out with one another, against trees and near the eskies containing the booze. A few classmates came up to talk and Alaska greeted them with animated smiles. Caroline passed her a drink and among tumult of noises, Alaska, who was trying to ignore the flirtatious boys and the sight of Tyler Lockwood sweet-talking Vicki Donovan, plugged her nose and inhaled a mouthful of cold birthday cake vodka. The crowd, and the taste of the sugary drunk sticking to the back of her throat, made her half-gag. The gears in her brain started to grind against each other as the music grew louder. So loud that she could feel it in her ribs, almost making her regret the decision of coming here.
And there was that feeling again.
The feeling that the world was a whirlpool and she was standing still in the very centre of it. The feeling that she had no place. Like there was nothing for her there. Like she was surrounded by a web of people tangled in the wires of each other, and she was floating, not connected to anything at all.
"Fucking hell," Alaska whispered to herself.
Caroline titled her head to the side, eyeing her with a tiny frown. "You're alright, Allie?"
Alaska nodded slowly and swallowed a large breath, her pristine disposition unwavering. "Of course," she murmured, watching the same people around her with the same calcified interest she had pushed down for years and years, and she wondered once more what it would feel like.
To truly belong.
It wasn't always like this, okay? She used to be abundant with herself. She had essence. She used to be the Alaska Gilbert. There was satisfaction in carrying the spotlight wherever she went, there was triumph in watching her old assorted group of glittery friends worship the ground she walked on. She used to revel in it. The influence. The thrill. It all belonged to her.
Now they meant nothing.
The tricky part was that Alaska didn't quite know where she belonged if not with all that old glitter and vanity. She always assumed she had a certain role to play. And she had taken it upon herself be the it girl with too many ambitions to keep track of. It was enough.
Until it wasn't.
The emptiness was almost overwhelming. But Alaska knew it'd fade soon enough. She knew, because she had been feeling this for the better part of the year- in fact, she'd became quite accustomed to new ways of thinking and feeling and perceiving. Narrow and uncomfortable ways of thinking, feeling, and perceiving, but new ways nonetheless. God, her perspective wasn't so messy.
Alaska squeezed her eyes close for a brief second, feeling the party pulse around her like a creature with its own heartbeat: bass thundering under the floorboards, the sound of shouting ebbing and flowing, the energy that rippled through the place going frigid for a second and then hot, hot, hot . Moving paisley patterned the back of her eyelids. The second she opened her eyes again, leaned towards Caroline and blurted : "Say something distracting."
Caroline momentarily looked a bit taken aback by the sudden demand. But she was quick to regain her bearings. She didn't miss a beat when she began. "So. . . heard you managed to make Tanner look like a clown in history today- what happened, did you tell him his pants are a crime to fashion? 'Cause that's totally true, they went out of style at least a decade ago... He should be kissing your feet for looping him in!"
Alaska immediately burst into laughter. Ah, Care... she thought with fond exasperation, the dark cloud above her head receding somewhat.
"What did you do? More importantly what'd he do?"
Alaska let out a sigh as the laughter died down. "He made a snide comment about the, uh. . . accident," she hedged. "The rest is self explanatory."
"Of course, he did," Caroline scowled, anger clouding her delicate features. "He's such a cheap bastard. He did the same thing to me after my parents got divorced. His big nose is just incapable of staying out of people's business. I can't even begin to understand how he's still a teacher in our school. He has no work ethic. He should be fired!" Caroline took a deep breath and continued. "Wait until he forces you to write some stupid essay to compensate for your behaviour. Like, seriously, he always tricks at least one student into doing that thing. I know he can't have his way with you because you're like super smart and intimidating but he will try! He actually used to threaten me with this book written by him. It's super-thick, super-boring, and super-insulting... I mean, it totally implies insanity's hereditary in Founding Families -"
This seemed to be a subject the blond was passionate about. It wasn't surprising - Caroline was big on the Founders stuff and a bit of a snob. She was loveable for it, though, because she also had a heart of pure gold and always meant well.
"Two more years, Care," Alaska consoled, draping an arm over the blonde, leading her towards the gazebo. "Then we'll be free of him."
Caroline let out a huff, melting against the brunette's arm. "Yeah." she mumbled, her cobalt blue eyes widening all of a sudden. "Hey, I gotta look for someone."
Maybe it was the alcohol in her because Alaska immediately jerked back, her eyes flying to her friend's face and lips parted in surprise. It was an involuntary reaction, causing Caroline to pause and notice the sudden rigidness of her posture. A bitter smile made it's way onto her lips. "And by that I do not mean Stefan. You've drilled it into my head already. Don't start playing Elena's agent once more."
Alaska sighed at her words. "I'm not being anyone's agent, Caroline," she said defensively, honestly. "I'm your friend and I just don't want you to get hurt. Ever."
Caroline stared at the brunette for a few seconds as if weighing her words and soon enough her eyes softened into something akin to understanding. "I'll go get a refill," She mumbled, quietly, then raised her voice and tipped her solo cup, "I'm gonna go get a refill. Do you want anything?"
"I'm good," Alaska replied hesitantly, letting her hand drop from the blonde's shoulder "I'm gonna find a place to sit and look for Bonnie and El probably."
"You sure?" Caroline asked.
"Yeah. I'm sure."
"Alrighty," The brightness in the blonde's smile was black when she affectionately booped Alaska's nose. "Loosen up, yeah? Channel the old Allie. The one that danced on top of tables and beat everyone in beer pong. I'll find you,"
Alaska chuckled, swatting her hand away. "Sure. You try not to get too drunk."
Caroline smiled playfully, and the next second, she was swallowed up by the crowd. It was still for a second and Alaska was left questioning why she had decided to come in the first place. Maybe because she couldn't stand the thought of being in her room without any distraction and the empty void swallowing her whole. Maybe because the crack in her chest widened exponentially every time she passed by her parent's empty room.
But the sight of her sister, standing next to Stefan less than two feet away, with joy ringing in her eyes and laughter spilling out of her mouth, was enough for the brunette to forget about all the dark absurdities hanging over her head.
At least one of the didn't feel like a burning cemetery.
It was enough.
It had to be.
Alaska was not surprised when she spotted Jeremy near the esky in the far corner. The Gatorade bottle filled with an alcohol mix had not been too eye-catching, so Alaska had decided to let it slide. But then she saw him downing it all and then moving on to some cans that someone had stashed under a table. Alaska was calm and collected when she had asked him to put the damn can down. She should've known it was bound to be a bad idea. There was so much resentment in his glare, she should've known. Confronting Jeremy was never a good idea, especially in crowded places, she had known that. But she was tired of his self-destructive tendencies.
Elena came in then. Despite Alaska's countless protests, she decided to take matters into her own hands. Only to have it explode back into her face.
Jeremy stormed off and was nowhere to be seen right now. Alaska was tired of worrying for him.
After mingling with a few of her old cheer mates and snapping at a bunch of perverse boys continuously asking for her number, Alaska finally caught sight of a girl who was sitting near the makeshift gazebo with a myriad of untouched jack daniels scattered around her. She recognised her from the tennis team and judging by her girth, Alaska didn't doubt she was capable of wrestling anyone if she wanted, given incentive, crush or no crush. Smirking, Alaska sauntered forward, bent down and snatched one up from the girl's grasp without bothering to ask. The girl immediately looked up, a look of pure displeasure on her face. But all the possible words perished in her mouth when Alaska flashed her a coy wink, leaving the girl looking dazed with colour blooming on her cheeks.
Her hands gripped the cool bottle of the beer in hand, as she stood close to one of the many fires that were burning in the space around her. Someone changed the music to something worse and Alaska was about to snap at the person for having such abhorrent taste in music, but stopped when she spotted a friend approaching her with a smile, one she'd barely spoken to over the summer.
"Matthew!" Alaska waved her hand with a large smile.
"Was that necessary?" Matt jutted his chin towards the girl Alaska snatched the beer bottle from. He grinned at her. "She's probably hyperventilating right now, Allie,"
Alaska scoffed playfully, enveloping him in a quick hug. "It's not like I can control the way people react to my charisma."
Matt laughed, pulling away. "I missed you quite a lot, you know?"
Alaska raised her eyebrows and gave him a sceptical look. "Is that why I barely saw you during the summer?"
Matt's face fell. "You know why,"
Alaska's grimaced, originally not intending to bring up his break-up with Elena any time soon. It was a sore subject for him, considering how he was still not over her. But it was inevitable honestly. At the end of the day, Matt and Elena were very different people with starkly different priorities. Crossing the territory of friendship was nothing more than a big mistake. She just wished it hadn't taken her sister so long to realize it.
"Bon said how you were in a coma--" Matt started with a concerned look. "and I couldn't get in to see you - I'm not family, see. But I sent a bunch of e-mails but you never responded, and you've not been online, and-"
"Whoa, whoa there, one at a time!" Alaska forced out a chuckled. "I was in a coma for two weeks but I woke up - obviously - and there's no longterm damage. I was not on the laptop at all 'cause I forgot my password, and I lost my phone that night, so..."
"Oh.. . right, course you did," Matt said, looking embarrassed by his outburst but still a bit doubtful. Humorlessly he added, "If I'd've driven you and Elena home that night like I was supposed to, your parent's wouldn't come to pick you up - no accident. I should've guessed you weren't just ghosting me for getting your parents killed-"
Her eyes widened in horror. "You did not! It had nothing to do with you and Elena and--" she swallowed a breath, her voice coming out hoarse and brittle. "--everything to do with the weather and really bad luck."
"-or something. But...your uncle said you didn't want to see me?"
"John?" Perturbed, Alaska contemplated this. "I didn't know about this. He was just feeling a bit overprotective, I guess?" she decided reasonably. "I mean, he's Dad's brother. Our uncle. But don't worry, " giving him an ominously bright smile, Alaska continued. "Caroline and Derek were just complaining the same thing this morning. Maybe I should have you guys put on an approved-visitors list or something?" she joked halfheartedly.
Matt frowned, sternly demanding, "Are you planning on nearly dying a lot?"
Alaska only laughed in return.
The narrow bridge over the lake had bulbs of light strung through the rails. It was a reprieve from the dancing and grinding bodies that were surrounding her. For a moment she'd felt everything fade out. The air was cool and dried out where she was standing. Camera in one hand, Alaska grabbed the railing with the other and closed her eyes. A beat passed. It was not exactly silent, because nothing over there could be. But it was stretched tight in a way that made it feel, at least, quiet.
Her eyes snapped open when little inside shiver went through her; not the kind that showed, but the kind that made you wonder if you were sick. She wished she could take a dip in the water below.
Her gaze darted towards the edge of the forest. Even from the distance, she could see daisies sprouting out of the long grass, peering back at her through hogweed and cow parsley. She inhaled a long breath she realized she could hear the sound of the forest echoing in her head. Instinctively, she took in the musk of the woods and the sweet smell of the wildflowers as they belched pollen into the atmosphere, hoping the rush of the air would clear some of her cobwebs away.
A little breeze blew in her face, stirring her hair and making her jeans clad legs tingle. Suddenly she felt-she couldn't explain it. Like a balloon being caught by the wind and lifted. She felt light, she felt expanded. She felt free. She wanted to hold her arms out to the breeze and the river. It would sound almost ridiculous but it was like the forest was calling to her.
Alaska let out a tiny chuckle before capturing a few pictures of the forest from afar. She paused upon seeing a blob of fluorescent hair through the viewfinder. A frown appeared on her face when she realized it was Stefan standing on the other side of the bridge. Alone. Head bowed, body slumping against the railing with the kind of exhaustion that spoke of a long time facing disappointment. The Salvatore looked like a puppet who's strings had been cut, and she did, for some reason, care about him. The sight made something twist low in her gut. There was familiarity there. But trying to dissect that feeling was akin to following an echo without the source.
Stefan didn't seem to notice when Alaska headed towards him and before she could stop herself, and she had already taken a picture of the lone boy.
The click was loud enough to have surprise rearranging his chiseled features in a cascade. He paused and flashed her a stunned look. "Did you just. . ."
Alaska's doe eyes swirled with mischief as she took a peek at the picture, eyes softening for a millisecond. "It looks decent, I promise."
Stefan rolled his eyes, but his lips tugged into tiny smile. "I'm gonna let it slide, for your sake."
"Thank you, kind sir," Alaska bowed with all the theatrics of a victorian heroine, causing the boy to laugh quietly. "So. . . you're not gonna run over and kiss the ring like everyone else?" she asked, and she was not quite buzzed enough to ignore how sarcastic she sounded but--
Stefan briefly glanced over the chaos of the party and turned back to her, smiling the most unconvincing smile Alaska had ever seen, the curl of it at least three-quarters a grimace. "I'd rather find a lake of piranhas to jump in instead."
Alaska swallowed a burst of laughter and shook her head. "The whole mingling thing was a bust, huh?"
"Kind of," He breathed out. "I'm not really good at chit-chat,"
Alaska nodded understandably, looking around curiously. "Where's my sister?"
"She's, uh. . . she's having a heart to heart with Matt."
Alaska raised her eyebrows, gaze darting over to the gazebo. Surrounded by a plethora of people who were eyeing Stefan and Alaska with utmost interest, it wasn't hard to miss Matt Donovan standing beside her sister, seemingly invested in a deep conversation.
"Awkward," Alaska deadpanned in an attempt to lighten up the mood.
Stefan chuckled, getting off the railing and heading further towards the narrow bridge. He paused for a second, turning to face a curious Alaska. Stefan offered her a crooked smile. "I hear the the falls are particularly beautiful during the night."
Alaska smiled, picking up the cue. "Yes, they are."
As they walked, Alaska could feel the hypnotic sound of the river, rhythmic as a giant heartbeat or the breathing of the planet, and strangely familiar. It was lovely just to be there, smelling the earthy musk and feeling the warm planks beneath her and hearing the soft plashing of the water against the wooden piers.
"Is it always gonna be like this?" Stefan asked all of a sudden, not quite managing to take the edge out of her voice. His vibrant green eyes looked a shade darker against the light produced by the ones strung through the railings. Alaska was suddenly too aware of why Elena seemed to be so enamoured with him. Stefan was beautiful to look at-- the kind of magnificence only present in classic fairy tales or a siren song.
Alaska glanced towards direction of the prying eyes that seemed to blur with each step they took and shook her head, a chuckle escaping her cherry lips. Her tone was gentle when she spoke. "You're a bit different from the cookie-cutter template this town has stamped out on all of the teenage residents. It's not a common occurrence which is why they are curious. But don't worry, the buzz will die down eventually."
"Different, huh?" Stefan voiced aloud, rather nonchalantly. "Like in a bad way?"
"Why?" Alaska rolled her eyes. "Which track do you happen to be on? The petty delinquency track, or the not-criminally-responsible track?"
Stefan's lips twitched and Alaska rolled her eyes. "You know what? Don't even bother answering. Nobody in this K-mart gives a flying crap as long as you are conventionally attractive. So, no, Stefan. Definitely not in a bad way. All the prying and the staring is simply the curse of a small town. You made the dumb decision of moving back here," pause. "There's no option other than to put up with this madness."
Stefan looked thoroughly amused, rather than horrified. "Is it just me or do you absolutely loathe this place?"
"It'a a love-hate relationship," Alaska admitted before fishing out the half empty bottle of jack daniels from her jacket's pocket. She offered him a sheepish smile, the took a sip of the lukewarm beer as her voice dropped down to a monotonous narration. "Mystic Falls. Southern in its hospitality, northern in its attitude."
"It can't be that bad." he murmured, looking out at the vast expanse of the river, it ended with the edge of the forest and blocked the rest of the town from view. "I sort of like how buildings don't tower over the trees and how you can actually see the stars in the sky at night."
Alaska blinked down at her high heels, lifting her head to search the sky above her. Stars shone as sugar spilt over black marble, glistening in the sun. They were brighter here. "Yeah," she chuckled softly before taking another sip of her beer. "It's not all bad, I suppose. For example, if you're a fan of gossip, there's always something going on. If you drive, there's less traffic for sure. But Mystic Falls is a dead-end place, Stefan. People born in towns like these tend to die here too."
"And people who move to towns like these?"
Alaska hesitated. "Most of them get caught up in the cycle." she lifted a perfectly arched eyebrow at him, amusement creeping in her features. "You can disagree with me if you want."
Stefan seemed to think for a second, then let out a sigh. "I don't disagree," he paused. "But you seem to have a lot of potential to break out. Why do you stay?"
Alaska didn't miss a beat. "Family,"
A looked of understanding washed over his face and immediately Alaska's mind drifted over to her sister. "By the way-" she swallowed a breath. "You don't have to worry about Matt," Alaska noticed how Stefan's eyes sparked with a bit of surprise, perhaps not expecting to bring up the topic but she continued anyways. "See, Elena's been through a lot this year. She wants to start afresh which means she'd rather grab herself a clean slate than look back at the past. Matt's not what he's looking for."
Stefan nodded slowly, his shoulder sagging in ease. "Elena talks about you a lot, you know. She seems to adore you."
Alaska felt warmth blooming in her chest as they slowly started to walk back towards the pulsating party. "Well, I happen to be an excellent human being."
"I don't doubt it," Stefan smiled faintly, his voice earnest. "Thank you for keeping me company. The party was. . . uh, getting overwhelming."
Her eyes softened and reiterated what she'd said the first time she met him. "You looked like you could use a friend."
"Parties tend to do that to me," Stefan chuckled. "You seem to have taken it upon yourself to look out for everyone in a crisis. Don't you get tired of if?"
Alaska shrugged, smiling. "The universe is an open ended sandbox rpg, Stefan. There's no end goal. You can only get achievements. Some of them include making people happy."
He gave her an imploring look, and something about it made her stomach twist and turn. The stare was to smart, too clear, like he's seeing past her flimsy walls.
"Are you happy?"
Alaska's lips parted, but no words came out. She wished she didn't want another bottle of beer just for this conversation, just to mellow the twisting, building something inside her chest. She had no idea of how to respond to his question and before she could even attempt to, a scream ripped through the trees like a great shard of glass. Her blood ran cold and before she was even aware of making a conscious decision, she was sprinting with Stefan at her heels. He wasn't trying to follow so much as stop her from running head-first into danger, but Alaska couldn't help but worry the scream was her sister. Her heart was thudding like a rock rattling in a box when she skidded to a stop near a table where Elena and Jeremy lowered a clearly injured body, a body covered in blood and hair strewn about her like she'd been engaged in a struggle not very long along. The crunching of dirty and dried leaves beneath her boots felt like thunder claps and she almost stumbled.
"Oh God. It's Vicki," she breathed out in pure horror, bending down to shake the girl's shoulder only to watch her head loll to the other side and expose the source of the blood, a gaping set of puncture wounds in her throat, still dripping blood. All the bitter resentment and pent up anger she felt towards the Donovan girl was long forgotten by the sight in front of her. Alaska was so shocked that she barely even noticed the students running up to join her, her friends among them.
"Somebody help!" Jeremy exclaimed, just as panic-stricken.
Portia Ricci appeared besides Alaska, crouching down to check the limp girl's pulse. Her catline eyes narrowed upon noticing the large amount of people doing nothing but staring at the disaster like it was the most entertaining thing ever. "Are you guys stupid? Don't just stand there and call a goddamn ambulance!"
"I-I'll do it!" Elena offered, taking out her cellphone and dialing 911 with shaking fingers.
Matt ran over with Tyler following suit, making the situation even worse. The devastation that came over him was palpable. He pushed through the crowd, rushing to his sister's side.
"Vicki! Vicki, what the hell!"
"Something bit her," Alaska gritted out. It was only then she noticed that her sister was clinging to the sleeve of her denim jacket. "She's losing a lot of blood." she turned to her ex-boyfriend, trying her best to not sound awkward. "Do something about the crowd. She needs air."
Tyler, who was bit thrown off by the genuine concern in Alaska's eyes nodded vigorously, turning to the flock of people with a completely pissed off expression on his face. "Everybody back up!" he yelled, shoving a few annoying bystanders who were filming the bizarre situation. "Give her some space!"
Vicki's eyes briefly opened like slits in a window blind and though Alaska couldn't see her well in the light cast by the mobile phones face down by her head, but she would know that sort of terror on her face anywhere. "Vicki, hey," Alaska soothed gently. "It's okay. You're gonna be fine."
"We have to stop the bleeding," Portia muttered, rubbing on Vicki's freezing hands to create some much needed heat.
Noticing the large amount of blood that Vicki was loosing by each passing second, Alaska nodded and swallowed hard. She pulled away from Elena, carefully taking the plaid shirt from around Vicki's waist one handed and proceeded to use the sleeve to fasten it around her throat, just enough so that it caught the blood, encouraged it to clot, but she still had plenty of room to breathe. Alaska had to lift her head for her since she was too weak to do it herself, but she never took her eyes off of her. The entire time she played inadequate doctor, Portia was right beside her, helping her with the tasks.
"You're gonna be fine," Alaska mouthed to her. But Vicki's eyes were barely open this time, and she wasn't aren't sure if she could see them.
Her thoughts were shattered by a hiss at her side. Alaska cringed, waiting for Portia to make a snarky comment about the situation. But surprisingly, she kept quiet. The girl was too busy staring at Stefan who was standing in the back of the fray, looking over the heads of the people in front of him to try and see the epicenter of the commotion. There was something in her face-a sort of dark speculation and suspicion that Alaska had never seen before.
Portia continued to stare, and after a few moments she began nodding, little nods to confirm something to herself. Her face was flushed blotchily, and not with sunburn. Abruptly, still nodding, she muttered something, let go of Vicki and stood up. She was breathing quickly now.
In any other situation Alaska would have said she'd be deliriously happy just to
have Portia leave her alone, for any reason. But at the very moment, her mind was all churned up, like the choppy blue-gray water before a gale, and there was a bleeding girl in her arms that she needed help with.
Alaska's eyes narrowed at her old friend. "Where the hell do you think you're going?"
"I've got to do something," Portia said, waving a hand without looking at her. "You stay here. You can manage." There was a pause before she briefly turned to the brunette with a a wicked grin spreading across her sharp features, her voice dropping down to a whisper. "Mystic Falls is about to get real fucked up now, Allycat. The woods may seem tempting to wander in, but there will only be trouble if you let yourself be led astray."
Alaska frowned and Portia blew her a taunting kiss. "Just giving my favorite brunette a head start. Take care."
Portia's vague words and the malignant meaning behind them were completely lost on her. But Alaska couldn't ignore the hymns of war echoing in her ear as she watched her retreating figure.
Before the sirens of the ambulance slowly neared the woods, Alaska took her time comforting a distraught Matt. She stood by his side when the paramedics carried his unconscious sister away on a stretcher. Jeremy was frozen in his spot and Elena's hand was tightly clasped over hers when Alaska noticed how Stefan was nowhere to be seen. It made her stomach churn. Something was terribly wrong. With blood smeared all over her shirt and a feeling of dread coiling in her stomach, she stared at the moon and wondered why it's glory when shown in full sent tendrils of terror down her spine.
Perhaps, she knew the answer, but decided not to follow the path it led towards.
She was not ready.
author's : there are so many mistakes in this chapter i wanna kms. at least i'm bringing back the element of mystery and horror.
skdkfj i can't wait to delve deeper into the dynamic between portia and allie.
damon was supposed to make an appearance in this chapter but i'm tired an impatient so see ya next week!
don't forget to vote and comment ily guys. <3