Fight With Me

Chater 27

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Lizzie's POV

The night air sliced against my skin as I stepped beyond the Salvatore School gates.
Freedom tasted sharp and electric, humming through my veins like power begging to be used.

They locked me up.
My own parents.

My heartbeat thundered as anger curled tight in my chest, twisting into something dark and exhilarating. Whatever part of me they were afraid of was wide awake now, louder than ever.

"I'm coming for you," I whispered to the night, my lips curling into a grin.

They thought cages could stop me.

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Caroline's POV

Caroline paced the living room, her heels clicking sharply against the floor. The blaring alarm still echoed in her ears, Lizzie's scream burned into her chest like a wound she couldn't close.

"She's gone," Caroline said, her voice trembling despite her attempt to stay calm. "Alaric, she's not herself."

Alaric stood rigid near the desk, his face pale. "I know."

"She's scared, she's angry, and whatever's happening inside her is amplifying everything," Caroline continued. "Right now, she's incredibly dangerous."

Alaric exhaled sharply and grabbed his phone. "We can't keep this from them anymore."

He dialed without hesitation.

"Freya," he said the moment she answered. "We have a serious problem. Lizzie escaped."

Freya's tone sharpened instantly. "Escaped how?"

"She's spiraling," Alaric said carefully. "She's not thinking clearly, and we're afraid she's heading for Hope."

There was a brief, tense silence.

"You knew something was wrong with her," Freya said quietly.

"Yes," Caroline cut in. "We were trying to help her before it got this bad."

"And now?" Freya asked.

"Now we don't know what she'll do."

Freya didn't hesitate. "I'll gather everyone. We'll prepare the compound."

Caroline closed her eyes, relief and fear crashing together. "Please hurry."

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Mikaelson Compound

Freya gathered Hope and Josie in the living room, her posture tense enough that Hope immediately bristled.

"What's going on?" Hope asked. "You look like something just went very wrong."

"It did," Freya said honestly. "Lizzie escaped from the Salvatore School."

Josie's stomach dropped. "Escaped?"

"She's not okay," Freya continued. "Whatever she's dealing with has pushed her past a breaking point. She's unpredictable and dangerous right now."

Hope's jaw clenched. "And nobody thought to tell us?"

"They believed they had it under control," Freya said gently. "They didn't."

Josie's voice shook. "My parents knew... and didn't say anything to me?"

Hope turned toward her immediately, softening. "Jo—"

"I could have helped her," Josie snapped, hurt bleeding through her anger. "She's my twin. I deserved to know."

Freya nodded. "You're right. But right now, we need to focus on keeping you both safe."

Hope straightened. "What's the plan?"

"I'll reinforce the barriers," Freya said. "We'll call in backup. And you two stay close to me."

Hope laced her fingers through Josie's, grounding them both. "We're not running. If Lizzie comes here, we face it together."

Josie swallowed hard, nodding. "I'm not abandoning her."

Freya watched them, worry and pride tangling in her chest. "Let's just hope we reach her before she hurts someone she can't take it back from."

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Back in Mystic Falls – Lizzie's POV

Every mile between me and New Orleans only made the fire inside me burn hotter.

They thought they could lock me away.
They thought I was broken.

I smiled to myself as the road stretched ahead.

They were about to learn exactly how wrong they were.

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