Ripples: A Klaroline Fanfiction

22.

Walking towards certain death was probably supposed to be terrifying or at least accompanied by a feeling of dread. That's what Klaus had always believed those suicide bombers back in Syria felt as they were heading towards innocent human beings, knowing that their clocks were slowly ticking away.

Still, as he was pushing through the forest, walking the remaining mile towards the cabin on foot, Klaus felt none of that. Instead, he felt his heart pounding in his chest as he pushed himself to go even faster. He was not trying to postpone his inevitable end, but rather he wanted to ensure Caroline's survival. That was all that truly mattered.

Honestly speaking, his utter lack of regret came as no surprise to the man. He had stopped caring about what happened to him a long time ago and all he'd done since then had been surviving the miserable life that God continued to bestow upon him. Only once Caroline had literally clawed her way inside his heart had he started to feel like he was living again.

And he could never thank her enough for bringing him back to life for this short time.

However, the fairytale had come to an end and he had to settle the accounts of his past before they destroyed Caroline too.

Clasping his fingers tighter around the gun, Klaus could finally make out the cabin Finn had sent him coordinates for. Located in a clearing, close to the river, it looked taken straight out of a cheap horror movie with its wooden walls and dirty, black windows. On the porch some flower pots welcomed any visitors, but what had once been vibrant colors had now been reduced to wilted, dead remnants.

Like he knew he would be once Finn and Mikael were done with him.

One last steadying breath and a scrutinizing gaze around to determine whether there was anybody else over there other than Finn and he was walking straight into the clearing, gun held in front of his face. He and Finn knew each other all too well for them to try any kind of surprise attack.

His older brother was expecting him. Klaus knew it and had no intention of putting up much of a fight. All he cared about was Caroline and the risk of her being caught in the crossfire had his hands tied behind his back.

Slowly opening the door, he cringed when the creaking, ancient hinges announced his entrance into Finn's trap. Yet, all he was met with was pitch darkness, not even a glimmer of those cruel hazel eyes he'd grown to know and despise, but Klaus knew he was lurking somewhere in the shadows watching.

He could feel it.

"I'm here, Finn, alone, just like you asked. Where is Caroline?"

Keeping the familiar weight of the gun aimed in front of him, Klaus went deeper and deeper into the lodge when finally a dark chuckle reached his ears. Whirling around, he tried to pinpoint the location, but with being enveloped in black, his senses were still in overdrive, trying to make up for the absence of sight and refused to cooperate properly. With a quiet sigh, he continued onwards, now certain that Finn was close by. And however much Klaus hated to admit, his sibling had the upper hand. He was practically holding all of the cards simply by having Caroline.

"Allow me to take you to your beloved Caroline, brother," came a whisper so close that the younger man could feel his brother's warm breath on his neck. Immediately he tried to dart around and land in a lucky shot, but it was too late. All he could make out was a horrible pain in his temple as Finn's weapon connected.

Then a wide, satisfied smirk and the feeling of freefalling engulfed him before making room for the luring spell of unconsciousness to grab hold of him.

Yet, he knew somewhere in the back of his mind that when he woke up he would see Caroline.

That was more than enough.