On My Own (TVD Series)

Long-Lost Secrets

Hiding in the living room and away from Lillian, Elena, Damon, and Stefan had sat on the couches while I sat on the floor next to Damon's legs with a bowl of popcorn staring at me from the table. Listening to them going back and forth from Stefan's plans to Damon's, I grabbed handfuls of popcorn, keeping a close eye on the three of them as I popped them in my mouth.

"Alright superhero, let's hear the original plan." Damon sighed.

"First step, convince her that my humanity is still off."

"...well, that's stupid," I added.

"I thought we were waiting for the end to base our opinions."

"...Well, I'm doing it now. That way you can hear my overall opinions while they're still fresh. And besides, you're an empath, Stefan."

"Yeah...I know that."

"You don't, actually. See, you with your humanity is similar to a german shepherd, you're intimidating but friendly. Ripper Stefan is like a feral cat that has gone days without eating. Everyone in this room can tell the difference." I added.

Tossing up a piece of popcorn in the air, I had watched it open my mouth slowly as Damon's hand flew above my hand, catching it before tossing it into his.

"...fat ass," I whispered.

"Thanks...but Lauren does have a point. Caroline will notice..."

"Can we just hear the rest, please?" Elena added.

"Thank you...what I was going to say was...I'll tell her that my run-in with our mother had no effect and I wanna keep the party going." 

Proudly crossing his arms over his chest, Stefan scanned the room gazing at our unamazed faces as I handed Damon a piece of popcorn.

"...that's it?" I mumbled.

"There's more detail...but it's my main idea."

"This isn't a book assignment, Stefan," I added.

"Then enlightenment me, Lauren."

Pushing the bowl closer to Damon, Stefan took a seat on the armrest as I sipped my drink to clear my throat.

"Torture."

"...excuse me?"

"Stefan will take Caroline out of town to a hotel, make her believe that you want to run away and take over the East Coast. What she won't know is that the hotel you took her to will be where we torture her...and you, sadly. We have to keep it real." I added.

"That sounds like a good plan but the last time Caroline thought we were trying to flip her switch she went of a killing spree?" 

"...that's why she's not gonna find out this time. I can make a call, use the worker as our victim-" 

"That's where I come in..." Damon added.

"Damon will shoot the two of you with vervain, Elena and I will tie you guys up for the meantime, and then lock you inside..."

"After that? Who's doing the torturing?" Stefan asked, noticing Damon and me look at each other.

"...I guess I can start. She'll be expecting me to try and get her back..."

"Did you bring it?" Stefan mumbled.

"Bring what?"

"It's a letter that Liz's hand sent to their house. It was intended to arrive after she died, which it did...but Caroline had already flipped when I found it."