Humanity 6 "The Change"

Chapter 1

This is the sixth (and final) book in the Humanity series. If you haven't read the first five, they're on my profile. Enjoy!

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ASHLEY'S POV

Today was a good day. Summer is officially over and I could not be more thrilled.

Sophomore year...I guess this is the year to pick a major and start carving out your path in life. So that's what I did. You're looking at the future, Doctor Ashley Scott.

"Pop quiz...Mr. Weatherly complains of chest pains and shortness of breath. Can anyone tell me what tests we run?" Dr. Laughlin asks the group of us that are gathered in the hospital hallway.

I watch some guy in front of me raise his hand, but she ignores him, calling on me.

"Scott?" She asks me.

"Uh...a pulmonary angiogram provides a clear picture of the lungs, which is what we look for in a pulmonary embolism; a condition in which Mr. Weatherly's symptoms are common." I explain to everyone.

"Good." Dr. Laughlin nods. "Somebody's read ahead. Remember that. You'll need it in three years. But here's the bedpan you need to know about today."

She hands me the bedpan and I try not to look disgusted.

"Moving on." She announces, walking down the hallway as everyone follows.

"I was impressed." A voice says and I look to see that kid that had his hand raised.

"Thanks." I say with a small nod before following everyone else.

Okay...so maybe I spent the day observing, but at least now we have unlimited access to blood bags. And trust me, we need all the help we can get.

Some of us are still getting the hang of the whole 'drinking other people's blood' thing.

I walk into Ric's classroom and watch as he empties a blood bag into a cup at his desk.

"Want some?" He asks me.

"That's alright." I shake my head. "I had some on the way over. You know...this will never not be weird."

"What? That some ancient witch turned me into a vampire, or that four months ago, I rose from the dead?" He asks with a grin.

"That you're my college professor now." I clarify as he takes a sip of the blood.

In Alaric's defense, he couldn't exactly compel himself a job back at the high school. Nope...the high school, the Grill, the town square...thanks to the travelers, everything is Mystic Falls is still off limits to anyone with fangs.

On the plus side, the crime rate is way down. Although, I'm not sure Matt got the memo.

He's working with some neighborhood watch group in town. But I will say that he's never been better. I think he can bench press more than Jeremy now, which is beyond freaky.

Speaking of Jeremy...actually, let's not talk about him....let's talk about Stefan.

Last I heard, he was chasing some lead to a witch that can contact the dead. We haven't spoken in months, which can only mean his search for answers to what happened has been all-consuming.

He's grieving. He's lost so much...we all did, but we're all getting through it in our own way.

I walk into the crypt in the graveyard and close the door behind me. I slip a bag of herbs from my pocket and dump them into a bowl, beginning to crush them.

Once they're all smashed, I grab a match, lighting it. I take a deep breath and toss the match into the bowl, igniting the herbs.

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