Unexpected

Chapter XVI: I Can't Do This Alone

Hopes's P.O.V

I could only stare back at myself in astonishment. My eyes widened in shame, and I bit my lip, unable to speak. All I could do was watch on in disbelief.

I struggled to speak trying to find the right words and force them to come out. The only thing that would be said was, "How did it all go wrong." in a soft whisper, making me wonder whether or not I said it aloud, or only thought it. Future me's eye soften a bit, her shoulders relaxing only for a moment. Her eyes never once leaving kayley, who was still trying to wake Josie up.

So the two in the letter, the two who would ruin everything for me was now known. It was Landon and Alaric. Ken and finch were just there, they weren't a threat. But Landon... and Alaric, just how?

Future me took my arm once more and suddenly everything was gone. Josie, kayley, the bed, the room. Nothing but darkness until the lights suddenly flickered on.

Right before me was another image one like the night before, almost like a flashback. A glimpse of my future, or... past. I looked at my future self but she kept looking forward as both Josie and another version of my self walked into the Alarics office. Both Josie and myself looked panicked, but trying hard to put on a brave front. Dr. Saltzman sitting behind his desk, elbows on the table fingers interlocked with one another as they rested by his mouth. He looked at us intensely.

"This is the day it happened" future me said. "This is were everything fell apart. Where we lost everything and gained everything in one single night."

Then one by one everyone started to join around. Lizzie, Mg, Jed, Kaleb, cleo... finch and Landon. All looking at me like I was a criminal, like I was the monster they always knew I was.

"How could you be so stupidly irresponsible" Alaric stood up, and began interrogating me. I saw the small shift in Josie, a sign she started to get scared. I stood there watching unable to do anything. But the image of myself held Josies hand. Apparently this was now the greatest sin ever committed since everyone looked at me like I just killed an innocent child in cold blood.

"We didn't mean for it to happen, it just happened!" I shouted. With my outburst, I realized that the audience in the office were beginning to feel rather like a courtroom.

"Josie!" Alaric turned to Josie. She jumped startled. All 3 versions of myself flashed our eyes, feeling the protectiveness all over again. "Tell me again." he demanded.

"I-I-I'm pregnant... And hope is the other parent" Josie stuttered making sure to speak slowly so Alaric could clearly understand. The shakiness in Josies voice, broke me a little.

"I saw Hope at the party. She drank too much and grabbed Josie... I saw her taking her into the forest and held her down, and..."

"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!" My other self shouted standing from my seat and standing right in front of Josie. Who the fuck did finch think she was waltzing in and making accusations about me. "Josie dumped you" I shouted pointing at finch. "She then came to me and I comforted her and--"

"You started to rip her clothes off" finch cut me off. Finch was sniveling behind Landon, and she pointed a shaky finger in my direction as she spoke.

"And now you're here telling me that you are pregnant. With a Mikaelson's child" Alaric shook his head in disappointment. "You are literally carrying an evil monster" he scoffed.

"Dad" Josie stood up, but I grabbed her hand keeping her behind me.

"If you know wha'ts good for you, you'll get rid of it." He said.

"Dad, it's a child Im--"

"A bastard child." he yelled over Josie. "Anything with mikaelson blood is a monster, child or not"