LOST BOY | HOPE MIKAELSON

00.09: Unease Lurking

Dan jolted awake, beads of sweat dotting his forehead as he gasped for breath. His heart pounded in his chest, the remnants of a haunting nightmare clinging to his thoughts. He sat up in bed, trying to steady his breathing and shake off the lingering unease.

Feeling the need to gather himself, Dan quickly got dressed, opting for a black polo shirt with the first button unbuttoned, revealing a hint of his collarbone. He ran a hand through his tousled hair and made his way out of his room, guided by an unsettling determination.

As he walked through the dimly lit corridors of the school, he felt a magnetic pull towards the library. It was a place of knowledge and solace, where he hoped he could find answers to the questions plaguing his mind. Pushing open the heavy oak doors, he stepped into the quiet sanctuary.

The library was shrouded in shadows, the soft glow of the reading lamps casting a warm ambiance. Dan made his way to a secluded corner, where he settled at a table with a stack of books. Hours passed as he delved into the pages, searching for any clues that could unlock the memories buried within him.

The sun began to rise, painting the sky in hues of pink and orange. Dan's eyes were heavy from exhaustion, but his determination kept him going. And then, buried amidst the pages of an ancient tome, he found a passage that sent a shiver down his spine.

The words hinted at a long-lost coven, their connection tethered to the moon. The details were vague, but the essence resonated with him, as if a missing piece of his puzzle had been discovered. However, the name of the coven was conspicuously absent, scratched out or erased from the records.

A sense of frustration mingled with the unease that had taken root within him. Dan closed the book with a sigh, realizing that he still had more questions than answers. He longed to remember his past, to uncover the truth about his existence and the significance of the moon that seemed to haunt his dreams.

Just as the sun settled in the sky, casting long shadows through the library, Dan heard footsteps approaching. He glanced up and saw Hope standing at the entrance, her gaze fixed on him. There was concern in her eyes, but he couldn't bring himself to meet her gaze fully.

"Hey, Dan. I saw you here and thought I'd check on you," Hope said softly, her voice filled with genuine care.

Dan looked down, his unease making him retreat into his shell. "Oh, um, yeah. I'm fine. Just... researching something."

Hope scanned the table, noticing the array of books and the tired lines etched on Dan's face. "Is everything okay? Can I help?"

Dan mustered a weak smile, his shyness preventing him from opening up completely. "No, really, it's nothing. Just trying to figure some things out."

Hope hesitated for a moment, sensing his reluctance to share. She nodded slowly. "Alright, just remember, I'm here if you ever need someone to talk to."

As Hope turned to leave, Dan felt a pang of guilt for pushing her away, but the unease within him held him back. He watched her retreat, her figure disappearing into the library's depths.

When she left the library, Dan returned to his quest for answers. Soon after, Josie entered the room, her eyes landing on Dan engrossed in his studies. Curiosity got the better of her, and she approached him, her voice gentle.

"What are you researching, Dan?" Josie asked, her intuition telling her that his search held deeper meaning.

Dan looked up, briefly meeting Josie's eyes. His unease resurfaced, but he couldn't deny the comfort she seemed to radiate. "Just... something important," he replied cryptically, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

Josie smiled knowingly, a glimmer of understanding in her eyes. She reached into her bag and pulled out a book. "I used this when I was looking for answers. Maybe it'll help you too," she offered, extending the book towards him.

Dan accepted it gratefully, his gaze meeting Josie's. "Thank you, Josie. I appreciate it."

With a nod and a knowing smile, Josie left him to continue his research. The library became his sanctuary, a place where he could lose himself in the pursuit of his forgotten past.

Hours turned into days as Dan immersed himself in the wealth of knowledge, yet the memories remained just out of reach. Frustration gnawed at him, mingling with the ever-present unease that clung to his thoughts.

Feeling a mixture of frustration and determination, Dan decided it was time to seek guidance from Alaric Saltzman, the headmaster of the school. He gathered his belongings, closed the book Josie had given him, and made his way to Alaric's office.

As he approached the office door, unease fluttered in his chest. He knew that seeking answers meant facing his deepest fears and uncovering truths he might not be prepared for. But with his heart pounding and his mind filled with questions, Dan summoned the courage to knock on the door.

"Come in," Alaric's voice called from within.

Dan took a deep breath, turned the doorknob, and stepped into the room, ready to confront the unease that lurked within him.

"Alaric," Dan began tentatively, his voice betraying his inner turmoil. "I've been doing some research, trying to remember...my past. And I came across some information that seems to match with my own experiences, but there are missing pieces."

Alaric looked up from his desk, his expression a mix of curiosity and concern. "What have you found, Dan?"

Dan hesitated, unsure of where to begin. But then, his mind drifted back to the nightmares that had plagued him, the moonlit visions of a long-lost coven, and the sense of familiarity that had stirred within him. It was time to share his discoveries, to unlock the secrets that lay dormant within his memories.

"I found references to a coven, a powerful group of individuals bound to the moon," Dan began, his voice steady but tinged with unease. "They were said to possess a magic that thrived at night, as if they were shadows beneath the full moon, gleaming and reaping. Their eyes...their eyes were the only bright...blue."

Alaric's eyes widened in recognition, a flicker of remembrance dancing in his gaze. He leaned back in his chair, a deep sigh escaping his lips. "Dan, what you're describing...I've encountered something similar in my own past," he confessed, his voice laced with a mix of awe and trepidation. "There was a woman...a woman who carried a child with her. They were part of a long-lost coven, their ties to the moon and its magic were undeniable."

Dan's heart raced as the pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place. The unease that had consumed him now mingled with a glimmer of hope. "Do you know more? Can you help me remember?"

Alaric's gaze softened as he reached for a dusty old journal on his bookshelf. "I have my own records, my own encounters with the long-lost coven. I don't have all the answers, but together, perhaps we can unearth the truth."

As Dan and Alaric delved deeper into their conversation, their voices filled the room, whispers of the past mingling with the present. The unease that had haunted Dan was now accompanied by a renewed sense of purpose. The mysteries surrounding his forgotten coven were slowly unraveling, and with each revelation, he inched closer to unlocking the secrets that lay hidden within his memories.

- TO BE CONTINUED -

Yves speaks!

Next up, the memory dive :>