Liz Forbes sat at the kitchen table, the morning sun barely breaking through the heavy curtains. She stared at the untouched cup of coffee in front of her, the dark liquid now cold. She had barely slept, her mind racing with worry for her missing daughter, Jules. It had been a day since she last heard from her, and all they had found was her crashed car on the side of the road. Blood stained the ground, but Jules was nowhere to be found. Liz's heart clenched at the thought of what might have happened.
Caroline sat across from her, her eyes red from crying. She hadn't known Jules was coming to surprise her for her birthday. Liz had kept it a secret, imagining the joy on Caroline's face when Jules walked through the door. But instead of a surprise reunion, they were now facing the nightmare of Jules' disappearance.
"She was coming here, wasn't she?" Caroline asked, her voice breaking. "To see me? And now... now she's missing, and we don't even know where to start."
Liz nodded, her own tears threatening to spill. "She was on her way to surprise you. I'm so sorry, Caroline. I thought—"
Caroline cut her off, her frustration bubbling over. "You thought it would be a fun surprise, Mom! But now she's gone, and it's not just some game anymore. She's out there, scared, and we're just sitting here."
Liz swallowed hard, trying to keep her composure. "I know, Caroline. The police are doing everything they can, but it's like she just vanished. There's no sign of her anywhere."
Caroline's fists clenched, her sadness turning into anger. "We need more than just the police. We need Damon and Stefan. They can help. They know this town, and they know what's really out there."
Almost as if summoned by her words, a knock sounded at the door. Liz quickly rose, opening it to reveal Damon and Stefan Salvatore standing on the porch. Their faces were tense, reflecting the gravity of the situation.
"Liz," Damon greeted, his voice unusually soft. "We heard about Jules. We've been out searching, and when we found her car..." He paused, glancing at Stefan. "It doesn't look good."
Stefan stepped forward, his expression serious. "There was blood, and the car was a mess. But there's no sign of her, which makes us think—"
"A vampire," Liz finished, her voice filled with dread. "You think a vampire took her."
Caroline's eyes widened, fear mixed with fury. "Are you sure? I mean, it could have been anything, right?"
Damon shook his head, his tone firm. "There was too much blood, and the way the car was found... it wasn't just an accident. This has vampire written all over it."
Stefan nodded in agreement. "We've been looking into some unusual activity around town. A few vampires have been spotted recently, ones we don't recognize. It's possible one of them could have taken Jules, maybe as a way to get back at Liz for something."
Liz's mind raced, trying to piece together why anyone—vampire or not—would target Jules. "But why? Why Jules? She's got nothing to do with this supernatural mess."
Damon leaned against the doorframe, his expression thoughtful. "Vampires don't always need a good reason, Liz. Sometimes it's just opportunity, or they're trying to send a message. If it's someone with a grudge against you, they might think taking Jules is the way to get to you."
Caroline stood up, her face set with determination. "Then we need to find out who did this and why. And we need to do it fast. She's out there, and we can't waste any more time."
Stefan nodded. "We're already working on tracking down any new vampires in town. We'll keep searching the usual places—abandoned buildings, old haunts where they might be hiding out."
Liz's hands shook as she held onto the back of a chair, her heart heavy with fear. "Please, just... bring her back. I don't care what it takes. I just need her safe."
Caroline walked over to Liz, wrapping her arms around her mother in a fierce hug. "We'll find her, Mom. I promise. And whoever did this—whoever thought they could take Jules—they're going to regret it."
Damon's eyes glinted with a mix of determination and anger. "We'll make sure of it, Caroline. No one messes with this family and gets away with it."
Liz nodded, grateful for their help but terrified of what might come next. She watched as Damon and Stefan turned to leave, their mission clear. They had a vampire to find, and they wouldn't stop until Jules was home.
As the door closed behind them, Liz whispered a silent prayer, her eyes closing as she tried to steady her breathing. "Hold on, Jules," she murmured. "We're coming for you."
She just hoped they weren't already too late.
YOU ARE READING
The forgotten sister.
FanficWhen Jules Forbes returns to Mystic Falls, she expects to reconnect with her sister, Caroline. Instead, she discovers Caroline's dark secret: she is a vampire. Reeling from the shock, Jules is thrust into a world of supernatural danger and intrigue...