Force of Gravity • NM

•40•

The tension in the open field was palpable. Klaus stood rigid, his fists clenched and jaw tight, his piercing eyes scanning the horizon as if expecting Kol and Elena to materialize out of thin air. 

Beside him, Stefan's usually calm demeanor was frayed, his brows furrowed with worry. Damon paced in tight circles, muttering sarcastic quips under his breath to mask his own concern.

Kai, ever the opportunist, leaned casually against a tree, a smirk playing on his lips. "Relax, they're probably fine. Maybe Kol's busy being his charming self, and Elena's swooning over it."

Bonnie shot him a death glare. "This isn't a joke, Kai."

Kai shrugged. "Of course not. I'm just saying, maybe we should—"

Klaus cut him off, his voice like steel. "If you don't have something useful to say, shut up."

The wind picked up, rustling the grass around them. The group stood in uneasy silence, the absence of their friends weighing on them like an invisible chain.

Back in Mystic Falls, the atmosphere was the exact opposite. Elijah sat in the Mikaelson living room, a rare, genuine smile softening his features as Rebekah flipped through baby  books and magazines, her feet propped up on a cushion.

"This crib is lovely," she mused aloud. "But maybe something more modern, maybe DIY?"

Elijah chuckled, his voice warm. "Rebekah, I never thought I'd see the day where you'd be so preoccupied with child inventory."

She swatted at him playfully. "Don't mock me, Elijah. This is important."

Across town, Naira and Caroline had practically dragged Finn into the mall. Finn looked distinctly out of place, his stiff posture and bewildered expression contrasting with Naira and Caroline's bubbly excitement.

"This is absurd," Finn grumbled as Naira handed him yet another outfit.

Caroline grinned. "Absurd? You're going to thank us when you see her."

Finn raised a brow. "Her?"

Naira giggled, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Just trust us, Finn. We have everything under control.

Kol groaned as he came to, the damp, earthy smell around him filling his senses. His head throbbed, and when he opened his eyes, he found himself staring at the rough wooden planks of a coffin lid.

"Bloody fantastic," he muttered.

Elena stirred beside him, her voice tinged with panic. "Where are we?"

Kol turned his head, his face inches from hers in the cramped space. "Looks like someone decided to bury us alive. Delightful."

Elena's breathing quickened. "Bury us? Are you serious? We're going to die!"

Kol rolled his eyes. "Oh, calm down, darling. If we were going to die, we'd already be dead."

Elena shot him a glare. "That's not comforting."

Kol tried pushing against the lid, but it didn't budge. He traced his fingers over the rough wood, feeling strange etchings beneath his touch. "Runes," he muttered. "This grave is magically sealed. It can only be opened from the outside."

Elena's panic grew. "Great. So we're stuck here forever?"

Kol leaned back with a groan. "Well, if I'm going to die in a box, at least let it be with a dagger in me. That's tradition, after all."

Elena didn't respond, her breathing shaky as she hugged her knees to her chest. Time passed in tense silence, each lost in their own desperate thoughts.

Finally, Kol snapped. He began banging on the lid, his voice hoarse. "Alright, whoever put us here, let us out! I'm not in the mood for this!"

He heard Elena's voice asking him to shush, while he shouted more.

Elena glared at him. "Would you stop? No one's out there."

But Kol froze. "Right, you're here...then who just told me to wait?"

Elena's confusion turned to alarm. "What are you talking about?"

Kol looked down, his voice barely a whisper. "You told me to wait, but you're sitting here."

Elena paled. "I didn't say anything."

Their eyes met in the dim light, realization dawning as they both turned to the lid. A faint, mocking chuckle echoed from outside.

"Katherine," Kol hissed, his voice filled with disbelief and rage.

The grave fell silent again, the only sound their shallow breathing. The question hung heavily in the air: was it really Katherine, had she come to help?