Past, Present & Future

22

It wasn't bizarre that I wanted to leave Mystic Falls – the town brought me nothing but trouble. The moment I felt that it was off, I should have just fled and never looked back and because I didn't follow this instinct, this was how I ended up. Maybe it was all my fault or maybe some kind of higher power was partly in control, but what happened next was up to me.

I could pursue the life of Mia - a girl that stayed with her friends in Mystic Falls and remained in constant proximity to the supernatural life which swarmed the town. She would have accepted everything that happened in the past and embraced her Gilbert side, fully becoming one of them. This girl would never have to worry about being alone and she would have a home she could always come back to.

Or I could go back to being Hermione – a girl on the run; someone who never stayed in one place for too long and always looked behind her shoulder to make sure no one was following her. She wouldn't trust or care and would go back to being an outcast who did not fit in any social boundaries. She could have been a bit lonely but she was safer as nobody held the power to hurt her.

Well, I couldn't say my decision was well thought out. I packed my stuff in a rushed manner, throwing clothes in unfolded, tossing in books without any consideration. My thoughts weren't focused on the pros and cons of staying and leaving but rather where I would travel next.

This all happened right after I woke up from comfortably sleeping in the room I usually occupied in the Boarding House. Maybe it all just finally got me or maybe I just wanted to escape before everything got ruined like it always did, but I was determined to leave the same night – the thought of everything I would be leaving behind never occurring to me.

Only when everything was packed and ready to go did I begin to question it but it was already too late to change my mind so I soothed this underlying concern by writing a goodbye letter which was longer than one would consider necessary. With a last look, I placed the folded piece of paper on the now neatly made bed as I made my way out.

I stopped by a slightly opened door; inside laid a very fatigued and pale looking Damon who appeared to be having a nightmare. There was something obviously wrong with him.

With a sudden rush of pity, I tip-toed inside, hoping that he was in deep sleep so he wouldn't wake up and found something that could possibly help him – at least for a while. Tipping the vial into his mouth, I made sure he swallowed before smiling lightly as I noticed his body relax.

"Consider this a parting gift."

And then I was driving away with a car that I had stolen off the street, leaving Mystic Falls without another trace. Chicago was a long way to go, but hopefully it was far enough that no one would follow.

When I finally reached the large city, it was early morning where the sunrise blinded me as I tried to concentrate on the already busy road in front of me. Chicago was always this busy which was one of the reasons I decided to leave the last time – many people meant a lot of attention. Yet, this was the only place I could think of for now – Gloria owed me a favour after all and what better time to pay it back than now.

The bar looked still exactly the same, except it wasn't yet bustling like it would be in the evening. When I walked in, it was still completely empty, only remnants of the night before having stayed. Behind the bar stood the only other person here, clearing some glasses which already looked clean as she paid no mind to the fact that someone had just come in.

I placed myself on the seat in front of her, meeting her gaze. "You must be kidding me – here I was thinking you weren't coming back. What has it been, a month or two?"

"Yes, it's been a few eventful months which is why I actually need a place to stay – remember how I helped you last time? Well now it's your time to pay back."

Gloria rolled her eyes as she leaned against the counter. "So, what happened this time?"

Gloria was one of those people who was neutral in most situations. She looked out for herself but when you confided in her, she wouldn't betray you. That was why I didn't mind explaining what had happened back at Mystic Falls. "Well first of all – I am adopted and I have a half-sister who is a doppelganger which was needed for the Sun and Moon curse to be broken. Klaus of course found her yet I tricked him – I sacrificed myself in the place of Elena by pretending to be her."

"You died in the doppelganger's place?" She paused; her brows furrowed in confusion. "How is that possible? It shouldn't have worked if it wasn't the actual doppelganger."

"Wait did it?" I asked, baffled. I never actually learnt what happened after I passed out because no one was there to explain it to me when I woke up.

"You haven't heard?" Gloria let out a light laugh. "Klaus achieved his life goal – he's a hybrid now. There were rumours around that he was attempting to make more of his race from the neighbouring packs but they all died out in the end from unknown causes. I don't know if it is real or just gossip but there must be some truth to it since you are here."

"So, what you are saying is that Klaus is still alive? I knew Elijah would never go through with the bloody plan!" I sighed, not too surprised with how it all turned out. "Before Mystic Falls, you never cared about the Originals; what changed?"

"What changed was the grudge I recovered from the past – I guess it's too late to do anything now though. I'm going under radar now so could you provide me with a room?" The fake sweetness in my voice did not work on Gloria so she did not look too moved.

"Can't you get anyone else – I'm a bit busy these days. How about that white-haired kid? I remember him, he was looking for you a few weeks ago. Why don't you go to him – he didn't seem to have any bad intentions. What was his name again? Malfoy."

"Did you tell him where I was?" I asked accusingly. "I didn't say exactly where, I just pointed him in the general direction. How could I refuse when he was offering so much money? Also, he looked trustworthy."

"Look, there is no way I'm asking him for help and even if I wanted to, I have no way to contact him so can I just work here or something? This way I wouldn't be staying here without doing anything. " I could tell I was getting to her because she rolled her eyes before nodding. "Fine, but if any trouble comes after you, you aren't going to get much help from me. Especially if it involves the Originals."

"Yes! Thank you, Gloria." I exclaimed triumphantly. "Whatever - I'm only allowing this because you have a pretty young face which will attract more customers."