Two Lost Souls

I Won't Back Down

"Care, don't!"

She ignores Stefan's scream and lunges at Klaus, who is just standing there, waiting for her with a smirk on his face. The first punch she throws is easily blocked, but she was expecting as much, and just like she did when she attacked Rebekah, she throws another one in its wake. However, either Klaus has better reflexes than his sister or he was expecting it, because she suddenly finds herself with both of her arms behind her back, held at the wrists by one of his hands. Before she can try to think of a way out of this, he spins them around and slams her into the wall, taking the time to throw a warning look at the others over his shoulder as he keeps her in place with the whole length of his body. They all stop dead in their tracks, knowing they're no match for him and trying to avoid making things worse for Caroline.

"Now, is that any way to treat your host?" Klaus says pleasantly, like his forearm is not almost crushing her throat, his other hand holding hers back in a very uncomfortable position.

"Go to hell, Klaus," she spits, hating herself for the tears that are gathering in her eyes.

She tries to wiggle out of his grip, and he lets her struggle without so much as a reprimand. At first she doesn't understand why he's not punishing her for her attempts to break free by hardening his grip on her, but it soon becomes obvious as she feels a telltale bulge against her stomach through the material of his pants. She instantly freezes, mortified, only now realizing that he's half naked, and he gives her a mocking smile.

"Don't stop on my account."

"Stop it!" she screams in frustration. "Stop whatever this is. Using sex to seduce me or scare me into leaving or manipulate me. I'm staying, damn it! And I'm not giving up on you!"

He smirks at her and releases her, watching her carefully in case she decides to attack him again, but she doesn't. Her aggressive energy left her the moment she felt how much he was enjoying it, making way for despair. She doesn't even take advantage of her newfound freedom to assume a more combative stance, just stays slumped against the wall and looks at him, knowing that she's not going to like whatever he's about to say in answer to her outburst.

"Your choice, love," he says with a careless shrug. "I hope you're prepared to endure the consequences."

Is she?

She's trying to be rational here, but it's hard. Of course she doesn't want him to kill any more people – certainly not because of her – but on the other hand, if she doesn't manage to bring him back, how many will die anyway in the long run? She hates herself for thinking of those potential victims as nothing more than numbers, but depending on how quickly she can get him to feel again, standing up to him might actually save lives. He'll kill dozens of people every day for a while just to hurt her, but he'll stop – to some extent, she doesn't have any illusions about that – once he gets his emotions back. Whereas if she takes him up on his offer, he'll 'only' kill one or two people every day, but for how long? Are they talking eternity here?

Whatever she decides, she's condemning people. Men and women with hopes and dreams who would have gotten to live their lives happily had she chosen a different route. How can she, Caroline Forbes, baby vampire and currently emotional wreck, decide who gets to live or die? How can she make that kind of choice not even knowing those she will be sending to their death? What is she supposed to base her decision on? Her selfish wish to get the hybrid back so that she can see if they can be... something? Or the even more selfish exhaustion that is insidiously whispering inside her, telling her that she should just forget about all this, pack up, leave and never look back?

"Tick tock," Klaus taunts her when he notices her emotional turmoil. "The offer expires soon."

"Give me a few days," she blurts out without thinking.