Back to Me

Hero

Fear is a powerful thing. It can build empires. . . and it can tear them down. Few are those who can claim to have mastered the art of fear. Hope Mikaelson was one of them.

In her short life, she came to embrace the familiar prickle of chills that ran from the back of her neck to her fingertips and harness it into power. She was the hero -- the person to stand up when fear cloaked the room. Today, it was no different.

Hope had been training nonstop after waking up from Josie's mind. She knew the Necromancer would bring fire and hell with his newly acquired black magic. And that morning, when the sun was meant to shine through a cloudless sky, darkness shrouded the horizon as far as the eye could see. It was hard to keep track of time then, like being trapped inside of Malivore where nothing ever changed. War etched itself in the walls of the school, in the air, and in the hearts of students.

The Necromancer broke through the gates of the Salvatore Boarding School, the tar golem Malivore close behind him. Groans dragged all the way to the school from the golem's mouth -- like his own twisted battle cry. Despite the eight-foot tall monster on his heels, the Necromancer remained the most grotesque of them two. His face, deformed beyond his infernal recognition, was peeling away by the dark magic inside him. His teeth withered to black rows. And yet, he stood tall with a sharp smile upon his face and a glint in his bloodshot eyes. He walked with the confidence of someone who had already won and was ready to claim the prize.

Battle ensued. Witches, werewolves, vampires, uniting against a wicked soul. Not one managed to touch the Necromancer. Despite their best efforts, the Necromancer simply flicked his wrist and students would ricochet into the ground and spells would backfire. His eyes shone against the dark day, and Malivore set his sights on his son -- on his puppet.

Monsters began unwelding themselves from Malivore. First came a minotaur barreling down the garden. Then, a snake Hope believed to be a python -- only four times as large. Soon, there were too many monsters to keep track of.

The desperate cries of students filled Hope's ears, narrowing her focus to a single goal: keep Landon away from Malivore. She focused the familiar chill toward her chest and let it turn into burning power. She cut through the ranks of hissing monsters -- breaking bones on her right, slicing throats to her left -- enough to immobilize them and give her peers a fighting chance.

The Necromancer met her glare and welcomed her into his space. The two clashed in a duel of spells. Hope had never felt power like this -- it was consuming, pulsing, and dark. She dodged a poorly shot spell coming in her direction and responded with one of her own, which the Necromancer redirected with a sly cackle. He wasn't looking at her, but past her.

Hope swiveled her head around to find Landon stunted on the ground. With unbelievable speed, Malivore pushed Hope aside. As the golem closed the distance he was thrown backward by the twins.

Josie and Lizzie linked their hands while holding onto Kaleb and MG. They both looked progressively weaker as the twins tried to keep Malivore pinned on the ground.

The golem roared in frustration as it struggled to free itself. Hope took the opportunity to rush towards Landon and help him back on his feet. The little ground students had gained with Hope's rampage was slowly disappearing. They were being cornered.

Malivore got back to its feet as MG and Kaleb let out tired huffs. The Necromancer stood next to the golem. Raising his hands while staring down at Landon, he said, "Get him".

Malivore lunged forward and latched its hands on Landon's arms. Landon kicked and struggled as he was lifted off the ground. Malivore's chest opened in tendrils of mud, revealing an endless pit.

In a moment when fear shrouded everyone, in a moment when everybody remained seated, Hope raced towards the endless pit. She grabbed a bloody stake from the ground and drove it through her heart as she fell into the monster. The last thing she heard was panicked screams and the Necromancer's roar.

Hope Mikaelson was a hero until the very end.