I don't remember the sirens. Just the sudden rush of movement, the sound of branches snapping, leaves crunching under boots. And then Matt's voice, sharp and raw.
"Vicki, oh my god, Vicki!"
He came sprinting from the trees like he'd tear the world in half to get to her. Dropped to his knees beside me, almost knocking me over. I backed off fast, suddenly feeling in the way.
"She's alive," I said, breath catching again. "But it was close."
"What the hell happened?" His hands hovered over her like he didn't know where to touch. "What did this?"
"Something fast. I don't know. I heard her scream and went after her. And then I found her like that. My mouth was dry, and my hands were sticky and red.
And then the paramedics were on us, two of them, both calm in a way that felt unnatural in all this chaos. One of them, a woman in her thirties, looked at me, then at Vicki.
"Can we take her?" she asked. Not panicked. Just asking permission. Not knowing why, she asked. I pulled back, watching as they rolled her onto a stretcher.
"You done well, kid," the other medic said, a tall guy with a gray streak in his beard. "You were brave. She's lucky you were there."
I didn't know what to say. "I just… I didn't want her to die."
God, I'm so good. It kept me from having to explain the rest.
As they lifted her into the ambulance, I caught Matt's eye. His face was pale. I'd never seen him look that scared, not even during some of the fights he got in at school, even though it's understandable.
"Thank you," he said quietly, stepping up beside me. "You saved her. You didn't have to, but… You did."
I shrugged, wincing at the pain in my shoulder. "Didn't think about it."
Another medic, a younger guy this time, came over with a med kit. "We need to look at you now."
"I'm fine."
"You're bleeding from your ribs, your shoulder, your forehead, and you're eyes are turning bloodshot. So unless that's your usual eye tone, you're not fine."
I didn't argue. Mostly because I was too tired to keep standing, they eased me onto another stretcher, not as dramatic as Vicki's, but still humiliating, and started cleaning the cuts.
"You're lucky," the young medic said. "None of these are deep enough to hit anything major. But you're going in too, just in case."
"Great," I muttered.
Elena stepped into my view, crouching so I didn't have to crane my neck. Her expression was softer than before, concern threaded into the corners of her eyes.
"You're gonna be okay," she said.
I nodded.
She hesitated, then leaned in and squeezed my hand. "I'll see you at the hospital, alright? I'm gonna ride with Matt."
I managed a smile. "You'll have to tell me what kind of dramatic scene he causes in the waiting room."
Matt overheard and rolled his eyes. "Shut up. Seriously, though, thank you. For real."
"Yeah," I said, letting myself breathe for a second. "You don't have to thank me, but… you're welcome."
They loaded me in. As the doors closed, I caught a final glimpse of the trees again, something moving, yet I ignored it. He probably woke up by now and was eavesdropping from a distance, perks of being a vamp.
***
Stefan-Salvatore Boarding House
Zach stood near the door, arms crossed, his eyes locked on me like he was trying to read my mind. "What's going on?" he asked.
I didn't answer right away. I glanced at the fire, letting its flicker settle me, then looked out the window where the rain slid silently down the glass. I could feel the weight of it in the air, pressing on everything.
"Someone else was attacked tonight," I said finally, my voice low. "And it wasn't me."
Zach's jaw tightened. He didn't look surprised. "Are you sure you don't know who it was? Stefan, you've got friends; not all of them are into the whole animal blood lifestyle."
"I know," I said, turning to face him. "But this wasn't one of them. This felt… different."
He stepped forward. I could see the shift in his posture, the worry settling into his shoulders. "Then who is it? Is it Damon?"
I didn't say anything. I didn't have to. The silence between us stretched like something neither of us wanted to touch.
"When's the last time you two even spoke?" he asked.
"I haven't heard of him since I got back," I admitted. "But I can feel it. He's here. He wouldn't miss this."
Zach let out a slow breath, rubbing the back of his neck. I could tell he was trying to stay calm. "You said this was about starting over. Keeping a low profile. If Damon's here—"
"I didn't bring him," I cut in. "He comes on his own terms. He always has."
"Yeah, and people get killed when he does." His tone sharpened, frustration rising beneath it. "You think the town won't notice? That nobody's putting this together?"
"They already are," I said, feeling my voice tighten. "But I came back to try and live differently. Damon... he doesn't care. He never did."
Zach shook his head, not even trying to hide his disappointment. "So what are you gonna do?"
I hesitated. "I don't know yet."
"That's not good enough," he snapped. "People are scared. You think they don't remember what happened before? You think the Council's just gonna stay quiet when another body shows up in the woods?"
I looked away, jaw clenched against the guilt I knew too well. "I know what it brings back. I haven't forgotten. I live with it."
His voice softened just a little. Maybe he could see it in my face. "You're not gonna stop him by hoping he goes away."
"I don't want to fight him," I said.
"Yeah, well, you might not have a choice."
I stared into the fire again, letting the warmth wash over the cold knot forming in my chest. "He's still my brother."
"And that's supposed to make it easier?" Zach asked. "Because from where I'm standing, it just makes it worse."
I didn't argue. There was nothing left to say. Outside, the rain kept tapping steadily against the windows, and somehow, the room felt even colder than before.
"I'll handle it," I said finally.
Zach didn't look convinced. "You better. Because if Damon really is back… we both know what comes next."
He didn't wait for a response. He just turned and walked out, leaving behind that heavy silence again.
I stood there for a while. Thinking. Remembering.
Eventually, I climbed the stairs. My room was just as I left it. Or almost.
The second I stepped in, I felt him.
"Damon," I said.
He stepped forward from the shadows by the window, all ease and arrogance, like he'd been waiting for me the whole time.
"Hello, brother."
I glanced at the open window behind him. "Crow's a bit much, don't you think?"
He grinned. "Wait till you see what I can do with the other animals."
I didn't smile. "When did you get here?"
"Earlier. I couldn't miss your first day back at school." He looked me over with a lopsided grin. "Your hair's different. I like it."
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Yea yea I know, but it's here now. The chapter is finally out. See ya tomorrow.