Body & Soul - Klaus Mikaelson

Thirty-Nine

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Caroline's front porch creaks underneath me. It has been for what feels like hours since I've arrived. The wind moves my body ever so slightly as I drift through different memories, trying to find the happier ones. They do little to quell the numbness or the dreadful feeling that has entrapped my body since this morning. My body is struggling, I'm running out of borrowed time.

I tap a pattern out with my feet as I stare at the cracks of the pathway. I made sure to come after Liz left, there was no need for her to worry about me today. She has enough to worry about with her daughter, and a town to run. So instead I wait for Caroline, who should have been on the run hours ago, yet a quick peek in her house told me she hasn't left yet. And hopefully that she would be back soon.

My heart bleeds for her. With Klaus gone, Tyler would have died too. She would have lost him hours ago. I wonder if she got the goodbye that I didn't, or if she even knows that she'll never see him again.

"City?"

Her voice drags me from my thoughts, allowing the smallest piece of warmth to run through my numb body. Caroline stares at me astounded as if I am the walking dead. I should be dead, and yet I'm still here, suffering a fate I wish I'd never have to live. One that I don't intend on living. All I need is to say goodbye.

She sprints up the walkway and throws herself at me. I barely have enough time to stand before I'm engulfed in a hug. I bury my face into her shoulder and squeeze her as tight as I can. As my shoulder is graced with her tears, I give my own to her.

Somehow she got lucky. Klaus lied and they're all still here as living proof. The Salvatores survived. Caroline did. The only one who would have died would be Tyler. They get to keep living without their biggest enemy bothering them. Yet I'm still suffering. Its envy that courses through me at the idea. How lucky are they to finally have their biggest wish? Klaus is dead.

"Tyler's gone," She whispers into my shoulder. Tears soak through my sleeve and leave my stomach rolling. Her body shakes, colliding with mine as she grips tighter and tighter to me. I run a hand through her hair, hoping that it will help.

I nod softly into her shoulder, still crying. I'm at a loss for words. There is nothing I can say to lessen that blow. It's just the truth, and there is no sense in lying to her. I give her a squeeze of comfort, "I know."

She sniffles and pulls out of my shoulder. She squeezes my hand as her lip trembles, "I'm so sorry about Klaus."

I freeze at her words. They make this all too true. I've been avoiding saying his name, and even more so the places that bring him back to me. My house wasn't an option. Like my parents' ghosts, Klaus will wander the halls, finding a home in the rooms and creating a memory that I never want to return to.

So Caroline's was the only place I could go. The only place I felt safe enough waiting for someone. I couldn't stay with Damon and Stefan to watch Elena transition. I needed to have air, I needed to get away. So if Caroline needs to run, I'll get her away from here. I will help her one last time.

"You shouldn't be here still," I tell her softly. She's at too much risk from what Damon has told me. Mystic Falls has come full circle, before he died, Ric started a movement against the hidden vampires within the town. The police are sure to still be on that rampage. They'll be looking for Caroline. She should be halfway around the world by now, "We need to leave."

Her eyebrows furrow at my words as she wipes tears from her eyes, "We?"

I nod, trying to convince myself that this is a good idea, there's no telling how much time I have left with Klaus dead. I shouldn't be here now, but I know the end is coming. My body continues to weaken by the hour, "I'll help you. Get you as far as Canada. But after that, I can't go with you."