Unstoppable | The Vampire Diaries

49. Wanted Dead or Alive

"Was he mad?" Caroline asked Riley. They were walking through the empty school halls on their way to the cafeteria, to clean up the mess from the dance the night before.

Riley frowned, then shook her head. "He wasn't mad. He was... sad. I mean, she did awful things, but she was his mom, y'know?"

Caroline nodded. After they had said their silent goodbyes to their favorite vampire hunter/history teacher, Riley had to have the uncomfortable 'we killed your mom' conversation with Elijah. Even though he knew that it was the right thing to do, she couldn't ignore the hurt look in his eyes when he got the news.

As they walked into the cafeteria, they saw that a familiar blonde had already beaten them to it.

"You're late," she said, without turning around to greet them. "Clean up committee started at 8."

Caroline raised an eyebrow at Riley, who glanced at her phone screen.

"It's 8:02," she told Rebekah.

The Original vampire rolled her eyes, a scowl taking over her features. "I managed to turn up on time. And I didn't even get to attend the dance that I organized."

Rebekah's absence at the dance was apparently the work of her, now deceased, mother. Although no one apart from her knew the intricate details.

"I'm sorry about your mom," Caroline said softly. She opened her mouth to say something else, but stopped when she noticed Rebekah's face soften.

"Sorry about your teacher," Rebekah replied. "He seemed like a nice guy."

There was a moment of silence as the three girls bonded over the loss of their loved ones.

"I'm gonna get started on the gym," Rebekah said, leaving them to their own devices. Once she was out of earshot, Caroline whispered to Riley.

"Isn't that weird? She seemed... nice. Almost human."

"Yeah well, losing your mom will probably do that to you," Riley guessed with a shrug. Suddenly, there was a noise from the hallway behind them, something had banged into the lockers. Caroline moved her hair behind her ear and listened as closely as she could.

"Go to the car," she instructed Riley, her voice monotone and quiet.

"What?" Riley asked incredulously.

Caroline grabbed her arm. "Leave through the back entrance and go to the car. I'll meet you there in a minute."

Riley ignored her curious nature and followed her best friend's instructions to the letter, leaving the school via the back entrance, getting into her car and turning the engine on as fast as she could. Then she waited.

After what felt like an eternity, she saw Caroline speed-walking towards the car. However, before she could make it, someone grabbed her from behind and broke her neck. Riley wanted to scream, but she couldn't draw attention to herself. So she watched in stunned silence as the man dragged Caroline back into the school.

Was it just her, or did that man look a hell of a lot like Ric?

***

The only place she could go to find help was Elena's house, where she knew at least one Salvatore brother, if not both, would be.

After seeing who was waiting by the front door, she thought that taking the back entrance into the house would be a safer route.

"Do you guys know that Klaus is trying to get inside?" she asked. Damon, Stefan and Bonnie turned to her in surprise, none of them noticing before that she was there.