Elena watches as Klaus compels her classmates, Dana and Chad, to stay in the empty, dark gym with them. Klaus turns towards her, nearly grinning, and her stomach turns. Her mind wanders to Bonnie and Caroline and their prank night which turned into a nightmare.

A loud clank sounds in the gym and her entire body stiffens as she watches Stefan cross the large room.

With a smirk, Klaus asks, "Come to save your damsel, mate?"

He refuses to look at her, directing all his attention to Klaus. "I came to ask for your forgiveness. And pledge my loyalty."

"Well, you broke that pledge once already."

"Elena means nothing to me anymore." Her eyes widen as she wraps her arms around herself. "Whatever you ask of me, I will do."

Klaus tilts his head. "Fair enough. Let's drink on it. Kill them."

Elena steps forward. "No! Stefan, don't!"

Stefan glances towards Dana and Chad, before his gaze lands on Elena.

"Now this is fascinating. I've never seen this before. The only thing stronger than your craving for blood is your love for this one girl. Why don't you turn it off?"

With a growl, Stefan turns and flies across the room to Dana, snapping her neck and drinking her blood.

"Stefan, no!"

Klaus smiles, stepping towards Elena and lowering his voice, "Now, you see your boyfriend as he really is, The Ripper."

She shakes her head, her jaw clenching, silent tears falling down her cheeks. "No. You made him do this."

"No, I'm afraid not. He chose this, love. Free will's a bitch sometimes."

Stefan and Elena sit in silence at opposite ends of the same bleacher, two dead bodies lying feet from them on the gym floor.

"You can fight this, Stefan." He chuckles humorlessly, shaking his head. "You can. You're strong enough. You can control this." Stefan stands abruptly, pacing. "Don't give up. Caroline's dad resisted compulsion. It's possible."

"Sure, Elena. It's just mind control, right? Maybe with some focus, a couple decades of training, I could beat this."

"You've been drinking from me, Stefan. You can—"

"You don't get it, Elena! I drank a few drops here and there. I'm a ripper! A ripper doesn't stop! I've had more blood in the last few months than I've had in decades!"

She stands, stepping towards him. "I believe in you, Stefan."

"I can't even hear you. I listen to the words that come out of your mouth, and all I hear is the sound of your heart pumping blood through your body. Klaus is going to compel me turn off my feelings and I'm going to hurt you."

She shakes her head, her jaw set. "I don't believe that. You can fight it. You just have to want it bad enough." He stops, staring at the floor. "I love you, Stefan. Fight for me. Fight for us."

He nods, raising his head, his eyes glassy. "Through all of this, you are the one thing that has kept me from giving up; from turning it all off. But I can't help what I am, Elena. The more blood that I get, the more I want. And I can't hurt you. Don't let me. Run."

She steps back, swallowing roughly before running slowly towards the double doors. Stefan groans, his face contorting.

She inhales sharply, opening the door, only to run into Klaus.

"We've got to stop meeting like this."

Stepping forward, he grabs her neck and slams his head against hers. Stefan growls and bares his teeth as he runs towards them. Klaus grabs Stefan by the throat as Elena slides to the floor, unconscious.

Holding him slightly off the ground, he yells, "She means nothing to you? Your lies just keep piling up."

Stefan chokes as Klaus throws him to the floor. Between breaths, he bargains, "Let her go! I'll do whatever you want, you have my word!"

"Your word doesn't mean much. I lived by your word all summer, and I never had to resort to this."

Stefan stands, shaking his head through his tears. "Don't do this, don't do this."

"I didn't want to. All I wanted was your allegiance. Now, I'm going to have to take it."

"Don't...Don't..."

Klaus steps towards him, compelling him, "You will do exactly as I say when I say it. You will not run, you will not hide, you will simply just obey."

Pushing him, he yells, "No!"

Klaus throws him to the floor, screaming, "Turn it off!"

Stefan stops fighting, his whole face falling, his body going lax.

Peering over her brother's shoulder, Rebekah asks, "Do you think it worked?"

Klaus shrugs. "A test is in order, don't you think?" Stepping closer, he compels Stefan, "Ripper, drink from the doppelgänger's neck."

Stefan shuffles on his knees to Elena. He bends over her, biting her neck.

Klaus meets Rebekah's gaze with a proud smile. After a minute, he slaps Stefan's shoulder.

"That's enough. We still need her for other purposes."

Stefan falls back, his eyes staring ahead, his face expressionless.

"Uhh, this is boring. I want my necklace."

"What are you talking about?"

Rebekah shows him the picture on her phone. "Elena has my necklace. Look."

"Well, well. More lies."

They look at Elena, sprawled on the ground, blood trickling down her bare neck. "She's not wearing the necklace. Where is it?"

Stefan speaks from the floor, "Katherine stole it."

Klaus glances at Rebekah. "Well, that's unfortunate." He picks Stefan up by his collar, setting him on his feet. "What do you say you get in touch with the bitch?"

Taking his phone out of his pocket, Stefan calls Damon.

"What do you want?"

"Where's Katherine?"

"Why do you care?"

"She has something I need."

Damon tilts his head, his eyes narrowing. "Something you want or something Klaus wants?"

Stefan glances at Klaus. "Does it matter?"

"Yea, Stefan. It matters. Look, we think we got a lead on someone who can kill Klaus."

Stefan straightens, keeping his expression flat despite Klaus' insistent gaze. "And who might that be?"

"His name is Mickael. Katherine and I are going to go get him."

Stefan drops his head, rubbing the back of his neck. "That's not a good idea."

"This is the leverage we've been looking for—"

Klaus grabs the phone. "You're bluffing."

Damon smiles. "I'm not. And in an hour he's going to know exactly where you are."

Klaus hangs up the phone, handing it back to Stefan wordlessly.

Her brow furrowed, Rebekah asks, "What's happening?"

"We're leaving."

"What?"

Klaus steps forward, compelling Stefan, "You will stay with the doppelganger. You will keep her safe. I need her blood. It's the solution to our hybrid problem."

Stefan nods on autopilot, bending down, picking up Elena, and walking out of the gym without another word.

"Is that what all this is about? Your obsession with the hybrids? You just can't bear the thought of being alone?"

"I'm leaving Rebekah, with or without you."

Elena wakes several hours later in one of the Salvatore's guest rooms. She sits up quickly, her eyes wide with fright.

"Hey, hey." Damon crosses the room, sitting beside her on the bed. "You're safe. You're ok."

Breathing rapidly, her hand flies to the bandage on her neck. "What happened?"

He hands her a glass, his voice soft, "Have some bourbon. It'll help."

She slows her breathing, taking a sip of the drink, her hands shaking the cup.

"You know I can help you forget. At least the memories you don't want to keep."

She shakes her head, her eyes full of tears. "No. No compulsion. I need to remember. All of it." She meets his gaze, her expression sorrowful. "He's really gone. After everything, Klaus just took it all." He slides a hand over her jaw, brushing away a tear. "Where were you, Damon? We needed you. Where were you?"

He opens his mouth before closing it just as quickly. Turning away from her, he bows his head. "I shouldn't have left. I was pissed—and I just thought—" He shakes his head, before tilting towards her. "I promise. I will never leave you again."

Before she can respond, Stefan calls from the open doorway, "Well, isn't this cozy?"

Their heads snap up, meeting his gaze as he leans against the doorway.

He holds out his hands. "By all means, carry on. Don't let me stop you."

"Why are you here?" Damon asks, disgust lining his words.

Stefan straightens, shrugging. "Klaus may be gone, but I'm here to keep her safe. So, from now, she's under my protection."

Damon glares at him. "We've done fine without you."

Stefan smirks. "That's obvious, brother. She looks like things went exactly to plan."

"You did this." Both brothers turn towards her as she glares at Stefan, her whole body tense. "I'm here because of you."

His gaze falls to the floor. His hands slide together before he raises his head and meets her gaze. "Don't forget it, Elena. You shoulda run." His jaw tenses before he nods, turning and walking out of the room.