In the seat of the SUV that had carried off Elena a small silver phone rang, vibrating across the seat with a buzzing sound, startling a rat that was slinking around the tires in hope of finding a meal. Finally the phone went to voicemail, seconds later the same ten digits appeared and once again the buzzing started, till the phone teetered on the very edge of the seat, then fell into the obscurity that is the trash collector under the seat. It vibrated at regular intervals till the screen went dark. The battery was out. The rat moved from the frozen position he had assumed when he first heard the buzzing. Nothing for him here, he would check the dumpster.
In the hospital Bonnie's parents waited anxiously around their daughter's bed. Waiting for the answer to why their baby girl did not wake up despite all the scans being clear. Desperately hoping for a sound or movement to signal her awakening, but Bonnie was still and silent.
Bonnie's grandmother had been called and was on her way. It was really to late (or early) to call friends at this point. Bonnie's mother breathed deeply, trying to calm her nerves. It would be fine, it was a mugging, there was no head damage, and things would be fine. She made a note to call and cancel the missing phone and credit cards in the morning.
A few hours later, In Elena's house, her aunt yawned and turned over in bed, she had a long night, she squinted at the alarm clock, "Just ten more minutes, ten more minutes and then I will get up and about, I have an early hair appointment, why did I schedule it for so early in the day?..." An hour later and she was still asleep, and then the bright sun started to play across her eyes, with a start she woke up.
She was late, VERY late!
She dressed on the run pulling her shirt over her head as she ran down the stairs and jumped into her car. This was going to put her behind all day. Awesome.
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Stefan tried for what seemed to him to be the millionth time to call Elena from the pay phone, but still no answer, it just went to voicemail where Elena's breezy voice told him to leave her a message.
He sighed; he had left messages, twice, well, really five times, MAYBE eight. Now he was beginning to worry. He punched in Damon's number. '
"Come on, come on and pick it up!" He said willing for there to be a response on the other end.
"Damon here." His brother purred, then continued, not giving Stefan a chance to speak.
"Yes, I did deliver your little message, and NO I am not going to be delivering anymore. I still don't see why I had to be messenger boys in the first place, if her phone was off; leave a message like every other human does." He needled his brother.
Stefan chose to ignore it.
"I can't reach Elena, I've been trying all morning." Worry was thick in his voice.
"Well now, maybe she just got tired of you. Suffocating from the whole over protective act you have going, 'bout time too, I must say. She does not seem the type to be so smothered. You know how it goes, everyone needs space."
"Damon, I am serious. Do you know anything?"
Damon huffed. "Wow. You are no fun this morning, what turned you into Mr. Crankypant's?"
"Damon…" Stefan's voice bordered on a snarl and several patrons of the diner looked up at him from their papers with interest.
"Okay, okay, fine! Chill! boy, you need to do something to get rid of all that tension you have, but then I suppose that's why you are so interested in finding your girlfriend, isn't it?"
Stefan considered hanging up the phone. No, better not give Damon the satisfaction. He opted for stoic instead.
"So do you know anything?"
"Well, she and her little witch friend were going to have a sleepover." The way Damon said it was heavy with innuendo. He was vexed he had failed to rile up Stefan.
"She is with Bonnie?" Stefan relaxed a fraction.
"Yup, but if you want verification I would be happy to look in on them, I always did want to see if girls really do have pillow fights at slumber parties." Damon actually sounded interested.
"No, never mind, I am sure she just forgot to charge her phone." The last thing Stefan wanted was his brother near Elena in this puckish mood.
"Are you sure, because it would be NO problem."
"Just stay away from her Damon, let her have time with her friend." Stefan sighed.
"All right, because that was a limited time offer, if you do not take me up on it now, don't come calling back whining because you are worried about her. I have other things to do with my day than be your errand boy. In fact. I am going to turn my phone off all day. Get close to nature and what not." Damon yawned loudly in Stefan's ear, drowning out his protest. ''Bye now, it was great talking to you." Damon ended the call with a flourish and then held down the power button till the screen went dark. He smiled to himself contentedly. Now, time for a snack.
Stefan swore under his breath as he hung up the phone. He was very nearly sure that he was off on a wild goose chase out here in the woods; He was after a rumored band of vampires that were supposedly thinning out the hikers on the Appalation Trail. Not that he was one to seek out trouble like this, but certain edginess had been in the back of his mind lately, some sort of threat was growing at the edge of his mind, and this was the only thing that seemed even remotely threatening. It was odd, because his senses were as fine toned as any animals, and never had lead him astray in the past. Pushing down the irrational fear that threatened to overwhelm him he took a breath. Everything was fine. Elena and Bonnie were together, just how much trouble could the two of them get into together?
Turned away from the phone in the diner he stepped out into the rain. He was this close, why not check it out. Then he would be back in town in time for dinner tomorrow.
He gritted his teeth at Damon's caprice; he would just have to call Bonnie if he wanted to get in touch with Elena. He probably should have done that in the beginning instead involving Damon.
In a heartbeat he was in the woods, every step taking him farther from Elena.