AN: I've been good with my updates for this story. I hope this chapter is alright and I hope you all enjoy it. Anyways, sorry for the cliff hangers it's just so hard not to put them in :P. So thank you all for reviewing and following this story, my heart shatters in little pieces with feels and sent to you all! So here we go
Chapter 9
"Yeah, I'm standing on a landmine right now."
Matt's heart dropped and his whole body and mind froze. His little sister, the one girl he solemnly swore that he would protect, was standing still on top of a device that could kill her instantaneously by one single movement. He stared at Caroline's unusual calm state in bewilderment as her head casted to the ground and surveyed her surroundings. A thousand of thoughts at once rushed through Matt's mind but none came close to being comprehendible or remotely useful to save his sister.
"Caroline pl – please don't move." Matt said his voice shakier than he anticipated. He cleared his throat and shook the pessimistic thoughts out of his mind. He needed to be strong for her because he knew he could see it in her frightened blue eyes, that deep down inside she is rotting with fear.
"Just stay there and do not move we'll find a heavy rock and place it on top of the device." Matt said
"Matt…" Caroline breathed out.
"I know Caroline. I know." Matt said softly. He knew she was scared, he knew she didn't want to die and he knew she was begging him with her broken voice to help her out of this situation.
"We don't know where the other landmines are though Matt. What if we end up stepping on one and don't even notice." Stefan said scanning the premises.
"The explosion can radiate widely, we should bring the others to a safe zone." Elijah interjected backing away with the other travelers. Watching the others back away and staring at Caroline with pity struck a cold fear through her erratic heart.
"We'll get you out of this Caroline." Klaus reassured and she nodded softly.
"Someone please help me find a God damn rock!" Matt shouted out already scavenging through the fields. The men scattered around leaving Caroline standing alone while she tried to keep stance still and avoid trembling vigorously.
"Caroline." A soft voice graced her back into the world. Looking up, her whole body was submerged into a fantastical place through his ocean blue eyes. A small shadow of a smile formed on and her face.
"Klaus."
"You are going to be safe. We will figure this out. Do you understand me?" Klaus said reassuringly.
"Thank you." She breathed out.
"Close your eyes." He said after noticing her hands shaking ferociously and her breathing became ragged. She looked at him confusingly but nonetheless listened to him and closed her eyes.
"Now imagine love. Living in New York City where your dreams of being a journalist came true. You have your own desk and you are writing the best articles. People adore you Caroline. You are walking down the street and you see the news paper's headlines is your article, front page in bold. Now imagine my arms wrapping around your waist from behind, surprising you and placing a kiss on your cheeks and me whispering softly into your ears, 'congratulations sweetheart'." Her breathing calmed and her hands started to tremble less. Her shoulders dropped and her muscles relaxed as she imagined every detail of his words.
"We found one!" Matt yelled snapping Caroline out of her daze. She watched as her brother (with difficulty) carried the large rock towards Caroline. Before he could proceed, Tyler grabbed Matt by the shoulder and turned him around.
"Let me take the rock to her." Tyler said.
"Are you seriously trying to win her over like that? Now?" Matt asked incredulously.
"She just got you back. If things go wrong and you're not there anymore imagine how she's going to be." Tyler argued.
"Look I am her brother –"
"Will somebody please just take the bloody rock to her?" Klaus bellowed.
"I'm taking it." Matt said strongly before shrugging Tyler' hand off his shoulder.
Matt cautiously walked over towards Caroline, hoping to avoid any unnecessary steps on any other landmines, "Look at me Caroline. Look at me." Matt demanded. Step after step, Caroline held her breath, praying that her brother would not fall into the same fate as she did. Eventually they were face to face and he heard her let out such a heavy breath it was like she held onto it for eternity.
"Care. Look up." Matt said and a nostalgic expression softens her features. She stared up to the sky and remembered the times whenever she scraped her knees or was being yelled at how Matt would tell her to look up to the skies as he would treat her wounds with kind words to soften the blow.
"You are strong Caroline." She heard him say softly, "You are an amazing writer and you will go far. You are my number one girl." He said as he lowers himself down and placed the rock on the landmine. He quickly stood up and wrapped his hands around Caroline's, "Care…" She glanced down and looked into his familiar blue eyes.
"Remember that time when we were playing in the park? Freddie Redman kept pulling at your piggy tails because he liked you? But you tacked him instead and I pulled you out kicking and scream and we fell into the mud." Matt said.
"Yes."
"Think about that." Matt said. His grip travelled up to her elbow and tightened into an iron vise as she grabbed onto Matt's arm like a lifeline. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. She felt the initial tug on her arm. He pulled her away as strong as he could muster up and shoved her aside. Their bodies fell to the dirt ground in front of Tyler and Klaus' feet. They all held their breath while Matt had his arms protectively wrapped around Caroline. One. Their eyes were closed. Two. Matt's arms tightened around Caroline. Three. A heart beat passed…and nothing.
No explosion.
They all let out their held breathes and Matt's head falls back and his embrace loosened, "Fuck." Caroline muttered through Matt's uniform and he let out a chuckle. They sat back up staring at each other for a moment before breaking out laughing. But Caroline's laughing died out when tears over flowed her eyes and Matt pulled her back into an embrace.
"It's okay Caroline. You are safe."
Klaus kneeled down and stroked Caroline's hair hoping to calm her down before taking her hand. She squeezed his hand and he remained by her side in comfort. The other travelers emerged from the back ground and all sighed in relief when they saw Caroline was safe.
"That was one bloody hell of suspense." Kol commented.
"Maybe we should go around this field." Elijah said and Caroline started to laugh again as Matt pulled her back onto her feet.
"I was kind of enjoying the break from walking." Caroline quipped.
They all walked towards the base but it was oddly enveloped in grey smog. They believed it was the smoke mixing with the winter mist but as they inched closer towards the base horror struck their hearts. Bloody bodies were scattered on the ground and the torn tents collapsed and if you listen very closely and when everything is dead silent, you could hear their pleading screams. Caroline vacantly wondered around the base and stopped when she saw a line of soldiers with their hands tied back and they were on their knees. They were humming a sweet tune and glancing away Caroline noticed a row of Nazi soldiers holding onto gun, pointing at the humming soldiers.
"Any last words?" A Nazi soldier asked. One brave comrade rose his head and stared at them dead straight in their eyes with a cold gaze.
"We will die with honor. Every last Nazi will perish in lowest rings of hell with their dignity and pride stripped away." He sneered.
Bang. And their bodies all drop to the ground as the bullets entered their bodies. Caroline's gasp was muffled by a hand and an arm that pulled her away from the scene. She struggled under the constraint but heard a soothing shushing in her ear.
"It's okay it's me your safe." Klaus whispered and Caroline's body relaxed.
"Take Natalie and Josephine and get out of here." He turned her around and stared at her intently, "Do you understand me?" He asked sternly and she nodded.
"Be careful." She said softly before running away.
The soldiers had the element of surprise in their artillery. After formatting a plan to ambush the Nazi soldiers without their knowledge, they all scatted to surround the enemy and slowly and cautiously make their way in holding up loaded weaponry. Caroline shoved Josephine and Natalie into a trench and kept them low while pulling out her pistol at the same time. The soldiers were close and ready to fire any second from now, slowly readying their weapons to reduce the clicking sounds.
Elijah gave them the countdown. 1. Their weapons were up. 2. They aimed. 3. There was a clapping. Click. Everyone averted their attention at the abrupt applauding coming from one of the Nazi captains. He looked amused as he made his way towards the men still clapping away. As the captain closed into them, they all shared baffled looks between each other.
"That was brilliant played." The captain bellowed, "How easily fooled you are. Well played Finn."
Click. Klaus felt a gun being pointed at the back of his head and instantly he dropped his weapon, letting it swing off his shoulders and placed his hands up, "Finn you bloody bastard." Klaus muttered.
"Oh shut up Klaus you're no better." Finn said.
"I'm not a dirty double crossing ass hole." Klaus retorted.
"Finn. What did they offer you?" Elijah interjected.
"Sage." Finn simply replied.
"A girl? You betrayed us for a girl?" Klaus asked incredulously.
"You cannot speak! You finally realized what loving someone is like! You would do anything for her!" Finn yelled furiously, shoving the gun further into Klaus' head. "She's alive Klaus and in their hands…I need her back." Finn's voice started to break and Klaus could tell his hands were shaking from the trembling gun pointed at his head.
"We could've helped." Kol said.
"If you knew…they would've killed her." Finn said.
"Finn…" Elijah said cautiously.
"Don't you understand? If Sage dies…I die!" Finn shouted so loud his voice echoed through the fields. They all casted their heads down at their fallen comrade.
Bang. Klaus closed his eyes and prepared himself for the contact but instead through his peripherals he saw Finn's hand shoot pass the side of face the gun shot was aimed at the captain. Opening his eyes, Klaus saw the a bullet hole dead in the middle of the captain's head. Before any of the other Nazi comrades could react a chain of gun shots were heard and instinctively the men duck under.
Like a chorus number, their bodies all dropped in a line. The boys all exchange bewildered looks and Klaus turned around to stare at Finn incredulously, "What the blood hell is going on?"
"Triple crossing… I think." Finn quipped.
"Finn you son of a bitch." Klaus remarked lightly.
"I don't understand what is actually going on. All of these soldiers were what? Collateral damage?" Elijah asked incredulously.
"I contacted them to come here and after that I contacted the base in secret. I told them of the plan so they rounded up a couple of captured Nazi soldiers and acted out this whole base. So everyone that died here were Nazis. I took a handful of our soldiers and told them to wait out during our ambush and listen for my cue. Not Elijah's." Finn explained.
"You conniving little man." Kol said.
"Look who I found." All their heads turned towards Caroline's voice and she was holding onto a disarrayed red head.
"Sage." Finn breathed out.
Sage looked up and wide grin formed on her face. Finn dropped everything and ran up to her, pulling her into a tight embrace and twirling her around. Caroline watched their happy reunion in awe before glancing over to Klaus who was apparently already looking at her. Sage caressed Finn's face before he dipped down and planted a kiss.
"Oh for Christ sake people! Get a room." Damon commented and Finn directed his middle finger at Damon.
"You stupid insolent people!" They heard a hoarse voice yell from behind and it was one of the fallen Nazis who mustered enough strength to pull out a gun and pull the trigger. Bang. And the air was filled with an ear piercing scream before the others fired at the Nazi. After the gunshots calmed, the agonizing cry echoed through the plane.
"Finn!" Sage cried out holding onto a falling Finn.
