It's over…
Hope is…, by Killswitch Engage
"This is our moment
will you stand with me
hope is not lost
hope is not lost."
(Jessica)
Ten weeks had gone by. More than two damned months and still no trace of my daughter and Damon! Ten weeks between hope and despair and I found more grey hair on my head each day… Liz had initiated a nationwide hunt for Kane and put Helen's picture on the missing person reports – nothing. The van hadn't been identified yet because the plate hadn't been completely readable on the surveillance video of the town square. On top of that, the abduction itself hadn't been filmed due to a gap between the recording intervals. I couldn't sleep anymore and my nerves were more than frayed, and not only mine. John had tried to help from Baton Rouge, but without any results. The due date for the baby had been two weeks ago and I feared for my daughter. It was her first child… Had she survived? Had the child survived? What had happened to Damon? Questions upon questions… Upset I paced the spot in the parlor of the Salvatore mansion after another senseless meeting and exchange of results of futile searches of our little group. Finally Stefan had enough and stopped me. "You'll ruin the carpet, Jessica", he said. „We have to put an end to this", I huffed agitatedly. "I know, but we've found nothing so far", he replied. "There HAS to be something! We must've missed something! He couldn't abduct a heavily pregnant woman without preparation, damn it!" I snapped. He grabbed my shoulders. „Fuck it, Jess'! I would wake the dead to find my brother if I could!" he shouted equally upset.
I looked at him and my eyes widened. A whole chandelier lit up in my head. "Of course", I whispered hoarsely and slapped my forehead. "Oh my God! Why haven't we thought of it earlier?" I exclaimed and covered my face with my hands, horrified that this had slipped me. Abigail got up. "Jessica, what are you talking about?" she asked and placed a hand on my shoulder. "I'm never gonna forgive myself if they got hurt", I whispered aghast. Impatiently she shook me. "Jess'! What is it?" she demanded. I looked into her eyes. „The other side", I replied and her eyes widened. „Oh shoot! I'm such an idiot!" Bonnie exclaimed and shot up, slamming her palm on the table. "Could someone please enlighten us?" Caroline stepped in. „We call for Grams' ghost", she said and reached for the candles. "You won't need them, honey. Take the fireplace", Abigail instructed her. Bonnie looked quizzically at the flames. The young witch really still had to learn a few things. I took her hand. "Let's get started", I said and we formed a circle. "You really think she'll help?" Stefan asked. "We'll see about that", I replied. Bonnie channeled our energy while she called for the ghost of her grandmother. After a while, Sheila Bennett's ghost appeared in our midst. "Bonnie, child!" Her voice sounded hollow and she looked around. „What's going on here? Why did you call me?" she asked. „We're asking for your help, Grams", Bonnie started. „Bree's brother helped to abduct Helen Corey and Damon", she added. „A Corey? I've already fulfilled our obligation by warning you", the ghost said. Stefan intervened. „Sheila, please. Helen is with child, with my brother's child. Bree's brother is helping to destroy three lifes and we can't find them", he reasoned.
Sheila looked at Bonnie. "That means the rumours about the Corey witches are true?" Bonnie just nodded. The ghost looked around. „Witches and vampires standing united, that's remakable." She seemed to ponder on something. "Tell me what you know", she finally said. Now it was my turn. "Sheila, the vampire behind all this is called Kane. He's using a repressor on my daughter. Maybe Reuben has helped him with this. Kane wants to kill my grandchild and use my daughter for breeding his own dynasty of vampire-witch hybrids." I took a deep breath, trying to keep my composure. "It's his revenge for his brother who was shot by my daughter in self-defense many years ago when he killed my husband. Reuben is helping him to get his revenge for Damon's killing of Bree." Quietly she scrutinized me and I was slowly losing my temper. "My grandchild should've been born two weeks ago, Sheila, but we can't locate Helen because of the repressor – I need your help!" Tears welled up in my eyes. „Please, Sheila, help me find my daughter!" I begged now. She gave me an intent glance. "I'll see what I can do", she replied and vanished. I let go of Abby's and Bonnie's hands and fell into an armchair, burying my face in my hands. "And now?" Tyler asked. „We'll wait. Grams will return", Bonnie said and sat down across from me. I looked up. „Thank you for helping us", I murmured. She smiled. „It's okay. I'm doing this for Stefan, you know." I just nodded and closed my eyes. Elena and Caroline fixed something to eat for us humans while Stefan, Tyler and Jeremy softly discussed about Damon. We waited hour after hour for Sheila's return.
„Grams!" Bonnie's exclamation had us all jump. The ghost flickered slightly. „Ain't got much time", she urged. „Quite a few aren't excited about me helping. The baby still lives and Damon is with him, but you have to hurry up…" She looked behind as if someone was following her. "Search for the little raven…" she called before she vanished again. We looked at each other and Abigail hugged me with a grin. I swayed slightly. "They're alive…", I gasped with tears in my eyes. Elena hugged Stefan. „Damon's alive, Stefan, and the baby too!" She kissed his cheek excitedly. "What about Helen? Sheila didn't mention her at all", Caroline pointed out. Horrified I put a hand on my throat. "Maybe they got separated?" Abigail mused. „Abby, Sheila used the same term like you back then – little raven. What does that mean?" I wanted to know. Abby shrugged. „When I touched Damon, I saw fog and a little raven. The bird seemed to be at the center of his attention, that's all." I gave her a sad glance. "Ravens… Damon always used ravens to spy things out", Stefan mused. „Maybe the little raven stands for the baby", he suggested. "I can try to find him with a locator spell, using your blood", Bonnie said. "I need blood, Jessica, Stefan, from both of you. And a map!" she exclaimed and grabbed two candles. Stefan got the map and placed it ont he table while Bonnie lit the candles. Stefan and I mixed a few drops of our blood in the middle of the map.
This time, the blood reacted immediately to Bonnie's spell and drifted to one spot. "West Virginia? In the middle of the mountains?" Tyler groaned surprised. „You know the area?" Stefan pressed. „Hell, yes. I've gone hunting there with my Dad and uncle while I was younger. It's only about three hours away, but there's nothing but forests and mountains", he answered. "Doesn't matter, now we know where to go. Come on!" I exclaimed and ran upstairs to my room. Abby and I had packed a sort of emergency bag for Helen and the baby, in case we would find her, and I grabbed it now. My grandchild, and my daughter, I would see her again! I was so excited. How were they doing? How would the baby be doing? My mind was running wild and I stormed down the stairs, right into Stefan's arms. "Whoa, hold it!" he exclaimed surprised and smiled. "We'll take two cars, mine and Caroline's. You and Abigail, you will split up on the teams. Bonnie and Jeremy will stay here", he explained and held my arms. "We will find them,Jessica." I just nodded and had to gulp. I would've never thought that I had to be comforted by a vampire. Elena emerged from the basement with a large cooler bag. "Supplies – especially Damon's favorite", she grinned and patted her hand on it. Our group entered the cars and for the first time in weeks I really had hope.
(Abigail)
My sister joined Stefan and Elena while I jumped into Caroline's car. Not for the first time I was astonished how targeted and organized these young people acted. Well, young except for Stefan. I really didn't want to know what they had gone hrough in the past and their survival was a miracle itself. This town was unique, I could imagine moving here. Suddenly, Carolines phone rang. "Mom, what's up?" she said. So it was Liz. Since Helen's abduction, Liz Forbes had made a 180° and kept close contact with us and John, feeding us the newest developments. "Really? Are you sure?" Caroline said. „Okay, I'll inform the others. We're on our way to West Virginia, towards… Tyler, what's the place?... Spring Creek and then Friar's Hill… Bonnie located them." She shook her head. "No, Mom. We're enough, it's too dangerous for you… of course. I love you, Mom." She hung up. „The white van has been spotted multiple times in this area, near supermarkets. Everywhere, baby items and dressing material has been stolen, that's why they compared the surveillance videos." I almost hopped up and down. "Where exactly?" Tyler asked. „Near a dump called Renick", she replied. „I know the place, we've always stocked our supplies there", Tyler explained. Caroline dialed Stefan's number and informed him about our newest findings.
I leaned my face to the pane. It was around noon and the snow glittered in the sun. After one and a half hours we finally arrived in said area. It was quite a rolling landscape, but the streets were free of snow. We continued northwest, towards the national parks. The streets were lined with trees and cut deeply into the hills. After another hour we saw a higher range of hills with steep slopes. Above the top of one hill, birds wheeled. At first, I didn't think about it but the longer I watched them, the clearer it became clear to me that I was watching ravens. "Caroline!" I exclaimed electrified. "What?" she replied. „Go to the hill ove there", I said and pointed into the direction. "Where the birds are wheeling?" I nodded. „Yes, I've got a strange feeling in my gut...", I said and leaned back. Tyler informed Stefan that we were changing our route. Caroline's GPS showed small service roads. "Which one should I take?" Tyler used the zoom to look at it. „The left one, it leads all the way up", he instructed her. "And switch to all-wheel drive", he suggested. Bit by bit Caroline climbed the service road until the car was overcharged and we had to stop. "I can't continue, we'll have to walk the rest of the way", she said and got out. Stefan stopped behind us and lowered the windowpane. "Why the stop?" he asked. „My car's not gonna make it any further", Caroline replied. „Jump in, we'll do it", he said. Stefan was driving Elena's black Grand Cherokee. The big jeep should be able to get all the way up
After we'd changed cars, I continued to watch the ravens. They were still wheeling over the same spot, except for one. He strayed and flew towards us. "Stefan, look at this one!" I exclaimed, pointing at it. „You think Damon's using it?" Elena asked. „Maybe." Stefan shrugged. The bird came closer and finally turned around, as if he was leading us. "Let's follow him", I suggested. If Elena was right, I could try to send Damon a message, but it was easier said than done. The raven kept slipping my control, but at the end of the road we finally saw an old cot leaning to a slope. Stefan stopped and we got out. "Careful now. If we're right, Kane or Reuben could still be in there", he reminded us. "Let me go first. I can smell from afar who is in there", Tyler suggested. He was eager to contribute something. „Okay." Stefan nodded and Tyler vanished into the forest. Elena perked her ears. „He's good, I can't hear him moving", she said. A few minutes later he returned. "There's nobody in, the house is abandoned", he reported a little out of breath. We ran the last few hundred yards to the house. Stefan entered it first, then Elena, Jessica and I.
The house was really abandoned, the fireplace had been cold for a long time. "Search every room, but be careful", Stefan said. We split up. Jess' and I took the kitchen and the bathroom. There we found a drawer full of baby clothes, diapers and formula. "He was prepared, no doubt", my sister mused. Her usually youthful face wrinkled with worry. "Where are they, Abby? I feel like I'm losing it!" She tore at her hair and I hugged her tight to comfort her. "Stefan!" We heard Tyler call and joined him. „You should see this!" he called again What looked like a door to a basement, was an entrance into the rock behind the cot. "Where do you think this leads?" Stefan mused, pointing to the stairs. Apart from the light of the room we were in, it was pitch-dark down there. Jessica snapped her fingers and led the way, illuminating the room with magic. "Let's go", she said grimly. We descended the stairs. No matter what kind of enemy we would encounter, my sister was utterly strained and wouldn't avoid any confrontation now. At the end of the stairs we saw smaller rock fragments. The further we got into the tunnel, the more fragments we found until we saw the collapse site.
Jessica groaned and covered her face. I put my arms around her. "Shit!" Stefan cursed. „You think they might still be alive?" Elena whispered shaken. Silence engulfed us. "We'll see after we've dug our way through", Stefan stated grimly. „Quiet for a sec!" Caroline said. She perked her ears and leaned towards the barrier of boulders. Stefan and Elena also listened intently. "There's something", Elena whispered. „Listen!" Stefan nodded. „A heart beat… very fast… and crying", he described it. „Like… like a baby!" Caroline added and the next moment the boulders flew to the side. Jessica and I had to step back to let them work, but when the path was finally free, my sister couldn't hold back anymore. "Helen?" she shouted and ran forward. "Helen, where are you?" I followed her, but Caroline stopped her. „Let me pass", Jessica hissed. „Wait! If Damon is starving, you won't be near him, believe me", she urged. „She's right. A starving vampire won't be stopped by some headache", Stefan agreed. "Let me go first", Elena suggested. "He trusts me." She looked pleadingly at Stefan. He just smiled and nodded. „Go."
Carefully, we proceeded. The baby crying had stopped. Finally the tunnel opened into a large cavern. It was still pitch-dark and Jessica kept illuminating the rooms. We viewed a horrible scenery. On the left was a cell with a wooden X construction forming and with chains on it. The whole thing was covered with dried blood stains as well as the floor of that cell. What the hell had happened here? Had this been a torture chamber? On our right, there were two bedsteads and a table in the other cell. On the one bed lay the corpse of a woman. She must've been dead for a while because although it was cold in the cavern, the stench was unmistakable. "I think I'm going to be sick", Tyler groaned and held the lapel of his jacket in front of his nose. The rest of us didn't feel much better. On the second bed lay a heap of blankets and it looked as if it covered a human body. "Damon?" Elena said softly and crept closer. „Damon, is that you?" Slowly she peeled the blankets away. I would never forget the terrible sight before my eyes and I heard her gasp for air. Damon lay on his side, protectively curled around the baby's body. He looked wasted and was smeared with dried blood. The child was asleep, covered by dirty towels. "Oh God!" I barely managed to keep my sister in check. Carefully Elena crept even closer until she could touch him. "Damon, wake up! It's me, Elena", she cooed and touched his arm.
He flinched and groaned softly. "Damon!" Elena tried a little louder now. „Can you remove the child from his arm?" I asked. She looked at Stefan. "Try it, but be careful", he agreed. Elena slowly sneaked one hand under the head and was just about to sneak the other under the butt when Damon woke up. Faster than I could visually follow he forcefully pushed Elena away and jumped back to the wall with the child in his arms. In a defensive stance he hissed at us, fully vamped out and growling dangerously. "Damon, we've come to save you", Stefan tried and slowly approached him with outstretched hands, but Elena intervened. "Let me", she said and stepped between them. "Damon, look at me", she urged him. "It's me, Elena. Do you recognize me?" We waited eagerly. His eyes flickered, insecurely darting between her and us. "…'lena?" he finally croaked the question. She nodded. „Yes, Damon, I'm here, I'm real." I watched him relax a little, at least physically and Elena kept creeping closer. "We want to save you and the baby, but you need to trust us. Damon, trust me", she whispered. "Caroline, get the baby bag", I instructed her whispering. In a flash, she was gone. The baby seemed to wake up and started to whimper a little. Instictively Damon's attention shifted and he cradled the infant to his chest, dandling him softly. "Shshsh, it's okay", he whispered. It was a heartbreaking view.
Elena tried it again. "Is this your baby? May I see it?" she asked and stood right in front of him. He squinted his eyes and breathed deeply. Then he nodded. She looked at the child. "He's got your hair", she whispered. „Her eyes…" he croaked and his legs trembled. „He's breaking, Elena", I warned her. "Damon", she whispered and softly caressed his arm all the way up to his shoulder and finally placed her hand on his cheek. "It's over, Damon. You are safe now." His gaze which had locked on her during the touch finally broke and his eyes rolled back in their sockets while he slid down the wall. Elena caught the baby and handed it over to my sister Jessica while Stefan held a blood bag to Damon's mouth. "Take the child upstairs! We'll take care of him. Go!" he ordered us and didn't have to tell us twice. Jessica carried her crying grandchild and I followed her. In the kitchen I started a fire in the wood-stove and ran out with a large pot to fill it with snow. Back in the kitchen I put it on the stove to melt the snow for hot water. Tyler joined us. "How is he?" I asked. „He's recovering, but he needs a whole lot of blood", he replied grimly. "There has to be a generator somewhere and we need warmth. Can you please take a look?" I asked him and he vanished outside.