It doesn't take long for a police car to turn up. Two officers step out of the vehicle and make their way over to where Elijah, Hayley, Rebekah and Marcel are stood just outside of the gate to the house. The first police man is blonde, average height and looks like he is very physically active from his broad shoulders. The second is taller, has a thick amount of stubble and is wearing a cap. He also appears to be avoiding making eye contact, or looking up at any of them. Which Elijah notices straight away.
"Officer Preston". The blonde introduces himself as he reaches them. "And this is Officer Kane", he gestures to his colleague who has chosen to stay behind him. "We got a call about a home intrusion and a possible robbery".
Rebekah steps forwards.
"I'm Rebekah. We went out for a meal and we've come back to the door like that", she points towards the open front door. "And we have been having quite a few rows with our rather violent brother recently and I won't risk going in there until I know that he is no where to be seen".
Officer Preston nods. "Well, we'll go and take a look. Is there anything else we need to know?"
Rebekah turns around to look at her family. When none of them add anything she turns around to confirm that there is nothing else to know, but Hayley speaks before she can.
"My dog should be in there", she says.
"Okay. We'll keep an eye out".
With that, the officers make their way up the path and into the house.
They all turn to watch the house. Elijah wraps his arm around Hayley's waist and Marcel stands next to her, leaning against their garden fence, while Rebekah is stood by her brother's side. None of them look that hopeful about the possible outcome of the situation and after everything that has happened that is not surprising.
"Do you really think it's Klaus?" Marcel asks.
"Who else could it be? This is a good neighbourhood and we have never had trouble before, Marcel. It has to be him", Rebekah replies, folding her arms across her chest.
"The other police guy was weird", Hayley comments.
"The one in the cap?" Rebekah asks, leaning around Elijah to see Hayley.
Hayley nods. "Yeah, that one".
"What was he called?" Rebekah asks, looking back at the house.
"Officer Kane", Elijah answers.
"You guys are probably just overthinking it. He's just a regular police man". Marcel says, shoving his hands into his pockets.
Silence settles over the group again. Everyone thinking about what the police men could find, or why the door was open. But Elijah isn't thinking about that. He is thinking about where he knows the name Kane from and how the fact that he knows that name is very unlikely to be a good thing. He did a lot of bad things when he was younger, some for family and some just because he was angry and he wanted to. Remembering why he recognises that name could be very important.
Rebekah sighs loudly.
"Why can we never just have a nice bloody night? Why does something always have to go wrong?"
"The night isn't ruined just because of this, Rebekah", Marcel says.
Knowing that his fiancee is annoyed and possibly upset, Marcel then walks around Elijah and Hayley and comes to stand behind Rebekah, wrapping his arms around her waist. She is freezing cold waiting outside and she appreciates the heat that his hug is bringing so, she turns her head slightly and gives him a smile. He kisses her cheek and she then turns to look back at the house.
"What's taking them so long?" Rebekah asks yet another question.
"They have to be sure they haven't missed anything". Hayley replies, sighing and leaning against Elijah.
"If they miss something then they leave themselves open to be sued", Elijah explains.
"I'd do more than bloody sue if they missed something", Rebekah rants.
Hayley smiles and rolls her eyes at her friend.
"Rebekah, where do we know the name Kane from?" Elijah asks, still trying to refresh his memory. He didn't want to ask in case he worried anyone, but maybe Rebekah can remember something.
The blonde frowns slightly and looks at her brother. "We don't know the name Kane".
"I'm quite sure we do", Elijah replies.
Rebekah shrugs. "I'm sure that there are plenty of Kane's out there, Elijah. You could just be confused".
Elijah sighs and shakes his head, but does not reply to his sister. He knows that he knows the name Kane and he doubts that he is confused because he very rarely ever is. Or maybe everything that has happened recently has gotten into his head and he is just paranoid and suspicious of everyone now.
Finally, Officer Preston emerges from the house. He looks inside the house once more before he makes his way down the path to them. However, Officer Kane is no where to be seen. He comes to a stop in front of them and puts his hands on his hips. He gives them all a small reassuring smile.
"All clear", he reports.
"All clear?" Rebekah asks, slightly shocked.
"Yep. It doesn't look like a robbery either so, maybe you left the door open". He suggests harmlessly, giving Rebekah a little smile.
"We definitely didn't leave it open", Rebekah says.
"And my dog?" Hayley asks.
"Asleep on one of the beds upstairs", Officer Preston tells her. "Officer Kane is just doing some last checks, but you're good to go inside if you want".
Rebekah wastes no time in marching up the path to check the house for herself. Marcel follows her and Elijah and Hayley follow him, walking side by side up the path with Officer Preston behind them. As soon as Rebekah walks into the house she goes upstairs to check everything for herself. Marcel walks into the living room and Officer Preston follows him, probably to talk to him about what happens next, or whatever. Elijah and Hayley stay stood a the front door.
"This is weird", Hayley says, looking out of the front door.
"It does all seem a little too easy". Elijah replies, turning to look at Hayley.
He takes her left hand in his right and she looks up at him. He gives her a small smile and squeezes her hand, hoping to reassure her. He knows what must be going on in her mind right now and he doubts that any of it is good. An amazing night filled with laughter and love can be completely forgotten just like that.
"What did you mean before when you asked Rebekah about the name Kane?" Hayley asks, quietly.
"I just thought I recognised the name, that's all".
"Recognised it in a good way, or a bad way?" She asks, looking into the living room where she can see Officer Preston stood in front of a sitting Marcel.
"I'm not sure", Elijah replies, looking up towards where Rebekah went a few minutes ago.
"Then where the hell is he?" Hayley asks, now feeling slightly panicked.
Elijah continues to look up to the landing. Rebekah would have wanted to speak to Officer Preston about whatever it is that he and Marcel are talking about now. Surely she would have come down as quickly as she could. But there is still no sign of her... Elijah can't hear her either. He can usually always hear her high heels clicking along the floors of the house.
"I'm going to check on Rebekah". Elijah tells Hayley. He looks down at her and squeezes her hand again. "Stay with Marcel".
Hayley nods and watches as Elijah makes his way up the stairs. She waits until he reaches the top step before she walks into the living room and makes her way to Marcel's side. She sits down next to him on the couch and crosses one leg over the other. She then leans back into the couch and crosses her arms over her stomach.
"So, what happens now?" She asks, looking up at Officer Preston for an explanation.
"Well.." He puts his hands on his hips. "We tell the station our findings and set up any precautions that you might want".
"What kind of precautions?"
"They can have officers watch the house", Marcel answers.
"Yeah that is usually only for high profile cases though". Officer Preston says, looking away from them for a few seconds. "Rebekah mentioned some trouble with a violent brother?" He asks when he looks at them again.
"Yeah, that's being dealt with", Marcel says, hoping that his answer will suffice.
It does not.
"What kind of trouble?"
"Just family stuff". Marcel says, knowing that the last thing they need to do is let the police know what has been going on over the past few months.
"We don't all love our families, right?" Officer Preston asks rhetorically, sounding as if he understands.
Marcel huffs in amusement and smiles at the officer.
"Damn right", he replies.
Hayley bites her lip and looks out of the room. Elijah has been gone longer than she was expecting. Rebekah has been gone twice as long. And they still don't know where Officer Kane is. None of those seem like good signs and she feels like she should go and see what has happened. But Elijah told her to stay here and the last time she didn't listen to Elijah she got knocked out in a park.
She could easily say she is going to the toilet, slip out and find out where they are. If Elijah was right about Officer Kane, they could need help. She could sit here and listen to more of this boring talk, or she could go and find Elijah and Rebekah. She knows which she will be choosing to do.
"I'm gonna go and change out of these tight-ass jeans", Hayley says as she stands up.
"See what's taking Elijah and Rebekah so long while you're up there". Marcel says, moving to sit back on the couch.
"Will do".
Hayley quickly, but not too quickly to draw attention to the fact that she is moving faster than normal, leaves the room. She climbs the stairs two at a time and pauses when she reaches the top of them. She looks around the landing for signs, but sees nothing apart from Rebekah's half open door. Surely if they were in their she would be able to hear them talking. Yet, she hears nothing.
Treading carefully, Hayley walks to Rebekah's door. She has a terrible feeling building in her gut about this and if she is being honest, she wants to turn and run, but she can't. Not when Elijah and Rebekah are involved. Two of the most important people in her life could be in danger, there is no way she is going to listen to her inner coward right now. She owes them her life after everything they have done to help her with Klaus, the least she could do is try to return the favour.
She reaches the door and bites her lip nervously before she lets out a quiet breath. She then pushes the door open the rest of the way and walks in the room, looking to her right to see nothing. She then turns to her left and has to put her hand to her mouth to stop herself from screaming as tears begin to fall from her eyes instantly.
It's Jack. Lay on blood covered sheets. Slashed apart.
Hayley feels like she is going to be sick. Her knees give way and she falls to the floor, her hand now turned into a fist which she is biting to stop herself from making a sound as she cries soundlessly. She would love to scream and shout, but it is very obvious now that everything they first feared when they saw the door open is real. And she still has no idea where Kane is.
Slowly, Hayley rises from the floor and wipes the tears from her eyes. More fall to replace the ones she just wiped. She walks over to where Jack is lay, making sure to stay quiet. She stops when she is stood next to him and she puts her hand to her mouth again as she lowers her other hand to his fluffy neck. She gently runs her hands over his soft fur, feeling her heart crack when she realises that his usually warm body is now stone cold.
Closing her eyes, she lets out a breath of air.
"Good boy, Jack", she whispers as quietly as she can.
Hayley drags her hand from Jack's neck. She could stand here all night and mourn, but she has to find Elijah and Rebekah. She sighs, wipes her tears again and turns around to see Officer Kane stood there. Before she has time to do anything he hits her over the head with something that looks like a baton. It is hard and it hurts terribly, causing Hayley to fall to the floor instantly, almost smacking her head again on the wall as she lands. She feels like she is about to pass out.
Officer Kane comes to stand over her and pushes the baton into a holder in his belt. He then grabs her by both wrists and starts dragging her out of the room. She tries to kick her legs, but they don't seem to want to cooperate with her and her attempts to kick them are weak and pointless. Kane stops dragging her once they reach the stairs and he moves around her. He then turns her so she is side on to the stairs and Hayley knows what comes next. He is going to kick her downstairs. If he does that, she will definitely lose the baby and possibly her own life with the amount of head trauma she has been through recently.
"Please don't". Hayley says, keeping her eyes closed so she can't see what comes next.
"Shut up", Kane says.
"I'm pregnant". Hayley reveals, hoping that this will change his mind.
She waits, but no kick comes. No shove to send her flying. Nothing.
Slowly, Hayley opens her eyes and looks up at Kane. He is looking down at her stomach and he looks deep in thought. He probably didn't consider the chance that his hostage could be carrying another life inside of her. Maybe he is just letting her get her hopes up before crushing them and crushing her baby when he chucks her down the stairs. He might even think that the baby is Klaus' and that would change everything completely.
Suddenly, his hands are back on her. This time they are on her waist and with one easy movement he has her lifted over his shoulder as if she weighs nothing. He wraps his arm around the back of her thighs and grips her tightly to restrict her wriggling and to stop her from escaping.
"I don't hurt kids... even if they aren't born yet". Kane says, quietly.
Hayley closes her eyes again and sighs. At least she is safe from one of Klaus, or Kol, or whoever's thugs. He might not be on her side, but she doubts that he will be as rough with her as before now that he knows about her condition. She might even be able to talk him into letting her go like they do on TV sometimes. Although that seems highly unlikely.
When they reach the bottom of the stairs, Kane continues walking straight out of the still open front door. Hayley watches as the wooden floors of Rebekah's house turn into the concrete of the path that leads up to the house and knows that all she can do is sit tight and wait. She still has no idea where anyone else is and she knows that she won't get any answers if she asks so, she stays silent. Asking the wrong question could get her killed and that is what she is trying to avoid.
"Come on, Robert. Cable tie her and chuck her in the boot". Officer Preston says from the driving seat of the police car.
"Shut up", Robert Kane replies.
He doesn't hurry up for Thomas Preston's sake. He hates Thomas and he always has done. He hates all police in general, but especially the dirty coppers because he knows that they can't be trusted. Not by their fellow police officers and especially not by the gangs who they work for on the side. People like Thomas are only loyal to their pay check.
With one hand, Robert opens the boot and sits Hayley on the edge of it, holding her arm with one hand. She doesn't try to fight him off because even if she did manage to escape, she can tell from the pain in her head that she would only get about twenty feet before falling to the ground and being captured again. She can feel unconsciousness calling to her and she is trying desperately hard to fight it off and stay awake. She can also still feel her head shaking from the force that he hit her with. Plus being a good hostage might help her out later.
Robert grabs a cable tie from the boot and brings both of her wrists together before tightening it around them. He then lowers her into the boot and picks up the rest of the cable ties before he slams the boot shut. Leaving Hayley in the pitch black. He then walks around to the front passenger seat of the car and climbs inside. He throws the cable ties on the floor and sighs before putting his seat belt on.
"She seemed to come easily enough. I though Kol said she was a tough one", Thomas says.
"Just gotta hit her hard enough", Robert replies.
"Bet he was a struggle though". Thomas says, nodding backwards towards Elijah, who is knocked out on the back seat, blood trickling from his forehead and nose.
Robert turns to look at Elijah. "Not wrong about that".
"And what about the blonde one?"
"Are we going to get the fuck out of here, or are you gonna sit here and ask me questions all night?" Robert asks, aggressively.
Thomas blinks in shock and fear. He knows Robert is not the kind of person to mess with and he doesn't want to make him angry. If he does and Robert tells anyone then the boss will most likely be on his case. That is definitely not what he wants. So, instead of replying, he puts his seat belt on and starts the engine.
Meanwhile, at a warehouse at the New Orleans docks, Klaus and Kol are stood looking out at the water. Both of them have a bottle of scotch in their hand and they are both wearing all black as if they are about to attend a funeral. In their minds, they are. The torture and funeral of Elijah and Hayley Mikaelson.
Klaus takes an extra long swig from his bottle and then lets out a loud sigh. It has already been one hell of a night and he can't wait to finish all of this so he can go to bed. Harry Denmarth and Adam Quinn. The names of the two men that he has murdered. Adam he killed only a few hours ago. He bought him drinks at a bar, got friendly with him and then dragged him into the alleyway behind the bar before slitting his throat. After being picked up from Kol, they brought his body here and tossed him into the water. It will take weeks for anyone to find the body with how deep these waters are.
Klaus has always been the bad guy. Even when he was growing up, he was the one who was hated the most by his family. He has always been evil and stupid, and cruel, and destructive, but he has never been a killer until now. But after this night, he can forget it all and wipe his soul clean of everything. He can forget the killings, Hayley and his family. After tonight he can forget everything that has happened and it can all just be a big, bad dream.
"You're awfully quiet", Kol comments.
"I'm saving my words for when Robert brings them". Klaus says before taking another swig from his bottle.
Kol takes a swig from his bottle and looks at the large boats on the other side of the docks.
"Finally about to get everything that you desire". Kol says. "I imagine you are feeling a wonderful sense of triumph".
"I'll feel triumphant when all of this is over", Klaus replies.
"How does killing feel, Nik?" Kol asks. "I think it's freeing".
"Freeing?" Klaus asks, raising his eyebrows.
"Yes. It's freeing to release all of that anger and frustration, and rage. It leaves a feeling of immense freedom behind". Kol takes a sip from his own bottle. "Was it not like this for you, brother?"
Klaus swallows and looks down at the water.
"It was what it was", he answers.
"And what was it exactly?" Kol asks, wanting to know what Klaus is hiding.
Klaus takes a swig from his bottle.
"It was one man taking the life of another man".
Kol chuckles and takes a swig from his bottle.
"You know, killing destroys some men. I've seen it. It changes something inside of them that they can't change back. It's like it triggers the flipping of a switch. It breaks them". Kol pauses for a second and looks at his brother. "I'd hate to see that happen to you, Nik".
"I was broken a long time ago, brother". Klaus says and looks down at his half empty bottle. "Just like the rest of us".
Kol smiles. "Just like the rest of us".
They both hear a car approaching and they both turn to see Thomas and Robert pulling up in a police car. Robert gets out of the car and Kol instantly makes his way over to them. Exited to see what his brother has in store for their hostages. Klaus turns back around and looks down at his bottle again. He closes his eyes. He's come this far, he has to finish this now. There is no other option for him, no other ending. This has to end tonight.
Klaus opens his eyes again and lifts the bottle to his mouth, taking a large swig. He then turns around and makes his way over to the car where he can see Kol and Robert dragging Elijah out of the back of the car and towards the half open shutter of a nearby warehouse.
