So yeah I'm back! And I decided that I'm going to change a bit with the story. Hope will be a main character so will Lizzie, and the perspectives will alternate between their (plus probably Cleo's) points of view around every chapter or so. Enjoy the Chapter 3!

BTW there were some formatting issues the first time I posted it, so this is the repost with the correct format.

Hope Mikaelson took a sip of her water as she stared out at the Open Lake. It was weird, the lake. Not a single thing rippled the water, not even the wind. Nothing lived in it because nothing could survive. Not plants. Not animals. Not algae. Not even bacteria. It was just a pit of water. Known as the Open Lake.

Fifteen years ago, the Open Lake would not have been possible, but after the radiation everything changed.

Her father thought that the lake was poisonous, probably deathly. He didn't really like her hanging near it, but Hope liked the quiet. Everything was so peaceful here.

One of these days she really wanted to swim in it, but she figured she would probably wait until Cleo's curious mind couldn't take it anymore and just decided to experiment on it. At least that way Hope could have a better idea if it was harmless or not.

Cleo was the scientist of the group. Klaus had even made Cleo her own lab on one of the lower levels of the house. She was muse, so her mind was constantly spinning.

It was the early morning. Nothing was really happening. Hope figured that she should probably head to the market. They were running a bit low on supplies.

The market more commonly known as The Shop, was where Hope and her family got things that they couldn't hunt or grow. Unlike the communities or semi-communities that had spoken or unspoken rules, the shop didn't have any rules but one. If you were going to be at The Shop, you had to buy or sell.

Loitering would either result in a curse from a pissed off witch or if you were really unlucky a stake to the heart. Therefore, the shop wasn't the safest place, but it was the only thing around.

Alaska, a state within the America, was where she and her family were currently living. They had moved from New Orleans when the radiation hit. Klaus liked it here – Alaska already hadn't had many people before the radiation, so it had even less people now – less dangerous. Most of the people living there were supernaturals just trying to mind their own business.

No one really talked to one another or tried to make conversation. In fact, most people wore mask like hoods covering their hair, nose, and mouth in order to keep their identity a secret. Klaus required both girls to wear one if they were leaving the house.

There were usually under a hundred people in Alaska at a time. Most were travelers. Trying to get from North America to Asia. Anyone who wanted to travel to Australia or Africa from there had a death wish.

People who still owned a working airplane were few and far in between. Plus, anyone who tried to use it had to be extremely careful because they would most likely be shot out of the sky by lightning.

Therefore, anyone who wanted to travel to either of those places had to do so by boat, but no one wanted to travel that far in the ocean.

Before the radiation things like sea travel were possible, and they still were today, but the radiation had caused huge, uncontrollable, mutated sea monsters – things from legends – to rule the waters. Not to mention the frequent, fast-moving storms that could cause a boat to sink in minutes.

Asia was possible to get to, but Africa was too far. Australia on the other hand – well it was debated if Australia was still around most believed the many rumors that it was entirely flooded over.

The tribrid groaned as she lifted herself up from the rotting dock sparing one last look at the Open Lake before heading inside.

The screen door shut with a snap, but that was all the noise that could be heard from the house. It was only Cleo, Klaus, and herself living in Alaska at the moment.

When the radiation first started her mother was among those who died. She was gone almost insanity, but for all their research her family could not figure out why. All they knew was that she was dead. Her Uncle Elijah had committed suicide not long after apparently the loss of his wife was too much to bear.

Her Uncle Kol and Aunt Davina were living with them for a bit of time, but they recently moved out east. Davina had dreams of starting their own community one that was run by witches (plus Kol) for witches. They wanted to create a safe place for orphaned witches and teach them how to use their magic properly.

Hope's brother Marcel opted to move with them considering Davina was basically his daughter, but Davina insisted that she did not need a babysitter, and that he should just go have a fancy honeymoon with Rebekah.

The tribrid figured that Rebekah and him were currently looking around in the Hawaiian islands to see if any of them still had the charm they once had fifteen years ago (Hope heard that everyone that had lived on Hawaii died because the plants there were so effected by the radiation they started eating people).

As for Freya and Keelin they were off doing something or another. Hope prayed that the two of them were actually enjoying life considering they had both sacrificed a lot for the family. They deserved a good vacation.

So all that was left of her family was her and her dad plus Cleo of course. Cleo and Hope had meant right before the radiation and became fast friends, but when it hit Cleo became very sick. She lasted longer than Hope's mother, however, and Klaus not wanting Hope to lose someone else she loved spent all their resources on nursing her back to health. Since then, Cleo had basically become an unofficial part of their family. The two girls were raised together, practically sisters.

Hope opened a cardboard looking to see if there were any coffee beans left – they were a rare thing to find all the way up here in Alaska, but if you knew the right person to ask one could find some at the shop.

She shook the bag around trying to see if there were anymore – it looked like just enough for one cup. The tribrid sighed she really needed to head to the shop.

"I do hope that you plan to save some of that coffee for me," called a tired voice behind her.

Hope rolled her eyes turning around, "Didn't you just say yesterday that coffee was unhealthy and was going to rot my body or something."

"Well though it is true coffee is terrible for you, it doesn't mean it tastes bad," Cleo said grinning.

"Fine," Hope grumbled, "We can share it, but you have to come to the shop with me."

Cleo narrowed her eyes, "When have you ever listened to Klaus's rule about not leaving the house alone?"

"I am right now, aren't I? Plus, it's more fun to go with someone else."

"Well," Cleo said putting the beans into the coffee maker, "When you put it like that, I guess I could come. I need some more materials for my lab anyways."

Hope hummed, "Yeah, but you also want to see Kaleb."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Sure, you don't."

xxxxx

It was common knowledge that one at the shop should keep their identity covered. Meaning no giving out real names, your face should be covered, and keep your hands to yourself. Hope used the alias, Andrea Marshall, and Cleo used the alias, Ayomi Okojie.

Usually when one was traveling in Alaska, they wore jeans and tall boots. Cleo and Hope also donned short cloaks that stopped around the arms, but had hoods with masks that could be brought up to hide the bottom part of their faces.

As the girls made their way through the shop no one gave them a second glance. Most were too busy trying to strike a deal or make a bargain.

They were heading up to the stand where they usually bought coffee. The woman that sold it, her name was Cira an old woman with gray hair. Who was notoriously known for stabbing someone (literally) in the back if they tried to double cross her. She was also known for being the shop's biggest gossip. If you wanted insider information on their broken world, she was woman you went to.

"Here," Cleo said placing five tomatoes and six long carrots they had grown in their garden on the table, "Five tomatoes and six carrtos for a month's worth of coffee."

Cira laughed, "Girly you have got to do a lot better than that if you want you want a month's worth of coffee."

"Fine," Cleo huffed, "How about—"

"We'll give you ten tomatoes and twelve carrots," said Hope.

Cleo whipped around, "We will not be giving her ten—"

Hope ignored her, "But we are going to need a bit of information with that coffee."

"Information?" hissed Cleo, "Hope—"

"Deal," said Cira sticking out her hand, "Now what kind of information are you looking for."

"I've heard rumors," Hope began, "rumors about certain deaths, but they aren't just any deaths."

"They never are," Cira grumbled.

"They're radiation deaths," this seemed to make both witches perk up, "I heard that's what killed the four shop vendors currently thought to be missing."

"Oh yes," Cira began an evil smile growing on her face, "I've heard those rumors too. No one knows the cause, but many think it's the radiation. There are few humans left, but vampires have to feed so you'll come across one every now and then. But a few years ago, there were rumors that the humans were mutating. The radiation wasn't very kind to their systems.

"But did you ever wonder what the radiation would do to our systems, witches, werewolves, vampires? How do you think the radiation will change us? I believe that we are starting to see that change now," Hope's eyes widen, "Would you like to see one?"

"No, we would not!" Cleo said rather sternly, "Andrea this woman is talking nonsense. Various other supernaturals that I have all talked to have found nothing for radiation mutations. Yes, for humans. No for supernaturals. We should go," Cleo grabbed the bag of coffee off the table, "We are finished here."

Hope shook her head, "Let me see."

"Curious child," Cira remarked, "Come with me," Cira opened up the curtains to the back of her stand.

"Andrea!"

"Ayomi if you want to leave then leave, but I need to see this."

Cleo huffed, "Well if your stupidity is going to get you in trouble someone needs to be there to help you out."

The witch lead the two of them from her booth through a couple of others passages and finally they reached a room.

It smelled wretched, and there were at least twenty flies zooming around it. But a small gasp escaped Hope's mouth when she noticed the radiation marks. The body whoever it was, was covered in them.

"As I said," Cira said with a smirk, "Radiation got to it. This one here was a werewolf."

As soon as Cira said the word werewolf, Hope remembered him. His name was Jason. They had talked maybe once or twice in passing, but she remembered him. He looked older now, but his face was unmistakable.

The radiation marks were as clear as day. Jason, the werewolf, was killed by them.