Chapter 2

Out of the darkness

The next day Rafael woke up curled up on the floor right next to his bed. He stood up and stretched as he noticed the clock on his bedside table, which read 6am. Ever since he could remember, he's always been an early bird, considering the fact that in most of his foster homes growing up the older kids would pull cruel pranks on the younger ones while they were asleep.

He decided since it was very early, that he'd go on a jog through the woods before his classes of the day start. He walked towards his dresser and put on a dark green sweater and grey sweatpants.

He unplugged his phone from the charger and with one last look at his friend he sprinted out the room and out of the school.

As he ran across the forest he couldn't help but replay the events from two days ago. He kept trying to call Hope, but every time he did it just went to automatic voicemail, and that just frustrated him even more. He was in very desperate need to talk to her, but didn't even know where to find her.

He was so deep in thought that he didn't realize he's been running for an hour and a half, it wasn't until he heard his stomach growling did he notice what time it is. He decided since he was only five minutes away from the Mystic Grill he would get something to eat there.

He was just about to enter the small café when he saw Hope exiting it with a girl with curly dark hair.

"Raf!" She yelped in surprise as soon as she noticed him. "What are you doing all the way here?"

"Yeah, I could ask you the same thing." He said, coolly and then turned to the other girl. "Can I just… borrow her for a sec?"

"Yeah sure." She answered. "See you in school, Hope."

"School?" Rafael asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I go to Mystic High now…"

"Mystic High? Why? What the hell is going on?!" He asked loudly. "How can you throw yourself into Malivore? How did you come back? And why am I the only one who seems to remember you?!"

"I don't know, okay?" Hope answered, frustrated at him. "You weren't supposed to!"

A moment of silence passed between the two, when Rafael spoke up again.

"Why didn't you just tell everyone who you were?"

"I told Dr. Saltzman." She answered him, twirling the straw of her milkshake in her hand. "I'm actually staying with him in his old apartment."

"Really?" Rafael asked, surprised. "Well what about Josie and Lizzie?"

"They never come and visit it, so they don't know." She paused before continuing. "Good thing, too. Josie practically hates my guts."

"Why would she hate you?" He asked, confused.

"She thinks I'm trying to steal her boyfriend."

"But he's your boyfriend."

"Not anymore." She told him, quietly, as she starred at the ground bellow her.

Rafael starred at her silently for a moment and then glanced at the watch on his wrist.

"Listen, I have class in an hour, but I want to talk to you again. I'll come to your school later." He told her and with that he took off into a run.

After Rafael left, Hope continued down the road until she reached the local high school. On her way towards the principal's office, she passed Maya who smiled and waved at her.

"Morning Dr. Saltzman." She greeted the older man, as she entered the office.

"Principal Saltzman." He corrected her, as she rolled her eyes.

"I'll never get used to calling you that."

"Well you don't have much of a choice…" Alaric smirked, and then his face suddenly turned serious. "Actually, I have some bad news."

"Oh god, what is it this time?" Hope asked, worriedly.

"I got a call from Sherriff Machado, there's been an… incident." Alaric cleared his throat.

"What kind of incident?"

"They found a pool of blood in the alley next to the supermarket." He paused for a moment. "No body, just blood. And there were paws prints around it."

"Another monster?" Hope asked, while Alaric just shrugged. "Well let's go check it out." She said and turned for the door when, but Alaric interrupted.

"You have school… and so do I."

"You're kidding, right?" Hope huffed.

"I'm not." He said firmly. "If we want to blend in with normal people, then we have to do normal, everyday things. You have a lunch break, we'll go then."

"You really need to get your priorities in order, Dr. Saltzman, what if it kills someone by then?"

"It won't. I'm hoping." He sighed. "Just get to class."

"Fine." She said, irritated and walked out the office, slamming the door behind her.

She walked towards the English classroom, and sat in the back row.

"Hey." She was forced to snap out of her thoughts when she heard a deep voice greet her.

"Hey, Ethan." She smiled at him, as he sat down on the desk in front of her. "How's your arm?"

"It's healing, but not fast enough. You're gonna have to play QB next game, too." He answered.

"I'm sorry, what?" She asked, eyes widening at his statement.

"Why so surprised? I obviously can't play with a cast, and you did great against the Stallions."

"Umm, no! I touched the ball once, and then I sat out for the rest of the game." She laughed nervously.

"Yeah, but we scored because of you… where did you disappear after that anyway?" Ethan asked, curiously.

"What do you mean? I went to the nurse's station…" Hope answered, fidgeting with the strap of her backpack.

"No, I walked passed it and you weren't there."

"Well, you must've not seen me." Just then the bell rang and Ethan turned his focus to the teacher at the front of the classroom.

After class Ethan walked with Hope to her locker, talking about new football tactics on the way.

"For the last time… I am not playing the next game!" Hope said in a final tone.

"What?" Maya suddenly appeared behind them. "Why not?"

"Sports really aren't my thing."

"Please, I saw how well you throw!" Maya encouraging her. "And if they aren't your thing, then why did you come play at the Salvatore school? Was it because you wanted to see that guy?"

"What guy?" Hope and Ethan asked at the same time.

"The first time we met… when you were crying in the bathroom, you told me you were having 'boy troubles'."

"Dr. Saltzman asked me to play, that's why I did it." Hope explained.

"Doctor?" Maya starred at her.

"I meant Mister- Principal Saltzman!" Hope stuttered. "I have to go." She told them and rushed away, leaving them both standing next to the lockers, confused.

"Where were you this morning?" Landon asked his best friend while they were walking away from their second period.

"I want out for a run." Rafael answered. "Still haven't gotten used to sleeping in my old bed."

"You've been stuck as a wolf for 3 months, give it time." Landon patted him on the back.

"Heyy!" Lizzie waved as she walked towards the two, smiling from ear to ear. "What's up, guys?"

"Uhhh, why are you talking to us?" Landon asked, suspiciously, while Rafael chuckled.

"Can't I just see how my two buddies are doing on this fine day?" She asked, as she put on a tight, fake smile. Landon just stared at her suspiciously until she finally sighed. "Fine… I need something."

"Ah. There it is." Rafael said.

"I heard they found blood. My guess is there's another monster walking around in broad daylight, and Josie seems to have ZERO interest in all of it, so I need you two buffoons to come and play detective with me."

"What about MG?" Landon asked.

"I'm not talking to him." Lizzie answered him, annoyed. "C'mon, let's go."

"Now?"

"Yeah, we have lunch." She said in an obvious tone. "It's perfect."

"Have you given any more thought about our conversation yesterday?" Alaric asked Hope, while unlocking his car.

"About what?" She asked, as she got into the passenger seat.

"Going back to the Salvatore school."

"No, and I'm not gonna." Alaric frowned at her.

"So… have you talked to Rafael?"

"I actually ran into him at the Mystic Grill this morning." Hope said, nervously.

"And?"

"He seemed pretty upset. Said he was coming later 'cause he wanted to talk."

"Can't blame him." Alaric said, not taking his eyes off the road.

They drove in silence for a couple of minutes before arriving at the supermarket. Alaric parked his car in the parking lot, and then the both of them walked to the alleyway on foot. When they arrived, however, they were surprised from the sight before them.

"Lizzie?" Alaric called out. Around the big pool of blood, stood his daughter Lizzie, along with Landon and Rafael, who all turned at the sound of his voice.

"Dad? What are you doing here? And who's she?"

"Me?" Alaric asked, off guard. "You three should be at school!"

"Lunch break." His daughter responded, innocently. "Your turn."

"We came to try and find the new monster before it hurts someone. This is Hope, she's –"

"- a hunter." Hope interrupted, trying hard to avoid Rafael's knowing stare.

"You really shouldn't be here." Alaric said to Lizzie. "Go back to the school. We can handle this."

"Dad, I'm a powerful witch, Rafael is a werewolf and Landon here literally can't die. You two don't even have magic, I'm pretty sure we're way more equipped for this than you."

"Actually she's kinda a witch too… and a werewolf…" Landon said.

"Really?" Lizzie asked, interested.

"She goes to Mystic High." Landon added.

"Then why doesn't she go to the Salvatore school if she's supernatural?"

"I like my school." Hope answered lamely.

"No sane person would prefer that dirty public school over our school!"

"Lizzie, enough!" Alaric scolded her. "Since you're already here, you might as well help us figure out what this creature is and where its' gone to."

"We snapped some pictures and sent them to Dorian." Lizzie told him. "He said he'll do some research and get back to us."

"It could be too late by then!" Hope exclaimed.

"You got a better idea?"

"We could always try and track it." Hope suggested. "Use the blood, it'd lead us to the victim. Does anyone have a map of Mystic Falls?"

"I think I have one in my car, hold on." Alaric answered and started jogging over to the direction of his parked car and left the four teenagers alone in the alley.

"So…" Lizzie narrowed her eyes at Hope. "A witch-werewolf hybrid, huh? I've never met someone of your kind."

"There's a first time for everything I guess." Hope replied not meeting Lizzie's curious gaze, but instead she glanced over to Rafael who looked as if he were purposely avoiding her.

"How did you meet my dad?"

"We killed a cyclope together."

"You-"

"I found it!" Alaric called out as he walked towards them holding a big map in his hands.

"Great." Hope said, relieved he interrupted Lizzie from asking anymore unwanted questions. She took the map from the former headmaster and laid it on the ground. She dropped a few drops of blood and whispered a quick spell.

Everyone gathered around to see the blood starting to move slowly across the map until it finally stopped.

"Well where is it?" Landon asked, breaking the silence.

"The Salvatore school."

A/N I finally updated! Sorry it took so long, I lost the motivation mid chapter and didn't know how to continue (like always). I hope you enjoyed reading and if you have any thoughts feel free to leave a review.