I Surrender

Chapter 4

"I assure you that while your sister is stubborn, she's tough. I'm sure she'll be alright." Isobel responded handing Elena a cup of tea as she looked out the window rain hitting the glass as the storm grew worse by each passing minute. Oh Caroline, where are you?

"She's been gone for nearly two hours now. Perhaps I should go ahead and look for her." Elena replied grabbing her coat before her father gently took her arm.

"The storm is getting pretty bad out there darling. Perhaps you should wait until it subsides until you go looking for her."

"It's because the storm is getting bad that I must go find her. If I'm not back in an hour or two send someone for me." Elena replied grabbing her coat as she went outside, the cold rain slapping her in the face.

Mounting her horse, Elena went into town tying her Horse up to the nearest pole as she went inside the tavern thinking that the best place to try her luck would be there. Going up to the bartender, Elena slid a portrait of Caroline over as he examined it, recognition filling his features.

"Yeah, I've seen her. She was in earlier today."

"Have you seen her in the past two hours?"

"No. Sorry. I'll keep a look out for her though."

"Do you know who she was with earlier?"

"Just a few of the locals. I think one of them was that Donavan fellow."

"Donavan. As in Matt Donavan?"

"Yeah. He's right over there if you want to talk to him about her whereabouts. He may have a better clue of where she went."

Nodding Elena made her way over to Matt where he looked at her stunned to see her in his presence.

"Elena, it's been a lon- "

"Where's my sister?"

"I haven't seen her since this afternoon. I figured she would be back home by now."

"Were you two with anyone else when she was here?"

"Yeah, you know I never hang out without my crowd and there was one other person Caroline spoke to, but I've never seen him around these parts before. He must be new."

"Is there anyone here who might know who he is? What does he look like?"

"Tyler and Liv were with us also, but I'm not sure if they saw anything."

"Are they here?" she asked feeling frantic. She had to find Caroline and she had to find her soon.

"Yeah. They're over by the kitchen talking to Luke." Matt replied as she nodded in appreciation.

"Elena." Matt started as she waited for his response.

"Yes Matt?"

"Try not to be a stranger, we do really miss you." He responded with a small smile reminding her of simpler times.

"I'll keep that in mind. Bye Matt and thanks for everything." She said as she made her way to where Liv and Tyler were. Liv was occupied talking to Luke, so Elena went over to Tyler instead. He had to give her a twice over to make sure it was her before his face broke out in a smile.

"Well, Well, Well, look who finally got out of her house to join the world of the living. How have you been Gilbert?" Tyler rejoiced seeming genuinely happy to see her.

"I've been better. Have you seen Caroline? She ran off earlier and she hasn't come home since."

"Really? That doesn't seem like her."

"Thank you. Finally, someone gets it."

"What happened to upset her so much?"

Elena bit her bottom lip wondering how much she wanted to share after all this was personal family business and her father would not approve, but if it helped her find Caroline, she would try anything.

"Our father asked Isobel to move in."

"Shit." Tyler responded sucking in a breath. "I take it Caroline didn't take it well."

"Obviously not." Elena fumed.

"Did she ever tell you why she was so against it?"

"Isn't it obvious? She doesn't want anyone to replace our mother which is ridiculous when you think of it, because Isobel will never replace her, so I'm not sure why she's so pissed about it."

"Maybe she doesn't see it the way you do."

"She's being childish."

"She's being a girl who lost her mom Elena. Some people don't handle death the way you do." Tyler stated as Elena tried to hold her composure.

Of course, losing her mother still bothered her, but what the hell was she supposed to do about it? He mother was gone, and she was never coming back. She had to get used to it and live in the present. She wouldn't survive unless she did.

"It's been years." She reminded him to justify why she felt the way she did.

"People grieve in different wa-"Tyler started before a thought crossed his mind. "Holy shit, I think I know where she is."

"Caroline!" Elena shouted pulling her cloak closer as the fog in the graveyard grew worse. She didn't know how she was supposed to find Caroline if she couldn't see.

"Caroline!" She tried again, her vision getting worse and worse while the fog closed in almost like it was trapping her in.

"Listen I know you're pissed at the world because of what happened to mom, but you're not the only one who lost her, so will you please come out so we can talk about it." Elena shouted about ready to give up before she saw a shadow in the fog.

Had she found Caroline? It had to be, who else would be at their mother's grave? Unless.

"Mom?" she questioned moving closer to her mother's grave getting so close that she could almost touch the figure before a crow popped up startling her and causing her to turn around and comer face to face with a male she didn't recognize.

Shit. Why the hell had she come out here so late? No one could hear her in this place if this man tried something. No. She wouldn't let that happen. She had to get out of there.

"Don't be afraid." The man pleaded almost seeming desperate for someone to listen to him as Elena threw her fist at him, connecting to his face and knocking him to the side before she tore into a run, her mission long since forgotten as the fog worsened making it nearly impossible for her to see.

She had almost been out of the graveyard when she lost her footing getting thrown so hard forward that she hit her head on the side of a grave making it nearly impossible to breath as stars danced across her vision as she felt herself go under. No. This couldn't be happening. She thought as a pair of shoes came into her vision and the fog consumed them both.