To say things had gotten weird between Kai and her would have been an understatement. But they didn't get weird in that awkward kind of way. In fact, it was the exact opposite. Whatever wall was built up between them seemed practically non-existent. Ever since Kai found out that Sheila was her grandmother, he seemed less reserved and almost...jovial? Was that even the right word?

Kai was always talkative, but he seemed to broach conversation topics surrounding her grandmother a lot more. Little tid-bits and oddities that only a person who truly knew her Grams would know.

Just how long had Kai been here?

On nights when Kai wasn't helping her with magic and figuring out how to get the hell out of Apocalypse Falls, Bonnie stayed up late staring at the ceiling - mulling over thoughts she probably didn't have any business thinking. But there were things that weren't being spoken and she knew that most of it was from Kai's end.

What wasn't he telling her?

No. She needed answers. If they were going to get out of that place together, then they needed to fully trust one another.

No more secrets.

Throwing back the covers, she stalked over to her bedroom door. Bonnie had every intention of getting answers from Kai. Tonight.

However, when she flung open the door, Kai was standing on the other side. Bonnie screamed, jumping back as she clutched the front of her shirt. Kai mirrored her movements, apparently just as surprised as she had been.

"Kai! What the hell?!"

"That's my line, Bonster!" He cleared his throat loudly, rubbing at the back of his neck. "I figured you were sleeping…"

She eyed him suspiciously. "So what? You were planning on sneaking into my room?"

Kai leaned forward, causing her to take another step back. "Why? Is that what you were wanting?"

"Yeah right," she scoffed, flattening her palms along the sides of her legs. "What do you want?"

"Where you off to in such a rush?" He leaned against the doorway, blocking any chance for escape. Not that she was planning to, but he didn't need to know that. "Did you have a bad dream?"

Bonnie shook her head. "No." In fact, she hadn't had a nightmare in weeks. "I wanted to talk."

"Same."

She blinked up at him, her vision finally adjusting to the darkness. "About?"

He grinned. "You first."

Sighing, Bonnie brushed some of her hair out of her eyes. "There's something you're not telling me and I need you to tell me the truth, okay? No bullshit." He didn't say anything so she continued. "Why are you here, Kai? What happened?" She poked his chest. "And please don't lie to me. I've been around you long enough that I can tell when you're lying."

Bonnie watched him bite his lower lip, as if he were thinking about what he should say. She hoped he wouldn't feed her a lie. If it was one thing she'd come to learn about him was that she could almost always tell when he was lying. Even little innocent ones. Kai had this bad habit of biting his upper lip or scratching the side of his nose.

Yeah, he wasn't the only one who was capable of having stalker tendencies.

After what felt like hours, Kai finally looked at her. He was going to be on the level with her. Something she needed.

"I was branded a criminal by my coven." Bonnie blinked but her expression didn't change. She had a feeling but had kept her thoughts to herself. Giving him a nod, she urged him to continue. "I killed people."

She could feel his eyes boring into her, as if he were waiting on some kind of reaction. There was none. She'd been around death enough and witnessed her friends kill multitudes of people. Hell, even she had killed others to protect the people of Mystic Falls. Kai calling himself a killer honestly didn't surprise her. If it was one thing Bonnie had learned over time was to never judge books by their covers.

But everyone needed to have a reason. Otherwise it was just senseless violence.

"The Gemini are a real piece of work, Bonnie. They like pitting family against each other all in the name of power. My father, the current Gemini leader, was no different. Is no different. My twin and I were supposed to be the next in line to become coven leader. But there's a catch." Kai took a breath, as if he were fighting with something. "...we have to merge. Whoever wins becomes the next head of the Gemini, as well as being linked with all of their magic. If the coven leader dies, the Gemini die as a collective."

Linking spells and dark rituals. Again, this wasn't unfamiliar territory for Bonnie. She had wielded Expression, a dark and forbidden magic that set most witches' teeth on edge. The absolute power that came with Expression was intoxicating. Bonnie had been capable of dangerous levels of magic and then some. If she had been a crueler witch, she would have wished for nothing more than the world to be destroyed - pressed under the strength of her thumb.

There were times when she flirted with that madness in order to succeed in her objectives. But she had refrained. Bonnie knew that dancing with Expression meant upsetting the very balance of nature and all the magic pumping through it.

The Gemini, however, didn't seem to believe in such ideas of balance.

A flash of anger sparked over Kai's eyes, causing Bonnie to raise her brows slightly. He ground his teeth, hands curling into fists. "I was cast aside like trash. Called an abomination and because of something that was beyond my control. Because of this!"

He grabbed Bonnie's wrists, the red glow from his palms illuminating their faces. She groaned in pain, biting the inside of her cheek and tasting her own blood on the back of her tongue. Kai hadn't siphoned from her since they'd first met. Not once.

Sucking in air through her teeth, Bonnie didn't fight back. The magic slipped from her veins, soaking into Kai's skin and she tried to think through the pain. He had been holding this back for so long. How long? Well, she couldn't be sure. But if she had any idea of how this dimension worked, it was a long time.

"I had the coven's ideals shoved down my throat my entire life. But instead of giving me a chance, they isolated me from everyone. For what? Because I didn't have any magic? How is that my fucking fault?! I was born this way! They are to blame for all of it!" The rage reflected in Kai's eyes didn't seem human anymore. He looked like a wild animal.

And yet, Bonnie couldn't bring herself to feel any fear.

His nails dug deeper into her skin and it was like a searing hot flame encasing her wrists. She twisted her arms in his grip, her own fingers clasping over his wrists.

"I was supposed to win! I was going to win! My twin never cared about magic. She hated the life we grew up in. She just accepted it all because that's what she thought was expected of her. I had a family I cared about once. But when you're told that coven comes before family, what did they expect? What did that old bastard think was going to happen when I found out the truth about the second set of twins in my family?! Our replacements? Like hell!"

The pain continued to escalate and Bonnie felt her legs starting to shake. The truth was overwhelming her but she took it all. Kai had been treated like nothing less than garbage. Brought into the world and treated cruelty as a result. Something he had no choice in. He hadn't asked to be born that way; to be different. And then to be mistreated and abused as a result?

"I snapped, Bonnie. I snapped and I killed my siblings. I killed them all! Those brats got away, but I killed everyone else! Did they think they could get away with treating me like trash, like the family monster, when they groomed me to be just that: a fucking monster?!"

Her brows knit tightly, green eyes searching inside the madness that was overtaking Kai. She was losing feeling in her legs but she held on despite it all. Grasping at every strand of willpower she had, Bonnie stayed on her feet.

"K-Kai…"

Tears leaked from the corners of her eyes. How long had he been alone, drowning in these thoughts? How long?

"And so they locked me up! My sister betrayed me, shirked her duty, and my father put me in this alternate dimensional hell where I've been ever since! Alone!"

The world was spinning. She wasn't going to be able to hold on for much longer. So, with the last bit of strength she had, Bonnie pushed up onto the balls of her feet and slammed her lips into Kai's. The pain disappeared as he let her wrists go, but she still held fast to his. Her kiss was rough and she felt like her body was going to fall apart at any moment.

But when she finally felt the world grow just a little bit darker, Bonnie felt a smile weakly tugging at the corners of her mouth as she continued to press against his own. She felt Kai's breath hitch and didn't feel him exhale at all. But his hands were on her shoulders, keeping her steady. Her lips slid across his cheek as her forehead crashed into the crook of his neck.

The weight of the world had been unfairly thrust upon their shoulders. Yet they were never good enough. They were always being viewed as selfish when they didn't bend to the will of others. It wasn't fair.

"I'm...sorry…"

It had been two days since she'd kissed him. He had to stay in one of the houses a block down the road so he could get his head on straight. Bonnie had turned his world upside down.

But it wasn't the kiss that had thrown him off kilter. It was her apology. Her "I'm sorry" had him all the way fucked up.

What reason did she have to be sorry? It wasn't her fault that he was in this hell. It wasn't even her grandmother's fault. No doubt his father had twisted her arm somehow.

His hand cradled The Ascendant. The magic that he'd taken from Bonnie was still singing with life beneath his skin - tingling at the fingertips. He could feel the magic of the Gemini's device pulsating with vigor and, selfishly, he wanted to run away from everything. All of it.

Bonnie Bennett was bad for business.

Kai had an objective. Now he had the means to escape. But he couldn't very well leave Bonnie behind just because his insides felt like goo when he looked at her. There was a pain in his chest that he couldn't fathom and because he didn't understand it, it made him angry.

He felt ridiculous, standing out there at The Falls, staring into the waters and contemplating throwing himself off the precipice. Maybe if he smashed his head against the rocks a few times, he'd start feeling like his old self again. Kai Parker: Bloody Smear Extraordinaire.

Lifting a hand up to his face, he snickered into his palm before bursting into a laughing fit that was borderline mania. What the fuck is wrong with me?

"If I didn't already know how crazy you are, I'd think you were having the time of your life."

Spinning on the heels of his Converse, Kai saw Bonnie coming through the trees. She was wearing a pale yellow sundress cinched at the waist, sandals and her hair was pinned up to the side in a messy ponytail. She wore no other jewelry.

The attire was simple and it was almost an injustice how easy she was at being pretty.

Almost.

"How-" he began, but was cut short from the knowing grin etched on Bonnie's features.

She held up a finger and wagged it back and forth. "Did you forget whose magic is hanging out underneath your skin right now?" Her hand fell to her hip. "So, how long were you planning on hiding from me?"

He huffed, turning away from her even though he didn't want to. "I wasn't hiding." Kai looked over at her as she sidled up beside him. He held out his hand to her and she looked at it curiously. "Did you want it back?"

Bonnie shrugged, her gaze moving back toward the landscape of The Falls. "Nah. You look like you found a long-lost keepsake." She extended her hand, curling her fingers up to the sky. Her hands and fingers were suddenly covered in flames and Kai watched; fascinated. "I have it all back after resting for a bit." Closing her hand into a fist, the flames dissipated.

The sky darkened above them. Kai lifted his head to the canopy of trees and didn't feel the apathy he normally felt when witnessing the Eclipse. Having Bonnie there made things...different. The vastness that was this prison didn't seem so empty. It felt just a little bit whole.

"We missed it." Bonnie smiled and gave a half shrug. "Oh well. Tomorrow's another day."

She moved to leave his side and Kai reached out to take hold of her hand. There was a slight jump in her finger muscles, but other than that, she remained rooted where she was. Bonnie didn't pull back or shrink away out of fear of him siphoning her again. At least that's what he hoped.

"Bon? About the other night…"

"Did you want to hold my hand that badly, Kai?" Humor danced in her eyes and he had to wonder if he was rubbing off on her. Or was it the other way around? "Thanks for being honest with me. I don't think I could have gone back with you if you were still hiding things from me."

He blinked, his confusion evident. "You're not freaked out?"

She sighed and he could swear that a sad look passed across her face for just a moment. "Listen, Kai," Bonnie said, turning to face him, "I know I can come off as a bit self-righteous, but I'm not new to the whole concept of killing."

He watched her move, tugging him with her. They started heading out of the woods. "I can't imagine you killing anyone." Kai casted a sidelong glance at her. "You're a good person, Bonnie. You're brave, loyal, patient…"

I wanna be more like you…

"Yeah, well I needed a vacation from the bullshit that is my life. Being the good witch and all." Her voice held a bitter edge to it as she put air-quotes around 'good witch'. "I died and my Grams sent me here. Basically her way of telling me to pump the brakes."

Bonnie laughed and Kai liked hearing it. He didn't know why. He just did.

Somewhere along the way, they let go of each other's hands and she scampered off toward where Kai had parked the car. Bonnie made her way to the passenger seat and Kai stood atop the small hill as he watched her. She waved back and forth, hurrying him up so they could go. Something about shopping.

There was still that uncomfortable feeling welling up in his chest, but at least this time it didn't seem to bother him. Not as much. Because seeing her smile made him smile too. A smile that he knew probably met his eyes.

Clothes were packed away slowly and methodically. There wasn't a whole lot that Bonnie wanted to bring back with her. And she still wasn't sure if they would actually be able to get back. Not yet. She had stumbled across a spell hidden away in Emily Bennett's grimoire that mirrored the one in her Grams' book of spells, but it wasn't for certain. She had no way of knowing if it resonated since Bonnie didn't have the Ascendant.

That was where Kai was. He'd left for Portland the day before to retrieve it. Or so he'd explained. He'd said he'd be back by the next day, but she hadn't taken into account that he'd be flying. Or driving? She really didn't remember which option he said he was going with since he'd mentioned both.

She had offered to go with him, but he said he wasn't ready for her to see it. Not yet. There had been the off-handed comment that he had to clean up the place - a tease from her. Kai didn't really get the joke. Not at first.

"Even if I clean it, the blood will just come back the next day."

He'd done it in his home. Or, from what she understood, the house that he barely remembered being in as a child. Not before he was cast out for being a freak of nature.

Sighing, Bonnie zipped up the backpack and fell into one of the chairs. "...I should have gone with him."

The loud shrill of the phone ringing jolted her from her seat. She zipped into the kitchen and answered, almost forgetting that the phones worked in this world. "Hello?"

"Hey Bonster! What're you up to?" Kai seemed overly happy with himself. Maybe that meant good news?

"I was just packing some things up. Did you find what you need?"

He chuckled, tsking her playfully. "Of course I did! Who do you think I am?"

"Lame, that's who you are."

"Ow! Meanie!" Bonnie could practically hear him pouting on the other line. "Well, I'm finished here. I had a few things I needed to grab as well." There was a minute pause, as if he were considering something. "Did you still want to come see it? The house, I mean?"

Truthfully? No, she didn't. It was just painful memories for him and she didn't want to watch him relive those moments. It was selfish of her, but her empathy was a damning trait all the same.

"Do you want me to see it?"

"Maybe? I don't know."

So, he wanted her to see it. At least once before they left. Maybe she owed him that?

"Okay."

Kai wasn't so much nervous as he was anxious. He didn't know how Bonnie was going to react when she saw the remnants of the massacre he'd left behind. She may have seemed okay with it all, but there was a part of him that wondered if she was as understanding as she made herself out to be.

Probably not.

He was used to disappointment. But something told him that Bonnie being on the giving end of it would be...worse? Was that the right word for it? He knew he'd feel something but he wasn't sure just what that something was.

He'd flown back to Virginia and scooped up Bonnie. They landed in Portland and he did his damnedest to avoid taking her to his childhood home right away. Instead, he suggested shopping and maybe picking out a few nice things from a boutique. Kai wanted to see but she insisted on it being a surprise. He obliged her.

They drove up the dirt road leading to the Parker family home. A house he had often torched to cinders when he'd first arrived in that prison world. There had been something cathartic about it the first dozen times he'd seen it go up in orange and yellow flames - black smoke billowing off from the rooftop.

Kai reached the steps leading up the porch first. When he turned around, he saw Bonnie looking around the yard curiously. The Eclipse had already come and gone and the sun was starting to sink below the canopy of trees that encapsulated the house. She was dressed the grungiest he'd ever seen her: a red fishnet long sleeve shirt over a black tankini, denim skirt and combat boots. Her hair was pulled into a loose side ponytail that draped over her shoulders and she wore no accessories and no makeup.

She was still the prettiest girl he'd ever seen.

"Bon?"

Bonnie finally looked at him, as if she'd been pulled out from a daze. Without having to say anything else, she approached the house and he held the door open for her. He waited for disappointment or judgment. He expected it.

But as she crossed the threshold and was immediately face to face with the blood, it was almost like she hadn't seen it at all. Or she had and just wasn't saying anything. Kai wanted to appear like he was proud - like it didn't faze him at all for her to see this carnage - the physical manifestation of his rage. There was slight trepidation and he could swear that the entire world had grown exceptionally quiet in that moment.

His brows furrowed. Why isn't she saying anything?

Yet Bonnie passed by each marker of his destruction - blood spatters and the discarded bat decorated in flecks of crimson. He'd beaten Joey to death with it. Her eyes wandered up the ceiling and there was the rope where he'd hung one of his sisters from - Laura. She was the youngest but older than Olivia. He could still see her thin, pre-teen body swinging from the railing.

She moved upstairs, the trail of blood her guide and Kai silently followed along. He was still waiting on her to say something, but she kept her lips sealed as she continued to survey the damage. There was a busted wardrobe and more blood on the floor.

He saw her pause by a window, the one that gave a clear view of the backyard. There was a pool back there - the place where he'd drowned his younger brother, Bryan. A faint tint of pink circulated in the center of the pool from the blood that dripped off the edge of the concrete. It was where he'd smashed Bryan's head in when he shoved him onto the ground and then swiftly dumped him into the pool so he could finish him off by drowning him.

Kai had wanted her to see it. Now he was thinking that wasn't such a good idea after all. What was he trying to achieve again? He couldn't remember anymore. All he could recall at that moment was Josette's horrifying shrieks when she'd happened upon the corpses of their siblings.

And then he'd gutted her with that hunting knife. Just like Amelia.

"Is it enough?"

Bonnie's words were like a slap in the face - sobering him up instantly. He craned his neck to look at her and was shocked to see that she was still peering outside the window. "What?"

"I asked if it's enough?" she said, her voice soft. She then turned to look at him. "Or are you going to want more blood when you get out of here?"

He shook his head. "It's not about whether I want it or not. Revenge aside, Bonnie, I have to merge with my sister in order to survive. It's always about survival. It always has been."

She seemed to be considering his words, folding her arms across her chest as she looked back out the window. "I don't blame you, Kai." Bonnie turned back to him and she must have seen the surprise on his face because now she was smirking. "You didn't lie when you told me what happened to you. I've also read a bit about the Gemini in my Grams' book. If it's as screwed up and unfair as you say it is, it shouldn't be a surprise to anyone you went postal."

What in the hell was happening? Was someone finally on his side for once? Was that person Bonnie Bennett?

"Now then," she said, bringing him back out of his stupor, "if you're done taking me on this stroll through memory lane, can we start picking a day when we're getting the hell out of here?"

She held her hand out to him. Kai looked at it curiously before reaching out slowly to take her hand in his. There was a firm shake and he didn't feel that lingering urge to siphon. Maybe it was because he hadn't used a single drop of Bonnie's magic since he'd taken it from her.

"Yeah. Let's go."