Previously on Flightmate...

E, C & B are on a flight to Europe. D&E bond. Plane crashes. D&E are stranded on an island. Sexual tension ensues. E takes a shower in the waterfalls, D steals E's clothes and refuses to return them. Angry, E heads off into the forest.

Chapter 13: It's Very... Lively

Shivering, Elena stomped off into the green mass of trees ahead. Fueled by adrenaline and stubbornness, she didn't dare look back but continued to walk to no particular destination. She was scared - of being lost. He was surely following her, waiting for her to stop and tremble with trepidation. Hell no, she thought forcefully. I am not going to be the one giving in.

Folding her arms in front of her stomach, she hunched over in an attempt to keep warm. Trying to focus on the calm of the forest to calm her erratic mind - nausea crawling up her oesaphagus - Elena realized something. Damon made no move. The silence created a pit of unease in her belly.

What are you playing at? If you're waiting for me to beg, you might as well leave the island without me.

After about ten minutes, she realized she'd retraced her steps back to the tree where she and Damon had breakfast earlier that afternoon. She smiled, recalling their wonderful yet tiresome day that day. The truth? She really liked hanging out with Damon. He challenged her, knew her weak points and said exactly the correct words to rile her up. Sure it was annoying, but it was better than someone who only cared about pleasing you. He was independent, bold and not afraid to upset her - like he knew she would come round in the end.

Elena doubted if she clicked with anyone as fast and as well as she did with Damon. However layered that connection might be. It was quite a layered situation, if she was honest. Trapped on an island, far away from her brot-

Oh my god Jeremy.

Elena's knees buckled as she crashed to the rough forest floor.

Jeremy.

Who would take care of him? She was stuck on the island: no way out. Will she stay there for the rest of her life? How long before Jer realizes she was… gone? Perhaps to not ever come back? Her brother lost so much in his life - too much - and he didn't need another abandonment. I am the only person he has left.

'No.' Elena stated, resolutely.

Rubbing her cheeks dry, she got up. A chill sweeped over her body, as though it didn't want her to get back to her brother. She looked around to see if Damon was lurking about. She couldn't find him. She felt deja vu and somehow, Elena knew he was watching her every move. Quickly, she thought of a plan.

Turning on the spot, Elena walked fast, trying to put a sense of purpose in her walk, striding towards the nearest bush. Elena turned around one last time and smiled at nothing, before disappearing into the bushes.

The bushes were thick and wide; Elena buried in them totally. An outsider couldn't tell where she was; her movements and sounds muffled by the bushes. Inwardly punching the air happily, she moved swiftly. The prickly ends brushed against her unclothed skin, making the pain more intense. She welded Jeremy's image to the back of her eye and focused.

Jeremy needs me. Our parents just died; he doesn't need me gone too.

It helped. She moved quicker. She used her hands to hold onto the bushes and climb her way through. Just like the tree, except horizontal. What a crazy day, Elena thought retrospectively.

After what felt like an hour, she stopped. Extremely alert, Elena slowly poked her head out. A dark shadow covered her in darkness. She pulled back in her green shelter. The shadow grew darker as Elena's heart pumped uncontrollably. She backed deeper into the bushes. A bright light blinded her eyes. Elena covered her eyes, freezing at the spot. Feeling the blood thudding her chest, as though attempting to escape, she opened her eyes. A stranger watched her - his eyes wonderous.

Elena stared right back. Damon said they were the only two people on the island So who was he? Pulling herself together, she decided she was glad it wasn't Damon.

'Oh thank God.' Elena breathed a sigh of relief. 'I thought you were someone else.'

Climbing out of the bushes, she stood up. The stranger seemed incapable of taking her eyes off of her. His eyes were blue but they were not the same color as Damon's. They were just… blue.

Elena noticed with a wave of shock, that he was not looking at her face; but at everything below her head. Elena realized that it must not seem normal for a teenager to appear out of some random bushes, wearing nothing but underwear. She immediately dropped to the balls of her feet, crouched over, and wrapped her hands around her knees. The stranger remained standing for a while as though in shock. Soon enough, he kneeled beside her. Elena avoided his eye. She quickly asked disgustingly,

'Who are you?'

He seemed lost for words. The man simply stared.

'You came back? Why now?' his voice quivered, scaring Elena. 'Why are you hiding in the bushes? Half-naked!' he added as an afterthought.

'Woah, woah, you've known me before? What do you mean - I came back?'

Aaron's face was a picture of confusion. Elena knew pretending to be that person he knew wasn't going to go down. Clearly the man didn't have good relations.

'Listen, I don't know who you think I am but I am not her. My name is Elena Gilbert and... my clothes... got lost. Do you know where I can get new ones?' she asked him, her voice sweeter and softer towards the end. She did that a lot. Hide awkward with adorable.

'Sure, there is a town a few miles down.' He trailed off. His blush reminded Elena that she was still unclothed. He politely fixed his gaze on the rough terrain.

This is awkward.

'Okay, let's go.'

She hesitantly rose, trying to cover as much of her body as she could with her arms. The man immediately shrugged out of his jacket and handed it to her. Elena blinked. He smiled, extending his hand. She quickly grabbed one end - with her mind cooking up escape plans as fast as her breaths.

I need an escape plan first. Right. If I find an exit to this island and go somewhere habitable, I might reach Jeremy.

'What's your name then?' she asked to the man, whose gaze moved nowhere above her knees then.

'Aaron.'

'Just Aaron?'

He smiled for the first time they met. 'Aaron Whitmore.'

'Well, Aaron. I am very glad to meet you.'

Elena followed Aaron, wrapping the jacket tightly around her shoulders. They walked on the sandy terrain, fewer and fewer trees as time passed. After about an hour, Elena was exhausted. She had no idea where they were going and Aaron refused to talk.

'How much further Aaron?'

He stopped suddenly.

'We are here,' he declared. Elena couldn't help but notice the pride in his voice. 'Welcome to Whitmore village.'

She watched as the row of small houses buzzed with life. They looked very ancient with horseshoes on the doors. Horseshoes were meant to ward off evil spirits. A group of young boys were chasing each other. Small stalls were set up which Elena could only conceive to be a market. It was bustling with people. Shop vendors were yelling their best offers, each one trying to be the loudest. Looking around, Elena knew she was far from the Western world.

Aaron was reading her reaction eagerly, almost as though he expected her to squeal with excitement. Maybe Elena would have, if she wasn't bone-numbingly tired. Atleast she wasn't alone.

'It's very…lively,' she spoke, truthfully. 'Let's go before-' Damon finds them, but he didn't need to know that.

'This way,' he guided, not needing her to complete the sentence.

Elena turned left, following Aaron into the busy street, narrowly avoiding being run over by a carriage. She ignored a 'watch where you're going!' as she tried to keep her eyes fixed on Aaron's back. Two women fought in the street, vendors played cards and families were out shopping. Smiling at the liveliness of the place, Elena tried not to lose Aaron amidst the crowd. She felt a hand, dragging her back. Elena screamed in shock. Oh crap, oh no, no, no. Muffled sounds escaped her lips, going completely unheard in the boisterous crowd. Elena tried to call for Aaron but felt herself... losing... consciousness...

'It's her,' was the last she heard.

Elena opened her eyes in an unknown place for the fourth time in the past two days - locked in what felt like a prison cell. The room was brown; brown walls, brown rails, brown floor, even her clothes were brown. Wait - whose clothes were these?

She walked to the only window in her room. There was a small but lovely garden outside surrounded by flower pots. It was sunny and would have been a great day if Elena wasn't kidnapped.

The door wheezed open. A woman in her late 40s walked in and immediately closed the door, as though she expected Elena to make a run for it. In retrospect, she cursed herself for not doing that.

'Last person you'd expected to see, I know,' the woman casually spoke, leaning against the door. 'How does it feel to be back where you were supposed to be all along, Katerina?'

Confused, Elena raised her eyebrows.

'Katerina?'

'Stop playing games. We have people looking for you now, girl. Although you probably already knew that, didn't you? Being the manipulative, cunning bitch that you are.' She'd walked closer, leaning over Elena. 'Just know, that this cell is spelled now. You can't escape unless my spell is lifted. We made a mistake last time and we're not not going to let it happen again. The only way you can prevent me driving a stake through your heart is if you hand it back.'

Elena was officially terrified. Hand what back? Is she actually going to do it? Is it too late to make a run for it?

'Listen ma'am,' she tried to reason, trying to sound as calm as possible. 'You want Katerina right? I'm guessing she looks a lot like me. Well believe me when I tell you this: I am not her!' Elena was relieved getting the words out. 'I'll help you find her if you want.'

Gloria fell apart. 'STOP LYING TO ME!'

Elena had enough too.

'I AM NOT!'

The woman stepped back in surprise. She scrutinized Elena closely.

'You're really not? It can't be… they told us you made yourself human…' she placed her hands on either side of Elena's head. Elena looked at her, eyes wide, hands squeezing hers in trepidation. She tried to pry them off her head, but she grew limp as the woman began digging up memories.

Elena get up! It's time for school... Jeremy, give the Barbie back…I know how much you love writing, I brought you this…Matt, I don't know what to say… People are going to stop giving you breaks Jeremy… They just don't care anymore…I'm sorry Elena, I'm so sor-

'Stop it stop it, STOP IT!' Elena kicked the woman out of her memories.

The woman released.

Elena couldn't speak. All the bad things in her life rushed back to her. Everything she had religiously forgotten, surfaced again. Sobbing, she pushed back the tears. It was the bad time to show weakness - but she had every right to.

The woman however, remained wide-eyed.

'You're not Katerina.' She whispered.

Elena shook her head.

'Why do you look like her?'

'I don't-' her voice cracked.

Gloria was suddenly in a hurry to make her feel welcome. Forget everything that happened. 'We'll talk later. I'm Gloria by the way. Let's get you some food. Come on honey.'

The woman beckoned and they exited the dingy prison cell. Leaving Elena in her living room, she disappeared into her kitchen - and emerged with a tray of biscuits and two cups of tea.

Elena forced her cheeks to life into a smile (her muscles were too tired to move) and grabbed the food gratefully. It had been twelve hours since she and Damon had breakfast. Ravenous, Elena stuffed food down her throat. Chewing quickly, she tried to speak. Food went down the trachea instead of the esophagus and Elena choked. Gloria placed her hand on her back and instantly, her pipe cleared.

'Where am I?' Elena managed, finally.

'You're at my house, honey. It's just behind my pub.'

'Do you know someone named Aaron?'

She stopped and looked sharply at Elena.

'How do you know Aaron?'

Elena looked at her, choosing her words carefully. She prayed none of what she said next pissed her off.

'Can I sit down?'

The woman pointed to the nearest sofa.

They took a seat: Elena gratefully, the woman cautiously.

'I was going to Europe with my friends. The plane crashed and I separated from them. This…man saved me from the middle of the ocean, and we landed here. He told me no one else lived here, so I didn't think of escape. There would be no point. But my brother Jeremy; he has no one but me. I am his last remaining family. So I ran from Damon to get out, on my own. Then, Aaron saw me. He gave me his jacket. He brought me here because he believed there'd be food and shelter.'

The woman smiled for the first time. 'Bless that boy, I should go easy on him sometimes. Well, Elena, was it?' Elena nodded. 'Welcome to Whitmore village. First thing you should know: the name Whitmore is for a reason. It could have been called Petrova, but…,' she trailed. 'we have no intention of naming ourselves as the Petrova witches when that family has done nothing but evil to us.'

Elena knew there was some context required. She knew not to ask. Best not to explore a touchy subject.

'Oh and it's about time you knew - I am a witch, Elena.'

Sorry what.

Elena opened and closed her mouth. She was almost about to yell that she'd had enough of supernatural beings for one week - but caught herself just in time.

'Sorry, I was just...' Oh my god. What's next: Satan is an English gay man who wears black suits and has an excellent sense of humour?

'I am not the only witch,' Gloria added.

Elena's jaw dropped. The horseshoes suddenly made sense.

'You're telling me this whole place is filled with witches?'

'Yes,' she confirmed. 'Except Aaron.'

'And he gets an entire village in his name?' Elena said, in good humour. Please don't take offence, please don't take-

'Only because the Petrovas stole from us,' Gloria replied, a stern look in her face. Good job Elena. 'We were the Petrova village. The Whitmores stood by us. We don't have a last name. So we borrowed theirs.'

Elena smiled.

'You know…?'

'Gloria.'

'Yes, you're not such a mean woman, Gloria. Just remind me never to get on your bad side.'

Gloria fell silent, smiling at Elena. Elena remembered something.

'What did Katerina steal from you?'

Gloria's face dropped. She averted her eyes.

'It's not your problem, Elena. That is witch business. You don't want to get in the middle of that. You look exactly like her - that's bad enough as it is.'

'Alright. Then, can I go back and inform Aaron that I haven't, in fact been brutally murdered?'

Gloria smiled. 'Come on.'

*wink wink Anyone catch the Supernatural reference?

SORRY. No update last week. I was tired after FanExpo. Of course, I was only meeting IAN SOMERHALDER. :D

I was in line to ask him a question but it was time before they got to me. :( Meh who cares, I saw him that's all that matters.
He announced his directorial debut at FanExpo which I'm stoked about. He's filming it right now. 6x06 or 6x07 not sure.
Ian glows in real life. Like the black outfit, white guy, misty blue eyes and pink lips - it's contrasts galore. He stands out. Make him stand under the spotlight and he freakin GUHLOWWS.
Also, he met Mayor Rob Ford. He is convinced we were drinking when we voted for him. :D :D :D

No one uploaded it on YouTube yet. If you want the highlights, message me or leave me a review.

Three words.

Life accomplishment: complete.

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