The Radkova witch put all of her Stefan problems on the back burner for now as she quickly jogged through the town square and the chaos that was happening around her.
Emily was trying to find someone she recognized, so she could find out what was going on when tonight was supposed to be filled with smiles and laughter for the town.
Emily released a sigh of relief when she spotted her brother standing off to the side by himself. Emily let a couple walk in front of her before the Radkova witch quickly jogged over to Jeremy.
"Jer," Emily called out as she gently grasped her brother's lower arm. "What happened?" The Radkova witch asked in confusion as she glanced at all the police and EMTs moving around them.
The youngest Gilbert released a heavy breath as he stared across at his sister. "More and more ghosts are coming back," Jeremy stated. "I saw some of the tomb vampires an hour ago when I was walking around," the brunette teenager told Emily, "and then the next thing I know, Tobas Fell's body is found."
The Radkova witch tightly squeezed her fists at the mention of the tomb vampires. That was the last name that Emily wanted to hear right now. Nothing good ever happened when the tomb vampires were involved. Emily found herself quite annoyed because it was just another problem on top of all of the other ones in her life.
However, Emily's annoyance for the tomb vampires was overtaken by her worry for her little brother. "Did they say anything to you?" The Radkova witch questioned.
"No," Jeremy muttered as he shook his head. "I think I know what's going on..." The Gilbert teenager admitted. Jeremy hesitated for a second before he confessed, "Anna... Anna says they're targeting the founding families for what they did to them back in 1864."
Emily had to bite down on her tongue at the mention of her brother's ex-girlfriend. Emily wasn't exactly a fan of the ghost; especially when Anna will be the reason for Bonnie's incoming heartbreak. However, the Radkova witch knew this wasn't the time to scold her brother when there is people dying around them.
"Where's Anna now?" Emily asked her brother as she moved her green eyes around the sea of people.
Jeremy shrugged his shoulders before he muttered, "I don't know."
Emily furrowed her brows as she turned back around to face her brother. "Could she be working with them?" The Radkova witch suspiciously inquired.
"No way!" Jeremy immediately exclaimed as he shook his head. "Anna wouldn't do that," the brunette teenager swore as he defended his ex-girlfriend.
"Are you hundred percent positive about that, Jer?" The Radkova witch asked before she recalled, "because Anna was the only other person who knew about the importance of my necklace."
"Anna wouldn't do that!" Jeremy angrily shouted. "Besides, Katherine knew about the necklace, too!" Jeremy reminded his sister before he muttered, "she probably took it."
Emily shot her brother a warning glare at the mention of her doppelganger's sister, who always seems to get blamed for things she doesn't even do. "Katherine wouldn't take it," Emily proclaimed as she defended the vampire. "Katherine has nothing to gain by taking the necklace," the Radkova witch stated before she added, "while Anna does."
Jeremy silently stared across at the Radkova witch for a moment before he released a heavy sigh. "I know, but..." The Gilbert teenager began.
"But what, Jer?" Emily asked her brother. "This isn't going to turn into a back and forth argument," Emily murmured as she shook her head. "We need to get that necklace now," the Radkova witch stated, "we have to destroy it before the tomb vampires can kill anyone else."
Jeremy stared across at his sister with sadness in his brown eyes. "But, Emmie, I can touch her... I can kiss her again," Jeremy whispered. "I know it's wrong and I know that I shouldn't feel this way but I do," the brunette teenager proclaimed before he confessed to Emily, "I love her. I've always loved her."
Emily looked at her brother as she softened the irritation on her face when she noticed the sadness in Jeremy's voice. "I get it, Jer, I do," the Radkova witch murmured before she stated, "but this isn't healthy for you."
"I'm not saying that you have to stop loving her," Emily quickly told her brother as she gently grasped Jeremy's hand. "I would be a horrible person if I told you that but you can't keep holding onto her like this," Emily murmured as she shook her head.
"You'll never have a future with her, you understand that, right?" The Radkova witch asked Jeremy before she continued, "Anna will forever be a ghost and you'll just be here; lonely and aching for something more." Emily squeezed Jeremy's hand before she apologized, "I'm sorry but that's the truth."
The Radkova witch brought Jeremy into a tight embrace when she noticed the tears in his brown eyes. "It's going to be okay," Emily whispered against her brother's head as she softly petted his short brown hair.
The Gilbert siblings embraced one another for another minute before Emily noticed the ghost of her brother's ex-girlfriend staring at them. The Radkova witch pulled away from Jeremy and their hug to stare directly at Anna. "If you really love Jeremy, then you won't keep doing this," Emily told the ghost vampire, "you have to let him move on with his life or you're just going to be hurting him."
Anna had tears in her own eyes as she accepted the Radkova witch's words. Anna knew Emily was right, no matter how badly it pained her. "I'm sorry," the ghost vampire whispered before she held out her hand and revealed the ruby necklace.
The Radkova witch had to force down her annoyance that she felt when she saw Anna holding her necklace; just like Emily thought she would. Emily knew there wasn't time for that when she had more important things to deal with.
Emily placed her green eyes back onto her brother before she told him, "call Bonnie and tell her that you have the necklace." The Radkova witch then pointed her index finger between Jeremy and Anna before she ordered, "say your goodbyes because this ends tonight. We're getting rid of these ghosts for good."
The Radkova witch didn't bother waiting for a response or an argument from Jeremy before she swiftly turned around and headed back to the police station. Emily knew her brother was going to be upset, especially when she didn't comfort him like she usually would, but Emily honestly couldn't deal with that right now. It would have to wait for later.
The Radkova witch felt a little bit guilty that she wouldn't be there for Jeremy once he finally ended things with Anna. However, Emily mentally promised herself that she would comfort Jeremy once she got home. Right now, she had her own exes problem to deal with.
Emily took a shaky, deep breath once she found herself standing outside of the police station. The Radkova witch felt her nerves spark right back up as she knew what she was about to walk into.
Emily forced her nerves to the back of her mind before she silently entered the building and made her way down to the basement. The Radkova witch quietly entered the jail cell as to not disrupt Lexi and her process. Emily could only hope and pray that it was working on the emotionless vampire.
"Quit fighting me, Stefan," the Branson vampire ordered as she stared down at her best friend. "I know you're in there," Lexi proclaimed.
Stefan clinched his jaw from the pain shooting through his body before he shook his head. "Not anymore, Lexi," the emotionless vampire muttered.
The Radkova witch had to bite down on her bottom lip to stop from tearing up at Stefan's words. It pained Emily to hear that Stefan truly believed that; that he couldn't be saved. Emily didn't care what she had to do, she was going to prove to Stefan that he was still there and he wasn't completely gone.
Lexi released an amused chuckle. "You know, you say that every time until I make you feel again," the Branson vampire recalled as she slowly circled around Stefan before she swiftly drove the stake into his stomach once again.
The Salvatore vampire released a loud groan from the pain of the wooden weapon. "You wasted your whole life taking care of me," Stefan grunted before he smirked up at Lexi and muttered, "now you're dead and you still have nothing better to do."
The Radkova witch quickly got pulled out of her trance when she heard the anger in Stefan's words. Emily knew she had to warn Lexi about the time before it was too late.
The Radkova witch silently joined Lexi's side before Emily quietly told the blonde vampire, "we need to speed this up. Our window is about to close."
Lexi's hazel eyes widened in shock. "No," the Branson vampire whispered before she told Emily, "you have to get me more time."
Emily slowly shook her head with sadness in her green eyes. "I'm sorry," the Radkova witch apologized before she murmured, "but I can't."
Emily so badly wanted to be selfish about this. Emily wished she could keep Lexi here until Stefan was back to his normal self but the Radkova witch knew she couldn't be selfish like that; not when so many people were at risk from all of the ghosts freely walking around Mystic Falls.
"No!" The Branson vampire cried out as she swiftly began to pace the small space of the jail cell. "No," Lexi whispered before she commanded, "not until I break through!"
Emily released a heavy sigh. "I can't stop it, Lexi," the Radkova witch murmured as she softly touched Lexi's lower arm to stop her from pacing. "They have the necklace," Emily stated, "it's only a matter of time before Bonnie closes the door."
The Branson vampire's hazel eyes widened when she suddenly came up with an idea. "The necklace!" Lexi exclaimed before she quickly turned back around to face the emotionless vampire.
"Tell me how you felt about the necklace," Lexi ordered. "You found it during your darkest time," the Branson vampire reminded Stefan, "you said that the necklace represented hope."
Stefan smirked up at the blonde vampire. "The necklace wasn't that important," Stefan muttered as he shook his head. "I actually found two of them," the Salvatore vampire recalled.
Stefan moved his smirking over to his ex-girlfriend. "Actually, I gave Elena her necklace first," Stefan recalled. "Maybe I love her more than you," the Salvatore vampire murmured before he inquired, "have you ever thought about that? Hmm?"
Emily ignored the hurt that entered her best at Stefan's words. The Radkova witch had to remind herself that wasn't how Stefan actually felt.
"It doesn't matter who got which necklace first," Emily murmured as she shook her head. "You gave those necklaces to Elena and I because you cared about us and wanted to keep us safe," Emily reminded the emotionless vampire.
The Radkova witch leaned down to connect her green eyes with Stefan's as a sad smile appeared on her face. "Remember that day," Emily desperately begged, "remember how shocked I was when you gave me that necklace. Remember that big smile I gave you and the even bigger hug."
Emily placed her palm on top of her ex-boyfriend's hand before she murmured, "because I do. I remember thinking my sister is so lucky to have you, to have a boyfriend who also cared about me with only knowing me for a few weeks." The Radkova witch shot Stefan a small smile before she stated, "it was then, I hoped you would be in our lives for a long time."
The emotionless vampire stared down at Emily's hand on top of his with a strange expression before he moved his gaze back to Emily's green eyes. "It was just a piece of junky metal," Stefan whispered, "it meant nothing."
The Radkova witch released a tiny chuckle as she stared down at her ex-boyfriend. "If you really believe that, then you're stupid," Emily muttered. "If it really was just a piece of trash, then you would have let Damon have his way with me in the beginning and treat me like a blood bag but you didn't," Emily exclaimed before she pointed her index finger at the emotionless vampire and stated, "you cared then and you care now."
The Radkova witch and the Salvatore vampire tensely stared at each other before the moment was interrupted by the only other person in the jail cell. "Uh... Emily..." The Branson vampire called out.
The Radkova witch quickly turned around to look at Lexi, who looked very uneasy. "What is it? What's wrong?" Emily worriedly asked as she quickly crossed the room to stand in front of the blonde vampire.
"It's happening," Lexi muttered as a deep frown appeared on her face, "I can feel the door. It's about to close."
Emily closed her green eyes before she swore, "shit." The Radkova witch opened her eyes to stare up at Lexi with a saddened expression. "I'm sorry I couldn't get you more time," Emily apologized.
Lexi softly smiled down at the young witch. "It's okay," the Branson vampire assured her. "You gave me enough time to know that he's still in there," Lexi stated. "You just have to keep pushing through, okay?" Lexi instructed the Radkova witch, "just like I told you; everyday like a routine."
Emily nodded her head as she smiled back the Branson vampire. "I know," the Radkova witch murmured before she promised, "I won't give up."
"I know you won't," Lexi uttered with a grin before she pulled the young witch into a tight embrace. "Be strong," the Branson vampire whispered against Emily's head, "you got this."
Emily gave the blonde vampire's waist a light squeeze to show Lexi her appreciation for her. "Thank you," the Radkova witch whispered before she vowed, "I won't let you down."
Emily slowly pulled away from the embrace to stare up at Lexi. The Radkova witch only got the chance to shoot the blonde vampire a small smile before Lexi disappeared right in front of her.
Emily took a deep breath as she stared at the empty place, where the Branson vampire was just occupying. The Radkova witch felt a sense of sadness and disappointment that she couldn't give Lexi more time to break through Stefan but Emily knew what she needed to do now. The Radkova witch would be forever grateful to Lexi for helping her.
While Emily was feeling a series of emotions, the Salvatore vampire was staring across at his ex-girlfriend in boredom. "You're seriously going to continue on with Lexi's bullshit plan?" Stefan curiously asked as he raised his right eyebrow at the Radkova witch.
Emily took another deep breath before she slowly turned around to stare at the emotionless vampire. The Radkova witch crossed her arms over her chest as she exclaimed, "yes, I am." Emily shrugged her shoulders before she murmured, "Lexi did it before, so I don't see why I couldn't."
Stefan smirked across his ex-girlfriend. "So, what? You plan on living down here now?" The Salvatore vampire inquired as he glanced around the jail cell, "you're just going to stay here until I'm all dried out?"
The Radkova witch released a scoff. "Oh, no. Definitely not," Emily muttered as she carelessly waved her hand. "I'd kill myself if I had to stay here with this twenty-four seven," Emily stated as she pointed her index finger in the emotionless vampire's direction.
"I'm going home," the Radkova witch stated before she listed, "I'm going to hug my sister, take care of my brother, be a friend to Bonnie, make sure Damon didn't get himself killed, and then I'm going to sleep like a baby in my bed after such a shitty night."
Emily waved her hand at her ex-boyfriend before she murmured, "I'll see you later."
The Radkova witch didn't even get the chance to reach the threshold of the jail cell before Stefan called out to her as he stated, "that's good for you."
The Salvatore vampire waited for Emily to turn around and face him before he shot her a smirk. "You know, I wonder how long it will take for you to give up on this plan of yours," Stefan murmured before he stated, "Lexi gave you enough of a glimpse into your tragic future."
Emily released a small chuckle as she stared down at her ex-boyfriend. "You think this is going to scare me away?" The Radkova witch asked in amusement. "I'm a freak, remember?" Emily muttered as she repeated Stefan's hateful words back to him. "I'm not scared," Emily proclaimed as she shook her head, "I'm not going to run away or give up on this, on you."
The Salvatore vampire let out a tsk as he stared into Emily's green eyes. "You're a stupid, little girl," Stefan muttered.
Emily shrugged her shoulders. "Maybe so but I won't stop trying," the Radkova witch swore.
Emily crossed the jail cell before she placed her palms on top of Stefan's hands as she leaned down. "I just need you to feel something, anything," the Radkova witch desperately begged.
Emily moved closer until her and the emotionless vampire's lips were almost touching. "Remember the first time we kissed, the first time we woke up beside each other," the Radkova witch pleaded, "remember the fear and anger you felt when you found out that I was taken at the masquerade ball. Remember the hurt you felt when I didn't have my emotions on. Remember the happiness you felt when we went on our first real date."
Stefan silently stared back at the Radkova witch for a tense moment. "Why should I?" The emotionless vampire challenged.
The Radkova witch clinched her jaw before she tightly grasped Stefan's chin between her thumb and index finger. "I love you more than anything but I won't love a ghost for the rest my life," Emily proclaimed. "I deserve someone who will love and care for me," Emily murmured as she shook her head.
The Radkova witch leaned down before she softly pecked Stefan's lips. "You better figure yourself out before you lose me forever," Emily whispered.
Emily stared at her ex-boyfriend for another minute as she silently begged him to let his emotions in before the Radkova witch turned around and exited the jail cell with her heart beating wildly in her chest.
The Radkova witch could only hope that Stefan would allow himself to feel again. Emily refused to do what Jeremy did and love the ghost of Stefan's former self when there are people out there, who would love her for who she is.