Chapter 3: The Aftermath
Caroline drove slowly, the heavy silence broken only by the engine's steady hum. In the back, Elena sat curled into herself, knees pulled up to her chest, her forehead pressed against the cold glass of the window. The dim streetlights flickered across her face, but she didn't react. She barely noticed them. Each one passed like a blur, just like everything else. She was trying not to feel, to keep the door to the night's horrors shut but she couldn't stop the edges of her mind from fraying.
Caroline stole a glance at Bonnie, her fingers tightening on the steering wheel. Bonnie's expression was hard, lips pressed into a thin line, her eyes filled with the same unease that had been clawing at Caroline since they'd found Elena in the parking lot. Neither woman was eager to break the oppressive quiet.
Elena hadn't spoken a word. Her silence hung between them, thick and suffocating. Every question centred on the mystery of what exactly had happened between with Stefan and Damon, but Caroline couldn't quite bring herself to ask.
The image of Damon, shirtless with Elena's blood on his hands, lingered in Caroline's mind. He'd stood there, wide-eyed, like he was as confused as they were. Caroline's stomach twisted.
She'd always distrusted him. Something she justified with a long list of grievances— including his unhealthy obsession with her best friend.
Despite all of that, she couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't adding up. Damon had called for help. Why would he do that if he was the one who hurt her? It didn't make any sense.
Caroline pumped the brakes, the car pulling to a stop a few blocks from Elena's house. She turned sharply in her seat. "We can't bring her home looking like this," she said, her voice a harsh whisper. "Jenna will freak out."
Bonnie nodded grimly, unbuckling her seatbelt and twisting to look at Elena. "We should clean her up a bit," Bonnie stated, her voice lacking its usual confidence.
Caroline climbed into the backseat, sliding in next to Elena. She reached out, touching Elena's arm gently, "Hey Elena... we're gonna clean you up a bit, okay?" Her voice was soft, like she was speaking to a frightened animal. Something had broken inside of her tonight—Caroline could see it in the way she held herself, like she would fall right off the earth if she let go.
Elena didn't respond.
Caroline looked to Bonnie for reassurance, taking a slight nod as her cue to proceed. She fumbled with her purse, pulling out a pack of makeup wipes. Her hands trembled as she began to wipe away the blood on Elena's face. The wipes came away dark red. She tried to focus on the task.
Caroline was the most controlled vampire they knew but with each additional cloth, her heart clenched a little tighter. She tried not to think too hard about the amount of blood coming from the deceptively small cut on Elena's forehead.
A few minutes had passed, and Caroline had finished cleaning the blood from Elena's skin. She had also applied a small band aid, though it did nothing to hide the developing bruises. Caroline sighed, reaching for her sweater. "Here, this will cover the blood on your shirt," she said, helping Elena to slip it on.
Elena remained silent, her movements slow and disconnected though she didn't resist. "Much better. Jenna won't notice anything," the quiver in her voice betraying her faux confidence.
--
Caroline pulled the car up in front of Elena's house.
Bonnie climbed out first and moved to the backseat door. "Come on, let's get you inside."
Elena stirred, nodding weakly as she let Caroline and Bonnie guide her toward the house, the air cool and heavy. "Just let me do the talking, I've got this," Caroline broke the silence.
Caroline hesitated as they reached the door, giving Elena's hand a gentle squeeze. "Do you want us to stay with you?" she whispered.
Elena shook her head, her voice barely a breath, "No—"
Caroline and Bonnie exchanged a worried glance, but they didn't push. Caroline knocked on the doorframe. They didn't have to wait long as Jenna wrenched the door open, crossing her arms, her impatience practically radiating off her.
"Where have you been," Jenna demanded. "I don't care if you want to hang out at the weekend, or go on dates, but you can't stay out this late on a school night."
Caroline forced herself to stay calm, resisting the urge to roll her eyes.Now Jenna wants to play the responsible guardian. Perfect timing.
"We're sorry Jenna," Caroline piped up. "Elena had a fall at the pep rally. We had to wait for the first aid guy— hence the Band-Aid."
Jenna expression softened as guilt washed over her features. "Oh sweetie, I'm sorry. Let's get you inside."
Caroline leaned in to give Elena a gentle hug, "See you, Elena. Call us if you need anything."
Elena offered a ghost of a smile, though it didn't reach her eyes.
"Take care, Lena," Bonnie added softly, touching her arm before they turned to leave.
--
Inside the house, the warmth hit Elena like a wave, but it did nothing to chase away the cold that had settled deep in her bones. She moved quietly through the foyer, slipping passed Jenna, intent on heading upstairs without any more questions.
"Elena honey, are you okay?" Jenna asked, concern heavy in her voice.
Elena turned, forcing a small, tired smile. "I'm fine," she insisted, her voice tight. She needed this conversation to end.
Jenna's frown deepened, her eyes scanning Elena's face. "You sure? You look pale, and that cut… maybe you should rest down here."
"I said I'm fine, Jenna. Really, I'm just tired," Elena persisted.
Jenna nodded. "Okay. But if you need anything, I'm here, alright?"
Elena nodded, grateful for the reprieve.
--
She hurried upstairs, closing the door to her room behind her with a soft click
The moment she was alone, everything collapsed. She sat on the edge of her bed, bringing her knees up to her chest and pulling Caroline's sweater tighter around herself. Her mind spiralled, replaying everything— Freddy's hands, Stefan's hunger, her own helplessness.
She could feel the cold metal of the car against her back, trapped under their weight. Hands, groping, pulling, forcing as she struggled to push them away. Breath, hot and heaving. Her own sanity slipping away as she'd begged them to stop. She could no longer distinguish between the memory of Freddy and that of Stefan. Each taking something from her that was not theirs to take. Something she believed she would never get back.
She was so cold, her skin clammy despite the tears that burned hot against her cheeks. She kicked off her sneakers and pulled the covers over her, searching for comfort, warmth— there was none. Her head throbbed in time with her heartbeat, a dull, constant reminder of what had happened. She felt ashamed— broken at the hands of a stranger, and the man she had loved.
She closed her eyes, but all she could see was their faces. Both monsters, haunting her.
--
Outside, the night stretched long and quiet as Caroline and Bonnie sat in the car, outside Bonnie's house.
Caroline tapped her fingers anxiously on the steering wheel, staring out into the darkness. "What the hell happened, Bonnie?" Her voice cracked.
Bonnie shook her head. "I don't know, Caroline. I know as much as you do." She could hear the anxious rhythm of Caroline's thoughts.
"And Damon," Caroline added, her frustration bubbling up. "He didn't explain a damn thing. He just took Stefan and left, like Elena wasn't lying there covered in blood."
Bonnie's jaw tightened. "We're not getting answers from them tonight."
Caroline sighed, rubbing her temples. "We should've stayed… I hate that we just left her alone, but what could we have done? We barely know what's going on ourselves."
Bonnie stayed silent, knowing Caroline wasn't really waiting for a response— she just talked to fill the void.
"And Stefan— Poor Stefan," Caroline continued, her voice rising in frustration.
"We'll check on Elena in the morning," Bonnie finally said, reaching over to place a hand on Caroline's arm, her voice soft but steady. "We'll get to the bottom of this. Don't worry Care, Elena's tough, she'll get through it.
