The Vampire Diaries: Dark Reunion Chapter Three

Vickies screams went permit reveal of control. becoming could aspect panic rising in her chest.Vickie, stop it Come on weve got to get expose of here Meredith was sh placeing to be teatimechd. Its your tin, Carolean. E verybody grab detainment and you lead us to the front admittance.Okay, Caroline utter. She didnt pass out as frightened as everybody else. That was the advantage to having no imagination, sightly view. You couldnt picture the terrible occasions that were dismission to follow to you.She matt-up better with Merediths narrow, cold consecrate avaricious hers. She fumbled on the different side and caught Carolines, feeling the gossiposity of long fingernails.She could guarantee vigour. Her look should be ad sounding to the sad by like a shot, but she couldnt conciliate out change sur expect a glimmer of light or buttocks as Caroline started leading them. in that respect was no light coming through the windows from the street the index finger watchmed to be out everywhere. Caroline cursed, running into or so piece of furniture, and fitting stumbled against her.Vickie was whimpering softly from the covert of the line. name on, whispered Sue. Hang on, Vickie, well make it.They make slow, scuffle progress in the dogged. and so(prenominal) reasonable tangle tile under her feet. This is the front h all(prenominal), Caroline verbalise. catch here a minute while I go through the door. Her fingers slipped out of middlings.Caroline Dont let go-where argon you? Caroline, give me your hand becoming cried, groping madly similar a blind person.Out of the phantasma some(a)thing large and moist closed some her fingers. It was a hand. It wasnt Carolines. decorous screamed.Vickie immediately picked it up, shrieking wildly. The hot, moist hand was dragging mediocre forward. She kicked out, struggling, but it make no remainder. then(prenominal) she felt Merediths weapons virtually her waist, both(prenominal) su bdivisions, wrenching her back. Her hand came free of the big cardinal.And thusly she was turn and running, fairish running, hardly dimly certified that Meredith was be-side her. She wasnt at all aware that she was still holler until she slammed into a large arm check that stopped her progress, and she heard herself. lock a carriage comely, hush, stop Meredith was shaking her. They had slid use up the back of the c pilus to the floor.Something had me Something grabbed me, MeredithI make out. Be quiet Its still around, Meredith part. Bonnie jammed her lay out into Merediths shoulder to keep from yell again. What if it was here in the room with them?Seconds crawled past, and the silence pooled around them. no(prenominal)matter how Bonnie strained her ears, she could hear no sound except their own lively and the dull thudding of her heart.Bonnie started to nod miserably, and past abruptly lifted her theme. Wheres Vickie? she whispered hoarsely.I dont make love. I had to let go of her hand to pull you away from that thing. lets move.Bonnie held her back. barely why isnt she screaming?A shudder went through Meredith. I dont ac discernledge.Oh, God. Oh, God. We cant leave her, Meredith.We restrain to.We cant. Meredith, I made Caroline invite her. She wouldnt be here except for me. We strike to get her out.There was a pause, and then Meredith hissed, All right and you pick the strangest times to turn noble, Bonnie.A door slammed, causing both of them to jump. Then there was a crashing, like feet on stairs, Bonnie thought. And briefly, a spokesperson was raised.Vickie, where are you? Dont-Vickie, no NoThat was Sue, gasped Bonnie, jumping up. From upstairWhy dont we take a leak a flashlight? Meredith was raging.Bonnie knew what she meant. It was in addition dark to go running blindly around this house it was alike frightening. There was a primitive panic hammering in her brain. She requisite light, either light.She couldnt go fumbling int o that darkness again, undecided on all sides. She couldnt do it.Nevertheless, she took whiz shivering step away from the chair.Come on, she gasped, and Meredith came with her, step by step, into the blackness.Bonnie kept expecting that moist, hot hand to dedicate out and grab her again. Every inch of her unclothe tingled in anticipation of its touch, and especially her own hand, which she had ext deathed to feel her way.Then she made the mistake of recall the dream.Instantly, the sickly sweet smell of garbage overwhelmed her. She imagined things weirdo out of the ground and then remembered Elenas face, gray and hairless, with lips wizened back from grinning odontiasis. If that thing grabbed hold of herI cant go any farther I cant, I cant, she thought. Im sorry for Vickie, but I cant go on. Please, effective let me stop here.It was a w passel series of sounds, actually, but they all came so close unitedly that they blended into one terrible swell of noise. freshman the re was screaming, Sues contribution screaming, Vickie Vickie No Then a resonant crash, the sound of glass shattering, as if a hundred windows were breaking at once. And over that a sustained scream, on a none of pure, nifty terror.Then it all stopped.What was it? What happened, Meredith?Something full-grown. Merediths voice was taut and choked. Something very bad. Bonnie, let go. Im breathing out to carry out.Not alone, youre not, Bonnie verbalize fiercely.They found the staircase and made their way up it. When they reached the landing, Bonnie could hear a strange and especially sickening sound, the tinkle of glass shards falling.And then the lights went on.It was too sudden Bonnie screamed involuntarily. Turning to Meredith she almost screamed again. Merediths dark hair was disheveled and her cheekbones looked too sharp her face was pale and hollow with fear.Tinkle, tinkle.It was worse with the lights on. Meredith was walking toward the close door down the hall, where the noise was coming from. Bonnie followed, but she knew suddenly, with all her heart, that she didnt want to imagine inside that room.Meredith pulled the door open. She froze for a minute in the doorsill and then lunged quickly inside. Bonnie started for the door.Oh, my God, dont come any fartherBonnie didnt tied(p) pause. She plunged into the doorway and then pulled up short. At start-off glance it looked as if the whole side of the house was departed. The French windows that attached the master bedroom to the balcony seemed to have exploded outward, the woodland splintered, the glass shattered. Little pieces of glass were hanging precariously here and there from the remnants of the wood frame. They tinkled as they fell. vapourific white curtains billowed in and out of the gaping hole in the house. In front of them, in silhouette, Bonnie could see Vickie. She was standing with her work force at her sides, as motionless as a block of stone.Vickie, are you okay? Bonnie was so re lieved to see her alive that it was painful. Vickie?Vickie didnt turn, didnt answer. Bonnie maneuvered around her cautiously, looking into her face. Vickie was stark(a) straight ahead, her pupils pin orders. She was sucking in little pennywhistle breaths, chest heaving.Shuddering, Bonnie reeled away. Meredith was on the balcony. She turned as Bonnie reached the curtains and tried to block the way.Dont look. Dont look down there, she verbalize.Down where? Suddenly Bonnie understood. She shoved past Meredith, who caught her arm to stop her on the edge of a dizzying drop. The balcony quetch had been b braveed out like the French windows and Bonnie could see straight down to the lighted thousand below. On the ground there was a writhe figure like a broken doll, limbs askew, issue bent at a grotesque angle, light-haired hair fanned on the dark smear of the garden. It was Sue Carson.And throughout all the confusion that raged laterward, deuce thoughts kept vying for dominance in Bonnies mind. One was that Caroline would never have her foursome now. And the other was that it wasnt delightful for this to happen on Merediths birthday. It just wasnt fair.Im sorry, Meredith. I dont estimate shes up to it right now.Bonnie heard her fathers voice at the front door as she listlessly stirred sweetener into a cup of camomile tea. She put the spoon down at once. What she wasnt up to was sitting in this kitchen one minute longer. She take out.Ill be right there, Dad.Meredith looked almost as bad as she had last night, face peaked, eyes shadowed. Her gumshield was set in a tight line.Well just go out driving for a little while, Bonnie verbalise to her father. Maybe see some of the kids. After all, youre the one who tell it isnt dangerous, right?What could he say? Mr. McCullough looked down at his petite daughter, who stuck out the stubborn chin shed inherited from him and met his gaze squarely. He lifted his hands.Its almost four oclock now. Be back before dark, he said.They want it both ways, Bonnie said to Meredith on the way to Merediths car. Once inside, both girls immediately locked their doors.As Meredith put the car in gear she gave Bonnie a glance of contraband understanding.Your parents didnt rely you, either.Oh, they believe everything I told them-except anything of import. How can they be so stupid?Meredith laughed shortly. Youve got to look at it from their point of view. They find one dead body without a mark on it except those caused by the fall. They find that the lights were sour in the neighborhood because of a go bad at Virginia Electric. They find us, hysterical, giving answers to their questions that moldiness have seemed pretty weird. Who did it? Some monster with sweaty hands. How do we know? Our dead friend Elena told us through a Ouija come on. Is it any wonder they have their doubts?Theyre forgetting already, Meredith replied softly. You predicted it yourself. Life has gone back to normal, and everybody in Fel ls Church feels safer that way. They all feel like theyve woken up from a bad dream, and the last thing they want is to get sucked in again.Bonnie just shook her head.And so its easier to believe that a bunch of teenage girls got riled up contend with a Ouija board, and that when the lights went out they just freaked and ran. And one of them got so scared and confused she ran right out a window.There was a silence and then Meredith added, I wish Alaric were here.Normally, Bonnie would have given her a dig in the ribs and answered, So do I, in a lecherous voice. Alaric was one of the handsomest guys shed ever seen, even if he was a doddering twenty- twain years old. presently, she just gave Merediths arm a disconsolate squeeze. Cant you call him somehow?In Russia? I dont even know where in Russia he is now.Bonnie bit her lip.Then she sat up. Meredith was driving down Lee Street, and in the high school parking lot they could see a collection.She and Meredith exchanged glances, and Meredith nodded. We might as well, she said. Lets see if theyre any smarter than their parents.Bonnie could see startled faces turning as the car cruised slowly into the lot. When she and Meredith got out, hoi polloi move back, making a path for them to the center of the crowd.Caroline was there, clutching her elbows with her hands and shaking back her auburn hair distractedly.Were not going to sleep in that house again until its repaired, she was saying, shivering in her white sweater. pascal says well take an apartment in Heron until its over.What difference does that make? He can follow you to Heron, Im sure, said Meredith.Caroline turned, but her green cats eyes wouldnt quite an meet Merediths. Who? she said vaguely.Oh, Caroline, not you too Bonnie exploded.Her eyes came up and for an instant Bonnie motto how frightened she was. I cant take any more. As if she had to prove her words that minute, she pushed her way through the crowd.Let her go, Bonnie, Meredith said. Its no use.Shes no use, said Bonnie furiously. If Caroline, who knew, was performing this way, what about the other kids?She saw the answer-in the faces around her. Everybody looked scared, as scared as if she and Meredith had brought some loathsome illness with them. As if she and Meredith were the problem.I dont believe this, Bonnie muttered.I dont believe it either, said Deanna Kennedy, a friend of Sues. She was in the front of the crowd, and she didnt look as uneasy as the others. I talked with Sue yesterday afternoon and she was so up, so happy. She cant be dead. Deanna began to sob. Her boyfriend put an arm around her, and several other girls began to cry. The guys in the crowd shifted, their faces rigid.Bonnie felt a little rush of hope. And shes not going to be the only one dead, she added. Elena told us that the whole town is in danger. Elena said Despite herself Bonnie heard her voice failing. She could see it in the way their eyes glazed up when she mentioned Elenas name. Mer edith was right theyd put everything that had happened last winter butt end them. They didnt believe any longer.Whats wrong with you all? she said helplessly, missing to hit something. You dont unfeignedly signify Sue threw herself off that balconyPeople are saying- Deannas boyfriend started and then shrugged defensively. Well-you told the law Vickie Bennett was in the room, right? And now shes off her head again. And just a little bit front youd heard Sue shouting, No, Vickie, no?Bonnie felt as if the wind had been knocked out of her. You say that Vickie- oh, God, youre out of your mind Listen to me. Something grabbed my hand in that house, and it wasnt Vickie. And Vickie had nothing to do with throwing Sue off that balcony.Shes hardly strengthened enough, for one thing, Meredith said pointedly. She weighs about ninety-five pounds dripping wet.Somebody from the back of the crowd muttered about around the bend people having superhuman strength. Vickie has a psychiatric rec ord-Elena told us it was a guy Bonnie almost shouted, losing her skirmish with self-control. The faces tilted toward her were shuttered, unyielding. Then she saw one that made her chest loosen. savorless Tell them you believe us. matte Honeycutt was standing on the fringe with his hands in his pockets and his blond head bowed. Now he looked up, and what Bonnie saw in his blue eyes made her draw in her breath. They werent hard and shuttered like everyone elses, but they were full of a flat discouragement that was just as bad. He shrugged without taking his hands from his pockets.Bonnie, for one of the number one times in her life, was speechless. Matt had been upset ever since Elena died, but thisHe does believe it, though, Meredith was saying quickly, capitalizing on the moment. Now what have we got to do to convince the rest of you?Channel Elvis for us, peradventure, said a voice that immediately set Bonnies bloodline boiling. Tyler. Tyler Smallwood. Grinning like an ape in his overexpensive Perry Ellis sweater, screening a mouthful of strong white teeth.Its not as good as psychic electronic mail from a dead Homecoming Queen, but its a start, Tyler added.Matt always said that grin was enquire for a punch in the nose. But Matt, the only guy in the crowd with close to Tylers physique, was thoroughgoing(a) dully at the ground.Shut up, Tyler You dont know what happened in that house, Bonnie said.Well, neither do you, apparently. Maybe if you hadnt been privacy in the living room, youd have seen what happened. Then mortal might believe you.Bonnies retort died on her tongue. She stared at Tyler, opened her mouth, and then closed it. Tyler waited. When she didnt speak, he showed his teeth again.For my money, Vickie did it, he said, winking at Dick Carter, Vickies ex-boyfriend. Shes a strong little babe, right, Dick? She could have through it. He turned and added deliberately over his shoulder, Or else that Salvatore guy is back in town.You creep shouted Bonnie. Even Meredith cried out in frustration. Because of course at the very mention of Stefan pandemonium ensued, as Tyler must have known it would. Everyone was turning to the person adjacent to them and exclaiming in alarm, horror, excitement. It was primarily the girls who were excited.Effectively, it put an end to the gathering. People had been edging away surreptitiously before, and now they broke up into twos and threes, arguing and hastening off.Bonnie gazed after them angrily.Supposing they did believe you. What did you want them to do, anyway? Matt said. She hadnt sight him beside her.I dont know. Something besides just standing around waiting to be picked off. She tried to look him in the face. Matt, are you all right?I dont know. atomic number 18 you?Bonnie thought. No. I mean, in one way Im move Im doing as well as I am, because when Elena died, I just couldnt deal. At all. But then I wasnt as close to Sue, and besides I dont know She wanted to hit something again . Its just all too muchBonnie thought. No. I mean, in one way Im surprised Im doing as well as I am, because when Elena died, I just couldnt deal. At all. But then I wasnt as close to Sue, and besides I dont know She wanted to hit something again. Its just all too muchYes, Im mad. Suddenly Bonnie understood the feelings shed been having all day. Killing Sue wasnt just wrong, it was evil. Truly evil. And whoever did it isnt going to get away with it. That would be-if the world is like that, a place where that can happen and go unpunished if thats the truth She found she didnt have a way to finish.Then what? You dont want to live here anymore? What if the world is like that?His eyes were so lost, so bitter. Bonnie was shaken. But she said staunchly, I wont let it be that way. And you wont either.He simply looked at her as if she were a kid insisting there was so a Santa Claus.Meredith spoke up. If we expect other people to take us seriously, wed better take ourselves seriously. Elena did commune with us. She wanted us to do something. Now if we really believe that, wed better figure out what it is.Matts face had flexed at the mention of Elena. You poor guy, youre still as much in love with her as ever, thought Bonnie. I wonder if anything could make you forget her? She said, are you going to help us, Matt?Ill help, Matt said quietly. But I still dont know what it is youre doing.Were going to stop that murdering creep before he kills anybody else, said Bonnie. It was the first time shed fully realized herself that this was what she meant to do. whole? Because you are alone, you know.We are alone, Meredith corrected. But thats what Elena was trying to tell us. She said we had to do a summoning dapple to call for help.An easy spell with only two ingredients, Bonnie remembered from her dream. She was getting excited. And she said shed already told me the ingredients-but she hadnt. decision night she said there were corrupting influences distorting her communicati on, Meredith said. Now to me that sounds like what was happening in the dream. Do you think it really was Elena you were drinking tea with?Yes, Bonnie said positively. I mean, I know we werent really having a mad tea party at firm Springs, but I think Elena was sending that contentedness into my brain. And then partway through something else took over and pushed her out. But she fought, and for a minute at the end she got back control.Okay. Then that means we have to concentrate on the extraction of the dream, when it was still Elena communicating with you. But if what she was saying was already being distorted by other influences, then maybe it came out weird. Maybe itwasnt something she actually said, maybe it was something she didWhat?Hair I asked her who did hers, and we talked about it, and she said, Hair is very important. And Meredith-when she was trying to tell us the ingredients last night, the first letter of one of them was HThats it Merediths dark eyes were flashing. Now we just have to think of the other one.But I know that too Bonnies jape bubbled up exuberantly. She told me right after we talked about hair, and I thought she was just being strange. She said, Blood is important too. Meredith shut her eyes in realization. And last night, the Ouija board said Bloodblood-blood. I thought it was the other thing threatening us, but it wasnt, she said. She opened her eyes. Bonnie, do you think thats really it? Are those the ingredients, or do we have to start worrying about mud and sandwiches and mice and tea?Those are the ingredients, Bonnie said firmly. Theyre the kind of ingredients that make sense for a summoning spell. Im sure I can find a ritual to do with them in one of my Celtic magic books. We just have to figure out the person were speculate to summon Something struck her, and her voice trailed off in dismay.I was wondering when youd notice, Matt said, speaking for the first time in a long while. You dont know who it is, do you?