Emma hadn't said anything to Klaus. She didn't respond. She couldn't. Instead she hung up. Her mind was running a mile a minute, tears pooling in her eyes as she thought about what he'd just told her. But it couldn't be. He couldn't be gone. She didn't want to believe it.

For a moment she let herself hope. She let herself believe as she dialled his number instead, praying for him to answer. Praying that this was just another one of Klaus' tactics. Scaring her with the worst possible situation so she'd try and talk Kol into giving up.

But the more she tried to get a hold of him and failed, the more she knew. It wasn't a lie. Her hands shook. The sound of the dial tone imprinting itself in her brain. Tears started to fall from her eyes, no longer under her control.

And then, in between two call attempts, her own phone started to blow up. Rebekah, Klaus, Elijah, even Katherine (the last two having left to take Katherine to the airport for her late flight), all trying to reach her. Even Matt's name popped up. Everyone knew. Everyone was trying to reach her. And that's how she knew.

It wasn't just a trick. It wasn't just manipulation.

He was gone.

And once that registered in Emma's mind... It was like her heart was being ripped apart into a million little pieces.

Always, they said.

The planned for the future.

Together.

And now it was gone.

A heartbroken scream pushed past her lips. Uncontrollable sobs followed after it.

He was gone.

Her mind flashed back to the memories of their time together. They were all that was left. They wouldn't be making any more. She thought back to all the promises they'd made. To all the things they'd said.

To all the things they didn't.

She never told him.

She loved him.

And now he was gone.

He was gone after he promised he'd come back. After he promised he'd always be by her side. After she promised she'd always be there to save him.

She should have been there. She should have helped.

She should have told him.

She struggled to breathe, not because of her disease, but because of the sobs that continued to come, because of the heart wrenching pain.

She'd experienced grief before.

But this... This was different.

Everything had been ripped away in the span of one phone call.

He was gone.

Kol was dead.

Emma wasn't sure how long she'd been crying. She couldn't know how long the pain consumed her so much that she remained unaware of anything and everything around her. But with time, her breathing got back under control. With time the sobs turned into whimpers. And she could focus a bit more.

In some ways, that was even worse. Because the memories didn't stop. If anything, sitting in that room, in that house, just brought them forward like an uncontrollable floor and wherever she looked she was reminded of him. Of the little compliments he gave her. Of every gentle touch and kiss. Of every passionate moment.

Her eyes looked around the darkened room, the light on her nightstand casting shadows on every surface. She tried to ignore the memories they all brought back. But it was impossible. And then her eyes settled on the cupboard and vanity on the other side of the room, and another memory sprung up.

She remembered the way he worried about leaving her behind. The way he ensured she had whatever she would need if something happened.

Standing up, Emma let her legs carry her towards it. She felt numb as she opened one of the drawers, grabbing the small blue pouch lying on the surface among other things and clothing items.

They'd done a locator spell before he left. They made sure her father was no where near Brazil. But nonetheless, Kol made sure she had everything she needed to make a quick escape.

Money, credit cards, a ticket to New York where they agreed she'd wait for him if something did happen. A new passport, with a name that wasn't new but old. Her name.

And as she stared down at it, Emma made her decision. She knew she couldn't stay here. She couldn't let the memories continue to plague her.

Without bothering the staff, Emma started to gather her things, packing them away in suitcases and collecting everything she needed.

She scribbled a simple note. She knew it was only a matter of time before Elijah came back looking for her to check on her. His messages were already littering the screen of her phone.

She said what she needed to. She left on her own, not because she was in danger or because something had happened here. She just couldn't stay. She promised she'd see him again. Promised she'd tell him when she was settled again.

She left it on the bed, easy to spot.

And then she walked out.

She needed to leave. She needed to go. And she knew where she needed to go.

She had to say it.

Last minute plans always resulted in multiple stops, in multiple layovers and multiple pauses. But ultimately, she made it. And as she pulled up the rental car right by the welcome sign on the edge of town, Emma felt another twist of pain shoot through her heart.

She should have been here. Maybe then things would be different.

Taking a moment to build up the courage and push past the sign, push past the border and officially find herself back there, she pulled her phone out of the glove box.

From the moment she left the house in Rio, she turned it off. She didn't want to talk to anyone. She didn't want to see the messages questioning whether she's alright.

But now she turned it back on.

And as soon as the signal was back it started to go insane.

Missed calls, voicemails and messages. A countless number continued streaming in.

She checked Klaus' messages first. Demands to answer his calls through time turned into pleas to tell him she was alright.

Elijah's were smaller in number and less forceful. But he still wanted her to give him more information. Because he made a promise...

With a sigh, Emma typed a short message, telling him she was fine and she'd call him soon. That was as far as she was willing to go.

The number of messages flashing by Rebekah's name had her opening them next. And perhaps she shouldn't have.

The knowledge of where Rebekah was, what she was doing and who she was doing it with; it made a new anger spark up in Emma. For a moment, she decided she wouldn't bother replying to the blonde. But then she thought better of it.

Through the texts she'd gotten some more information of what had happened. She knew who was responsible. And Rebekah was with them.

So instead of ignoring her, Rebekah was the one Emma actually called.

The phone rang for barely a few seconds before Emma could hear the familiar voice on the other end. "Emma, thank god! Where are you? Are you alright?" Rebekah questioned worriedly.

But the Mikaelson wasn't who Emma wanted to talk to. "Put Elena on the phone." She said, her voice cold and emotionless. In that moment, she didn't focus on the pain. She focused on the anger.

"What?" Rebekah's surprise was evident, but Emma didn't care for it.

"We both know your hearing is fine Rebekah."

Emma's words were, at first met with a long pause, but soon enough she knew she was getting what she wanted as she heard distant voices on the other end of the line. Another silence, this one shorter, and then a new person was speaking on the other side.

"H-hello?" The nerves and anxiety in Elena's voice was palpable. Just as Emma wanted it. And she planned on making it worse.

"Tell me Elena, do you know what a siphoner is?"

"I'm not... I..." Elena's confusion was clear. The Gilbert uncertain where Emma was going with this. Klaus had warned them about this.

"Don't worry, I'll explain." Emma's voice sounded much too chipper, much too open and communicative. Too calm. It was what let, not only Elena, but also Stefan and Rebekah who were listening in, know nothing good was coming. "A siphoner is a witch forced to take magic, drain it from other things to be able to do spells and such things. Now, in your time being a vampire, tell me, how much have you learned about it? Do you know it's magic that created vampires? Magic that keeps you alive even though you've died? What do you think happens when I start taking away that magic?"

"Emma, we had-" Elena tried to interrupt her. Maybe if she was trying to apologize, Emma would have let her before she returned to what she had to say. But instead, she interrupted Elena, not wanting to hear her excuses. There were none she'd accept. She wouldn't accept apologies. She wouldn't accept actions showing that it was genuine.

"Let me tell you. It hurts, a lot. Just ask Stefan. He endured it for just a moment and it was enough to make his knees buckle. And the more I do it, the weaker you are, the more excruciating it becomes. Until ultimately, all the magic is gone." Emma sounded as if the thought of doing just that brought her joy. And if she were being honest. It did. "And you're left without the only thing keeping you alive. You go back to the last moment of your human life. Drowning. Water filling your lungs. Unable to breathe. Dying. You know what they say; third time's the charm. And this one will stick. I promise you that."

Emma's words had rendered Elena speechless, and thinking she's said all she wanted to, the Park was just about to pull the phone away and hang up. But then one more thing occurred to her and she added on: "And I'll just remind you, the Cure is magic too."

And then she was done.

Hanging up the phone, she tossed it onto the passenger seat, not bothering with any of the other messages before her foot pressed on the gas again. And she passed the sign.

She was officially back in Mystic Falls.