1916 Flashback

I had lost count of the years over time. I was sure it had been decades, but time seemed to stretch endlessly when all you knew was pain.

It turns out that Angie was actually a worker here, and that she was undercover and spying on me. I guess I was a rare case in the world of the supernatural.

They only gave me one small glass of water each day, and since I didn't have much self-control, I downed it the second it was in my hands. Now, over the years, I had more self-discipline and would ration it throughout the day.

"Number 32942, get up!" a male voice barked, and my eyes blearily opened, accustomed to the number they called me.

I was slumped against the wall, the position I was in all day, every day.

"GET UP!" he repeated angrily.

I refused to move. My lips were sealed with a sticky dryness, and my body ached from every direction. The cell door was flung open as the male worker marched inside. He gripped my upper arm and hauled me to my feet, startling me out of my stupor.

I weakly punched his arm, and he laughed with dark mirth at my sorry attempt.

"And what are you supposed to be?" he asked, dragging me down the hall.

"That's what they're still trying to figure out," I croaked, my voice hoarse from the lack of use.

"All right, good luck number 32942," he said, sounding surprisingly sincere, before flinging me through the doorway.

"Please, I don't want to go there again," I wept, trying to run back towards the hallway. "I don't want them to hurt me anymore!"

He closed the door, and I screamed in anguish as arms dragged me to the hard bed. They strapped my arms and legs accordingly so that I was unable to move.

"Today we will be testing subject 32942's healing ability," the doctor in the room spoke into a recording device. "She seems to be able to heal cuts quite easily, but let's see what happens if we go a little deeper."

"No, no, NO!" I shrieked, trying to move away from the sharp device he was inching towards my stomach.

My screams echoed in the small room.

End of Flashback

"Wake up! Wake up!" a loud voice shook me from my nightmares, and I snapped to attention.

"You were thrashing around," Katherine breathed heavily, still struggling in her bonds.

It was morning now, and my friend looked like hell. Her usually immaculate curls were frazzled, and her makeup was running, giving me the indication that maybe she had been crying.

"Kat, it's gonna be okay," I whispered. "We're going to find a way to–"

"Oh who is this guy, Safari Sam?" a loud voice boomed, and Alaric-Klaus stalked out of his bedroom.

He thrust the shirts in Katherine's direction. "Bad, or badder?"

"It doesn't matter what you wear, you'll still look bad," I commented sweetly, hoping to get some kind of reaction out of him.

But he just smirked. "Just wait until you see my real body love."

I grimaced at the word "love" coming out of Alaric's mouth, but the man was already moving past that. He ordered Katherine to catch him up on all the drama, and she complied, with no choice of course.

"Please, just kill me," Katherine begged meekly, which was rather uncharacteristic. "I've told you everything I know."

"NO! Don't!" I yelled. "Please just let us go! Please tell me you're past this petty revenge fantasy. I mean honestly, you're like a billion, aren't you supposed to be mature?"

Alariklaus gave me a sassy glare. "I'm not a billion Kaitlyn, and Katerina here has disobeyed me, multiple times may I add!"

"Is Liam working with you?" I fired. "You know he'll just betray you right?"

"Liam is a great asset to my plan. Very straightforward, determined, knows how to get things done," Alariklaus said loftily. "You, on the other hand, are quite the opposite. Do you even know what you are? How extraordinary it is?"

I didn't answer, but leaned forwards slightly, wanting to finally have the one. I wanted a straightforward response, with evidence to back it up, and maybe a little context.

"You're an Angel Kaitlyn Paige. A form of beauty, divinity, celestial power."

"No," I shook my head. "No, I already thought of that as well, but how come I don't have any powers. Any sign of divinity? Or even any wings for that matter!"

"You don't know how to access that power yet. How to harness it to its full capability. Once you do, you can be one of the strongest forces on the planet."

He walked over to Katherine and took out a long knife from his back pocket. "Now, I want you to take this knife, and stab yourself with it."

His pupils dilated as he compelled her with ease, and I watched as she took the knife in trembling hands, and burrowed it into her thigh. She let out a low hiss, not daring to show any more emotion than that.

"Now take it out."

The knife was pulled out.

"Don't do this Ri–Klaus! Please!" I begged, not bearing to see my friend in pain.

"Now while I'm gone, I want you to do that over and over and over again and if you get bored, switch legs," he ignored me, and then promptly started walking towards the exit.

"Where are you going?" I demanded. "You can't leave! I need more information!"

He still didn't look at me, continuing to grab his jacket.

"What are my weaknesses?! What can kill me?!" I yelled angrily.

"I'm going to go lay eyes on my precious dopplegänger," he announced, before shutting the door behind him.

∆ ∆ ∆

Katherine grunted in a mixture of frustration and anger as she plunged the knife into her flesh, her thighs already a mess of bloody cuts, healing, and then reopening again with each slash.

"Can't you stop this?" I yelled at the warlock who was sitting idly by.

"I'm fine Lynie, I'll be fine," Katherine hissed, trying to smile at me, but I knew better. "You know I always manage to find a way to survive. C'mon, distract me. How do you feel about finding out you're an angel?"

"I..." I looked at her helplessly. "I don't know how I feel Kat. I mean, I guess it makes sense, me getting my wing tissue from my mother's death, and having immortality. I also think I did something to Jonas Martin with my eyes."

She nodded, stabbing herself again.

"Is it true that you would let me die, in order for your plan to work?"

"What?" she stuttered in surprise, momentarily stopping the knife. "Why would you think that?"

"Isobel told me."

"And you believe her?"

"It makes sense Katherine. Remember what you always say? Better you die than I."

"Okay fine," she sighed. "I said that to her. But I didn't mean it, dummy! I need to appear as if I don't care about anyone. You could be used against me Kaitlyn, you're my weakness."

"Oh.." I smiled lightly, forgetting the situation we were in. "I see."

"I already blame myself for the mess we're in," she said sadly. "I would do anything to prevent you from getting hurt further."

A few hours later, Alariklaus walked back in. "You're right. The witch is all juiced up and ready to kill."

"Bonnie got her magic back?" I asked myself quietly, smiling in triumph.

I knew that Jonas Martin had taken it away from her, and the information that she got it back delighted me. Perhaps we really had a chance.

"We're going to have to kill her," the possessed man muttered to himself, and my eyes widened.

"What!"

He finally spared me a glance. "You look a bit uncomfortable, love. Want me to get you a pillow?"

I spat at his feet, but he dodged it with ease, looking annoyed. "I think I'm going to go to a dance tonight. Maddox, you're sure the spell will work?"

Maddox, the warlock stepped forward confidently. "Yes, you just need to keep attacking her until her power wears out. It will kill her. I've made your body strong enough to withstand it, but it will still hurt."

"Please stop what you're doing to Katherine," I pleaded, catching Alariklaus's eyes as he finished talking to the warlock.

The man looked at me for a few seconds, before walking to my friend, and compelling her to stop hurting herself.

"Be good." Alariklaus left soon after, dressing in a horrible outfit that hardly resembled the decade dance's dress code.

Maddox walked towards me with a dark expression.

"What are you doing?" I gritted my teeth as he placed his hands on the top of my head.

"Just a precaution if you somehow manage to escape," he growled, chanting softly under his breath.

I expected to feel the harsh pain again, but only felt a little more tired than usual after the spell was finished. I had no idea what he did to me, but it didn't seem to take away my ability to talk.

"So Maddox," I said with a flirty tone. "I'm sure there's some lucky woman in your life?"

Katherine sent me a look of confusion, her expression now a bit more relaxed as she had been able to stop stabbing herself

"What are you doing?" she mouthed at me, but I ignored her, leaning forwards in my chair.

"You're a handsome fellow Maddox," I purred, and the warlock turned around to look at me incredulously.

"Um, excuse me?" he asked dumbly, obviously not hit on often.

"You must have a girlfriend," I nudged further.

"No, I don't. And I certainly don't see how this is any of your concern," he snapped.

I bit my lip seductively, only to fail miserably and draw blood. Great, I was really bad at this. I had never been good at seducing someone, that was always Katherine.

Ugh, what could I do to convince him to let us go? What had I done to Jonas Martin, to get him to let us go like that? I remembered faintly that my eyes were glowing, according to Caroline, but I didn't know how to start.

"Come here," I ordered, and he side-eyed me suspiciously. "COME HERE, YOU DIMWIT!"

I could see anger simmering in his eyes, but he obeyed, walking up to me.

"Look into my eyes," I commanded.

"You know you can't compel me right?" he checked but bent down towards my face. "Why the hell am I doing this?"

I squinted, imagining that I was shooting lasers, but nothing happened. How had I gotten it to start last time? In the Grill, I had been desperate to get through to him, to find his good side. Maybe that was the key now.

"Maddox, what is the real reason you're working for Klaus. Be honest," I said softly, and then snapped, "Keep looking into my eyes!"

"I....he threatened my family. I had no choice," the warlock stuttered, confused on why he was being truthful. "I need to keep them safe."

"Maddox, you do realize you will be partly responsible for killing dozens of people, including my best friend Bonnie. She's a witch, just like you."

"I'm sorry, but I need to follow his orders."

"Did he order you not to let me go?" I asked.

"Well, I know I'm not supposed to."

"But did he specifically say those words?" I asked.

"No," Maddox rubbed his arms uncomfortably.

"Untie me, Maddox, please," I begged. "Show me your good side. Show me kindness."

I breathed out in wonder as I saw my eyes glimmering in the reflection of his. His nimble fingers slowly untied the straps around my arms and legs. Soon, I was standing upwards and stretching out my sore limbs. I went to untie Katherine, but Maddox stepped in front of me.

"I can't let you do that. He's already going to kill me if he finds out I let you go."

"Okay, well then tell him I escaped with force," I suggested.

"He'll never believe that," he then yelled as I punched him in the face, breaking his nose. "What the hell was that for?!"

"Sorry!" I apologized. "Now it's believable. Thank you." I turned to Katherine then and blew her a kiss. "I'll be back for you Kat."

She smiled. "No, don't Lynie. Don't come back here. Take this opportunity to run far away."

I shook my head. "I have to help my friends."

With that, I ran out of the door and headed towards the school dance.

∆ ∆ ∆

I must have looked extremely out of place. My hair was sweaty and in tangles, my clothes were a raggedy shirt and bootcut jeans, and my ugly face was clean of makeup.

"Guys!" I panted when I spotted Stefan and Elena dancing. I also saw Damon talking to Alariklaus, unaware that he was interacting with the enemy!

"Hey what's wrong?" Damon looked concerned, eying my emotional state.

"Get away from him!" I yelled, pushing Alariklaus roughly away. "Damon! I need to tell you something!"

Alariklaus merely smirked, letting me pull Damon towards the exit.

"What's wrong Lyn?" Damon turned me around, looking for any injuries. "I was so worried about you. Where were you?"

"I was kidnapped. With Katherine!" I panted. "By Klaus!"

"WHAT?" Damon screeched. "YOU SAW HIM?! Did he hurt you? I-Is Katherine dead?"

"No, she's not. And you don't understand, Klaus is inhabiting A.." my breath hitched, and I choked on my words "Klaus is A...."

I was unable to form the words. Every time I tried to tell him that Alaric was Klaus, I would choke on my own breath.

"Klaus is what Kaitlyn," Damon asked desperately, running his hands through his hair.

"He's...... he's not who you think he is!" I spat out. "He doesn't look like himself."

"What the heck are you talking about?" Damon questioned.

"His witch did some spell on me," I muttered miserably. "I can't tattle on him. All I can tell you, is that Klaus is going to look familiar to us."

Stefan walked towards us with Elena, resting his hand on my upper arm. "What happened Kaitlyn? Where have you been?"

"I....I," I spluttered helplessly. The more I tried to talk about it, the less I could say it out loud.

"Klaus took her and Katherine, did some kind of hocus pocus, she can't tell us anything about him now," Damon clarified.

"Convenient," Elena hummed. "How do we know you're not working with him?"

"Are you seriously asking that right now?" I snarled. "How much do I need to do Elena, to prove to you that I'm on YOUR side!"

"Yeah, but–" Elena began, but Stefan moved his hand to her shoulder.

"Elena, give it a rest."

She shut her mouth at that, glaring hatefully at me.

Suddenly, Alariklaus ran over to us, pretending to be extremely worried.

"Elena! He has Jeremy! Klaus has Jeremy!" he yelled, grabbing her arm.

"What!" Elena shrieked. "We need to get Bonnie and go!" She started running after Alaric.

"No! You can't go!" I yelled after them, but Alariklaus ran faster, and Elena didn't hear me.

"Jeremy is fine," I panted, and it hurt my head to keep talking. "Alaric is lying!"

"What do you mean? Why would he do that?!" Stefan demanded.

Rose ran up to us, looking confused. I also was surprised that she was here. I hadn't seen her in weeks. I had assumed she was traveling the world, and putting her new daylight ring to good use.

"Rose, you're here," I said, momentarily distracted.

"Yeah, I decided to go to my first dance," she shrugged. "What's happening? You guys look scared."

"Klaus is HERE!" I told her, and her eyes widened as she clutched her stomach, looking sick. "Stefan, Damon, you can't trust A..."

I broke into a fit of coughs, choking on the word. "You can't trust him!"

"Trust who?" Damon questioned fiercely. "Kaitlyn, please, try and tell us."

"I CAN'T!" I yelled. "Just go after Elena, Bonnie, and Alaric, you'll see!"

They looked confused, but I pushed them roughly, urging them to go. Rose stayed with me in fright, as the Salvatore brothers ran through the exit.

"I'm scared Kaitlyn," Rose admitted to me, clutching my sleeve. "If he sees me, he'll kill me! It doesn't matter that Elijah has forgiven my sins."

"It's okay Rose. He'll have to go through me to hurt you," I promised her, gritting my teeth in determination. "I need to go after them."

I ran through the hallways until I came to a pair of closed doors. I peered through the small windows on top and roughly made out Elena kneeling over a figure, her shoulders shaking as she sobbed.

I barged in to see Bonnie's lifeless body on the floor, and my hand flew to my mouth as I stumbled back a few steps. Stefan was trying to get Elena off the floor, and Damon looked irritated which confused me.

"What happened," I cried, running over to them. "Where's Alaric, ugh, I mean Klaus!"

Now that everything had happened, I was able to speak freely. Elena sobbed heavily at the sight of her dead friend, and I collapsed next to them, taking Bonnie's cold hand in mine.

"Is she..?" I couldn't finish the sentence, and Stefan nodded solemnly at me.

My lips quivered as tears ran down my face. I couldn't believe she was actually dead! I looked at Damon for support, but he walked towards Bonnie's body with an undetectable expression on his face.

"Stefan, get them out of here. I'll deal with the body," he said emotionlessly, not looking at me.

"What's wrong with you?!" I yelled. "This is Bonnie! How can you not care!"

"Get them home, now," Damon ordered. "I need to clean this up."

Stefan had to manually force me out of the door, as he led a crying Elena out as well. I felt numb as I walked through the hallways, my tears drying on my face.

"I'm going home," I told them, before turning towards the exit.

Rose joined me in the parking lot and took in my puffy face. "What happened?"

"It's Bonnie," I croaked. "She wasn't strong enough."

"Oh Katie," Rose said warmly. "Let me come home with you."

I agreed, and we walked silently towards my rickety apartment, her company being enough comfort for the moment.

"I just," I began speaking. "I've never had a friend like that, one that I would feel pain for if they died. Of course, I have Katherine, but I now know she's a vampire. I didn't want to make relationships, because I knew they would just hurt me in the end. I don't know how to commit Rose. It's hard."

"I know how you feel," Rose told me. "Trevor was my only companion for 500 years, I still can't get over his death now. I never made any friends, because I would only have to leave them. We're more similar than you think. But why did you have to be on the run?"

"I escaped from a place," I said vaguely. "And I'm pretty sure those doctors are still looking for me."

"Doctors?"

"Yeah, they experiment on supernaturals. I don't really want to talk about that right now though."

Suddenly my phone rang, and I picked up, grateful for a distraction.

"Damon," I greeted unhappily.

"Kaitlyn, I know you're mad at me right now, but Bonnie's not dead."

"What?" I spluttered. "How? I saw her body!"