Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"This is the best sleepover ever," Josie announced.

Hope smiled.

They had built a fort in her room and were watching movies.

Their parents were downstairs spending time together.

Josie's sister Lizzie wasn't there, she was at a summer camp for cheerleading that weekend.

So they got to spend time, just the two of them. It was always special when that happened.

From the moment they met they were inseparable.

They were both forteen and we're going into their freshman year.

"I'm nervous about starting highschool," Josie admitted.

Hope nodded but smiled ," we will have each other though!"

Josie hugged her.

The moment was interrupted by an angry bellow.

Were their parents arguing?

They both snuck to the door.

Everyone down their were Vampires and had supernatural hearing so they couldn't get to close.

The only words they could workout were "merge, soulmates, and fate.”

What was that about?

Hope and Josie jumped from the door as they suddenly heard angry footsteps coming up the stairs.

They both managed to get back in their movie position just as the door swung open.

"Josie get your things," Stefan growled from the doorway ,"we are going home."

Hope and Josie started to hesitate.

"NOW," Stefan ordered.

Josie got up and left. Why was her father so mad?

So the left.

Both were told they weren't allowed to see each other anymore.

Hope and Josie tried to argue but their parents wouldn't budge. Things only got worse from there.

JOSIE

Lizzie came back from camp and barely contained her glee at the situation. Josie knew she was jealous of Hope's and her friendship.

“So they said you can’t see each other?” Lizzie asked slowly.

“Yup,” Josie said tears in her eyes.

Lizzie came and sat by her.

“If our parents don’t want you too around each other I’m sure it’s for a good reason,” Lizzie explained.

Josie froze. She was about to tell her that Hope and her were going to try to see each other secretly.

Maybe she shouldn’t trust anyone with this secret. Josie couldn’t risk not being able to see her.

“Yeah maybe you’re right,” Josie managed to reply.

HOPE

“What do you mean I’m not going to Mystic Falls High School?” Hope cried.

Klaus and Hayley pulled her aside after the morning of the argument and told her she would be going to the local private school called Five Lakes Academy nearby.

Klaus bristled.

“You’re education is important Hope and this is were most respectable supernatural families send their children,” he spat.

“I am your father and my word is final,” He finished.

Hope angrily turned and ran to her room, slamming the door angrily and throwing herself onto her pillow.

She was crying until she heard a ping on her laptop.

It was from an instant messaging app her and Josie got as a joke.

They both created accounts under fake names and would message random people on it.

“Hey it’s me-sugar1256 (Josie)

“Oh my god Josie you are so smart-wavy lashes45 (Hope)

They messaged away explaining their situations.

Josie was devastated that Hope wouldn’t be going to Mysic falls.

There was a knock on the door.

“G2G”- wavylashes45
She closed her computer and sat angrily on her bed.

It was her mother.

“Hey,” she said softly from the doorway.

Hope ignored her and turned her face away, refusing to look at her.

Her mother sighed deeply.

MONDAY BEFORE 1ST DAY OF SCHOOL

(They are using messenger app and I’m just going to use their real names and not their usernames).

HOPE

Hope-“Are you there?”

Time passes.

Hope grows worries. She glanced at the clock. 9:05 pm…Josie is running late.

What if their parents figured it out?

For the last month they had stuck only to messaging each other. They wanted their parents to put their guard down so they kept a low profile.

Josie had to often wait out Lizzie who was wanting to “make up for lost time” with her and spend every waking moment with Josie.

There really was a lot of resentment there. Josie let Hope know that she didn’t tell Lizzie they were still in communication.

Hope sighed. She glanced over to her bed. Her outfit was a uniform. Skirt and everything. It made her angry every time she saw it. More than anything she didn’t want to go to private school. But alas Klaus had spoken.

She brought it up again earlier in the week and he threatened to have them all move back to New Orleans. Hope quieted quickly. It would be disastrous for them to have that much physical distance between them. Hope couldn’t bare it.

Hope glanced at the clock.

9:16.

No message.

She sighed.

Suddenly there was a ping.

Josie- “I’m so sorry I just got Lizzie to leave she had a new crush. Rafael or something like that.”

Hope let out a breath. She smiled.

Hope-“Tell me all about your day.”

THE NEXT MORNING

JOSIE

They were running late.

Josie was ready over forty-five minutes ago. She had breakfast and everything.

Lizzie was still in the bathroom getting ready. She locked the door with magic even.

Josie was very tempted to siphon it and just as she made up her mind to barg in and drag her out the door opened.

Lizzie looked the picture of popular teenager. Her make up was applied delicately and her outfit was fierce.

Josie was still annoyed with her.

They left together.

Josie would have just left her earlier but Lizzie would have thrown a fit.

So Josie waited…..

They separated at their lockers and Josie barely made it to her first class-Math.

She sat down next to a curly hairs boy.

He flashed her a smile.

Josie didn’t know how to respond.

She was saved by class starting.

HOPE

Hopes first day went smoothly.

She didn’t talk to anyone.

There was zero desire in her to connect with any of these people.

Unlike Mystic Falls High everyone who went here was supernatural and very rich. Hope didn’t want to be friends with any of her stuck up classmates.

Fortunately the Mikealson name made sure no one talked to her. She kept a glare firmly on her face.

Hope should be with Josie right now.

Instead she was at Five Lakes Academy.

Ugh.

ONE WEEK LATER

JOSIE

Josie was buzzing with excitement.

Very soon she would get to see her best friend Hope.

There was a party.

One she intended not to drink at.

Once people were drunk enough Josie planned on sneaking away-to a nearby cemetery.

Hope chose it because it would be the last place anyone would look for them. Everyone knew Josie was scared of them.

Her heart thudded about going there alone but she knew Hope would be there and keep them safe.

She was a powerful witch and wolf.

Josie could hold her own too.

Lizzie came into the room.

“Ok this is the final outfit,” she announced.

Josie turned around.

She was looking very cute in the skirt and top she picked. Josie was similarly dressed.

“Rafael and Landon are in their way to pick us up,” Lizzie informed her.

Landon.

The new bane of Josie’s existence.

He obviously had a crush on her and everyone was encouraging it. Lizzie told her they would be adorable together.

Josie didn’t feel anything for him.

She needed to pretend though. Make Lizzie think she actually wanted to go tonight.

So Josie smiled and grabbed her coat.

Time to put on a show.

HOPE

Hope sat in the graveyard.

She stared at the stars.

Hope was nervous.

The last week had been miserable for her. She couldn’t take it anymore.

Hope had a crazy plan though. She didn’t know if Josie would go along with it or not.

Their parents were being unreasonable, obviously something was going on, there was some missing information. Whatever was going on it was unfair to the both of them.

Hope wanted to run away. She wanted Josie to go with her.

Her heart hammered. Was she over reacting?

Her back pack was packed. Clothes and a lot of money she stole from her dad’s safe. There was no backing out for her. Klaus would figure it out by morning.

Hope prayed Josie would choose to go with her. She hid a note explaining why to her parents and family.

Hope sighed and looked at the stars.

There were soft footsteps.

Hope stood up.

There she was.

Wow. She had make up on and a really cute outfit.

Her face lit up when she saw Hope.

Hope ran to her and they fiercely hugged.

They held each other.

“Finally we have you two alone, together,” a hollow voice announced behind them.

Chapter Text

HOPE

Hope and Josie spun around.

It felt like the air around them was suddenly sucked dry and everything looked darker. Hope looked around and realized that they weren’t in the cemetery anymore.

Both of them were still holding each other, clinging for dear life.

“Who are you” Hope asked bravely.

There was a dark chuckle.

“I am three of one, we all are here,” the figure hissed.

Josie shuddered.

Hope didn’t blame her. Her voices sounded like more than one, and echoed in a way that made her skin crawl. It did sound like three people talking at once.

“What do you want from us?” Hope pushed as she swallowed her fear.

The creature walked, no glided over to them. Hope stood firm.

It was about seven feet from them now.

“I am here to redirect the path.”

Hands came out of her sleeves. They were skeletal and there was pieces of skin still attached. Long fingernails lazily grabbed her hood and pulled it back.

They both took a step back in unison.

It was a woman. Kinda.

Her eyes were hallow and black. Everything on her was rotting. She looked both dead and alive.

She had a twisted smile on her face.

“Don’t be afraid children,” she whispered.

Gently she pulled a tiny box from her cloak.

They could only watch as Hope realized they were now frozen and unable to move even if they wanted to. Her jaw was clenched. She wanted to yell, scream, or fight. Hope couldn’t move an inch.

The woman seemed to notice their curious glances at the box.

She smirked.

“This box has been around forever, a tool now for the fates,” she explained.

One of her long hands reached in. It was digging for awhile when she finally pulled out a stone.

Hope knew it wasn’t a normal stone. It was emiting powerful magic, magic Hope didn’t recognized.

“Ah here it is,” she said triumphantly.

“This stone will show your next step.”

She threw it on the ground lazily.

It did nothing for a second then the ground suddenly began to bubble. It writhed and slowly turned into black mud. It was a mud pit.

“Curious,” she said.

Hope didn’t like that.

What was curious?

They began to back away from the mud pit in front of them but suddenly felt the cold breath of the woman behind them.

“Time to embrace your destiny,” she sang as she pushed them forcefully into the pit.

HOPE

Hope sat up.

Josie groaned beside her.

Wherever they were, it was a dark place.
There was no breeze.

Darkness seemed to seep everywhere and into anything. Hope felt like her skill was cloaked in it.

There was a forest in the distance, looking gnarled and haunted.

Hope glanced behind them.

There was a Stone Mountain and she could make out a cave in the distance.

Hope stood up and helped Josie to her feet.

“I don’t think we’re in Mystic Falls anymore,” Josie said sadly as she took in the hellish landscape.

Hope silently looked around and up at the sky.

“Josie, I’m not even sure we are on Earth anymore,” she said solemly.

There was a roar in the distance.

“We should move,” Hope said as she grabbed Josie’s hand.

“Let’s head towards that cave up the hill,” she suggested.

They took off.

Hope had the sense they were being watched. Her skin crawled.

Fortunately they made it to the cave with out incident.

Just as they were about to enter Hope held out her hand to stop Josie.

“What’s wrong?” She asked fearfully.

“There’s a trap,” Hope breathed.

She carefully disarmed it. Josie crouched down to watched her. Neither were paying attention to their surroundings.

“Don’t move,” a gruff voice said behind them.

They both froze mid action.

Hope felt a sharp point at her back.

She put her hands up.

Dammit.

She cursed herself.

“Stand up,” the man ordered.

At least she assumed he was a man because of his voice.

They both stood slowly.

“Turn around,” he continued.

They did.

Facing them was a man with blond hair and a beard. He looked maybe in his late thirties.

“Who are you?” He demanded.

Hope and Josie exchanged glances.

“I’m Josie,” Josie announced.

Hope sighed.

“My name is Hope,” she said.

He looked curiously at them.

“Where did you come from?” He pushed.

Hope swallowed.

“We came from Mystic Falls,” she said finally. This man looked serious and Hope didn’t think she could deceive him even if she tried.

“Mystic Falls?” He repeated.

They both nodded.

His eyes flashed-sadness maybe?

“You’re just kids,” he said brokenly and he lowered his weapon.

Both Hope and Josie let out a breath.

He sighed deeply.

“My name is Alaric and you are in Malivore,” he said carefully.

Both were silent at the revelation.

“Umm what’s a Malivore?” Hope finally asked.

Chapter Text

JOSIE
Malivore was a thing and a place apparently.

Alaric filled them in on what was going on.

Well as much as he knew.

Apparently some time ago he was hunting a creature that stole some knife from his friends collection and he ended up here.

His friend was with him when he fell and somehow ended up here. He told them he passed out during a fight with a dark creature.

“Did your friend keep the knife?” Hope asked.

Alaric smiked.

“Seeing that things are still okay there it must still be protected, “ he responded.

Josie was thoughtful.

“Who was your friend in Mystic Falls?” She asked curiously.

He looked at her and said simply,”I have many friends there but the friends who i was with was Stefan and Damon Salvatore,” he explained.

Josie felt her eyes widen.

Her father knew this man? He never mentioned him.

“That’s–,” Josie hesitated ,” that’s my dad,” she said.

Alaric eyes widened.

“Stefan had children?” He questioned.

“Who is your mother?”

Josie glanced at Hope. Her eyes were questioning. Was she sharing too much with this man?

Hope silently nodded her support.

Josie sighed. They didn’t have much to loose at any rate.

“Caroline,” she said simply.

His eyes widened.

“Caroline Forbes?!” He exclaimed.

Josie nodded. “It’s Salvatore now,” she said.

Alaric sat back against the cave wall.

He seemed to be thinking deeply.

“Do you have a sister too?” He asked softly?

Josie nodded. Her stomach twisted weirdly.

“How old are you?” He asked slowly.

“Fourteen,” she answered.

He closed his eyes.

Alaric looked distraught.

He looked away from them.

Josie found the man curious.

For someone who had been in a hell dimension for over ten years he seemed very sane.

It was odd.

Suddenly a voice sounded from the entrance of the cave.

“Ok, come out of there all of you,” a bored voice called.

Alaric grabbed a sharpened staff he had and he stood in front as they carefully went to the entrance.

There was a man wearing a suit.

He was clean shaven, tall, with brown hair.

The man looked extremely uncaring.

“What do you want?” Alaric asked.

The man smiled.

It wasn’t a pleasant smile. There was nothing behind it. No light in his dark eyes.

“I’m here to offer you all a chance to leave this hell hole,” he offered as he held out his hands to show he was unarmed.

Alarics jaw clenched. Josie couldn’t help to feel a connection to Alaric, she couldn’t understand why.

“Why would we trust you?” Alaric spat.

The man began to laugh.

“You can come with me or stay here and rot,” he said nonchalantly.

He turned and started to walk away.

Hope glanced at Josie and they silently agreed to follow him.

Alaric put his hand out.

“You don’t know if this is a trap,” he warned.

Hope sighed.

“It might be but, I don’t think there are any other options,” she said softly.

Alaric looked at the ground.

“You’re not wrong about that,” he muttered.

He sighed.

“Time moves differently here than earth,” he began slowly,” I’ve only been here a few years at most.”

He looked at the ground.

“I’ve missed so much,” he murmured.

So they followed the man.

He let them to an empty basin.

Long since dried out.

He threw something in it and muttered a phrase.

Another mud pit.

“This will take you back to Mystic Falls,” he explained.

Alaric was watching him closely.

“I ask again why are you helping us?” He demanded.

The man smiled again.

He made Josie’s skin crawl. Something about this man just screamed evil to her.

“I have an invested interest in you all leaving here,” he responded simply.

He stepped towards the goo.

“My names Ryan Clarke by the way,” he said.

Ryan paused one more time.

“I suppose I’ll warn you, no one is going to remember you, once you’re in Malivore your existence on earth is wiped,” he explained.

Alaric looked horrified at his words.

Hope was also upset.

Josie felt the same but she it now made sense why no one mentioned Alaric to them before. He was forgotten.

Who was this man?