𝔼𝕡𝕚𝕝𝕠𝕘𝕦𝕖

-Narrator's perspective-

(Author's note: This part of the story is not based on the show. I made this up so please don't attack me)

For the meantime of her miserable life, Arabella had travelled halfway throughout every country she could think about related to helping Hope. Arabella had just visited Freya in New Orleans, wanting a favour after all she had ever done.

In many dreadful nights without the girl she loves, Arabella was on the edge point where she almost turned her humanity switch off. Thanks to Kol, she never done it. Scared that she'll hurt everyone around her who was only helping her.

She researched every book on every library she found under a witch's den. Arabella had to resort to killing many witches just for her to get her hands on their grimoires which was a waste of time seeing as it was all useless. It made her feel more terrible that she couldn't help the sleeping girl who was in Mystic Falls.

Many people were trying to contact her, ask if she's all right, if she's still sane and alive, but no one could even talk to her except if she wanted to talk to them. Arabella had the fear of that if she talked to any of them, her emotional breakdown will come back and she couldn't focus on researching how to wake Hope up.

With those many weeks of being in Mystic Falls, up all night in the Memorial Library of the Salvatore School, was hell for her. At one point, she even had plenty of hopes given up when she thought she found something, but ended up being disappointed that it was a dead end.

With a sophisticated posture, The girl sat on the stool in front of the bar. She laid off on drinking, wanting to be more focused than she ever was. Arabella had a glass of water in front if her, her staring at the wall of pictures nearby which made her heart pinch in the slightest.

There was a picture of Hope smiling besides her aunt Freya who measured up on her smile. They looked happy and free, something that Hope wasn't when monsters dropped above their heads.

"Arabella."

When her name was called, she smiled softly and turned around to see Freya with a simple one. She stood up and hugged the girl in formalities, really needed the embrace.

"Freya." She greeted and the two sat down besides each other. "It's nice seeing you again. How's Nik? Keelin?" She asked, starting a conversation which Freya happily told her stories about.

As the few minutes of them talking, Arabella felt a genuine emotion lunged in her heart. The two talked calmly, neither really wanted to discuss the elephant in the room which was torturing Freya immensely.

The Mikaelson witch was also trying to find a way to reverse whatever happened to her niece. When she found out what happened, she can't help but feel responsible for not checking in to Hope who was going through suicide missions.

Also more surprised and relieved that Hope was together with Arabella. If it was anyone else, Freya would have blamed them for not protecting her niece. But when she heard stories of Arabella losing control, spiralling down to her own world, travelling to find a solution, she didn't blame the Salvatore. They all wanted to get her back, certainly Arabella.

"Freya, about that favour." She started, all seriousness in her voice which only made the Mikaelson sigh. "Please. I wouldn't ask if I didn't need it."

"This has been torture for my family's freedom. Are you even sure this is what you want?" Freya asked, pulling a cloth that covered something underneath it, putting it on the counter.

"Yes I... I feel like I'm losing my mind." She sighed, taking the cloth and pulling it to her. "I wish that I could help in searching for a solution- I really do. But I can't."

Freya nodded, understanding but also upset that it resolved to this. "Don't worry. Almost every witch in New Orleans is helping me, Alaric and his friends is also searching. We got it from here." She assured, clasping her hands together. "I miss her too. We all do."

"Yeah." Arabella sighed, looking over the cloth before turning to the witch. The two stayed in silence for a while, Freya mostly pondering on what to say to ease the other's mind.

"You really love her, don't you?" She asked, giving a small smile when she saw how Arabella reacted.

"I wouldn't be here and asked for these." She patted the cloth, sighing. "Yes I do."

☘︎︎

With a defeated sigh, Arabella stepped out of her car, locking the doors when she shut it close. She stared at the entrance for a few more minutes before shaking her head, walking up and opened the door.

It's summer and yet, no one was inside the supposed crowded school. She hears only a few voices on either on their rooms or around the school which she ignored. Arabella's footsteps echoed in the hallways as she walked, no one really saw her so they didn't make a big deal out of it.

While she was walking, she got hit with nostalgic familiarities on the halls. Arabella sighed, knocking on the door and heard a voice mumble a sentence to get in. She flung open the door, immediately saw Caroline and Alaric talking inside.

"Hey-"

"-Ara?!" The two asked/called, in unison. Arabella sent a tight smile and before she could talk, she was engulfed into a tight hug thanks to Caroline. "Where. Have. You. Been?" Caroline asked, now mad.

"In this month? I can list 10 countries." She answered truthfully but the two took it as a joke and pushed past it quickly.

"Nevermind that, how are you?" Ric asked, tossing a file over his table, crossing his arms and looked at the blonde.

"I'm great." She answered, looking at the two who looked at her in disbelief. "Hope is still in deep sleep and I feel useless. What do you think I'm feeling?"

Caroline sighed, looking over to Ric who shared a knowing look.

"It's been 4 months. No calls, No texts, No word out of you. What happened?" Alaric questioned in concern, merely wanting answers.

"I jump from country to country- look, this is not why I'm here." She said, cutting to the chase.

Caroline frowned, noticing a change of something inside her friend. She desperately wanted to ask why she's being shady but, it will still come up. When Ric asked what happened, Arabella continued.

"I need help." She sighed, pulling a blade from out of her pocket, a small jar of white oak ash alongside with it. "I wouldn't ask if-"

"-You want us to dagger you?!" Caroline almost shrieked in surprise but sticked to a harsh whisper.

"Technically I was gonna ask Ric since a vampire dies when you stab an original. I didn't even know you were going to be here, Care." She said back, placing the two objects on the desk. "Please. I can't do this anymore." She pleaded, flash of emotions on her eyes.

Alaric heaved out a sigh. "No. We are not going to put you to sleep just because you miss Hope." He said in a final tone, but still uncertain.

"Ric." The Salvatore started, trying her hardest to stop the pinch in her heart. "I have been through hell and back. I can't do it anymore so please-" She quickly grabbed the dagger, placing it on the human's hand. "-Just do it."

"This is insane- It's insane, right?" Caroline said, looking over the human who was staring at the silver blade. "Ric?" She called.

The three stayed silent, Alaric holding the grip on the dagger, Caroline who looked as if she was going to flames of anger, And Arabella who was desperate to just sleep and woke up when Hope does.

☘︎︎

Arabella knelt down, one knee on the ground as she looked over a sleeping Hope. She kept a blank face, brushing her hand over the girl's cheek.

It's been too long since she's visited her- the last time she did, she threw a fit and almost killed Ric. Main reason why she needed to leave and distract herself.

"Hey there..." She whispered, smiling through her pain all in while seeing Hope again made her feel a sense of clarity. "I missed you. It's getting a little dead here without you."

As expected, Hope didn't magically wake up over her presence. It made her feel disappointed. So disappointed.

"Well, it's been hard without you here, Hope." She sighed, sitting just on the edge of the bed. "I'm sorry, I couldn't find a way to wake you up. I really didn't want to give up here but all I think about is that you will never... never come back to me. Like I said, you're stuck with me and I'm stuck to you. Can't exactly full fill the whole memo if you stay here sleeping without me."

Arabella felt a strain of tear fell out of her eye, rolling over her cheek. She groaned, wiping it and tilting her head up to stop her tears from flowing. She sighed, a forced smile on her face while looking down to Hope again, continous tears fell.

For months, has she never cried but now here she is, weeping like she just found out what happened to Hope. In a few more minutes, Arabella sat there, just staring at Hope longingly. She acknowledged the footsteps behind her but didn't move an inch and stayed glue to where she is.

"You ready? I can give you more time." Alaric asked, his hands behind his back while holding the dagger and white oak ash.

Arabella shook her head, wiping her tears away and turned around. "I'm ready." She sighed, standing up and walked towards him. "Wake me up when she does?" She questioned and he nodded sadly.

"You don't have to do this, Ara. She'd be so upset if she wakes up to find you daggered because of her." He said, trying to persuade the girl one last time but was no use.

"I'd take it." She said determinedly. "Ric, I've never loved anyone like I love her. It's actually killing me and it turned to the point where I considered on flipping my switch because she isn't here. Hope is the only person who keeps me from doing anything bad. I even killed maybe, 5 or 6 witches just to find a way to get her back. I'm spiralling and I don't need need anyone to tell me that." She said, forcing herself not to sob.

Alaric could only listen, knowing how she felt but still wanted to help her. Not dagger her to sleep until Hope wakes up.

"Now, do it. Before I have to speak to anyone before I fundamentally sleep for god knows how long." She said, watching Ric dip the tip of the blade in the ash.

"There are other ways here, you know. You don't have to do this." He said, putting the ash in the small jar inside his pocket, ready to stab her.

She smiled sadly. "I know. Promise me you'll never stop looking." Arabella said, eyes watering already.

"You know I won't." He said, stepping forward to her, placing the tip of the blade to her chest, directly to her heart.

"Good." She nodded, closing her eyes and more tears fell in the process. "Good..." Arabella sucked in a heavy breath, ready for the sharp edgy knife to hit her.

Alaric drove the dagger forward, hearing how Arabella gasped but never once opened her eyes.

Arabella's skin turned grey, veins that was colorless crept up to her face while a last tear shedded out of her eye. Her body fell but luckily Ric caught her before she could fully fall badly.

Her mind is filled with Hope. And Hope Mikaelson only as she got put to sleep, not knowing when she will wake up. All she wanted was the girl, Arabella couldn't function without her. It might be a cowardly way out but at this point, she didn't care.

One day, she'll wake up and hopefully be reunited with Hope Mikaelson...

☘︎︎