2:1 I'll Never Give Up Hope

I'll Never Give Up Hope

Part 1

————

————

RECAP

"I guess we do." Landon replied. Hope had contained her tears and got off the ground to stand up besides Landon. "Who left it?" He questioned.

Alaric stayed quiet. "I have no idea." He replied. "I'll be there as soon as I can." He then hung up the phone.

Landon and Hope walked over to the bar to see that there was a giant hole in the ground, meaning Malivore was gone...

and so were you.

————

You walked around the endless darkness. It honestly felt like you were back in the Necromancers head again. "Hello?" You called out but got no response. You looked around as you heard whooshing from something. "Post Tenebras Spero Lucem." You casted which made a light appear in your hand.

You looked around as you heard heels but just then a light appeared behind you, wind dragging you towards it but that caused you to drop your light bulb thingy. You turned around to try and run but as you took a step you fell over, being sucked to the light. As you got thrown into the air you felt a hand grab you and pull you into his body, bridle style.

You both stared at each other. "Fancy meeting you here." Clark said, smiling.

You then stopped starring and got out of his hands. "Whoa." You walked a bit backwards, looking up at Clark. "What the hell are you doing here?" You questioned him.

He stared at you. "Saving your life, obviously." He responded.

You glared at him. "No. I'm supposed to be in-in peace." You paused. "Okay, you are not peace. In fact, you're the opposite of peace." You harshly replied, not caring if he was hurt by your response. "So, where are we?" You questioned Clark.

He looked between your eyes. "Come on. Do the math." Clark stated.

"It's not that simple. Okay, there are freaky cyclones and blinding lights and you're here." You looked around before landing your eyes on Clark. "Oh, my God, we're in hell." You looked Clark in the eyes.

Clark shook his head. "No such thing. I think. Go on. Take your best guess." Clark basically challenged you.

Now you shook your head. "No." You stated, clearly, walking off.

"Why not?" He questioned, carrying out 'not.

You turned around. "Because I'm not gonna give you the satisfaction of telling me that I failed." You replied to the taller man.

You turned on your heels and continued walking. Clark stayed quiet for a few seconds. "You mean you don't want to hear you're in the Blackness? That you've been consumed by Malivore?" Clark questioned as if he wanted to get on your nerves.

You didn't bother to look over at him. "No." You responded, your voice shaking a big.

Clark followed you. "You don't want me to point out that all your romantic heroics were for nada?" He asked. "That the big bad lives to see another day and all your friends have forgotten you ever existed?" Clark was definitely trying to get on your nerves. You turned around and glared at him.

He walked closer to you. You shook your head. "Stop talking." You yelled. "Besides, Hope is a Tribrid, she remembers that I exist." You told the stupid man.

Clark raised his eyebrows, forgetting about her. But he continued talking as if the last thing you said wasn't true. "If I were, I'd make peace with that." You rolled your eyes, pushing into his shoulder as you walked past him. "Kate. Wait." You continued walking. "I can help you." He called out before you got to far.

You turned around, annoyed. "I don't see how." You responded, raising your hands before dropping them.

"I spent years inside this place," He started walking towards you once again. "and while you cannonballing into the belly of Malivore didn't seem to destroy him, it has changed things, so stop being a dick to me and maybe I'll elaborate." He tried negotiating.

You nodded, annoyed and tired of Clark. "Okay." You nodded your head sarcastically. "I'm partially listening." You crossed your arms over your chest.

He started coming closer again. "Every creature consumed by my father used to exist here in total isolation," He now stood right in front of you, causing you to actually looked up to see his face. "but here we are, talking to each other. Your presence here has somehow opened the cell doors. If it can do that, maybe there's a way for us to escape." He smiled at you. "So what do you say? Partners?" He actually thought you'd accept it.

You looked between his eyes. "Pass." You harshly said, walking past him.

"You are such a child." He watched you walk off. "No wonder you failed." He continued speaking.

You turned around, scoffing. "Says the guy whose entire life has been about failing Daddy." You fired back. "I don't trust you, okay? And I never will. Get that in your thick head or I will by killing you myself." You threatened him, for a moment fear crossed his face but he covered it up. You turned around again, walking off.

You felt the cold glare from Clark on your back. "You're the one who brought me into this mess. If you'd just let me meat-puppet my loser little brother, then we wouldn't even be in-" He sounded mad.

You turned around, your annoyance level through the roof. "Imitantor Pupulis." You chanted.

Clark knew the spell and instantly regretted speaking. "Not again." Was all he said before you covered your mouth with your hand, him doing the same so he couldn't speak.

You raised your eyebrows, proud before taking your hand off your mouth. "Your old friend, the Mimic Spell." You said, lowering your hand and walking forward. "You will do anything I intend you to do, and it is my intention that this is the last conversation we will ever have." You stated. "If I were you, I'd make peace with that." You used Clarks words against him.

You did a fake smile before turning away and walking off, Clark doing the same.

————

Hope was with Josie and Alaric for helping with the forth of July. Alaric obviously forgot that Hope was a Tribrid and could remember everything. "No matter what path I go down, it seems like a dead end. I mean, there were at least two other people with Landon the night Malivore was destroyed. They left fibers, footprints, hair. I just don't know who they were." Alaric explained more to his daughter.

Josie looked up at her dad. "Isn't that the point? IF somebody went into the Malivore pit, they'd be erased from our memories." Josie replied.

Alaric nodded. "Yeah, well, that's what's haunting me." He looked over at Hope, realising something was off before looking back over at his daughter. "Who have we forgotten?" He questioned.

"It couldn't have been anybody we've known. There'd be keepsakes, photos, an empty bed somewhere." Josie summarised.

Alaric agreed with his daughter. "Well, whoever they were, they were important to somebody." Alaric stated, walking off with Hope.

But he didn't get far before Josie ran up to him. "So, Dad, I was actually hoping we could talk about the Ascendant," Alaric came to stop and that caused Hope and Josie to as well. "what it has to do with the Merge."

Alaric ignored Josie and didn't look at her and instead to Landon. "Wait, is that Landon right there?" He questioned, pointing over at someone who looked like Landon.

Hope and Alaric started walking while Josie caught up. "I've had my head buried in books for weeks, nothing on how to turn a wolf back into a human." Hope put her head up at this, completely forgetting Rafael had used the necklace and was stuck in wolf form. "I keep hitting dead end after dead end." Landon looked at all of them.

"Join the club." Josie responded.

"Hey." Alaric said to Josie before looking back at Landon.

Hope decided to speak up. "I gave him the necklace which made him into a wolf, I know how to undo it but it'll take time to find what I need." Hope lied, she wanted time to find you.

Landon nodded, thankful he found a way to help Rafael. "Landon, can you ask my dad why he won't give me answers to my very simple questions on how my sister and I can survive past the age of 22?" Josie questioned.

Alaric spoke up instead. "That's because your dad doesn't have any answers he's able to give you." He responded for Landon. "That's why, sweetheart."

Josie looked over at her father. "Able to or willing?" She fired.

"Look, there is nothing about the Ascendant you need to know." Alaric stated, clearly. Landon looked at Hope while Hope just shrugged.

Josie stared at her father. "Then why do you flinch every time I bring it up?"

Alaric looked at Josie, annoyed. "Because it has nothing to do with the Merge, Josette, so let's just drop it, okay?" He had authority in his voice.

Landon figured now was a great time to leave. "I'm gonna head back to campus." He started getting up, placing books on top of each other.

Alaric stopped Landon. "Whoa, what about the fireworks?" He questioned.

"Oh, I'm worried they might scare Raf. You know, I don't want him to be alone." Landon replied.

Hope got out of her seat, standing up. "I'll come with you. I'm not in the mood to celebrate anything, much less independence." Hope spoke. They all looked at her confused. Alaric knew something was up, he just had to pick the right moment to speak with her.

Hope and Landon walked off together while Josie and Alaric stayed at the table.

————

"Kate. We can work this out." Clark said as he walked away from you because of the mimic spell. "Don't do this to me." He continued speaking. Then there was the light again. "Listen to me! Whatever this is, it's gonna destroy you! It'll rip you apart." He yelled over the strong winds. You looked up at the light, using your hands to cover your eyes. "Please break the spell so I can help you! Kate!" He yelled.

You fell down as you tried walking backwards to get away from the cyclone thingy. Now it was sucking you in but as you fell, the spell broke. Clark jumped onto you, holding you down, until it was over. He then got off you as you rolled onto your left side to look at him. "You're welcome." He said as you both sat up.

You looked up, your face turning to one of shocked. "Oh crap." Was all you said.

Clark being annoying decided to speak. "Not exactly what I was expecting." Then Clark looked where you were looking, his face turning to one of being scared. "Oh crap." He repeated your words.

"Run!" You yelled as you helped Clark off the ground, both of you started running away from the dragon as it breathed fire towards you two.

————

Hope stood in the Mystic Grill with Alaric. "Hope, what's bothering you? Ever since you've come back from Triad, Dorian has told me you've been cooped up in your room and the library." Alaric stated to Hope.

Hope stared at the older man, arms crossed. "You wouldn't remember anyway." Hope responded.

Alaric stared at Hope, realisation trucking his face. "You know who jumped into the Malivore pit because you're a Tribrid." Alaric placed a hand on his eyes. "How could I forget..." Alaric mumbled to himself. Hope nodded, looking down. "Why didn't you say anything?" Alaric questioned the young werewitch.

Hope looked up at the man, tears in her eyes. "She jumped into the Malivore pit to protect all of us." Hope started. "Her name is Kate Lockwood." Hope looked down, trying not to let out a sob.

"Tyler had a daughter?" Alaric said shocked, realising he wouldn't remember her.

Hope breathed in and out as she nodded. "I've been searching for a way to get her back but I can't find it." Hope paused, letting her arms fall. "I love her, Ric. It was supposed to be me who jumped into the pit but she spelled me to fall asleep so I couldn't stop her." Hope explained, wiping the tears that fell. Alaric knew no words would change the way Hope is feeling. "Please, don't tell anyone." Hope pleaded.

Alaric nodded. "Of course." He stepped forward and hugged her. "You should head back before Dorian realises you're gone." Alaric and Hope left the hug.

Hope stared up at the older man. "Yeah. See you." Was all she said as she made her way to the school.

Once she returned she made her way to the dock to watch the fireworks. As she did she said bubbles coming from the dip of the dock, fire then hands gripping onto the dock and coming out of the water.

It was Landon.

————

A.N: Hope you enjoyed! <3