Mystic Falls looked just as horrible as it was when I left it. I wanted to leave with no attachments, I certainly had broken all of them in the friend department, but I couldn't help but feel nostalgia as I spotted the clock tower and many of the other places I had walked around.

"Finally. You're awake," Klaus sighed impatiently, opening the door. "Let's go. Rebekah will stay and deal with Stefan."

"Um, excuse me? I'm not going anywhere with you!" I said indignantly, shocked at the emotion in my voice. "Matter of fact, now that I can actually see clearly, I want out of this deal."

"Looks like you are back to your usual self," Klaus grumbled. "And to answer you, no you can't get out of the deal."

"It wasn't a question," I gritted my teeth.

"And I don't do well with threats love. You ought to know that by now," he reminded me, pulling me by my upper arm. "Now let's go."

"God, you are such a prick!" I exclaimed, shoving him away from me. "I don't want to do more blood and gore today Klaus. I feel like hell."

"Well, you should have thought about that before you got addicted to a personality-switching drug," Klaus said without mercy, grabbing my wrist and pulling me along.

"Okay, just wait!" I pleaded, feeling like I was going to puke.

I stepped out of the truck and bounded for a bush, in which I then puked my guts out. By the time I was finished, I wiped my mouth in disgust, spitting the remaining taste on my tongue, before turning to Klaus. His eyes widened and he pointed at my face.

"Kaitlyn, you're eyes," he whispered, and my hand flew up to touch the rim of my left eye, and came away with blood.

"What the hell..." I said in a panic. "Is this what withdrawal is supposed to look like? You look like you've had drugs before."

Ignoring my comment, he strode towards me and helped me up. He walked me to the side of a building and let me lean against the wall and regain my breath.

"You don't have to come with us today," he finally said after a few minutes. "Just rest."

Now that he was giving me a way out, the stubborn and may I saw stupid part of me didn't want to anymore. I hated it when people pitied me, I couldn't stand that concerned glance he was giving me, and I certainly wouldn't go and rest.

"No, I'm going with you," I jutted my chin up in defiance. "Let's go."

Before I could start walking, he gently pressed me back against the wall.

"Kaitlyn, the Hellcraft was expected to have bad symptoms, and you never found out what it would have done to your brother if he stopped taking it. We'll need to find a remedy for this, some way to help your condition. Okay? So go home."

He took a lock of my hair in his hand, pinching it slightly before looking back at me. At this proximity, I could identify all the different colors in his eyes and noted how pink his lips looked.

"We?" I asked.

"What?" he said in confusion.

"You said we would find a remedy. Why would you help me with that?"

He looked puzzled for a few seconds, letting go of me and walking a few steps back. "Because you'll ruin my plans if you're completely incompetent," he finally mustered, and I frowned at the answer.

"Jerk," I hissed, walking back to the truck.

I stepped back in the vehicle to find Stefan passed out and staked on the floor, and Rebekah pouting next to him.

"What's wrong?" I asked tiredly.

"Stefan really does love that stupid dopplegänger," she said hopelessly. "And there's nothing I can do about it."

"I'm sorry," I shrugged, sitting down next to her. "At least you don't have to worry about most likely dying because you got manipulated by your idiot evil brother."

"You have no idea how similar our brothers sound right about now," Rebekah almost cracked a smile. "Well, I'm glad you're not drinking that thing anymore. I wouldn't have wanted to have a friendship based on a sham."

"We're friends?" I grinned, unable to help myself.

"Oh shut up. Don't make me say it."

I laughed. "Well, I'm bored. You wanna cause some trouble? I know how to get your necklace back."

"You do?" she asked in excitement, standing up. "How?"

"Elena has it," I revealed, not even caring if this put the dopplegänger in danger.

I hadn't realized how angry I was at everyone until I was back at Mystic Falls. It was like all the feelings of betrayal, sadness, and shock came washing back over me, morphing into only one thing. Vengeance.

The worst thing was that they were probably happier now that I was out of their life. Elena definitely never liked me, Bonnie was quick to take her side against me, and Caroline was part of the reason this entire thing happened. They needed to pay for what they did.

"Are you coming Kate?" Rebekah called impatiently, already skipping down the sidewalk in glee. "Let's give them hell."

∆ ∆ ∆

We arrived at the entrance of the school, which is where Rebekah told me everyone else would be. She opened the door with ease and ushered me in.

"Wait," I paused. "I don't know if I want to do this. This isn't me. I mean, revenge? Rage? Those are feelings I don't feel familiar with."

"Well, I've got plenty of practice," Rebekah linked her arm with mine. "So I can lead you through it. Let's go, darling."

I started walking with her towards the school gym, from where I could already hear a commotion. The school halls painfully reminded me of the normal life I could have had if I had not given up. I hadn't even given the teachers any warning that I was leaving. Oh well, like that was my biggest problem right now...

I felt nausea rising in my gut again, and I stumbled away from Rebekah's grip. She gave me a confused glance, then looked worried.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing," I managed to say. "You go ahead, I need to go to the bathroom really quickly."

She nodded after a moment's hesitation, and I practically dashed for the girl's restroom. I bent over one of the toilets and retched again, tears squeezing out of my eyes at the sheer force of it. I sat there coughing and spluttering for a few minutes, wiping my bleeding eyes with toilet paper.

"I hate you so much Liam," I whispered under my breath. "Are you happy now?!" I yelled, unsatisfied with the lack of an answer.

I hated feeling so helpless. One of the only good things about Hellcraft was that I didn't feel completely useless. I felt like I finally had a part in this world. But now, I felt scared, an emotion I hadn't felt in months.

I was so scared of what was happening to me. Most of it was my own fault, but I didn't deserve this, did I?

Or maybe I did. Maybe this was karma for all the terrible things I had done and said in my time on Hellcraft.

I staggered back on shaky legs, and walked out of the bathroom, heading towards the gym, unsure what I was going to do when I got there. As I got closer, I spotted a familiar blonde laying unconscious on the ground. I stepped closer to see that it was Caroline.

My heart lurched with muted painful feelings, and I forced myself to keep walking. I arrived just as Rebekah was hissing at Elena, "So this is the latest doppelgänger. The original one was much prettier."

"Enough, Rebekah. Take the wolf boy elsewhere, would you?" Klaus ordered.

"She has something of mine!" Rebekah shrieked, evidently remembering the bit of information I told her.

"Leave. Now," Klaus snarled, and she stomped away, dragging Tyler's unconscious body with her.

Oh my gosh. Was he...

"I told you to stay at home Angel," Klaus turned to me, rolling his eyes.

Everyone else spun around to see me, looking shocked.

"Katie?" Matt spoke up, but I ignored him, remembering the last interaction we had had.

"I couldn't miss the fun," I made myself say, forcing a smile.

Seeing my old friends exerted strong emotions that I hadn't been prepared to handle. Did I really want to hurt them? Why couldn't I be more understanding? Of course, they had every reason to believe I was a psycho, just like my brother. But weren't they obligated to at least just listen to me.

"What are you doing here Kaitlyn?" Bonnie asked. "What are you doing with him?"

"Haven't you heard Bonnie?" Elena spat. "She joined their crusade. I'm not too surprised since we all knew you were a fake."

"Well, I definitely haven't missed you, Elena," I laughed bitterly. "That's for sure."

Bonnie and Matt leave the room whispering to themselves, and Klaus surprisingly lets them, not looking too worried. Suddenly Stefan enters the room, and Elena froze.

"Stefan," she gasped.

"Come to save your damsel mate?" Klaus smirked.

"I came to ask for your forgiveness. And pledge my loyalty," Stefan said convincingly, but obviously lying.

"Well, you broke that pledge once already," Klaus noted.

"Elena means nothing to me anymore. And whatever you ask of me...I will do."

"Fair enough. Let's drink on it," Klaus points to two seniors huddled in the corner. "Kill them. What are you waiting for? Kill them."

I looked at Klaus angrily, but he ignored me. Out of everyone in the room, Stefan was the only person I cared for at the moment. I didn't know how much longer he could handle his bloodlust, without turning it off.

"No! Stefan, don't. He's not going to hurt me. He already said..." Elena yelled, suddenly cut off my Klaus backhanding her so hard that she skids across the floor.

I stifled a laugh, then looked astonished that I would even find humor in a situation like this.

Stefan rushed over to the hybrid, lunging to attack, but Klaus easily grabs him by the throat.

"She means nothing to you? Your lies just keep piling up," Klaus growled.

"Let her go! I'll do whatever you want, you have my word!" Stefan pleaded.

Oh please, only Elijah could use that sentence.

"Your word doesn't mean much. I lived by your word all summer, during which time I never had to resort to this..." Klaus paused, looking the Salvatore in the eye and compelling him. "Stop fighting."

"Wait Klaus," I interrupted, suddenly not liking where this was going. "Don't do it this way."

"I didn't want to," Klaus replied with a tone of almost regret. "All I wanted was his allegiance. Now I'm going to have to take it. You will do exactly as I say when I say it. You will not run, you will not hide, you will simply just obey."

He drops Stefan again, who looks like a robotic version of himself, waiting for his master's orders.

"No! Stefan!" Elena shouted, and I cringed at the pitch of her annoying voice.

"Now kill them. Ripper."

Stefan rushed over to the female student, basically ripping her throat out with his fangs and Elena winced.

"You shouldn't have done that," I shook my head, and Klaus looked at my feet, not answering. "You can't just take away someone's free will."

I walked out of the gym, looking for Rebekah.

∆ ∆ ∆

I eventually found her sitting next to Caroline, who looked like this was the last place she wanted to be in.

"Where's Tyler?" she questioned angrily, crossing her arms.

"He's dead," I answered for her. "Ish."

"Kaitlyn?" Caroline asked in bewilderment, standing up. "What are you talking about? W-what are you even doing here? No one's heard from you for months."

"To answer your first question, when your boyfriend wakes up, he'll be a hybrid. That is if he survives. The others haven't done so well." I drawled. "And for your second question, I decided to come back. Surprise!"

"What is wrong with you?" Caroline spat. "I know you're angry about the way we treated you, but please, just take it out on me. I'm the one who misfed the information to the others."

"Oh I know," I smiled. "I haven't forgotten Care-Bear."

She winced at the nickname, avoiding my gaze.

"What's happening?" Rebekah looked mildly curious.

"Why don't you tell her Caroline?" I pushed. "How you told everyone that the psychotic villain was my brother, and then didn't even try to help me when everyone turned on me."

"I didn't mean for it to end this way Katie," Caroline pleaded, looking honestly ashamed. "Please, forgive me."

"I'm trying to!" I yelled, emotions running through me. "Can't you see that?! But every time I look at any of you, I feel like nothing all over again. Do you know how horrible you made me feel? You were supposed to be my friends! To listen to me! But you just tossed me aside without a second thought. How do you think that made me feel?!"

"Y-your eyes," Caroline stuttered, pointing at my face.

For a split second, I thought they were bleeding again, but in the reflection of the lockers, I could see that they were flickering black, the remaining Hellcraft in my system taking over me once more.

That's right Kaitlyn. Show her how angry you are.

I clutched my temples, the unwelcoming voice of the drink entering my brain again.

You need more to drink. Don't you want to feel powerful again? No one would even spare you a second glance if you went back to your normal self.

"NO!" I yelled. "I will not fall for your lies again!"

"Kaitlyn, what's happening?" Rebekah grabbed my shoulders, roughly shaking me.

"It's still inside me!" I sobbed. "I can't get it out. I need to drink more. It's right, I need more!"

"What the bloody hell are you talking about?!" Rebekah yelled angrily, shaking me once more.

"THE HELLCRAFT!" I shouted. "Its voice is still inside me, telling me what to do! I can't take it anymore!"

"What's Hellcraft?" Caroline spoke up in alarm. "What's happening to her?"

My wings sprouted out of my back without any warning, still as black as the night, and I crashed around the halls, not having any control over myself. Rebekah frantically dashed after me, grabbing my ankle and pulling me to the ground.

"Sorry but this is the only thing I can think of right now," she apologized, before smacking my head against the lockers, turning everything black.

∆ ∆ ∆

When I wake up again, I need a few seconds to reorient myself. I was slumped against one of the lockers and Caroline was sitting next to me, biting her nails in anxiety.

"Kaitlyn, you're awake," she exclaimed in relief, helping me sit upright.

"Are my eyes normal again?" I croaked, and after a second's examination, she nodded. "Can you come with me to the bathroom? I think I'm gonna puke," I asked then, feeling embarrassed.

She assisted me to the bathroom, and I ran to the same toilet as before, puking, my stomach feeling like it was as thin as paper now. There was now blood in the toilet as well, from the puke and dripping out of my eyes.

"Ew..." I whispered, this sight making me feel even sicker.

"Katie I smell blood," Caroline said from outside the stall. "Is everything okay?"

"God I should have listened to that prick," I whispered to myself, angry that I hadn't just gone back to my apartment.

"Kaitlyn!"

"Caroline, you can now if you want," I told her, feeling miserable. "You should probably go help out your friends. It's not going well for them."

"No!" she opened the door. "First I'm finding out what the hell is wrong with you."

"There's a lot of things that are wrong with me," I chuckled ruefully, coughing out another mound of blood.

I flushed the toilet, then walked outside to rinse my mouth with water. Caroline followed me, then made me stop.

"You don't have to like me right now," she whispered. "But you do need to tell me what's happening. It will make you feel better as well."

"I was so stupid," I choked out. "I let Liam use my anger towards all of you, and let him manipulate me into letting me drink Hellcraft."

"What is Hellcraft?" Caroline repeated again from before.

"It's this thing that makes me more powerful, but it has side effects. And not very good ones," I saw that she was waiting for more information, so I continued. "It blocks out all emotions and it turned my wings black, and my eyes. I couldn't control the rage simmering inside me, and I didn't feel any regrets about anything. I've done horrible things, Caroline."

"It's okay, at least you're back," Caroline rubbed my back soothingly but I stepped away.

"It's NOT okay!" I wrung my hands. "The truth is, I've already forgiven you. I know you didn't mean to do that. I guess I've even forgiven the others. I'm just so mad at myself right now, and I'm unfairly taking it out on you."

"Oh Kaitlyn, I'm so sorry we let you go through this by yourself," Caroline frowned, looking extremely sad. "I'll do anything to make it up to you."

"I need to find a cure or something," I told her. "I've stopped taking Hellcraft thanks to Stefan and Klaus, but I'm having withdrawal symptoms that aren't normal. I don't think I'll be able to live much longer without something to help me."

"Of course," Caroline vigorously answered. "And what's the deal with you and Klaus anyway? He seems oddly fond of you."

"Seriously?" I raised an eyebrow. "You're asking this now?"

We both smiled a little bit, walking out of the bathroom. The school was empty now, but Caroline informed me from her texts that Elena was now safe, thanks to Damon, and Stefan had unfortunately turned his humanity off.

"What a mess we're in," I sighed, but Caroline took my hand.

"It's nothing we haven't handled before," she said in determination. "Do you want to sleep at my place tonight?"

"You know what Caroline? I think I will."

∆ ∆ ∆