Chapter Text
Caroline had survived. She had made it through the night.
How she had survived was beyond her understanding. Looking down at the blood that was drying on her.
Most of it wasn't hers. It was from her cheer team, from the others. This was supposed to be a fun week before her junior year in the summer. Now most of the people at camp are dead. Caroline should be more injured than she is. She had more injuries. She could still taste the blood that, for some reason, that psycho had forced into her mouth.
The paramedic was talking to her. At her, Caroline wasn't listening to the words they were saying. Telling her to stay calm and that everything would be okay. Caroline wanted to laugh until she cried. She started to.
The paramedics glance at each other. As if she wouldn't notice, as if she wasn't hyper-aware of everything going on around her.
“Sweetie, can you tell us what happened? Someone broke into the camp? A serial killer?” A police officer asks.
She doesn't remember her name. She had introduced herself a second ago. Caroline had been around cops long enough to tell when someone was new to their rank. This girl looked green in the face at the sight of everything.
Caroline wouldn't call that thing someone. It should be impossible for a person to be able to be across the camp in an instant. No one should be able to throw someone across a clearing like they were a stone. No one could do those things.
Caroline wanted to throw up at the sight it conjured in her mind. The broken bones, the cracking of them. Some of those had been her bones cracking. She was, however, fine now. That was a horror movie trope, she thought. The final girl is finer at the movie's end than she should be.
That person was a monster. She had killed It. Gotten lucky he had gotten near the bonfire. She had managed to knock him down and set it on fire, staking it through the chest for good measure with a broken pole cue, of all things. Honestly, she had relied on horror movies and somehow had gotten how to kill it right. She had stared until it had stopped moving.
Some of the other girls were already at the hospital. Those ambulances sped away. She could still hear the sirens in the distance. Caroline only had cuts and bruises compared to the other girls. At least, that is how she was right now.
She kissed him. She thinks they went further. That got blurry. She had seen him make other people do things. Things they didn’t want to do. He had made one girl slit her own throat. The blood had been sweet. Caroline threw up and paramedics just rubbed her back. She shuddered at the touch.
Caroline didn't feel guilty like she thought she would. She had ended his carnage.
“Care!” a voice yells.
Her head snaps up. It was her mother. She rushes out of her police car, lights and sirens going.
“Mom!” she sobs out.
Caroline collapses in her arms. She felt like a little girl again. Her mother's arms bring her comfort, but she doesn't feel fully safe.
She wonders if there are more like him. His cruel laugh, that arrogant smirk.
Her mother's arms tighten around her.
“I am so sorry.” She whispers.
“It's not your fault,” Caroline says.
Her voice was rough. All the crying and the screaming had taken its toll on her.
She feels tiredness creeping into her body. The adrenaline finally wears off.
Caroline's mother pulls Caroline's head up to make eye contact.
“There is so much I need to tell you.” Her mother whispers.
"Ma'am, we need to take your daughter to the hospital for a complete check-up," says the paramedic.
Her mother nods, but climbs in the ambulance along with her.
She doesn't let go of her hand.
-----
The next afternoon, Caroline is allowed to go home. Before that, she checks on everyone at the hospital. One more died in surgery and another, they aren't sure if she is going to wake up.
These were girls from other schools and other cheer teams. It was supposed to be a friendly week of practicing and learning to work with other teams.
It had said he was from a school. The rest of the team from that school seemed distant and would stare blankly when asked questions. Caroline had just assumed they were on drugs.
None of that team survived. Caroline could hear the screams still.
Her mom is currently helping Caroline out to the car.
A sprained ankle had apparently occurred when she was running through the forest. She would have a pale scar on her shoulder. A bite mark. Those were the only injuries left after whatever he did.
The drive back is silent. It was a half-hour drive.
Pulling up to the house, Caroline wonders if she will ever feel safe again.
Her mother turns to her.
“Caroline, I need you to promise to always wear this. It will protect you.” She asks.
In her hand is a necklace, small, dainty. It had runes on it that she didn't understand.
Her mother helps her put it on.
They get out of the car and into the house. Caroline feels a bit better being at home.
“Caroline, I didn't want to tell you any of this until you were older. However, with what happened this week, you need to be told.” Her mom says.
She leads her to the couch. Helping her sit down.
“What attacked you is a vampire. I am so proud you managed to kill it.” Her mother says.
That clicked the pieces into place. The bite, the super strength. The blood drinking.
“I got lucky.” Caroline says.
“Luck only played a part of it.” Her mother tells her. “You survived.”
“Will the bite turn me into a vampire? Will -” Caroline panics.
She would not become like them, like that.
“No, sweetheart. Someone becoming a vampire is a little more complicated.” Her mother placates.
Caroline felt relieved. She wasn't going to become one of those things ever.
“Maybe, maybe you need to get away for a little while. As much as I hate the thought of being apart from you. It might be good with everything. I know it is going to hurt with the cheer team and all.” Her mother suggests.
Caroline thought about it. For the longest time, it had been her and her mom.
“You have some family on your dad's side that knows about this type of thing. Maybe go to them for a little while.” Her mother continues.
“What about Bonnie? Elena? I can't just leave them. Not after what happened with Elena's parents last year.” Caroline says.
Her mother gives her the softest smile and cups her cheek.
“You are always thinking of your friends, and you saved some at the camp, but I want you to put yourself first this time.” She says.
Caroline nods.
“Mom?” she asked as she was settling into bed.
“Yes.”
“Are all vampires like that?” She asks.
Caroline thinks they were human once, right? Some must be good. Even though her only example was that monster.
“No. There are no good vampires.” She says.