Five.

Lara

As soon as I open my eyes I'm greeted by the sun streaming through the blinds and onto my bare stomach. I couldn't help but smile, staring down at the warm rays of sunlight illuminating my stomach.

I rarely wake up without the rain pounding on the tin roof above me. either rain or fog rolling through the whole town, the sun was a nice change.

I needed change.

I rolled onto my side staring at the window that faced my backyard. My eyes stared at the sky, mentally thanking the sun for making an appearance today.

My warm, sunny thoughts are interrupted by my phone vibrating. I reach my arm behind me on the nightstand and grab my phone, still ringing.

I rub my eyes as I answer the phone. 

"Hello, good morning," I said softly.

"Good morning sunshine. Do you know what today is?" Elijah’s rough voice flows through the phone as I smile at the nickname, it was my favorite out of the few he had for me. 

"Uhhh- my day off?? Friday?" I ask as I close my eyes and lay flat on my back, not wanting to get out of bed. I play with my hair as I stare through the window above my bed before I turn on my tv— I usually turn on my tv every morning and or night to tune in on the news. It’s always muted when I do this. I read the subtitles. Odd I know, it’s a habit I picked up from….Ko—never mind. 

"Well yes but also it's the beach f-" He can't finish his sentence because I cut his words off as they come out of his mouth.

"The beach festival!" I say excitedly. I couldn't believe I had forgotten about it, it was one of my absolute favorite days of the year. It reminded me so much of when I was a child. 

When I was young I would count down the days until the festival. 

Everything that had happened to me lately had me in such a down mood, this would cheer me up. 

There were all sorts of booths set up on the beach. Food, jewelry, flowers, henna tattoos, some small fair rides, and live music.

It would start on a Saturday and go through Sunday afternoon, but the best part was on Saturday evening. People would get dressed up and come dance to the live music once the sun started to set. It was the only time the town actually came together, everyone enjoyed it.

"Are you ready? We can go any time. Did you just wake up?? It's noon, Lara Bora." I can hear the smile on his lips as he playfully scolds me.

Elijah and I went together every year since we were little kids. My mom even had a picture of him and I sitting on the dock, maybe five years old, covered in ice cream. It was our tradition to sit and eat ice cream every year in the same spot.

"Maybe... I'll be ready soon, you wanna meet me here?`` As I speak, I climb out of bed and open my closet doors looking for something to wear.

Elijah confirms that he will be here soon. I hurriedly pulled clothes from my closet, finding a shirt and high-waisted jean skirt I had bought while thrift shopping. not having much time I don't even brush my hair before putting it into a low bun letting the shorter pieces fall forward into my face.  

—

As Kol stepped out of the shower he could hear the faint sound of the TV in the living room, a male's voice sounded urgent in his tone when he said ‘just in, breaking news!’. Kol threw his damp towel in the hamper, slipping on his old Nirvana t-shirt as he made his way to the living room. 

“Breaking news, I repeat breaking news!” Harrison the news reporter repeated himself as he was making sure he got the attention of whoever was tuning in this late morning.

He turned the volume up 3 knots even though he could hear it perfectly fine. — He acquired excellent hearing when he triggered his curse.

“FORT WARRON, OR— A triple homicide investigation is underway after three unidentified late teens to early 20’s female bodies washed up on the Clark Riverbanks 2 miles outside of town.” Harrison shakily swallows as he flips to the other piece of paper before continuing.

Kol was shocked to hear what he was saying. He poured himself a glass of scotch that was right beside him on his makeshift alcohol bar that stood against the wall.

“Police were called at 6:30 AM to the Clark Riverbank located 2 miles off of 2367 block of North Maple street.” Harrison clears his throat before continuing. This sort of thing never happens in this little town by the sea.

Clearly, he was shaken up.

Kol took a larger gulp of his scotch, his heart beating faster not really believing that the bodies of the victims were found in the woods next to Lara Jane’s apartment.

He didn’t believe what he heard, he rewound it back a couple of times just to verify that his ears weren’t playing tricks on his brain. —What he heard was correct.

“When officers arrived, they found the victims on the ground unresponsive. Medics pronounced the women dead at the scene.”

The news station started showing LIVE clips of the crime scene at Clark Riverbank. 

No matter how hard the news station tried to blur out the blood and the horrific scene, you could still see the massive amount of blood that stained the creek bed. 

Someone in Kol’s tribe or not must have triggered their curse. This scene looks like it was caused by the rage that coursed through Kol’s and everyone in his tribe’s veins. They all become so powerless when it comes to managing their Lycan rage. 

It’s only gotten better with this weak excuse for a cure. The moon wolfbane. 

Kol’s rage when he first triggered his Lycan gene —curse— it was the worst his tribe has ever seen, but he never murdered anyone, if he did…he’d get away with it.

His wolf inside him is smart…too smart. 

This mass murder looked like it was for fun, a happy kill spree. It looked like the rage that Elijah had for years and years. Kol’s father was the one that was able to come up with a treatment for his extremely crazed narcissistic wolf. 

Lately, Elijah hasn’t been showing up to the therapy appointment that he’s supposed to go to daily. 

“There is no word on what led to this. Currently, there are no suspects in question.” Harrison flipped back on the screen. He took his glasses off his face, “Our police have instituted city curfew, curfew starts at sunset till 6:30 AM. During these hours, don’t leave your house, and please lock your doors.” Harrison looks back down at his notes.

“Regarding this weekend’s beach festival, there will be a 3 hour grace period after sunset. Police will be on standby for everyone’s safety. Please use the buddy system.” Harrison quickly said before it went to the commercials. Kol turned off the TV, He finished my scotch before he smashed the glass against the wall. 

He shook his head and smirked thinking to himself— Elijah murdered those people….and he thinks he can just get away with mass murder and STILL surround himself with HIS Lara Jane.  Elijah is never going to see Lara again. Especially when he can’t control himself anymore.  

He betrayed Kol’s generosity and trust. 

Does he think of me as some fool? Ha! Kol thought.

He’s so wrong. 

Kol could feel the rage, his rage running through his veins. He looked down to see his veins start to become defined under his skin. his large wolf canine fangs start breaking through his gums. He could feel his bones begin to break in the process of transforming into a beast. 

He looked in the mirror seeing his eyes glow before he fell to the ground, he tried to crawl to his basement to chain himself up. 

He didn’t know how bad this rage episode would be —he had never shifted outside of a full moon in months. Not since he’s been back in Fort Warron. 

The pain was excruciating and his sight was blurry. His wolf craved Lara Jane —but he doesn't trust his rage or his wolf that’s within him. 

His back broke, and he yelled in an inaudible scream. Second, by the second, he was losing control. 

The last thing he could remember was locking his ankle in one of the chains connected to the concrete wall of his basement. 

As he lost complete control his mind couldn’t help but flood him with memories of last summer….—today was the first day of the beach festival — the day he met Lara Jane last year.

He saw flashes of that day when he bumped into her by the festival games. She was standing by herself, her hair was golden and there were daisies in her hair.