Extraction(Revised)

The class had ended, and the cafeteria buzzed with energy "hormonal shits," the smells of overcooked spaghetti and stale breadsticks mingling unpleasantly in the air.

The cafeteria's usual buzz of chatter faded into the background as Bonnie slid into the seat across from me. Her tray sat before her, but her eyes were fixed on me, studying. It wasn't the casual curiosity I was used to—it felt more like she was genuinely trying to figure me out. I let the silence stretch for a beat before I spoke, not in a rush.

"Bonnie, right?"

Her gaze shifted, and a small, genuine smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "Yeah. You've got a good memory."

"I try," I replied, giving a nonchalant shrug. "You're a lot more... observant than most people around here."

She leaned back in her chair, tilting her head slightly as she considered my words. "I guess it comes with being around here long enough. Everyone's got something they're trying to hide. But you? I can't figure you out."

I let the comment linger for a second before responding, my voice low, but playful. "Maybe I like it that way."

She raised an eyebrow at that, leaning forward a little. "I'm sure you do. But—" She paused, a thoughtful look crossing her face. "Do you always keep people guessing on purpose? Or is it just the way you are?"

"Guess I'll never tell," I said with a small grin, teasing her a little. "But I'm not exactly one for small talk, if that's what you're after."

Bonnie's lips twitched into a smile, clearly intrigued but unwilling to push too hard. "Fair enough," she said, a beat of silence passing between us. "So... Savannah, huh? That's a big move. What brought you here?"

I leaned back, letting the question settle for a moment before I answered. "Family stuff," I said, keeping it vague. "Needed a change of pace."

She nodded slowly, like she understood more than I had said. "Yeah, I get that. Mystic Falls has a way of... growing on you. Some of us end up here, and we just stay."

"Sounds like you've made peace with it," I said, noticing the way her gaze softened just a little.

"I've been here long enough to know there's no real getting out," she said with a slight chuckle, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. "But I guess that's not such a bad thing. It's a quiet life."

I studied her for a moment, a slight smile tugging at my lips. "It's a nice place to disappear, if you want to. Nobody ever really looks too closely."

She met my gaze, her eyes sharp despite the easygoing tone she had. "Yeah. But maybe that's why we notice when someone doesn't fit in the way they're supposed to."

I nodded, enjoying the push and pull of the conversation. "Guess I'll keep you guessing, then."

Before Bonnie could respond, there was a shift in the air, and I could feel Caroline's presence before I even turned. She appeared beside us like she was on a mission, bright and bubbly in a way that was hard to ignore.

Bonnie's expression tightened slightly, like she wasn't exactly thrilled with the interruption, but Caroline didn't seem to notice. Instead, she was all energy, her eyes gleaming with that familiar curiosity.

"So," Caroline said, flashing me a smile, "this is where you've been hiding, huh?"

Bonnie gave her a sidelong glance, clearly a little annoyed, but Caroline didn't seem to care. She directed all her attention to me. "I haven't had the chance to introduce myself properly. Caroline Forbes. Mystic Falls' resident enthusiast."

I offered her a smile that was just the right balance of playful and aloof. "Hunter Zolomon," I said smoothly. "Nice to finally meet you."

Caroline raised an eyebrow, clearly sizing me up. "You know, I've heard a little bit about you. All good things, I promise," she added, flashing a quick, knowing grin. "But it's not often we get someone new who isn't completely... boring."

I leaned in slightly, adopting a more casual tone, intrigued by her directness. "I like to think I keep things interesting."

She raised her own eyebrow, clearly entertained by my response. "I can see that," she said, her eyes never leaving mine. "You know, most people around here can't help but talk about Elena—whether they've met her or not. But you? You don't seem interested in getting caught up in all of that."

I smirked slightly, letting the silence stretch for a moment. "I don't tend to follow crowds."

Caroline's smile widened, clearly entertained by my lack of hesitation. "I like that," she said with a laugh, clearly impressed. "You're not shy, I'll give you that."

I leaned back in my seat, my tone dropping just a touch. "I don't do shy."

Her smile faltered for a split second, the light amusement in her eyes turning to something a little more intrigued. "Well, I guess that makes two of us," she said, the challenge there in her voice. "But you know, it's not every day we get a new guy who doesn't want to fit into the usual Mystic Falls mold."

I tilted my head slightly, considering her words. "Maybe I don't want to fit in anywhere."

Caroline's gaze flickered for a second, something thoughtful crossing her face. But just as quickly, she shrugged it off and flashed a bright, almost daring smile. "Well, I'm not one to shy away from a mystery. You might just be the most interesting thing to happen around here in a while."

I met her gaze with an easy confidence, my smile never faltering. "Guess you'll have to stick around to find out."

Bonnie shifted slightly in her seat, looking between us with an amused expression, clearly noticing the subtle change in tone. But before she could say anything, the bell rang, cutting the conversation short.

Caroline grinned. "We'll pick this up later, Hunter," she said with a wink before standing up, tossing her tray into the nearby bin. "It's been fun."

Bonnie shot me one last look, her expression unreadable, before she followed Caroline out of the cafeteria.

I sat back, watching them go, the corner of my mouth curving into a small, knowing smile. They were curious, and that curiosity would get the best of them in time.

Mapping the Town

By the time school let out, I'd gathered enough to start piecing together the puzzle of Mystic Falls. The names and faces of key players were filed neatly in my mind, along with the layout of the school and the nuances of its social web. But school was just one part of the mission.

The late afternoon sun stretched long shadows across the street as I walked, the quiet of the town settling around me. The Lockwood Mansion loomed in the distance, its grandeur impossible to ignore—proof of the family's wealth and influence. The Mystic Grill was alive with activity, its warm lights glowing against the darkening sky. But I wasn't interested in either of those places today.

I found my way to the Mystic Falls cemetery, a relic from another time. The gravestones, weathered and worn, stood like sentinels over the dead. My boots crunched on the gravel path as I walked with purpose. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves. It was peaceful here, if you ignored the occasional rustle of trees swaying in the wind.

I stopped in front of a gravestone marked with the name Giuseppe Salvatore. My fingers brushed over the cold stone, and a faint hum of energy buzzed beneath my fingertips.

"It's still here. You can never be too careful with the butterfly effect. Hell, just my existence might be enough to screw with the timeline," I muttered to myself.

With that thought, I opened my satchel. "I don't have much time." The words came out, but for some reason, they didn't seem to matter as much as I'd expected. I had to keep an eye on that, though. I carefully pulled out black salt and started drawing a pentagram on the ground. Four candles, positioned at the cardinal points—North, South, East, and West—went next. Each was placed with care, meant to channel their respective energies.

"Now for the fun part," I said under my breath. I sliced my hand open, the sharp sting barely registering as I let my blood drip onto the ground. Blood would serve as a conduit, a way to lower the traditional magical resistance of the body. I murmured the words, "Inflammetur Teine," and the candles flickered to life.

I didn't have much time. I only had one shot at this, or it was game over. I visualized the grimoire in my mind, the one from the show. I'd studied it—remembered it as best as I could. The ritual was risky, but necessary.

"Byenveni nan danse lanmò, kote plas chanje anba lalin lan," I began, the words flowing from my lips, ancient and strange. "Mwen rele fòs sa yo, an reta, an prezan, ak tan kap vini. Kite yo dwe nan plas lòt yo! Twoke! Twoke! Fè chanjman rive!"

The air seemed to grow heavier, the magic taking hold as the words echoed through the cemetery. The candles flickered violently. I kept my focus, repeating the chant.

"Byenveni nan danse lanmò, kote plas chanje anba lalin lan. Mwen rele fòs sa yo, an reta, an prezan, ak tan kap vini. Kite yo dwe nan plas lòt yo! Twoke! Twoke! Fè chanjman rive!"

"Byenveni nan danse lanmò, kote plas chanje anba lalin lan. Mwen rele fòs sa yo, an reta, an prezan, ak tan kap vini. Kite yo dwe nan plas lòt yo! Twoke! Twoke! Fè chanjman rive!"

I felt the magic snap into place. The air crackled, charged, and I knew the ritual was complete.

"Seal!" 

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POWER STONES!!!

Another chapter has been revised enjoy.