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The Road Not Taken

Summary:

In a twist of fate, Jeremy Gilbert saves Mason Lockwood from certain death, convincing him—and Tyler—to leave Mystic Falls behind. But a small detour off the interstate leads them into the eerie, isolated town. As old bonds are tested and new threats emerge, the trio must navigate a reality where the road they chose may be their last.

Chapter Text

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A.N. FOR THOSE READING FANDOM BLIND: From is a 2022 tv show its a mystery box with a horror bend to it. TVD is just an Acronym for The Vampire Diaries (a 2009 show)


 

Jeremy POV

 

Jeremy stood frozen in the doorway of the Salvatore house, his breath catching in his throat. Damon was standing over Mason Lockwood, a sadistic grin curling his lips as he pressed a wolfsbane-coated scalpel against the werewolf's already mangled skin. Blood pooled on the floor, but Mason barely had the strength to groan anymore. His once strongeyes were dull,  body limp against the restraints.

 

"What the hell are you doing?"  Jeremy's voice cut through the silence, shakier than he intended.

 

Damon didn't even turn around.  "Saving the world, one Lockwood at a time,"  he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm.  "You should be thanking me."

 

Jeremy's heart pounded in his chest. Every instinct told him to leave, to turn his back on the situation like he'd donebefore. But this time was different. Tyler's face flashed through his mind along with Grayson Gilberts—Tyler, who didn't even know his uncle was down here, that the closest male relative he had now was being tortured for what? The others claimed it was for information but how much could he truly know?

 

"You can't just kill him."  Jeremy stepped forward, fists clenching. Mason's head lolled to the side, his eyes barely focusing on Jeremy's face. He looked like he was on the verge of giving up entirely.

 

Damon chuckled, finally glancing over his shoulder.  "What's the matter, Jeremy? Got a soft spot for furry little monsters now?"

 

Jeremy swallowed hard, his gaze flicking to the blood-soaked chains that bound Mason to the chair. He had to do something. He couldn't just let this happen.

 

Without thinking, Jeremy reached into his jacket pocket, his fingers curling around a small vial of vervain. He'd found it earlier in Alaric's stash, figuring it might come in handy. He never thought he'd have to use it against Damon.

 

"Don't."  Damon's smirk faded as he saw the vial, his eyes narrowing.

"You're not killing him."  Jeremy's voice was firmer now, conviction filling the space where his fear had been moments before.

 

Before Damon could react, Jeremy hurled the vial toward him. It shattered on impact, splashing vervain across Damon's face and chest. Damon hissed in pain, stumbling backward, giving Jeremy just enough time to rush forward.

 

Jeremy's hands shook as he grabbed the syringe from his other pocket, plunging it into Damon's arm before he could recover. Damon groaned, collapsing to the floor in a heap, his body twitching as the vervain coursed through his veins.

 

"You're making a mistake!"  Damon growled, his voice weak as he tried to push himself up, but his strength was already fading.

 

Jeremy didn't answer. His focus was on Mason now, his hands fumbling with the chains. After a few tense seconds, he managed to free him, the heavy iron clattering to the floor. Mason slumped forward, but Jeremy caught him, half-carrying him towards the exit.

 

"Come on, we need to go."  Jeremy's voice was tight with urgency as he helped Mason stumble out of the house and toward his car.

 


 

 

The car was silent except for Mason's labored breathing as they sped down the road. Jeremy's grip tightened on the steering wheel, his thoughts racing. He couldn't believe what he'd just done—attacked Damon, saved Mason... but it had been the right thing. He had to keep reminding himself of that.

 

Mason groaned from the passenger seat, his voice rough.  "You just made yourself a target, kid."

 

Jeremy glanced at him, his jaw clenched.  "Worth it."

 

Mason winced, leaning his head back against the seat. The silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken tension. After a moment, Jeremy broke it.

 

"You need to leave, Mason. You and Tyler both. Damon's not going to stop, and honestly ...  I don't think Elena or anyone else  is going to  stop him either."

 

Mason chuckled weakly, though there was no humor in it.  "You think I don't know that? But Tyler... " He trailed off, shaking his head.  "He's got too much coming his way. I can't just leave him here."

 

Jeremy's grip on the wheel tightened.  "That's exactly why you should leave. Get him out of here before it's too late. Before he ends up like you."

Mason turned his head, narrowing his eyes.  "Where would we even go?"

Jeremy didn't hesitate.  "Anywhere but here."

 


 

 

As they drove through the quiet streets of Mystic Falls, Jeremy spotted Tyler walking along the side of the road, hishands shoved into his pockets, head down. Instinctively, Jeremy pulled over and threw the car in park.

 

"Tyler!"  Mason called, his voice strained but strong enough to get his nephew's attention.

 

Tyler looked up, frowning as he saw the two of them. He jogged over, confusion etched across his face.  "What's going on? What happened to you?"  His gaze flicked from Mason's injuries to Jeremy, suspicion creeping into his voice.

 

Mason stepped out of the car, wincing but pushing through the pain.  "It's Damon. He's ...  he's not going to stop until one of us is dead. We need to leave."

 

Tyler blinked, taken aback.  "Leave? You just got back. And now you want to leave again?"

 

"It's not safe."  Mason's voice was firm now.  "Not for me, not for you. And  definitely  not with Damon on the loose."

 

Jeremy got out of the car, moving to stand beside Mason.  "We need to go, Tyler. Before things get worse."

 

Tyler looked between them, confusion and frustration battling across his face.  "Worse? What are you talking about?"

 

Mason ran a hand through his hair, clearly torn.  "Look, Jeremy's right. We have to go. I can't explain everything now, but staying here  is only going to  end in more bloodshed."   He shot Jeremy a look that was equal  parts  annoyance and gratitude.   "It's not just for me. It's for you, too."

 

Tyler was silent for a moment, his eyes flicking between the two of them. Finally, he sighed, rubbing a hand over his face.  "Fine. I'll go with you. But only if Jeremy comes too."

 

Mason raised an eyebrow, glancing at Jeremy.  "Well, I don't know you too well, kid, and I've had my share of blows with your sister and her friends. But I gotta say, I appreciate you getting me out of that asshole's house."  He crossed his arms, smirking slightly despite his injuries.  "What do you say?  Wanna  leave this leech-infested town behind and head down to Florida? Surf's pretty good this time of year."

 

Jeremy hesitated, his mind racing with images of Elena, his family, and all the chaos he'd been through since Vicki and Anna. Part of him didn't want to leave them behind. But another part... the part that knew damon already killed him once when he didn't even do anything to him and could only imagine what he'd do now his sister's word be damned. He was tired of all the bloodshed, of losing people he cared about... that part was ready to go at least for awhile.

 

Finally, Jeremy nodded.  "Yeah. I'm in."

 

The car roared to life again as the three of them drove away from Mystic Falls, the town disappearing into the distance behind them. Jeremy glanced in the rearview mirror, feeling a strange mixture of relief and uncertainty settle over him. For the first time in a long time, he was leaving the towns baggage both personal and supernatural behind.

 


 

 

The rumble of the car's engine filled the silence as they cruised down Interstate I-95, miles of empty road stretching ahead. Jeremy sat in the back seat, his head resting against the window, watching the sun slowly dip lower in the sky. It had only been half a day since they left Mystic Falls, but the weight of the tension they'd felt there seemed to vanish on the open road.

 

"What are you doing?"  Mason's voice broke through the hum of the engine.

 

Tyler, leaning forward, fiddled with the radio.  "Trying to find the football game."

 

"Nope, not happening,"  Mason replied, quickly switching the dial  back  to the surf report.  "I'm driving. My rules. We're listening to the surf stats."

Jeremy glanced up, amused by the way Mason's eyes narrowed, clearly prepared for a battle.

 

"Surf stats?"  Tyler scoffed, leaning back into his seat.  "Come on, man. Surfing's for beach bums. Football's where it's at—aggression, tactics. You've got to be thinking three steps ahead. Not just… floating on water."

 

Jeremy stifled a laugh, not really understanding the tension but finding the way they bickered more entertaining than the actual argument. Sports were never his thing, and watching these two fight over which one was more impressive made the whole situation seem lighter. 

 

Despite the serious tone of their words, the weight from Mystic Falls felt a million miles away.

 

"Floating on water?"  Mason scoffed, turning to Tyler for a moment before focusing back on the road.  "Football's just smashing into people and  hoping  you remember what play you're running.  Surfing's about balance, man. You've got to fight against the ocean, read the waves—it's all about respect and control."

 

"Respect? What's respectful about wiping out and getting tossed into the sand?"  Tyler shot back, grinning as he leaned forward again.

 

Jeremy chuckled softly from the back seat, shaking his head. He didn't need to be into sports to enjoy the banter. It was strange, how quickly things had shifted from the heaviness of Mystic Falls to this easygoing back-and-forth. It almost felt... normal.

 

As the miles blurred together, the last remnants of tension from Mystic Falls seemed to fade, replaced by the steady hum of the car and the playful argument still bubbling in the front seat.

 

"We're gonna need gas soon,"  Mason eventually said, glancing at the fuel gauge.

 

Tyler, still grinning from their argument, checked his phone.  "There's a station about a mile off the next exit."

 

Mason nodded, signaling as he pulled into the exit lane and off the highway soon after, small green exit sign looming overhead. The car bounced slightly as they turned onto a narrow two-lane road lined with trees. It was quieter out here—almost too quiet.

 

Jeremy frowned, straightening in his seat as the atmosphere around them shifted. Something about the road felt... off. Maybe it was just his nerves from everything that had happened, but there was a strange chill in the air that he couldn't shake.

 

They found the gas station without much trouble—a small, run-down place just off the highway, its faded signs hanging crookedly above a single, rusted gas pump. The building looked like it hadn't seen fresh paint in years, and the surrounding lot was cracked, and overgrown with weeds pushing up through the concrete. The pump itself creaked as Mason pulled the car alongside it, stepping out with a stretch.

 

"Charming,"  Mason muttered, taking in the dilapidated surroundings. He grabbed the nozzle and started to fuel up, the quiet hum of the pump filling the air.

 

Tyler pushed his door open, stepping out to stretch his legs. He wandered a few paces away, glancing down at his phone, frowning.

 

Jeremy stayed in the car for a moment longer, glancing around the station. A faint sense of unease tugged at his mind, but he shook it off. There were plenty of quiet, old gas stations like this one off the main highways. He couldn't expect everything to feel safe even if he wasn't in a supernatural hotbed.

 

Finally, he pushed open his door and got out, letting the heat wash over him. He could hear the faint cawing of crows in the distance, a sharp contrast to the otherwise stillness of the place.

 

"No service,"  Tyler said with a grimace, holding up his phone.

 

"Not surprised,"  Mason replied, still pumping gas.  "We're in the middle of nowhere."

 

Jeremy's phone didn't have any bars either, but it didn't bother him. After everything with Mystic Falls, a little disconnect from the world didn't seem so bad.

 

After filling up, they piled back into the car, and Mason pulled back onto the narrow road, retracing their path to the interstate. Jeremy rested his head against the window, the sun hung high in the sky a beutiful clear day all things considered, but something felt off to him. The trees seem to have stretched on longer than he remembered.

 

"Where's the exit?"  Mason muttered, glancing at the dashboard as if it would provide answers.

 

Jeremy frowned, his eyes scanning the passing trees. There should have been a sign for the interstate by now, but all he saw were endless rows of trees, stretching into the horizon.

 

"You missed it,"  Tyler said, though there was doubt in his voice. He looked at his phone again, tapping at the screen.  "But...  GPS  isn't working. It was fine just a minute ago."

 

Jeremy straightened, glancing over Tyler's shoulder at the phone screen. Sure enough, it was frozen, the map stuck on a small section of road that didn't seem to match where they were. No signal. No map.

 

"Let me see,"  Jeremy said, checking his own phone. Same thing. Dead signal.

 

"That's weird,"  he muttered. A strange unease started to creep into his chest. They hadn't taken any wrong turns—Mason had been driving the same road they came in on—but it felt like the road itself had stretched, growing longer and more winding than before.

 

Mason's knuckles whitened on the steering wheel as his eyes darted to the rearview mirror.  "I didn't miss anything. The exit should've been right there."  His voice held a note of frustration, but underneath that, Jeremy sensed the same discomfort. 

 

The tension in the car thickened as they drove further, the quiet surrounding them no longer peaceful, but oppressive.

 

"Turn around,"  Jeremy suggested, his voice low.  "We must've missed a turn somewhere."  He tried to keep his tone light, but inside, his pulse quickened.

 

Mason didn't argue, glancing around as if looking for a sign of life. There was nothing—just the endless stretch of road disappearing into the distance.

 

"Yeah, we'll head back,"  Mason agreed, already slowing the car to prepare for a turn. But as he did, Jeremy's gaze was drawn to something ahead, something that hadn't been there before.

 

There, in the middle of the road, lay a massive tree, its trunk thick and gnarled, its twisted branches reaching quite high despite it being felled. Dozens of crows perched on its branches, their dark feathers ruffled as they watched the car with beady, black eyes.

 

"What the hell...?"  Tyler said, sitting up straighter, his eyes narrowing.

Jeremy leaned forward, his gaze fixed on the tree. There was something wrong about it—. The crows cawed loudly, the sound eerie in the quiet of the late afternoon.

 

"You've got to be kidding me,"  Mason grumbled, running a hand through his hair.

 

The crows shifted on their branches, their cawing echoing as they watched.

 

"We found Mystic Falls 2.0,"  Tyler joked, breaking the tension with a weak laugh.

 

Jeremy and Mason chuckled, but the unease remained.

 

"We should turn around,"  Jeremy said quietly.  "This doesn't feel right."

 

Mason nodded,  "We're turning around."  He quickly shifted the car into reverse, backing away from the tree slowly, as if something would happen if they made any sudden motions. The crows shifted in the branches, their eyes tracking the movement as the car turned and headed back down the road.

 


 

 

As they drove away from the tree, the road seemed different. The trees pressed in on either side, the sky overhead growing dull, as though the light itself was fading. Jeremy glanced down at his phone again—still no signal.

 

"I swear we've driven this road already,"  Tyler muttered, glancing out the window.

 

Before anyone could respond, the road opened up, revealing a small town ahead. The buildings were old but not abandoned. There were cars parked along the street, curtains in the windows, and the occasional flicker of movement inside the homes.

 

"Where the hell did this come from?"  Mason asked, his eyes narrowing as they rolled slowly down the main street.

 

Jeremy leaned forward, scanning the quiet town. It looked stuck in time. Not dissimilar to Mystic Falls in that way but it seemed somehow more confused. A 50s-style Diner here, while next to it stood a house that looked fresh and modern, like it belonged in the 2000s. Further down, a crumbling building, its wooden façade weathered and forgotten, seemed trapped in the 1800s. The whole town was a bizarre blend of eras as if it couldn't decide what time it was supposed to be in. It was the perfect combination of stuck in time and uncertain of itself. That was jarring. 

 

"This doesn't make  sense. "  Tyler said, shaking his head in disbelief.

 

"No, it doesn't,"  Mason muttered, glancing at the dashboard again. The GPS was dead, and none of their phones were picking up a signal.

 

As they drove further into the town, Jeremy noticed something even stranger the people. Some walked the streets or stood on their porches, Typical for towns this time of day but their reactions to the car were odd. A few stared at the car as it passed, their faces frozen in shock, their eyes wide as if they couldn't comprehend what they were seeing. Others stood still, ignoring the car completely, going about their business as if it didn't exist. But what caught Jeremy's attention most were the few who looked genuinely panicked, their expressions tightening, eyes darting aroundnervously as they hurried away from the street or backed into the shadows of doorways.

 

"This place is weird,"  Tyler said quietly, his voice low as he took in the mix of reactions.  "Like, typical small-town weird, but worse."

 

Jeremy felt it too, a creeping sense of dread that seemed to coil tighter around his chest. The town wasn't just strange because of the mismatch of run-down buildings and eras—it was the people. Their reactions—or lack of them—felt... wrong. Why were some of them afraid of a car?

 

"Maybe we should stop,"  Jeremy suggested.  "Figure out where we are."

 

Mason pulled the car over, his knuckles white on the steering wheel. The engine rumbled softly. Silence stretched as they all sat there, staring out at the strange town and its eerie stillness.

 

"Think we're lost?"  Tyler asked, his voice tight. Eyeing the people who still watched them from a distance.

 

Jeremy scanned the street again. The people who had been staring had now gone quiet, their eyes still lingering on the car, while others continued to move about as if the world outside didn't matter. It was disconcerting—the way the town seemed half-aware of their presence, half in denial.

 

"Definitely,"  he muttered, his eyes narrowing.

 

Mason sighed, leaning back in his seat.  "We'll keep driving for a bit. Maybe we'll find a fucking highway."

 

As the car rolled forward again, deeper into the town, the buildings stretched into the distance, disappearing into the shadows. Jeremy's gaze drifted out the window, the unease in his chest tightening. 

 

Unexpectedly, a wave of emotion hit him. He found himself thinking of Elena—her worried eyes always on him, and Aunt Jenna's quiet strength. For the first time since they left Mystic Falls, Jeremy felt a deep, sudden longing for home. For his family's familiar chaos.

 

He wanted to see his sister again. He wanted to walk into the kitchen and see Aunt Jenna at the counter, a gentle smile on her face. The feeling caught him off guard, heavy and unsettling.

 

He shifted in his seat, pushing the thoughts aside as best he could, but the weight of it stayed with him. There was a strange finality in the way it pulled at him, a whisper in the back of his mind that he wouldn't be seeing them again for a long time.

 

"It's just a small detour,"  he whispered, more to himself than anyone else, trying to untie the knot in his chest. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Mason in the rearview mirror, frowning but saying nothing. 


A.N.   

I've always been fascinated by the characters of Tyler, Jeremy, and Mason, and I've wanted to explore their dynamic outside of Mystic Falls' usual chaos. That idea started as its own story but quickly evolved into something more when I began thinking about From—a show with its own dark, supernatural mysteries. The eerie setting of From felt like the perfect backdrop for these characters to face new challenges while dealing with the emotional weight of their pasts.

 

One thing that always surprised me in The Vampire Diaries was how Jeremy didn't act when Damon tortured Mason, especially since he seemed really bothered by it. Given Jeremy's history of standing up to his sister and the Salvatores, it felt out of character for him not to intervene. So, in this story, I wanted to explore what might have happened if Jeremy had made a different choice—one that sets off a chain of events leading them into an even darker mystery.

 

I hope you enjoy this crossover.

NOTE ON ERA: So obviously From takes place in 2022 where TVD or at least this season of TVD takes place in 2010. Opposed to having the TVD characters end up in some era before alot of the characters we are familiar with in From. I decided for the sake of the story it also was 2022 in the tvd verse. 

The trio arrives in 'Fromville'(one of the fan names of 'the town') not too long after the matthews and Jade, im thinking they arrive right after Sarah tried to kill ethan and gets caught. 

 

Chapter 2: Diverged in a Yellow Wood

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

A.N. For any who do not think they’ll watch tvd heres a little clip from the “Point of divergence.” That gives a better context on Mason. Scene


 

Mason POV

 

Mason’s hands gripped the steering wheel tighter as they left the strange town behind, buildings shrinking in the rearview mirror. Still the uncomfortable feeling that had settled over him since they first arrived remained. He’d been driving for what seemed like hours, the road seemed infinite.

 

“We’ve gotta be close by now,” Tyler muttered, his tone strained as he leaned forward. “Just a wrong turn or something.”

 

Mason kept his eyes on the road, jaw clenched. “Yeah, should be any minute now.”

 

But the trees stretched on forever, and Mason could feel the familiar sense of unease building. They should have hit the highway by now. His grip on the wheel tightened.

 

“This doesn’t feel right,” Jeremy said from the back, his voice low, more unnerved than before.

 

“Look,” Jeremy added, sitting up straighter, “we’ve passed this before.”

 

Mason didn’t need to look. He knew Jeremy was right. They hadn’t turned around, but something about the road felt familiar, like they were stuck in a loop. He took another turn, hoping to break free, but as the road bent, the same buildings appeared before them—the diner, the old houses, the strange blend of time periods.

 

The town.

 

“No way,” Tyler muttered, staring at the buildings as they drove back in. “We didn’t turn around, did we?”

 

“No,” Mason said, his voice rough. “We’ve been driving straight the whole time.”

 

He pulled the car over, frustration and unease gnawing at him. The weight of the town’s strange atmosphere settled back over them as they got out of the car, glancing around at the same odd streets and mismatched buildings.

 

“Mystic Falls 2.0,” Tyler said, but there was no humor in his voice this time.

 

“What the hell is going on?” He muttered, scanning the empty streets

 




As they walked down the street, the silence pressed in around them. It was as though the town itself was watching, waiting for something. Up ahead, Mason saw a woman and a young boy approaching. The woman’s expression was guarded, her hand resting protectively on the boy’s shoulder, but beneath the wariness, there was something else—pity.

 

Mason stepped forward. “Excuse me,” he called out. “We’ve been trying to find the highway. Do you know how to get back?”

 

The woman stopped, her grip tightening on the boy. There was hesitation in her eyes, and when she spoke, her muted Latino accent became more pronounced, especially as she mentioned the road.

 

“You aren’t gonna find the road you’re looking for,” she said quietly, her voice carrying a nervous tremor.

 

“What the hell does that mean?” Tyler snapped, stepping forward. He was done with the cryptic answers. “We just need directions.”

 

Her accent peaked with her nerves. Mason, having spent enough time in Florida, recognized it Colombian —though her voice had been softer before, more muted. Now, her accent sharpened her words, and her gaze darted between them and the boy.

 

“It’s not that simple,” she said, pity creeping into her tone. “This place… it doesn’t let you leave.”

 

Before Mason could respond, he noticed a man in a priest’s collar approaching from across the street. The man’s steps were slow and measured, and though he carried a calm demeanor, there was something about him that instantly commanded attention.

 

“Tabitha, is everything alright?” the priest asked, his voice steady, though there was a nervous caution behind it.



Tabitha—the woman—gave a small nod, but it was clear she wasn’t fully at ease. “They’re new,” she said softly, as if that explained everything.

 

Mason’s mind raced. He glanced at Jeremy and Tyler, both of whom were watching the interaction closely. There was something wrong here, even just the way the people spoke.

 

“You’ve just arrived, haven’t you?” the priest continued, turning his attention to the trio. His voice was calm, measured, but there was no mistaking the gravity of his words. “And you’ve already tried to leave.”

 

Mason nodded, trying to keep his frustration in check. “Yeah, we’ve been driving around for the past hour. Ended up back here. How do we get back go the road?”

 

The priest sighed, glancing briefly at the darkening sky. “This place is… not like others. The roads don’t work the way you’re used to. No matter how hard you try, you’ll find yourself back here.” He paused, studying their reactions. “I’m Father Khatri. And if you’re smart, you’ll settle in before nightfall.”

 

The warning in his voice was unmistakable.

 

“Settle in?” Mason echoed, his voice edging with frustration. “We’re not staying.”

 

Father Khatri’s expression softened slightly, but there was a finality in his gaze. “It’s not about whether you want to stay. Its about ensuring you and your younger brothers survive the night” 

 

Younger brothers? Mason blinked in surprise. Under different circumstances, he might’ve chuckled at the assumption, but the seriousness in Father Khatri’s eyes made the words stick. He didn’t correct him. The gravity of the situation was too thick to lighten with small talk.

 

Tabitha shifted beside the priest, her eyes darting between them. Her expression was still guarded, but Mason could sense a quiet urgency, as if there was more she wanted to say but couldn’t. Or wouldn’t.

 

“We can show you where it’s safe,” Father Khatri continued, his tone measured but firm. “But we need to move quickly. Night is coming.”

 

Mason exchanged a look with Jeremy and Tyler. He didn’t like the sound of it, but something in Father Khatri’s voice told him that whatever came with nightfall was nothing they wanted to face unprepared.

 

“One more try,” Mason muttered to the others, the decision already weighing on him. “We’ll drive around one more time. If we end up back here…”

 

Father Khatri tilted his head upward, scrutinizing the sky for a moment. He took a step forward, his tone becoming a bit firmer. “Look, with new cars, we usually follow a certain standard.” He paused, then sighed. “But I’ll make sure there’s an exception. If you still want to drive around tomorrow, you can.” He glanced at the darkening sky, his brow furrowing. “But tonight? It’s cutting it too close. Please, come to the diner.”

 

The word “please” hit differently. He didn’t like being told what to do, but something about Father Khatri’s insistence. He took a long glance  at his nephew and a shorter one at jeremy.

 

Whatever came with nightfall, it wasn’t something they wanted to face unprepared.

 

Reluctantly, Mason gave a nod. “Alright, we’ll go to the diner.”

 

Father Khatri’s expression remained calm but the tightness in his face seemed to loosen just a little bit. “Good. If you don’t mind then follow me best we get this done quickly.”

 




As Mason, Jeremy, and Tyler settled uneasily into the booth, Father Khatri motioned toward the two men sitting at one of the tables nearby.

 

“Before I go,” Khatri said, his voice calm but firm, “I should introduce you. This is Boyd.”

 

Boyd, the older African American man, gave a brief nod, his expression serious and watchful. Khatri gestured to the asian teen  next to Boyd, who looked around the same age as Tyler..

 

“And this is Kenny.”

 

Kenny gave a slight smile, though his eyes continued assessing them intensely.

 

“They’ll help you get settled in,” Khatri continued, his tone more insistent. “They’ve been here a long time. You’re in good hands.”

 

Mason, feeling a bit of the tension ease, nodded in return. At least now he had some names to put to the faces watching them so carefully.

 

Seemingly content with the quick introduction, Khatri turned to Boyd and Kenny. He lowered his voice, though Mason, still on edge, caught most of the conversation.

 

“I promised him he could drive around tomorrow,” Khatri said quietly, his voice low enough that only Boyd and the young man could hear. “So just leave the car alone for the day.”

 

At the mention of something being done to his car, Mason almost instinctively moved to get up, but he stopped himself, his body rigid as he listened.

 

Boyd frowned, leaning closer to Khatri, his voice laced with irritation. “Why would you promise that? Last time I let someone drive around before letting the shoe drop, three people died.”

 

Mason’s eyes flicked toward the young Asian guy next to Boyd. He couldn’t see much from his angle, but he caught a subtle shift in the boy’s posture, as if the tension in the room had kicked up a notch. Mason could almost feel the guy’s heart thrum a bit louder at the admission. His own pulse quickened in response.

 

“What was I supposed to do?” Khatri responded, his voice still low but edged with frustration. “They were gonna drive around again, and it’s still awhile till nightfall, but it would’ve been cutting it pretty damn close. Didn’t want to see three more pass.”

 

Boyd let out a long sigh, his irritation simmering beneath the surface. “Alright, quick thinking. I’ll just have to figure out what to do about that when morning comes.”

 

Khatri nodded, but there was still a weight on his face. He glanced toward Mason and the others, then back at Boyd. “I’ve got to go.”

 

“Now?” Boyd asked, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Why so soon?”

 

Khatri gave him a small, tight smile. “I’ve got a few things to take care of. You’ve got this, right?”

 

Boyd didn’t answer immediately, but after a pause, he nodded. “Yeah, I’ve got this.”

 

The Priest’s heartbeat was steady but quick, betraying underlaid anxiety. It wasn’t just the road, their pressence or whatever happened last time that had him worried. There was something more as to what Mason couldn’t say.



With a brief nod, Khatri left the diner, his departure doing little to ease the tension in the air. Tyler was visibly on edge, and Jeremy wasn’t far behind. But Tyler’s frustration was palpable—his fists clenched, his jaw tight.



Mason glanced at the two people across the room, the man and the younger guy, both of whom seemed to be sizing them up. Everyone else had already cleared out, clearly not wanting to stick around for whatever was gonna happen in this Diner. It set Mason farther on edge. For now though he’d let things play out. After all he could easily take the two or three on if need be. He hoped it wouldn’t come to that though at least regarding the Young Kid, and the waitress, 



The asian woman behind the counter walked over, holding a pot of coffee. She offered it to Tyler first.



“Coffee?” she asked, her voice soft but steady.



Tyler’s reaction was instant. His hands slammed down on the table, voice like a knife. “Why the fuck would I want coffee? What the fuck’s going on here?”



Mason’s stomach twisted at the sound of his nephew’s outburst, His anger was far too familiar rage, pure and unfiltered, the kind that Mason had felt himself the very day Jimmy’s head cracked against the pavement. He’d seen his nephew boiling so much in these past few weeks. Everytime, his fear grew deeper. Because Tyler wasn’t just angry—he was dangerous.



Across the booth, Kenny shot to his feet, his face hardening as his eyes flashed with protectiveness. “Hey, that’s my mom! Watch your mouth!” Kenny’s voice was sharp, defensive, but Mason’s focus was locked on Tyler.



His pulse quickened as he saw Tyler rise to his feet in one swift motion. Body coiled tight, like a spring wound too far. 



Mason knew what this kind of anger could do—what it could trigger if it went unchecked.



Before Tyler could make a move, Mason’s hand shot out, his fingers wrapping around Tyler’s arm in a firm, unyielding grip. His heart pounded in his chest as he tightened his hold, feeling the tension thrumming through his nephews entire being.



“Tyler, stop,” Mason yelled commanding, but he wasn’t sure if his voice would get through the haze of rage.



Jeremy scrambled up from his seat, moving to stand between them, acting as a barrier between Tyler and Kenny, though it was clear that his twiglike frame wouldn’t do much if Tyler truly snapped.

 

“Stop it dude!” Jeremy’s voice wavered, his eyes wide with fear as he pushed against Tyler’s chest, trying to calm him down.

 

Tyler, breathing heavily, glared at Jeremy with frustration. “I’m sick of this secret supernatural shit!” he shouted, his anger boiling over. “I thought we were done with it!”

 

“What the fuck is going on?” His nephew shouted voice cracking, as he turned his fury towards him. He wanted answers, but Mason didn’t have any to give. Not the kind that would calm him down, anyway.

 

Mason’s throat felt dry as he tried to find the right words, but nothing came.

 

“I don’t know,” Mason finally said, his voice low but firm, trying to gain a foothold of the situation.  “I know it’s been a hell of a few weeks, but you need to calm down.”

 

He felt the words rung hollow but the unspoken —or else you’ll trigger the curse—hung in the air between them. 

 

For a long moment, Tyler didn’t move. His chest heaved, fists still clenched. Mason held his breath, waiting for another inevitable explosion. But slowly, Tyler’s fists unclenched, and the tension in his body began to ease, though his quickened heartbeat indicated it didn’t fade entirely.

 

Nontheless, he dropped back into his seat, his anger still simmering just beneath the surface. Finally Mason fully released his grip on his nephews arm.

 

The diner was silent, everyone watching with wary eyes. The older woman, who had stepped back once the chaos started remained behind the counter, giving the back of Tylers a look that could kill between eyeing Kenny .

 

Kenny, still standing, glared at Tyler with a fury that nearly matched his own, though he to slowly sat back down beside Boyd looking worse for wear.

 

“You need to watch it,” Kenny muttered under his breath, but it was loud enough for everyone to hear.

 

Mason exchanged a look with Jeremy, both of them shaken by the outburst. Tyler, though calmer, was still on edge, and Mason knew it wouldn’t take much to set him off again.



Boyd cleared his throat, breaking the uneasy silence that had settled over the room. His voice was firm but not unkind as he addressed Tyler directly.

 

“You’ve got a temper, kid, and I get that,” Boyd said, his eyes steady on Tyler. “But you need to keep it in check. Here, more than anywhere else.” There was a weight behind his words, a seriousness that cut through the lingering tension.

 

Tyler didn’t respond, but Mason could tell he was listening. Boyd’s calm authority seemed to have an effect, though Tyler’s fists remained clenched at his sides.

 

Boyd sighed, rubbing a hand over his face as if trying to figure out how to begin. Finally, he leaned forward, his eyes moving between Mason, Jeremy, and Tyler. Voice dropping, taking on a more measured tone.

 

“Look, I know you likely won’t believe this,” Boyd began, his tone measured, “but you need to hear it anyway. This town… it’s different. And it’s dangerous.”

 

Mason’s eyes narrowed as Boyd continue.

 

“There are things out there—things that come out at night. You might think it’s some kind of joke, or that we’re all just some crazy cult, but it’s real. And it’s deadly.” Boyd paused, letting the words sink in. “I’m telling you this now because you need to understand. You can’t be outside after dark. None of us can.”

 

Tyler opened his mouth, ready to interject, but Boyd held up a hand, silencing him before he could speak.

 

“Just listen,” Boyd said firmly. “You don’t have to believe me right now. But stay inside tonight. See for yourself. You’ll understand come morning.”

 




Boyd leaned back slightly, his face grim as he looked between the three of them. 

 

“This place… it traps people,” Boyd began, his voice steady. “It’s not like anywhere else. Once you’re here, there’s no getting out—at least, not that we’ve found.”

 

Mason furrowed his brow, exchanging a quick glance with Jeremy. Boyd’s tone was calm and practiced, like this was a speech he’d given too many times before. But the word trapped stuck in Mason’s head, digging in like a thorn. It wasn’t a word he liked. It never had a good connotation. As a child, he’d been trapped under the weight of the Lockwood family legacy, always in the shadow of something bigger. As an adult, he was trapped by his own anger, his inner rage a cage he could never break out of. Becoming a werewolf had only added another layer—now he was bound by the moon, a prisoner to its cycle. And not even a day ago, he’d been trapped in the Salvatore house, at Damon’s mercy.

 

It seemed like no matter where he turned, he could never escape being trapped.



“I was a soldier,” Boyd said after a pause, his gaze shifting for a moment, distant. “Army. I was driving across the country with my wife, and son. Trying to figure out what was next for us after retirement  and everything that happened overseas. We took a wrong turn somewhere and found a dead tree covered with crows, just like you, then ended up here.”

 

Mason’s gut tightened. A wrong turn, the tree and crows, the way they had driven around in circles, no matter which road they took, only to end up back in the same strange town. Was this place… cursed? Could it be the work of witches? He barely knew any witches, but he recalled enough whispered stories to know that curses like this weren’t unheard of in supernatural circles. Some even believed the Other Side was created by an ancient witch. 

 

Tyler shifted uncomfortably in his seat, but he didn’t interrupt. Something in Boyd’s voice kept him focused, at least for the moment. Mason noticed how Tyler eyed him and Jeremy, like he was wondering if they knew more about this than they were letting on.

 

But Mason didn’t say anything. Not yet.

 

“That was years ago,” Boyd continued, his expression darkening slightly. “And we’ve been stuck here ever since. My wife—she didn’t make it.” His voice tightened at the last words, but he moved on quickly. “And every night, we deal with them. The monsters.”

 

Mason’s stomach clenched. Monsters. It wasn’t the first time he’d heard the word, but the way Boyd said it—so matter-of-fact, so resigned—made it hit harder. His first thought was vampires. The way Boyd described the creatures, looking like people, smiling at you, only to kill you when you let your guard down… it was too close to what he already knew. Could it be vampires? Or something worse?

 

Jeremy leaned forward, curiosity and tension mixing on his face. Mason could tell he was thinking along the same lines—vampires, maybe even something more sinister. But Jeremy seemed calm, almost as if he had a better handle on this than anyone else in the room. Mason envied that calm.

 

“What kind of monsters?” Jeremy asked cautiously, his voice steady but laced with the need to understand.

 

Boyd looked directly at Jeremy, his face unreadable for a moment before he answered. “They look like people—at first,” he said, his voice low. “They can smile at you, talk to you, even seem friendly. But if you let them in—if you even open your door a crack—they’ll kill you.”

 

Mason’s breath caught. He wasn’t sure what to believe anymore, but the way Boyd was speaking, it didn’t sound like vampires not exactly. There were similarities but it wasn’t one to one. For one they didn’t need to be invited in. Though a barrier still held some power. It was different. Worse, maybe. His mind thought  back to witches and curses. Could a coven have created these creatures, cursed this town? He didn’t know. He hadn’t cared much about supernatural lore beyond breaking the werewolf curse, but now, in this moment, he regretted not learning more.

 

“And it’s not quick,” Boyd added, his voice hardening. “They’ll tear you apart.”

 

The air in the diner grew heavier. Tyler clenched his fists, his face tense, but he stayed quiet, clearly trying to process what Boyd was saying. His eyes darted between Mason and Jeremy again, as if hoping for one of them to admit they knew more about this than they were letting on.

 

“We’ve lost a lot of people to those things,” Boyd continued, his eyes hardening. “Families, kids… anyone who doesn’t take the warning seriously.”

 

Mason could feel the weight of Boyd’s words pressing down on him. He’d seen enough flavors of death to know when someone was speaking from experience.

 

Boyd took a deep breath, glancing at each of them in turn then held up a rock with strange symbols on it. “I know you likely won’t believe this—not right now. But you need to listen. Tonight, you stay inside. Make sure a talisman is hung up, keep all the doors locked. Don’t open them for anyone, no matter what you hear. No matter who you think it might be.”

 

The thought of being trapped inside while something prowled outside, waiting to tear Tyler or even Jeremy apart, made Mason’s skin crawl. And yet… Jeremy seemed oddly calm, like the idea of dangerous creatures lurking in the night wasn’t new to him. Maybe it wasn’t. They had lived through vampires, werewolves, and other horrors before. But this—whatever this was—felt different. More unknown.






For a handful of minutes, the diner fell into silence beyond the sound of water running in the back of the diner, as the three of them processed everything. Tyler’s rage seemed to settle, though Mason could still sense the tension in him, like a storm waiting to break.

 

Jeremy, on the other hand, looked unnervingly relaxed, like he had already made up his mind about what they were dealing with. Vampires. Mason could guess that’s where Jeremy’s head was. He hoped it was just that simple. But even if it was vampires, these weren’t the kind that you could reason with.

 

Mason’s nerves stayed on edge, his mind working through the possibilities. If anyone could figure out what was going on, it was Katherine. She had survived for centuries, always finding a way out of impossible situations. She must know something about this place. Maybe she’d come for him if word reached her. After all, she had a habit of finding people when she needed to.

 

And if Katherine somehow failed… maybe Jeremy’s presence was a blessing in disguise. Elena would never let her little brother stay lost in a place like this. She’d move mountains—and with Bonnie Bennett and the Salvatores at her side, they’d possibly do just that. They’d tear the world apart to find him. And when they did, maybe they’d find a way to break whatever this place was.

 

But Mason knew better than to rely on hope. None of those were guarantees. And with the way things had gone with the Salvatores, he wasn’t exactly in their good graces. If they showed up, there’d be more than one kind of reckoning. Still, if it meant Tyler getting out of here—and maybe the rest of these people—it would be worth it.

 

He thought of the people in the diner. He didn’t know any of them, but he could feel their fear. He knew what it was like to have your world turned upside down, to be dragged into the supernatural in the worst way possible. No one should have to face this. No normal person should be caught in whatever twisted game this town was playing.

 

As his thoughts churned, Boyd walked over, breaking the silence. “How you taking it?” Boyd asked, his voice quiet but curious. “Usually, groups aren’t so quiet when they find out.”

 

Mason glanced up, unsure how to respond. His mind was still tangled in half-formed thoughts and unspoken theories.

 

“Not well,” Mason finally admitted, his voice low. “But I doubt anyone does.”

 

Boyd gave him a slow nod, as if to say he understood all too well. There was a heaviness in his eyes that told Mason this wasn’t the first time he’d had this conversation—probably wouldn’t be the last, either.

 

But now, Mason knew he needed to take control of the situation before things could spiral. He couldn’t afford to let Boyd—or anyone else—catch onto Tyler’s comment about the supernatural. Not yet. The last thing they needed was for people to start asking the wrong kinds of questions, especially about werewolves. If these people were on edge because of whatever came out at night, they definitely wouldn’t react well to finding out there were more creatures like him in their midst.

 

Mason took a breath, deciding to cover his bases. “Look, I’m Tyler’s uncle. He’s been through a lot this past month—he just lost his dad. After that, everything kind of… unraveled.” He glanced at Boyd, hoping to redirect any lingering thoughts about Tyler’s outburst earlier. “The town we’re from—Mystic Falls—it’s gone downhill, quality of life isn’t what it used to be. We needed to get away for a bit.”

 

Boyd’s gaze softened slightly, a flicker of understanding crossing his features. “I’m sorry to hear that,” he said, his voice heavy. “Might not mean much, but around here, we’re no strangers to loss. Not the same kind, maybe, but it’s something nearly all carry.” He paused, as if debating his next words. “Who’s the other one?”

 

“Jeremy,” Mason replied, gesturing toward him. “He’s a good friend of Tyler’s. We were heading down to Florida, where I live now. Figured they both needed a break from home after everything that’s happened.”

 

“Got any other family back home?” Boyd asked, his tone more casual, but the question held weight.

 

Mason nodded, his thoughts briefly going back to Mystic Falls. “Yeah, Tyler’s mom—my sister-in-law. And Jeremy has a sister and an aunt.” He hesitated for a moment, then added, “But like I said, things haven’t been easy back home. We all needed to get away, take a breather.” The unspoken truth of their recent supernatural battles came to the forefront of his mind, though he didn’t dare reveal the real reason for their escape.

 

Boyd nodded, his expression softening further. “Yeah, I get that. Sometimes a break’s all you can hope for.”

 

Mason felt a small sense of relief. Boyd seemed to accept the explanation, at least for now. He’d managed to steer the conversation away from Tyler’s supernatural outburst, and that was a win in itself. But even as Boyd’s questions eased, He couldn’t shake the deeper worry still gnawing at him.

 

It wasn’t just that they were all trapped here—it was that his nephew, was trapped here untriggered. As far as everyone in this diner knew, Tyler was just a normal teenager with a bad temper, but Mason understood how fragile the reality truly was. If things escalated, if stress built too high, Tyler could lose control. And then, on top of being stuck in this place, they’d have another werewolf to contend with.

 

If even part of what these people said was true, there were a lot more stressors to deal with than just the usual human tensions. Mason had seen firsthand how people could turn on each other when they felt boxed in, when fear and anxiety took over. That alone could make people dangerous.

 

But this? This was more than just the natural frictions that came with being trapped together. There were layers of danger here, layers of fear—both from whatever was lurking in the dark and from the pressure of the unknown. The creatures Boyd had described, the idea that something could be out there waiting for nightfall, added a whole new level of anxiety.

 

And as far as Mason could tell, Tyler was already teetering on the edge.

 

The thought weighed on him. Trapped humans, especially ones already teetering, were volatile enough. Add supernatural creatures and the fact that his nephew was an untriggered werewolf into the mix, and this whole situation was a ticking time bomb. Mason knew they’d have to tread carefully—every move could set something off.

 

But tonight would be the test. He’d have to see for himself if these monsters were real, if this place really was as dangerous as Boyd claimed and it held any truth, things were about to get a whole lot worse. He only hoped they’d work something out before that clock ran out. The full moon is still three weeks out after all

 

Notes:

A.N. Well theres chapter 1 (the earlier chapter I consider the prologue). Curious to know everyones thoughts.

 

While the characters attempt to rationalize events using their TVD knowledge, this doesn't necessarily mean I'll directly link From to the TVD universe. Their milder reactions, compared to characters like the Matthews family, stem from their previous supernatural experiences.

 

Although there are potential connections to Native American folklore or fae,  and decent ways to link things given the TVD verse lore I'm keeping my options open for the story's direction until we learn more in from. Though there is still plenty to work with just in what we learn in the first two seasons despite all the secrets not being out there yet.

 

I hope the personality and struggles of the trio came through this chapter. These particular characters hardships especially around this time is another reason I felt they’d be a good fit for From. Given the nature of the town and the aspect of most the residents having some ‘complicated’ life aspects before they end up in the town.

 

Before anyone asks I will be following the theory that the town maintains a balance in its population, with new arrivals often coinciding with deaths. Timeline-wise, this story takes place a bit before the Colony House massacre and after Sara's capture. I hope you enjoy the story, and I'm eager to hear your theories and feedback!

Chapter 3: Don't come around tonight

Chapter Text

TYLER POV​​​​​​​

 

 

Tyler stared out the diner's window, watching the sun sink. Every fiber in his body felt wound up and he so desperately wanted to release the energy. They were still stuck in this weird-ass town when they should be halfway to Florida by now. The whole thing was bullshit.

 

 

The clink of dishes behind him made his jaw clench. That waitress was still hovering, pretending to clean but really just watching them. Like he couldn't tell. Like he was some naive fool or something. She probably thought he felt bad about yelling earlier. He didn't. Who offers coffee to someone after telling them they're trapped?

 

 

The taste of blood filled his mouth - he'd been biting his cheek again. Whatever. Better than punching something. Or someone. His dad would've told him to keep it together, act like a Lockwood. His dad was dead now though, wasn't he? And here Tyler was, stuck in some backwater town with Jeremy Gilbert, and his crazy uncle and a bunch of strangers acting like they knew better than him.

 

 

Rage simmered just beneath the surface, but he kept it locked down, It wasn't worth it—blowing up again wouldn't change anything. It wouldn't get them out of here. But it didn't stop him from wanting to. It didn't stop him from imagining the way his fist would slam into the table, or maybe right into his that stupid kids face. He knew it'd feel great if he just let loose, stopped pretending to be fine with all this.

 

 

"You boys figured out where you wanna stay for the night?" Boyd's voice cut in. The sheriff stood there with his hands on his hips, trying to act all concerned. Tyler hated that look - like some stranger knew what was best for them.

 

 

"Actually," Boyd said, his voice lower now, "might be better if we moved somewhere with less exposure. These windows..." He gestured at the wide panes of glass surrounding them. "They're not ideal for your first night."

 

 

Tyler's eyes darted to the waitress again. She wasn't looking at them now, but she might as well have been. Her presence grated on him.

 

 

"If you want to stay here in the diner, we can make that happen," Boyd continued, his eyes looking toward the waitress before returning to the trio. "But I'd prefer if you stayed with me at the station. We always try to stick with folks someplace less open on their first night here." He paused, his tone dropping a little. "No one's really prepared for their first night, no matter what they think they can handle."

 

 

Mason straightened in his seat, exchanging a quick look with Jeremy. Tyler caught the silent conversation - his uncle was actually buying into this crazy shit.

 

 

His fists clenched under the table, knuckles white. A familiar rage burned on. Everything sucked - Dad was dead,  He couldn't stop thinking about this werewolf bullshit, and now they were stuck in this crappy town with these people who wouldn't stop staring at him like he was about to lose it.

 

 

"Yeah, no thanks," Tyler muttered, glaring out the window at the shadows stretching across the street. Boyd kept talking, something about the windows not being safe, but Tyler barely heard him over the blood pounding in his ears.

 

 

"You know what? Fine," Tyler snapped, shoving back from the table hard enough to make the glasses rattle. Everyone jumped. Good. Better than them thinking he was scared. "Let's go to your damn station."

 

 

Jeremy was already on his feet, grabbing his jacket. "Yeah, makes sense to stick together," he said. Tyler rolled his eyes.

 

 

Mason's hand landed on his shoulder as they headed for the door. Tyler jerked away, but caught his uncle's look - that same one from the night he asked about the curse. Whatever. Tyler stormed past the waitress, ignoring her eyes.

 

 

 


 

 

 

Once they arrived he couldn't stop moving, pacing the cramped room in the police station. Fists so tight they hurt. Every noise from outside made him jump, made him want to punch something.

 

 

Mason watched him from his chair, that look on his face that Tyler was starting to hate.

 

 

"You need to calm down," Mason said, voice firm. 

 

 

Tyler spun around. "Calm down? Seriously?" He wanted to laugh, but what came out was more of a snarl. "We're stuck in this weird-ass town with these crazy people talking about monsters, and you want me to calm down?"

 

 

"Yeah, I do." Mason leaned forward. "Because losing your shit isn't gonna help anyone right now."

 

 

"Whatever." Tyler slammed his palm against the wall. It stung, but at least it was something real. Better than listening to more of this. "And what the hell am I supposed to do? Pretend like none of this is happening?"

 

 

""No, not pretend,"" Mason stood up, but kept his distance. "But you've gotta keep your head on straight. The person who found me when I unlocked this part of myself, I wish I never did…  Jules, she taught me you gotta control this thing - the curse, the anger, all of it. Before it controls you."

 

 

Tyler scoffed. "Right. Because that worked so well for you?" 

 

 

Mason was immune to his jab and continued. ""It's not easy. It never is. But it's the only way you'll survive this." 

 

 

"Jules is a hardass, refuses to take BS from anyone, and she didn't let me take crap from myself either." Mason's voice wavered almost seeming to shrink "She found me after my second shift..." He paused, and something in his voice made Tyler actually look him straight in the eyes. "I woke up at her place, felt like I'd been hit by a truck and sewn back together. She had this one song playing - was obsessed with that damn Jazz Lounge song for the longest time something about hanging on. Said it reminded her there was still softness in the world, even when everything felt hard."

 

 

Tyler wanted to tell him to shut up, that he didn't care about some stupid story or about whatever these people thought was out there, but his uncles face still held that look.

 

 

"That's when she laid it all out for me. What I was. What it meant." Mason's voice got quiet. "After what happened with Jimmy... man, I was messed up, I knew it was bad when he died but what came after was somehow ten times worse. But Jules, she'd just say 'hold on.' The pain will end, that's all you can do sometimes. Just hold on.".

 

 

Tyler's fist unclenched slightly. His chest still felt tight, like something was trying to claw its way out, but... maybe his uncle wasn't completely full of shit.

 

 

Mason squeezed his shoulder. Tyler didn't shrug him off this time. "One moment at a time, kid. That's all you gotta focus on."

 

 

It was then Mason Smile changed to a frown as he looked towards the door they came in the station, Tyler wanted to know what the hell was going on but listening closer he heard almost playful tapping coming from that direction

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

After he noticed the taps he noticed Boyd's own posture was tighter than itd been hand closer to his side. Tyler was about to tell him to chill out when he saw them - two people standing in the darkness outside the entry way,some tall guy in a cowboy hat, another a woman in a nurse getup that looked more fitting for one of the older decade dances than the modern day.  smiling this weird, perfect smile. Like all those charity ball photos his mom used to make him take.

 

 

"It's such a lovely night." One of them tilted its head, voice too smooth, too friendly. "Why don't you come outside?"

 

 

Boyd moved away from the window. "Don't look at them. Don't even engage."

 

 

The other one stepped forward, its movements too precise. "We're having quite the gathering. Everyone's invited." It smiled wider, showing unnaturally white teeth. "Such formal affairs are important, aren't they? Keeping up appearances..."

 

 

 

The way it said it - that fake nice voice hiding something fucked underneath. Reminded him too of those fancy parties.

 

 

"Tyler." Mason's voice was sharp. "They're trying to get in your head."

 

 

"Such anger," another voice unseen cooed through the glass, still wearing that perfect plastic smile. Like all those founders' council assholes who'd watch him get dragged home after screwing up at some event. 

 

 

Tyler slammed his fist against the wall. The bruises on his side flaring up a reminder of his dad's last "lesson" about embarrassing the family.

 

 

"That's enough," Boyd warned, positioning himself between them and the windows. "They'll keep trying to provoke you. Don't give them what they want."

 

 

Tyler's chest felt tight, rage mixing with something more pathetic. He'd spent his whole life playing nice at stupid parties while wanting to scream. Now his dad was dead, and part of him felt... relieved. The thought made him want to punch something.

 

 

"Remember what we talked about?" Mason's hand landed on his shoulder, gentler than his dad's ever was. "Control. That's what matters right now."

 

 

The things outside kept talking, kept smiling those fundraiser smiles. Tyler turned away, he wasn't giving these freaks whatever they are the satisfaction. Even if every plastic pleasantry made him think of standing in fancy clothes, trying not to shake, while his dad gave him that evil glare of disappointment.

 

 

Tyler dug his fingers into his palm. It stung, but at least it was something real. He caught Jeremy moving closer to the window instead of away from it, studying the things outside like they were specimens in a jar getting all focused and weird instead of avoiding  like a normal person. 

 

 

Even Mason looked tense, which was saying something for a guy who turned into a huge killer wolf. "Hey." Jeremy's voice was weirdly calm, despite the nightmare fuel surrounding this place.. 

 

 

"We'll figure this out." He was doing that thing again, trying to be all level-headed like his sister even though just a few months ago he was actively getting high off his ass spiraling himself. Part of him wanted to tell Jeremy to shut up, but the familiar annoyance was almost grounding.

 

 

The night dragged on forever after that. Tyler lost track of how many times those things tried to get their attention, how many times Boyd had to tell them to stay away from the windows. 

 

 

 

 


 

 

The sun cut through the station's windows, in a way that forced him to squint. His neck was stiff sleeping in the chair, if you could even call it sleep. More like passing out from exhaustion. 

 

 

"Everyone alright?" Boyd asked, somehow looking even more tired. As he checked his gun for probably the thousandth time since last night. 

 

 

Uncle Mason stretched. "Been better. Those things... they always like that?"

 

 

"More or less." Boyd looked around nervously as he holstered his weapon. "Some nights are worse than others."

 

 

Jeremy hadn't said much since sunrise, just kept staring out the window like he was trying to solve a puzzle. Tyler was about to ask him and Mason if they had any idea what those were, when the station door burst open.

 

 

Some guy in pressed clothes and disheveled hair the same shade as Jeremy's strode in like he owned the place. "Jade," Boyd sighed. "Not now."

 

 

"Finally! Do you know how long I've been waiting? I was this running to the station after Tian got home, but no - Kenny's standing there like some discount bouncer." He pulled out a notebook, gesturing dramatically. "I'm practically a prisoner in my own home, Boyd. The human rights violations happening in this town - even a public defender would have a field day. I mean, really-"

 

 

"Jade," Boyd cut in, his voice harder than Tyler had heard it all night. "Not. Now."

 

 

"Not now?" Jade scoffed, "I've already waited all night like some lab rat waiting for feeding time. And speaking of… whats the story with Bill and He-Man's excellent adventure over here." His eyes swept over Tyler, Mason, and Jeremy, his eyes had a shine to them that brought last nights rage back front and center.

 

 

"OUT!" Boyd's shout made everyone jump.

 

 

 "Alright, alright," Jade backed toward the door, hands raised. "I'll make sure to eat my Wheaties if you do too." He focused on Boyd with uncomfortable intensity. "We'll talk later. There's something different about-"

 

 

The door slammed behind him before he could finish. Tyler's fists were already clenched. "Who the hell was that guy?"Boyd sighed, looking suddenly exhausted. "That... was Jade. You'll get used to him… I think."

 


 

A.N Well it'd been longer than I intended but I've been getting back into From lore and well the soundtrack mainly a certain "Eternal Lullaby" Really made me wish there were more character focused From fics, (or make me wish i could go to the future and watch it all right now). Anyways heres the new chapter I tried to make Tyler fairly distinct from both Jeremy, and Mason. I think I've succeeded though funnily enough the funnest/hardest part of this chapter was probably either writing the first interaction with the "Monsters" or writing Jade. I hope I did him justice.

I did also edit Masons chapter a bit since I noticed there were some moments that sounded a bit awkward. Might go back and edit it a bit more and maybe fix up jeremys chapter as well. 

For now my intent with this fic is to only have POVs from the TVD characters Mason, Tyler, Jeremy. Though im open to reader input on that. 

Chapter 4: Fresh Start, Old Habits

Chapter Text

JEREMY POV II

Jeremy hadn't really slept. His mind kept circling back to those things outside, to their voices, their movements. The way they smiled. Neither Tyler or Mason seemed to be up yet, unironically sleeping like dogs, so he found himself in Boyd's office looking at the door and windows, half expecting the strangely "monsters" to return and start goading them.


"They're not vampires." The words came out before Jeremy could stop them. Boyd's hands stilled.


Boyd looked up, brow furrowed. "Vampires?"


Jeremy tensed, realizing his slip. But Boyd just shook his head with a tired smile.


"You know, everyone tries to make sense of them at first. Vampires, demons, zombies - hell, Dale over at Colony House has this whole theory about alien experiments and pocket dimensions." Boyd checked his chamber again. "But nothing quite fits, does it? These things they dont adhere to some fictional creature or being dreamt up in history... they're something else entirely."


"But they can think." Jeremy leaned forward, that familiar need to understand burning under his skin. "They talk, they reason. They're not just mindless things. Which means there has to be a way to-"


"Don't." Boyd's voice was sharp enough to make Jeremy flinch. The sheriff sighed, rubbing his face. "Sorry. But you need to understand something. A lot of people had that idea when they first got here. Smart people. Good people. Trying to reason with them, understand them, find some kind of common ground."


Jeremy watched Boyd's face carefully. "What happened to them?"


"What do you think happened?" Boyd's eyes went glassy for a moment upward in some reverie. "Look, it's natural to want answers. To try to make sense of this place. But don't let it consume you. We've lost too many people who couldn't let go."


"I know you mean well and its natural to have questions." Boyd's voice went neutral. "But after what happened recently... Let's just say we try to keep an eye on our own. Especially when they start getting too interested in figuring these things out."


Jeremy shifted forward. "What happened recently?"


"Sara." Boyd said the name like it hurt. Then his expression closed off. "Look, just... be careful with your curiosity. Sometimes questions get people killed."


Jeremy had more questions: who was Sara, what happened to her? - but Boyd's face made it clear he was done talking. Outside, the sun was climbing higher, painting the station walls in amber.


Soon enough Tyler and Mason woke, and they'd have to figure out what came next.


The door burst open before they could have a real conversation however.







A guy about Mason's age stumbled in. Despite his pressed clothes, they were buttoned unevenly, his dark hair maybe a shade shy of jeremy's own sticking up like he'd been running his hands through it all night the beginnings of greater stubble forming along his jaw seeming to have what looked like chalk stuck in it.


"Finally! Do you know how long I've been waiting?" The guy's dramatic entrance reminded Jeremy a bit of Damon, but he somehow knew this guy was unequivocally human. "I was this close to running to the station after Tian got home, but no - Kenny's standing there like some discount bouncer."


He pulled out a notebook, waving it around as he ranted. Jeremy caught glimpses of detailed sketches between the pages - like sphere with 3 large indentations, mathematical formulas, some sort of constellation. The artwork looked good, precise. Like the wolf Jeremy had drawn for Tyler not long ago.


"I'm practically a prisoner in my own home, Boyd. The human rights violations happening in this town - even a public defender would have a field day. I mean, really-"


"Jade," Boyd cut in sharply. "Not. Now."


Jeremy watched the exchange with growing curiosity. Boyd had been level-headed all night, even with those things outside. But something about this guy - Jade - got under his skin.


"Not now?" Jade scoffed, pushing his glasses up. "I've already waited all night like some lab rat waiting for feeding time. And speaking of..." His eyes swept over them all, lingering on Jeremy with a mad sort of intensity that reminded him of how aunt Jenna would study her Psych textbooks. "What's the story with Bill and He-Man's excellent adventure over here?"


Jeremy could feel Tyler tensing beside him, ready to explode. Mason too though a bit more muted. But there was something about Jade's manic energy that felt... familiar. Like looking in a mirror from a few months ago, when he'd been desperate to understand what had happened to Vicki.


"OUT!" Boyd's shout made everyone jump.


"Alright, alright," Jade backed toward the door, hands raised. "I'll make sure to eat my Wheaties if you do too." His eyes found Jeremy's again, and there was something there - recognition maybe? "We'll talk later. There's something different about-"


The door slammed shut, cutting him off. Jeremy stared after him. Boyd seemed to view the man as just another problem to manage but he himself didn't know what to make of him, seemed like an ass but so did Tyler, so did he at times… he wished Boyd would've given him a chance to explain himself at least. Cause he himself wanted desperately to know more.


"Who the hell was that guy?" Tyler demanded, fists clenched.


Boyd sighed, looking suddenly exhausted. "That... was Jade. You'll get used to him... I think."


Jeremy wasn't so sure he wanted to get used to him. But he definitely wanted to know what Jade saw when he looked at them. What made them "different." After all, Jeremy knew better than most - sometimes the crazy ones were the only ones actually paying attention.


There was something about the way he looked at them, like he was seeing something everyone else missed. It reminded Jeremy of the way his dad used to study his research, back before... well, before everything.


Boyd seemed to trust Jade about as much as he trusted those things outside. But maybe that was part of the problem. Everyone here was so focused on surviving, they weren't trying to understand. Just like back in Mystic Falls - how many people had died because his parents, the Council, everyone thought keeping secrets was better than facing the truth?


Jeremy glanced at Tyler, who was still glaring at the door where Jade had left. A werewolf. His childhood bully turned... what? Friend? The idea should have been weird, but after everything with Anna, with vampires... Maybe that's why he couldn't just accept Boyd's warnings to stay away, to not ask questions.


Anna had been different from what everyone said vampires were supposed to be. Yeah, she'd had her own agenda, but compared to the Salvatores, compared to Katherine... Jeremy suppressed a shudder. Katherine. Some demon wearing his sister's face. Even with all the crap Elena pulled, lying about Vicki, screwing with his mind and memories - he still couldn't imagine his sister ever being like that woman.


"I'm gonna get some air," Jeremy muttered, already moving toward the door.


"Jeremy." Mason's voice was firm. "We should stick together."


Boyd nodded. "Its only been your first night, Some people still might not even know you arrived here, it's better if-"


"I'll be fine," Jeremy cut him off, catching Tyler's confused look. Maybe his friend thought he was being an idiot, but Jeremy couldn't just sit here.


"Jeremy!" Mason called after him, but Jeremy was already out the door.


He had to know what Jade saw when he looked at them.







Jeremy caught up to Jade outside what looked like a very small house.


"Hey!" Jeremy called out. "Wait up." Jade turned, looking almost offended at being followed.

"Ah. The curious one. Following me like some lost puppy - God, can I get a fucking break..." Inside, a tall bartender was wiping down glasses, looking about as thrilled to see Jade as Boyd had been. "Bit early, isn't it?"


"Tom, my good man," Jade spread his arms dramatically. "Time is but a construct, and I need your wall space."


"You're not putting up another one of your crazy boards," Tom warned, but Jeremy caught the hint of resigned amusement in his voice.


"Crazy?" Jade pulled out his notebook. "I've mapped every incident, every pattern. Look-" He glanced at Jeremy. "Oh, you're still here. Let me guess - you want to help? Think you'll be the perfect scrum master for the project?" He laughed sharply. "Enthusiastic, eager, totally useless when it came to actual methodology just like ray."


"Who's Ray?" Jeremy asked, trying to keep his annoyance in check.


"Former project manager, glorified assistant. Great at parties, terrible at maintaining proper documentation standards for my PathFinder algorithm." Jade's voice dripped low when noticing jeremy seemed to have no reaction to the words.

"Fuck… a Revolutionary mapping system for identifying recursive patterns in dynamic networks. But you probably wouldn't understand the complexity involved."


Tom snorted. "You just got here a week ago, and you're already acting like you wrote the manual on this place. Can't tell if you're a madman, an idiot, or just an ass."


"I'm a genius who's already seen more patterns than-"


"Than what?" Tom cut in. "Than people who've been here for years? Who've lost people to whatever's out there?" He turned to Jeremy. "Don't let him fool you. He's smart, sure, but he's also the kind of guy who thinks his fancy software that doesn't mean shit here. Makes him better than everyone else."


"My 'fancy software' revolutionized path optimization for-"


"For tech bros who can't read a map?" Tom grinned. "Here's a pattern for you - every morning you come in here, acting like you're going to solve everything, and every night you're back looking like something chewed you up and spat you out."


Jeremy watched the exchange, seeing something..familiar. It was like looking at himself from a few months ago, desperate to understand vampires, what happened to Vicki make sense of everything. But there was something else too - something in the way Jade kept glancing at his notebook, at the walls as if he was trying to will some line to form with his scrutiny alone.


"Look," Jade turned back to Jeremy, "you want answers? Fine. But I'm not holding your hand through this. I've got actual work to do." He paused, studying Jeremy with narrowed eyes. "Though... there is something different about you. Less... predictable than your meathead friends back there."


Tom rolled his eyes. "That's Jade-speak for 'you might be useful to my crazy theories.'"


"They're not theories," Jade muttered, already spreading papers across the bar. "They're hypotheses based on empirical observation and- why am I explaining this to you people did you even go to school kid?"


Jeremy felt something cold settle in his stomach. Great. Another know-it-all who thought he knew what was best for everyone else. He'd had enough of that back in Mystic Falls.


"Actually, nevermind. Good luck with whatever the fuck you're doing." Jeremy turned away from Jade's scattered papers and barely-contained crazy. He'd wanted answers, yeah, but not like this. Not from someone who reminded him way too much of how Damon looked when he was about to do something stupid and dangerous.


He barely made it three steps out of the bar before he spotted Mason coming toward him, looking pissed. Great.


"What the hell was that?" Mason demanded. "You can't just run off-"


"I'm not a kid," Jeremy cut him off. "And you're not my dad or my guardian. So don't start with that crap."


"This isn't about-"


"No?" Jeremy laughed, bitter. "What, am I supposed to just sit around and accept everything we're told? Because that worked out so well back home? Elena and everyone else keeping their secrets, thinking they knew what was best for poor, troubled Jeremy?"


Mason ran a hand through his hair, frustration clear on his face. "You think I don't get it? We don't know shit about this place, Jeremy. Just theories bouncing around our heads. And that guy in there? He's clearly unstable. I can't have Tyler around that..." He trailed off, then sighed. "Fuck, man. I get it - you're not my kid. You're not even family. But you're my responsibility now. I resigned myself to that on the drive here." A bitter laugh. "Granted, I thought we were headed to Florida, not whatever new prison we've found ourselves locked in."


Jeremy felt some of his anger deflate. Mason wasn't Elena, the Salvatores or John. He wasn't trying to control Jeremy - he was just as lost as the rest of them.








The walk back to the station was quiet. Jeremy could feel Mason wanting to say more, but for once, an adult in his life seemed to know when to back off. The morning sun felt wrong somehow, too bright for a place like this.


Boyd was hunched over his desk when they got back, papers and maps spread everywhere. Tyler sat nearby, pretending not to look interested.


"These pins," Mason said, moving closer to the map on Boyd's desk. "They mean something?"


Boyd looked up, seemed to consider whether to share, then nodded. "Every verified location someone's come from. Or... where they think they came from generally. Memory gets fuzzy here sometimes on the road."


Jeremy studied the pattern of red dots scattered across the map.


Mason's eyes narrowed at a cluster of pins. As he spoke softer than normal


"See these locations?" Mason kept his voice low. "Old Native American lands. Large... packs of people tend to gather there." The way he emphasized 'packs' made Jeremy's eyes widen slightly. Not just tribal lands - werewolf territories he picked up on it.


"Not all of them though," Boyd said, returning. "Plenty of pins that don't match any pattern we've found."


Jeremy leaned closer. The pins were all over the US, but something was missing. "Nothing international," he said suddenly. "It's all American."


Mason nodded slowly. "Yeah. Similar territories down in Mexico, up in Canada - some just miles from the border. But no pins there."


"So what, some kind of tribal thing?" Tyler spoke up, voice tight. Jeremy caught the way Mason looked at his nephew - careful, measuring.


"If it was just that," Mason shook his head, "There would be more theres plenty of territories not on this map and plenty of other that don't correlate at all. Its worth nothing but it doesn't really answer much." Jeremy thought aloud "Need more... connections?" He almost said 'supernatural connections' but caught himself.

Boyd studied Mason for a moment. "You seem to know a lot about these tribal territories."


"Yeah, well." Mason shrugged, that easy smile of his sliding in place. "Got some friends down in Florida - where we were headed before all this shit went down. Most of them got Native blood somewhere down the line." He leaned against Boyd's desk. "Plus, you spend enough time around the right people, you pick stuff up. Especially when they won't shut up about it after a few beers."


Boyd nodded slowly, but Jeremy caught the slight narrowing of his eyes. "And these friends... they told you about all these locations?"


"Some of them I looked into myself." Mason's tone was casual, but Jeremy noticed how his shoulders tensed up. "Look man, I'm not claiming to be some expert. Just saying these pins..." He gestured at the map. "Some of them line up with places my buddies talked about. Might mean something, might not."


Tyler shifted uncomfortably near the window, and Jeremy wondered if he was thinking about the curse - about what Mason's 'friends' really were.


"Interesting coincidence," Boyd said, in a way that reminded him of how Grayson would talk to door to door salesmen.


"Yeah, well." Mason straightened up. "This whole town's one big coincidence, isn't it? Unless you've got a better explanation for this place."



Tyler pushed away from the window. "This is stupid. Those things out there... they're something else." His voice dropped. "Something worse."


Jeremy watched his friend's face, The creatures last night had gotten to Tyler a lot more than they seemed to get to him or his uncle. Though part of that may have been because Jeremy was trying to form some image of what exactly they were. But he saw in them what he saw in most vampires he's met. Both the good and bad.


"They're smart," Jeremy said. "The way they talk, the way they stare, it all seems intentional..."


"Talking or not, they're dangerous," Mason's voice hardened. "And we need to understand what we're dealing with if we're going to survive here."


Tyler muttered. "I'm more interested in finding a way out."


But Jeremy couldn't shake the feeling that understanding these things - what they were, why they were here - that was the way out. The pins on the map,the way the creatures seemed to know exactly how to get under people's skin... it all meant something: could they read minds, did something provide information about the residence… were they just really intuitive?


He just had to figure out what, part of him wished Damon somehow followed them here… dude was a murderous ass but maybe he'd at least know something. He thought by now he'd at least be texting Aunt Jenna or Elena some picture of him shirtless on the beach in florida. Not in this place.









The morning sun made everything look different - sharper somehow, like the town was trying too hard to seem normal in the daylight. Boyd led them from the station, shoulders squared like a man who'd done this tour too many times.


"Not much to the place," he said, "but you should know where everything is. What's safe, what isn't."


They passed other residents on the street. Some nodded, others just stared with that same haunted look from last night. Like they were already counting the new arrivals among the dead.


A man in fairly maintained casual clothes - Jim, Boyd called him - gave them a stiff smile as they passed. Something plastic about it, Jeremy thought. Not fake exactly, just... practiced.


The medical center was next - "Not much to the place," he said, "but you should know the essentials."


He gestured to a converted house with medical supplies visible through the windows. "That's our clinic. Kristi's pride and joy our only real medical professional. I picked up some field medicine in the Army, but..." He shrugged. "Wasn't exactly a medic. Best stay healthy if you can manage."


Jeremy caught glimpses of other residents as they drove a few nodded, some even waved but others just stared with that same haunted look from yesterday.



The car slowed as they reapproached back into the main parts of the town with the diner and church on the way to a Place called 'Colony House'. The man who got them to stay yesterday Father Khatri stood outside that strangely ancient church building, his dark robes seeming a bit lighter than the prior day. In general he seemed different in the daylight - still commanding, but seeming a bit disassociated. Like he was looking through and not looking at.


Mason leaned forward slightly. "Mind if we stop for a minute?"


Boyd shook his head, slowed down more and parked, and Father Khatri approached as they got out. His smile was genuine, if tired. "I hope you all managed some rest after last night."


"Been here long, Father?" Mason asked, that careful look in his eyes that Jeremy was starting to recognize - the one that meant he was trying to piece something together.


"Long enough to bury more than my share," Father Khatri replied, no attempt to soften the truth. His eyes seemed to take on an abyssal quality after that..


"The church provides comfort to many here. You're welcome any time - day or night." He paused, studying Mason with equal intensity. "Though I suspect you're not much for churches."


Mason's smile was sharp. "What gave it away?"


"Experience, and the way you carry yourself" Father Khatri said simply. "Still, sometimes those who avoid churches need them most." His eyes drifted to the building behind him, lingering just a bit too long. "Especially here."


Boyd cleared his throat. "We should keep moving. Still got to show you Colony House."


As they got back in the car, Jeremy caught Father Khatri making the sign of the cross. Whether it was meant as a blessing or protection, Jeremy wasn't sure.








Finally, Boyd led them up toward the location he intended to end off on Colony House. The hill up seeming more like a mountain. The building loomed above them ancient Windows dotted the facade, and Jeremy wondered how many eyes were watching their approach.


"Colony House," Boyd announced. "Lot of folks choose to stay here. Safer in numbers, they say."


Looking back down at the town from this height, Jeremy could almost pretend it was normal. Almost. But even in daylight, there was something that reverbed wrong about this place



Colony House was... different the building itself was worn down and probably built around the same time as many of Mystic falls historical sites but the energy was distinctly different. Jeremy had been to enough parties back home to recognize the various types - the chaos of bonfires in the woods, the stiff founder affairs in ancient historical buildings, his parents used to drag him to. This was somewhere in between. People seemed relaxed enough, doing their own thing, but there was an undercurrent of... false normalcy, like the kind his Aunt and Sister tried to zone in on.


"Welcome to Colony House," a woman Boyd introduced as Donna greeted with, her smile was warm but her eyes held an easy to see grittiness.


"Place might not look like much," Donna continued, leading them inside, "but it's home to quite a few of us. More importantly, it's safe."


"Mason, Tyler, Jeremy - Boyd radio'd ahead about you three." She gestured around the space. "You'll need to make a choice in the next few days - you can either stay here with us, or boyd can set you up with your own place. We call it the choosing ceremony. Take some time, get to know the place, figure out what works for you."


Jeremy appreciated that at least they weren't being rushed into another decision. These days, having choices felt rare enough.



Her eyes settled on each of them in turn, assessing them. "And boys? Whatever you choose, remember - we look after our own here. That includes you now, whether you like it or not."



Something in her tone reminded Jeremy of the way his mom used to talk about family - like it wasn't up for debate. It should have felt suffocating, being claimed by yet another adult who thought they knew what was best. Instead, it felt... solid.



"Hey! You're just in time!" A younger woman maybe a few years younger than Aunt Jenna waved them over to where a small group was gathered. Her warm brown skin seemed to glow in the sunlight streaming through Colony House's windows as she sat cross-legged on one of the worn couches



"I'm Fatima. We're celebrating my arrival anniversary, tonight." Her smile was genuine, but there was something knowing in her eyes as she looked them over. "And you are...?" Even though Donna had just used their names, Jeremy recognized the gesture for what it was - an attempt at giving them some control over how they presented themselves.


"Jeremy," he offered, then nodded toward his friend. "This is Tyler and his uncle Mason." A glance at Mason revealed he was seemingly more enthralled by the entrance door than this conversation.


"Wanna go off exploring already?" Fatima seemed to notice the same, her light tone implied understanding though. She gestured to the quiet man beside her who seemed barely present despite being right next to the woman speaking. "This is Ellis. My partner. He's usually more talkative, but..."


Ellis seemed to shake himself out of whatever thoughts had held him. "Sorry, yeah. Welcome to the house." His voice was a bit cutting but it didn't seem intentional. "Been a rough few weeks."


"Rough is relative here," Fatima added, her hand finding Ellis's, squeezing gently. "Still, we try to find moments worth celebrating."


Jeremy caught the way Tyler seemed to relax at their easy interaction. Maybe it was seeing people who could still act some semblance of normal, and care about each other, even in this strange place. Or maybe it was just being treated like people instead of walking ghosts as they were the prior day.


Mason shifted beside them. "I'm gonna check out the woods," he said quietly, pulling Tyler and Jeremy aside. "Get a lay of the land. You two can come with, but..." He looked at Tyler, a worried crease in his forehead calming.


"Might be better if you stayed here. Just... be careful, alright?" He turned to Jeremy.


"Keep an eye on him?" Jeremy nodded, recognizing the trust Mason was placing in him.


Tyler looked like he wanted to argue but didn't. Maybe he was tired of fighting too.


As Mason headed out, Jeremy caught that familiar trouble in his eyes


"Heading out alone?" Donna called over as Mason neared the threshold, her tone not quite masking the warning beneath.



"Yeah, thought I'd look around town a bit more," Mason replied smoothly. Jeremy only a bit troubled by the ease the lie came to him.


"Just be sure you're back well before sundown," Donna said. "And don't stray too far from the buildings. We had a... situation a few days ago. Woman escaped into the woods."


"Escaped?" Mason's voice was carefully neutral.


"Murderer," Donna said simply. "She's probably already dead, but..." She shrugged, but Jeremy caught the way her eyes hardened. "Better safe than sorry."


"Always something out there, isn't there?" Fatima added, her voice light but her meaning clear.


"Right," Mason nodded. "Just heading into town. Won't be long."


Jeremy watched his friend's uncle head out, knowing he had no intention of staying in town. Between monsters at night and murderers in the woods, this place seemed almost as colorful as Mystic Falls.







Not long after Mason left, Colony House seemed to come alive more. A lot more talking and roughhousing happining around the foyer and common, she led them to a couch where a few residents were gathered. A girl about their age caught Jeremy's attention Fatima introduced her as Julie. She sat close to Fatima, almost hovering really, black hair falling well past her shoulders. The shade was even darker than his own, making him wonder if it was natural or dyed.


She kept shooting them looks between attempting to get Fatima's attention. Jeremy recognized that expression - he'd worn it himself plenty of times after his parents died.


"So where are you guys actually from?" Julie finally asked, trying to sound casual while still practically glued to Fatima's side.


"Virginia," Jeremy said. "Small town called Mystic Falls."


"Never heard of it." Julie's tone was dismissive, but her eyes stayed on them. "Must've been pretty bad if you left."


"Julie," Fatima said gently, but the warning tone was pretty clear.


"What? I'm just saying." Julie's cheeks flushed slightly at Fatima's attention. "Everyone here's running from something, right?"


Jeremy caught the way she leaned into Fatima's space, the obvious crush written all over her face. It reminded him painfully of how he used to act around Vicki - that desperate need to be noticed, to matter to someone when everything else was falling apart.


"Not running," Tyler cut in. "Just needed a change."

Julie scoffed. "Yeah, well. You got one." Her eyes darted to Fatima again, seeking approval. "At least you guys are together."


Jeremy saw it happening before Tyler moved - that easy to spot stiffness in his shoulder, as his fists started to clench and turn white. "Tyler-"


"You don't know shit about us," Tyler snapped, taking a step forward. The rage was there again now, something he felt he was growing more and more accustomed to from his tormentor turned friend.


"Tyler, come on-" Jeremy reached for his friend's arm.



Tyler yanked away, whirling on Jeremy. "No, you come on! Listen - fuck this! My dad's dead, your parents are dead, Vicki's dead, and now we're probably gonna be fucking dead too, or worse!" His voice cracked on the final words.


"So don't fucking tell me to calm down! Some of us actually had ambitions for our lives before all this shit - not all of us were content just getting high and wasting away in town like you!"



The room went quiet. Julie had shrunk back against Fatima, who was watching them her earlier gentle eyes reminding him more of the crows that 'welcomed' them now,. Ellis had shifted slightly, looking ready to step in.


Jeremy felt the old anger rise up - the kind that used to make him want to get stoned just to turn his brain off, stop the thoughts, no dream no nightmares, just simple stupid peace. But he pushed it down. Tyler was just saying what hes been holding back all day, and he wasn't even wrong really.


"You done?" Jeremy asked quietly.


Tyler's breath came in harsh pants, but some of that killer drive seemed to drain out of him. "Fuck," he muttered, running a hand through his hair. "I... fuck."


"Yeah," Jeremy agreed. He got it in a lot of ways. The rage, the fear - it all had to go somewhere he might not have werewolf level anger issues, but he had his own share of unhealthy outlets in the past.. As Tyler pointed out .


Julie was staring at them now with different eyes - more considering thant bothered..


The room fell into an awkward hush after Tyler's outburst. Fatima and Ellis exchanging a look, their earlier warmth cooling slightly. Ellis's tight posture and seeming detachment returned, and Fatima's fingers tensed around her mug. Julie just watched them all with renewed interest, still hovering close to Fatima but now studying Jeremy with a look that wasn't exactly comforting, but neither was it vitriolic… He couldn't get a read on her.


That's when Jeremy noticed her - a woman he hadn't seen yet, lean against a doorframe as she eyed some clothing on the ground. Her black hair fell in soft streams around her face, held partially back by a salmon-colored headband that somehow made the messiness look intentional. There was a particular magnetism about her, maybe the way her golden-toned skin caught the late afternoon light, or maybe it was the emptiness in her eyes seeming to pull you sinking in, if you looked too long.


She was watching Tyler, who had slumped back into his chair, the rage draining out of him like it always did, leaving that hollow exhaustion behind. When she approached, her movements had a bit more sway than necessary.


"Some of us thought the same thing when we first got here," she said, her voice softer than Jeremy expected. "That we'd all end up dead." She perched on the arm of Tyler's chair, close enough that he tensed again, but differently this time. "Still probably will. At least some of us aren't pretending otherwise."

"Not all of us can make it to our one-year anniversary after all" She gave a playful laugh as her eyes looked over at Fatima's seeming to pay special focus on her shawl then looked back at Tyler. "I'm Trudy"


Tyler looked up at her, and Jeremy saw something shift in his friend's expression. Like he recognized that emptiness in her eyes, wanted to fall into it maybe. Anything… just to be somewhere else.


"Tyler," he managed, his voice higher than usual.


Fatima cleared her throat slightly. "Trudy, maybe this isn't-"


"Want to see the rest of Colony House?" Trudy cut in, her eyes never leaving Tyler's face. "The parts tourists don't get to see?"


Tyler was already standing, that familiar Lockwood 'charm' he recalled from last school year sliding into place, but Jeremy could see underneath it. The need to feel something - anything - else.


Jeremy gave him the best what the hell are you thinking look he could manage, but tyler seemed unreceptive to it.


But a more direct stare down his eyes and the mask of confidence slipped. "Hey," he said quietly, stepping closer to Jeremy while Trudy rifled through something on a nearby shelf.


"This was supposed to be a break from madness, right? Let's make it one." He managed a shadow of his old smirk. "I'll keep myself in check. Promise."


"Lead the way," Tyler said, and just like that, they were gone, disappearing down a hallway, The last he saw of them being Trudy's hand starting to slip into Tylers back pocket…


Julie made a small sound of disgust. "Typical," she muttered, but Jeremy noticed how her hand had found Fatima's arm, holding on just a little too tight.


The sun was getting lower outside, and Jeremy realized it was unlikely Mason would be making it back to Colony House tonight. He and Tyler were here alone seperated, among these mostly friendly strangers, while somewhere out in those woods, Mason could be...


He pushed the thought away. Nothing to do now but wait for morning.







A.N. Well heres the new chapter, It was fun to write a bit difficult with the variety of character perspective, still feel I didn't get donna quite right but I felt most the other characters were well done,

NOTE ON NEXT POV: so next pov will be Mason but the POV won't start right when this one ends, but basically follow him from the point he separates from Tyler and Jeremy. It will cover some of the events after this chapter ends, but the following chapter in Tylers POV will more readily tackle that.

My intent with these povs is opposed to just covering the next chain in the timeline to also cover different perspectives. For example Jeremy's opinion and what he notices about Jade differs from Tylers pov. Jeremy is more experienced with the supernatural than Tyler is but ultimately doesnt really have the degree of understanding mason does, Jeremy is also a bit more artistically inclined, so I imagine he picks up a bit more on details than the average person.

Chapter 5: If you start to Cry, Look up to the Sky

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

MASON



Mason watched the door to Colony House close behind him, feeling a much-needed freedom, being on his own. Better this way, Tyler and Jeremy would be safer away from him while he scouted out the area. The curse was always there, but this place made it worse somehow. Like the wolf inside was restless, alert to every unfamiliar scent and sound. It wasn't quite as extreme as it was before activating the curse but it was much more intense than it should have been given how far off the full moon was. 



The property around Colony House was larger than he'd first realized. Beyond the main building, he found outbuildings, old storage sheds, and what looked like a greenhouse. Nothing secure enough for what he needed, but worth knowing about. The real prize came when he spotted the heavy wooden doors set into the hillside behind the main house an old cellar of some kind, from the looks of it.



Mason glanced around to ensure no one was watching before descending the worn stone steps. The cellar was cool, the air thick with the smell of earth and a familiar metallic tang, that only held bad memories. Sturdy stone walls and rotted wood beams support the ceiling. He ran his hand along the rough surface, mentally calculating. It might hold. The problem wasn't the structure but the location.



"Fuck," he muttered. If he could find a strong enough chain, The cellar would be nearly perfect other than the scent, but too close to people. Too many variables. At the Lockwood estate, he'd had the family caves, far enough from the main house that no one would stumble across him during a shift barring any unexpected gatherings.. the image of his nephew before he was burdened with all this came into his mind a cocky kid with his letterman jacket, angry but innocent to what really caused that anger.



"...Dammit" Mason clenched his fist, feeling the familiar heat building. Not now. He couldn't afford to lose control.  Noprivacy, no standing to keep people away, and too many curious eyes.

 

He climbed back up the steps, squinting in the afternoon sun. Even if he would try to talk with someone about keeping people away from the root cellar, Donna definitely wouldn't go for it either without a slew of farther questions, reminded him a bit of Jules, that same no-bullshit attitude, that same steel behind her eyes. He'd sooner wrestle another vampire than try to pull rank on Donna in her own domain.



The woods were his best bet, but he needed to be smart about this. Walking straight into the forest could potentiallydraw attention with all the eyes around and he was fairly sure Donna and Boyd likely kept a closer eye on new arrivals like him. He couldn't very well have one of the locals find his new shifting den. He needed a cover, a reason to be out exploring that wouldn't raise suspicions.

 


 

Mason checked the sun's position. Still plenty of daylight left. He could start with a casual visit to the diner, establish himself as just another resident getting to know the place which seems to have happened a fair bit the past week, then gradually work his way toward the tree line around the town, where there were many more buildings to provide cover from prying eyes. The more normal he seemed, the less likely anyone would question where he went afterward.



He headed down the path toward town, eyes and ears tuned and focused for potential hiding places, escape routes, secure locations. The curse wouldn't wait much longer. And when the full moon came, he'd need to be ready - for his sake, and for the safety of everyone else trapped in this nightmare town. Better he start looking now opposed to putting it off. Who knows how many days of searching it could take to find a suitable spot.



The diner was somehow quieter than it had been yesterday, despite more people being around. The chatter Mason had heard from outside seemed to die as soon as he pushed through the door. He caught the shift - conversations dropping to whispers, eyes darting his way before quickly finding something else to focus on. New guy syndrome, he figured. 



That waitress from yesterday Tian?  gave him a look somewhere between annoyance and outright hatred. Mason had to hand it to her; the lady could hold a grudge. Though he supposed if the situation was reversed and Tyler was the one being threatened with physical altercations, he'd feel much the same way, if not stronger. All the more reason to try to smooth things over. Being stuck in this place was bad enough without making personal enemies of the woman who ran the only restaurant in town.



He slid into an empty booth, trying his best to ignore the stare. From what he'd seen at Colony House they had a greenhouse, and a good collection of crops growing within and behind it - people here could easily manage without the diner. But places like this served a purpose beyond just food. Mason remembered all those times as a teenager when he'd snuck off the Lockwood property to hang out at the Mystic Grill with friends. Back before he knew about any of this supernatural crap, much less that he was some fucked-up fairytale monster.



Mason watched a couple in the corner booth plastered smiles directed his way, trying too hard to seem normal as they passed sugar packets across the table. He got it. The diner was an attempt at normalcy, just like how Colony House reminded him faintly of college housing at Whitmore. These little pockets of ordinary life gave people something to hold onto, some fragment of hope that things might be okay.



And hell, despite everything, Mason still held onto hope himself. That he’d one day break the werewolf curse. Get all of them out of this mess. 





His thoughts scattered as he heard the telltale sign of something electric powering on. Mason frowned, staring at the mini jukebox at his table. Yesterday, these things hadn't turned on for even a second, he didn't even think they were functional given the nature of this place. Now this one was powering up on its own, lights flickering across its panel.



What followed at first a melody of delicate piano notes, and a distant trumpet, a chill ran down his spine. It couldn't be... then came the voice.



“The sun has left and forgotten me

It’s dark, I cannot see…”



He froze he could see Jimmy alive again.. and the room seemed to grow colder. It was the song. The same song that had felt like it was blaring in his ears as his heightened senses reeled from the transformation.



“You gotta hold on,

Hold on through the night

Hang on,”



His hands curled into fists as he leaned back in the booth, as he felt his stomach drop. Jules had been there, playing this very song, telling him to hold on, to not let the pain win. But now, it felt like the place was mocking him, pulling at him.



A tap on his shoulder jolted him back to reality. Mason turned to find a man standing there a small smile on his face he couldn't of been much older than Richard, it took a second but he recognized the face from Boyd's little tour earlier, Jim. 



"Mind if I join you?" Jim asked, gesturing to the empty booth across. "Still trying to meet everyone."



Mason straightened, composing himself and nodded. Jim slid into the booth.



"That song got to you, huh?" Jim observed. "Nice to know I'm not the only person getting thrown off by things here."



Mason managed a tight smile. "Just... reminds me of someone."



"I get that," Jim said with a nod. "So, where are you folks from? You came in with some family too right?"



"Virginia," Mason answered, grateful for the change of subject. "Small town called Mystic Falls. Unfortunately, my elder brother - my nephew's father - passed away recently." The lie came easily, close enough to the truth. "Hometown wasn't shaping up to be the best environment for either my nephew or his friend, so we were heading to my place downin Florida. Bit of a surprise vacation."



"Florida, huh?" Jim's expression softened slightly. "We were heading to Yellowstone, actually. My family and I... we've only been here about a week ourselves."



"A week?" Mason's interest went up. "Seems like everyone else has been here forever."



"Yea.." Jim squeezes his hand against his lower jaw. "Hard to believe but its only been about a week with everything  thats happened. My wife and son are still..." he trailed off, then cleared his throat. "Anyway, don't put too much stock in the jukebox thing. Likely wiring issues or some kind of latent power drain."

There was something reassuring about Jim's practical assessment, even if Mason suspected there was more to it. But at least they wern't alone in being new here, and out of his depth.



"I should get going," Jim said, standing. He paused, glancing at Mason. “But hey… if you ever need to talk or something, I get it. Feels like half the people here have already given up. It’s good to talk to someone who hasn’t… you know, drank the Kool-Aid yet.”



Mason gave a tired smile. “Thanks. I might take you up on that.”








The late afternoon sun was well into its descent, painting the town in a light that did little to make it feel less wrong. Tried to seem like he was just taking a stroll around the town but once he was sure no one was watching, he picked up his pace.



The forest welcomed him with a familiar calm. Mason took a deep breath, letting the senses expand. His hearing sharpened, picking up the scuttling of small animals. The rich earth, decaying leaves, the faintest sense of water somewhere beyond. There was at least something comforting about the familiar sensations in the woods. 



He moved deeper, careful to mark his path, mapping the terrain in his mind. A large hollowed tree here, a sizable flat rock here. The forest was a bit off an oddity as he saw more of it parts of the undergrowth thick, other parts rather sparse. About a mile in, there was a natural depression beneath a rocky outcropping not atypical for woods and not where he’d prefer to transform, but it was  secluded enough he wondered if  he’d be able to reinforce it.



Mason knelt, examining the ground, the strength of the rock. It would take work, but with enough chains,and failsafes... maybe. The problem would be getting metal strong enough for the task. 



As he explored further, the sun continued its descent. The shadows lengthened, temperature dropping. Mason checked his watch, swearing under his breath. He'd lost track of time. Sunset wasn't, and he was deeper in the woods than he'd planned.



"Smart move, Mason," he muttered, quickly turning back toward town. "Get yourself killed before you can help anyone or break any curses."



Part of him  wondered if he could take these creatures. He'd gone toe-to-toe with a few vampires before. Hell, he'd killed one. Maybe these things weren't so different. His muscles tensed at the thought, the primal inside responding to the possibility of a fight. But the memory of last night, of those unassuming faces and too-wide smiles, gave him pause. They wern’t fully unlike vampires but that didn’t mean they’d have the same weaknesses. They probably wouldn’t be poisoned by a bite for one. 

 




Wasn’t long till even the gray of dusk was gone and complete darkness settled over the forest, and he braced himself for what would come next. His senses strained, searching for any sign of the creatures. Keeping himself tense and on guard. 



Yet minutes passed and the forest remained strangely silent. 



Mason paused, listening intently. Nothing. No footsteps, no rustling clothes, no breathing. Last night, the creatures seemed to come forward as soon as darkness fell. They may have not knocked immediately but he heard their footsteps in the distance past the station distance not long after night began. But now... nothing.



He extended his senses further, straining to detect any presence even the smallest rustle of a mouse should’ve came up in his sense. 



Humans had heartbeats  slow, and steady reminders of their life vampires on the other hand had no living internal organs so thus they only could be sensed when they moved or when they were seen of course. Usually if you were a werewolf close enough to see a vampire though you were already in a tough spot. These things last night... they'd had something, some aspect of life he could sense but it wasn’t like a human nor was it like a vampire. It held a wrongness that registered on some primal level. But right now, he couldn't detect anything nearby.



Where were they? Why weren't they coming for him? After all they'd been warned by several about never being outside after dark, this emptiness felt like a trap.



Was it because he was a werewolf? Did they somehow sense what he was and stay away? Or was it something else entirely?



The lights of town appeared through the trees, and Mason felt an unexpected relief. Whatever the reason for their absence, he knew he shouldn’t question luck right. But as he approached the edge of the forest, that unsettling sense stayed. If the monsters weren't in the woods hunting him... where were they?



The church's bell tower was visible through the trees - not his first choice, but he couldn't be choosey at this hour. He wasn't eager to test whether his wolf form could take these creatures whatever they are. Overconfidence had nearly gotten him killed too many times. Despite the strange absence of any monsters so far, he wouldn't risk staying out after dark any longer. Not yet, anyway.



As he approached, he caught fragments of voices in the direction of the aptly named ‘Post Office’. Boyd and Father Khatri, their conversation tense but too muffled by the door from this distance to make out completely.



"...can't keep this from them forever..." Khatri's voice had that same conviction Mason had noticed earlier.



"...not your call..." Boyd sounded tired. "...after what happened to Nathan..."



The sudden sound of an engine made him tense. Looking in the direction of the noise revealed a van coming from the direction of Colony House, driving far too fast, lurching down the road toward town. Mason backed into the shadows, watching as it screeched to a halt near the Station. 



Donna was the first out, her usual composure shattered, herding people toward the doors. She saw a few supporting an elderly man. Then Mason saw him - Tyler, stumbling from the van, his face covered in blood.



"Tyler!" Mason sprinted with protective fury. "What happened? Where's Jeremy?"

His nephew's eyes were wide, stunned. "They got in - I don't - they took the house -"



Mason's mind raced. Blood. So much blood on Tyler's face, his clothes. Had he triggered the curse? Had this place finally pushed him over the edge? Or was it Jeremy's blood? but the way Tyler looked at him he was terrified and shaken. But this wasn't the haunted look of someone who'd just killed for the first time at least he hoped it wasn't.



A woman screamed, pointing behind them. Mason whirled to see one of the creatures emerging from the darkness, its movements jerky. Unlike last night, there was nothing human in its appearance eyes too wide and flat, nose barely a suggestion in the center, mouth stretching beyond the confines of where a jaw should end. Its fingers had elongated into claws, unnaturally thin and jointed, scraping against each other with a sound like knives being sharpened.

It moved straight for Tyler, ignoring everyone else. Father Khatri stepped between them, arms outstretched.



"Inside! Now!" Boyd shouted, ushering the others toward the diner doors.



The creature lunged - faster than Mason expected. He saw it all in slow motion claws extended toward Khatri's throat, the priest frozen in place, the others to pull him in.



Mason moved without thinking, crashing into the creature with all his strength. It should have been enough - he'd tossed vampires through walls with less effort. But the thing barely staggered.



Its head turned toward him, mouth stretching into something between a smile and a snarl. Mason felt his muscles straining as he summoned more strength than he'd ever used outside a full moon. Sending pain ripping through his body, but he held the creature back, claws barely an inch from his face.



Up close, Mason could see the reason they were feared. These things were something worse as his nephew so eloquently put it. Vampires were predatory, but recognizable even in their worst states. These creatures came from the corruption of something else that simply took on the face of a human. Their skin wasn't skin at all, their eyes weren't their true eyes, and whatever moved them wasn't life as Mason understood it.



With a final surge of strength, Mason shoved the creature back, grabbing Khatri's arm and dragging him toward the doors. They stumbled inside just as Boyd slammed the doors shut behind them.



In the chaos that followed - people crying, Boyd shouting orders, Tyler being attended to by Donna - Mason caught Father Khatri watching him. The priest's face was unreadable, but his eyes... Mason recognized that look. It was the same one Tyler had given him after witnessing him transformed on a full moon. That moment of realization that something wasn't adding up.

Khatri gave him the slightest nod, nothing more before turning to help the others. But in that brief exchange, Mason understood perfectly: this conversation wasn't over. The priest had seen something impossible, and sooner or later, he'd want answers.



Mason turned his attention back to Tyler, pushing the problem of Khatri to the back of his mind. Right now, his nephew needed him. And somewhere out there, Jeremy was still missing.





 



Notes:

A.N. Well heres the next chapter finally I was quite excited to get to this one. Though parts of it were a bit harder to write initially had an interaction with Tian here to but ended up scrapping it for a later point since felt like a lot was happening already and I wanted to give the interaction justice.

 

For those wondering the song Mason heard was “Hang on little Tomato” by pink martini.

Which I picked for a few reasons one I felt the lyrics were strangely fitting for both the struggle of werewolves in TVD and the nature of the town in From. Two It has a bit of a older aesthetic to it fitting with some other songs that have soon up in the show.

 

The band also happened to collaborate with a surf music group in the past overall just felt it wouldn’t be so far fetched to imagine some surfing werewolves listening to it lol.

 

Obviously Mason just changed something fairly big and well clearly something big happened at colony house to. Look forward to exploring that and hope people enjoyed the chapter.