Chapter 49

                                    

                                          
UNDER THE BRIDGE-DAY
Alaric: You're sure this is the right spot?
Dorian: Anyone else would probably go all the way to the dam. Here, the river, it bends, slows, makes deposits. I'll find the urn. (Looks at Emma) And we can be on our way.
Alaric: So we're gonna split up, check out the town. We've got a fake gas leak story ready to go just in case there's another plague. 
Dorian; Take care of my girl, Ric. [Dorian kisses Emma's cheek.]
"The way Damon took care of Elena when Stefan left the town?" Asked Audrey, because she loves causing drama. Mikaelsons laugh. Damon and Stefan glare at her. 
Emma: Be careful, okay?
Dorian: Yeah.
MAPLE HOLLOWS,SC-DAY
Kaleb: Welcome to Maple Hollows.
Alaric: Girls, you take the fountain area. See what you can find out.
[Hope, Lizzie, Lela and Audrey are gathered at fountain. Josie approaches, too.]
Josie: Fun fact: this town has the biggest ball of yarn in the country. And nobody's seen anything strange.
Lizzie: This isn't exactly a hotspot of activity. Our hopes of finding anything are going up in smoke.
Hope: Wait, are you passive-aggressively referring to that fire in my dorm room three years ago?
"What fire?" Asked Hayley.
"Remember when i mentioned Hope's eleventh birthday gift-painting from dad got burned? That fire." Said Audrey.
"Oh. What caused fire?" Asked Hayley.
"Spoilers." Said Hope.
Lizzie: You mean the one that you set on purpose to sabotage our spring break trip with our dad? No, Hope. Why would I talk about that?
Hope: Dude, you've lost it.
"You just figured that out?" Said Kol. Audrey snorts. Caroline glares at Kol.
Lizzie: The only thing that we lost was a week of quality family time. Dad had to cancel the trip to deal with the damage. So mission accomplished.
Audrey: If Hope says she hasn't started the fire, then she hasn't, because unlike you she knows how to take responsibility and not always play a victim. And How in the bloody hell is this trip even Hope's fault? You are so self-centred, insuferable, egotsentric, irresponsible, jaelous, crazy bitch! 
"What was that?" Said Freya.
"She has been whining whole day. I showed a great self control by expressing my frustration only by words and not bitch slapping her back into Caroline's womb. No offense, Caroline." Said Audrey.
"Audrey!" Scolded Hayley.
"Saying no offense doesn't make it less offensive." Said Caroline. Audrey shrugged.
Josie: You guys are just talking about ancient history.
Audrey looks at Josie annoyed.
Audrey: Tell that to your stupid sister! [The fly stungs Josie.]
Josie: Ow! Something stung me. [We see there is sweeling where bug stung Josie.]
Hope&Lela: Ew.
Lizzie: Gross. [Audrey takes Josie's hand and eyes the stung curiously.]
"Why is it swelling so much? Is Josie okay?" Asked worried Caroline.
"She's fine. Like we said many times." Said Audrey.
[We switch to Kaleb, Jed, Emma and Alaric walking in street.] 
Kaleb: How'd I get stuck on the senior citizens' half of the tour?
Alaric: Excuse me...
Jed: Or y'all just needed a third wheel.. and fourth weel to shield you from all this awkwardness.
"They so did." Said Davina.
Kaleb: Yeah.
Alaric: We're not awkward.
Emma: Not awkward at all. 
Alaric: No one's awkward.
Some snort.
Kaleb: Hold up. I'm trying to hear something.
Alaric: I said no vampire powers. (whispers) We're trying to keep a low profile here. [Jed looks at Alaric incrediously.]
"And how do you expect him to turn off hearing?" Said Damon in disbelief.
Jed: He can't just turn off ears.
Kaleb: It's so faint. Maybe like a... a generator? On the edge of town? I don't know, but... something's humming for sure. [Lots of flies attack the city.]
"What the bloody hell is that?!" Said Klaus.
Alaric: That's no generator. Run. Run. Run! [Everyone starts screaming and running.]
Lizzie: This is plague-y, right? 
Hope: It seems plague-y.
"Stop just standing there!" Said Elijah.
Josie: It's plague-y. 
Audrey: Come on, morons! [Audrey grabs Hope and Lela's hands.]
Audrey: Am i the only one with self preservation? [Audrey drags along Hope and Lela. Saltzman twins follow.]
[Alaric, Emma, Kaleb and Jed run toward van.]
Alaric: Get in the van. Get in the van! Go, go, go, go, go! [They get into van and close door before flies can get in.]
Alaric: Whoo! [All of them exhile.]
Kaleb: Guess we're in the right place.
"You think?" Said Damon sarcastically.
Emma: Yeah.
ALARIC'S VAN-DAY-LATER
Alaric: These hornets, they're indigenous to Africa, or Southwest Asia. I mean, they shouldn't even be on this continent.
"Why does he even know that?" Said Davina.
Kaleb: You're literally getting geekier by the minute, Dr. S.
Jed: Am i the only one worried about girls?
"Jed is honestly the best." Said Audrey.
Alaric: They will be okay. They are strong.. and have magic.
Jed: So does Emma, but she's a wreck and we are stuck in a van! [Emma is covering her eyes and shaking.]
"We were safe." Said Hope before others would start freaking out.
Emma: Oh... what are they doing here?
Alaric: Oh, you guys, it's so obvious, you're gonna kick yourselves. 
Emma: I can't do this. I simply can't. I can't do it. (Whimpers) Creepy crawlies. I hate them. [Bugs die and fall down.]
"Wait! What happened? Why did they fall?" Asked Freya.
Kaleb: Whoa, look.
Emma: If I could look, I wouldn't be covering my eyes, Kaleb.
Kaleb: No, they all just... died. [Emma takes off her hands and looks out of window. Man shows up and touches the window. Emma screams.]
[Josie, Lizzie, Lela, Hope and Audrey are in some building, looking for entrace.]
Hope: We need to find your dad. This way. [They get out of building and are walking streets.]
Lizzie: Does this way take us past the fire station?
Audrey: (to Lela) At this point i'm certain some people were put on this planet just to test my anger managing skills and Saltzman family are the leaders of that people. [Lela laughs.]
Hayley, Freya, Kol and Klaus laugh at that.
"It's true!" Exclaimed Audrey. Hope shakes her head fondly.
Hope: Oh, my God. We barely just survived a biblical plague. For the last time, I didn't start that fire, and I've never ruined a spring break.
Josie: Yeah, Lizzie, now's not the time.
Lizzie: Fifth grade. You callously gave me the flu while we were building our float for witch week. With global warming, I may never see the Florida Keys. That's on you.
"How could tribrid who can't get flu given her a flu? What kind of logic is that?" Said Kol.
"Jaleous bitch's logic." Said Audrey.
"Audrey, be nice!" Said Hayley.
"What did i do?" Said Audrey.
"For example swearing every minute." Said Hayley. Audrey shrugged.
Hope: We built it with Alyssa Chang, who had pneumonia over spring break. It wasn't me, and neither was that fire.
Josie: Um, hey...
Lizzie: Why did I see you giving us a death glare through the window?
Josie: There's a boil on my boil. [They look at Josie's hand.]
"Oh my god!" Said Caroline, looking worried. Stefan and Damon are looking at Josie worried, too.
Hope: Oh, God!
Lizzie: Ew!
Lela: It's disgusting.
Josie: I think I'm gonna be sick again.
Lizzie: Pick up the pace, Mikaelson. My sister needs... [They see people dressed in yellows are cleaning the streets of bugs.]
"Who are they?" Asked Elijah.
"You'll see." Said Hope.
Man: Single file. You're going to be safe. Get on the buses.
Lizzie: ...medical attention?
FEMA RECOVERY CENTER,MAPPLE HOLLOW-DAY
Woman: (over P.A.) Please form an orderly single file line and proceed to the triage tent for processing. Deposit your cellular devices with a representative. [People go in tents by line and put phones in the plastic bags.]
"Who are they? How did they get there so fast?" Asked Klaus.
Woman: (Over P.A.) Keep moving. Stick together. Please form an orderly single file line and proceed to the triage tent for processing.
[Emma, Alaric, Kaleb Lizzie, Josie, Hope, Audrey, Lela and Jed are all in tent.]
Hope: I don't get it. The locals that we met said that they hadn't seen anything, which means that the first sign of trouble happened after we got here. 
Emma: How did these people get here before the bugs?
Alaric: I don't know who they are, but they are too prepared, organized, and well-equipped to be responding to some random insect attack.
"True." Said Caroline.
Woman: You together?
Alaric: Yeah, you know, we just came in from Roanoke to see that giant ball of yarn you guys have.
Woman: And these are?
Alaric: This is my wife... [Alaric puts hand over Emma's shoulder.]
"Damon to Stefan when he came back from trip dad took him to." Said Audrey. Mikaelsons laughed. Salvatore brothers glare, looking annoyed. Caroline hides her amusment behind her hand.
Alaric: (laughing) Emma. Uh... these are my daughters. From my first marriage.
Woman: All of them?
Audrey: Actually, no. We are his nieces. [Audrey points at herself and Hope.]
Audrey: And they are our younger siblings- Jed, Lela and Kaleb.
"Younger?" Asked Davina.
"Well, technically they are younger. By two years. We are in the same year only because we were in hiding till we were 7 and joined school late because of one arsehole." Says Audrey and side-eyes Marcel. Marcel frowns. He never wanted his step-sisters/nieces to hate him.
Woman: siblings? [Woman eyes Kaleb.]
Audrey: He is our half- brother. (Angrily) I didn't think you needed whole family biography. Do you want to hear about my parents divorce, too?
Klaus and Hayley raise their eyebrows amused.
"What? It was more belivable that if i had half-brother, parents would be divorced. And it also made her feel bad." Said Audrey.
Woman: I'm sorry, miss. I didn't mean to offend you.
Audrey: Too bad you did. Now can you let us pass so my cousin can cure her hand, which is swelling up because of those stupid bugs? (Groans) I knew i should have stayed home. [They walk away.]
"The best lies are the ones which have truth in it." Said Audrey.
[Audrey notices Clarke, but pretends she didn't and continues her way, Clarke seems to recognise her, too.]
"Isn't that triad guy?" Asked Hayley.
"Yep." Said Hope.
[Later, Alaric, Audrey and Hope are standing at table.]
Hope: Don't look, but that guy over there was outside of Seylah's house when we were in Kansas, with the fake gas leak. 
Audrey: I know. I noticed. [Alaric looks toward Clarke.]
Hope: I said don't look. What's he doing here?
Audrey: Probably same thing as us. There are many organisations, which are trying to cover up supernatural things. 
"He is looking for urn, isn't he?" Asked Freya.
"Yeah." Said Audrey.
[Hope is looking  at theim and their trunk, which is filled with equipment.]
Hope: They have awful lot of artillery, too. [Audrey notices the gear.]
Audrey: The gear! They're here for the urn.
Hope: Dorian...
UNDER THE BRIDGE-DAY
[Dorian gets out of water with urn. Car approaches. People get out of car and go to Dorian.]
"Shit." Said Caroline.
Man: We'll take that.
Kaleb: Finders keepers.
"He is brave." Said Elijah.
[They aim guns at Dorian.]
Man: Now. [Flies attack Triad men. They are screaming and groaning on ground.]
"Oh god!" Said Davina.
[Dorian is untouched. Mummy shows up and walks toward Dorian.]
"Mummy! I knew it!" Said Kol.
[It takes urn from Dorian and goes. Dorian breathes hard because of fear.]
FEMA RECOVERY CENTER,MAPPLE HOLLOW-DAWN
[Doctors are taking care of patients. Alaric and Kaleb are sitting on bed.]
Alaric: Oh, poor Emma. I mean, she's worried sick about Dorian. Got to find a way to put her mind at ease.
Kaleb: You more pressed about your friend or the girl?
"Girl, duh." Said Audrey.
Alaric: Both.
Kaleb: (amused) Mm-hmm.
Alaric: Listen, we need to snag one of our phones back so we can call Dorian. I was... wondering if maybe you could help.
Kaleb: What? Huh? You... (chuckles) I thought vampire powers were off-limits.
"Now you want vampire powers?! Weren't you teaching him to supress it five minutes ago? To pretend and live as human?!" Said Audrey.
Alaric: Desperate times.
Kaleb: All right. I'll lend you a hand, but, um, I want to hear you say it.
Alaric: (Chuckles) Not a chance.
Kaleb: Whatever, though. [They get up.]
[Clarke approaches Alaric.]
Clarke: Hi, there.
Alaric: Hello.
Clarke: I'm Deputy Agent Clarke. I apologize for the inconvenience. I see you're from Richmond?
Alaric: Uh, Roanoke. 
Clarke: I'm just checking in with everyone. Sooner we get everyone proper medical attention, sooner you can go see that giant ball of yarn.
Alaric: (Laughs) Well, we, uh, don't need any attention, but thank you.
Clarke: So you came in from Raleigh on a road trip with your family?
"He is trying to confuse him. Smart." Said Hayley.
Alaric: Roanoke.
Clarke: Roanoke. Sorry.
Clarke: You ever been to Kansas?
[Back to Salvatore school students.]
Jed: (to Audrey) Who is that guy?
Audrey: Remember when i told you about suspicious guy we met in Kansas when you guys were in Europe?
Jed: Oh, The pretty boy?
"The pretty boy?" Asked Hayley.
"That's what i called him when i told Jed the story." Said Audrey.
"He isn't pretty at all!" Said Kol and glared at Clarke.
"He is enemy! Stay away!" Said Klaus. 
Audrey: Mhm. 
Lela: He is tall, mysterious and cute looking. He is so your type. 
"No." Said Mikaelson men.
Audrey: Did you miss the suspecious part?
Lizzie: We don't care about your love life, Mikaelson. (To Audrey and Hope) Why were you in Kansas? Oh, wait, let me guess, it involved you insinuating yourself into a situation where only you could be the hero.
"That's exactly what happened." Said Hayley.
Audrey: Actually, yes.
Hope: As a matter of fact, yeah.
Lizzie: I swear to God, you will do anything to get attention.
Hope: (Scoffs) Said the narcissist.
Audrey: (Scoffs; to Lizzie) Are you seriously the one talking? If i looked up the word attention whore, it would show me your photo.
Kol laughs. Salvatores glare.
[Lizzie is about to answer, but Josie interrupts.]
Josie: Okay, guys, can we please just stop?
Hope: You know what? Okay. Fine. Maybe I was jealous. Maybe I wanted what you had. A simple day with my family. [Audrey looks at Hope sympathetically.]
Mikaelsons look sadly at Hope and Audrey.
"I'll make sure you'll have that." Promised Klaus.
"I'll help." Said Kol.
"So will i." Said Marcel and Davina.
"I promise you will have that. We will change this." Said Hayley.
"You won't have tp go through all that." Promised Freya.
"We will. You have my word." Said Elijah. Audrey and Hope smile at them.
Hope: I lost half of my stuff in that fire, including the only painting I made with my dad and my portrait that dad painted for my eleventh birthday. Why would I do that to myself? [Audrey glares at Lizzie and wraps her arms around Hope.]
Mikaelsons smile at Audrey and Hope.
[We go back to Alaric and Clarke.]
Alaric: So if there's nothing else...
Clarke: Actually, uh, I was hoping we could talk privately. You and your daughters, uh, Jessica and Ashley, was it?
"He want you to break character so much." Said Freya.
Alaric: Nieces and i don't think we have anything more to discuss.
Clarke: I could think of a few things. Mystic Falls, maybe? Or perhaps your school for supernatural children.
"He knows." Said worried Caroline.
OUTISDE THE TENT-NIGHT
[Clarke is talking to Hope, Audrey and Alaric.]
Clarke: I work for an organization that keeps monsters and things that go bump in the night from public view.
Audrey: Creatures.
Clarke: Pardon?
Audrey: They aren't monsters. They are creatures, who are trying to get their freedom. Not all of them are bad, so i think calling them monsters is racist and unfair. [Clarke looks at Audrey intrigued.]
Clarke: You have... interesting view, miss Ashley.
"I don't like how he looks at you!" Said Klaus.
Audrey: Please, no need for miss and my name is Audrey, actually. [Alaric interrupts their moment.]
Alaric: My name is Alaric and her name is Hope. (Mentions to Hope) Now we have introductions out of the way. [Clarke tears his gaze away from Audrey and looks at Alaric.]
Clarke: Yes, yes. We already know you're Alaric Saltzman, headmaster of the Salvatore School. I wasn't sure if it was a coincidence, so we searched your van. We know a lot about your school. You have a terrific reputation.
Alaric: Leave the school out of this.
Clarke: Look, I applaud your school's mission. If you do your job right, makes mine easier.
"So why are they there?" Asked Stefan.
Alaric: So why are we still here?
Clarke: Well, I have an entire town that needs to forget what they've seen today. You know, usually it's convincing a farmer in Nebraska he didn't see a chimera, you know, or a few ice fishermen in Minnesota that it wasn't a yeti that ate their best friend. This is an entire town. It's different. We could use the assistance of a vampire. 
"So you want to tell me that organisation who covers up supernatural things don't have way to erase memory? It's riddiculas." Said Hayley.
Clarke: I noticed the daylight ring on your nephew's hand...
Audrey: He isn't actually the nephew. Which you already know. (Audrey eyes Clarke) but you are trying to give us security feeling. Good tactic. 
Davina, Hayley and Freya share a look.
[Clark is about to answer, but Audrey changes the subject back before Clarke comes up with response.]
Audrey: Why not call it a swarm of bugs? Why erase it from memory?
Clarke: Because someone may recognize them for what they are. Harbingers.
Hope: Of what?
Clarke: Seriously? This is obviously the work of a mummy. [Alaric pumps his fist in air.]
Alaric: I told you.
Damon laughs. Stefan and Caroline chuckle, too.
Clarke: One of our drivers survived an attack by the river. He's been tracking the mummy ever since. He's still on the outskirts of town, but he's heading our direction. We're a cleanup organization. Okay, we're not equipped to go to battle with a mummy.
"How does organisation not have ways to deal with supernatural in that job?" Said Kol.
Clarke: So... will you help? Cut him off at the pass and keep all these people safe?
Alaric: Oh, these are kids...
"So? We defeated everyone of the creatures before. And after." Said Audrey.
Calrke: Kids with magic, in a town full of innocents without it.
Hope: We'd be happy to help.
Audrey: Do you think it will be Cleopatra's mummy? I'm big fan of her.
[Clarke looks amused.]
Marcel, Klaus, Kol and Elijah glare at Clarke.
Alaric: I'm gonna need my weapons.
Clarke: Of course. Gather what you need. Round up your friends. My team can help you with anything else. [Clarke leaves. Hope turns to Alaric.]
Hope: Okay, I know you don't remember our trip to Kansas clearly, but that field that we woke up in in Georgia, that's where the portal to Malivore is. It's hidden in plain sight by a company called TRIAD. Look familiar?
[Hope takes out card and shows it to Alaric. Audrey looks at it, too. There is Triad/Malivore symbol on it.]
"So you figured it out. Good." Said Klaus.
Audrey: I knew there was more to him!