The road ahead seems endless, a straight line through the stillness of Mystic Falls. The cold wind invades the car with force. After so many years away, it's surreal to return. You had left everything behind, and the small town seemed like nothing had changed. Your friends had moved on with their lives, and you... well, you always felt like a shadow in the group.

Memories of farewell invade your mind. Jeremy was the only one who actually seemed to regret his departure. Caroline, so concerned about her image, barely bothered, and Bonnie, always distant, maintained her usual formality. And Elena... well, the grief for her parents consumed her so much that there was no room to worry about anyone else.

Now, back, everything seemed the same, the stillness of the city, the houses surrounded by imposing trees, the deserted streets. You lose yourself in nostalgia for a moment until something in the distance, a figure, captures your attention. A man walking alone on the side of the road, his steps slow and calculated. A chill runs down your spine. Something in you, perhaps your curiosity, perhaps an inexplicable impulse, causes you to slow down.

The car slows down until it finally stops next to him. He turns around, and his heart races in his chest. Klaus Mikaelson, stands before you. His eyes carry an intensity that captures you, and the smile on his face is enigmatic.

"Do you want a ride?" The question comes out easier than you expected, a slight smile on your lips.

Klaus raises an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth turning up in a smile that makes your skin crawl. "No one ever taught you not to trust strangers?" he teases, British accent resounding almost hypnotically.