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Wrenching the door open, Meredith burst through and ran as fast as she could, stu and fluorescent-lit, the floors dark gray tile like those of a hospital or a school She listened for Jack’s footsteps in the hall behind her, but there was only his laughter, bubbling maniacally, from the room she had left behind

“You’ll be back,” he called again “You won’t be able to help it ”

Not letting herself think of anything but escape, Meredith looked around frantically Double doors at the end of the hall led toward a stairway, and she pushed through, her feet slapping at the concrete stairs, heading down and—she hoped—out

The stairs seeh another set of double doors and onto the sidewalk She paused for a azed around Office buildings stretched behind her She had no idea where she was It was still dark out, but the sky was beginning to lighten toward gray

Everything in her was screa in panic What if Jack’s fierce, invulnerable vaainst the cold brick wall of the building behind her, trying to conceal herself in the darkness, and looked around cautiously No one

She sucked in a deep breath, trying to cal at rando the tension out of her body She was steadier on her feet now, her ar as the nuht To her left, Meredith heard the sound of cars racing past on a highway She headed in that direction, ready to find her way home

Daas breaking as Meredith opened the door to her apart her keys on the table I’ht now, she told herself Jack had said she was a vampire, but Meredith didn’t feel any different Maybe the treatment didn’t take

She took a deep breath as she glanced around her fa to co seely ordinary Her law books were lined up on the shelf across fro picture stood on top of her bureau Without even bothering to take off her clothes, Meredith pulled back the cool sheets and slipped into bed Next to her, Alaricin his sleep and burrowed deeper into the pillows

She was safe Everything was terrible: Stefan was dead, Jack was a vampire, but the worst hadn’t happened I’m fine, she told herself

Experier across her teeth Normal No extra-sharp canines Her hands ar at a quick, huht off whatever Jack had tried to do

She shifted closer to Alaric, then frowned There was soers closed around a thin cardboard rectangle A business card Meredith squinted as she pulled it out and held it up to catch the diht Printed on the card was an infinity symbol in black type and a company name: Lifetime Solutions Below that, handwritten in black ink, a phone number

Jack had been pretty sure of hiers around the card, cru it into the drawer of her bedside table She didn’t ever want to see Jack again

According to her clock, it wasn’t even five A M yet Meredith took another deep breath and closed her eyes, trying to relax into sleep, trying to forget Jack’s face as he slid the final needle into her arm

Her bed was soft, and the sheets sent There was another shtlyto identify it

Gradually, she becaular rushing that re beneath the steady sound of the surf Breathing in time with the sounds, Meredith sank deeper into almost-sleep