Arianna's POV

I slowly turned towards her, but I was stunned by what I saw.

“Why do you have a bag with you, and why do you look like you're embarking on a journey?” I asked confusingly.

“How the hell will I let you walk this path alone? I told you I was going to be with you every step of the way,” she said, slowly walking towards me with a glowing smile on her face.

“Where do you think I'm going to?” I asked, arms arched above my waist as I glared at her.

“Anywhere you're going. Not like you have an idea where you're going to as well,” she replied.

We both burst into laughter, hanging our arms over our shoulders as we both decided to leave together.

But just as we were about to leave, grandma rushed out through the door, causing us to turn immediately.

“Are you both thinking of leaving me without telling me anything,” she sobbed as tears trailed down her eyes.

Seeing her break down emotionally, I quickly rushed to her as I grabbed her, embracing her tightly.

“I didn't want you to see me leaving,” I replied, cleaning the tears that were on her cheeks.

“At least you should have said goodbye,” she said softly, pushing my long dark hair behind my ear.

My eyebrows furrowed in shock, startled by her reaction.

I felt she was going to be against me leaving, but that wasn't the reaction she was giving.

I turned over and took a glance at Celine, who was riddled with shock as well.

“You're not stopping her?” Celine asked.

Grandma smiled softly. “Arianna has chosen a path that seems right to her. All I can do is support her.”

Tears slowly clouded my eyes as I looked into hers, seeing the pain she was trying to hold back in.

“Thank you so much,” I embraced her once more, sobbing softly in her arms.

“Be careful out there. Don't forget what made you start this journey in the first place,” she advised, breaking down in tears as she waved us goodbye.

Leaving her all alone was one of the toughest decisions I had to make, but I was willing to make it worth the sacrifice.

Placing one foot in front of the other, and with Celine by my side, it felt like there was nothing we couldn't conquer.

We made sure to pack up some supplies that will keep us going along the way.

It was a long journey towards the walls of Mystic Falls, but I was willing to leave this city.

We went head-on, finding our way through the woods.

“I'm beginning to feel it was a bad idea coming along with you,” Celine giggled, breathing heavily as we kept wandering deeper into the woods.

“I must confess, I never knew it would get this creepy out here,” I chuckled.

“We just have to spend one night within this forest. By day, we would have gotten to the gates,” Celine replied.

She knew so much more about the city compared to me, and it seemed more like a wonder because Celine despised leaving the house most times.

She always enjoyed the comfort of the house but knew her way around Mystic Falls more than Grandma.

“But Celine, why did you follow me all the way out here?” I asked softly.

It didn't make any much sense to me that she was willing to leave the confirmation of her home to follow me through a journey that wasn't going to be of much benefit to her.

It left me marvelled and, at the same time, caused several questions to swell up in my head.

“Why are you asking? You're my best friend. Of course, I'll go to any length for you,” she replied nonchalantly.

“You're not getting my point here. You're not getting anything from this journey, but you're willing to follow me even when I don't know where I'm going. I have no idea what lies beyond the walls,” I highlighted.

“Arianna, you've shown me so much love throughout my entire stay with you. This is little compared to the lengths you would go for me if I was in your shoes,” she replied with a soft smile on her face.

“Together forever?”

“That's right. Together forever,” we chorused.

With the help of Celine's brilliance, we were able to set up a tent for the night and a fire to keep warm through the night.

I looked back at the towering castle, reminiscing on the good memories I created within those walls.

Sadly, those memories were bound to follow me through every part I take, and maybe even to my grave.

“You know he was a coward,” Celine broke the silence that filled the atmosphere, pulling me out of my reverie.

“Who?”

“Stop denying it. You know who I'm talking about,” she replied.

“Ohh, Damien. I don't enjoy talking about him, but I feel you're right anyway,” I affirmed.

“Are you doing this because of him?” She enquired.

Her question struck deep, causing me to throw the same question to myself at a deeper level.

“Why the sudden quietness?” She asked.

I was caught in a fix, trying to be honest with myself and also trying so hard not to be in denial.

“Nothing. Of course, I'm not doing this because of him,” I quickly snapped, forcing a smile on my face.

Fortunately, she bought the answer. But I knew deep down that I was keeping the truth from myself.

The lights went out, and we both went to sleep for the night.

But right in the middle of the night, Celine began gasping and breathing heavily in her sleep.

Turning from side to side,perspiration covering her face.

Suddenly, she jerked from her sleep, yelling loudly as her eyes darted around while she kept breathing heavily.

“What's the matter, Celine,” I asked, grabbing her arms tightly as I softly gave her a gentle pat on her back.

“It was a dream. The same dream,” she revealed, riddled with so much fear in her eyes.