Disclaimer: I do not own The Vampire Diaries or any of its characters. But I do wish I could own Enzo…

Description: As Elena and Jeremy's younger sister, Auria Gilbert always thought she belonged in their shadows. That was, until she died and then came back to life with a way to save the people stuck on The Other Side.

A/N: Set during Resident Evil. My OC's name is pronounced "Aria" but spelled Auria. Please enjoy and review!

Caught Up In This World

"Hell no." I glanced down at the knife Liv was holding out. "I'm not stabbing myself that thing."

"The knife is the only thing that will get rid of the Travelers." Live waved the weapon out in front of her.

"Just do it, Auria. Stop being such a baby. You have a magic ring that brings you back to life." Tyler leaned forward to give me a cocky grin.

I threw him a look. "In case you forgot, I'm human. I don't have the privilege of healing after stabbing myself with some witchy knife."

"Come on, Auria. We need to get on with this." Jeremy slid off the desk behind Liv.

"Says the Hunter with the Traveler-proof head." Matt scoffed. I cocked my head to the side as I shrugged at Jeremy.

"I'll do it." Tyler grabbed the knife confidently. I pursed my lips as he pushed the knife into his stomach. He didn't even flinch.

Tyler handed it back to Liv and she cleaned it quickly. She moved in front of Matt and pointed the blades tip to his shoulder. "Shouldn't hurt too much. Not too deep. I can help you if you…"

I didn't like the way she was smiling at him. Matt and I had been friends since we were born. He was like another older brother to me and I knew that I would never let him end up with someone like Liv.

"I got it." Matt mutters as he grabs onto the knife and pushes it into his shoulder. Unlike Tyler, he did flinch. Noticeably.

He pulled the knife out and Liv cleaned it with one swipe. She dropped her dropped her eyes to the floor as she stepped in front of me.

"Great. Now, all that's left is…" She pointed to me with the knife. "… Baby Gilbert"

"Auria." I glared as I took the knife out of her hand.

I rested the tip of the blade against my shoulder, trying to place it where Matt had. I took a deep breath before stabbing myself shallowly. I grimaced and pulled it out. Liv smiled as I dropped the knife back into her hand.

"Happy now?" I sneered. She turned her back to me and I took my chance to check out the wound. I looked down to see that my blood had started to run down my chest. Jeremy walked up to me and held out a cloth.

"Thanks." I whispered as I wiped off the crimson liquid.

"So, we're all clear of Travelers. Want to tell us what we're doing here?" Jeremy asked aloud and fell into place beside me.

"All you have to do is that…" She gestured to us. "… about a hundred more times, only to other people."

"Wait, what?" I stepped forward hoping for some clarity.

Liv bit down on her lip lightly."The truth is that my coven has been tracking the Travelers for thousands of years. They're always on the move, but there have been a few times in history when they have stopped to gather."

"And let me guess; this is one of those times." Matt took a deep breath.

"Yes. But the freaky part is that no one's ever noticed because one by one they've taken over entire towns by putting passengers inside of the townsfolk. We think they're doing the same thing in Mystic Falls."

I clenched my teeth as I glanced at my brother. He was wearing the same worried look telling me that we were on the same page.

I looked back at Liv. "When do we start?"

"I can do this on my own, Jer." I held my phone to my ear as I shut my car door. "I don't need Tyler the big bad hybrid to protect me."

"This isn't something to joke about, Auria. The Travelers are dangerous and they wont hesitate to hurt you." I could hear him clear his throat over the phone. "You've already died three times wearing the ring."

"I know." I swallowed as I rounded the hood of the car. "But I've managed to stay human this long. I think I can last a little longer on my own."

"Just… be careful." He paused. "And don't try to be the hero. We all know how that ended the last time."

I scoffed as I walked up the steps to the door of the police station. "Whatever, Jer. I'm just going to check up on the Sheriff and then meet Ty and Matt at the school, okay? I'll be fine."

I said a quick goodbye before finally getting off the phone. I had gotten used to being treated like I was the only person who couldn't look after themselves. I realized at a young age that it came with the territory. But Jeremy wasn't the only person who always tried to shield me from the supernatural occurrences in Mystic Falls and failed.

I headed straight for Caroline's mom's office. "Sheriff?"

I walked in when I saw the room was empty. Caroline did say that her mom was supposed to meet her at the Grill. I convinced myself that she had already left to go to lunch. I turned on my heels and started towards the door.

My phone's typical ringtone echoed through the room suddenly as I reached for the doorknob. I stopped and pulled it out of my pocket. I didn't bother checking the I.D. and brought it straight to my ear.

"Hello?"

"It's Tyler. Where are you?" He almost sounded worried. Almost. Like most of my sibling's friends, he'd taken up the role of extra older brother. But Tyler was at the bottom of the list since we never got along too well. There was just something about him that I couldn't overlook.

"I'm at the station. Caroline wanted me to check up on her mom but she isn't here so I'm leaving now."

"You don't think she's been taken over, do you?" Tyler asked hesitantly.

I pursed my lips. Truth was that I hadn't really thought that it would be possible for someone to try to passenger themselves in the Sheriff. Talk about being absent-minded. "I guess if I was going to try to take over a town that I'd start at the top."

"Don't do anything stupid before I get there." Tyler instructed quickly.

"No chance of that. You have the knife." I sighed as I turned on my heels. "Just… hurry up."

I hung up and shoved my phone into my pocket. I leisurely walked around the Sheriffs office, letting my gaze wander over the different file cabinets. I purse my thin lips into a line and started towards the tallest one. I opened the drawer labeled "F-G" and ran my fingers over the different folders inside until one caught my eye. AURIA MILA GILBERT was scrawled across the tab in block letters. It was in front of two folders that had Elena and Jeremy's names on them.

"Ooh." I pulled out the file and flipped open the folder. It took me a second to realize what I was staring at. I had expected public records but instead I was reading private records. Supernatural records.

AURIA MILA GILBERT

BORN: 1995

AGE: 17

GENDER: FEMALE

OCCUPATION: STUDENT

SPECIES: HUMAN

LIVING FAMILY MEMBERS: ELENA GILBERT (VAMPIRE), JEREMY GILBERT (HUNTER/MEDIUM)

SIGNIFICANT KILLS: UNNAMED HYBRID, 2 UNNAMED VAMPIRES

I closed the folder since I didn't feel like digging farther into a file filled with information I already knew. I pulled out Elena's file next and opened it. Again, I already knew everything I was reading. It was the same thing for Jeremy's as well.

My phone rang again and I picked it up reluctantly when I saw it was Liv calling. "What's up?"

"Where are you?" She sighed just loud enough for me to hear.

"I'm just checking on someone and then I'm meeting with Tyler and Matt so we can start the de-traveling process." I responded quickly

"Well, hurry up. The sooner we get this done, the better."

I rolled my eyes. "Whatever you say, your highness. Tyler's bringing me the Travelers knife right now."

"Good." She said right before the line went dead. She hung up on me. I was angry but not because she had done it but because I hadn't thought of it first.

I pushed his file back into its spot and shut the drawer when I heard footsteps behind me. I just managed to step away from the cabinet as the office door opened. The Sheriff walked inside but didn't seem to realize I was there until she looked up from her phone.

"Oh, hey." She forced a quick smile.

I returned it with little hesitation. Tyler's theory could have been correct for all I knew. "Hey, Sheriff."

"What are you doing here?" She kept the smile on her lips as she walked over to her desk. Her back was turned to me so I couldn't see what she was doing. I reminded myself not to let my guard down.

"Caroline sent me to check on you." I responded and waited for what kind of answer she would give. A Traveler wouldn't know who their host's daughter is. Hopefully.

"Oh." The Sheriff faced me again. "Is that who you were talking to?"

"Yes." I ran my fingers through my hair. "She was just a little worried."

"You mentioned a Traveler's knife." Her expression turned to stone causing goose bumps to run down my arms like a stream of water.

I clenched my teeth and forced a believable smile. It wasn't Caroline's mom. I laughed as I tried to ignore the thought that I was alone with a traveler without any way to protect myself. "I think you misheard."

She lunged at me before I could even react. I didn't see the pen in her hand until it was too late. I felt an overwhelming pain in my neck before I fell to the floor. I grabbed onto the pen and pulled it out just as everything went dark.

When I opened my eyes a second later, I was outside. I recognized the street immediately. I was just a few doors down from Tylers house. I realized what was going on the second I saw Bonnie round the corner.

"Damn it." I whispered under my breath as Bonnie looked up.

"Auria? What are you doing here?" She narrowed her eyes slightly.

I ran my tongue over my lips as I walked up to her. "I'm dead, Bonnie, but the Sheriff's in trouble."

"What?" Her eyes widened with certain fear.

"Just tell Tyler. And hurry. He'll know what to do." I paused as I held her gaze. "I'm sorry I have to do this to you."

I reached forward and grabbed her shoulders. I heard her scream and closed my eyes. When I opened them again I wasn't on the sidewalk anymore. I was in the cemetery.

"Great." I kicked the dirt. "Just freaking fantastic."

I glanced around me, trying to remember the quickest route to my body. I stopped short when I saw a man staring at me. Like really staring at me. Creepily and intently.

I stepped back and looked quickly to make sure no one was standing behind me. I turned back to him and pointed to myself. "Can you see me?"

He nodded. He could see me.

I pursed my lips, hoping that there was a reasonable explanation. "Are you a witch?"

He shook his head. He could see me. He could somewhat communicate with me. But he wasn't a witch. I didn't have to be told to know that something was very wrong.

"How…?" I exhaled.

"It's all topsy turvy over here, Darling, but I've got to say it's good to be seen."

That voice. I hated that I knew exactly whom it belonged to without looking... but I did. There wasn't a chance that I wouldn't have. It was the same voice that teased me so many times before his sudden but completely necessary death.

"Kol." I spun around to come face to face with the Original.

"See what I mean? Good to be seen." He smiled charmingly but I didn't buy into it. I never did.

"I thought the whole point of this place was to live out your afterlife in solitude." I paused and he nodded. "Then why can I see you?"

"Apparently there's trouble in paradise. The rumblings from the witches is that somebody tore his way out of here, and now this whole place is unraveling. Not that it matters to you. You're just on holiday, which means you're going back." Kol stepped towards me but I moved back.

A name popped into my head.

"Alaric." I sighed quietly.

"The alcoholic teacher? I haven't seen him." Kol smiled. "But I'm guessing that's a good thing."

"If I can see you then I can see him." I sighed out of relief. "I need to find him. Now."

I turned on my heels and hurried away from Kol. I didn't want to spend too much time on The Other Side but I did need to find Alaric. He was one of the only people over there that I needed to see before I left.

"Alaric!" I called out and went quiet, hoping for a response. When there was none, I yelled his name again. And again. And again.

"Come on. You got to be here somewhere." I muttered to myself. I continued on but slowly came to a stop when I realized that I had been in that area before. I was walking in circles.

"Auria!"

The voice reached my ears and relief flooded over me. I turned around and saw Alaric walking towards me.

"Alaric?" I let out a heavy breath and smiled

"It's me. I'm here." He returned the smile as we met in a hug.

"I can't believe I can see you and talk to you again." I let go of him reluctantly.

"Look, something's not right. You need to get back to your body and get out of here." Alaric grasped my shoulders to make sure I was listening to him. I felt the ground shake lightly under my feet and the wind picked up. Something was definitely very wrong

"I can't leave you here. Not with what's happening." I grabbed onto his hand. "Come on."

He didn't budge even though I tried to pull him. "I can't, Auria. As much as I want to, I can't."

"Why not?" I faced him again. "You're here, I'm here. I can touch you and talk to you and I know I can bring you back."

Alaric began to shake his head slowly. "That's not how it works. You have to go. I'll figure something out. I always do."

I took a deep breath. "How can you ask me to leave you here? To not even try to bring you back."

"Because I don't want to give you false hope, Auria. I miss you. I miss all of you. And I wish there was a way for me to go back with you but there isn't."

"Alaric…"

"It was hard enough saying goodbye to you the first time. This time isn't going to be any easier." He smiled unconvincingly. "But you have to go back now."

"I can't…" I shook my head as the tears began to well up in my eyes.

"Yes, you can. Your siblings need you back. You have to go." He reaches forward and pulls me into another hug. "I'll be fine."

I kept my arms wrapped around him; remembering what it was like to hug him again. It had been too long. "I miss you. We all do."

"I know." He places a fatherly kiss on the top of my head. "I know."

The ground rumbled again but it was stronger than the last. We both lost our footing for a second but steadied ourselves quickly. The wind that had been constantly blowing picked up speed causing me to shield my face.

"Go, Auria." Alaric called over the wind. I took a step back but hesitated to keep going. "I'll be fine. Go."

I forced myself to nod and turned on my heels after giving him one last fleeting look. I hurried towards the station but as the wind continued to roar around me I started to fear for my own safety, not just Alaric's. I picked up my pace and didn't slow down until I reached the town square. I didn't even want to stop but I got the overwhelming urge when I saw a woman standing alone on the grass.

She looked lost and I felt bad. I wanted to help her but something kept me from moving towards her. Suddenly, the wind peaked enough to lift the woman into the air. I felt myself being pulled towards her and grabbed onto the only object nearby. A trashcan.

I turned back to the woman just in time to see her be sucked up into the sky. Then, she just vanished. It was like some sick magic joke.

The winds died down just as quick as they had arrived. I let go of the trashcan and stepped forward. "What the…?"

"That's been happening all day." It was the voice again.

I looked over my shoulder at Kol. "Where did she go?"

"I don't know." He sighed quietly. "And I don't think I want to find out. That's why I need you back in your body, shouting from the rooftops about what happened here."

"But I… I wont remember. I never remember what happens here." I dropped my gaze for a second. I wont remember that I saw Alaric.

"You better find a way to remember, Darling. You might not like me, but I'm not the only one over here. If this place goes down, then what happened to that woman is going to happen to us all. Please. You have to go back and find a way to stop this." Kol pleaded with me.

I was slightly overwhelmed. This wasn't a joke. It was all really happening and it was even bad enough that Kol, of all people, was asking for my help. I guess all it took was the thought that he might actually die for him to become more appreciative. Who could have known?

I swallowed as I returned my attention to Kol. "I'll figure something out. I have to."

Alaric was still on The Other Side. And Kol was right. He wasn't alone. Bonnie's grandmother and Matt's sister were also in the supernatural purgatory. I desperately needed to find a way to remember.

I ran into the Sheriff's office and breathed a sigh of relief when I saw my body on the floor. I walked over to my body and reached for my hand.

"Auria." Another visitor. I assumed I was just more popular than I thought. I turned around and came face to face with one of the last people I expected to see.

"Miss Sheila." My lips turned up in a light smile when I saw her. She had always treated Elena and I like we were another set of granddaughters.

"Hello, dear." She stepped forward, a smile on her lips. "It's good to see you again."

"You too." I looked over my shoulder at my body. "I didn't think I would though."

Her smile widened a little. "I need to ask you a very important question."

I was confused but nodded anyways. I trusted her. "Anything."

She took my hand and squeezed it lightly. "Do you love someone over here?"

"Yes." I answered without hesitation.

And it wasn't just Alaric. Vicki was Matt's sister. He loved her and I loved him like he was my own brother. And Miss Sheila had also earned my familial love as well over the years. I wanted to save them all.

"And what lengths would you go to in order to save them?" She kept her gaze locked on me and I could see she was depending on my answer for something.

"I'd do anything it takes." I responded truthfully. My siblings and I needed Alaric back. Matt needed his sister. Bonnie needed her grandma. I wanted to be the one to bring them back.

"Good." Miss Sheila smiled as she leaned in and placed a light kiss on my cheek.

As she pulled away, something changed. I felt relieved. I felt like I suddenly knew what to do in order to save the people I loved. But I didn't. Nothing came to mind.

I gave Miss Sheila a confused look. "What did you do?"

She stepped away from me. "You need to go back now. Bonnie can help you figure it all out."

"What are you talking about?" I narrowed my eyes.

"We needed someone we could trust and I knew you were the perfect fit." Miss Sheila gestured to my body. "Go. Before it's too late."

"I… I don't…"

She stopped me in all her ghostly grace. "You're strong, Auria Gilbert; stronger than you think. You'll figure that out soon enough and when you do, believe it with all your heart. Only then will you be able to do what it takes to save the people you love."

I wanted to question her more but I knew it wouldn't be of any use. She wasn't going to tell me what I wanted to know. So, instead I smiled. "Goodbye, Miss Sheila. It was really nice seeing you again."

She nodded and I turned back to my body. I knelt down and took a steady breath before grabbing my own hand.

I woke with a gasp, my lungs begging for air. I sat up with someone's help and glanced around to see Jeremy, Bonnie, and Matt crowded around me.

"Are you okay?" Bonnie asked as she placed a light hand on my back.

"You died and came back from the other side." Jeremy explained quickly.

"I know." I was thankful for the ability to recall what I had just experienced. "I uh… I remember."

"That doesn't happen." Bonnie breathes quietly.

"How?" Matt leans forward slightly and I shake my head.

"I don't know. But I saw something over there." I glanced around at my brother and friends. "This woman was just standing in the town square and then all of a sudden this wind picked her up and she vanished into thin air. She disappeared."

Everyone was at a loss for words. I looked to Bonnie for answers. "Do you know what's going on?"

"No." She paused. "Did anything else happen over there?"

I hesitated. I didn't want to disclose anything about seeing Kol and I didn't really feel like talking about Alaric without Elena or Damon there. "I saw your grams. She was safe."

"I talked to her today. She told me something was up with The Other Side but she didn't know how to fix it." Bonnie said aloud to no one in particular but then turned to me. "Did tell you anything important?"

I tried to think what sounded important enough to repeat. "She said that I was strong and that eventually I would be able to figure out how to save the people I love who are over on The Other Side."

"Did she happen to give you any hints?" Matt stood up and ran a hand over his head.

"Not really. All she really told me about that was I had to believe that I was strong and only then would I be able to help." I met my brother's eyes for a second. He didn't know what to think either.

"Let's get you up." Jeremy grabbed onto my arm and pulled me to my feet effortlessly. He had told me that ever since he got his Hunter strength, it was as if I weighed no more than a feather. I took it as a complement.

I dusted off my clothes after getting steady on my feet. Jeremy sidled up next to me still wearing a concerned look. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Jer. I just want to go home and take a shower and go to bed." I flashed a light smile and took a step towards the door.

"Are you sure?" Jeremy still had that touch of concern in his voice.

"I'm fine…" I waved my hand at him and stopped abruptly when I heard something crash against the wall. I turned to see Jeremy lying on the floor.

"Did you just…" Bonnie asked as she rushed to Jeremy's side.

My jaw fell open. Miss Sheila had definitely done something to me and I realized at that moment what it was. I shut my mouth and let out a long sigh.

"Holy shit."