The screech of the tires, the shattering class and the unbroken scream from inside the car drowned out the twisting of metal and splashing of arctic waters. Bubbles appeared on the surface and the car sank slower and slower into Drowning Creek. Then everything stopped.
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Elena woke up with a start, her hand flew immediately to her throat. A thin film of sweat covered her and fine tremors coursed through her body. The dream had been so vivid, she could still feel the water rushing into her lungs, filling her with a burning that went to her very core. She shook her head and noted at her familiar surroundings, the small wooden room with slanted rafters and the ladder that led to the widow’s walk. She remembered the last time she was on the widow’s walk when her vision was filled with an angel’s face drenched with blood. Her horror covered her like a wet blanket; her need for escape, her feelings of confusion, were immense. Who knew that it would end like it did.
She turned her head to gaze at the man lying next to her in silent slumber. She watched the rise and fall of his perfect chest and slid her hand over perfectly sculpted muscles. At her light touch, his hand struck out, grabbed her wrist and pulled her to him. She yielded and put her head over his heart, no beating. It still shocked her that he had no pulse and no heart beat. It was a disturbing reminder of what he really was and what he was capable of. His oak leaf green eyes looked into her lapiz blue eyes and saw remnants of fear.
“ Elena, what’s wrong? You look like you’ve just seen a ghost.”
“ Maybe I did.’ she mumbled, then answering him clearly, ‘ It’s nothing, I just had a bad dream. Being here has made me realize why I left.”
“ I understand, Elena but we owe it to Bonnie to be here. “
“ I know. But, I still feel intensely uncomfortable. It’s as silent as a tomb around here. Not to mention all the bad memories and dissolved friendships.” Elena frowned and hung her head.
“ You wouldn’t be referring to a certain person would you?” Stefan teased
“ No, why would I be. She only told me to go fuck myself.”
“ Elena, I’m sure you’re blowing this totally out of proportion.”
“ Well, you didn’t hear what she said to me on the phone. All I did was inform her that we would not be coming to Fells Church and she implied that I should go fuck myself. I just don’t like the way she is so condescending. I hate this place and she knows it, but she doesn’t give a damn about anyone but herself. I don’t have to be here to mourn Bonnie.”
“ Then why did you come?”
Elena fell silent and thought about it. The truth was, she didn’t know why. She assumed that she wanted to see the town again and maybe visit Bonnie’s once or twice and maybe her own. But, maybe all Elena wanted was closure from her ghost of a past. She wanted to make sure everything was safe and everyone unhurt. No matter how much time passed, she still felt like she was the guardian of the town.
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He needed fresh air and a lot of it. After being in this place for any significant amount of time, you began to suffocate. He wasn’t here by choice, of course, he wanted to visit an old friend. Not old in years, but old with knowledge. It was true, he would miss her. He hadn’t spoken to her since that fateful night. She hadn’t listened then, she was tough. In his mind, she would remain the young, secretly seductive girl. His thoughts drifted from memory to memory: the red hair that filled his nose with the scent of jasmine, the pale skin that made him want to scream to touch it. But, his thoughts were cut short when he exited the forest and caught the sight of a demolished bridge and the tail of a car protruding from the water. The sight was eerily familiar. He’d left then, he could leave now. But, his noble sensibility kicked in and he rushed to the scene
He dove into the fast moving river, cold hitting his body like a sledge hammer. He reached the car soon enough and broke the window with a quick thrust of his elbow. A blond head nodding at him from the driver’s seat. The body was blue and beginning to swell, it would be unrecognizable to humans. He wasn’t human. It was a disheartening sight, but he could feel the faintest glimmer of life radiating from this him. He deftly grabbed an arm and swam to the surface. He dragged the large, frozen mass up the bank and onto dry ground. He would have begun CPR, but he knew it would be a waste of time. So, he made a decision and bit into his wrist.
To Be Continued...
