a/n:

Hello. A couple of things you should know before diving in—so far, there are no definitive pairings. Since this is a slowburn, it might change over time. But for now, there isn't. This is mostly OC-centric but it does follow the storyline to a point. One of the things I changed is that Jeremy doesn't exist in this story. In the novels, Elena is blessed with a sister and so, I've decided to roll with that idea instead. However, this story is in no way, shape, or form going by the novel. / Updates will be as often as I can get them out. RxR (kindly) and hope you enjoy. x :)

FC: Shelley Hennig

disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with the vampire diaries. Only my OC(s).

prologue.

I'm dreaming again. Lately, I always am.

They're not always the same dream though. Sometimes, I dream about my family—my mother, father, Elena, and our Aunt Jenna. We're home, in the very house we grew up in, happy and whole.

Then, I'm dreaming about a boy—a boy I've never met before. And he's trapped, somewhere that seems familiar, but with no other definitive face, I can't be too sure. He's alone and the anguish he feels about being alone is stifling. When I dream about him, I wake up in a pool of sweat and an ache in my chest that tears me up.

Other times, I dream about blood and with that blood, comes power. I can never tell which comes first, but eventually, they both intermingle and I'm overcome with such a strong urge to ruin. It scares me, how easily it feels to slip into that mindset. The mindset to do unspeakable things, to hurt and destroy. It overwhelms me. And I find myself enjoying it, despite my very best efforts not to.

And then, the boy again. But this time, I feel like my body is being forced underwater and I'm choking up air bubbles. The boy merely looks at me, contemplative and curious. He doesn't think this is real. And I wouldn't have either. Except, when I finally wake up from this nightmare, I'm in a hospital bed with tubes and wires all over me, a monitor beside the bed that's beeping wildly.

I'm awake.

.

.

.

"Find me," The boy whispers.

I know I'm speaking, but I can't hear a word that I'm saying.

"Find me," He repeats, dark eyes even darker in the confines of my own mind. "Save me."

He's grown further now, so much so that I can't hear him anymore. I'm screaming. I know I am, but nothing falls off my tongue. I watch him go, unable to do much else. At some point, I fall asleep again and for the remainder of my stay at the hospital, I don't see or hear from that boy again.

The boy with the dark eyes and secretive smile.

My chest continues to ache long after.

.

.

.

I can hear Elena and Aunt Jenna talking outside my room. I pretend I'm sleeping, but the strange vibrations that surge through my body remind me that I'm not alone. I haven't been for a very long time.

It's always a low rumble. Everything I touch, even briefly and with the faintest brush of skin, I can feel power. No one ever noticed and even if they did, I don't think I could ever explain it. Sometimes, I thought I would catch my friend's grandmother looking at me strangely, but I never paid her a lot of mind and eventually, I forget all about it.

Until it happened again.

And again.

And again.

Soon enough, I'd gotten so good at pretending about everything that nothing ever seemed real anymore.

.

.

.

It started when I was 7.

I was fighting with Elena over a stuffed animal that I deemed mine, named Snuggles. He was stuck in a tug-of-war and I, in a desperate attempt to pull it from her grasp, lit the bear on fire. Elena had gotten singed. She was screaming and all I could do was stare at the fire, my rage mirrored right back at me.

I vaguely remember what happened after that.

I think mom had found us, hearing Elena's screams. I remember being grounded for a very long time and then—

.

.

.

It happened quite a bit after that. It had gotten to the point where dad had to bring me over to the Bennett's house for therapy. I never really understood what we were doing half the time and mostly kept quiet.

I did make a friend though. Bonnie was usually there, too. It was nice...for awhile.

.

.

.

Sometimes I hear the boy.

It's never really clear and his face is usually blurred, but he's there.

Sometimes.

Only sometimes.

.

.

.

And then—

Then...

The bonfire.

Elena calling mom.

The stranger talking to my sister.

Him.

Him.

Him.

Forget.

She doesn't.

Mom and dad picking us up.

Wickery Bridge. A crash.

Water. I can't breathe. I can't—

And then darkness. With that other boy who was always on the edge of my conscious. Watching. Waiting.

"Say my name,"

"Say it. Find me. Save me."

I don't.

And then, I awake once more. Both Elena and Jenna are staring down at me, both with a look of relief before sorrow befalls the room.

Mom and dad are dead. It's been nearly 2 months. And the power that's been biding its time beneath my fingertips awakens, as well.

I am alive.