Chapter One - Memories (revised 7/17/13)

I sighed deeply as I pulled into the long-term care facility in Beacon Hills. I've been avoiding this place since I arrived here a week ago and today I finally convinced myself to suck it up and be a big girl. Peter Hale, who was like a crazy immature uncle to me, was stuck in this place until he recovers from his wounds. Which unfortunately may never happen.

I looked out the windshield, my knuckles ghostly white from gripping onto the steering wheel so hard, and sighed. In times like this, I always gave myself a pep talk to get myself going. "Okay Mel, pull yourself together. You owe this visit to, not only Peter, but yourself. You never forgot about your second family in Hawaii, so prove it to him now. You need to do this." I smiled softly, nodding to myself in encouragement.

Inhaling, I held my breath for a few seconds, before slowly letting it out. I pulled my key from the ignition and stepped out of the car with navy-painted roses in my hand. I smelled them for reassurance, the scent bringing back memories of the Hale's, and opened the entrance doors. I made a point to walk extra slow and let all the other visitors cut in front of me to talk to the receptionist. Unfortunately, after a good ten minutes, I was the only one left in view.

"Is there something I can help you with, Miss?" The redhead at the desk asked warily, not missing the show I performed just minutes ago. She must have thought I was the biggest creeper ever.

Swallowing, I met her stare and smiled. "Could you direct me to Peter Hale's room, please?"

Her stare intensified and she leaned her elbow on the desk, resting her chin in her hand. "I'm sorry, but only family and close family-friends, with authorization, are allowed to visit."

"I'm on the list, though. I have authorization." I said after a few moments of wondering how this hospital could hire someone so rude. She raised her brows, but before she opened her mouth to respond, I interrupted. "Melody Prout, family friend." I stated matter-of-factly, daring her to reject me.

Her eyes flashed with recognition, yet she still continued to type things on the computer and avoid my gaze. I peeked at her nametag: Jennifer. I rolled my eyes. She was the one I communicated with most of the time during these past six years. I would call once a month to see if Peter had made any changes. She was plainly simple with what she said and would cut me off short, complaining that she had other things to take care of.

"Identification, or driver's license, please." Jennifer finally asked with her hand out, eyes fixed on the screen. I complied, and after a few moments of waiting I was starting to get antsy. So, I huffed very loudly, catching the attention of a nurse walking down the hall.

"Is there a problem here?" She questioned, walking toward us with a clipboard in hand.

"Yes, there is." I said, and then continued. "I have been waiting five minutes for my information to get verified so I can visit a dear family-friend. Haven't seen him in six years and I would like it if someone could speed up the service." I pointed to Jennifer, who in turn glared at me.

"Let's see what I can for you." The other nurse smiled genuinely, grabbing my ID from Jennifer and taking over the mouse. She flipped her attention back and forth from the computer to my ID while mumbling to herself. "Hmm, Melody Prout, yep. Birthdate: July 20, 1988, correct. Lived in Beacon Hills, later resided in Hawaii – I always wanted to go there. It must be beautiful." I nodded, showing off my pearly whites. "Well, all your info is on point, sweetie. All you have to do is sign in the visitors log and head to room 302. It's right down the hall, to your left. Closing time is in one hour."

"Thanks so much … Melissa." I smiled after reading the tag on her scrub, the name tasting familiar on my tongue.

I made my way to room 302 and took a deep breath before turning the knob. I was greeted by four beige walls, with only two pictures hanging from either side of the bed. I moved to get a better look at them and felt my heart drop to my stomach. One of them was of the Hale House in all its glory, before the fire. The other was of the whole Hale Clan, as I called them, barely fitting in the small square photograph. I noticed both pictures were wrecked with burnt edges and rips. A tear rolled down my cheek - even the happy souvenirs were stained with the memory of that horrible day.

I looked to my right where a glimmer shined off an occupied wheelchair by the window. A lump caught in my throat as a sob threatened to escape my mouth. I took another deep breath and slowly made my way over to the motionless form. "P-P-Peter," I stuttered slowly, not expecting an answer but still hoped for a miracle. "Oh Peter!" I gasped, throwing my hand over my mouth as I turned his wheelchair over to face me. The left side of his face was scarred, and though recognizable, it looked nothing like the conceited Peter I once knew. I placed my finger on a long scar and traced it down to the collar of his shirt, where it covered the rest of it. Tears rolled down my cheeks while I stared into his lifeless blue orbs. I shook my head and held his hand in mine.

"To think someone could do this to you guys is still so, so crazy." I whispered, kneeling by his chair and forcing a smile on my face. "In case you don't remember, it's me, Melody." I patted his hand and stood straight when he made no sign of movement. "I sometimes forget who I am, too." I nodded, shrugging off the silence.

I looked around the room and noticed a vase filled with purple flowers. I snorted and laughed a bit, despite the situation I was currently in. "I should really let the nurses know you hate the color purple." I shuddered, turning to him and holding up the roses in my hand. "See? I got you roses, your favorite color!" I waggled them around, but eventually gave up and sighed at his motionless face. Grabbing the vase, I emptied out the water in his bathroom trying to keep myself company, since he wasn't doing such a good job at it. "Do you remember my eighth grade dance? I wore that purple, frilly dress. Thought I looked amazing until I rang the doorbell and you did this," I rolled my eyes and wrinkled my nose in front of his face, the way he had done to me many years ago. "I don't know what was worst, my dress or my date." I giggled at the memory and returned the vase to its spot on the furniture, new flowers in place.

I sat on the recliner directly in front of him. We had a staring contest – he won. I leaned back in the chair as tears flowed from my eyes. "You should know I wouldn't be here if there wasn't a reason for it." I sighed, bringing my knees up to my chest. "My parents they," I shook my head and continued. "They got hit by a drunk driver one night and died on impact. I never thought about coming back here, it was the last thing I wanted, honestly. But, after two days, I got my stuff packed and bam! Here I am. Come to find out their will stated that, when they were to die, they'd like to be buried in Beacon Hills." I let out a shaky breath, "I don't even remember their funeral. It was such a blur. It was like everyone was there to support them, but no one was there to support me. I have no one left but you," I sobbed, "And you can't even speak to me!"

I glanced back at Peter's face and sobbed some more. I didn't see even the slightest bit of emotion in his eyes. "I am so sorry, Peter!" I grasped his hands in my own and held tightly. "They say that you can hear us, and I just can't imagine how much pain you go through every single day. You lost your whole family so tragically and you can't even tell someone how you feel to get it all out. You must have so much pain bubbled up inside and I'm so sorry you have to go through this alone." I squeezed his hands again, "Can't you say anything? Give me a sign that you can hear me, please, Peter…"

I sighed in frustration and banged on the armrests of the chair. I jumped up and walked in front of a furniture chest in his room. I didn't recognize myself in the mirror anymore. My once shiny, wavy brown hair was now dull and in a messy bun. I haven't felt the need to fix it since my parents' deaths. My lips were chapped, and my face was plain. I didn't even apply the usual cover-up to hide my freckles like I have for years. There were sleep-deprived circles under my striking gray eyes, and I can honestly say that, that was my only feature that hasn't changed - my eyes.

"Something is keeping me here." I whispered, turning away from my reflection. "I don't know if it's the fact that my parents wanted to come back here, and I don't want to be away from them any more than I already am, or something else." Sighing, I pinched the bridge of my nose and looked for something other than his lifeless eyes to stare at.

I'm not sure how long I was looking at the pictures of The Clan when a knock sounded at the door. "Miss Prout." Jennifer called, breaking my gaze. "It's time to leave." She motioned her head toward the clock. "Its closing time and Mr. Hale is going to be placed in bed. Hey, where are my flowers?" She exclaimed, placing a hand on her hip.

"He hates the color purple." I said nonchalantly, too tired to match the glare. I noticed her eyes were now staring accusingly at the back of Peter's head. "If you could just give me a minute," I trailed off and she huffed, closing the door behind her.

"I'll get rid of these, don't worry." I winked at Peter and stashed the horrible purple flowers in my bag. I leaned in fairly close to his face and placed my palm on his scarred cheek, looking directly into his eyes I managed to croak out, "It was nice talking, Peter."

I ran out of the facility quickly, hiding my tearful eyes from everyone I passed. I noticed Melissa reaching her arm out to me, but I shrugged her off violently. When I got in the car I rested my head on the wheel to sob, sob, and sob some more. I didn't get the closure I thought I would get by coming here, I got the total opposite. I put the car in drive as my mind flashed back to that horrible day.

Beep! Beep!

I giggled as I jumped out of my new car. I ran up to the Hale house, but didn't get the chance to knock on the door for it flew opened quickly. Derek appeared on the other side, "Must you wake the entire house every damn morning with that horn?" He glared. I was used to his bitchiness, even though it seemed to get worse and worse by day recently. I labeled it as a late-puberty thing, boys must go through that sometime in their lives. Sticking my tongue out at him, he responded with "And you're the older one?"

"Get in the car and shut it, dork." I laughed as he scowled at the name I had been calling him for years now. Derek and I had that strange love-hate relationship that everyone around us questioned. Strangers thought we were dating, friends figured we had gone through a bad breakup in the past, and Laura knew we just tolerated each other for her sake. It all started when I 'stole' his sister from him when we started school, he was a year too young to enroll.

I rolled my eyes and walked in, smiling hugely at Derek's parents. "Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. Hale!" I sang. Mr. Hale scowled into his coffee while Mrs. Hale offered me breakfast. "Oh, no thanks, Mama H! I'm stuffed." I skipped all the way up the stairs as Peter made his way down them.

"Ugh, you need to stop being so chirpy in the morning, Melodeeeeeeeeeeeeeey." Peter said, his voice sounded sleepy and annoyed as he dragged out my name.

"Good morning to you, too, sleepy head." I laughed, patting his messy hair. He slapped my hand away and made his way to the kitchen. That's when I pranced into Laura's room, "Good morning, Sunshine! Are you ready for another miserable day in school?" I questioned, waggling my eyebrows suggestively at her.

"First off, how can you say that with a smile? Secondly, no, I'm not ready. I don't feel so good, Mel." Laura turned around and I noted her drowsy eyes.

"When's the last time you slept?" I asked cautiously, walking to her counter and snatching the makeup kit. Laura was not one to get sick, like ever.

"I've been having this weird feeling in my stomach lately." She confessed, shaking her head as if that wasn't at all what she was feeling. I walked over to her and she closed her eyes, allowing me to work my magic on her face. It really didn't need a lot, anyway, she was naturally beautiful. "It's like - have you ever had that feeling that something bad is going to happen? Ugh, I can't stop that nagging feeling in my head that's telling me to just stay home today."

"Laura, nothing bad is going to happen." I smiled, holding her arms-width from me. "Besides, everyone knows your family is bad ass. No one is going to mess with them, or you." I z-snapped cockily.

"Do you promise?" She sighed, and I was going to make a joke until I saw the sadness and seriousness in her green eyes.

"Promise."

I parked my car in what I thought was my driveway and closed my eyes. I wanted that memory to go away forever because that same morning Derek and Laura got a call in the middle of second period. I was their ride, so the school dismissed me to drive them to their house. Minutes away from their residence we noticed flames and both of them jumped out while the car was still in motion…

When I got to the Hale's driveway my heart broke into a million pieces. The fire was huge, uncontrollable, scary, and dangerous. The firefighters didn't get a chance to go in earlier and only managed to save Peter, who was on his way to the hospital. The rest of the family, who I was going to meet for the first time later that day at their family reunion, burned to the ground along with the house. Laura and Derek were being held back by multiple police officers who struggled against their attempts of breaking through their grips.

I walked over to Laura who fell to the ground in defeat and exhaustion. My body, which also felt zombie-like, made its way over to my best friend. I fell to my knees and cradled her in my arms as she cried into my shoulder. Derek joined in moments later and wrapped himself around the both of us. I peeked up from my wet lashes and stared into his eyes. They were filled with the pain all of us were feeling and some other emotion – regret or guilt – I couldn't tell. His forehead was pressed against mine and I heard tiny whimpers coming from his closed mouth. He was trying so hard to be strong for his sister, and I admired that at the time.

When everything finally cooled down my parents demanded the two stay at our house until everything was settled. It worked for awhile, us three kids living together, helping each other cope. That was until they ran away one night. We got a lousy call from them two weeks after their escape. It was from a payphone, untraceable, but the message was received loud and clear: they weren't coming back. Instead, they were going to stay with family-friends in New York, as far away from Beacon Hills as possible. I begged and pleaded for Laura to come home just as much as she begged and pleaded for me to understand and accept their decision.

Our conversation ended that night when she ran out of change to keep the call going. Both of us were angry and not in a state of understanding. I never saw or heard from them again. They didn't give me any contact information and I had a feeling they wanted it that way. My parents hated how depressed their only child was and moved us to Hawaii, where we stayed until just a week ago…

I wiped my eyes until I could finally see clearly. When I looked out my window I screamed in fright, staring at the forests surrounding me. I realized where I was and a traitor tear fell from my left eye. I unintentionally drove to the Hale House, if you could label it as a house anymore. Something must have been calling me here, so I took a deep breath and considered my options: I could turn around and leave or face this head on.

"It's now or never." I mumbled to myself, swinging the car door open.

I shivered as soon as I stepped outside. I wasn't sure if it was nerves, or the brisk wind that flowed straight through my body that caused it, but all I knew was that I couldn't go back in to get my jacket. I wouldn't have the strength to walk back out. Folding my arms across my midsection, I walked carefully toward the house.

Every step I took there was a crunching sound that followed it. I tried walking around the leaves and twigs on the ground, but considering the property hasn't been cared for in six years, I expected no less. I finally made it up the wrecked stairs and to the front door, where I stopped with my hand resting on the knob. It was fragile and I didn't even have to turn it for it to open. I just had to give it a weak push and it swung agape like it was hit by a bulldozer.

The inside of the house was a huge disappointment compared to the memory of it many years ago. Dark red walls and cherry wood floors were replaced with ash black, chipping wood that looked like it was going to fall apart with the littlest amount of pressure. I inhaled a great breath of air and coughed it all out for about a minute. The once faint rose-scented aroma Mrs. Hale made sure her home smelled like was now a lung-crushing, horrible stench, filled with dust particles and the memory of a fire.

I sneezed loudly, the sound scared me half to death."God, I am so jumpy." I whispered to myself, clutching my sides tightly.

I continued my journey to the living room where so many truth-or-dares, monopoly, and poker games took place. The room where secrets were whispered privately to Laura, yet everyone in the house seemed to hear them loud enough to pick on me for them. One year my parents went on vacation and I stayed with them for a whole week. Every night they came together as a family and talked about their day by the fire. I was honored they included me in those conversations during that time. This was also the room where Derek and I shared a kiss during spin-the-bottle and later shared a trip to the bathroom to wash our lips out with soap. I must have been thirteen, Derek twelve – it was my first kiss and only one person knew that. Laura.

I walked over to the piano at the corner of the room and wiped some dust off of it. Pieces of the ceiling scattered to the ground and I frowned, looking up at what was suppose to be a ceiling, but was the night sky instead. Running my hand over the surface, I closed my eyes and ignored all the scratches and dents that were not there years ago. Sighing, I placed myself on the bench and slid my hand over the keys, smiling that it still made a noise, even if it wasn't a nice one.

I was brought out of my daze when my phone buzzed in my pocket. I didn't bother looking at the caller ID and answered, "Hello?" I greeted, coughing out the scruffiness.

"Mel, hi." Brian's voice sighed out lovingly. "I've missed your voice."

I smiled to myself and got off the piano bench. "I've missed you, too." I admitted reluctantly, trailing a line of dust up the railing of the stairs, still not ready to make my way up them.

"How're you doing?" He questioned and I pictured his face full of worry on the other line, miles and miles away from me.

"I'm living." Was my simple answer, followed by a creaking sound as I stepped foot on the first stair.

"I can buy a plane ticket at any time, Mel. You know all you have to do is ask." I could hear the hurt in his voice, from when I told him a week ago that I needed some space.

"I know," I sighed.

"Why don't you want me there? I'd be with you through it all." Brian said softly, then added carefully. "I can help you."

"You're always trying to protect me." I finally said, then elaborated. "You'd see how scared and nervous this place made me and get us on the next flight to Honolulu. You would make sure that I never mention Beacon Hills again, or The Hale's, or call Peter's nurse."

"Melody, Melody, Melody." Brian sang horribly, interrupting me. "I only try to shield you from that because I hate seeing your sad face. You're too beautiful to wear a frown." I smiled despite myself, rolling my eyes at his corniness. "I made you smile, didn't I?"

Giggling, I answered honestly. "You never fail to." We enjoyed a comfortable silence for a few minutes before I broke it. "Speaking of moving on," I started, taking another step forward, then another, and another. "I'm halfway there. I need to go."

"I love you, Melody."

"Talk to you later." I snapped the phone shut and stared at a burnt door in front of me. There was a faint tribal symbol on it, one that I never understood. My eyes absorbed every detail of the paint and in my head I saw it the same way it was six years ago - beautiful, fresh, and confusing. I grabbed the handle and was about to walk in when a cold hand landed on my shoulder, stopping me in my tracks.

My heart jumped to my throat and started beating wildly there. I felt a muscular chest come in contact with my back and, never letting go of the hold on my shoulder, this man turned me around so I was looking directly at his chiseled body. In my head, what I wanted to do was look up at this man's face, tell him a thing or two about putting his hands on a woman, and swiftly show him the door. But, we all knew that wasn't what was going to happen.

"Get out of my house." A deep voice ordered. His voice was so deep, so sinister, that it stopped my thinking process. When I didn't even twitch, the voice turned into a roar. "I said get out of this house! Never come back!"

I yelped in fright as his yell echoed and vibrated against the walls. I dropped my purse on the floor before bolting down the stairs and out the front door. I thanked the Lord that I had kept my keys in my pocket, not my bag. As soon as I was safely in my car I locked the doors and took one long glance at the mansion. I sobbed out my nerves and took off from the driveway.

I was never coming back here, meaning I would never get closure or move on.

It also meant I would have to cancel my credit cards tomorrow so Mr. Creepy doesn't spend all my money, or steal my identity, for that matter.

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