From Then to Now

"Keep running Jazi!!..." I scream as she stops to help me. My
foot stuck between blackberry bush vines.

"I'm not leaving you! Hurry pull your leg, I'll lift the vine."
She says as we hear a rustle in the leaves coming fast.

"I can't, Just go!!

"I said I'm not leaving you Paris. Now pull!" She yanks the vines one way and I pull my leg, freeing my ankle from the vines. She helps me to my feet and we take of running through the forest once more.

Grabbing each others hands, we leap over a busted old tree stump and make our way to the fence. "You first, slide under and run. Do you hear me?" I say as she begins to climb under the wooden fence. We always made sure we had a hole we could get back through. Seeing as how this wasn't our first run through the woods.

"But.."

"No buts, run Jazi.. I'll be right behind you. okay?" She does exactly what I say, she slips under the fence and starts running towards the house. Just as I kneel to crawl under I feel a hand grip the back of my shirt, pulling me up from the ground. Before I could even turn my head I am thrown from the fence back to the woods, slamming hard against a tree. My body bouncing off the tree and landing in the undergrowth of leaves and branches.

"Well well well, if it isn't the nosy little girl." A deep male voice says as I try to compose myself, turning myself so my back is against the tree. "When will you learn that the woods aren't made for you?" He says as he circles me. " Go ahead, try to run. It's more fun that way."

Pressing up against the tree as I stand, I shake my head. "What do you want?" I ask.

"Oh you know, I just want to show you that it's not okay to meddle in other peoples business. You and that lovely sister of yours have no right to be in these woods. THIS isn't your property, your father knows that, he's been told before." He says as he glares at me.

"I'm not my father, and I have no idea what you are talking about." Stepping away from the tree, only to be pushed back against it.

"Doesn't matter, he was warned. Now it's time for him to suffer the consequences." His eyes darken and sharp teeth appear beyond his lips. "It's party time." He says as his mouth opens and he leans in towards my neck. I close my eyes and wait.. but nothing. Upon hearing a snap and then a thud I open my left eye to take a peak, and then my other. Nothing. He was gone.

"I do believe this is your chance to run, Paris." That voice, I've heard it before.

"Who's there?"

"You won't get any more chances, make your way home. Now." His voice gets firmer and darker. So I do as I'm told, I take off through the woods and to the fence. Never looking back, I Meet Jazi at the house.

"Where in the hell have you been? You said you were going

 to be right behind me. DON'T EVER DO THAT AGAIN PARIS!" She wraps her arms around me in a tight hug. "Don't ever leave me like that." I hug her back tightly and peak over into the woods.

There he stands, lurking, watching. That dark mysterious side grin. Who is he and why did he save me?

Taking a deep breath, I turn over and pull back the sheet. "Fucking dreams."

Stepping out of my bed I go for a quick shower. so much has to be done today. After changing into my jean and loose tank top, I secure my knives to my thigh and place my bow over my shoulder. I grab my pack and begin shoving important things into it. DejaVu all over again. Making my way downstairs all I can do is shake my head.

Walking over a body and next to another, I pluck a few photos off of my mantle, and stick them into my bag. I head for the kitchen, stopping above a body. My eyes canvasing the body. Anger takes over and I kick the limp body.

"Now, now. It's not fair to kick someone when they are already down, in this manner, already dead. Is it now?" The hairs on the back of my neck stand and I take in a deep breath. My hand moves towards my knife slowly. "Don't do that, Paris." I turn quickly, flinging the knife towards him, I should have known better. He slams me against the wall. "I said, NOT to do that."

"What do you want, Elijah? You shouldn't be here." I wiggle my arms lose and he takes a step back. "Take a look around, this.. this is my life, and you aren't welcomed in it anymore." I saunter across the room to retrieve my blade from the wall.  "Our worlds aren't the same." Making my way to the kitchen, I pull a bottle of Bourbon and a bottle of vodka from the bar, a long with some shitty snack foods.

I slip out the back door to find him standing by my car. "Move, Elijah." He strides sideways and opens my door for me. "Would you just stop. What do you want?"

"Where are you going Paris?" He asks as he folds his arms. I raise a brow and continue to the garage. Pulling out a gas can and shaking it. "What? Are you going to just burn it all away? The memories? I remember there being a few memories of us in this house." He says with that damn smirk.

"It's my house, I'll do what I want with it, thank you very much." Trailing the gas can behind me as I finish walking through the house, dousing the dead bodies and the dead memories. I take in a deep breath and toss the can. "Last time I checked there wasn't anything worth remembering. Is there now?"

"You always had a thing for running, didn't you Paris? Even as a child. Always running, getting into trouble." I slam him against the wall. "Did I hit a soft spot?" He says with an arched brow.

"YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN HERE!" I scream at him, punching him in the arm. "You should have been here to help her Elijah! Where the fuck were you?" I shake my head and let him go, taking a step back I breath in. "What happened to the all mighty powerful Elijah, protector and warrior? Huh? So much for that."

"Paris.."

"No, stop. I don't even want to hear it anymore. I'm so tired of always being the one to pick up the damn pieces. Always trying to decide whos side I'm on. If what I am doing is the right thing, or if it's going to get someone killed. I'm done with this, Elijah." I take out a box of matches and open the front door. "I'm going to find him, and then I'm going to kill him. And then when I'm done with that.. There's someone else on my list that needs to be taken care of. and DON'T try to stop me. Or you'll be part of that list.

I slide the match against the side of the box and toss it into the living room, watching as the flames hit the blood stained carpet and engulf the ground. I turn to face Elijah with so much hatred in my eyes, he turns and allows me to walk past him. "Be careful Paris." Trying to ignore his words I get in my car and peel out of my driveway, I get onto the main road and begin heading east of Mystic Falls. Straight to daddys cabin.