Hey guys! So, this is my first Fanfic & I take critisim really well. I got the idea from april03`s story The Promising, so teidea isn`t mine. Some things you should know to avoid confusion: Chloe`s aubt is still with the ED, they`re staying at a safehouse that belongs to one of Kit`s friends, & (just for visual reasons) Derek no longer has acne & looks a little more like a teen now. Takes place after The Reckoning. I promise fo longer chapters, this is just to start it off.

I apologize ahead of time for any errors in spelling, punctuation, &/or usage.

Disclaimer: I don`t own anything that was in the original DP. Just saying.

I was running through the woods, aware of someone following me. Sunddenly, I stumbled into a clearing which held an image for my worst nightmares. In the pale moonlight, Simon & Tori sat, bound to a tree, staring at open sapce. My breath became ragged as I took them in. They, weren`t tied to the tree, the were nailed there. And their faces- oh god their faces- were contorted into masks of twisted horror & painful shock. Then, two things happened: One, what looked like a small army of the undead emerged from the cover of the trees, screaming. Two, these red tentacle-like things drenched in black slime snaked their way out of the ground & around me, holding me in place. I opened my mouth to scream, only to have a tentacle thing shoved down my throat, choking me.

All of a sudden, the scene changed. Derek was lying on the steralized tiled floor of the Edison Group Headquarters, in a pool his own blood that growing by the milisecond. His bright, beautiful green eyes slowly fading as his life source was being poured from him. In the background, a sound that I hoped would never hear again attacked my ears. My aunt`s evil, psychotic laughter. I slowly turned around & faced the person that I- for some foolish reason- once trusted with my life. Her eyes burned with hate & bloodlust, all directed at me. She took a slow step forward, then another, & another, until she was right in front of me.

"You`re turn, sweetheart." Her mouth curled up at the side, making a cynical smirk, before plunging her hand into my chest & grabbing my scared heart.

I woke with a start, shaky; sweaty. I sat up & put head in my hands, taking deep breaths. Something was different. I looked around, trying to figure out the weird feeling in the pit of my stomach, but couldn`t put my finger on it. Whatever. I untangled myself from the sheets & took a shower. With the steaming water rolling down my back, I was able to think clearly. By just walking down the hall I could tell the vibe in the house was different. It had a sad, gloomy feeling to it. I exhaled & shook my head. My imagination was really running wild today. I turned off the water & dressed in jeans & a yellow T-shirt.

As I made my way down the stairs, I noticed how quiet it was. They couldn`t be asleep; my alarm clock said it was 9:30. As that thought passed, I entered the kitchen, where everyone was waiting. Kit, Simon, & Tori all had somber faces, & Derek wouldn`t even me get a look at his.

"What`s wrong?" I asked, eyes darting back & forth between them.

Kit cleared his throat & took a step forward. "Chloe, we have a problem. With you," he added when he saw my look of confusion.

I looked at the others for some sort of reassurance, but recieved none. Kit took a deep breath & said, "Chloe, we think that it would be better if you leave." Sharp & straight to the point. Wonder where he got that from.

I felt the air leave my lungs as I froze. What do they mean they want me to leave? Just as I was about to ask, he continued. "You have until noon to pack, then we want you gone. Now, we don`t want to leave you without anywhere to go, so I`ve set up a place-." I cut him off with the wave of my hand. The whole time I just stood there, silent tears making their way down my cheeks. I looked beyond Kit, at Derek. How could he want me gone? After all we`d been through, & I mean, he just told me I was his mate!

I swallowed the sobs in my throat & barely got out, "Why?" before I had to look away.

Still not meeting my gaze, he said in a hard voice, "You put us at too much risk. With your aunt & that half-a-million over your head, it`s just too dangerous. We`d just feel better if you weren`t with us," he finished. I stood there, shocked. So, I was a 'risk' as they put it. Yeah right. I know I`m a risk, but so is everyone else here. We could die anyday, & I just add to their problems? I`m just not wanted, as usual. They`re just like everyone else. My mind jumped back to when in school, everyone would do whatever they could to not get stuck with the short, movie freak for anything,

With this realization, the tears stopped, & I held my head high. I finally let my eyes really see Derek. His entire form was stiff, & his face emotionless. The only thing that showed any emotion were his bright green eyes, which made him look as if he was about to cry. Please.

"If that`s what you really want, then fine. I`ll just pack my stuff & be out of your lives."

At this I think I heard a choking sound come from Derek`s throat, but I couldn`t be sure; I was already out of the room.

I quietly shut the door behind me & slammed my fist against it, not caring who heard it. Well, I thought, might as well start packing. When I had everything zipped up & ready, I decided that I might as well take some food, too. I walked into the hallway, & immediately noticing the eerie silence. This house no longer was a home to me, & it surely didn`t feel like it. I walked into the kitchen- again- & found a note. It read:

Chloe, we went to the store to give you some alone time. We should be back before you leave, but if we aren`t then good-bye from all of us.

-Kit

I crumpled it up in my hand & threw it away, getting started on my raid. I shoved as many non-perishable thingd & can goods in my duffle bag as I could hold. Just as I was about to walk through the door, I remembered the necklace- which was still around my neck- that Derek had given me for Christmas. It was silver, with a heart encrusted with saphires. I ran my fingers along the chain & made a snap decision. I ran back to Derek & Simon`s room & found a pen & paper. I wrote a small note & placed it on his bed, being held down by the necklace. I walked out, not able to take another second of being in there.

I made my way up the driveway, turning around at the end & taking in my okd home. This was my first actual home, where I didn`t have to leave after a few months. I felt a tear leak out of my eye at what I was leaving, no, being kicked out of.

I turned back around walked on. Towards what, I`m afraid to find out.