*WARNING* Triggers for self harm and rape *WARNING*

Crisibabe: Well while I love the assumption, and I almost wish you were right, it's unfortunately not that simple. Still I hope you enjoy this chapter and keep reviewing!

myla84: Pretty sure no one likes Katherine at this point, including me! Thanks for the compliment.

vonpringle: Thank you for the compliments and well wishes. Your comment about Elena made me laugh because I actually hate her in the show and my goal was to make her how I think she should've been. Glad to see that's working!

infintiy: So glad you're enjoying the story. Yes Katherine is awful, and unfortunately Elena and Bonnie didn't hear. But you'll be happy to hear that she isn't even in this chapter, so yay.

promi: Awe good to know I inspired you to review. Such a sweet message, thank you!

Guest (who called themselves a fan!): First of all, your well wishes and kind words truly mean the world. Your comment is everything that I wanted people to get out of this story and so much more, I'm honestly so happy that you're this passionate about it. Please comment more, as your love for Steroline in this fic makes me love them more!

Guest (who doesn't comment): Okay you don't suck at comments, this one is awesome. I'm so happy that you love my fic so much, and you'll be happy to know that answers are coming soon.

*WARNING* Triggers for self harm and rape *WARNING*

Stone cold, stone cold

You see me standing, but I'm dying on the floor

Stone cold, stone cold

Maybe if I don't cry, I won't feel anymore

Caroline wasn't sure how long she walked around. She'd abandoned her phone a while ago when it lit up with a text that she wished she had never seen.

Katherine: Don't go near him, or any of us ever again, charity case.

After she read the cursed words, she dropped the device in the street and began running yet again. Her breath came out in bursts, while she sprinted alongside roads before running into the forest. The running seemed to send the demons away, even as echoes remained in her head. Without her control, her feet began taking her in a new direction, but she hardly noticed. Even as her pyjama pants caught on bushes, and the cold cut through her thin top, she never slowed down.

It wasn't until she reached a glass building that she knew all too well, that she finally stopped. Of course her feet took her to Neverland, the one place that she felt the safest, and yet the most dangerous place she could be.

However, she didn't make an effort to move, but instead chose to sit near the small building and lean against a tree. With shaky hands she moved her knees up to her chest, leaned her head against them, and began to weep.

She hated herself for the fact that she was crying, but she really couldn't stop. She felt stupid, used, selfish, and all around a complete failure. She swore to herself that when she moved here, her walls would be up and no one would get past them.

But yet within a few weeks, four people had managed to climb over them, and see her for what she was. They'd seen her at her worst, supported her through it all and although they didn't know the whole story, they had seen enough.

They'd seen her freak out after a gun shot in a movie.

They'd seen her panic after being grabbed by a football player.

They'd seen her run away when faced with a presentation.

She had been an idiot. A stupid, unintelligent, idiot, that had let people see her when she didn't even know them. Worst of all, she had believed them when they said that she was worth it.

The blonde almost wanted to laugh at that. After having it slammed in her head that she was worth nothing, and realizing that she was truly a waste of space, she let people tell her that she meant something. When in the end she knew that Katherine was right, after all, she agreed with everything that Caroline knew.

Of course the group only saw her as a charity case. Of course after everything they were just taking pity on her, she knew that they were. But like the idiot she was, she let herself believe that she actually meant something to them.

"Do you actually think that I need you?"

"No" she whispered, pathetically into her knees, as more tears fell.

She could picture him in front of her, staring her down and making her feel so small. The memories of running, screaming, fighting, crying, and wishing that she could be anywhere else, raised their ugly heads.

The silence around her seemed to be closing in, and the thoughts that always remained at the back of her mind, began to come to the forefront. Not for the first time that night, she found herself wishing that there was some music, or voices, or some type of noise to drag her out of the pit that she was falling into.

But wishes don't come true.

She was hidden in a place very similar to the one she was just sitting in, with tears running down her face, as moonlight hit her from in between trees. Her feet were drawing her backwards, away from the area she had just fled, as she looked around her frantically.

But it didn't stop her from being grabbed. 16 year old her gasped at the contact before closing her eyes in acceptance of her fate. It was always easier just to let it happen.

"Running away?" the man inquired behind her. "But the party just started my love."

His voice sent shivers of fear down her spine, as he nipped at her neck. She could feel him at the small of her back and already knew where this would lead.

"Well," she started, trying to cover the shake in her voice, "we haven't exactly been alone for a while. And I could feel your eyes on me."

She didn't mention the fact that it had only been two days. Or the fact that she was almost out of makeup to cover up the marks.

As his hands moved around her sides to cover her chest, her body became a type of shell. Instead of being encaged in his arms she was floating on her back in the ocean. The kisses that ran up and down her neck were just waves in the water, that ran up and down her skin. Moaning in her ear became seagulls cawing up above, and if she closed her eyes, she could almost see the blinding sun.

This was her happy place.

The paradise that played in her head when fighting in the real world became a battle that was pointless to participate in. It was her sanctuary, when the item stabbing her in the back wasn't just a knife, and when her arms couldn't stretch in fear of being pulled off. The very utopia that she ran to when the real world felt like a nightmare that she couldn't awake from.

So as her dress was moved slowly up her thigh, she allowed herself to float and to dream in a place that she was visiting far too often. While the party went on in the distance, she had a party of her own along the beach, and if she tried hard enough the laughing could overpower the tears dripping down her face.

And so she tried. Tried to ignore the sound of his panting, and the pain in her body, as he rocked her back and forth. She managed to lean on the tree in front of her, while the burning continued, and perhaps if she stayed in her dream land it would all be over soon.

"Where are you angel."

She was on a warm, noiseless, beach. Not in a forest, but in a heaven made up of sand.

"Caroline, are you hiding out here?"

Yes she was hiding. Hiding from him in a place that was hers and no one else's, a place that he couldn't ruin. A place where she was safe and warm and protected.

"Show yourself."

No, she was safe and guarded, with walls at full height. He couldn't get in, she wouldn't let him.

"Caroline!"

The blonde jumped in fright, almost hitting her head against the tree, as she gazed around. She wasn't on the beach, or trapped inside his arms. Instead she was perched against a tree, with air coming out of her lungs in bursts. A faint ringing reverberated in her ears and the hands that had once been wrapped around her knees, were flat on the ground beside her. She could see pools of dark fabric on her pyjama pants from the tears in her eyes with the light from her silver friend.

"Angel?" A man called, and she finally caught a glimpse of him. There was Stefan Salvatore, who had become her knight and pulled her back from the edge yet again. Only this time, he did it without even touching to her.

With a small smile on her face, she began to rise on shaky legs. For she knew that if she went over to him, the panic would go away, and he would support her while her demons drifted away.

She was so close now. So close to the man that looked stunning in a simple pair of sweatpants, with a hoodie overtop. The man that had gotten up in the middle of the night to look for her, his angel. The man that had made her realize that she could live again.

The man that she couldn't go to.

Caroline stopped suddenly, so close to him that five more steps would let her reach him. But as Stefan gazed around the trees, the view of his back changed into an image of the text that Caroline had received from a certain brunette.

Blue eyes widened in fear, as Caroline began backing up the way she came. Katherine's words echoed in her head, as she remembered the fact that she had to stay away. She couldn't go near Stefan or Damon or anyone.

And so once again, she ran.

Ran away from the one person that she needed the most, simply because she knew she wasn't worth it. So even as he called out her name in vain, she continued to flee the seen.

As the sun rays peaked through the branches and hit her golden locks, the path in front of her was blinded by the tears dancing in her eyes. The beach that had once been her sanctuary seemed to mock her inside of her head, as she heard all of the whispers of her past.

"Ugh gross, look at the new girl."

Her hair ran across her face, and stuck to the trail that the tears left.

"No one really sees her though, do they?"

She slapped it out of the way, while her feet pounded on the forest floor.

"I'll be impressed if she makes it past the first slide."

Her body emerged from the forest, while she sprinted towards her destination.

"Why don't you call someone else little girl, Stefan is busy."

The door of her house banged on the wall, as she thundered past it.

"So I stand before you today, not a victim, but as a survivor."

She scurried up the stairs towards her bathroom.

"Newsflash Barbie, you can't replace me."

Her shaky hands grabbed her raiser, and crushed it with her foot.

"In fact you can't replace anyone."

More tears cascaded down her skin, as she picked the small piece of metal out of the rubble.

"You worthless piece of shit."

With her other hand she yanked up the left side of her shirt.

"Don't go near him, or any of us ever again, charity case."

Red rained down the side of her body, while the metal tore open new scars and burned her skin.

She closed her ocean eyes, as if to block out the voices that ran inside of her head. It was like the comments were all joining together to create a pressure that could only be removed with a slice across her body. And although she hated herself for needing this, it was the only release she had.

She woke up curled into a ball in the bath some hours later. It seemed that she had passed out from everything going on in her head, but the voices had lessened in volume.

So robotically, she rose from the bath and grabbed her clothes that had been discarded on the floor. Refusing to look at her side, she checked them for any crimson before throwing them in her laundry basket and washing any liquid in the bath down the drain.

Then she walked over to her room and got dressed into some loose clothes, before looking at the time. Her mother had a nightshift the night of the sleepover and it was now ten in the morning, which meant that she would be home soon.

Caroline knew that she was too exhausted to eat, let alone see anyone, so she decided that perhaps she could walk the back streets of town. Maybe if she put her headphones in, she could drown out the noise and simply walk free.

She shook her head at how stupid she sounded.

But after all, she didn't really have any choice, so after grabbing her iPod she walked downstairs. Quickly she searched her bag for her trusty headphones, and then she was gone, away from the scene of the crime.

It was actually quite nice, walking round and pretending that she was normal. As if she was just walking to her friend's house to study, and not hiding from her mother, in fear of disappointment. A part of Caroline did wonder what her mother would say if she ever found out how bad she truly was. Maybe she would get her help, maybe she would disown her, but the blonde really didn't want to find out.

Instead she attempted to be the best daughter she could be, and apologize when she couldn't. And as she waltzed around the back roads, a small smile made its way onto her face. The blonde could picture her mother's smiling eyes in her head and the look of joy in them made her own body feel lighter. Elizabeth meant the entire world to her daughter, and she would move planets for her.

Unfortunately, the planet she was on seemed to be against her.

For the happiness her mother brought distracted her from the world around her. Perhaps if she didn't have her headphones blasting the sound of a piano she would have heard him. Maybe if she was looking around, she would have seen him.

But as it were, she didn't realize what was happening until her back was shoved against the wall by Tyler Lockwood. He had a sickening grin on his face, as he tore out her headphones and dropped them on the ground beside her.

"Little miss Forbes, without her body guards today?" he mocked, spreading his awful breath across her face. "How strange, considering that the group never leave you alone."

Caroline held her breath as he spoke, trying to force herself to stay calm, even as she could feel memories fast approaching. Despite her best efforts, she could already feel herself sinking into the past, as her body, on instinct, began to shut down.

"What? Nothing to say, Freak?" he spat at her, only to see the blank stare that her face held.

From the outside, tears slowly fell down her face, but other than that she was completely rigid and solid. After the last twelve hours, she felt as if she was still a sixteen year old, who had completely resigned herself to her fate. It was as if nothing had changed, and so old instincts cut in. Instincts that said that if she didn't move, it would hurt less.

So as she was solid on the outside, her inside became just as solid, when all it wanted to do was collapse.

"Fine, if you don't make a sound than it's less work for me."

He spoke as if he'd done this before. Cornered a helpless girl in a back ally and forbade them to scream. But as he brandished a pair of scissors it suddenly became apparent that he had, which only frightened her more.

With quick movements he sliced open her shirt, leaving her bra showing and the flimsy cloth covering her sides. Luckily it covered her just enough.

Then he made quick work of her pants by cutting them down the middle and splitting them in half. After that he literally tore off her underwear, and threw it behind him, along with Caroline's pride.

Finally, he seemed to be done, and before the blonde could brace herself, their lips were connected. She felt as if he was chocking her, as his thick tongue forced its way into her mouth and his teeth banged against hers.

Ocean eyes opened desperately to see if there was anyone in sight, but the backroad where she walked was only filled with back doors from stores. No one would come back here, as some of the store weren't even opened yet. More tears drifted down her cheeks at a faster rate, as she realized that this was really it.

She honestly had no escape.

And so, as Tyler continued to kiss her, Caroline closed her eyes and tried to take herself to the beach. But this time the beach didn't appear, instead she was in a large field, placing a picnic table down on the grass.

"There you are, angel," Stefan greeted, leaning in to kiss her forehead.

Caroline grinned at him, as she spotted the love that he held in his eyes. He responded with a small smile, before lowering himself onto the blanket. She squealed, while he pulled her down on top of him. His chest shook with his laughter, pushing a lock of hair behind her ear.

The blush that appeared on her cheeks was automatic, which only made his smile grow because he knew that he caused that. In a response to his smirk the blonde merely rolled her eyes and leaned down to meet his lips in a kiss.

It was the complete opposite of the kiss that she was actually experiencing, for this one wasn't forceful or painful. No this one was warm and inviting and a kind of dance that they both knew all the steps to.

It made her feel like a woman and not like a victim.

"So," Stefan started, as he broke away from the kiss, "would you care to start lunch?"

Caroline nodded happily before rising off of him and gazing at the small picnic he'd prepared. It was filled with sandwiches, strawberries, chocolate goodies, and everything else you could want at a picnic. Just like him, it was perfect. But before she could enjoy any of it, she let out a wince.

Caroline tore herself back from the fantasy, as she felt Tyler push his hand firmly into her left side, and hot liquid pour out of the area. He didn't seem to notice, as he moved his hand down to her hip, and the other continued yanking on her hair.

But suddenly, she felt the pressure lift, as he began to unbutton his pants, Desperately, Caroline shut her eyes to force herself back to her sanctuary.

"Caroline?" Stefan questioned, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," she smiled. "In fact I'm more than fine. I'm amazing," she cupped his cheek, "and it's all because of you."

Stefan grinned back at her, before lovingly holding her hand that held his face. As if he wanted to feel even more of her than he already did.

"You'll be okay Caroline. I'll always be there to rescue you," he swore to her.

She smiled, even as her eyes teared up at the thought of her current reality. For she knew how this would end, and it wasn't being rescued by the man sitting in front of her.

So with desperate movements, she arched forward and wrapped him in her arms. The pair of them embraced, his musky scent surrounding her, even as she felt Tyler's arms ghosting over her body.

"Thank you," she whispered.

Then the vision went away, as she heard Tyler's gasps, and knew that he was getting ready to enter her. The burning on her side continued, as the rest of her body went numb, and she prepared herself.

But then he was gone.

Without his arms supporting her, Caroline's legs gave out, and she would've hit the ground if a pair of arms didn't catch her. Opening her eyes, Caroline gazed into the brown orbs of one Elena Glibert, who had wrapped Caroline in an embrace. Suddenly another pair of arms joined the first, and as Caroline spotted Bonnie, the three of them all began to cry.

The only difference was that while the other two were crying in a mixture of fear and happiness, all Caroline felt was relief. For once again her friends had come to her rescue, right when she needed them.

"Stefan stop!" Damon yelled, drawing Caroline out of her hypnotic state.

With wild eyes she gazed around for the brothers, only to be met with a sight that she never thought she'd see. Damon was on his feet, trying to pull a struggling Stefan back from a bleeding Tyler. The younger brother's back was facing Caroline, and without realizing what she was doing, she escaped the embrace and literally fell on top of Stefan.

The brunette was kneeling down, and feeling her arm wrapped around him, made him turn around sharply. With Caroline's already weakened state, she didn't stand a chance, and she was flung to the side, landing on the already bleeding incisions.

"Caroline?" Stefan asked, in a voice laced with exhaustion.

She nodded, teary eyed, and smiled as he ran over to her, pulling her into his side. The two of them stayed like that for a while, having the other three join them in a mass embrace. All five of them seemed to sigh in relief at being together again, and if it wasn't for Damon moving his hand into the pile of blood, they may have stayed like that forever.

"Blondie, what, what is this?" Damon questioned, drawing his hand away from her body.

The other three gaped at his hand, as Caroline tried to move away from them to avoid their judging eyes. But even as she scooted back, it was never to run away. She was tired of running from them, especially when she knew that this was where she belonged.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "There was too much pressure, and I just couldn't…"

"You did this to yourself?" Elena gasped, only causing Caroline to cry harder.

But just when everyone seemed frozen, Bonnie began to move. "Okay look, we can deal with this later. Right now we need to get Caroline covered up and get her somewhere safe."

Caroline just glanced up at Stefan, who was staring at her with the most injured expression on his face. She could tell that he was hurt that she didn't go to him, or any of them for that matter, especially when she was so far gone.

But despite his disappointment, he still took off his hoodie, and carefully draped it around her body. It was so big that it went down to the middle of her thigh, covering everything up.

"You'll get blood on it," Caroline reminded him, while taking off the pieces of shirt that still remained.

"I can wash it out," he sent her a small smile. "Where's your underwear and pants."

Caroline glanced at Tyler. "He cut them and threw them away."

"Speaking of the mutt," Damon called, glancing down at the bloody mass. "What are we going to do with him?"

"Take him to the police, obviously," Elena stated, as if it was the only way to go.

Caroline shook her head, standing up, with a little help from Stefan. "No, just take him to the hospital. I'm not going to press charges."

She felt Stefan's eyes on her as she spoke, and she could picture his expression. He would have furrowed eyebrows, an exasperated look on his face, and his hands would be held out as he talked.

"Care, you can't be serious?" he said, and she almost chuckled at how right she was. "Do you not know what he almost did to you? If we wouldn't have shown up when we did, he would have succeeded."

"It's not like it's the first time," Caroline muttered to herself, but unfortunately it was just loud enough that everyone heard it.

"What do you mean?" Bonnie asked, staring at the blonde as if she was a different person.

Caroline opened her mouth, but no words came out as her friends looked at her, completely bewildered. She felt as if every word escaped her, as she realized that she was about to tell them the story.

Her story.

"Look, not here," Elena sighed. "Why don't Damon and I take Tyler to the hospital and we can meet at Care's house."

But the blonde shook her head wildly. Her mom was home, her mom couldn't see her like this, not again, not yet

"Okay, okay," Stefan cooed. "We can go back to our house, no one's home, so we'll be safe." He looked at Caroline. "You can shower, and then…"

But Stefan let his words teeter off, and the blonde knew why. None of her friends knew what would happen after that, and she wasn't truly sure herself, until a few seconds ago.

"Then I'll tell you," she decided, looking at all of them in turn, before staring at Stefan, "I'll tell you everything."

Oh, I'm happy for you

Know that I am, even if I

Can't understand

If happy is her, If happy is her

I'm happy for you

Alright, well here we are. At the end of one of the hardest chapters to write, and one of the most emotional chapters to write. I'm going to be honest with you all, and tell you that I spent the longest on this chapter, simply because I needed it to be perfect. This is the chapter before you get all your answers, the chapter before everything gets revealed, and the chapter where we truly see how far Caroline has fallen.

My goal of this fic when I started writing it was to make everything as genuine as possible, and I truly focused on that with this chapter. Although saying that, I'm quite proud of it, and I hope you all enjoyed the update. Also please comment/review and tell me what crazy emotions went through your mind. Plus give one final prediction of Caroline's past, but I warn you, it's probably more complex than you think!

This chapter is based on the song Stone Cold by Demi Lovato. And on a positive note, the next chapter will be the full reveal, and will be accompanied by the song that pretty much inspired this whole fic. So look out for that!

And thank you, for going on this insane journey with me.
~Lizzie

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