I can't believe I'm posting another story but with a little bit of encouragement from Lauren, here it is. A few things to say before we get started;

1. So imagine Season 3, near the end, we'll say 3.16. It all happened. But after that cut off all thoughts of Season 3. Lauren did indeed exist. This story takes place about one year after this timeline I suggested.

2. This prologue is very, very similar to the prologue of the book Tell No One by Harlan Coben. It is my favorite book and I wanted to share a little bit of it with the Alias world. If you haven't read it, get it and read it. It's fabulous. Other than the prologue there aren't going to be very many similarities.

3.Disclaimer. You know how this goes. Don't own it.

So I think that's it? I hope that's it. I can always add something else. Here it is. Hope you enjoy this and please review.

Erica

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There should have been a dark whisper in the wind. Or maybe a deep chill in the bone. Something. Something only we could hear. In this life, misfortune is something I have come to know.

The drive was long. I slipped into an almost melancholic state as I instructed Michael which turns to take and the way to go. Recently our relationship seemed strained; I almost didn't want to talk to him. Our relationship had survived so much. I wondered if it could survive the truth. Or for that matter, the unspoken lies.

The tires bore down, kicking up dust like an Arabian stampede. I flipped off the car stereo and started to study his profile. The lake rose before us, the sun was setting, the sky was purple and orange. I looked at the woods as they passed by.

I loved this place. For summers, my father and I would come here to spend time. And before my mother had "died" we would go and spend time together like a normal family. After she was gone it wasn't the same but it still reminded me of the normalcy my life once had. We stopped by the small cottage.

When I stepped out of the car, I heard the ghosts. Swirling and battling for my attention. My mother's won out. Laura Bristow's ghost won out. I could see her lying on the deck sun bathing and then I saw her yelling as Dad took a cannonball off the dock. I blinked and the images were gone. My eyes welled with tears as Michael put his arms around me. Memories hurt. Even the good ones, they hurt most of all.

"Are you okay?"

"Fine, just remembering."

I led him down the path, to the lake. I sat on the dock and threw my legs over the side. Michael looked out and stared at the water.

"Do you think he would give this place to us?"

"Dad? Sure, as far as I know he never comes up here."

I was startled by the question, he had said give this place to "us", as if there was always going to be "us". He believed that nothing could push us apart. I knew something could push us apart. My guilt was already beginning to push us apart.

We sat in silence for a long time, only our rhythmic breathing was heard. I leaned against him.

"I love you."

"You're already getting laid."

"Oh."

"I love you , too."

"Okay, okay," he smiled at me, "you'll get laid too."

It was dark as we stripped down and climbed slowly into the lake. It was surprisingly warm. We swam with clean strokes, slicing through the water. Our sounds skittered across the lake's surface like skipping stones. I turned and he took me in his arms. I love the way his skin feels against mine. He held me close. We started to kiss and his hand wandered slowly down my back.

We must have been asleep for a few hours when Michael stirred.He climbed off the small raft and slipping into the water. I moaned and slid into the water, floating on my back. I looked up to see him gathering our clothes and walking away.

"Hey, come back with those."

He glanced at me with a mischievous grin and continued towards the car. I laughed and continued floating around. I made a decision, to tell him, tell him everything.

Then I heard a car door open.

I looked up and tried to adjust my eyes to the darkness.

"Vaughn?"

There was nothing, not even crickets, only my own breathing.

I looked for his silhouette and for a moment, I saw him. I might have blinked but when I looked again he was gone.

"Vaughn!"

My heart slammed into my throat and I began swimming towards the dock. My strokes were loud and sloppy. I couldn't hear anything, if anything, that was going on. I stopped.

"Vaughn!"

There was no sound. A dark cloud covered the moon and darkness enveloped me. Maybe, he was playing a joke. I opened my mouth to scream again when I heard him call out my name.

I started swimming faster towards the shore. I was so far away now. I tried to look as I swam but it was too dark. I heard a scraping noise like something was being dragged. I could see the dock perfectly now, I found the ladder and hoisted myself up. I climbed out of the water and shivered. I looked towards the car.

"Vaughn!"

Something hit me square in the back. My eyes bulged; I folded at the waist, no air, another blow lading on my skull. My legs buckled and I dropped to my knees. Totally disoriented, I put my hands against the sides of my head and tried to cover up. The next blow, the final blow, hit me square in the face.

I toppled backwards, back in the lake. My eyes closed. I heard Vaughn yell for me again. I screamed for him but the sound was gurgled away as I sank under the water.