AN: Thank you so much for the positive feedback. I'll definitely be continuing with this story. Please keep the reviews coming. Thank you again.

Chapter 2

The paved road turned from gravel to dirt. Elena sensed she could go no further in her truck and would have to abandon it if she was going to find Alaric. Up ahead she saw the glimmer of something large and as the lights of her truck fell upon it she saw it was his car.

Parking the truck, she got out and went to it. Alaric was nowhere to be found inside, but she did see bags of materials sitting in the back. The woods had been his last stop and she spun around wondering if he was still out there.

The sun was setting in the west and it was very unlike him to be on his own in the woods at dusk. Elena searched both the cars for a flashlight knowing one of them would have one hidden and she was right. She twisted the stick and a beam of light shined brightly letting the woods become more visible.

"Alaric?" She called out and her voice was lost amongst the trees.

Hesitantly she walked forward shining her light around seeing nothing but grass and tall trees. The air was turning cold and she shivered. She was only wearing her dress. Rushing back to the car, she found a blanket and threw it over her shoulders.

"Alaric?" She yelled louder. Nothing came in response.

This time she kept moving forward. She said his name over and over, but was turning up blank. The fear that something awful had happened to him out in the woods terrified her. All alone and no help, the night could easily take him if he wasn't careful.

She continued through the forest and soon she realized it was becoming thicker. Trees were closer together and shadows lingered wherever she looked. Her determination to him was growing stronger, but she didn't want to do it much longer. Soon complete blackness would take place and she too would be vulnerable.

Shaking her head at the thought of Alaric just having to go get firewood to keep their home warm from the cold nights made her wary. He wasn't the type to just get any old firewood. The trees all the way deep into the woods would have to do. Maybe he was little bit crazy, but she accepted that of him. However, others didn't.

A past conversation with Stefan crossed her mind.

Much like earlier today, she found herself in town gathering some of the essentials for dinner. It was a cloudy day and she always found those the best for reading, but it was Alaric's birthday and she wanted to do something nice for him. A home cooked meal was in order. The little money she had saved up from her father's savings she planned to use. She walked up and down the aisles of the grocery store putting vegetables and a slab of meat into her basket.

"Strange to see you here, Elena." His voice startled her and she found him standing by the apples. He was tossing one in his hand up into the air. Biting down into it, the juices dripped from his mouth and smiled wildly.

"Good day, Stefan." She replied shyly, not wanting to converse with him in the least. However, going into town usually meant running into him.

"I see you've got enough food in that basket for two." Stefan said poking his nose into her business. He lingered behind her as she continued her shopping. "I like a woman who can cook. What do you say you whip me up a good meal tonight?"

"It's not for you Stefan." Elena stated flatly. "It's for Alaric. It's his birthday."

A low laughter escaped him and he bit into the apple again. Elena was growing irritated with him.

"You're making dinner for him? Does the crazy cold kook even know it's his birthday or is he too busy trying to build something unfathomable again?" Stefan found amusement in his own remarks.

Elena spun around angered. "He is not crazy!" She pointed her finger at him.

"The whole town knows he lost his mind." He spat.

"For someone who is trying to sweep me off my feet, you really have a way with words." Her voice increased and she saw a few women peering around shelves looking at them. She dropped her tone and turned back around to look at the produce.

Snapping back to reality and the hooting of an owl above her stopped her form continuing down memory lane. She shivered and forced herself to keep looking.

"Alaric! Where are you?" She screamed. Lowering her voice and speaking to herself, "Come on. Where are you?"

The night was coming fast and she could hear the distant howls of wolves making their way toward her. She was sure they could smell her scent. Fear was all around her and her flashlight beam was shaky.

Another howl met her sensitive ears and this time it was a lot louder. Frozen in the moment, she looked around. No car in sight. The woods have swallowed her and now she knew she had gone too far. Her searched had to end before she went any further.

A guttural growl made her jump and her heart was beating at a thousands miles per hour. The wolf was close and she knew he was cornering her. Instinct kicked in and she began to run. She didn't know what direction she was going in, all knew was she had to get away.

Her feet slammed against the ground and she heard the group of following paws gaining on her. The flashlight slipped from her hands leaving her in the dark. She was breathing heavily and fast.

"Help! Alaric!" Her voice cracked as she screamed.

The urge to run never felt so strong. All the adrenaline pumped through her veins and she felt a force pulling her along. A stonewall and gate up head made her hopeful and she dashed for it. Her hands gripped the bars and she flew behind them closing the gate. The wolves were closer than expected and their snouts pushed through the narrow gaps. Their growls and dripping saliva made her move farther away. The gate would hold for now, but she wanted to keep her distance.

To her luck, a tall building lurked in the shadows behind the gates. She didn't take long to gaze at it. The wolves were pushing their weight against the bars and feared they would break through. She rushed to the door and banged on it.

"Hello? Please help!" She desperately yelled.

As she pounded and yelled for help, she felt her weight push the door open. She didn't expect it and she fell to the ground. Groaning from the pain that seared through her body she managed to stand up. Inside it was just as dark as the world outside at night. Her eyes took some time to adjust before she realized how big the place really was.

Paintings with outlines of people were hung on the walls and furniture was scattered throughout. A wide staircase rose from the floor to another level that she did not dare to visit. This place was eerie. It looked like not a soul had lived in it for years and now abandoned by its previous owner was rotting away.

Even despite its unwelcoming appearance, she wondered if Alaric had stumbled across it.

Step by step she was careful. Who knew what lurked around the corners. Animals finding shelter could inhabit that place and by the looks of it they were. The moon shining through the windows and the torn curtains shed some light making it easier to see. The place looked like it had been ransacked and she gasped at the sight of animal fur crumbled in a corner. It was dead and she placed her hand to her mouth and nose to cover the stench. She quickly hurried passed it.

"Alaric?" Elena attempted to call out for him. Her voice was weak from the cold and she realized the blanket that kept her warm was gone. She must have dropped it while running.

Her foot mushed into the floor as she stepped on something soft and it made her slid. The floor was made of marble as she bent down and felt the hard, smooth ground. On it was a piece of cloth shredded and stained with blood. She picked it up and gasped once more as she recognized it.

The cloth was the same pattern as the shirt Alaric had been wearing from earlier. Even the dirt stains were still present on it. The blood was what made her nearly weep. He was hurt, but he was not far. Alaric had found this place too and now was somewhere inside.

"Alaric!" She screeched as loud as she could.

Something banged loud enough for her to hear and she looked in the direction it came from. A door was cracked open and she went toward it.

A spiraling stone staircase led down into another black mass of the unknown. Elena sensed this was where she would find him and yet she knew she probably shouldn't follow the downward path. But she had to.

Each step echoed off the walls. The winding made her dizzy and finally she steadied herself as she reached the bottom. Down in the freezing basement she saw one source of light, a torch. It was like a dungeon. More stone and the unpleasant feeling of torture made the hairs stand up on the back of her neck. She prayed Alaric was down here.

"Alaric? Are you down here?" She said scared of hearing her own voice so brash.

"Elena?" A weak response came and she flew toward it.

"Oh my god." Elena cried as she reached through a barred up room. He was lying on the other side propped up against the wall. She could barely reach out to him. "How did you end up here?"

"What are you doing here?" He asked confused. His eyes were half shut and he could barely speak. Blood stained from his head down to the sleeve of his shirt. She saw where it had been torn.

"I came looking for you." She explained trying to find a way to break him free. Who had locked him up? Why did this place have barred cells in the middle of nowhere?

"Leave." Alaric whispered. "Leave me. Save yourself."

"No!" She shouted. "I'm not leaving you. Help me find a way to get you out."

"Elena." He breathed and his eyes opened wider. For a moment she watched as fear glistened in his eyes and she too felt it surround her. "Behind…you."

Her body twirled as she saw a large figure hovering over her. It was tall and she could barely see any features. It hissed and growled at her as she coiled up into a ball against the cage.

"Please no." She pleaded knowing her fate was much like Alaric's.

The figure hunched down to her level and lunged at her, but it never made contact. It's hands held on to the bars and it looked down at her. This time she could see it very clear.

His eyes were red and his mouth was pointed. Blood dripped from his lips and he had a crazed look about him. These atrocities were the only thing that separated him from human form though. He had dark almost black hair and he wore clothes that had been tattered badly. She could feel his hot breath on her skin. The sharp, razor like teeth in his mouth were eager. Elena closed her eyes.

She was facing a beast.