A/N: Wow, you guys. Anyone still there? I must say... I got sick while I was writing this, not for very long even, I was in bed for 2 weeks. And at some point in that 2 weeks, I COMPLETELY FORGOT ABOUT THIS WHOLE THING. Yeah, so I read what I've written and I'm putting up the next chapter. I hope you all still exist out there. Woooops this seems impossible. Ok, one new chapter coming up!

The moonlight shone through the crack in the drapes, illuminating only half of the shiny blue lapis lazuli on Elena's finger. She stared at it without emotion, waiting for the sun to rise. She couldn't sleep. She'd been lying for hours pretending, staying quiet and motionless, but never asleep. She was too alone, too afraid. Somewhere in the house was Jeremy – her brother. Her brother who she'd nearly drank from only hours earlier. They told her she didn't need to worry, Damon and Stefan were just in the next rooms, so she couldn't hurt Jeremy if she tried. Stefan was there. He wouldn't let her hurt the human boy. As much as she was glad of this, it terrified her. Stefan was so... she couldn't find the words to describe him. There were none, only the feeling she got when she saw him. He was a threat somehow, she didn't know why but she knew he was a threat. Damon would protect her though...

Outside, the wind was calm, but still enough to let the branches of the tree outside the window scratch against the walls, creating eerie sounds and shadows. For a brief second, the stream of light across the ring disappeared, leaving the pretty blue colour black in the darkness. Startled, her breath caught and she pulled her hand beneath the blanket, protecting it from the monstrous night. Squeezing her eyes closed tight, her fingers made tiny fists, hiding her face.

There was a creak in the hall. Elena started, sitting up, breathing hard, she stared at the door. A few light footsteps told her there was someone out there, coming towards her. What if it was Stefan? She grew cold. The footsteps stopped once they arrived at the end of the hall. She held her breath, waiting. She didn't dare move; her entire body was tense, eyes wide. But nothing happened. After a few moments had passed, the footsteps returned to the other side of the hall and disappeared. Relaxing with a small shudder, she knew she wouldn't sleep possibly ever again in this room. She needed to get out. The door wasn't safe though, what if the person was still out there? She would take no chances running into Stefan. In her mind, she pictured him in the night with a villainous face and a lethal figure. Scared, she fled to her window. Pushing back the drapes, and out into the night, she leapt, foot first to the ground bellow. There was a stirring in the house, and without looking back she ran.

The night embraced her with cruelty that belonged to an evil step mother. Dark trees grew around her, casting shapes of great beasts. There was suddenly a snap behind her, a foot on a stick. She whirled around, facing her stalker, only to see empty space. The lights were on in the distance, they were looking for her. Turning around again, she ran, smashing into something so hard that she fell backward. Confused, she looked up. Dark brown eyes grew wide and a gasp escaped her lips.

:

"Well she couldn't have gotten far." Stefan said, angrily pulling on his coat.

"Stop," Damon said, grabbing Stefan as he turned. "Leave her."

The room turned silent the vampire turned around, eyes darkening and expression cold. "What did you say?" His voice was light, Stefan's own variation of threatening.

"I said leave her. Stefan she's scared, she'll come back when she's ready." Damon told him.

The others stood and stared. Was Damon serious? "Damon," Jeremy said. "If Elena has no memory, how is she going to survive out there?"

"What if she hurts someone, or gets caught?" Stefan chimed in.

"You all have no belief in her do you. She's not you, Stefan," the dark haired man spat. "She can take care of herself."

"The hell she can." The door slammed sharply behind Stefan as he walked out into the night to find his lost love.

Damon shrugged, walking into the living room and taking a gulp from a bottle of bourbon.

"You're not going to go help him?" Jeremy asked, confused.

"Elena's scared. She won't last five minutes out there, which means she'll be right back here as soon as she starts seeing unfamiliar faces." He was matter of fact, as if he could read her mind.

"But Stefan-"

"Isn't wearing his ring. He'll be back shortly."

A/N: YUP. Tell me what you think. I hope I haven't lost you all. We're already starting season 5... man. I'm behind on my writing. SORRY ALL!