Chapter Five

Ella sat up suddenly, her scream ripping through the silence. She was still in the cemetery but she was alone. When this registered the scream died in her throat.

"It was a dream," she whispered to herself. But if it was a dream then how did she get to the cemetery, in a town she didn't know, in her pyjama's?

Scrambling to her feet, Ella looked around. The cemetery was old by the look of the gravestones that stood around her. She could just make them out in the pinkish light from the distant sunrise. It was eerily silent and the small area was almost surrounded by woods.

To her left there was a break in the trees, Ella hoped that the trail beyond would lead her to a way out. She was alone, she had no idea where she was and she didn't have her cell phone. It was all Ella could do not to break down.

She had taken a step forward when she heard it. Something was coming toward her along the trail. Her breath caught in her throat as the sound drew near. The trail was dark and Ella couldn't see further than a few feet down the trail. A shadow moved just beyond the rising sun's reach and visions of the man from her dreams entered her mind.

Before she realised what she was doing, Ella opened her mouth and let out another terrified scream. She clamped her eyes closed and sank to her knees, holding her head in her hands. Her scream rang in her ears, blocking out all other sounds.

The scream intensified when someone grabbed her shoulder and the tears that threatened earlier slipped from her eyes down her cheeks. Strong hands pulled her off the ground and set her gently on her feet. The same hands then wrapped around her wrists and pulled her hands away from her face.

"Ella!" a familiar voice was calling her name.

Slowly Ella opened her eyes and found herself face to face with Stefan Salvatore, Elena's boyfriend. "Stefan?"

"Ella what are you doing out here?" he asked, his face a mask of concern.

"I...I don't know," Ella wailed, tears still streaming down her face.

Stefan pulled the sobbing girl into his arms, he whispered soothing words to her while she cried and gently rubbed her back. He held her for a few minutes until she stopped crying then pushed her away slightly.

"Tell me what happened."

"I was dreaming," she started to explain. "I was in the woods, and I was trying to get out. Then I found myself here and there was this...man. He...he attacked me. Then I woke up here. How did I get here Stefan? I don't even know where I am!"

"You must have been sleepwalking," Stefan answered.

"If I was sleepwalking how could I have seen this place exactly as it is in my dream? I've never been here before in my life Stefan, so how could I have dreamed it?"

"I don't know," Stefan told him honestly.

"What's happening to me?!" she cried, covering her face again. "Ever since I came here..."

"What?" Stefan pressed but Ella didn't continue. "Ella I might be able to help you, but you have to talk to me first. What's been happening since you came to Mystic Falls?"

"I...it's hard to explain. You'll think I'm crazy," she whispered, averting her eyes from his intense stare. "You'd never believe me."

"You'd be amazed at what I'd believe Ella," Stefan told her. His voice was soft. "I'm your friend. Please trust me Ella."

"Like I said, it's hard to explain. Since I got here I've felt...strange. Like there's this energy coursing through me. The first day I was here, I shook Bonnie's hand and I swear I felt something. It...was power. I don't know how I know, but Bonnie is an extremely powerful person. I know that, like I know that right now you are confused and worried and there's a part of you that's suspicious. It's crazy, but I can feel what you're feeling right now, like its part of me. Stefan I'm scared, I don't know what happening to me."

"I know," Stefan breathed. She was right, he was confused and he was worried about his new friend. "I'll promise you one thing Ella. We'll find out what's happening. I'll do everything I can to help you."

"Why?" the word burst from Ella before she could stop it. It had been nagging at her since she had come to Mystic Falls. "Why would you help me? You don't even know me, yet you, Caroline, Elena, all of your friends have accepted me, no questions asked."

"Caroline thought you needed a friend," Stefan explained. "We all need someone Ella. I think she was right, especially now."

Ella was silent for a few moments; she shivered and wrapped her arms around herself. "Thank you."

"Let's get you home now," Stefan forced a smile. He shrugged out of her coat and wrapped it around her shoulders. She smiled back at him gratefully and pushed her arms through the sleeves.

Stefan was leading her toward the trail when a thought occurred to her. "Stefan?" she asked, stopping in her tracks. "What were you doing out here?"

"Running," he explained. "I live not too far from here. I run around here every morning, I was running close by when I heard you scream."

"Oh, ok," Ella nodded. She continued to following him, but she knew he was lying. She felt it when he spoke, he'd looked convincing, but feelings never lied. Stefan Salvatore was keeping something from her and she was going to find out what it was.

TBC...