Disclaimer: I do not own/associate with Vampire Diaries nor any of the fictional characters. This is merely just a fanfiction.

- Chapter Three -

3 Tales

She was driving to Tennessee. The road was empty and dangerously dark. The side road was full of dark trees and bushes. She was accelerating. Her head bobbing perfectly to the rhythm of the music. She could barely hear her own voice as she shouted along with the music. Her fingers hopping on the steering wheel while her palm still firm on it.

Before she realised there was a silhouette further in front, it was too late for her to step onto the brake. The car screeched as it halted from speeding. A bang was heard and she had no doubt at all that she had knocked onto something. She quickly jumped out of the car to check what or who was the victim. There was nothing to fear, she might have just knocked onto a branch, it was impossible a person was strolling in the middle of the night on a road like this.

A person was lying flat on the road. From the look of the frame of the body, it would be a man. She walked closer to the victim slowly, heart racing. She had hit a person with her car. She swore under her breath, wanting to scream. She gave a few nudges on the victim's shoulder and called him, but there was no response. She lowered her head to the man's chest and could not feel any heartbeats. She jumped backwards, slamming her backside onto the road.

The man's eyes opened abruptly. Frightened, she was gasping for air.

"Hello, gorgeous," the man said. His eyes beamed and glimmered. "I'm hungry, do you think you can spare me some food?"

"I-I don't have anything edible with me," her whole body quivered.

"There is," his smile evil. "You."

The news was reporting for another animal attack. It happened nearby Tennessee. The victim was drained out of blood. The related authority was still in search of such animal, but in fact, it was the act of a vampire, as Elena thought. She lied on the couch lazily and pressed the remote controller to change the channel. There were overnight popcorns beside her in a bowl, a soda drink on the floor just below of where her feet rested.

"Can't believe people actually believe in such nonsense."

"I don't blame them, humans are ignorant," Bonnie said. She was sitting on the floor, back resting on the couch Elena was now slouching onto.

"Seriously, Elena? You're going to stay in this form?" Caroline snatched the overnight popcorn bowl and soda drink away from her. "You can't live like this! I'm not giving you the permission."

The two friends had been here since that morning. They had been talking on the phone regarding to Elena's relationship with Stefan. Stefan had disappeared since that day he left her house. He never turned on his phone, nor reply any calls or texts from Elena or her friends. Damon neither. Caroline had went to the Salvotores' residence and no one was there. It had been days, and for Elena, it felt like years. She missed the Salvatore brothers, no, she missed Stefan.

"Do you think the animal attacks might have any link to the Salvatores?" Bonnie glowered, then she emphasised. "Damon?"

"Well, I'm pretty sure that's what Damon Salvatore would do," Caroline was back from dumping Elena's rubbish. "The only thing he does is kill, kill, kill."

"What am I going to do?" Elena rested her head on her hands. Her head ached when she thought Damon started another slaughter feast.

"What you're going to do," Caroline replied with a cheeky smile, "is to go party!"

Stefan went out of town to quiet his mind for a moment, just in case he made the wrong decision. He was lying on a bed at a random motel, sipping off wine he brought along from a glass. A part of him craved for tearing apart Damon, yet another part of him still loves him as a brother. However, he could not tolerate with the image of Damon and Elena kissing. The image nearly forced him to becoming the Ripper. He took a larger sip to finish off the wine.

He turned on his phone and saw hundreds of apologetic texts and missed calls from Elena.

I'm sorry, please forgive me.

Please answer the phone. I can't stand it anymore. I'm sorry.

Stefan, please.

It seems like years I've never heard your voice or seen your face. Please come home.

I miss you.

I love you.

I'm sorry.

Stefan read each text she sent, his heart sank. He felt remorseful now for leaving her without any explanation. He might have made the wrong choice for leaving all of the sudden. Silly girl, he thought. He should not have left her alone with Damon in Mystic Falls, let alone jeopardising their relationship. He should be confident with himself. She chose him, and he will always be her choice. Kissing Damon may be a mistake, who knows what actually happened. He needed to investigate the truth before accusing her. He would not want to miss out a chance to mend his relationship with Elena. He loves her, and will never change his heart for her.