LET'S FACE LIFE.

Derek's POV:

I grinned at the figures standing before me. They were so generous and even offered to take me home, being that I had lost my way. Of course, these men offered to escort me because they worked for my parents. I believed them. I was young and trusting. I believed they were there to protect and shield me from the harm ahead. I was terrified of what the future would bring. I couldn't even think of what to do with myself at the moment, because what could happen next, was unpredictable.

It all happened too fast. The cars that zoomed past, the men yelling out words, the hands that gripped me. I fell to my knees at the sight of my parents, right in front of me lying lifeless. I tried as hard as I could to hold back my tears. My family was all I had left. And even when I said no, I was still forced to do what I didn't want to do. I felt hands grip my collar from behind and I held on to it to catch my breath, but the hand gripped it even tighter.

‘You killed mum and dad. Tell me, why the fuck did you kill them!' The familiar voice stated and I shook my head vigorously, unable to speak. I didn't mean to. ‘You killed our parents, with absolutely no mercy.’ The voices repeated. Now I was gasping for air as the hand only got tighter. Though I managed to get the word 'I...' but was unable to complete his sentence. ‘You killed them...you don't deserve to live!’

I gasped once more, but this time, the hand was no longer choking him. In fact, it was as though I hadn't almost gotten choked to death a second ago. I touched my neck to affirm....there was no bruise, no pain or sting. I glanced upwards to find myself somewhere better than I had been moments before. This place was safe, so serene, somewhere I had never been before.

Deep furrows lined my brows, perplexed at the sight of my family. For the first time in twenty-seven years, he witnessed his family again. Tears stung the corner of his eyes. How stupid had he been, if he hadn't run away, if he hadn't been so adamant, he would still be with his family now. He would still be out taunting his brother about his method of fighting, he would still be happy. He bit his lower lip when he saw them excited. They deserved it, he was paying the price for his cowardice.

With the looks of it, they were happy while I was depressed. The air was filled with their laughter while I was still mourning their deaths. I had lost my smile decades ago. The tears dropped effortlessly. I deserved all the pain I had been through, every bit of it. I was still alive when I should have died. It was as though life was toying with me, like life made it a duty to torture me, but refused to let me go.

I remembered what his father had told me a long time ago. 'There is no pain for the dead. Therefore if you don't feel pain anymore, no matter what comes at you, know that you're a dead man.' But I wasn't dead yet, and besides I was human, how could I not feel pain? It was impossible not to.

My eyes fluttered open, noticing blurry figures sitting before me. I blinked severally to get a clearer vision before I noticed he was lying on the bed and no one was beside me. It was as though I was still dreaming even though I was awake. But it was all in my head. The only thing on the ceiling was the hanging chandelier. I sat up and paused when I saw Elena sitting in front of me.

"You were trembling in your sleep." She commented. "It's like you hardly slept." She stated, but there was a hint of humour in her eyes, causing me to be perplexed and stunned at the same time. "I understand. Nightmares." She whispered the last part, blinking softly. It was then I saw it in her eyes. I saw the pain she was trying to hide. She missed Damon even though she didn't want to. These were the times I wished I knew how to console a woman. But I didn't. Instead, I sat up and yanked her towards me. Her eyes were wide and teary.

"You seem to have nightmares even when you're awake," I said. She was...fragile. Very...very fragile. I could take advantage of that...like the women I'd been with in the past, but anytime I tried to with her...I just couldn't. She was just... different. She couldn't even push me away if she wanted to. "Since you miss him that much..." I leaned closer to her. "How about I fuck him out of your system?" I noticed her tense, but then, she gave me a sideways look. A look I understood anywhere. I didn't waste any more time before wrapping my arm around her waist, placing her on the bed and smashing my lips on hers. She seemed a little stiff...and I knew it was because I wasn't him. She felt like she was cheating on him. I sighed. He didn't even care about her anymore. I was going to make her forget about him. "I met a lady, fair-skinned, and innocent. Too inquisitive for her own good, but dangerous on the inside." I whispered as I kissed her neck. She breathed in...yes that's it, it was turning her on. "Meeting her at the club made me second guess my perspective towards women..." My fingers slowly unbuttoned her shirt. Her gaze lowered. "Look at me." I unbuttoned the last button as her gaze remained on mine, exposing her beautiful breasts.

My eyes slightly widened at how luscious they were. Her nipples erected and my eyes darkened at the sight. She seemed to become body conscious as she tried to cover up herself. I stopped her and tightened my grip on her arm.

"Don't you dare hide from me?" My tone was low but dark and I noticed how she relaxed, her chest gently falling and rising. The glow of her skin had outshone the scars. "You are so fucking beautiful."