❝Dream a little dream of me, but don't be scared❞
•

Wake up, Rowan. You have to wake up!
My eyes shoot open, hearing voices echo around me, "Hello?" I called out but no one replies. By my surroundings, I can tell I'm in a basement. It was very dark as I saw candles in a half circle on a table.

"Rowan." A stern voice called behind me and I turn instantly, seeing Vicky.

"Vic, what are you doing here?" I asked, but she ignored me, looking ahead. "Vicky?" Her eyes met mine after I called her name.

"I want to be free." She said to me, in a darkening tone that sent shivers down my spine. I cautiously walk up to her as she stood by the door.

"Where am-" Before I could finish she gripped my arms tightly, a shock running through me. The feeling of something cold and lifeless lingered on her. I look down and saw her feet covered in wet leaves that were blotted with blood.

"Let them be free." With that I let out an ear piercing scream.

"Rowan!"

"Rowan!" I shot up from my bed, frantically moving around. "Ro, it's okay! It's okay!" I instantly stop moving as I was held against my bed board. I look up at my mother who's eyes glossed with fear. I relax against my bed, sinking into my blanket. "Are you okay?"

"Y-Yeah. Just a bad dream." I reassured, moving the damp hairs from my face. She sits at the end of my bed, looking at me skeptically. "I promise."

"You sure you want to go back today?" She asked me and I gulped before nodding.

"I'm sure. I just keep watching to much Freddy Krueger movies." I chuckle dryly, hoping she doesn't seeing I'm shaking in fear.

"Okay." She sighed, hesitantly leaving my room. I huffed and lay back down in my bed, closing my eyes, trying to get my heart at a normal pace. Today, I'm going back to school, also known as, Satan's playground. And today is the school Bonfire, which is a plus for me. I stood up from my bed after awhile and walked to my shower, really hoping my anxiety will wash away. For the past couple of days I've been having the same nightmare of Vicky, but I never screamed like I did today. I know, weird right? Because I know she's dead.

Or at least that's what I hope because a lot of stuff has happened here, that it's ninety percent possible.

When I get out the shower and brush my teeth, I put on my burgundy bra with a black top and creme skirt to match my nails. I put on some makeup on the bite marks and let my hair lay down on my shoulders, before putting on my black ankle boots and my black purse, walking downstairs into my kitchen and seeing my mom with a cup of coffee.

"Hey." I muttered and she glanced up from her work.

"How do you feel?" She said, sipping her coffee.

"Good. It was just a nightmare." I sighed, really hoping she stopped already. It wasn't like it was every night. It just wasn't this bad as it was before.

"I'm going to be coming home late today, so you could probably order takeout." She changed the subject and I smiled, slightly.

"I might go to the Bonfire." I told her, pouring me some orange juice. She looked at me confused, putting down her mug.

"Thought you weren't going this year, especially since the incident last time." She said slowly, standing up from her stool and putting her work papers into her suitcase.

"I know, but that was last time. This is different." I said, drinking my juice quickly, "I have to go, but I'll see you."

"Alright, just don't stay out long and stay near Elena." She trusted me with Elena, which I found hilarious. If she only knew how much she involved me in. I walked outside and get into my car, placing my bag in the passenger seat.

My hands become moist as I gripped the wheel. I backup out the driveway and make my way to school. Today is going to be great. Despite Klaus and his sister being here and Tyler being a hybrid while Stefan's Klaus's bitch, everything will be great. Hopefully. This is our senior year, and they aren't going to ruin it.

Soon enough, I make my way to the school and already see groups of friends with each other. Most times, I regret having friends. I hated fighting the evil guys and having someone die in the process. But I also am glad to have some because otherwise, I would still be stuck in that library.

At least I would have been valedictorian.

I make my way out my car, and put no effort into finding any of my friends. I almost died last night, Stefan almost killed me, but he had enough strength to prevent himself from killing Elena, which I care about more. I fiddle with my bracelet and begin to think about more of last night. If Klaus wanted to, he could have forced Stefan to kill me, but I'm still standing. He wasn't hesitant though, because he compelled me against my will and made Stefan feed from me; he even killed Chad.

I walk through the doors, memories of last night rushing through my head. "You can do this, Rowan." I whispered to myself and pull out my phone to look up my schedule. I had History first, so when the bell rang I made my way to Ric's class. Elena was already in the class, whispering to Alaric.

When I walk inside they look my way and relax their previously tense shoulders, "Hey Ro, how you feeling?"

"Good, I guess." I force a smile on my lips, though as I look over to Elena I saw her face was concerned about something other than me. "What's wrong?"

She sighed, and let her head hang as she gripped onto the table behind her, "Stefan's here." My face etched a confused looks so she continued, "Klaus compelled him to turn off his humanity and stalk around me like some hawk."

My eyes widened. Humanity-less Stefan is so much worse than humanity-less Damon. Damon is really careless when it comes to the life of people, but Stefan will kill and kill with no remorse.

Well, until it's turned back on. Then that's when the regret and guilt piles on top of him like a tower on his shoulders, weighing him down into the pavement.

"What are we going to do? We can't just let him roam around Mystic Falls like some nonchalant predator." I sighed when the bell rang and my classmates burst into the classroom. I take my seat by the door while Elena sits somewhere in the middle. Tyler and Caroline come in, taking seats near Elena and soon Stefan strolled in, making me send a scowl his way.

"You're in my seat." He said to a boy, causing him to rush out the seat and to the other side of the classroom. I rolled my eyes as he smiled at us all.

"Welcome back, seniors." Ric greeted as he finished writing Al American History on the board "Let's turn our brains back on, starting with this country's original founders..the Native Americans-"

"How about vikings." All head turned to the door, including mine as Klaus's sister walked in the class. She takes her seat in front, ride beside me and I glare in her direction.

"There's no evidence that viking explorers actually settled in the United States." Alaric responded with a raised eyebrow.

"She counts as a primary source. That's evidence" I muttered and most heads turn to me, including the ones with enhanced hearing. Alaric hears me as well, but chose to ignore me.

"Who are you?" He asked her and she smiled sweetly at him.

"My names Rebekah. I'm new and History's my favorite subject."

•
•

The halls were beginning to become empty as we made our way out the building. Mostly everyone was still here for either football practice or cheerleading, but it's also partially to help set up for the bonfire. I grab my things out my locker when I hear a huge slam behind me.

I instantly turn around, kind of hoping it was Klaus and not Vicky. When I see no one there, I quickly grab my things, shutting my locker, only to hear rows of lockers shut behind me. Kind of like someone was banging against me.

"Let them be free, Rowan." It's the same voice from my dream, and my body shook before I starting running down the hall. I look behind me as I turned the corner, only to have my body pushed to the ground.

"Oh, I'm so sorry." I look up, hearing the familiar voice, coming face to face with the boy I meant the other day. "Rowan, right?"

"Uh, yeah." I chuckle lightly as helped me up. "We have to stop meeting this way."

"I find it kind of funny." He laughs, but I furrowed my eyebrows.

"You go to this school?"

"As of today, yes I do." Dylan smiled at me, handing my jacket that I didn't realize I dropped. I thank him, quiet filling up the space between us, "So, do you happen to be going to the bonfire tonight?" His cheeks tinted with a light pink and I smiled.

"Yeah, I'm going." I held back the chuckle that lodged in my throat as he had a debate with himself. I found it cute as he just huffed out a puff of air and finally looked me in the eyes.

"Do you want to go together? As friends of course, because I haven't made much friends though. I guess it's because I ramble a lot. And oh god, I'm doing it now, aren't I? I bet you're going to say no because of all of this-"

"I'll go with you." I cut him off and he didn't recognize what I said until a minute later.

"O-Okay. Okay, great!" He grinned widely, "I'll meet you by the parking lot at six?"

"Yeah, okay." His smiled never faded as he gathered his books on top of another, "I have to go."

"I'll see you later."

"Okay." I smiled at him once more before walking past him, forgetting all about my paranoia.

•
•

"I can help you guys." I groaned as Elena argued with me.

"No. You or Bonnie can't be involved, you guys can get hurt. And plus Dylan is waiting for you." She smirked as a small smile formed on my lips.

"Who's Dylan?" Damon asked behind her.

"It's her boyfriend." Caroline stepped in and I let out a frustrated sigh, "He's really hot apparently if Rowan said yes to going on a date with him."

"He's not my boyfriend and this isn't a date! He's my friend." I protested, crossing my arms as Damon snorted.

"Who's your friend?" A voice asked, and as if planned, Tyler walked in.

Caroline was about to answer, but I beat her to it, "No one." I glared at her, "I have to go." I muttered, walking away, hearing Caroline yell a good luck, making me roll my eyes.

I walk out the school and towards the parking lot, seeing that Dylan was already there on his phone, leaning against what I guess what his car. "Hey." He looked up from his phone and smiled widely at me.

"Hey! I really thought you weren't going to show up." He let out a sigh of relief.

"I'm not that mean." I pouted as he pushed himself off the car. He stuffed his phone in his front pocket.

"You aren't mean at all." He encouraged on, nudging my shoulder. We walked to the bonfire in silence, watching the fire become bigger as we came closer, "So how long you've lived in Mystic Falls."

"Since birth." I chuckled, seeing as he nodded. "Where did you live before coming here?"

"From a small town in California." He answered simply, "There was too much chaos, which is a surprise for a small town."

"Trust me, it's the same here." I agree and he raised and eyebrow, so I shook it off. He can't be involved, like at all! I know how it feels to be forced into a different world, so I can't do that to him. We make it to the bonfire, loud music playing over the crackling fire.

"You want a drink?" He asked me suddenly, but I nodded, letting him walk towards the keg. I go and find a seat not far from the fire and soon he comes back with drinks. "Here you go." I take the drink, thanking him as I take a sip. "Are you a lightweight?"

"No..." I trail of and he laughs, "Okay, maybe I am." I sip on my drink again and see Damon talking to Rebekah and I smile, turning to Dylan, "Do you have any colleges in mind?"

"Yeah, many at the moment." He begins to talk about his future colleges and it shocked me on how much I listened to him. I usually space out in several conversations that don't involve the safety of my friends. But as I stare into his dark brown eyes and watch how his lips curl up into a smile, I forget about everything else. "Rowan?" He nudges my shoulder and I shake myself out not my thoughts, "Do you want another beer?"

I look down at my cup and see it's empty surprisingly, "Uh, yeah. I'll get us some." I stammered, taking his cup and walking towards the keg, seeing Elena not far from it. I pour the beer as Elena walks up to me.

"How's your date going?" She slurs slightly and I sigh, knowing she's drunk already. She's the lightweight.

"Good, really good. How's your plan to get drunk of your ass going?" I asked her and she chuckled, hiccupping in the process, "Want me to help you or something?"

"No." She shook her head furiously. "Go to Daniel."

"Dylan." I corrected, but she walked away, do I strolled back to Dylan, the cups in my hand.

"Rowan." It was Vicky again, calling me loudly, only to see that she sat where Dylan was. I look around and see everyone was gone. "Let me do my task and let them be free."

"What task?" I asked her back, really hoping this isn't a dream or that I'm not having hallucinations. She just stared at me blankly, before the wind started to pick up around us."What task? Who's them?" I repeated myself, but she was gone again, bringing me back to reality, however I felt like a statue.

"Rowan, you okay?" Dylan's voice rang through my ears, and I felt him shake me, causing me to lift my gaze to his tall figure. His voice and the music was muffled to me. "Rowan."

"Huh?" Was all I could get out.

"You spilt beer on yourself." That's when it hit me, and I cleared my throat, stepping away. I glance down at my soaked T-shirt and the beer cups that aid in front of me. I cringe at the smell of beer, dying to take the shirt off. "You really are a lightweight." He chuckled and I managed to let out a dry laugh. "Let's go get you cleaned up."

Dylan grabs my hand and takes me toward the school, "Is it even open?" He shrugged his shoulders, not sure until we saw the door ajar. He drags inside the school and into nearest classroom.

"I'll be back." He assured before walking out the room and down the hall, his footsteps echoing away. I sit on the desk, swinging my feet back and forth. Dylan comes back, with a red flannel in his hand, "Was the only thing I found in my gym bag that seemed suitable."

"Thanks." I take the shirt and leave the room to go the girls bathroom. I make my way down the hall, hearing faint voices not far from here. I go towards the voices and see Bonnie and Matt on the floor, with candles around them. Bonnie is chanting a spell as Matt stares down at the candles. "What's going on?" I asked and Matt looked up at me with a sad look.

"I brought Vicky back." He muttered, his head down in shame any mind tried to wrap around his words. How did I know she was here? Is this why I was imagining her? Because I knew she was coming?

But then I realize, how did I know when she was dead?