Into The Hills

Chapter 25

Elena's POV

I walk back to my neighborhood, the meadows make it easy for me to see which house is mine, my legs feel like jelly as I walk to my door and take out the key from my back pocket, I wince slightly as my hand grazes the bruises on the back of my legs. I can't believe Stefan hit me that many times, I knew he was angry at me but I never thought he'd hit me.

The worst part is I liked it, in a twisted way. he was in control and he made me tremble after, I feel a blush erupt into my cheeks as I turn the door and slip in quietly, my heart racing as I pray that Matt and Jackson are in bed. I decide to take a shower to get Stefan's scent off me, before I get into bed with my husband.

I take off my clothes, being extra careful with my shorts as I wince as the fabric touches the bruises. I groan softly and turn on the shower to the hottest setting, I step in and almost sigh in relief, as I begin to wash Stefan away from me my heart aches and it's broken to what I have lost.

I feel tears down my cheeks as I slide down the wall, holding myself, this is the time to let it all out, you have to become plastic, pretend nothing is wrong. Everything is perfect in the morning. So, cry Elena. Cry your pitiful heart out until you can't breathe. I tell myself as my sobs are muffled by the shower water hitting the marble floor. Tears blur my vision as I run my hands through my wet hair. My breathing becomes high and I realize it must be a panic attack. I was having a panic attack.

I manage to calm myself down, eventually, as I take deep breaths, my throat hurts from the broken sobs.

I grab a towel from the rack and put it over my shaking body, chills run down my spine as I squeeze out my wet hair, I sigh deep and step out of the shower, throwing on my nightgown, I tie my hair into a bun and walk out to our bedroom, the carpet feels warm under my feet as I slip into bed, seeing
Matt on the other side, snoring lightly. I lay down facing the other way and try to close my eyes but I can't stop shaking.

Twenty minutes go by and I am sleepless and shaking, I feel like crying but I hold it in when Mat's large arm wraps around my middle, I sigh lightly as I stop shaking from the warmth, my heart is still heavy.

My eyelids slowly close and I drift off sleep.

I'm standing at the door of Stefan's loft dressed in a plaid shirt and leggings, my combat boots scrape against the floor.

"Stefannn open up." I yell, knocking on the door

Suddenly the metal door opens and I peep inside to see it's completely empty except. All of things are gone, like he never really existed, I feel a strong tug in my heart as I sit down on the floor, cradled in his shirt.

Suddenly I hear a knocking coming from the upstairs.

The attic.

I frantically get up, eager to see if it's him, as I approach the attic and pull down the stairs, the banging gets louder.

I grab the wooden stairs and lift myself up until I'm at the top.

"Hello?" I wonder as I finally get to the top, I step over and look around, it's dark but there's a little light at the end of the way.

"Stefan?" I question, but all I hear is another bang coming from the end. My heart races as I creep towards the noise, my skin prickled with goosebumps.

I gasp lightly when the light shows me his shadow on the wall, he's curled up into a ball in the dark, shaking, like he's having a seizure.

"Stefan!" I cry out and get to him, I move him over to the light with all my strength to see his mouth is open and there's drool running down his cheeks, his eyes are open but they don't look unresponsive.