𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐆 𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐄 | elijah mikaelson

01.

[Illinois, 2004]
In a forest in the middle of the state of Illinois, a young teenager was asleep naked on the bare floor. She woke up when she felt someone gently cover her body with a blanket. The young teenager abruptly opened her eyes, and groaned as the sun dazzled her. After a few seconds, when her eyes finally adapted to the sun, she looked around her to see who was with her.

- Who the hell are you? What do you want from me? Hayley asked, with a voice filled with fear.

Scarlett couldn't help but see her younger self in Hayley. She once was this scared and confused little girl, afraid of the world around her.

- Don't worry, I won't hurt you, Scarlett said reassuringly. I was at a party last night, a wolf attacked. Don't worry, no one was hurt. But you were so small and you seemed scared. So I assumed you were alone through this?

Hayley didn't reply, making Scarlett understand that she was right. She handed the teenager clothes. The young werewolf hesitated for a few seconds before finally taking the clothes.

- You know, I understand what you're going through, Scarlett started as she turned around to let Hayley get dressed. Four years ago, when I was fourteen, I discovered that I had powers. I discovered them by lighting my adoptive parent's living room on fire. They kicked me out of their house, and I had to learn to control my powers amd survive on my own.

Scarlett realized while she was telling her story that it still affected her, even if she thought that she was done with sorrow and anger toward her adoptive parents.

- Mine kicked me out last month when I transformed into their living room, Hayley confessed. By the way, my name is Hayley.

Hayley wasn't really the type to open up, especially not to a stranger, but it was different with Scarlett. She felt, for the first time, that someone could really understand her. This stranger understood what it felt like to be kicked out by adoptive parents and to discover that you are different from everyone else.

- Mine is Scarlett. Do you have somewhere to go, Hayley? Scarlett asked, concerned about Hayley.

The young werewolf didn't understand. Scarlett hesitated for a few seconds. She really wanted to help Hayley, because she was at her place, she prayed every night for someone to save and help her. But the rational part of her brain reminded her that she had a small apartment where she was struggling to pay bills and food just for herself, so they weren't sure they could support Hayley. And on top of that, she was only eighteen. Scarlett slightly sighed.

- Come with me. I can't promise you a perfect life, but you'll have somewhere to sleep, food, and I can help you to adapt as a werewolf? Scarlett proposed nervously to Hayley.