Crumbling Hearts and Shattered Minds

Chapter 1: Nightmares and Memories

Author's note: sorry it's such a short chapter, but I swear, this is just the beginning ;)

He had let himself care.

That was always the problem.

When he did care, it was always too much. When he didn't, people expected him to be a monster.

There just was no winning.

He had cared for Katherine, he had care for Elena, but they never care for him.

He was just always reliable. Dependable. The one constant thing in everyone's messed up life. But yet, they don't want him to leave. Not because they liked him, but because he was reliable. They don't give a damn if staying here makes him miserable.

It started as nightmares. Not even unrealistic ones.

They were more like memories.

Of being beaten by his father, taken advantage of by Katherine, being seen as a failure in everyone's eyes.

It was always Stefan.

Always was going to be.

Everyone chose him.

Everyone from 1864, their father, Katherine, Elena, everyone in Mystic falls today.

And now he was thinking too much. Great. It was these thoughts that lead to the nightmare.

He was back in 1864 by the old Salvatore estate. He was alone by the stables when he heard the deafening snap of what he knew was a neck.

He whipped around and saw Stefan covered in blood from his mouth down to his chest. On the ground in front of his brother was his father.

While this didn't quiet bother Damon, it was all the other bodies that did. Next to their father was Elena, Matt, Caroline, Tyler, Alaric, Jeremy, and Baby Witch.

"Brother, I see you came to see my handy work." Stefan said with a carnivorous grin.

"Stefan, what have you done? These were you're friends! Practically you're replacement family!"

Stefan's grin widened.

"I know. That, my dear brother, is why I turned them. So I can have all of them, for the rest of eternity. An eternity that you won't be apart of." As Stefan got out the last few words, all of what Damon thought to be dead bodies, rose from the ground and lunged at him. While they ripped him apart, they whispered every mistake, every wrong that he's ever done, in his ear.