E L E N A

I could hear the drumming of soft snow upon my window pane when I tossed my body the other side feeling the world staying silent as if it ended last night. The Sun was still resolutely below the horizon but by the time I could tell the difference.

Forcing myself up the bed, I stood by the window realising going to work was probably going to be struck off my schedule, all thanks to the blizzard last night. So unless the people came and cleared the snow, we were helpless unless we took the charge. My finger, soon as it touched the window to draw something on the vapour out of my exhales, flinched at the cold touch. The coolness of the early morning was deceptive. The sky looked crimson while the air still smelt of something I can't put into words.

Hugging a heavier coat, I stepped out of the room probably expecting Damon to be asleep in his own world but no, he was awake even before the Sun was wholly up. I guess, it didn't come as a major shocker to me seeing him making breakfast recalling how starved he must have slept last night. While chopping the tomatoes, he once glanced at me but before he could think of saying a word, I pulled the main door close behind me feeling the chill of the early morning breeze pierce every cell of my body. We were done and there was no point in indulging oneself into any conversation what-so-ever.

Walking away from the unwanted chaos of my life, I sat on my porch feeling that there was a crunch to the snow as the melting began to the top layer. Perhaps it wouldn't be taking much time revealing the metallic road hidden under layers of those white slippery blankets. My lower lip quivered at the touch of cold wind and my palms clasped more the cashmere on my elbows.

Looking up, I saw the clouds dominating the sky and their strings of white were perfect contrast to the vast bluishness. The hazy adamant screen of clouds weren't probably letting the Sun come out which was more of an excuse for homesickness.

❆ ❆

The day went pretty well when I had the entire house to myself. Damon wasn't at the house whole day. Wonder where could he go amidst the snow? But oh, the apartment on the opposite side could always be an answer. More or less, it meant I didn't have to roam around in the house awkwardly or worrying about having to argue every now and then.

In the evening it got pretty better as I decided to go for a stroll myself. Phone connections were terrible the entire day and I was glad keeping the minimal contact with the world for a day. Snaking a woollen scarf around my neck, I dipped hands in my cashmere coat over my high boots. Adjusting the beanie on my head, the keys jingled as I locked the main door quickly making sure my wallet was sitting in my pocket.

Walkers'. Read the board of our local grocery with string lights twinkling around it. Pushing the door, I found the warmth inside to be some kind of blessing. The tinkling of the wind charm turned quiet but the air around seemed thick somehow amidst the people. Charmingly as I gave Tim, the cashier a smile he returned it with much awkwardness and pulling a soft frown, I got myself a trolley finding the ever so jovial person to be skeptic of returning a smile to one of his oldest customers.

Walking past the rows, I made up my mind to throw only the things I needed in that trolley and not buy everything that was junk and not needed. Adding some frozen dinner, bread, peanut butter, my finger kept moving in the air like a rhythm studying the items. Some chips? Yeah, I could use some. Who doesn't need chips in life? I wanted to put two bags but my hans pulled nine, I swear.

Dancing my fingers on the rack, it rested on a package of granola but...not mine alone. There was another someone's hand in between the same package and mine and turning my head, my throat twisted.

Damon.

Withdrawing my hand swiftly, I bagged some cheese trying not to look into his curious eyes, the way he observed me from head to toe.

"Are you doing groceries for home?" He appeared just confused.

Clearing my throat, I faced the opposite row picking up a bag of candy. "Just grabbing few stuffs for me."

"Clears my cloud." He remarked shaking a bottle of jelly.

"Excuse me?" I snapped rotating my neck. Did he just now call me selfish?

Damon gave no reply as he was busy studying the ingredients on the back of a bottle and while he was doing so, his hand, unintentionally dropped his selected things in my cart thinking it to be his. But how could I let go of this?

"You are dropping things in my trolley!" I huffed but soon as a lady passed us giving me weird looks, I cleared my throat softening my glare.

"Are you blind or what?" This time, I whisper-yelled.

"Relax.." he shrugged. "My cart is full."

"So?" Grimacing, I raised my eyebrows.

"We are going to the same home. Jesus, I'll pay for these. I just ne-" I didn't let him finish as I quickly pulled an empty cart and dumped all the items he tossed in mine in that.

"Try to balance both carts now." I wheeled the new trolley his way. "I'm sure you are familiar with balancing two things."

"Learnt from the best." He cooed giving me a fake smile.

Imitating him, I walked up to the little refrigerator to get a couple of beer bottles out when suddenly this earth crashing noise made me gasp. The increasing violence around made me rooted to my spot and placing hand on my chest as I peeped through the items in the racks, I choked watching few masked men pointing guns at the buyers; threatening them to do as they said. One of them assaulted Tim who immediately was lying on the floor with blood gushing out of his head.

Through the gap, kneeling a little I could see them with my petrified eyes that they were tampering with the wires of the cctv repeating the same line of warning; to cooperate or else we were going to lose our lives. Thanks to my stars for I was in the corner most last row so it took their men some time to get to me. Blood rushed under my skin witnessing when one of the buyers who tried making past the door, got his head badly injured by one of the magazines of their guns.

Gasping, I fell on the floor on my butt and together rose a high pitched cry of the other customers who didn't know what the next second carried for them. One of the masked thugs asked the others to scatter and find if there was anyone else hiding in the store and the second I heard it, my head started spinning as blankness completely took over me. The slightest bit of thinking approached me from nowhere and I just kept sitting there with my palms flat beside my butt on the floor. I knew I needed to get away or hide myself but I didn't know how.

The sky broke on my head as I felt one strong arm drag my upper arm causing my body to be hauled behind while the other clutched my mouth shut. Panic shredded my body and pulses escalated murderously making every sight before my eyes blurry in terror. Broadening my eyes, I tried resisting such pull but I was too weak to such strength. Amidst the clamouring of frightened people, my choked voice kept shrieking at the imminent peril when I already realised my trembling body was successfully dragged to some corner.

My hands which were fighting against the floor trying to get a hold of something, helplessly, started slapping the hand that was pressed to my mouth; later digging my pointed nails into the skin.

"Ow, Elena. Fuck me for trying to keep you alive." Hearing a familiar voice hiss in my ear, my appalled eyes averted to Damon's red face which revealed how tough of a time was he having trying to haul me somewhere and hideously making sure through the gap that the goons weren't coming any nearer.

Fighting no more, I allowed him to pull me inside the storage room because clearly my body wasn't functioning normally and swiftly switching the lights off, he hid us behind huge boxes of what felt like canned drinks. My back being tightly pressed to his chest could clearly feel how his heart was beating insanely and the fact that I, more or less was sitting on his lap with his arms strongly gripping my waist weren't assuring much. Scooting my head as I tried seeing what scene was going on outside peeking through the boxes, he slapped my head pulling me back towards him.

From there we could hear every sort of violence, shriek, howling going outside. We both were already drenched in sweat and if anything was echoing in that little stuffy room, it was the mismatched duet of our heartbeats.

My throat dried up as the sound of boots towards us started getting clearer and I dig my nails into Damon's forearm bunching the sleeve of his coat in my clasp. A tall shadow fell inside through the gaps between the door and I sank more into Damon's chest not caring how intimate we were getting. None mattered.

Just as I gasped loudly for the door was opened with someone kicking it hard, Damon covered my mouth shaking his head in a no. My palm rested over his on my mouth trying to express to him how sickeningly terrified I was of this whole situation. It was like being underwater and totally not be able to put my head up in the air to breathe. He frowned feeling his skin get moist and finding that I was shedding tears, he whispered to stay quiet in my ear.

I wanted to cry so bad. Anything could happen. Any of us could die and I didn't know if it was better or for worse that in the probable last moment, we were locked in each other's arms. Chill ran down my spine when those boots walked in. What if they showed no mercy upon us finding us to be noncooperative? Part of me knew things were going to get fucked up and that I was going to lose this life just at the pull of a trigger. My whole life - beautiful, ugly flashed before my eyes and I pushed my back more into his chest, frightened.

With the grip of the gun, the goon kept hitting the boxes lightly to check if there was someone and I started choking. Nothing was making sense and it felt worse because it was like me losing control over every damn thing.

"Shh." Gulping hard, Damon whispered like a feather touching my ear. "Try breathing as silently as you can."

The masked scoundrel knocked a box right by our side and horrified, turning my neck, I hid my face in his chest whose heart was beating cruelly fast. Damon's hand pressed my head more into his hard chest trying to hide us although his eyes were fixed apprehending the next torturous move of the bastard. For once even didn't I hear Damon's breath hitch and peeking through his tight arm embracing me, I could very well make out the danger to be standing right beside us in the dark. His boot brushed against the dusty floor and my heart stopped beating. Lethal quietness surrounded us and life seemed to be looking ahead in backward motion with no certainty of the future. Life is so fragile.

"It's clear. Nobody's here." The bastard announced from beside us and we both held our breaths till the time he exited.

Heaving a huge breath of relief, my trembling body found refuge in his. Crying, I bit my lower lip trying not to let a sound escape my mouth. Parting my lips, I tried breathing but sadly enough, I already was whizzing.

"It's okay." He patted my head awkwardly. "They are still around so if you can..."

"Are we going to die, Damon?" Lifting my head, I whispered looking into his eyes. The world around us was dark except the light coming out of his silver eyes.

Looking aside, his eyes flicked here to there. "Let's try not to."

His words really weren't quite motivating but wiping my wet cheek, I sniffed before my eyes quickly went wide realising our proximity and as rapidly as possible I tried to pull away, my back hit a box and in no time, Damon pulled me closer putting a finger on his lips.

"Have you gone insane?" He whisper-yelled. "If you are so keen on getting murdered, then wait, let me go and call them back."

Rolling my eyes, I stared at the little space between us and my breath hitched. "We are-we are so close."

Narrowing his eyes, confused, he focused on my eyes between our chests and sighed rolling his eyes. "Elena, for once in life snap out of your bubble. It doesn't matter now. No! So instead, focus on staying alive."

"I'm not doing this purposely, okay? I just said what I-" Pressing hand to my lips, he shushed me again. Did I miss the touch of his skin against mine? Did I miss the sound of his beating heart against mine?

None mattered.

No matter how many times I slapped his fingers, they wouldn't leave my mouth. Instead, they gripped more upon my skin digging his nails in. But the reality had hit us back. The peril still survived outside.

"What do we do now?" I questioned into his hand.

Slowly, he withdrew the same thoughtfully. "I don't know?"

We waited there for what felt like eternity hearing each other's quivering heartbeats and shallow breaths when I suddenly started having hiccups.

"What happened? Are you okay?" He asked looking at my reddened face. My throat hurt badly and I squeezed my eyes close.

"I-I need water." I breathed out with difficulty.

"Shit. Wait.." He lifted his weight off the ground trying to arch his body in an attempt to pick a can of whatever out of the box but it shook and made terrible noises.

Grabbing his coat, I pulled him down to me. "Leave it. I'm better now. I-I don't need water right now."

"Are you sure?" He questioned doubtfully. Why this care now, Damon?

Nodding in a yes, I looked away. Our hearts shuddered when we heard violence outside taking another shape. We saw death at one's distance. It was coward of us to just sit there and not help those miserable people outside but we chose the worst moment in humanity to become selfish. Things were thrown, a bullet or two got fired, howling touched the ceiling and Damon and I stared into each other's eyes, horrified.

We exactly didn't know how long it was going to take to put an end to this night but we both waited holding our breaths for however long it was going to take. Torment came to a still and we were able to hear nothing anymore. It was half an hour that the quietness survived.

"I think I should go outside and check." I wanted to stop him but with what right could I? So I did let him go like all the other times.

"Damon?" Scared, I called and he turned around to find out if anything went wrong with me.

"Don't come out unless I call." He directed parting the door open slowly.

"Try not to die." I murmured like a prayer.

Nodding very feebly, he went out of my sight. Heart thumping in my chest and about to fall off my mouth, I waited and waited but he didn't return. Part of me wanted to run out of this dungeon to make sure he was still breathing but I didn't want to take any wrong step that could endanger his life more than it already was. Fifteen minutes passed.

Patting the sweat on my cheek and forehead, I swallowed the lump in my throat muttering prayers under my breath when suddenly the door opened with a force and I screamed out loud.

❆ ❆

"I'm asking you one goddamn simple question, why can't you answer that? Where's Damon?" I asked the Sheriff as he was guiding me out of the unfortunate place.

Thunder struck on me as I observed the place while walking out of it. Comparing how it looked the time I entered and now..was just painful. Blood stained the floor. Articles were thrown everywhere showing struggles of the people. Struggles of survival. Few stretchers carried hurt people out and the more I died inside.

"Where's is Damon goddamnit?" Though yelling, I failed to grab his attention.

"Please come outside, madam." The Sheriff addressed stretching his hand.

"No, I won't till the ti-"

"God, I'm telling you I have to go inside. My wife's there and she won't come out till I go in. Hello? I'm talking to you?" Damon huffed screeching before cops who pushed him more to stay out of their barricade outside. They weren't letting him come in.

"You don't understand! She is one crack-head. I'm gonna make your job easy and-" Damon again was pushed back.

"Damon?" His eyes widened turning to meet my relieved ones.

"Oh my God, you idiot..." he uttered, sighing. Satisfaction washed over him.

Smiling through my tears, I ran to him as the yearning to hold him in my arms deafened every rationality in my mind. I just needed to hold him close to make sure he really was alive. Taking giant steps, he too pushed a cop aside trying to reach me as fast as he could. Damon's eyes beamed with ease as he took my image wholly in.

Funnily, we both were just an inch away from dissolving into another's arms but something in us paused and we stood, stuck; staring into each other's eyes while the world around us was busy in its own commotion.

I was not to fit in his world anymore and so was he yet we stood colliding our universes maybe because there once was a small world that completely belonged to the two of us. It wasn't on fire. It wasn't suffocating us with its ghastly smoke.

[A/N- Such a late update! But I'll try moving with this story. Any support in the form of vote, comment, share would be highly appreciated. Stay blessed.]