There was an eerie darkness everywhere. No sound could be heard except the snapping of twigs by an eerily heavy wind. The intense scariness of the surroundings was enough to make anyone feel a dreadful fear. 

Melanie was standing in the dark surrounded by a weirdly terrifying mist. Something in her head told her that nothing was normal and all that was happening was dangerously twisted. She tried to feel around for any support but everywhere a horrible emptiness met her outstretched hands. 

There was no choice but to move forward on the narrow path that emerged. As she proceeded she saw trees and it all looked familiar. An uncomfortable cold engulfed her and she shivered. The trees were dense and the undergrowth was full of thorns and brambles. 

She stumbled more than twice. She constantly felt that she had been here before, perhaps a long time ago. She reached an abandoned clearing and then it struck her; she was in the forest which was close to their previous home where she lived with Damon before coming to Mystic Falls. 

She realized why it felt familiar because she had been here before on a cold stormy night when she was barely seven, Damon had been angry and left the house for long so she had gone there looking for him and found him on that very clearing on which she was standing now. 

But why was she here after so long and how, she had no idea. The clearing was just like before but no one else was there except her. She had almost expected to see Damon but no, he wasn't there. 

The place felt horrible though as if it spelled death written all over. "How nice to see you again. I was hoping you would come," she heard a very familiar menacing voice and turned around to see Katherine leaning against one of the trees. 

Seeing her always erupted a blazing fire inside Melanie and at times it was difficult for her to prevent herself from lunging at Katherine's throat. "What the hell do you want now?" Melanie spoke through gritted teeth. 

She flashed her characteristic devilishly sweet smile, "a lot of things apparently. And you know I always get what I want." 

She rolled her eyes, "yeah because you are the Katherine Pierce. The one and only manipulative mean psychopath who loves to mess up where she's not wanted. And who's a life-ruiner." 

She laughed, "I'm a medal worthy life-ruiner." 

Melanie rolled her eyes, "screw off." 

She raised an eyebrow amused at her reaction, "learning the ropes from Damon, are you? I see, you're a lot more bitter and practiced at shooting hurtful remarks." 

This time Melanie shot her a stern glare, "as if you get hurt." 

Katherine winked mischievously, "ah you wish. But it's not getting fulfilled. Scrawny poor Mel is the one who'll get hurt every time, duh."However she was surprised when Katherine gave her a softer look, "but I must say that I feel sorry for you, honey." 

She looked as if thoroughly disgusted, "you? Feeling sorry for me? Not possible." 

She smiled sweetly, "why not?" 

Melanie started ticking the points on her fingers, "because A) you're not a nice person. B) you're too messed up in your head to ever feel anything other than cruelty. Last of all C) you're a certified psycho."

She laughed, "well that's because I'm a vampire." 

She remarked, "you're all the bad parts." 

She raised an eyebrow skeptically, "oh really? Are there any good vampires that I know of, Mel? Five hundred years. I have been walking the earth for five hundred years. And not once did I meet any of your so called good vampires." 

Melanie turned away, "excuse me but I'm not interested in hearing your pathetic life story or the reason to this sudden sympathy over me. And as much as I've been enjoying your visit I just don't think I can stay any longer. So bye. Pleasure meeting a psychotic like you once again." 

Katherine smirked, "but you do want to know why I'm here and well... perhaps... why you are here as well." 

She gave her a sarcastic smile, "point is I don't bloody care whatever you do as long as you don't mess with Damon or Stefan. So in simple words; blast off." 

Katherine spoke, "oh I'm not gonna do anything to the precious Salvatores. I think Elena alone is enough for doing all I intend to." 

This time Melanie faced her, "just cut the crap; are you using Elena?" 

She shook her head, "absolutely not. Now don't you see why I felt sorry for you? Because you are going to experience all that happened in 1864 all over again. She will capture both the brother's hearts and affection. And then Elena will choose Stefan and it will break Damon's heart and he would perhaps try to kill himself. The more the merrier. How exactly amusing it would be to see Damon finally leave this world for good. So much dejection? Poor Damon." 

The next moment Katherine was pinned to a tree with Melanie's hands round her throat, "shut up you bloody monster!" 

Surprise took over her features at the sudden attack but it was soon replaced by an annoying smirk, "is dear little Mel angry at Aunt Kathy? No problem. Makes it more fun to torture you." 

With that she spun out of her grip and slammed her way too harshly into a tree. Melanie hit her head hard and felt blood trickle down. 

"Have fun, sweety. And next time you ever try to lay a hand on me, I'll snap your neck and rip your heart out. On second thoughts I might just tear it to shreds in front of your eyes," Katherine whispered. 

Everything went out of focus. When her vision adjusted she knew Katherine was gone. But someone was bent down in front of her. She blinked twice and mistook her as Katherine at first but realized it was Elena. 

"Hello Alyssa," she smiled, "it's so lucky I happened to pass by. I was looking for a snack, you know." Veins appeared round her eyes as she bared her fangs, "and you might just taste delicious." A searing pain shot through her body and she screamed.