So, I previously deleted this story from fanfiction because I really hated it but it kept calling me so I re-wrote it all again. I hope it's a better quality story for you all now :) Also, this is set after Daylighters,but Claire and Shane aren't married and Claire would be 19 now. - Megan Jane x

I wake with a jolt, my limbs sprawling all over the show. I gasp convulsively and begin to shake as heavy tears drip down my cheeks. I feel Shane waking up and immediately regret it. He is one mistake away from being in trouble at work, a night of next to no sleep could be the icing on the cake that leads to him being fired. I'd hate to cause that.

"Claire, sweetheart. Are you okay?" he asks and I sigh. No, Shane, I think, I'm not okay. This is the 5th nightmare this week where I see my family murdered in front of my eyes again and there's still 2 and a half days left. Of course, I don't say that. He - and Eve and Michael too, for that matter - doesn't know about my dark past and I'd prefer to keep it that way. While I'm sure he sympathize over the loss of my brother and sisters, after losing his own sister, I don't want to open the can of worms that telling him about my family would definitely open.

"I'll be fine, Shane. Just go back asleep." I say harshly and take it back instantly. It's not his fault that I had a dream and woke him up. He's just trying to be a good boyfriend, he's not trying to annoy me, I'm doing that all by myself. Shane huffs and rolls over to face the other way, showing that he isn't happy with the way I spoke to him, "I'm sorry, I just hate dreams like that. It's not your fault."

He turns back to face me now, resting his face on the pillow. His eyes are open and pained, staring right back into mine. My hearts breaks knowing that I know everything about him, whilst he knows so little about me and my past. He puts his rough hand on my cheek and gently wipes away my tears.

"Why can't you tell me what's wrong," he asks quietly, "What are your dreams about to get you so upset?"

"It's nothing, really." I lie, "They're just normal Morganville fears, you know?" Another lie. I can tell he doesn't believe that for one second, he can read me like a book. At least, he has the decency to push it no further than that and let me have my space to mope alone.

"Well, you know that I'm here if you want to talk. Now let's both go back asleep." Of course he's here. He always has been. He loves me and I know he will always love me and be right there when I need him. Would I do the same? Usually, the answer would be yes but I could easily names a few things that would over-rule my need to care for Shane. My sister being one of them.

I close my eyes and breathe slowly to let Shane think that I am falling back asleep, so he will too. It works because after a couple long, dragging minutes, I feel his tense muscles relax and his breathing settles in a peaceful rhythm of inhaling then exhaling. I squirm out of his strong arms and tip-toe to the window to look at the world outside.

I used to believe that the night was beautiful and when I was younger, I would often stare out at he blank, pitch dark sky and dream about being outside, gazing up at the stars. Being in Morganville, the night still has a special connection with me: it always has, although I'll admit that I have grown to appreciate the comforts of being inside a lot more now that I've seen first-hand what dangers lurk in the night. Strangely, for me, atleast, the dangers aren't vampires.

My sister, Lucinda Davina "Lucy" Danvers, is out there somewhere. That thought alone is worse than any vampire-related debacle I have survived through. Sometimes, I've learnt, your biggest enemy is hiding behind the mask of someone you love.

Tomorrow will mark the 4-year-anniversary of the fire that took the lives of my brother, Florian and my sister, Keira. It also marks the 4-year-anniversary of the day that my youngest sister, Anna was murdered, although those two are unrelated (a fact that saddens me a lot). It also marks 4 years since Lucy was arrested and therefore, the day that she is released will also be tomorrow. That event is related to the fire and the death of Anna, despite the debate between Lucy and I on whether it was justified.

There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Lucy will want revenge. When she has her mind set on something, there is almost nothing that will change it. No amount of time in prison would change how she felt towards me, be it 4 years or forty. If she didn't attack tomorrow, the she would attack next week and if she didn't attack next week then it will be in a few weeks, but no matter what: she won't let me escape.

...

The next thing that I feel is the sun shining through the window. My eyes spring open, rusty and tired as I yawn and stretch. My body aches from sleeping curled up on the floor. I jolt up and look around the room, as if Lucy would be in the corner waiting for me. She wasn't, of course. I felt stupid and stood up, wiping the remainders of dust from Shane's bedroom floor away from myself. Shane was still asleep, even though it was 9am already. I heard laughing downstairs, telling me that Michael and Eve must already be awake.

I showered and got dressed before going downstairs to join them. I had 3 classes today: physics theory, quantum mechanics then lab with Myrnin. Fun fun fun, I thought to myself sarcastically. Seeing Myrnin again wouldn't be too bad, at least. He didn't care about why I was so sad, or if he did, he didn't ask or make a big deal out of it at least.

Checking the time, I realized that I was running late. I gave Michael and Eve a hurried goodbye, swung my ragged, worn backpack over my shoulder and bounded out the door. As soon as I stepped outside, I felt a cold wind take over me, stopping me in my tracks.

Everything is so... dark. Dark is the only way to describe it. I wrap my arms around my self in an attempt to shield myself. A shadow in the corner of the lot streaks towards me maliciously and my heart begins to pound. I consider screaming but my voice is blocked.

Then it stops. Just as quickly as it started, the darkness is gone and the sweltering Texas sun is back again. I shake my head and carry on walking to school, brushing it off as a mistake. Little did I know that today was the day that my life would change and not for the better.

Okay, so I told ages to re-write this chapter but I hope you enjoy it anyway! So what is this 'darkness' that Claire is talking about?