A/N: Ok so this is my first Fan-Fic! Please be nice to me, I'm fragile ;) Actually, I would love some good constructive criticism! This is short, I know. But it's the first chappy so I just need to know if I should keep going or not. You guys decide! & please ask questions if you don't understand something. I'll be happy to explain! Ok so.. I hope you like it. This is a DE story. Don't worry ;)

Jess

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She peeked out from her hiding place behind the alley wall. It was dark, almost 10. The air was cold and made her nose burn. She was shivering slightly and had her arms wrapped tightly around herself. She looked up at the moon, it was surrounded by gray clouds and only added to the eerie feeling of the night. She stepped away from the wall and found the concrete steps.

Elena descended towards the big billowing red and white tent. It created dark shadows and was unusually creepy. A circus. When was the last time I went to one of these? She asked herself, though she already knew the answer. It had been when she was four, her parents had taken her to an expensive one in hopes that she would enjoy it. Sadly, she had ended up crying- well screaming. The clowns had scared her, the noise was deafening, and she needed a nap. They ended up only being there for a total of 10 minutes. Even if it wasn't the happiest, Elena smiled at the memory, she'd come to terms with the death, as much as was possible. Her friends, Caroline and Bonnie, had made her come to the "Circus Of Amazement". It was supposed to be a new beginning. They'd even paid for the tickets.

Elena eventually got to the opening of the tent, where she could finally hear some circus music rather than the silence of the night and the occasional cricket.

A big burly man was standing at the front. She noticed him holding a sizeable amount of tickets in one of his huge hands. She carefully took her ticket out of her purse and handed it to the man. He grabbed it and opened the curtain to the tent.

"Enjoy." He said. His voice fit him well, deep and scratchy.

Elena walked into the circus tent and was surprised. It was a lot bigger than it looked from outside. There were around 200 rows of bleachers full of people. She sighed, wondering how she was going to find Bonnie and Caroline.

While she searched through the bleachers she admired the circus setting. It was loud, very loud, but also very bright and colorful. And.. Happy. Elena wanted more than anything to be truly happy. She was starting to pick up hope just recently, that it may be possible.

"Elena!" Caroline's voice rang from Elena's left. Elena turned her head from the dazzling arena to see Caroline and Bonnie waving and gesturing for her to come to them. Elena smiled and quickly walked towards them. She sat down next to Bonnie and wrapped her in a tight, quick hug.

"We were afraid you weren't going to show." Bonnie smiled softly at her.

"Again." Caroline smirked. "I mean come on Elena, you have to learn how to have fun again!" Elena knew Caroline hadn't meant it to offend her, Caroline was just like that, but it still hurt.

"Caroline!" Bonnie scolded. She turned to Elena, most likely going to give her one of her sympathetic faces, which had become much to common. But just then the ring master started shouting through a microphone. All three girls focused on the short man in the black suit and black top hat.

"I need to pee." Elena whispered in Bonnie's ear halfway through the show.

"What?" Bonnie shouted over the noise.

"I need to pee!" Elena yell-whispered.

"What?" Bonnie shouted louder.

"I'll be back." Elena yelled as she scooted through the bleachers in search of someone who could direct her to the bathroom. She found a guy who was probably around 20 selling cotton candy.

"Cotton candy! We got your cotton candy! Two dollars! Cotton candy!" He shouted as he walked up and down the aisles. Elena tapped him on the shoulder and asked him where the bathroom was.

"It's right out of those curtains." He pointed to the opposite corner of the tent. "All they got is port-o-potties though." He smirked.

"Oh that's alright." Elena smiled graciously. "Thank you"

It was dark outside, darker than before. Elena looked up at the sky to find that the moon was almost completely blocked by clouds. She quickened her pace and locked herself in the port-o-potty.

When she was finished she walked out as quickly as she had walked in. She felt silly for being scared of the dark. She jumped and turned around when she thought she heard footsteps. Theres nothing out there, Elena. You're being stupid. She convinced herself silently.

Suddenly she felt a hand grip her arm in a bruising hold. She was pulled around to meet two piercing blue eyes. If they hadn't been full of hatred and animosity they would have been amazing. Elena tried to yell but her voice was caught in her throat. The owner of the unusual eyes said only one word:

"Katherine."

She was then attacked with an incredibly strong kiss on the lips. She shook her head vehemently as she tried to get the attackers mouth off of her. Almost as an attempt to keep her still, he grabbed her neck. But as she prepared for another rape of the mouth, he suddenly let go of her neck and backed away from her as if she was some horrible, disgusting creature.

She stared in bewilderment as his figure disappeared into the pitch black night that surrounded her.