Chapter 1:

I never imagined my life turning out like this. I always believed I would grow up, fall madly in love, get married, have children, and grow old. It was the circle of life, a life we all deserve to live. Yet, this life didn't appeal to me somehow. My attention became fixated on finding an answer and I became mad in attempting to search for any solutions that would point me into that direction. However, I now feel things I never expected to feel and know things I wish I never expected to know; things I didn't realize existed. In my mind, the end result was different. All of my research and all of my findings aimed to a diverse outcome. It indicated to a means of escape. That means of escape, though, is far from just that.

"Ricki, get in the car! We're leaving," my mother demanded. Her voice was stern and full of authority and out of fear of getting in trouble, I obeyed. I scooped my Powder Puff Girls backpack and Lola, the brunette fairy Cabbage Patch doll my mother gave to me for my fifth birthday, off of the oak hardwood floor and slung the bag over my shoulder.

"No, Ricki. You're not going anywhere." He reached out to grab me and my shaking shoulders. He pulled me closer to him with his large, callous hands as his thumb made reassuring circles on my shoulder. My father's light blue eyes were full of pain and confusion as he asked her, "Isobel, what in God's name are you doing?"

"Something I should have done a long time ago, Ric." My mother snapped her head towards me, glaring unambiguously as she spouted evenly, "Ricki, get in the car."

I hesitated leaving the warmth of my father's clasp. I couldn't comprehend what was conspiring between my parents or why my mom desired to leave our home. I could not grasp why my mother was so infuriated with my father. They never fought…

In a flash, my mother sped over to me and ripped me away from my father's strong grip with ease. Tears sprang to my eyes and began to slide down my cheeks. "No! Daddy, please! I love you! Don't make me go!" I cried out desperately as my mother shoved me into the back seat of her black Escalade and slammed the door shut.

"Isobel, stop! You cannot take our daughter away from me! This isn't right!"

He ran over to the vehicle, but in a blink of an eye she was in front of him, standing guard and threatening his fate if he dare took another step. "It is better this away, Alaric."

There were other things said, but I couldn't make them out. I held Lola close to my chest as I sobbed, tears blurred my vision and I could hardly catch my breath. My father's voice was boisterous and booming while my mother's was calm and even. I peered at them through the window. Although my vision was clouded, I could see that they were at a standstill and he was hanging on to every word she said. She eventually raised her hand and pushed his hair back, just as she always did when something bothered us. She then slipped a ring onto his finger and gave him a peck on the cheek before climbing into her Escalade and turning over the ignition.

I turned around in my seat and saw as devastation crept onto my father's sallow face. He fell to his knees on the front lawn of the home I grew up in and buried his face into his hands, weeping hysterically. We sped away; distance stretching between us and I sat facing his direction until I could no longer see his face. My shoulders shuddered violently and I suffocated Lola in a desperate embrace as I gasped for breath through the constant tears.

My mother peered at the rear view mirror and sighed. In a soft voice she said, "Everything I do is for you, sweetheart."

"Something to drink?"

The image fleeted from me and I blinked, folding the piece of paper, slipping it into my jacket pocket, and bringing myself to the present. I looked up at saw the scruffy bartender. His thick, dark eyebrows were lifted slightly as he waited for my response. With a sardonic grin, I brushed my hair behind my ear and leaned forward. In my most seductive voice, I whispered, "If you're offering."

That's when I saw it. The gold band glimmered in the sunlight streaming through the windows. It rested on his finger and captivated my gaze. The bartender's thin lips were pulled back into a polite smile as he looked down at his hand, peering at the object that caught my attention.

"Fifteen years."

"Huh?" I met his eyes once more. His words finally caught up to me and I realized what we were discussing. "Oh, that's wonderful. You must be so… proud."

"Yeah, I am." He beamed. "I'm a pretty lucky guy. Enough about me though. Can I get you something to drink?"

"Um…"

This man was married; he probably had a home to go to where his family was waiting. Yes, family. The word panged in the depths of me and overtook me in waves, leaving me uneven. A wedding band was a symbol of loyalty and love and I felt hypnotized by the sight of it. Any desire that had previously consumed me vanished immediately. I let out an unsteady breath; I had to get out of here. "Never mind," I said, shakily as I slid off of the bar stool. "Thank you for your time, but I have somewhere I need to be."

He nodded. "Well, welcome to Mystic Falls." He smiled once more and returned to wiping down the bar. "Thanks for stopping by The Grill."

I forced a small grin and headed out the door. The sunlight greeted me instantaneously, and peered at it. I slowly reached up to touch the antique necklace that hung around my neck and pushed the thought of my mother away. Far, far away.

I hurried down the road, ashamed of my thoughts and actions in the bar. What did I plan on doing to that poor man? What had I become? Was I really that selfish? I blinked and shoved the thoughts from my mind. I needed to focus on the task at hand.

"Welcome to Mystic Falls." The bartender's words rang in my ears. I had finally arrived to the destination I felt could provide me with the answers I desired. The place described as an ordinary town with extraordinary secrets.

I knew I needed a place to stay and rest and I knew exactly where: the abandoned Salvatore boarding house.