Chapter 1

July 22nd, 2015

Dear Diary,

It's happened again. Another life lost in Mystic Falls and no one has any idea who is behind it. Rather than allow himself to grieve, Ric has poured his every ounce into this mystery. For him, it's a better alternative than facing what happened.

With Kai and Katherine gone, we are short on suspects.

First, it was Eliza Fell who worked with Jer at the Grill, then Patti Marin who was friends with Jenna, and just last week, Sam Clearwater. I don't understand. The senselessness of death. They were too young to die. What's the connection? Is there a connection? Are we so fashioned after the past few years to immediately believe there must be some ulterior, supernatural motive?

People die all the time.

I died.

Any leads we've had, fizzled out before we had a chance to further investigate a connection to all three. Damon's philosophy continues to be, 'rip the heart out now, ask questions later.' He's actually been pained for Ric, using this as a way to keep him busy, empathizing with him in a way I haven't seen before. Almost as if he's human. We haven't had a conversation about that since the wedding. After I healed from Kai's attack, life was almost immediately interrupted by a string of unsolved murders. I know Damon wants to talk to me about it, but doesn't seem to be able to find the words. Stefan wonders if there is peace in death, since we certainly aren't getting any now.

With a sigh, Elena closed her diary and set it off to the side. Absently, she fiddled with her necklace and reached for her phone. The keyboard clicked softly as she began to text Damon.

-Where are you?

-With Ric at the Grill. Don't worry, not too drunk.

-Not worried. He needs the distraction.

-Meet at my place in an hour?

-Love to

As she received his winky-faced text that followed with a string of suggestive emojis, Elena giggled and grabbed her jacket. Before she had a chance to step out the door, she received another text, this time from Caroline.

- Busy? Could use your opinion. I'm at my house.

Deciding she had enough time before she met up with Damon, Elena paused and replied.

- Be there as quick as my puny human legs can carry me.

As Elena tucked her phone into her back pocket and grabbed her keys, she felt a sudden strong sense of déjà vu. Her energy had not entirely returned since transforming back into a human, and the adjustment was taking longer than she would have preferred, but it was ultimately better than the alternative. Odd aches and pains plagued her, along with the fatigue, and now she noted this new, unwanted side effect. She hadn't felt like herself since taking the cure, but she never once regretted her decision, even if it meant she would lose Damon for it. It was her choice, not his, and she'd be damned if she would allow him to make a choice of mortality that would lead him to eventually resent her. Climbing into her car and turning over the engine, she clicked on the radio and headed for Caroline's.


"Care?" Elena called out as she stepped inside the house. Her attention was always initially drawn to the picture on the front bureau of Caroline and Elizabeth. She was taken aback by how the pain was still there, it was a loss that cut her deeply and resonated with her own lost mother. It was still a fresh wound. Breaking her gaze from the photo, she craned her neck up the stairs, and tried again, "Caroline? It's me!"

Hearing a thud above, she began to head upstairs, "Please tell me you're not up there with Stefan," she groaned, "I mean, I'm okay with that, I'm just not okay seeing that." Stepping down the hall, she felt an unease creep along her spine and send shivers across her body. She hadn't felt a sense of urgency like that since their last encounter with Kai. "I'm getting a little creeped out Caroline, you know I don't like surprises."

The door at the end of the hallway was slightly ajar, catching Elena's attention. If Caroline was playing a game, she wasn't thrilled by the idea. "Just come out," she sighed.

"Care?" Gently nudging the door open, Elena's breath hitched in her throat as she felt a hot sweep of panic streak across her body. Her heart nearly stopped. In the dim light, she saw Caroline's body in the middle of the room on the floor, her expressionless face was ashen, and a wooden stake was jutting from her chest.

Elena's scream echoed down the hallway as a hooded figure smiled and quietly left.