"Don't be scared." The man ordered in a soothing voice.
All I wanted to do is look away but I couldn't escape his intrusive gaze. I wanted to defy his order but all my fear melted away at his words.
"I'm not going to hurt you." He soothed in a calm voice while gently cupping my cheek.
I stared at the man confused. The word psycho ran through my mind. I should be terrified but I don't fear him. With every second that passed the more angry I became. Why am I not scared?
I've had enough of whatever game he was playing. I had to get as far from him as I could and this was the only chance I was going to get. The man doubled over when I kneed him in the groin. A pain filled groan left his mouth as I shoved him to the ground and ran to the car as quickly as my legs could carry me. Without a second to waste I started the car and tore down the road like the devil himself was after me.
Who was that? What was that? Who the hell is Violet?
When I finally made it home I raced inside and locked all the doors and windows. I knew I couldn't call the police. A man with black eyes and fangs? They'd lock me up in the nut house. I shook my head at a loss for what to do when something suddenly popped into my head. I raced upstairs and made my way to a door I knew well. My parents room.
No one had had gone inside their room since the funeral. I sucked in a deep breath before pushing the door open. When I flicked on the light I saw it was the exact same as I remembered it. My mothers glasses on the beside table and my dad's clothes laying all over the floor. Then the sent hit me. The smell of my mothers perfume. The smell brought back memories that I was trying not to dwell on. Memories that made my heart break for what I had lost. I shook off the sadness that was coursing through me and made my way to the closet. I grabbed a blue metal box off the top shelf and tucked it under my arm. I left after one last look at the room that seemed to be frozen in time.
The second I closed my bedroom door I tore open the box and pulled out a silver handgun. My dad only had it in case of emergencies but I think he'd agree that this was one. I opened the gun to load it but stopped when I saw what was inside. Wooden bullets. I quickly loaded the gun and placed it in my night stand drawer. I took the box and hid it in the back of my closet.
What is going on?What the hell did Dad need wooden bullets for?
I have no idea what to think. On one hand, monsters? That's ridiculous. But how can I explain what I saw tonight? And what in God's name would my father, or anyone for that matter, need with wooden bullets? I sank to the floor and buried my face in my hands. I wanted to feel scared. At least that would make sense but all I felt was calm. I let out a shrill scream as I kicked the side of the bed.
I froze at the sound of voices carrying up the stairs. My body tensed and I reached for the gun. I was holding the revolver in my hand when I recognized the voices. Jeremy and Elena. I shook my head hoping that like an Etch-A-Sketch everything would just erase.
"Jeremy!" Elena yelled as I heard the sound of someone running up the stairs and a door slamming shut.
I put the gun back in its place and buried my face in my hands hoping that things would just slow down for a minute. I jumped at the sound of my cellphone ringing. I pulled it out of my bag and saw it was Elena. I looked at the screen confused. Why are they calling me? I pulled myself to my feet and wiped away the tears I hadn't even realized I shed. I didn't want to go down there. I wanted to hide in my room but I knew that was no longer an option.
When I got downstairs I saw a very worried Elena and Jenna. The two women were pacing the living room and dialing their phones as quickly as humanly possible.
"What's wrong?"I asked with a shaky voice and their heads shot up and looked at me with relief in their eyes.
"Thank God you're okay."Jenna said running over to me.
"Why wouldn't I be?"I asked anxiously. There's no way they could know what happened.
"Vicki Donovan was attacked."Elena said and my eyes widened.
"What? Is she okay? Who attacked her?"I asked fearfully.
"What."Jenna corrected and I looked at her confused.
"What?" I asked bewildered.
"What attacked her. The police said it was an animal."Elena explained.
"Than we couldn't find you and we though-"Jenna started but stopped mid sentence."But it doesn't matter. Where were you?"She asked curiously.
"Here. I didn't feel like going to the party."I lied as my heart pounded.
"Good. I am going to bed. None of you are ever leaving the house again." Jenna said running a hand through her hair tiredly. Elena chuckled and wished Jenna a goodnight.
"You might want to call Caroline. She was worried about you."Elena said as she followed Jenna's example and went to bed.
"Okay, goodnight." I said as Elena pulled me into a hug before climbing the stairs.
Vicki Donovan is attacked on the same night I am? Could that really just be a coincidence?I shook my head completely stunned by the day I've had. When they say ignorance is bliss they are right.
I walked over and re locked the front door. I was worn out and confused as I walked up the stairs. When I was back in my room I locked the door and slumped on my bed. I knew sleep wasn't going to be possible tonight. As tired as my body felt I just couldn't turn off my mind. I kept going over it in again and again in my mind and much to my frustration I never felt one ounce of fear.
After a night of haunting thoughts and theories it was time to go and face reality, which is becoming less realistic by the minute. I flipped open my phone and saw ten missed calls and a heap of texts from Caroline. I groaned remembering that I promised that I'd help her set up for the comet festival tonight. I texted a quick reply before tucking the gun into the waist of my sweatpants and going downstairs.
"Morning."Elena greeted as I entered the kitchen.
I replied with a curt nod before pouring myself a cup of coffee and stirring in spoonfuls of sugar.
"Since when did you start drinking coffee again?"Elena asked curiously.
"Since today." I replied tiredly as I took a sip. I winced at the strong flavor but kept drinking. This is the only thing that will keep me vertical today.
"Do you want some breakfast? Jenna bought muffins." She asked nodding to the package of blueberry muffins on the counter.
"I'm not hungry."I replied. The thought of food made me feel sick.
"Caroline said you didn't eat dinner last night."Elena said cautiously.
"I said I'm not hungry."I snapped before turning and going back to my room. I heard Elena sigh as I climbed the stairs. She probably thinks I've slipped back into my old ways. This is what I did when our parents died. I would guzzle coffee so I didn't have to sleep and spend every possible second in my room alone.
After a quick shower I threw the gun in my bag and pulled on a hoodie and a pair of jeans. I knew if I didn't help Caroline I would never hear the end of it. When I pulled into the Grill I saw Caroline talking excitedly to the other cheerleaders. When I approached the group everyone but Caroline scurried away.
"Hey."I greeted knowing I was going to have to explain why I blew her off.
"Wow. You actually showed up this time. I'm shocked." Caroline said crossing her arms over her chest and fixing me with her iciest of glares.
"I'm sorry Care. I just- I don't know.."I trailed off trying to think of a decent lie.
"Thanks to you I made a fool out of myself in front of Stefan. If you had been there I wouldn't have gotten so drunk and acted like a total idiot." Caroline complained angrily.
"Who is Stefan?" I asked absentmindedly as I scanned the crowd tensely.
"Stefan Salvatore. The new guy at school. You would have met him if you hadn't blown off the party."Caroline replied while glaring at me.
"I'm sorry but it could still be salvageable. Talk to him at the festival tonight."I suggested and relaxed slightly when I couldn't find those blue eyes that haunted my thoughts in the crowd.
"There's no point. He spent the whole night with Elena." Caroline said with a hint of jealousy.
"Well there's lots of fish in the sea, right? You'll find someone."I said as patiently as I could.
"Easy for you to say."Caroline muttered.
"What are you talking about ?" I asked, my eyebrows knitted together in confusion.
"Don't play dumb Ava. It's annoying." Caroline said resuming her previous glare.
"Seriously Caroline, what are you talking about?" I asked completely lost.
"Tyler's totally into you." Caroline stated and for the first time in forever I laughed.
"What?" I asked shocked.
"Don't tell me you haven't noticed. He always stares at you and that bickering is just sexual tension." Caroline explained.
"We bug the hell out of each other and besides he's going out with Vicki." I said dismissively.
"Please. When Vicki was hurt he barely even blinked. Than when he heard no one knew where you were he forced the football team into the forest to search for you." Caroline said and I looked at her stunned.
"Tyler Lockwood?"I asked shocked.
" Yeah. He looked really worried." The blonde added with an I-told-you-so smirk.
"You were drunk." I reminded her as if that explained everything.
"Whatever you say. You owe me for last night though."
"Whatever you want."I replied. I was relieved that this ridiculous Tyler conversation was over.
"To make it up to me you can start lugging those boxes into the town square."Caroline ordered pointing to a massive mountain of boxes. I started towards the boxes but stopped when I saw Caroline heading into the Grill.
"Where are you going?"I asked and Caroline pouted.
"I'm way too hung over to do manual labour." She said before quickly disappearing inside the busy restaurant.
I shook my head before turning to the boxes and getting to work. I started to hum while I moved the boxes hoping to calm my frayed nerves. The song was an old tune that I made up when I was little and it always seemed to calm me down. I was moving a particularly heavy box when I felt a cool breath on the back of my neck. I whipped around but no one was there. I sighed at how tightly wound I had become. I turned back around and dropped the box in my hands when my eyes locked with the same blue eyes I had been dreading. He stood there leaning against the boxes in the same leather jacket and dark jeans as a few hours ago.
"That song brings back memories, Violet." He murmured tilting his head to the side to take me in even more. Anger, disbelief, confusion, and many other emotions filled me.
"My name is Ava. Now who the...what the hell are you? And what do you want." I spat glaring daggers at him.
"Damon and you already know what I am. Don't you?" He said back in a smooth voice. I narrowed my eyes at him which only seemed to amuse him.
"What the hell do you want?"I asked wondering if I could get my gun out before he could stop me.
"You want to know what I want?"He asked taking a step towards me.
"Yes." I replied using all the composure I had left to sound calm. Damon's eyes darkened and I stiffened. He took a step forward holding my gaze greedily.
"I want you to forget we met. Forget everything you saw. Yesterday you stayed home all night."He ordered and I felt my mind go blank and all emotions faded away.
"I stayed home all night."I repeated blankly.
"Good girl."Damon smiled stroking my hair gently.
After what felt like hours I snapped out of a haze I had fallen into. I looked around the busy street confused. What just happened?
"Hey Gilbert."A voice said and when I glanced over I saw Tyler headed towards me.
"Hi."I replied groggily and noticed all of the boxes stacked in the town square. How did they get over there?
"You okay?"Tyler asked looking concerned.
"I'm fine."
"Who was that guy?"Tyler asked setting down the folding table he was in the middle of moving.
"What guy?" I asked bewildered.
"The one you were talking to a minute ago." Tyler said looking at me skeptically.
"What are you talking about?" I asked annoyed. The last thing I need is him messing with me. I have way too much to do before the comet festival starts.
"That guy you were talking to."Tyler responded slowly as if he were speaking to a child.
"I wasn't talking to anyone." I muttered glaring at Tyler
"Right."Tyler said rolling his eyes."Get into your brothers stash?" He asked before picking up the table and walking away.