I am haunted.

Every time I close my eyes I see it. I see it's fangs dripping with my blood, and it's cold hands wrapped around my neck. The faceless figure is lurking behind every corner, and hiding in every shadow. I could know the monster. I could see it everyday and not even know it. I wake up everyday fearing something that I can't even recognize.

I play that day over and over again in my mind. If I had just left when everyone else had it never would have happened, or maybe it would have. Those shadows I saw watching me. I thought I was imagining things, but what if I wasn't in the wrong place at the wrong time. What if it wanted me? It called me Violet just like my dream, but why would someone want to hurt me?

We just got back from the hospital today. The doctors strongly suggested that I say longer but if I'm forced to lay in bed all day it will be my bed. I may be in my bedroom but I feel like I'm still in that parking lot. I still feel tormented by the faceless figure. The figure that matched the monster my uncle used to tell me stories about to a tee. If those stories were true these things need to be invited into peoples houses. So I am more safe at home than in the hospital.

Jenna has ordered me to rest, but rest isn't possible. Not when I know what I know. Tanner,Vicki, and I weren't attacked by and animal. Whoever or whatever it was is still out there, and I'm powerless to stop it. That thought makes me feel sick. I reached over and pulled the drawer of my night stand open. I reached in feeling around for a package of tissues but froze when I feel metal.

"What the hell?" I asked confused. I leaned over and peered into the drawer.

Laying in my drawer is my Dad's gun. How the hell did it get in here? I carefully grab the gun and look down at it nervously. I've only seen it once before. Uncle John showed it to me last time he was in town. I only got to hold it for a second until my mom came in and freaked out. I always knew where it was. In my parents closet, on the top shelf in a blue metal box.

As I pulled the barrel back to see if it was loaded confusion filled me again. Wooden bullets. Why-Wait...Did my Dad know about vampires? Questions were running through my mind. So many questions. I barely heard the soft knock on my door. I jumped and quickly shoved the gun back in the drawer. I felt like a child who was caught with their hand in the cookie jar.

"Come in."I called shakily. Elena walked in with a concerned look for the third time this morning.

"How are you feeling?" She asked as she sat on the edge of my bed.

"I'm fine."I said glancing nervously at my bedside table.

"Are you okay?"She asked reaching over and squeezing my hand.

"Not really."I admitted, looking down at my hands doing everything I can to avoid eye contact.

"Ava, what happened?"Elena asked tucking her finger under my chin and making me look up.

We've never lied to each other, but how can I tell her this? She'll think I'm crazy, but with one look at her I know I have to. If I keep this to myself I'll explode, and if I have to tell someone let it be Elena.

"I- I was walking to my car- it came out of nowhere. It moved so fast."I said my hands shaking and my heart pounding.

"What did?" She asked with a strange look on her face.

"It was-...it was a...vampire."I blurted out and she looked at me shocked.

I expected her to laugh in my face or call me crazy, but she doesn't. She just sat there stunned. Every second that ticked by made my stomach ache. Finally, she sat up straight and shifted her eyes to mine. Fear pooled in her eyes before she opened her mouth to respond.

"I brought ice cream and movies." Caroline sang as she burst into the room.

Elena and I both jumped at the sudden intrusion. I glanced over and saw Caroline holding a tub of vanilla ice cream and some movies.

"Sorry."Caroline said when she saw our startled faces.

Elena stood and shook her head before excusing herself. I felt a pang in my heart. Does she think I'm crazy?

"What's with her?"Caroline asked when she walked over and set the movies and Ice Cream on my dresser.

"Don't know."I mumbled fiddling with the end of my blanket.

"I'm so bummed you won't be there tonight." Caroline said as she walked over and laid across the end of the bed on her back."It won't be the same. Are you sure you can't come?"She asked grabbing a magazine off of my bed and flipping through it.

"I can barely stand, Care. "I mumbled distractedly. My eyes kept shifting to Elena's closed bedroom door across the hall.

"But I got you a sexy cat costume."She said as if that would heal me.

"I'll pass."I said looking down at my hands.

It feels ridiculous talking about something as insignificant as Halloween costumes with everything that has happened. I don't see how dressing up like a slutty cat will help me with anything.

"Earth to Ava!"Caroline yelled and I snapped back to reality. I saw her waving her hands inches from my face.

"Sorry."I mumbled.

"What's wrong?"She asked. I know I can't tell her. I love Caroline but she is one of the last people I would tell any of this. She can't keep a secret to save her life.

"Nothing...just tired."I said and she sighed. She hopped up and walked over to my dresser.

"Okay...which one?"She asked holding up the movies.

"Whatever." I shrugged slumping into my bed.

Caroline stayed for a few hours. We watched both movies but I'm too in my head to pay attention. I could tell she was frustrated with me. I was relieved when she left to get ready for the Halloween party. I needed to find my ancestor Jonathan Gilbert's journals. Something that I always thought was just a bunch of ramblings of a crazed old drunk. As it turns out that old drunk happened to be right.

I know my Dad kept some of them in the house. I started looking in the hall closet then my parents room. When I entered their room I felt a sentimental feeling creep up on me, but I had to ignore it. I needed to find the journal. I walked out of the room and limped towards the stairs when a voice stops me.

""Freeze! What do you think you're doing?"Jenna asked and I turned to see her standing at the end of the hall with her arms folded over her chest and a stern look on her face.

"Jenna...hey."I said while I tried to force a guilty smile, but I couldn't even manage that.

"The deal was you can come home but you have to stay in bed."She said and walked over and guided me towards my room.

"I needed something." I said feebly as she practically forced me back into my bed.

"What?" She asked curiously.

"A book." I answered vaguely and she quirked an eyebrow.

"What book?"She asked and I sighed.

"Jonathan Gilbert's journal." I said and she looked at me confused.

"What do you want with that?"She asked walking over to my dresser.

She took out a pair of black and white striped socks and a dark grey graphic t-shirt. She leaned down and opened another drawer pulling out a pair of black and pink shorts. I looked at her confused.

"Here. Change and I'll get you the journal."She said and I looked at her surprised.

"You know where it is?" I asked.

"It's under the stairs. Now change...you'll feel better."She said before walking out of the room.

I do as she said. I was wearing the clothes I left the hospital in. Jeans and a tight sweater. Not the most comfortable things in the world. The second I slipped into the pajamas I felt better. I grabbed an elastic and gathered all my hair at of my head. I pull my hair into a ponytail happy to have it away from the bandage on my neck.

A few minutes later Jenna walked back in with the journal in one hand and a bottle of water in the other.

"Enjoy."She said handing me the tattered old journal."Hydrate."She added setting the bottle on my bed side table before leaving.

I quickly opened the journal and looked down at the fragile looking paper. It looked like I might break it if I touch it. I pushed that thought away and started pouring through the book. A I read I absorbed all the information. Time ticked by unnoticed and when I finally take a break it was dark outside.

I thought all the information would have overwhelmed me but it doesn't. Instead...along with the gun I feel like I have enough to defend myself. Hopefully. I read about vervein and how the Salvatore's grow it. Maybe they still do. I made a mental note to ask Stefan about it. I had so many thoughts running through my head but I couldn't process them all. I looked at my clock and it read 11:23pm.

A yawn worked it's way from my throat but I was too interested to stop. I picked up the book to start where I left off humming to myself quietly. I froze when I noticed someone standing in the doorway. I jumped fearfully when I saw the figure and my heart pounded until my eyes landed on a familiar face.

"Tyler? What are you doing here?"I asked clamping my hand over my chest. He looked so strange standing in my doorway.

He visited me a few times in the hospital and every time he came I felt better. When I was alone and dying he was there. I remember everything. Him finding me and the concern in his gentle touches.

"Jenna let me in. I wanted to see how you're doing."He said and I looked at him skeptically.

"Really? On Halloween. While there's a party going on?"I asked and he rolled his eyes.

"I was at the party...it was boring."He said walking into my room.

"So, I'm your second choice."I replied and he shook his head exasperated.

"I just can't win with you, can I?" He asked amused as he walked over to my dresser.

I watched him looking at all the pictures I have framed on my dresser. As he stood there I felt a little strange. Tyler Lockwood in my room?

"So the party was lame and your first thought was...I wonder what Ava is doing?"I asked and I see him grin.

"Yeah. You have a problem with that?"He asked quirking an eyebrow at me.

"Maybe."I said and he returned to looking at the pictures.

I noticed his face twist into a look of surprise as he inspected my photos. He grabbed one of the pictures and his lips curved into a warm smile.

"You still have this?"He asked holding up the picture for me to see.

I smiled when I saw the picture too. It's of Tyler and I as kids. We were wearing orange life jackets and holding fishing rods. We both had big smiles with missing teeth on our faces. We looked so happy. I remember that day. My dad took us out on our boat to go fishing. We were supposed to fish but we kept casting our lines at each other.

"Of course. I look so cute."I said and I'm not going to admit I kept it because it reminded me of the fun we used to have.

"What happened?" Tyler joked looking at me with a mischievous grin. I glared and whipped one of my pillows at him.

The pillow collided with Tyler and he dropped the picture. I winced when the glass of the frame shattered.

"Good job."He laughed and I glared at him.

"You're the one that dropped it."I said getting up.

I felt the room sway but ignored it. I walked over as Tyler crouched down starting to pick up what was left of the frame. As I walked over I wasn't paying attention and I felt a sharp stab on the bottom of my foot.

"Ow."I hissed and hopped on one foot to try and see how bad it was. When I tried to get a look I felt my head spin. I was about to fall when Tyler's hands grasped my shoulders and steadied me.

"It's just not your week is it?" He asked and I couldn't help but agree. First the attack and than this. I must have stepped on a hundred spiders to get all of this bad luck.

Tyler wrapped an arm around my back and led me to my bed. He set me down on the edge before squatting down in front of me.

"Is it this one?"He asked pointing to my left foot and I nodded.

He carefully slipped my striped sock off and held my foot in his hand. I watched as he lifted my foot closer to his face and inspected it. Before I could protest he had pinched the shard of glass and pulled it out. The cut stung and I felt blood drip down my heel.

"Ow."I whined and he rolled his eyes.

"Don't be a baby."He said as I pouted. He shook his head at me before standing up and tossing the glass in the trash.

"Thanks."I said and clap my hands on my knees before rising from the bed. Once again the room spun and I swayed, and like before Tyler's hands grasped my arms and steadied me. I shifted my eyes up and saw him looking down at me.

His eyes captivated me once again, and I couldn't look away. I felt Tyler rub lazy circles into my arms with the pads of his thumbs. A shiver worked it's way up my spine from his ministrations. I absentmindedly leaned into him at the feeling of heat radiating off of him. As I leaned in I saw his eyes flash to my lips. I was about to back away when he started to lean into me.

Before I could decide if I wanted to kiss him or not he brushed his lips against mine. My eyelids fluttered closed instantly, and I hesitantly placed my hands on his chest. Our lips moved together gently, but Tyler quickly grew sick of that. The way his lips moved against mine, gently but passionately made butterflies flutter in my stomach.