Chapter 1
Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you cannot find
Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten
Natasha Beddingfield – Unwritten
Darkness. A room full of darkness. A familiar dream and a familiar room. I look around knowing that an unknown man will appear shortly covered in blood and laying on the ground in clear pain. As though reading my thoughts a young man appears across from me laying on the floor covered in blood. I try to make my way towards his form but an unknown force holds me back.
"Help.. me…" gasps the form. Knowing I won't be able to help, I fall to my knees as I watch the man gasp for air. As I continue to watch the young man tears begin streaming down my face. When suddenly, a voice bursts through the darkness.
"Come on Annie, time to get up. Don't make me get the water" Groaning I roll over on my bed and see my brother Tyler standing in my bedroom doorway leaning against the frame. Throwing my arm to my side I grasp a pillow and throw it towards his face.
Catching the pillow with one hand Tyler lets out a laugh at my weak attempt "get dressed before mom comes to wake you up".
"Not my mom" I grumble. "Whatever get up so we can eat and head out". As Tyler leaves my room and closes my door I lay on my back and wonder who is that man and why have I been dreaming about him for the past five years.
Letting out a deep sigh, I roll out of bed and get ready for the day. Let me introduce myself. My name is Anastacia Lockwood, or Annie for short. I am Tyler Lockwood's half sister, same dad different mom. When I was twelve my mom passed away and my dad took me in to live with him, Tyler, and Tyler's mom Carol. At first the most difficult relationship in the house was with Carol. I mean you try learning your husband got another woman pregnant at the same time you were pregnant. But over the past five years we have come to a good place and Carol treats me like her own. Richard has been interesting to say the least. Cold and distant is the most I can say about him. But Tyler and I, we clicked right away. Something just made sense and we became fast friends. After showering and putting on some light makeup I choose my outfit. Black jeans with a light blue shirt, long vibrant blue scarf, black jean jacket and brown boots. As I stand in front of the floor length mirror in my room a voice echoes behind me "Hello Love".
Whirling around with a hand on my chest I see no one. Strange dreams and now strange voices… you really are losing it Annie girl.
"Get downstairs or I am leaving without you Annie" yells Tyler from the foyer. Shaking my head I take a deep breath before making my way downstairs to head to school with Tyler.
Needless to say, the car ride to school was… Painful. All Tyler wanted to talk about was Vicki and football. Not my favourite conversation topics. Once we got to school, I was quick to jump out of the car in search for Matt. Over the summer Matt and I became quite close. You see Elena, Matt's ex, broke his heart and then lost her parents in a car accident. Shortly after she cut me out her friend group and, in that time, I found Matt. Granted I still talk to Bonnie and sometimes Caroline, as annoying as she is. Elena just hurt me and Matt too much for me to pursue that friendship again.
Once I make my way into the school, with Tyler having caught up, I spot Matt by our lockers. I quickly make my way over to him when Matt turns arounds and grins before leaning in for a hug. "Morning Matt" I whisper into the hug "Morning Annie" he responds.
From behind us Tyler lets out a groan. As Matt and I start to turn towards him in question we hear him whisper "Elena alert". Letting out my own groan I can't help but smile as Elena waves to Matt and he ignores her. Grabbing onto Matt's hand I pull him towards our first class of the day, history.
From behind us we hear Tyler announce "I am going to go say hi to some of the guys before class, catch you two later".
Waving my free hand towards him Matt and I continue on our way. "You do realize you don't have to be so happy every time I ignore Elena, right?" comments a voice on my right.
"Well, you see Matt I would very much disagree. I think I can support you doing the right thing all the time."
"Just because it seems right doesn't mean it is Annie" Matt responds with a soft smile on his lips. Nodding my head I return his smile and respond "Okay Matt, if it matters that much to you, I will do my best not to be so passive aggressive towards Elena." Leaning towards me he places a soft kiss on my forehead and whispers "thank you".
As Matt and I make our way into history we find several people already in their claimed seats. I feel a gentle pull on my hand as Matt leads me to two seats beside Bonnie at the back of the room. Throwing her a gentle smile I take my seat as a guy I have never seen before enters the classroom. WOW. The award for hot new guy goes to this one.
Shortly after the guy enters the room so does Mr. Tanner "Take you seats before the bell so we can begin class." he tells everyone.
About halfway through class, listening to Mr. Tanner drone on about something historical I notice Matt staring at both Elena and the new guy. As a smirk settles across my face, I quickly tear off a small piece of paper from my notebook, wad it up and toss it at Matt's head. Whipping his head towards me he glares as I hold in my laugh and point towards the blackboard at the front of the class. Shaking his head he smiles at me before turning his attention away from Elena and the new guy. Poor Matt, he needs to stop letting Elena break his heart.
After a long and overly boring day of school Matt, Tyler, and I head to the grill to hang out. As the three of us settle into a booth, Vicki shows up out of no where and places an order of fries on the table all while making flirty eyes with Tyler. "Please tell me you're not hooking up with my sister" asks Matt and I suppress the urge to shudder "I'm not hooking up with your sister" as I let out a quick laugh Matt responds "You're such a dick".
Leaning over the table I steal a fry and give Matt a high five. "you two suck, I am going to go play pool" announces Tyler. As he stands to leave, I notice Bonnie wandering towards us "No hard feelings Ty, we found someone we like more."
Turning away from him I yell out "Bonnie Come sit with us" Bonnie waves back and walks towards us as Tyler leaves muttering under his breath.
Sitting down Bonnie smiles at Matt and I and asks how our days were "Fairly boring to be honest. But that new guy, any gossip from Caroline on who he is?" I question Bonnie.
Letting out a quick laugh she shakes her head and shares "All I know is his name is Stefan and he is new in town" "New and hot" I state as I fake fan myself while laughing.
Before anyone can respond I notice Elena and Stefan enter the grill together. "Oh crap" I share with the table. Suddenly Matt stands up and makes his way over to them and introduces himself to Stefan all while ignoring Elena.
Bonnie and I stare at each other and give a collective sigh. "Well, this has been fun Bonnie but I am going to head out, see you at the party this weekend?" Nodding at me Bonnie smiles and I make my way over to Tyler at the pool tables. "I am going to head home for the night Ty" "I will come with you Annie, no need to walk". Giving him a smile we head out of the grill and make our way home.
Entering the front door of our home is always an interesting experience. Sometimes it is calm and peaceful others it is loud and frustrating. Turns out tonight Carol and our dad have chosen loud and frustrating.
From beside he I hear Tyler whisper "Crap, want to do a movie night in my room?" Smiling, I nod and we sneak upstairs to watch a movie together, hopefully a Disney or Marvel movie.
A few nights later Tyler, Matt, and I head to the annual return to school bonfire. Once there Tyler goes to find Vicki while Matt and I locate Bonnie near the fire.
A few drinks in Matt wanders off and Tyler storms towards Bonnie and I ranting about Jeremy getting in the way and wanting to beat him up. Letting out a laugh I say "come on Ty he's a kid just ignore him" Throwing his head towards me with a glare, Tyler shrugs and grabs the drink out of my hand downing it before turning and walking away from Bonnie and I.
Looking at Bonnie I shrug at her "Sometimes I swear he is worse than a teenage girl Bonnie".
Suddenly, from behind us we hear frantic yelling and turn to see Jeremy carrying Vicki covered in blood with Elena running beside him. "Vicki? Vicki, what the hell!" yells Matt as he makes his way towards his sister.
"What happened to her?" asks Tyler as he pushes his way through the crowd "Somebody, call an ambulance!" yells Matt as Elena states "It's her neck. Something bit her. She's losing a lot of blood".
Standing around her I call 911 as I hear Matt whisper over his sister "Vicki, Vicki, come on, open your eyes, look at me."
Once the ambulance and police arrived, they took both Vicki and Matt to the hospital. Tyler and I decided to head home. "Where the hell have you two been? '' yells Richard the minute we walk into the house.
Staring at each other Tyler responds "we were at the bonfire dad w-"
"Enough, running tomorrow morning at 5am both of you" he yells at us. Nodding we make our way past our dad to our bedrooms. "I expect more from you both" Richard yells from the bottom of the stairs.
Before we enter our respective bedrooms Tyler and I turn towards each other "tomorrow is going to be bad isn't it" nodding Tyler agrees with my assessment before heading into his room. Lying in bed I can't help but wonder if I will be able to help the mystery man tonight.
Darkness. A room full of darkness. A familiar dream and a familiar room. I look around knowing that an unknown man will appear shortly covered in blood and laying on the ground in clear pain.
As though reading my thoughts a young man appears across from me laying on the floor covered in blood. I try to make my way towards his form but an unknown force holds me back.
"Help.. me…" gasps the form. Knowing I won't be able to help, I fall to my knees as I watch the man gasp for air.
As I continue to watch the young man tears begin streaming down my face.
Eventually, even the form fades in the darkness and a voice rings out "Hello Love, I have been waiting for you"