Halifer State, Mystic Hills, September 9th, 12:00 AM.
I have lived for long centuries in secrecy, hidden among the shadows, far from the eyes of Humans. I was never supposed to return to my homeland. I know the risks, but I have no choice—I have to know her.
There was a person with dark, indistinct features, thinking to himself as he stood on the roof of a house, staring into the darkness of the night. He jumped from the four-story rooftop and landed on his feet gracefully without making a sound, then disappeared in a flash of speed, heading toward the forest.
Meanwhile, a couple was driving their car calmly along a road surrounded by silent forest trees.
"Darren, are we there yet?" Monica asked her husband in boredom.
"Be patient, my dear, we're almost home," Darren replied cheerfully.
Darren and Monica were an ordinary couple with a teenage son who was sixteen years old. They lived in the state of Haliver, specifically in a small city called Mystic Hills.
Darren and his wife had gone on an important work trip for three days away from home, and now they were on their way back to their town after exhausting days.
"I wonder what Jacob is doing now," Monica said worriedly.
Darren looked at his wife and said, "Don't worry, my dear. His uncle Jake will take good care of him and make sure he doesn't get into any trouble."
"I hope so, but you know Jacob, Darren. He's a very troublesome boy—Jake might not be able to control him."
Darren opened his mouth to reply, but suddenly stopped when he saw someone lying in the middle of the road.
Darren slammed on the brakes hard.
Monica looked at him in confusion and said, "What is it? Why did you stop?"
Darren replied, staring worriedly at the person lying on the road, "Something's wrong. Stay here in the car, I'll check it out."
Monica looked in the same direction Darren was staring and saw the person lying there as well. For some reason, fear and unease took hold of her the moment she saw him.
Darren opened the car door and was about to step out, but stopped when he felt Monica grabbing his hand.
Monica said in a worried and fearful tone, "Don't get out, Darren. I have a bad feeling about this."
Darren held his wife's hand and said, "Don't be afraid, Monica. I'll be right back." Then he pulled his hand away and got out of the car.
He approached the person and said, "Hello, my friend. What are you doing here? Do you need help?"
Suddenly, a strange white fog rose and covered the area. Darren could see nothing except his car's lights.
"What the hell is this?" Darren said in confusion as he pulled out his phone and turned on the flashlight.
He pointed his phone toward where the person had been lying, but found no one there.
"What? Where did he go?"
"Darren! What's happening?!" Monica screamed in panic as she got out of the car when the fog surrounded her husband.
"AAAH!!!" Darren screamed in pain, then silence fell over the place.
"DARREN!!" Monica screamed in fear and panic, trying to run toward her husband, but froze in place when she heard something crash heavily onto their car.
She slowly turned in horror and saw the body of her beloved husband, drenched in blood, lifeless on top of the car, his neck torn apart.
"DARREN!!"
Monica screamed in pain and ran to him, crying and trying to wake him up.
"Don't cry, my dear, too much crying ruins your beauty."
Monica heard a mocking voice behind her.
She froze in place, then slowly turned toward the source of the voice, and saw the same man who had been lying on the road, looking at her with a mocking smile while her husband's blood dripped from his mouth.
"Hello, nice to meet you too, but I'm a little hungry, so... I'll have you for dinner."
The man grabbed Monica's shoulders firmly as he finished speaking.
"No! Please, don't kill me! I have a son at home waiting for me!" Monica screamed in sorrow, tears streaming down her face.
She hated this "monster" from the depths of her heart and wished more than anything to avenge her husband, but at the same time she did not want to die and leave her son alone without a family. So she begged her husband's killer in humiliation and despair.
The man paused for a moment, then gasped and said, "You have a son? I'm very sorry, I didn't know. I'll let you go now." Then he disappeared in the blink of an eye.
Monica stared in shock at the man's speed, then looked at her husband's body. Tears continued to pour from her eyes like a waterfall, but she gathered her courage and moved toward the driver's door, about to get into the car, when she suddenly felt a hand grabbing her tightly.
She quickly turned and saw the monster who killed her husband holding her firmly.
The man smiled and said, "I was joking. Say hi to Darren." As soon as he finished speaking, the whites of his eyes turned red with deep blackness, dark veins appeared beneath his eyes, and long white fangs protruded from his mouth. He let out a terrifying hiss, then lunged at Monica's neck, biting and greedily draining her blood.
"AAAAH!!!" Monica's horrifying scream echoed in the darkness of the night as the light slowly faded from her eyes.
The man threw Monica's body aside, then smiled mockingly as he looked at the corpses he left behind.
[ The next day ].
The morning sun rose over the town of Mystic Hills and its beautiful and mysterious surroundings, entering through the window, its rays falling upon a beautiful girl lying on her bed.
The girl's eyes trembled, then she slowly opened her hazel-brown eyes and sat up lazily.
She looked around and felt bitterness and sadness inside her—the same bitterness, sadness, and depression she had felt all summer.
Elena Gilbert sighed tiredly, then picked up her diary that was beside her and began writing slowly.
"Dear diary, today will be different. It has to be. I will smile, and my smile will be genuine. My smile will say: 'I'm fine, thank you.' Yes, I feel much better. I will no longer be that sad little girl who lost her parents.
Elena closed her diary, stood up with determination, and went to the bathroom in her room.
Elena opened the bathroom with a slight creaking sound, then relieved herself, and stood in front of her mirror.
Elena's face was the definition of beauty; her lips were thin and beautiful, her hair long and brown, her eyes hazel-brown, her nose small and flawless, and her eyebrows long, delicate, and dark as well.
Elena looked at herself and tried to smile, but her smile didn't reach her eyes.
Elena frowned slightly, then thought, no, no more sadness, I have to move on, a new school year, a new beginning.
After encouraging herself, Elena washed her face, cleaned herself, got dressed for school, then went down to the kitchen to have breakfast.
Elena entered the kitchen slowly and smiled gently at a beautiful blonde girl and said, "Good morning, Aunt Jenna."
Jenna, Elena and Jeremy's aunt and their current legal guardian, looked at her and said, "Good morning, Elena, how was your night?"
Elena smiled and said: "It was good, Jenna."
Jenna smiled warmly and said kindly, "Good, I'm glad to hear that, and if there's anything bothering you, remember that I'm here for you, okay?"
Elena looked at her aunt with a warm smile. Jenna wasn't obligated to take guardianship or live with them, yet she left her life behind and came to Mystic Falls to make sure to take care of her and her younger brother.
Jenna Sommers was beautiful—just like Elena, if not more. She was fully mature, with strawberry blonde hair, sapphire-blue eyes, delicate features, and a slender figure.
Jenna looked at the dining table with a serious expression and said, "Toast. I can make toast."
Elena sat down and said, "It's all about the coffee, Aunt Jenna."
"Coffee? How did I forget the coffee?" Jenna said with a groan and hit her forehead with her hand.
"Is there coffee?"
A gloomy voice asked at that moment.
Elena and Jenna turned toward the source of the voice and found a teenage boy standing there with slouched shoulders and a gloomy expression.
It was Jeremy Gilbert, Elena's younger brother.
Jenna smiled awkwardly and said, "Sorry, Jeremy, but there's no coffee."
Jeremy shrugged and said, "It's fine, I'll make it myself."
Then he went to the coffee machine and started making his coffee.
Elena looked at her younger brother sadly; Jeremy had become very gloomy since their parents' death in the summer.
Jenna looked at Elena and said nervously, "Your first day of school and I'm totally unprepared. Lunch money?"
"I'm fine, Aunt Jenna, I don't need lunch money," Elena replied.
"Is there anything else? A number 2 pencil? What am I missing?"
Elena raised an eyebrow and said, "Don't you have an important presentation today?"
Jenna quickly looked at her watch and said, "I'm meeting my thesis advisor in… now. Oh my God!"
Elena said to Jenna in a reassuring tone, "Then go. We'll be fine."
Jenna immediately ran and waved her hand, saying, "Okay, goodbye, see you later!"
Elena sighed and looked at her brother and asked worriedly,
"Are you okay?"
Jeremy looked at her coldly and said, "Don't start."
Then he left the kitchen and went to school alone.
Elena clenched her jaw with slight anger; Jeremy had been treating her coldly ever since their parents died. She understood his grief and depression, but hadn't she lost her parents too just like he did? So why did he keep treating her like this while she was just trying to take care of him?
Elena shook her head, then stood up and left the house.
But she didn't notice the news behind her on the TV.
[ Then the discovery of a murdered couple: Monica and Darren Lenxon ].
Elena went outside and closed the door behind her, then saw a white 2006 Toyota Prius.
Beep.
The driver honked, who was a beautiful dark-skinned girl with green eyes and smooth black hair.
The girl stuck her head out of the window, smiled at Elena, and waved at her.
Elena waved back with a slight smile on her face; the girl was her childhood friend Bonnie Bennett.
Elena got into the car, and Bonnie said, "Good morning, Elena."
Elena smiled and said, "Good morning, Bonnie."
The car was silent as Bonnie drove toward the school, as she had volunteered to drive Elena on the first day of the new school year.
Bonnie glanced at Elena and found her distracted. She opened her mouth to break the silence, saying:
"Well, my grandma says I have psychic abilities. Our ancestors were from Salem, witches, all that stuff. I know, it's crazy, but she won't stop talking about it. I think she should be put in a nursing home! But then I started thinking—she predicted Obama, she predicted Heath Ledger, and I still think Florida will split off and become little island resorts… Elena!" Bonnie shouted the last part when she saw Elena not paying attention.
Elena blinked and said with a smile, "I did it again, didn't I? I… I'm sorry, Bonnie. You were telling me about this…"
Bonnie replied, "I now have psychic powers."
"Oh, really?" Elena smiled warmly and said, "Alright then. So, predict something about me."
Bonnie began speaking, "I see…"
But a loud bang interrupted her.
Bang!!
"Oh my God! What is that?!" Elena screamed in terror when she saw a strange black object hit the windshield, though she didn't know what it was.
Bonnie screamed in shock, "What is that?! Oh my God! Elena, are you okay?!"
Elena looked at her friend. "I'm fine. Really, I'm fine."
Bonnie apologized quickly. "Maybe it was a bird or something like that. It came out of nowhere."
Elena reassured her, "I'm fine, Bonnie, really. I can't stay afraid of cars my whole life."
Bonnie looked at Elena sadly after she finished speaking, because Elena had been suffering from a fear of cars since the Wickery Bridge accident with her parents.
Bonnie gently patted Elena's shoulder and said, "I predict this year will be great. I predict all the sad and dark times will end, and you'll be very happy."
Elena smiled happily and said, "Thank you, Bonnie. You're the best friend anyone could have."
Bonnie smiled warmly and said, "You're welcome, Elena, anytime." Then she started the engine again and drove quickly toward the school before they were late on their first day.
[ Meanwhile with Scott ].
Mystic Hills High School was like any other high school, crowded with students and noise, and exhausted teenagers either showing off their cars or exchanging kisses under the influence of raging hormones.
Scott McCall parked his bicycle in the school yard, took off his helmet, and got off it.
Scott stood at the school entrance, touching the right side of his abdomen nervously, trying to hide the pain he had been feeling since last night.
A large bandage covered his right side, still visible even under his shirt.
Stiles approached him quickly, his eyes full of curiosity. "Scott… what exactly happened?".
Scott sighed and lifted his shirt slightly to show him the bandage.
"This… just a scratch, nothing serious," he said, trying to sound normal.
Stiles exhaled, his eyes widening. "A scratch? Scott… that's not a normal scratch. It looks serious!"
Scott lowered his shirt quickly, avoiding any looks from passersby, "No one should know… just… don't make a scene."
Stiles nodded slowly, then smiled sarcastically, "Alright… but I can't stop thinking about what happened in the woods. Half a body… Scott, we're starting something really big, aren't we?"
Scott blinked slowly and let his eyes drift away from Stiles. "I know… and I wish I could ignore everything and go back to my normal life… football, school… anything."
Stiles lightly patted Scott's shoulder, "You won't be able to ignore it… but at least now we're together. Right?"
Scott gave a small smile, barely visible, but he felt some comfort having Stiles by his side.
Stiles looked at Scott with wide eyes as he noticed the bandage and said with clear curiosity, "Alright… what caused that wound?"
Scott swallowed, then answered in a low voice, "It was… a wolf bite."
Stiles paused for a moment, as if trying to process what he heard, then laughed sarcastically and said, "A wolf?! Scott… you know there haven't been any wolves recorded in Halifer for more than sixty years?"
Scott looked tense and afraid, his shoulder trembling slightly from the pain, "I saw it, Stiles, it was a wolf, I'm sure."
Stiles raised an eyebrow in surprise, then smiled with a half-teasing grin, "Ah… is that so? So you dealt with something no one has seen for decades… that's interesting, but thank God you're safe, Scott. I'm sorry you got bitten because of me."
Scott smiled a small, barely visible smile and said, "Thanks, Stiles, but you owe me seven meals now because of what happened last night."
Stiles blinked and said, "Scott, my allowance won't be enough for seven full meals for you."
Scott shrugged, grabbed his bag firmly, and walked toward the school gate, saying, "That's your problem, you have to figure it out."
Stiles scratched his head and said, "Scott, wait a second, we can negotiate this, how about two meals?"
Stiles's answer was Scott's back as he entered through the door.
"Scott, wait for me!" Stiles ran and caught up with his friend.
In the school hallway, the noise hit Scott immediately.
Laughter.
Shouting.
Lockers slamming shut.
Students greeting each other as if nothing had happened.
But this time the noise was stronger and louder, everything was more intense, and very painful to his ears.
"Ah!" Scott groaned in pain and crouched slightly, holding his ears.
Stiles reached him immediately and looked at his friend with concern, "Scott! Scott, what's wrong, man?!"
Scott said through clenched teeth in pain, "The noise… it's… it's too loud!"
"What noise?! Scott, what's happening?!"
Scott stumbled a few steps and hit one of the lockers, then suddenly the noise disappeared.
Scott opened his eyes in shock and looked around.
Nearby, his friend Stiles was looking at him with concern, and some students were looking at him in confusion.
Scott inhaled sharply, then stood up slowly.
"Scott, are you okay?" Stiles asked immediately.
Scott exhaled and looked around nervously, "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine, Stiles." Then he walked quickly toward the classroom.
Stiles frowned in confusion and whispered, "What just happened?"
Stiles thought worriedly for a moment, then followed his friend.
At that moment, Elena and Bonnie entered through the school door.
Bonnie said to Elena, "Anyway, as I was saying, there's a serious shortage of men. Look at the shower curtain on Kelly Beach. It looks like… can I still say 'gender-bending mess'?"
Elena shook her head helplessly and said, "No, that's over."
Bonnie shrugged and said, "Or you can just find a guy and coin a phrase. It's a busy year."
Elena opened her mouth to reply but stopped when she saw a handsome, muscular blonde boy with blue eyes staring at her.
It was Matt Donovan, her ex-boyfriend.
Elena broke up with Matt because of her parents' death in the summer and told him she needed space, but… it seemed he didn't take it well.
Elena waved to Matt. He ignored her with a cold scoff and walked away.
"He hates me," Elena said sadly.
Bonnie looked at her and said, "That's not hate. That's 'you broke up with me, but I look too cool to show it, but I secretly listen to Air Supply's greatest hits.'"
Elena sighed and hoped her friend was right.
At that moment, she heard a girl's happy scream.
"Elena!!"
Elena turned toward the source of the sound and saw a beautiful blonde girl with blue eyes approaching her and Bonnie with concern.
It was Caroline Forbes, one of Elena's close friends.
"Oh Elena, how are you? Are you okay?" Caroline asked worriedly as she hugged Elena tightly.
"I'm so sorry about what happened to your parents, Elena," Caroline continued while hugging her tightly.
"Caroline… can you… can you let me go? I… I can't breathe here," Elena said in a shaky voice, her face embarrassed.
"Oh my God! I'm so sorry, I didn't mean that!" Caroline apologized quickly, then turned to Bonnie and asked:
"How is she? Is she okay? Is she depressed? Is she eating well?"
Elena said, "Caroline, I'm right here. I'm fine. I'm not depressed, and yes, I'm eating well, thank you."
Caroline asked quickly with concern, "Really?"
Elena replied, "Yes. Much better."
Caroline said sadly as she hugged Elena again, "Oh my God, poor Elena."
Elena quickly patted Caroline's shoulder and said:
"Alright, Caroline, that's enough hugging."
Caroline said, "Okay! See you later?" then headed to her locker.
Bonnie waved to her friend smiling, "Goodbye!" then looked at Elena with a teasing look.
Elena said cautiously, "No comment."
Bonnie smiled playfully and said:
"I won't say anything."
Bonnie and Elena walked toward their classroom, and as they passed through the hallway, they saw the principal's office door open, and a student standing in front of it.
Bonnie asked in confusion, "Wait, who is that?"
Elena looked in the direction Bonnie pointed and said:
"All I see is his back."
Bonnie said with a sly look, "An attractive back!"
Amanda Rankcroft, the principal of Mystic Hills High School, looked annoyed at the file in front of her, then glanced at the new student.
She said, "Mr. Salvatore, your records are incomplete. Your vaccination records are missing, and we insist on having a copy of them."
The new student looked deeply into Amanda's eyes and said:
"Please check again. I'm sure everything you need is there."
The student's pupils dilated and contracted as he stared at the principal. Amanda blinked in confusion, then looked at the file again.
She said, "You're right. Everything is here indeed."
At that moment, a boy passed by Elena and Bonnie and said to Jeremy:
"Good hit, man."
Elena turned toward the boy, watching him talk briefly with Jeremy before Jeremy headed toward the boys' bathroom.
"I'll be right back," Elena excused herself, then followed her younger brother and his friend.
Bonnie whispered to herself while staring intently at the new student's back: "I hope he's hot."
Meanwhile, Elena burst into the boys' bathroom and shouted:
"Jeremy!!"
A teenage boy who was peeing quickly pulled up his pants and said:
"Hey!! This is the boys' bathroom!!"
Elena ignored him and hurried toward her younger brother. She grabbed Jeremy's face and looked into his eyes to make sure he wasn't on drugs.
Elena stepped back and said:
"Wow, it's the first day of school and you're already doing drugs!"
Jeremy shook his head slowly.
"No, I'm not."
Elena asked angrily as she searched his pockets: "Where is it? Do you have it?"
Jeremy stepped back and said:
"Elena, stop, okay? You need to calm down."
Elena looked at him sarcastically and said:
"Calm down? What kind of addict talk is that? Wow, you're amazing, Jeremy!"
Then she started searching his pockets more aggressively.
Jeremy stepped back and shouted:
"Look, I don't have anything!"
Elena ignored him, grabbed his shirt collar, pushed him against the bathroom wall, and continued searching his pockets.
Jeremy shouted, fed up with his sister's behavior, "I told you to stop!" and pushed her away.
He glared at her angrily.
"Are you crazy?!"
Elena stepped back a few steps and said:
"Crazy? You haven't seen crazy yet, Jeremy! I gave you the summer break, but I'm sick of seeing you moody! No, no, no, you know what, keep going like this, I won't put up with this from you anymore, I'm tired and sick of your drug lectures, but know that I'll be there to ruin your fun, got it?!"
She shouted the last part loudly.
The boy standing behind them looked embarrassed and said slowly:
"I think I should go…"
Then he quickly left the bathroom, muttering about family drama early in the morning and how he always ends up in such situations.
Elena looked at Jeremy and said:
"Listen, Jeremy, I know who you are. You're not this person. So don't act like this. Just… be my brother."
Jeremy looked at her coldly and said:
"I don't need your stupid lecture, Elena. You have no right to lecture me because you're the reason I'm like this! You're the one who caused our parents' death, so… just leave me alone!"
Then he stormed out of the bathroom angrily.
Elena's eyes widened at Jeremy's harsh words. She froze in place, tears welling up in her eyes.
Meanwhile, the new student finished his procedures, thanked the principal, and left her office.
Bonnie stared closely at the new student's face, liking what she saw. The new student was very handsome, with a sharp jaw, broad shoulders, blue eyes, and neatly styled brown hair. His name was Stefan Salvatore.
Bonnie froze in place, staring at Stefan in amazement. She had never seen a boy this handsome before.
Stefan walked slowly past Bonnie, heading toward the boys' bathroom. As he walked, all the girls in the hallway stopped to look at him, stunned and impressed.
Stefan reached the bathroom, but Elena accidentally opened the door and collided with him.
Elena stumbled, but Stefan managed to catch her by the shoulder before she fell.
Stefan asked with concern: "Are you okay?"
Elena looked at Stefan in shock and stuttered:
"Y-yes… I'm fine."
Stefan looked at her curiously, then glanced at the boys' bathroom she came out of.
"Hmm… excuse me, is this the men's room?"
Elena got nervous and said:
"Hmm… yes, I was just… um… I was… um… it's a long story."
"That's okay. We all have long stories," Stefan replied with a warm smile.
Elena opened her mouth and stared at Stefan in amazement.
"Now, would you mind if…?" Stefan gestured toward the bathroom door.
Elena blinked and said quickly:
"Oh!! Yes, go ahead."
She stepped aside. Stefan thanked her politely and entered the bathroom.
Elena kept staring at the bathroom door in shock as Stefan went inside.
"Oh my God… who was that? He's the most handsome guy I've ever seen in my life!" Elena thought to herself in amazement.
"Elena!!"
Elena flinched when she heard Bonnie's voice.
She turned to her friend and said:
"Yes, Bonnie? Did you say something?"
"I called you three times, Elena, but you kept staring at the bathroom door in shock. What's wrong?"
"Me? I… I was thinking about something," Elena replied nervously.
Bonnie smiled slyly at Elena and said:
"Really? Something? Does that something have anything to do with that handsome guy you just bumped into in front of the boys' bathroom?"
"No, no, no, it's… nothing," Elena replied quickly but stopped when she saw Bonnie's wide smile.
Elena sighed and said:
"Not a word."
Bonnie shrugged and said: "I didn't say anything yet."
Elena sighed, then hurried toward class.
Bonnie watched her friend's back with a smile. It seemed the new student had completely captured Elena's attention.
Bonnie felt happy seeing Elena show interest in a guy, because her friend had been going through a very hard time.
Elena's parents died when their car fell off a bridge and sank into the water. Elena survived, but her parents didn't.
After that, Elena fell into depression and suffered from survivor's guilt. What made things worse was that her parents had gone to pick her up from a party she had snuck out to without permission, which led to the car accident, then their death, making Elena blame herself deeply for what happened.
Bonnie shook off her thoughts and hurried after Elena, as they were late for their first class.
Bonnie followed Elena with an optimistic look, wondering what would happen in this new school year.
She didn't know that this was the beginning of her life turning into an unbearable hell.