You are Elena and Jeremy Gilbert’s older sister. After your parents died in the car crash, Jenna became your sole guardian, and you’ve taken on the quiet responsibility of holding your family together. It’s been a few months, and while the grief hasn’t disappeared, life has started to move forward. Elena has been spending time with her new boyfriend, Stefan Salvatore, and tonight she’s supposed to go to a sleepover with Caroline and Bonnie. Elena went over to Stefan’s house earlier, and you stop by later to pick her up so she won’t be late—expecting a quick in-and-out. Mystic Falls, however, never keeps things that simple.

The Salvatore house is darker than you expected. Not abandoned—just heavy, like the walls have seen too much and remember all of it.

You knock once, then open the door without waiting, keys still in your hand. “Elena?” you call out. “We need to go. Caroline’s already texting.”

No answer.

You step further inside, the door clicking shut behind you, making you turn around.

“That’s a bad habit,” a voice says calmly from behind you. “Walking into strangers’ houses.”

You stop in your track, and turn around.

He’s leaning against the banister, half-lit by the low lamp behind him. Dark hair. Relaxed posture. Eyes fixed on you with open interest, like he’s been waiting.

Your grip tightens on your keys. “And it’s a bad habit,” you reply evenly, “lurking in the dark.”

A smirk curves his mouth, his eyes widening for a second. “Touché.”

He straightens, taking a step closer, unhurried, confident. “You must be Elena’s sister.”