I.      At The Beginning

         THE COOL AIR OF THE NIGHT nipped at the sheltered skin of Bianca's arms as she walked down the streets of Mystic Falls, her over-sized hoodie doing little to provide her protection from the cold. Perhaps that was her consequence for choosing the thin fabric in the first place, but it wasn't exactly her plan to spend her night out longer than she had. Feeling a vibration in her back pocket, the young teen stopped her steps and palmed for the device.

         "Speak of the devil," she whispered as the screen illuminated her face, the sole source of light in the vast darkness save the florescents shining from overhead. A text from a certain blonde blared to life, her number recognizable to the Amorettee girl with how often they lounged on the phone together.

         Bonnie wants you to text her when you get home. It read featured with an eyeroll following the digital lettering. Bianca couldn't help but chuckle as she rendered a text back, her feet aimlessly continuing down their pathway.

Tell her I will, appreciate the concern CareBear.

         The timing on her phone read it soon being close ten o'clock and a subconscious alert to her brain made Bianca hurry her haste. Into the beginning of their freshman year, Elena Gilbert, a friend to the Amorettee girl for a series of years that there never seemed to be a time when they weren't, had discovered a secret hideaway just near the outskirts of the schools boundary line. The quaint little structure had been a spot the young group of friends would escape too during the school hour.

          And now, it had obtained a new use. A use in which had led Bianca to having to sneak back into the four walls of her bedroom before her father made his way back home. With the Amorettee house being only three blocks from Mystic Falls High, Bianca could only hope for a blessing to hinder her father's arrival long enough for her to reach the last block.

         At the feeling of another vibration from her palm Bianca had begun to look down, holding the intent to signal a response when a loud crash echoed through the darkness, rattling off the sides of the brick walls of the looming alley surrounding her. Bianca's heart felt as if it were leaping out of her chest, thundering against the harsh bone of her sternum with a furiousity that bloomed a dull, burning ache flooded her chest.

          It was quick, unfathomably so, her heels scraping over the rain soaked concrete with the intent of distancing herself from the source of the sound, her eyes scanning frantically through the alley. As her feet propelled backwards, stumbling with each step, Bianca felt an arm latch around her waistline and snapped her backwards, pain crawling up her abdomen. The scream crawling it's way up her throat once  arose from a feeling of shock, the hairs on her body rising in alert at the sudden movement, now shifted into something more horrific, more blood curdling as a sharp, blinding pain ripped through the flesh of her neck.

           Skin became slattered with crimson liquid never meant to pour free, dripping down her shoulder and collarbone until nearly half of her upper body was drenched. As if every fiber in her body became alight, Bianca felt her body spark with fire of a thousand suns, with each drag slicing through the feeble skin of her neck came a roaring dizziness that left her unsure of what hurt more----the ever increasing grip of the arm gripping her waist, bruises birthing to life under the harsh movement or the gaping hole forming from the base of her throat.

             As the world around her quickly became dotted with black spots and her knees shook with the uncontrollable urge to cave in, Bianca felt her body crumble to the harsh ground, tossed without much care. A whimper escaped her trembling lips, the only source of movement her body allowed that didn't create a significant wave of pain alongside the one flowing through her body. Her muscles were locked in place, preventing her from even crawling away from her assaulter.

            The world began to become lost to her, the feeling of consciousness slowly seemed like a far away dream as Bianca's eyes felt lazy and heavy, as if they weighed a ton. As the sound of footsteps registered in her ears, Bianca allowed her eyes to travel up the expanse of the man before her, trying to obtain as much details about him as she could no matter the strain her eyes felt.

            Dark, soulless eyes stared down at her, gaze unflinching almost in a manic manner as a sharp snarl pulled at his lips. The curl of his lips gave way to the sheen sliver of bloodstained teeth, once white now a muted rouge, a set of piercing fangs lined the top and bottom row. Caked under the skin just above his cheeks, a field of veins bubbled to the surface, festering like a series of leaches weaved together and drenched in black ink that pooled over the skin.

          Then nothing.

          BIANCA AMORETTEE SIGHS INTO the palms of her hands, thumbs caressing the apples of her cheeks as she slumped into the thifted chair resting near her desk. Her eyes still caked with a daze of lingering sleepiness, a wet haze clouding over them like a blanket. Sleep had become her too late into the night and unclenched its grip just as the sun painted half the sky in hues of fuchsia and tangerine. As Bianca set free a yawn into her fist, her mind attempted to track over the night's memory, a knock on her bedroom door drew her focus.

          "Bianca," a baritone voice called out from the other side of the bedroom door. "Everything all right? Caroline called, said you weren't picking up your phone. She's almost here."

           Bianca blinked in alert, eyes darting to the electric clock sitting on her bedside table, pixel red numbers blaring loudly. Shit, she thought as she stumbled to her feet, flailing to attempt her chair from clattering to the floor and arising more concern from her father in the process.

          "I'll be downstairs in a minute!" She called out, socked feet scraping against the wooden surface as she hurried across the room, it was miracle how she hadn't fallen and clocked her head on a nearby surface. By the time she had dressed herself in a somewhat socially acceptable attire, her ears caught on to the faint conversation of her father as he allowed someone into their home, and a certain blonde.

         Turning the corner of the hall, standing at the top of the stairs, the ever present huff of frustration was easy to pick up from area of the kitchen. Caroline Forbes, daughter of the town's sheriff and Mystic Falls High's resident queen b, a title easy to understand why when taking into consideration her ambitious drive and determination walled by a bright, at times impetuous personality. With her fair golden locks and crystalline blue eyes, she looked as if she could have been pulled straight from a California teen beach magazine. Paired with an incisive smile, and maybe she just could.

         However, due to the manner of her perceived lateness, Bianca did not garner that blinding smile nor a so welcoming atmosphere as Caroline snapped her hands to her hips, a pout forming onto her lips as impatience glittered in her gaze.

        "Bianca, did you forget everything we talked about on the phone last night? It's the beginning of our junior year, and as such, we need to make a statement." She began. "And through doing so, that requires us to be at said school, on time."

        Bianca couldn't help to resist the eye roll as she brushed past the blonde and made her way to the kitchen, catching on to the tail end statement falling from her lips. "I am already willing to put up with your sense of fashion, I refrain from being acceptant of tardiness."

        A gasp fell from Bianca's lips as she placed a hand over her chest in fake hurt. "What's wrong with the way I dress?" In contrast to her friend's royal blue, ruffled collar topped off with a heart shaped charm necklace attire, Bianca adorned a stripped long sleeved undershirt, an acid wash tee, and ripped jeans. At Caroline's simple raised brow in response, Bianca groaned. "I only threw this on because you were rushing me. And don't give me that look, this overshirt is necessary so I don't get dress coded for exposure."

         "And we do not want that. Especially on the first day." Kenny stated firmly, even with his eyes holding a humorous mirth to them, tugging the strap of his bag over his shoulder. "And speaking of first days, I can assume that there will be a party of some sort, in celebration, correct?"

        Bianca and Caroline shared a look, neither sure how to respond. The young Forbes opened her mouth, stumbling over a hastily crafted lie in hopes of covering their plans for later in the week that was sure to be unbelievable, but Bianca could see how little that would work in their favor. Especially considering the blonde couldn't lie nor keep a secret to save her life and by lying to her father, her chances of attending the back-to-school bash would be a long shot in the dark.

        "Yeah, dad, but don't worry! It's just going to be a get together between friends-"

        "Who have friends, and said friends have friends, making up the entirety of Mystic Falls High." Kenny cut in, eyeing his daughter closely as she bit the inside of her cheek. "Along with the presence of, much to my dismay, alcohol and other substances?"

        An awkward aura had befallen over two teens as a unanimous mumble in conformation filled the air.

        Kenny sighed, eyes tracking over his wristwatch before returning back to the two teens. "It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know what goes on when you group a bunch of teenagers together, after being away over the summer, so I am sure I am not the only adult who is aware."

      "Yeah, probably."

       "But since you two are running late, apparently, and I have to go, I'll let it slide. Bianca, we'll talk more about this later." Kenny leaned forward, placing a small kiss on the crown of his daughter's forehead. As he pulled away his graze tracked on to the slightly worn expression dancing over her features. "Not so good of a night?"

        Bianca merely let out a grunt in reply, glancing quickly to make sure Caroline was out of earshot and visually distracted before replying with a simple nod. Kenny clicked his teeth, giving her a quick glance before massaging muscle of her bicep.

        "You know...if you want to skip today, I understand-" Kenny began but Bianca interrupted with a quick shake of her head, eyes darting back to her friend who had stood lazily texting on her phone.

        "I'll be okay," Bianca whispered softly, fingers scratching at the worn brown leather straps of her bag. Running her teeth over her bottom lip the teen persisted. "It's not like I can hide away forever. Besides, it's not like I'll be the talk of the school that much anymore...a year and a few months will do that."

        Kenny Amorettee did not look convinced, but at the persistent look in his daughter's eyes, he knew there wasn't much room to debate. "Try to not overdo it today, kid, and have a good day." He said simply.

        "Will try too." As Bianca pulled away, her steps advancing her towards where Caroline patiently stood, the dark skinned girl took notice of the Forbes' girl's piercing gaze targeted at the plastic board reclined against the cream colored walls nearing entrance walkway. "What?" She blinked.

        "Bianca," Caroline began, tone nearing exasperation.

        Bianca kicked the edge of the board, catching it swiftly in her grasp before tucking it under her arm with smirk tickling her lips. "Where I go, my board goes. Come on, Care, wouldn't want to be late on our first day." With a small cackle, Bianca hurried out the house towards her friend's car, not able to withhold the wide smile that pulled across her face at the sound of the blonde's groans of frustration.

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word count (in fic): 2079

Chapter one of the newly revamped "Heaven's Labyrinth" is here! And already opening it with a case of trauma that will surely linger on as the story progress---sorry Bianca. To be honest, I didn't really care for this chapter, but it was necessary to get the ground running so--

But to recap, Bianca was attacked by, at the time she had no idea existed, a vampire during her freshman year of high school. So, to map it in the TVD timeline where the kids start high school, which was in 2007, and the Gilbert car accident, 2009, this attack happened just a little before the accident. I'd say...about a month before. Bianca's mother, Adelaide Amorettee, disappeared three weeks before the Gilbert accident. Hope this makes sense.

Bianca's a skater girl, I said what I said. I haven't figured out a set style for her, but let's say she leans more towards punk (grunge) casual in her teen and a little bit of her adult years. Because we need more black, especially black female characters in punk settings too.

Anyways, thanks for reading, and don't be a silent reader!

©️ sukibenders.