Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended. This story is copyright © 2012 Celestial Nightfall. All rights reserved.

Chapter 1

No longer could my mind decipher between right and wrong; no longer could my mind decipher what I wanted.

But it could decipher who I wanted.

He, who was never to come back, was long gone. I promised myself to move on, so why couldn't I? Why couldn't I get his voice out of my head every time I was in danger?

Why?

I positioned myself on my small bed, so that I was hugging my knees with my arms, and leaning my head against them. This was the only safe harbor left with me. Jacob was gone — the only lighthouse in my barren, unlighted sea, whose light finally stopped cooperating.

It left.

I squeezed my eyes tight together and waited for unconsciousness — almost eager for my nightmare to start. Better that than the pale, beautiful face that smiled at me now from behind my lids.

In my imagination, Victoria's eyes were black with thirst, bright with anticipation, and her lips curled back from her gleaming teeth in pleasure. Her red hair was brilliant as fire; it blew chaotically around her wild face.

Laurent's words repeated in my head. If you knew what she had planned for you . . . .

I wasn't sure, when I woke in the dark, if I'd just begun crying, or if my tears had run while I slept and simply continued now. I stared at my dark ceiling. I could feel that it was the middle of the night — I was still half-asleep, maybe more than half. I closed my eyes wearily and prayed for a dreamless sleep.

"Just a nightmare," I gasped, my voice choked with fear — I pressed my fist against my mouth to keep from screaming.

It's okay, I thought, trying to calm myself down.

That's when I heard the noise that must have wakened me in the first place. The creak of the window — its hinges, perhaps?

I stumbled out of my bed, confused, drowsy, and disoriented, as I tried to blink away my tears. The graceful, black shadow of the figure lurked over my window.

And then it hit me, striking me as fast as a lightning bolt.

Victoria.

She finally came for me.

I was going to die.

Not Charlie, too!

I let out a bloodcurdling scream.

But faster than I could blink, the cold palm of her hand was slick against my mouth as I felt her other limb grab my torso.

I thrashed against the stone arms, as the tears began streaming down again.

"Kill me already, and leave Charlie alone! You wanted to kill me, didn't you Victoria? Laurent told me himself! Just kill me already!" I said, though the hand that muffled my voice — I was pretty sure that she could still perfectly understand what I was saying.

"Laurent?" the voice hissed in the dark.

But it wasn't a female's voice. It was a masculine voice. I didn't have to look to know who it was; this was a voice I would know anywhere — know, and respond to, whether I was awake or asleep . . . or even dead, I'd bet. The voice I'd walk through fire for — or, less dramatically, slosh every day through the cold and endless rain for.

Edward.

This is my very first fanfic, and I am very excited to post it — speaking of which, I will update once a week, mainly during the weekends.

I hope you enjoyed. Reviews are welcomed.

Thanks for reading!