Who-hoo, I'm writing again! It feels fantastic to have a new story. Keep in mind, this first chapter sounds nothing like Twilight, but be patient fellow readers, our favorite characters are coming very soon (like next chapter). So, if you are here willingly and not because someone is forcing you at gunpoint to read this, then you receive a tradition of mine...THE GOODIE OF THE DAY!! It's marshmellow brownies. Enjoy.

There is a delicate balance between courage and stupidity, and at that moment I realized my previous actions were the latter; we were now in mortal danger. As we sat huddled in the small crevice of a room, barely breathing, barely shifting our eyes, we all knew we would be found—there is no escaping a creature that smells fear. If our sounds or scent didn't give us away, I knew that our heat would. Who better to detect a source of heat than a piece of cold, dead flesh? I cringed at the horror of this terrible irony. I might as well scream and let our end be immediately and painlessly. Our captor would be selfish and quick (whether or not either he would be merciful no longer seemed to matter); he would not share us among his companions. His lust for blood and searing thirst for that which he most sorely wanted would keep him from using his head and his logic. It wouldn't matter if he knew our faces, could call us by name; he would be blinded with mania. Sadly, ironically enough, I did know him. I knew him very, very well.

I could feel the heat before the systems warned me of it. It was a warm, homely heat, but I knew that outside of my skin-protecting suit, it would be over 115 degrees in the cabin, and outside it…well, I didn't want to think about it. Such things are not worthy of dwelling upon. Already I was beginning to feel the crushing pressure upon my chest as the cabin resisted the air around it. The main systems switched to the "off" position due to the heat and speed. Training left me well prepared for such events, but every pilot warned me of how different the real thing is. So you could say I was apprehensive, no, anxious for this flight. And now, as I hurdled through the air at over three-hundred miles per hour, I couldn't help but feel frightened.

I knew it would be better if I concentrated on something else, but no other object around the cabin provided me with such luxury. There was nothing of consequential excitement that I had not seen previously for several days. There were still the same control panels, the same kitchen, and the same bed. Everything reminded me of him; that he must have been thinking the same things I am. Perhaps he shared the same fear that crept through my body, the same anticipation that I could be swallowed in fire if the cabin even had one small malfunction. I sighed, slightly jealous of my brother. At least he made it to land and did not die of self immolation.

An incessant roar surrounded my ears, vibrating them between the spaces in my small helmet. My hands were shaking as I attempted to grasp onto the handles of my chair, with no success. Seriously, who was the dumbass who invented these gloves to make them so slippery? Even though I trained with all of my equipment months in advance, perhaps it was the fact that my palms were sweating that changed the factors. I tried to think of my brother Neil; I know he would think of me as wimp at this point. I smiled at the memory of his face. He was never afraid of anything; all one needed to do was to look at the large scar on his face to see it. I remember that scar well, mostly because it involved a great deal of stupidity on my brother's part. One day when we were at the pool, he decided to handstand jump off the diving board like the Olympic Athletes of long ago. Hence the scar that dragged across this face. He always said it hurt like hell, but I remember him laughing while I was screaming.

The ride no longer seemed as frightening now that I finished reminiscing. Still, memories couldn't bring him back, only my desperate actions. After he disappeared from his mission, I knew it would have to be me to find him. I always wanted to see Home anyway. We were all taught about it in kindergarten, our once great and mighty Home that we were forced to abandon, the home that once held lush forests and abound with beauty. Now, we were only surrounded by metal and plastic. I think what I wanted to experience the most was a real breeze. Not the unnatural, consistent breeze created by fans in our station, but one blown by nature, cooling and satisfying.

I was quickly snapped shut out of another silly daydream when the roar finally began to soften; I was entering the troposphere, and my cabin could finally slow down. My systems returned to their "on" position once out of the extreme heat and speed. I could feel my nerves calm down, and I began to relax in my seat once more, feeling heavy after tensing my muscles for those crucial five minutes. My suit felt cooler, though it was probably only because I was no longer sweating. There was only the sound of my heavy breathing and the wind rushing outside for brief moments. Other pilots like me told me before my journey that this was the most peaceful part of the trip, when it finally sinks in that you made it. My emotions went far beyond that; I was visiting Home, something that only my brother had been able to do. There was some tick in my brain, some deeply hidden instinct that strongly tied me to this beautiful planet. I looked out my window. I never believed that anyone ever "gasped" until this very moment. Below me was a spectacular scene; the whole world lay below me, in her former glory and perfection. There was nothing but green and blue and brown to behold. Stories of my childhood described little green and a mostly urban planet. I couldn't have looked at a stronger contrast. I could faintly see traces of urban society; outlines of shiny metal woven between rivers and sheets of blanketing green, some covering for miles around. I saw before me white capped mountains and sandy deserts. The awe struck me hard and completely. I had seen all the pictures in magazines and books of long ago, but to see it for my eyes was an entirely different, all consuming experience. I could barely breathe as I-

"My systems are back online." And this was the moment that all the pilots told me where I would want to smash the computer. How dare it interrupt this perfect moment! I raised my hand as if to smash the board but quickly stopped myself. Plunging to my death with a broken hand wasn't a very good idea.

"Good, computer. Where are we landing?" I asked irritated. The metallic voice answered immediately.

"48°52′10″N, 2°19′78″E."

I tried to recall where that was located geographically. I estimated around Paris, France, where my brother reportedly disappeared. Good, at least the landing calculations were correct. The land seemed to grow as I descended closer and closer to the ground below me. An excitement filled my chest, for I knew that I was coming home. My father once told me we were "French", but that always seemed irrelevant and unimportant. Now, I felt "French", as if my old, slumbering ties to the old way of life were rekindled. Music occupied my mind as I sang gently to myself, which never failed to fill me with joy.

Finally, after several minutes of apparent drifting, I felt the ship touch land. Could a heart stop in excitement? I was Home. I prayed frantically that the computer would confirm good news and let me step outside without my protective suit. If conditions allowed, and toxins in the air were few, perhaps my wish would be granted. I crossed my fingers as the computer spoke in its metallic voice.

"Weather: partially cloudy. Temperature: 68˚. Air conditions: Mildly humid, clean."

I breathed an enormous sigh of relief and joy. A great sense of purpose filled me as I discussed the great possibilities with myself. I could find my brother alive, I would discover what was left of our planet, I could lead humanity Home. With great determination and urgency, I quickly removed my protective helmet and suit. Strutting over to my very small and limited closet, I selected a three-quarter sleeve and light blue jeans, as well as wore my sleek walking shoes. To feel a fresh breeze, to smell the forest, which was only of legend and indescribable, hear birds in the sky; what a concept. This must have been what Neil felt like when he first landed. Neil, if you're out there, I'm coming. I pressed the open button on the door. It slowly opened, filling the cabin with warm sunshine. I closed my eyes, ready to embrace my long forgotten Home.