Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight, the lovely SM does. I just took the characters, made them human and transported them back to 1871 Missouri. No copyright infringement is intended.
A/N: Here's the first installment from Shelter from the Storm. It will be a dark, action-packed western. I will have the first chapter posted in a few weeks.
I really need to thank the super awesome melonscraps from turning pre-reader to Beta. I Love you and I'm looking forward to all the red marks ups!
Also, I need to thank to my wonderful pre-reader and partner in twitter crime, Loopis78. Love you my dear.
Thank you and enjoy,
iv
PROLOGUE
"Charlotte?" Bella said, falling to her knees in order to face the six year old, "Do you remember the trail that leads to Dr. Cullen's house?"
Charlotte nodded quickly.
"I want you to run there as fast as you can and find Esme or Carlisle. Can you do that for me, Charlotte?"
Charlotte nodded again. "Why?" she asked sincerely.
"Please, just do as I ask, I'll explain later," Bella tried to keep calm, but she couldn't ignore the broken down doorframe of her house seen in her peripheral vision.
"But—"
"Go. Now," Bella practically yelled, "It's important. And please stay on the trail away from the river."
"I promise." Charlotte said and gave Bella a reassuring hug before her little legs ran and carried her towards the Cullen's house.
Once Charlotte was out of sight, Bella ran towards the barn to get her father's rifle. After the numerous attacks that had occurred in town, she should had known better than to not be prepared.
Bella carefully entered the house and securely rested the butt of the rifle on her shoulder. She held her breath and walked quietly, waiting to hear a presence.
"Pa? Edward?" she called out. There was no answer.
She left the front room and proceeded to the parlor. It was then that she noticed the disarray and the large quantities of blood splattered about.
The heavy scent of iron filled her nostrils. Bella ignored the stench that caused bright white dots to in her eyes, and walked further into the room.
She found him cut up to shreds, ruthlessly butchered behind the sofa. The bloody and mangled remains forced bile into Bella's throat. She emptied the contents of her stomach before she dropped to the floor and released a strangled sob.
"No, no, no," she cried as the pain tore through her and then started rocking back and forth.
"Bella, there you are."
Jacob's familiar voice reminded Bella that she wasn't alone, but at least it was a friend. That was until she turned towards him and found him standing in the entryway of the parlor with a sinister smile on his face while wiping a knife on a soiled handkerchief.
"You killed him?" Bella asked with shock and fear.
He nodded, "And now… it's your turn, but I think I deserve a little fun first," he said menacingly, advancing towards her with the freshly polished knife.
Bella scrambled to her feet, "Stay away, you sick bastard." Bella raised and pointed the rifle at him.
Jacob laughed at her vain attempt to defend herself. "Bella, my dear, you don't have it in you."
He was right and when he was close enough, he pulled the rifle from her with little effort but with enough force to pull Bella forward and rip the only source of defense out of her hand.
Before she had a chance to struggle, Jacob had his knife painfully pressed into her throat.
He forced her down onto the wooden floorboards, disregarding the blood and sick that now covered them.
"I can't promise this will be over fast," Jacob breathed in her ear as he pressed himself on top of her, "But I do promise I will put you out of your misery quickly when I'm done."
A/N: **Hides behind laptop** I know, I know, and I'm sorry. There will be a lot of chapters before we get to this crucial moment. I promise the wait will be well worth it. So what are your thoughts? Please let me know.