Hello, everyone! Thanks for giving a brand new fanfic author a try. A few announcements before we get started:

For the wolf fans: I don't want to waste your time, so let me say this up front-this will be a vampire-centric story. The wolves are basically a plot device, and are not actually featured much. Those of you on Team Jacob, you might want to give this one a miss. Sorry.

Most of you probably know that Stephenie Meyer says she listens to music as she writes, and has playlists on her website for each of the Twilight novels, including Midnight Sun. I decided to take some inspiration from that, so there will be corresponding songs for each chapter. You absolutely do not have to track them down and listen to them, but I thought it would be something fun for those who might want to. The songs for each chapter will be posted below any disclaimer. I set a challenge for myself not to use any songs that SM had already used, nor any featured in the movies. (I also tried not to repeat artists, but I couldn't help myself a few times.) I've found a few great new songs artists this way, and you might, too!

Just one more thing, I think, before we jump in. I plan to post new chapters Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. I'll post an author's note if that schedule changes. I didn't want to post this until I'd completely written the story, but I just couldn't wait to share any longer! Besides, I have the plot all planned and most things written out. So there!

Okay, I think that's everything! Everyone buckled in? Got snacks? Did we all...you know, go? Then let's get this show on the road! -KG

Disclaimer: Any recognizable characters or situations are not mine. Unless stated otherwise, they are solely the creation of Stephenie Meyer. This work is merely a fan's imaginings of her Twilight series, originally published by Little, Brown, and Company. I make no profit from this work, and do not intend to infringe on the rights of the author or publisher.

Song: Skin & Bones-by David J. Roch

"Yours is the light by which my spirit's born...you are my sun, my moon, and all my stars." - e. e. cummings

BPOV

Pain.

Pain was all there was. Pain was all there had been and all that would ever be.

Burning. Why wouldn't the burning stop? Why wasn't someone putting it out? When would it end? When would it completely devour me and leave me in ashes? I knew, though, that this fire was not consuming me. It would not end. It would not end.

It felt vaguely familiar, the burning, but worse than before. Oh, God, millions of times worse than before. Then-whenever then had been-it had eaten my hand and had crawled up my arm, I knew that much. Then...someone had stopped it. Someone had put it out. Who had put it out? What angel of mercy had saved me from the burning before? I wanted more than anything to be able to recall his name, his face, but I just couldn't.

I didn't even know my own name. I didn't know who I was, or where I was, who I was with, who had done this to me. What animal was screaming nearby, and why...all these things I didn't know.

"Bella...Bella..."

A word-a name?-whispered in my ear. The breath was hot. I turned away and screamed.

Oh. The guttural screams of the animal being slaughtered was me.

The breath left me alone, but I could still hear the voice, a familiar voice, sobbing. Pleading with me. "Bella, Bella, I'm so sorry."

I couldn't ask who, or why. I could only scream.

After what felt like an eternity, the pain became worse. It started to retreat from my fingers and toes, which I took as a good sign, at first. But the burning intensified where it remained, and my fingers and toes were uncomfortably cold in comparison, and I could not reconcile the two extremes.

The burning continued to retreat, further and further, to the core of my body, until at last, it only occupied my heart. I could feel my poor heart speed up.

This...wasn't so bad. My heart had been through a lot, that much I knew. What, exactly, I didn't know, but for some reason I was glad to know it was still there. I didn't know why I thought it hadn't been.

But the comfort didn't last for long. My heart kept going faster and faster, impossibly fast, and then suddenly, without warning, it stopped. The pain disappeared at the same moment.

I fought the urge to begin gasping, to begin catching my breath. I was surprised to find I didn't need it.

I laid there, still, eyes shut, suddenly afraid. Someone had done this to me, I was certain of it. Were they still here? Were they nearby? Were they friend or foe? Maybe I could play dead.

No, I thought. That was dumb.

I heard stirring nearby. I should have jumped up, started running or fighting, but I was too afraid.

"B-Bella?" a ragged voice asked. The voice sounded so heartbroken, so woebegone that I couldn't help it.

I opened my eyes.

A/N: Okay, yes, I know, the opening announcements were probably longer than the actual content. The first few chapters are pretty short, but they get longer, I promise. And frequent updates! Hang in there. Thank you for reading!