Chapter 1

~ Running.

It's what I do best. I guess I've done it for so long that I don't know how to stop.

The Volturi have been pursued me for hundreds of years; I know how they track and who they use to complete the objectives. I know Felix; he used to be kind, but, like everyone else, the Volturi froze his humanity like stone. He used to track me on his own, but now he sends his "apprentices" to do it for him. They are young and sloppy, so I manage to elude them. I have killed many in the time I have been running, as well as scared many off. Of course, them fleeing to Volterra gives Aro his pleasure of having a daily kill.

They broke me. That's why I left. They manipulated me into becoming one of them. They told me things... that weren't true.

Only one Volturi associate that I have ever met-one that was truly pure-was Carlisle; My oldest and dearest friend that I know of. He is the father I never had. Years ago, when we both served the Volturi, he left and felt he was meant to be elsewhere, helping those in need. He asked me to go with him. I was naïve and told him, "They saved me from myself. I owe them my life." How stupid was I? I was like a love-sick puppy. But I'm not like that anymore. I'm tough and I don't take any crap from anybody. Carlisle always said I should learn to stand up for myself. I just didn't do it until he left.

I felt betrayed when he left. He sent letters and postcards, of course; I just never responded. After many years with the Volturi, and, after Carlisle left, I abandoned them and I have been running ever since then. Carlisle's most recent letter was an address, or more of an outline of one. The message was simple: "Forks, Washington. Ask for doctor Cullen. You will find out the rest." Now I have a destination to find sanctuary.

I don't have a proper mode of wheels, so I usually take public transportation. Unfortunately, closest bus station to town is about nine miles away, so I still had my long but smooth trek ahead of me.

At least I could try to find something-or someone-to eat.

I walked along side the quiet and shadowed road, and finally, when my throat began to burn like hell I set my bag behind a nearby tree. I had the routine down. I first look both ways to see how many cars are on the wet, concrete road; the answer is none.

This town must not be a very big hot spot, I thought to myself. Secondly, I walked on to the lane that leads to the town. As smooth as if there was no second to waste, I plopped onto my back and watched the clouds roll by in fascinating shapes. I closed my eyes.

A few minutes rolled by and my sensitive hearing picked up the screech of tires and the engine coughing exhaust.

"Oh my god! Are you okay!?" I heard a female voice inquire. "Wait there! I'm going to get help!"

I heard her turn to go to her trunk and in a millisecond, if that, I was in front of her.

"What? Who are you-?" she asked, frightened.

I did not answer, I never do. I just grabbed her and pulled her neck in front of my face.

She struggled; bad mistake on her part. I let go of her and she ran, but before she could make it back to her car I ran to her and, instead of doing the less painful thing like snapping her neck, I grabbed her and slammed her head first into the side of the car. Not enough to kill her, but enough to stun her. Her eyes were big, round and full of the fear I knew all too well.

I grabbed her with my right hand and broke her arm with my other in one snap. She cried out in pain and utter terror. I smiled. I hate smiling, but I always end up doing it; maybe it was out of habit, or something inside me liked to know that I was in control. I kicked her leg hard enough that I heard another snap. By the time I was done beating her senseless she had fainted and fell to the ground. I would not give her that luxury, so I slapped her awake. When her eyes opened, it took her a moment to reconnect to reality and her eyes were locked with my own.

I crouched next to her, pulled her neck up to my face and tore into it in a swift movement. The blood soothed the pain in my throat, making me feel regenerated and less weary.

Once I completely drained her, I dropped the lifeless body and ripped a piece of fabric from her shirt. I wiped my mouth and threw it to the ground, satisfied with my latest meal. I begun to walk back to the side of the road when I caught her muffled cry. I looked back at the body and was back like a flash of lightning. I felt her pulse and was relieved to know she was dead.

I was imagining things. However, as I straightened, I heard the cry once more and looked at the car. In the back seat I saw a little boy, maybe five years of age, staring back at me with big, brown, tear streaked eyes. I froze, staring back. The next second I was back where my bag was. The walking would have left me with too much time to think about what I had just done, so I ran into town. If I would have been able to cry I would have drowned in my own tears.