*DISCLAIMER* : I do not own Twilight or any of the books in the series, they belong to the wonderful Stephenie Meyer. I also do not own Bella, Edward, Alice, or anybody else.

Neophyte

Chapter 1

I opened my eyes to a bright light. This light would have blinded my old eyes, but now I see past the light. I can see the wood grains above me, and feel the rough texture of the ground beneath me. I could smell old pine, citrus fruit and roses. The room was filled with the scent. Where was I?

Out of the corners of my eyes I could see that I was in some kind of cabin. A very secluded cabin. How did I get here? I live in the city. This was obviously a place in a forest somewhere. I don't remember coming here. Hell, I don't even remember leaving my apartment down in San Diego. I decided to sit up, and then I was already sitting that way. That was fast.

I looked around slowly. There was a door on my right; it was closed. I was sitting on a desk, an overhead lamp was the bright light I had originally saw. A soft red chair was in the corner, laying flat on its back. I imagine that whoever lives here threw it over there in some haste. Shelves full of books were on every wall except the wall to the right-- where the door was, which, coincidentally, was the only escape.

A door opened and closed. I immediately looked toward my door, but that wasn't where the sound had come from. I got up from my seat and ghosted to the door, listening carefully. A man's voice was rumbling something about the weather, and I discerned that it was the TV, as the sound was a little statical, something I had picked up when I was younger. Ha. How strange was it to say younger, when I was but 17 years of age?

I grabbed the doorknob and twisted it slowly, so as not to make any noise. To my intense surprise, the knob disintegrated into 182 pieces before hitting the ground with a sound like a miniature water fall. How was I supposed to get out now? I stroked the door and saw the dent my finger made in the flawed wood. I got a sudden idea. I thrust my hand out, hitting the door in the dead center. I felt the grains fall apart beneath my hand, and the rest of the door followed suit. I stalked out of the room-- stopping when it shook the house, taking up a softer tread-- and was directly in a hallway. The sound of the TV was coming from the left, so I went that way.

The hallway opened up to a small living room-- the TV was in the corner behind a tiny glass table, surrounded by a very comfortable looking white couch. A marble counter separated the room in half; it held a microwave and toaster, so I naturally assumed that it was part of a kitchen. I recognized the show on the television-- Bones, season four-- and just stared at Bones and her fellow squints work over a badly burned and decaying body.

While the front of my mind was occupied watching television, the rest of my brain was registering things about the room. The old newspaper from September 2, 1994, laying on the table; the eighteenth of an inch of dust covering the wooden floor by the kitchen counter; a cushion on the couch rising slowly; the sweet scent of pine and citrus was the strongest in the room, while roses and...was that sea water?...yes, the roses and sea water scent wafted through the air faintly. I reached out with my ears and heard a low rumble-- cars-- and heard the squeaking and chattering of forest animals. I heard the sound of tires on gravel and immediately went to a window above the metal basin I assumed was a sink. The sky was dark and cloudy, so I couldn't tell what direction I was facing from the sun, but moss was growing on my right side of a tree, and I deduced that I was facing at this moment west. Okay. At least I knew the directions now. But the cars had been behind me, so they were to the east, and the other car was coming towards me....

This car went faster than normal cars, and it wound expertly around the trees. Maybe it was the owner coming back to their cabin. Was I supposed to be here? I decided not to chance it. The window was latched on the inside, which was easy enough to undo. I climbed outside and started running.

I could tell that I was going considerably fast, and yet I could see every blade of grass, every leaf that I stirred in my wake. I let my senses overpower me, and it was disorienting. My hearing sharpened so that I could hear the movement of everything, from the birds flying above to the marching steps of the ants beneath me. My nostrils widened and I smelled the all the grass, every kind of tree in the vicinity, every little animal. The animals were weak smelling, but the bigger deer and-- what's that smell? It's much better than anything else. I veered in that direction immediately.

My mind opened to Nature, and suddenly I was. I was everything. I was pelted with the minds with insects, birds, squirrels, rabbits, deer, and everything in between. I felt every blade I stepped on, felt the presence of every plant, big and small. The air went in and out of my fingers, caressed my skin like a lover, ready to obey my every whim. The earth was sturdy and unchanging, like it was willing me forward. The amazing smell that had caught my attention at first was getting stronger and I sprinted forward excitedly.

I somehow willed myself to slow down, and I inched around the knee high ferns and giant spruces to a campfire surrounded by the delicious smelling creatures. Fire scorched down my throat, making me clench my jaw in agony. Oh, god, I want it. Whatever it is. The fire was low, and shot angry little sparks into the air. I gasped when I saw what had drawn me to this place. Boys and girls my age. Humans. Their blood called to me passionately as they giggled and teased each other. Did they know how easily I could kill them? But I wouldn't. I won't kill these innocent people. But, a voice inside me said, they would taste so good...

"No!" I scolded myself out loud. Oops. It scared them, and now they looked around themselves in gradually building fear. Their blood quickened, their hearts beating erratically. Damn, why must they tempt me? I shuddered and made myself take a step back. A flashback of the burning flared momentarily in my mind, but I forced it back viciously. This wasn't the same as that. I have to go, though. Wincing in agony, I turned and started running in the opposite direction holding my breath.

I heard footsteps behind me. Should I try to outrun them, or should I turn and fight? The steps were gaining on me so I made a hasty decision. Fight.