A/N: first author's note, YAY!! so this is my first ever fanfiction, so cut me some slack, ya dig? enjoy:)

Chapter One; Nightmare

I looked out my window to see that it was pitch black. The only light coming in my room was from the full moon outside my window. Downstairs, I could hear my mom and dad, who had come in a few minutes ago to tuck me in, talking quietly in the living room. I was just about to fall asleep when I heard the shattering of glass, followed by a bloodcurdling scream that came from my mother.

I sat up, terrified, clutching onto my blanket my grandmother made me. I heard feet running up the wooden stairs, and saw my door fly open.

"Isabella," my dad's frightened voice said softly. "Bells, sweetie, get under the bed, don't make a sound." I was confused but I did what I was told.

I saw my dad turn and hurry to the door, but he abruptly stopped when someone else entered the room. He had brown, muddy hiking boots. Next to the dirty boots were my mother's bare feet.

"You trying to run?" I heard a husky, low voice say. "Cops aren't supposed to run. You sure didn't run when you arrested me."

Who was this man? I thought to myself. And what did he want from my dad?

Just then, I heard a click, a gasp coming from both of my parents, two earsplitting booms, and a thud. I looked out in terror to see my mom and dad with blood pouring out of their heads on the floor, not breathing.

"NO!" I screamed, scurrying out from under my safe haven. I didn't get far until the man with the gun grabbed me by my collar. I shut my eyes tight, and screamed…

"Bella, wake up! You're having a nightmare again." I slowly opened my eyes not to the gunman, but my foster mother, Liz.

"Same dream?" she asked.

"Of course," I whispered. I had been having the same nightmare every night since it happened ten years ago. I was 8 years old.

"I'm sorry I didn't wake you up sooner, I didn't hear you this time."

"It's fine,"

"It's almost six; I'll go make you some breakfast."

I nodded and she headed out of my room. My heart was still pounding out of control, and I tried to control the moisture coming from my eyes. I sat in bed for a few more moments, reminiscing my dream.

"Bella, breakfast is ready!" Liz shouted, pulling me out of my dreamlike state. I headed downstairs and sat on the wooden chair in the kitchen. Microwavable pancakes sat on the placemat in front of me. I began eating as Liz spoke again.

"So…graduation is this weekend."

"Yep,"

"You must be pretty excited."

"Definitely," I led. Secretly, I was dreading graduation. Knowing that my parents wouldn't be there to see their only daughter receive her diploma was pure torture.

"I still can't believe you're going all the way across the country! I mean, Virginia is almost 3,000 miles away. I'm gonna miss you, Bells."

"Roanoke College offered me a full scholarship. It's a good school, and I couldn't turn it down. I'm going to miss you too, a lot." This wasn't a lie. Liz was the closest thing I had to a mother for ten years. But I had to get far, far away from Forks. It held too many dreadful memories.

A/N: well, there you have it, the first chapter. Sorry it's so short. All together now: WOOOOO! About the college choice: I live like, 20 minutes away from Roanoke College (which is actually in Salem…), so I know the surroundings, which makes it much easier to write about! So is it good? Awful? Should I stop writing all together? Reviews please! 3 reviews, good or bad, and I'll put up the second chapter.

-Kristin