Greed
Chapter One
Bella can't run any faster, yet somehow the child-size figure is gaining on her. Renesmee is on Bella's back, holding on tightly. Bella's legs are a blur as she speeds through the forest. She chances a look behind her and sees the small, dark, hooded cloak is closer. It appears to be floating above the forest floor, effortlessly closing the distance between them. Bella thinks she can see red, glowing eyes beneath the hood.
Bella turns her head back around, but she is too late. She crashes head-first into a massive pine. The force of the collision topples the centuries-old tree, and flings Renesmee off Bella's back and into the forest. Bella is left lying on the ground, momentarily stunned.
This brief delay is all the pursuing figure needs. In a flash it is upon Bella, tiny hands clamped to her neck. The small body seems to weigh a thousand pounds. Bella is unable to move. She tries to call to Renesmee, but her voice has been choked off.
The dark hood falls back and Bella sees that her attacker is Jane, who smiles, revealing a row of tiny, pointed teeth.
"The child is ours now," Jane says, licking her fangs as her mouth moves toward Bella's throat. Suddenly Bella hears Renesmee calling, "Momma? Where are you, momma?"
Bella sits up in bed with her fist in her mouth, stifling a scream. Edward has his arms around her immediately.
"The nightmare again?" he asks. Bella nods. She can't stop shivering.
"It's only a dream," Edward reminds her, stroking her hair. But the words offer little comfort. They both know that what Bella has seen in her dreams has been know to come true.