Chapter One:

The Moment of Truth

My name is Selena Bridger; it wasn't always that way... I had been recently adopted by the Bridger's since my family died in a 'freak car accident' though the Bridger's never told me what the 'freak accident was' all they told me was that I survived the ordeal... My name was Selena Miller, but when they adopted me…I was forced to change my last name to Bridger.

My story started on a rainy Monday, on April 9th; we celebrated my 15th birthday, and unknowingly my mortal life's end. My family and I moved to West Yellowstone about two years ago. My birthday party was a simple one, just my family (My mom, dad, and little-spoiled-brat of a sister Angelina) and my two inseparable friends. Candace was my first friend, with her medium length dirty-blonde hair, and kind, open-minded-attitude and her boyfriend, Angel. Who were going to the school dance tonight…the one I really wanted to go to, but, wasn't allowed to go because of my 'social status '

I had never had been popular at school. I always was more unconsciously withdrawn than most students and my parents tried, to no avail, to make me become popular for my looks. They'd always have me do my long brown hair in elaborate hairstyles, wear thin and slimming clothes that fit my fairly thin & muscular build, my eyes they could do nothing about as the irises color shifted to my moods. But as they tried I had always found a way to slow their attempts. It wasn't like I was unattractive or ugly; it was the popular crowds had always aggravated me, as my sister had. To me, my parent's efforts were pointless and vain because I never wanted to be popular, wearing the same clothes as the other popular's all the time and thinking that I'm superior and every other living being is mediocre and pathetic. Besides even if they had, they ever liked me or my choice of friends.

I looked out the window and saw the rain clouds thin so I decided to take a walk to the local park, two and a half miles away. Normally I would go to the park to clear my head and relax for a while since I couldn't do that at home without my parents fighting with me about my social status in school. But as I thought of them I had a sense that someone or something was watching me, very closely, as I uneasily walked to the park.

As I reached the park I saw to my dismay the whole cheerleading squad and the football team lounging about the park terrace. (I never really cared to remember their names…only their faces when I needed to, just in case, I was in a fight and needed to identify them.) This is what they always do after practices and games if they aren't at a party, which frankly are they places I never go.

I climbed an old graceful elm tree with surprising ease; I kept climbing until I was at least 1-2 stories up. I could smell a strange scent on the cool breeze that whipped past my face. My muscles tensed, but I had no clue why…until I looked out towards the sky. Dark slate-grey clouds loomed ever closer, carrying a powerful storm. I climbed down in a flash, almost as easily as I had climbing up. When I looked at my watch I noticed it was 7:02pm and I had less than thirteen minutes before I had to get home for my parent's strict curfew. It was still over a mile and there was no possible way to get there in time…

I could vaguely hear the sounds of footsteps of a large group behind me as I hurried home. The thunder roared and bellowed overhead and the rain began to torrentially fall to earth. I stole a quick glance back; five burly and broad-shouldered football players from the park, all who were staring intently in my general direction.

I looked forward and picked up my pace, hoping to gain some distance from the large-bodied group. I then had a gut instinct to run as quickly as I possibly could. Their booming laughter was guttural and profound as they pursued me. Their laughter boomed like the thunder roaring overhead at the crack of the lightning's whip.

As I ran things flew by like shadowy blurs, no clarification or representation on what they were. I missed the corner I was to go down and slowed dramatically, my chest and heart pounding; I dashed for the nearest corner that hopefully led back to my missed corner. Perhaps it was an unlucky chance or possibly fate that led me to this enclosed alley… Whatever the reason was, I did not believe I'd make it out of this situation ... alive.

I looked back to where my entrance and only exit had been, but was now guarded by the massive group. I looked around for any possible escape route, there was no possible route for the alley was window and door-less. The only thing behind me was a thick and very slippery chain link fence with barbed wire looped around the top. My only escape was through the gang. I could instinctively tell there was little-to-no chance at all that I might possibly get away… I ran to the back, tripping over an old wooden crate, which caused the biggest mistake of my life. It allowed the group to form an oblong semi-circle around me but still eight or so feet away, I picked myself up to face my approaching assailants.

I braced myself to fight of my life, feet apart and shoulders squared arms at the ready. I could feel the power rippling, pulsing through my body, as adrenaline pounded through my veins.

Two members of the group rushed at me, the one who reached me first grabbed my right arm; as I went to punch his face the other had grabbed my other arm. I glared at his partially covered face covered in his blondish hair, wet with rain. I kicked him as hard as I could, watching him limp back towards the awaiting group. I turned my attention to the first attacker but, as I went to punch his face I paused for he'd gasped and exclaimed in a husky voice, "What the heck? What's wrong with her eyes? They're turning black!" Those were the last words he uttered before my left hand seized his throat in my prevailing grip, continuously squeezing until he let go. He struggled for breath and grasped at my hand. I stared into his eyes before throwing his near lifeless body to the ground a few feet away.

The rest of the entire group rushed in this time with bars and a thin chain. Exposing my teeth, I instinctively crouched low to the ground as if to attack the first in my reach. They kept coming but stopped suddenly. My ears picked up a very faint, practically inaudible and indistinct pair of footsteps behind me. I whirled to the sound, to see the cause of my assailants' hesitation.

I saw a pale face, partially obscured by the thick cloak that he wore. His eyes flickered to my face; they were as black as night without the moon or stars shining in the sky; they looked merciless and savage in the dim light, but his face was that of a teenager.

His eyes shifted to my attackers as he stalked towards them, a deep rumbling growl radiated from his chest. I felt the need to stay as I was and not turn back. I closed my eyes and heard running and strangely, the sound of chocking and gasping for air. It quickly died down and a loud clattering smash as something or someone had been thrown against a garbage can. The sounds repeated three more times before I heard the faint footsteps come towards me again. I turned back to see the pale faced teen.

"Are you all right?" A soft but resonant voice asked me, his obsidian eyes lingering on my face. He read the fear on my face and repeated his question "Hey are you all right? Just nod if you have to." Not trusting my voice at all I just nodded. I shivered against a cool breeze that whipped at my cold, soaked body. He removed his cloak and placed it around my shoulders as If he meant to comfort me. I looked down at the still forms of the football players and cringed as I remembered the horrifying noises that happened just moments ago.

He followed my gaze and in a soothing voice said "Don't worry about them, they'll be fine, for now." a strange undercurrent of vehemence entered his obscured resonant voice. "Let's get somewhere dry before you get sick." He laid his arm across my shoulders and led me away from the alleyway.

It took us around 25-30 minutes to reach the same park I'd visited earlier. We sat underneath one of the awnings with several metallic and graphitized picnic tables. Shivering against the slight breeze I was finally able to ask, "Who are you? How did you do that back there, I mean how did you deal with all of those guys?" He just shook his head, and grimaced slightly. We stared in each other's eyes for what seemed like an Eternity as if we were trying to find out what the other was thinking. I looked down and finally said in a low and sincere voice, "Thank you, so very much… I don't know what I would've done if you didn't show up. . ." Out of the corner of my eye I could see him slowly shake his head and slightly frown.

"I am Chase," he said in a soft yet profound voice, "What is your name?"

I was hesitant to answer, the thoughts of the alley fight still fresh in my mind. I soon realized how closely I'd come close to meeting Death, this person was the only reason I was still here, But just how had he taken them all on? They weren't small and scrawny; they were some of the largest people that I'd ever seen. He smiled lightly reading my face as I delayed my reply to his Simple question. "You have nothing to worry about, I won't hurt you…" He trailed off. A shock passed through me as I realized that his words were Sincere and Honest. I took a breath and answered in a placid voice, "I'm Selena Bridger," I paused then continued, "How did you do that? I mean how did you know where I was then appearing out of thin air…There could be no possible way unless you jumped the fence or off one of the buildings."

He smiled again and reluctantly, it seemed, replied "I have been following you for quite some time now…That alone had helped me track your movements. But I had to keep a little distance from you because of your little vampire friends, or rather guardians."

I looked at him confused, and replied dubiously, "Oh, come on! Vampires aren't real! And I'm willing to bet you're going to sell me that goblins and Werewolves are real too?"

His Smile became more pronounced as he said, "Vampires and Werewolves, yes, But sorry, No Goblins."

I looked at him with a skeptic look and said, "I need to get home, my parents are going to have a fit since it's past my imposed curfew." As I turned to walk home, He walked brusquely to my side and in a polite tone asked, "Is it all right if I walk you home?" not wanting to embarrass myself, I just nodded.