Calling

Chapter 1: Unexpected

When I got up this morning, I died a little. The dream wasn't real, as much as I willed it to be. My russet skinned angel, beckoning to me, pulling me into his warm and inviting arms...

A nice, relaxing stroll on the beach should clear my head. And the waves of La Push were gentle to wade through. Most people would find it irrelevant to swim in weather like this, but I enjoyed the cold. It pulled me away from my warm and intoxicating dream. I threw my bathing suit on and put on warmer clothes. I stole the station wagon's keys from the hook and ran out, momentarily forgetting my sandals. I laughed and ran back in. Then I made sure I remembered everything before I sped towards the beach.

Ooh, the water was freezing. But I swam farther into the water. I looked back at the shore. There was a small group of people, boys, I believe, watching me swim faster. Were there sharks in these waters? I laughed at the thought. Then I stopped, wide eyed as something pulled on my leg. The boys, even from far away, saw me stiffen. I heard someone call out, but I couldn't hear what they said. A boy jumped into the water.

"No! Don't-"I warned him, but the tugging brought me under. I looked wildly at the watery gloom, trying to figure out where I was, how deep I was getting, and what my chances were if I managed to get and swim away. I knew it was too late. The shark pulled me farther, and I felt my skin tear. My blood was now coloring the murky depths. I closed my eyes, wishing this were a nightmare. Then the tugging grew fiercer. I almost screamed. I let out my breath slowly. Then a last scream exited my throat as another tugging appeared at my waist. Something warm touched my lips, and I had air in my lungs again. The shark suddenly disappeared. I was pretty much unconscious except for the awareness that I was above the surface. And eyes were staring at me. I couldn't move my arms, though, or my head.

"Seth, bring her here," a voice ordered. I heard a motorboat somewhere. The boy named Seth lifted me, and all went dark.

"Is she okay?" a worried voice asked, bringing be to reality. No! Anything but that voice! This wasn't reality; it was my dream creeping on me the precious moments I was still alive. I moved my leg as if to kick the voice away. Big mistake. My leg stung. It hurt so bad, I winced. The voice gasped, and I felt a warm hand touch my cheek. As it lingered there, the warmth was searing fire. I gasped at how hot he was. If this was hot, what does his face look like...?

I tried not to open my eyes, afraid to find out if it was really a dream, and I was still in bed. But my eyes opened anyways. Two brown eyes were staring into mine with some kind of emotion. Was it love? Not the kind a mother has for a child, as I'd experienced so much before, but a warm, burning kind of love. I was new to it, unaware of how to react to him. So I just stared back, confused and dizzy. Not only that, but I was hungry. My stomach reminded me in a very embarrassing and audible way. I blushed.

"Carlisle, she needs to eat," the angel-voiced boy said to a man behind him. I looked away from him and saw there were others in the room. They all looked like gods, pale skinned and beautiful. There was an older, blonde man, now entering the room with a honey-blonde woman, who was holding a tray of food. I smelled soup. It was delicious, nothing from a can. I looked elsewhere. There was a tall, russet-skinned boy almost identical to the one hovering over me, holding hands with a bronze-haired girl about my age. I guessed it was her parents right next to the cute couple. The bronze-haired boy looked at me with interest, as if he knew what I was thinking.

"Actually, I do," he said. His words made me jump. His wife looked confused. The girl my age giggled. Why was I here, in this strange house, with these strange people, one of which can read my mind?!!!

"I see you're scared," the blonde man said. "We aren't here to hurt you."

The honey-blonde woman set the tray of soup and crackers on my lap. I was afraid to touch it. The woman smiled warmly, and rubbed my hand. I was surprised at how cold hers was, compared to the boy next to me. I couldn't stand it. I threw the tray to the ground and ran out, ignoring the pain in my leg.

"Wait..!" the angel boy called out. I ran towards the stairs, sensing freedom in the air, when suddenly I ran into something bulky. I looked up to see a large, muscular man. He was terrifying. I screamed and ran farther into the hall, only to bump into a pixie-like lady. How'd they get here so fast? I screamed again and ran away, only to fall into the bulky man's arms.

"Hey, hey!" he tried to calm me down. I squirmed away and realized I was cornered. Then I did the only thing a girl in my situation could do. I fainted.