=AUTHOR'S NOTE=

Welcome to Twilight: Redux.

This fanfic was born in November during an induced state of insanity which has come to be called 'NaNoWriMo'. As such, it is a rough and choppy little thing, far from polished but deemed good enough to place before the readers and hear their opinions.

However, please keep this in mind:

This is not the Twilight you've come to know and love… or on the other side of the coin, know and hate. Or both, as in my case. It is going to be "au", "ooc" and completely messed up. There may be some similarities between my works and the original story by Stephanie Meyer, but I assure you, they are entirely coincidental. ;D

I am rewriting (or have rewrote, depending on when you're reading this) Twilight for my November project. I adored the plot and the ideas, but bless her soul, Meyer's writing did nothing for me. And of course, there were characterizations and events I disliked, ideas I wanted to try out, etcetera. The typical fanfiction stuff, you know how it is.

I WILL warn you about one difference between this and Meyer's original works: I AM NOT AN EDWARD FAN. If you expect this fanfic to be Edward friendly, or for Bella and Edward to have some flawless, perfect romance, turn around and go home now. Real life doesn't work that way, and neither will this fanfic. You've been warned. ;P

I am just a simple fanfic writer, one man among many looking for a good time. Nothing more, nothing less. I do not plan to publish this, claim it as mine, try and get credit for it, yaddayadda. I do not own the Twilight saga, nor any of the characters within. The only thing I own here is my fanfic written in these words-- and I suppose on some philosophical level, that is also debatable. Can anyone truly own an idea? Hm.

So, philosophy aside, here it is… Twilight: Redux. I hope you enjoy the story, both parts changed and parts familiar. I would very much appreciate comments, whether they are in praise or criticism. Just remember to consider your words before hitting 'send'. There is a difference between helpful critiques and being inconsiderate.

Thank you. Without further ado…


PRELUDE

"Trust me."

"How?" I said to the vampire, looking up and focusing the edge of my words directly at that beautiful, deadly creature. "After all of this, how can I trust you?"

He was silent for a time, then spoke quietly, his voice disturbingly gentle despite the coldness behind his words. "Is there any other option? All I can do is tell the truth."

The truth. Isn't that what I'd been searching for since this journey had begun? From the moment the word 'vampire' had passed my lips, I had sought the truth, and yet it had always danced just beyond my grasp. And now, as I gazed into this vampire's obsidian-black eyes, I thought I knew how Eve must have felt when presented with that damnable apple.

"Make your choice," he said softly. As if there was actually a choice to make. He'd already made it perfectly clear that there was only one way left out of this mess. "And make it quick."

Was it wrong to be frightened? Having chased this very thing for the better part of a year, was it wrong for me to want to turn around now and run away, as far and as fast as I could? Probably not… A saner person would have done such much sooner than I, which either meant I was brave or insane.

My bet was on the latter.

He held out his hand, offering to me much more than help up from where I sat. "So…?"

I took a breath and lifted my own hand, allowing myself to reach for that sweet, dark promise… as I knew I would.

"I want to know everything."