Something To Kill For
Chapter Two: Explanations
At first, we didn't talk; we just stared into each other's eyes. I would say this went on for about an hour before curiosity overcame me.
The next few hours we spent talking to each other. Actually, I mostly listened. Alice, I found, was a very animated person. She explained to me how her ability worked. I wasn't surprised to find out that she already knew everything about my talent.
She became very thrilled whenever I spoke. When she asked me to demonstrate my ability on her, there was a playful gleam in her eye. How could I resist a face like hers?
I sent a wave of melancholy toward her, but I instantly regretted it. Her face warped up into an uncomfortable frown and I thought she was about to burst into tears. Apparently, she was way too happy all of the time to feel any sadness, and she didn't like it at all. I felt horrible, so I sent a huge wave of happiness and her face instantly relaxed. I promised myself at that moment that I would do everything in my power to see that she never hurt ever again.
The whole time we were speaking, underneath all of the other emotions that passed through her, there was always relief.
I was interested and confused. I cocked my head slightly to the side and asked, "Why do you feel relieved?"
She looked down before she replied. "I thought you would never come. I don't know who created me and whoever did left me and didn't explain anything to me. The first thing I saw when I woke up was your face in my head. I knew it was in my future to find you, so I came looking."
I nodded once. If she hadn't had this ability, she would have never trusted her feelings around me, what with my capabilities. I would never look at her ability as a negative thing.
I ended up telling her all about my past; up until the minute I walked through that door. She kept mostly silent, but I judged her reactions by her emotions. She was so caring and sympathetic. When I explained to her about how I was having trouble with my feeding habits she instantly lit up.
"I can't stand killing people who have lives and feelings, it makes me feel disgusting. What kind of monster am I?"
"There's another way. I've seen it." She whispered. "And we're going to live that way!" Excitement overcame her and she practically shouted.
"What way?" I asked, laughing.
"There's a family. They live in Northern Minnesota right now, but they have to move every few years."
"Why?"
"They are like us, but they don't hunt humans." She paused to judge my reaction. I was skeptical. "You don't believe me?" She asked, incredulous.
Good point. Why wouldn't I believe her?
"How do they do that?"
"Well, they hunt animals instead. It gives them strength enough to resist human blood, but it doesn't satisfy as fully. Carlisle started it all – he's like the father figure, it's a very strange arrangement, I'll admit. He is over three hundred years old. His companion is a lady named Esme, very kindhearted. They have a 'son' " - she made quotations marks with her fingers – "named Edward, he has a talent, too. He can read minds. Then there is Emmett and Rosalie. They are companions, too."
She smiled, pleased with herself. I smiled, too. I had been doing that a lot today, something I hadn't done in years before I met Alice.
"So, they have to move so that they don't attract attention to the fact that they don't age?"
"Mm-hmm," she giggled. "They are all quite young; late teens, early twenties. Just like us!"
"And you think we could live with them?"
"Oh, yes. I saw it all. They'll be thrilled to have us live with them."
"Right."
"C'mon!" she yelled, grabbing my hand.
"Where?" I reluctantly got up so she could pull me along.
"Let's go!"
"Where?" I repeated, amused at her spontaneity.
"To find them! Oh!" She stopped dead when she got to the door.
The storm was over and the sun was just setting.
"I guess we will just have to wait an hour or two more." I said, fake disappointment colouring my voice.
She turned around to glare at me and I smiled at her.
"Don't you want to go? I can see you very happy when we are there…" she trailed off, probably checking her vision to see if she got something wrong.
"I was just joking." I assured her. "I'll be happy as long as I'm with you. If that is where you want to go, then I'm right behind you. But, I'm just worried about how I'll fare. Giving up human blood won't be easy, I couldn't resist when it was just me."
"The support there will be endless. They will help, and so will I." She was so sure.
I just smiled down at her.
The darkness was almost complete.
"We had better get something to eat before we start our journey. I can tell that you are thirsty and I'm starving." She smacked her lips.
"Animals?" I confirmed.
"Animals."
"Do you have anything you need to get? I have all of my belongings waiting for me."
"Yes." I smirked. "I'll go get them."
"Meet you on the corner in two?"
"Of course." I smiled at her before I dashed out of the diner to get my things. She ran in the opposite direction.
I had very few things. My money was limited, as was my wardrobe. Everything fit into my duffel bag. I dashed back to the corner, where she would be waiting for me, with a new eagerness filling me.
She was there; only a huge duffel bag at her feet and a backpack on. She picked up the bag and reached for my hand.
I threw my bag onto my back – I could slip my arms through the handles – took her bag from her and caught her waiting hand. For a moment she looked surprised, but then she gripped my hand more tightly and smiled.
"Let's find ourselves a snack!" and with that, she pulled me toward where the road ended and where the forest began.
