Chapter 2

Or so I Thought…

Blackness and blood consumed me; I couldn't breathe. I tried to run, but my feet were planted firmly to the pool of blood I was standing in.

Porcelain chunks of skin lay in a tangled mess on the ground below. I know I'm dreaming, just wake up Jake; I told myself. That didn't help at all; it only made me panic more.

I knew this was a dream, but it felt so real. I could feel the pain and agony in the depths of my soul. I was suffocating; pulling at my throat to try and breathe as the stench of death consumed me.

I caught a small figure in the distance and squinted my eyes to make out what I was seeing. It was a tiny child. Maybe 3 years old; she had glossy bronze ringlets that reached the middle of her back and blood dripping from every pore in her little body…oh God…Renesmee…..

I woke up in a cold sweat to find a fragile hand rested on my cheek and it hit me; it was her dream; not mine.

I fell into a fit of sobs wondering why such a young mind had to be plagued with such horrid nightmares. Her face was blood red and her curls were stuck to her forehead with sweat. I didn't realize how long we'd slept until nightfall was already upon us. It had to have been two days since we had ran for our lives.

Oh no! I hadn't fed this child in two fucking days! What the hell is wrong with me! I can't do this, I thought. I can't even fucking feed her; much less help her through her heartache and pain. What choice did I have though? I was all she had left in this entire universe. I couldn't, no, I wouldn't let her down.

I shook her lightly deciding that she needed a bath and something to eat. She had seen enough bloodshed; we would eat human food for an indefinite amount of time. She slowly stirred and mumbled "Daddy" in her sleep. I broke down again. Shit! Black! Get a fucking hold of yourself. SHE is the child here and needs you to be the adult.

I decided right then and there that no matter what I WOULD be strong for her. I shook her lightly again and she sat straight up, looking at nothing in particular as a blood curdling scream escaped her lips. It was like she was watching a horror movie that no one else could see. Tears flooded her red cheeks and she was gasping for breath.

I instinctively pulled her into my arms and rocked her firmly, but steadily. The screaming subsided, but the tears didn't, they poured from her eyes like a waterfall as she continued to gasp for air. I didn't know what to do. I was so terrified and inexperienced at being a caretaker that it scared the daylights out of me. This was my Ness though and I could do this.

I pulled her away from my grasped and looked into her glossy eyes. "Renesmee, I'm so sorry angel, but I'm here. I will never, ever leave you. I swear." I pushed her wet, matted curls from her face and kissed her forehead. My lips lingered there as I continued to rock her.

Eventually after about half an hour she stopped crying and leaned back to look at me. She didn't smile, her face was tortured and sad, but she brought both of her tiny hands up to cup my cheeks and a wave of love was sent crashing through me.

She was telling me thank you for helping her calm down. "You're welcome; now let's get you in the tub." I said with a pinch of her cheek. "You smell like a dog." She got my joke and smiled with a little of the light back in her eyes.

After her bath, I was at a complete loss. Her curly hair had always been done to perfection by Alice…Alice…..She and Jasper had not been there! They had never returned from whatever mission they were on. Shit! Alice couldn't see Ness because she was with me! I may never find her!

What if she returned after I left with Ness and was killed too? I may never know, but the hope that Bella, Alice and Jasper may still be alive gave me a glimmer of hope. I never actually saw Bella die. I just ran; I couldn't feel guilty for that because it was what Edward had told me to do. I knew if I'd stayed any longer Ness may not have survived either. I would turn this world upside down to see if any of them survived, but right now My Angel needed me and that's what I would worry about.

I looked at the matted mess of curls atop her head and just sighed. "Angel, I'm not good at doing hair, we're just going to brush it and see what happens. Sound good to you?" she smiled. "Ok, then let's go get something to eat." She cringed and horror filled her eyes. Oh, no Jacob! Watch what the hell you say, you moron! I tried to recover before she had another full blown panic attack. "Pizza sound good?" I asked her.

Her features lightened instantly, and with a small smile she nodded. I packed what little we had and walked to the front desk of the motel pretending, of course, to just be passing through.

The clerk told me there would be nothing for about ten miles and offered to call us a taxi since he thought we had gotten off at the wrong bus stop. I agreed and thanked him as we stepped outside to wait for our driver.

Ness showed me that she didn't feel like walking. I knew her poor legs were sore from the run and she always got her way with me anyway. I carried her on my hip to the bench in front of the bus stop and we waited

. Twenty silent minutes later an ugly blue taxi pulled up and I directed him to take us the nearest town. I still had no clue which state we were even in. I didn't dare ask and look like an idiot so I just waited to see if I could catch hints from the scarce road signs. Finally, a sign came into view: Shiloh, South Carolina, Population 259. Well considering I'm from an even smaller area than that; the population didn't startle me. It was the fact that we'd ran for two days straight with no stopping and ended up on the opposite side of the country. I must have been moving like a mad man to make it that far. My fear is what pushed me; fear of losing the precious little girl sitting next me.

After we ate we would track down where the key Bella left belonged before making any further travel plans. Ness ate half of a pizza herself. I was in utter shock, but seeing as how I had literally starved her and she wasn't quite your average toddler; I let it go. I ate three pizza's myself before paying and heading out on our treasure hunt.

Bella had made sure that whatever I would be in search of was in the U.S. so that I would know to find it before we made travel plans. The place we were to go was Chicago, Illinois. Ness and I picked out our new identities and headed for the nearest airport, bought tickets and were sitting comfortably in our first class seats; relaxing for the first time in what seemed like forever. We both eventually drifted to sleep, but she never let go of my index finger, holding it tightly in her tiny hand.

The flight was over before I knew it; I guess we had slept most of it. The airport here was huge; I even felt small in comparison and that's saying a lot. Ness still would not walk and I didn't push her. She hadn't actually spoken a word other than the ramblings in her sleep since that day. I wouldn't push her on that topic either. She needed time to absorb everything and I didn't want her to stop communicating with me all together. So, I let it go.

We dodged our way through hundreds of people to a female clerk sitting behind a tall desk with several rows of computers; with someone managing each one. She had curly blonde hair that reached past her shoulders.

As we approached her, Ness touched my cheek and a picture of Rosalie came into my mind. Rose had Ness in her arms and was smiling as she twirled the toddler in circles while Ness giggled. I looked down at her little face and a single tear rested at the corner of her eye. I wiped it away secretly, so no one would wonder why this child was so different from the others' around us. These kids were unruly. I had to give them credit though, because Ness couldn't be compared to them at all.

"She does look like Rose, doesn't she?" I whispered so only Ness could hear.

She nodded with sadness filling her eyes. I kissed her forehead and rested my cheek against the top of her head.

"Ness, I know this hurts angel. Let's think about that treasure hunt we're going on instead, ok?"

She nodded once more and I continued in my stride to the clerk that had brought on Ness' memory.

"How may I help you sir?" she asked politely

"Well we're new to the city and I had a few questions if you have time."

"Well that depends on the questions." She said with a smile.

"I was wondering if I should rent a car or just use a taxi service while here." I asked light heartedly.

"Well sir, with such a small child I would suggest you rent a car, so her child seat won't have to be lugged in and out of different taxi cabs. I can set you up with a rental here and a driver will bring you the car."

I hadn't even bought her a car seat. She had sat in one of the spares on the plane. Ok, I had a mental checklist going now.

"I didn't bring her seat with us and one was provided on the plane. " I told her embarrassed.

"I'm sure the rental company can help you with that, though an extra charge may be added."

"Ok, thank you. I don't mind paying extra, so please ask them if one can be provided."

We got everything in order. I got the cheapest car I could get. The driver had agreed to stop and buy a car seat for us. It would cost me an extra two hundred bucks, but I couldn't leave the airport without one, so I agreed. I couldn't stand the thought of actually enjoying the money Bella had left for me. I would get Ness anything she wanted, but I would stick to my simple way of living. I don't even remember what car it was that I'd rented. Things still seemed to be happening in a blur, like I was an outsider looking in.

Ness and I waited in the seating area closest to the clerk's desk we had just been at. She told us to wait there and the driver would bring me the keys. With the driver having to stop and purchase a car seat, it would take longer to get the car. Ness and I just silently waited. An hour and a half later a man walks into the airport's automatic glass doors holding a huge sign with bold letters saying the name: WOLFE. It took me a second to realize that was the alias I had chosen for the time being. I jumped up quickly and walked over to where he stood.

"Hi, I'm Jacob Wolfe " I said with an unsteady voice. That name didn't sound right rolling off of my tongue. This would definitely take some getting used to. Ness' alias was Vanessa Wolfe; adopted daughter to widower Jacob. That was our story; at least for now.

"Ok then, here are the keys. I will guide you to where the car is parked."

"Thank you." I said, as I followed behind him.

He brought us to a small cube of a car and I instantly regretted my decision. I was never going to fit into this clown car. I laughed quietly as the man told me the agreements to the rental contract. I was to leave the car at the rental store or call someone when I no longer needed it.

I paid the man and added in an extra one hundred dollar tip for his effort. He had even unpacked the car seat and had disposed of the box. He smiled and walked away heading back to his daily activities, I suppose.

The car was a Ford Focus from what the lettering on the trunk said. Mental note: Always get an adult sized car.

A plain brown booster seat sat in the back. I opened the back door groaning as I tried to position myself into the tiny backseat. I was hitting the roof with my head and my legs were dangling out. I knew I looked like a complete idiot. I sat Ness inside of the seat and buckled her clumsily into the seat. She smiled as I fumbled with the straps.

"You think I'm funny huh?" I said with a laugh.

She nodded with a mischievous grin on her face.

"I'll show you funny missy!" I belted out as I tickled her ribs.

She laughed uncontrollably until she couldn't catch her breath.

Her laugh made my heart swell. This was the first time I'd heard that angelic noise in three days and I hoped that the healing would begin sooner rather than later.

I stopped and kissed her forehead before attempting to install myself into this matchbox. This was ridiculous! I was so mad, but at the same time my awkwardness had earned a laugh from Ness, so this was worth the struggle.

We drove off into the busy city of Chicago, with my legs nearly touching my chest, for the next step of our journey into the unknown.