Just a quick note, the vampires in my story are different than Mrs. Meyer's in the sense that they're still flesh. It they are injured, there won't be crystals but instead, flesh and innards. Oh, and as for locations, I like to make things up because I'm not too good with describing them. This is still set in the Pacific northwest, but of course the neighborhoods are all made up. Thanks for reading this, enjoy.

Another pulse of thunder tore through the sky, hammering the heavens with fury fitting the apocalypse. Heavy rain and erratic bouts of lightning assaulted his senses, making this shot next to impossible. Trying to predict and aim the trajectory of an arrow in temperate weather was difficult enough, but add hurricane force winds and blinding flashes of light into the mix...well, Jacob had a better chance hitting the moon with a BB gun.

The bloodsucker was hunched over and digging its face into the neck of a young guy. From the way it was growling, Jake already knew it was a feral. The fun little name they gave leeches who had long lost any trace of humanity and succumbed to their thirst. This particular one was a middle aged woman, whose grimy black hair was covering her face like she was an extra from The Ring. She was so focused on her meal that nothing short of a gunshot would alarm her, but then again, the storm already provided them the aural cover.

"What are you waiting for?" Jake closed his eyes, then eased the slack on the string. Paul really didn't understand the concept of stealth, why it hadn't bitten him in the ass yet was still a mystery.

"If I miss this and she happens to have a buddy wandering around that notices, you can have fun dealing with them."

Paul started chuckling in his perfected jock-like tone. "So serious."

Jake ignored him and inhaled. He steadied his breath until everything around him stilled. For just a split second, the noise of the storm silenced, the speed of the wind halted. For just one small moment, he pooled enough concentration to make this count. Then he let go.

The arrow struck right where he wanted it to, straight through the bloodsucker's skull like it was a melon. It let out a soft gurgle before collapsing on top of its meal. As Jake had expected, another one of its pals was nearby and when he saw what happened, he went into full frenzy mode, letting out a banshee-like screech that rivaled the crackling of the thunder. Jake readied another arrow until Paul put a hand on his arm.

"I want this one." Jake rolled his eyes and slid the arrow back into his quiver. Then he simply sat down Indian style and waited for Paul to do his thing. As much as he hated Paul's overeager showboating, that whip of his was a work of engineering wonder and it never got old to see him use it. Interlinked chains laced with barbs, all culminating with a massive five inch blade that could slice through undead flesh like it were butter. Who would've thought having a smithy like James would be the most valuable thing at the end of the world.

Paul swung the whip in a circular motion over his head, inching ever closer to the leech. Then he let go and the center of the chain latched around the vampire's neck. Once that happened, all he needed to do was tug. When he did, the blades cut through the flesh and it was a clean decapitation. Paul looked too overeager for his own good.

"Yeah bitch, take that!" The idiot was doing an epileptic's version of a tribal rain dance, completely oblivious to the pair of red eyes glowing a few yards behind him. Three vampires in a row, talk about lucky.

"Goddamn it Paul." Jake readied another arrow, waiting for just the right moment. The vampire leapt from the bushes, but Jake released the arrow just before it could grab Paul. It pierced through the vamp's chest and it fell to the floor in a crumpled heap. Jake quickly took out his combat knife and ran over to the bodies, cutting off their heads to make sure they wouldn't come back. Then he piled the bodies on top of one another.

"You done?" Jake asked a still stunned Paul.

"...Yeah." Jake looked over at the three bodies, trying to figure out how to get rid of them. Fire wasn't exactly practical when a deluge of water was battering the region.

He looked over at Paul who was focused rather intently on one of the lopped off heads. Jake put his hand in front of Paul's face, then snapped his fingers. "Dig."

Paul was jolted out of his trance. "Excuse me?"

"If you can find a way of getting rid of these, please tell me. Otherwise, dig." Jake undressed and shifted into wolf form. He sauntered over to Paul and growled, which was apparently not enough to get the lazy bastard to transform. So Jake barked, causing Paul to shout back at him.

"All right! I heard you." Once they started digging the hole, it became a pit that was at least twenty feet deep. By the time they finished burying the bodies, the storm had gotten even stronger. Leaves and branches were being lifted and slammed into them. Jake grabbed his bow and quiver with his mouth, while Paul did the same to his whip. Then they made their way back to the hideout.

What if they come back to life?

They're not starfish Paul, they don't grow back heads.

But, what if their heads reattach to the bodies?

How? By magnets?

Damn man, it's a joke. You see, that's the problem with you and your sister. You guys were always either angry or mopey. She never...

He listened to Paul drone on about Rachel. Even if it was repetitive, Jake enjoyed listening to it. Paul still hadn't accepted her death in its entirety, but talking about her seemed to ease the pain. And for Jake, that was all he could ask for.

The story he told was one Jake had heard a dozen times already. About the time Paul took his sister out on a date to Seattle and how their car stalled in the middle of an intersection. Instead of asking for help, Paul tried to push it himself and ended up spraining his back. Just like that, the whole date was canceled and she berated him the entire way pack to La Push. One of Paul's favorite tales.

Seriously though, you and Rachel should have learned how to just...chill out.

We lived in rain central, there wasn't much of a reason for us to act warm and friendly.

Their banter continued as they ran. It didn't take long to reach the pack's temporary hideout in the large defensible cul-de-sac of Cherry Pine. It was in a gated community that was once filled with soccer moms and white-collar families. Now it was about as lively as a cemetery.

They headed to the place that Sam and Emily chose to stay in, a pink two story house with a large SUV parked in the driveway. Paul shifted first and walked inside the house wet and buck naked. With his eyes trained on the floor and a hand over his disobedient crotch, Jake followed soon after. Sam was in the living room eating his meal, after noticing them he pointed to a pile of clothing on an adjacent sofa. Jake smiled in relief when he slipped on the warm sweatpants and sweater. He made sure to avert his eyes from Paul though.

"How many'd you get?" Sam asked looking up.

"Three," Jake answered. Paul gave a large exaggerated cough to which Jacob rolled his eyes.

"Paul got one, I took out the other two."

"Good job."

"Are the others back yet?"

"Quil and Jared are, but Embry and Seth are still out."

"You think they're okay?" Paul asked.

"I—" Sam was interrupted by a slamming door and footsteps that were shaking the entire household.

"Sam, where the hell are you?" That voice could give children nightmares. Leah.

Sam covered his face with his hands, "Oh God, here we go."

Leah barged into the room, completely ignoring Jake and Paul's presence. "You better make sure he's okay."

"I heard you the first time Leah."

"We already killed most of the bloodsuckers back near in La Push, I still don't see why we had to move from—"

"We were out of resources. Yes, getting eaten by leeches is bad but I don't intend on letting the pack starve to death either."

"Just because Seth can shift doesn't mean he's ready to fight and kill whatever comes our way."

"We don't have a choice. Unless you want me to send the pups into harm's way." Leah was in the wrong and everyone in the room knew it, herself included. But still, Seth was her brother. Ever since their parents were killed in the same raid that took Jake's family, Leah went far beyond the role of overprotective sibling.

"If my brother comes back as one of those bloodsuckers, I will personally castrate you and feed your balls to him." Jake and Paul looked at one another, cringing in amusement. With a huff, she stormed out of the room.

Sam groaned as he plopped back down in the chair. "Wanna know something scary? She would."

"Do you want us to look for them?" Jake asked.

"Yes, take Jared with you. I need Paul and Quil to help the others scavenge near the suburbs." Jake glanced over at Paul who looked both baffled and offended.

"Um, why can't I help?"

"How did you kill the second one?" Sam asked Jake. He didn't answer.

"Uh huh. Paul, you're on scavenge duty."

"But—"

"Do it now." Paul let out a childlike pout before leaving the house. Sam rubbed his forehead, then turned to Jake.

"Keep your head down and don't get trigger-happy."

"Have I ever?"

"Enough times that I'm going to repeat it again, don't get trigger-happy." With a mocking bow, Jake walked back outside to look for Jared. His scent was easy enough to find, the guy was the only person his age who used Old Spice as deodorant. Jake saw his figure pass by a window in the house across from him. When he reached the front door, he knocked, not wanting to disturb Kim who was still dealing with some kind of virus.

The door opened and a very tired Jared greeted him. "Yeah?"

"Sam wants us to look for Seth and Embry."

"Hang on, let me get my gun." This is why Jake always liked working with Jared. No protestations, no complaints. He just did the job and that was true loyalty. Jake waited for a minute or so until Jared returned with his prized Remington. They found it in a military convoy that was abandoned up near Vancouver.

"Is Kim okay?" Jake asked as they pushed past the gates.

"She's feeling better. Brady and Collin are playing monopoly with her."

Jared turned to him with concern. "Are you okay? You look like shit."

"The world has gone to hell, should I be smiling and plucking rainbows out of my ass? No gay pun intended by the way."

"It's Paul isn't it?" Jake didn't reply, most of the pack knew about his feelings for Paul. Hell, even someone as slow as Paul knew, but he never brought it up and that was better for everyone involved.

"I know he's not the brightest bulb in the closet—"

"The gay puns strike again," Jake interrupted.

He managed to pull a smile from Jared lips but he continued. "You should still talk to him about it."

"He's straight."

"The end of the world can do crazy things."

"Yes, that's what I want in a relationship, a guy who'll fuck me just because all females are either dead or taken."

"Better than nothing right?"

"I'm not trying to be a downer here, but how many other gay guys have we run into?"

"What would it hurt to try?"

Jake turned to Jared and gave him a wide if not disarming grin. "Since you're so insistent, maybe you should try me out for a spin."

"Forget I said anything."

"What? I'm not cute?" Jake said as if he were offended.

"It's got nothing to do with cute. I just don't get off on seeing another dude's schlong, not that I have anything wrong with guys who do."

"Being gay is more than just getting off on cock. Are you attracted to any girl just because of her genitalia?"

"Kim is my world but point taken."

"Who would you do, in that end of the world excuse you gave?"

"Come on Jake, I'm practically married."

"If you're comfortable enough with your masculinity, you should be able to answer. What guy in our pack would you do?"

"I don't know, Seth I guess. He's the closest thing to chick." They both looked at one another before breaking out in laughter.

"I can't wait to see his face when he hears that," Jake said trying to catch his breath.

"Where did they go?"

"Oak Creek. It's a few miles east of here." Oak Creek was another community which the affluent called home. It was the very definition of a ghost town. Everything was frozen in place, untouched by anything. There were no people living in any of the dozen houses scattered about the neighborhoods. Jake looked up at the sky, relieved to hear the pelts of thunder moving farther and farther away. Even though the storm had eased, it had done enough to wipe out Seth and Embry's scents, finding them would be impossible if he and Jared didn't split up.

"We need to split up," Jared said when the first house of Oak Creek came into view.

"Where do we meet up?"

"That house right there."

"You know that splitting up would be a bad idea."

"Never stopped us before," Jared answered.

"Which is stupid. We're not white, we should know better."

Boy did that make Jared laugh. But he managed to restrain himself just enough to wave Jake off. Soon he disappeared down an empty street, leaving Jake all alone. He scratched his stubble, then jogged into the neighborhood.

He didn't care what anyone said, this place was creepy. A hundred vampires screeching in the middle of the night could hardly faze him but being in such a silent and empty area like this made his skin tingle. It reminded him of those videos he saw where fake towns were put in the radius of a nuclear bomb detonation. He prayed that he wouldn't find any mannequins, that would be fucking terrifying.

He progressed quietly through each street, hoping to catch some trace of Seth or Embry. But he couldn't find anything. Not even a hint of a smell. What he did notice was Jared's scent getting closer. Sure enough, he popped out of a house and joined Jake at an intersection.

"I got nothing. Where could they have gone?" Jake shrugged his shoulders. This wasn't good. They wouldn't have wandered off without reason, Sam set up specific guidelines on how far they were allowed to venture.

"Do you think, that they might be—" Jake didn't even let Jared finish such a morbid thought.

"We would've heard them howl. Or at least catch the scent of a leech."

"The storm might have washed it away." Everything stopped when a gunshot exploded in the distance. Two more followed.

"What the hell?" Both Jake and Jared broke into full sprint towards the gunshots. It wasn't far, maybe a quarter of a mile away.

"Shit, it's a leech," Jared shouted as he leaped over a log.

Jake sniffed the air and his heart shuddered. "There's three of them."

The forest zipped by his vision in a blur, and more sounds came to fore as they neared the leeches. He heard growling and another series of gunshots. Jake saw a cabin in the distance, and three figures standing just outside.

"Seth," Jared said looking at the sandy-colored wolf who was lying down on its side next to the leeches. No. Jake couldn't tell if he was breathing. He could see Embry was still human, but he was on the floor clutching his arm like it had been broken.

"What do we do?" Jared asked in panic. Jake crouched behind a nearby tree, then pulled an arrow from his quiver and readied his bow. Jared looked at him with trepidation before aiming down the sights of his rifle.

Jake tugged the arrow back until the string was squeaking from pressure. "On my count."

"Three." One of the vampires stalked towards Embry as he tried to crawl away.

"Two." Another leech turned to Seth, his eyes glistening with hunger. Jake steadied his aim while he heard Jared cock his gun. Everything went to shit when the last vampire turned towards them, he was a big fucker. It was now or never.

"One!"