An Outstretched Hand
Alice's Story
The Cullen family was still in the lobby when the sun rose; a rare feat in itself. Normally the Cullen family would bustling with life, each person doing something that they felt was important. The only ones still missing from the picture were Jasper and Emmet. Carlisle and Edward were chatting about genetics or something else on that subject. Alice stood up and stated, "I beg your leave for a couple of hours, for I still have some things to sort out." And Alice walked up the stairs in a haze. She went and sat in a chair in her and Jasper's room. Edward was worried about her until he saw her thoughts take a positive turn. She was in a sort of meditative state, thinking about the good things she managed to accomplish in her short lifetime. The people's lives she had changed by offering an outstretched hand. Alice spent four hours boosting her confidence. Then she finally realized that she was as close to a physical embodiment of good as a vampire could possibly be. She would be giving her life for her family, and there was no better thing that she could do in her mind. The next thing that happened scared the life out of Edward. Edward wasn't eavesdropping on Alice's thoughts, but he kept an occasional tab on them. That was when Alice's thoughts simply disappeared. Edward immediately ran up the stairs. His whole body was shaking the whole way there. He calmed the moment he saw Alice's glazed look in her eyes. Edward knew that look very well. It was the look she had every time she had a vision of the future. What Edward didn't understand was why he couldn't hear her thoughts. She had never been able to hide them before, so WHY NOW? Edward stood there for a few more seconds, but it seemed to be an eternity to him. Eventually Alice cleared her throat. "Emmet will be the first, but Jasper will be last. He will have a father and mother for the first time, but he will more importantly have LOVE. It will change us all entirely. Be a comrade to him and he will change your life. Your life will change rapidly in three years; hewill arrive about half a year later. Be wary of the girl named of a bird, but be not cruel to her. She will be the one to make or break this family when the family of old comes to call. She will be your midnight sun, but she will be hisconfidant. She will assuage all his fears and guilty feelings. Remember this life with us will be his Solar Eclipse; his night within a day. It will be the end of a cruel day, to him. He will be put to rest, and he will finally have a chance to be who he is,and not who he is told to be. Remember that the girl will be his sister in all but blood, but he will have his eyes set upon another. Remind him and Jasper that they are deserving of love."Alice whispered the last statement. With that Alice's thoughts returned, but there was no trace of the events she had just spoken of. She kept her thoughts on that subject well hidden. Alice abruptly stood up and dragged a discombobulated Edward downstairs with a huge, infectious smile on her face. She let forth a wonderful laugh, sounding like melodious bells chiming. Before facing her family. She spoke triumphantly saying "Jasper and Emmet will be here in an 2 days, 1 hour and thirty-six minutes, now, I need to speak with Esme soon to plan a wonderful project. And Rose, promise me that you will take our new charge shopping when he arrives. It will make you like him. Carlisle, beware of our new charge's self-esteem, for he doesn't have any when it comes to adults. Now, Esme let's go to backyard so we can talk. We have some planning to do" she said with a mischievous smile that would make all other people that knew Alice shudder.
An Outstretched Hand
(Harry's Story)
Clear. That was the only way Harry could describe what he was seeing. He could tell it was dark, but he could see everything perfectly. He looked around, taking in every sight. The veins of the leaves, the wrinkled tree barks, every single blade of grass. It was wonderful. Harry then stood up. He was preoccupied with the way he moved; for once in his life he was graceful. That was when Harry's other senses made them selves known. Harry's hearing made contact first. He could hear everything! It was overwhelming! He could hear all of the animals in a hundred meter radius. Their shallow breathing, their cries, but mostly their heartbeats. To hear such melodious music was torture! Every heart beating at a different time. It was a rush, and it couldn't be ignored. The loud beating was as if Harry was standing next to a bass drum that someone was banging on it as hard as they could. The noise of their blood rushing through their veins, it was too much. Harry couldn't stand it! Harry took off, running as far away from the noise as he could. But there was no escape. It was everywhere. Harry just wanted it to stop. Finally a soundless voice spoke in his head, 'Clear your mind, and make the noise fade so you can focus.' Harry couldn't concentrate, so he took the advice. He thought of nothing but silence, of being on a mountaintop, felling the warm wind blowing on his face; and the noise slowly faded into nothing. It was still there, but it was dull, and Harry could once again think around it. Harry finally got track of his thoughts when he remembered that everyone he knew would be looking for him by now, so he ran, trying to find something familiar. He passed the forest, he rushed through city streets until he found the house he was looking for. He could hear everything once again. He could hear the TV's of the people who were still awake at this late hour, the sound of the people's hearts throbbing, the sound of their blood. Harry almost lost it again, but he quickly gained his composure when he heard people speaking. "But Professor Dumbledore, Harry has to be here. He can't be dead." Harry quickly ran to the voice. It was familiar; it was the voice of his best friend Ronald Weasley. Abruptly Harry was standing in front of three wizards and one witch. Harry knew them well. Ronald Weasley, Severus Snape, Albus Dumbledore, and Minerva McGonagall. All four persons gasped when they noticed Harry was there. "Harry!" They all exclaimed. What happened next would haunt Harry for all of his days. Harry took a deep breath. That was his biggest mistake. He could smell too much all at once. But he had his senses on the people in front of him. They captivated him, for he could smell the pungent aroma surrounding them. It was seductive to Harry, each was different. Harry could smell Snape the most at first. He smelt corrupted, and vile. Harry was instantly repulsed. The older people were okay smelling, but Ron smelt the best. He was young, powerful, and absolutely wonderful. Harry was transfixed, he couldn't control his actions. His body was taking rapid, powerful steps toward Ron. He licked his lips before he bit Ron's neck. He heard Ron's initial gasp of pain, but after that, he was lost in the sensations. The taste, the smell, the feel of Ron quivering as he had his life slowly stolen from him. He heard someone shout curses he vaguely recognized and he felt brief pressure before it relented. Nothing could distract him from this complete ecstasy. That was when he heard Albus Dumbledore shout "Bombarda" The curse bounced off of Harry like all the others, but this one flew straight at Severus Snape. The curse came at him from the side, and he never saw it. He never saw his death coming. Severus Snape died instantly upon impact. McGonagall screamed "Harry, What have you done?" before she Dissaperated with Dumbledore, never to see Harry again. Harry was preoccupied with Ron at the moment. He could hear his heart thumping rapidly in his chest as his end rapidly approached. Ron spoke the words that would be his last. "Harry, Why?" Ron's head then flopped lifelessly to the side. Harry then sucked the last of his blood out. Minutes after Ron's death the haze that had overcame Harry after he had taken that fateful breath faded. The detachment he felt didn't. Harry looked at the face of his previously best friend, but he felt nothing. His vision was tinted crimson, and he could feel naught but anger, rage, and thirst. The combination was deadly and fatal to all enemies, but it was not permanent. Eventually Harry became himself again, his vision cleared and the first thing he saw, a sight which would haunt Harry forever, was Ron's outstretched hand, covered in blood.