Chapter 1: Identity
"Vanessa! Where are you going?"
Vanessa Blake turned to see her mom rushing down the stairs toward her.
"Oh I've got play rehearsals today."
Her mom frowned. "Do you HAVE to go?"
"Well, I'm the lead so I kinda have to be there."
"Who am I going to get to watch Scott while I go to book club?"
Vanessa rolled her eyes. She always got stuck watching her little brother while her mom went out.
"Sorry mom. I've got to go."
She pulled the door open and stepped out onto the front porch. A gust of wind blew across the yard, scattering leaves and ruffling Vanessa's hair. In the flurry of leaves Vanessa saw someone standing on the other side of the street, staring right at her. The leaves settled again and Vanessa glanced to see who had been looking her way.
But no one was there.
She shivered a little and set off to her school. The whole walk there she felt as though she was being watched. The uncomfortable feeling had her on edge, jumping at every sound. She walked into the empty building thinking how odd it was to be there on a Saturday.
"Vanessa!" Vanessa's friend, Henry came from the auditorium. "C'mon."
They read through their lines a few times in a circle then Henry decided they should do a run through of the play.
Vanessa waited backstage for her cue, listening to her cast mates' voices as they bounced off the walls of the deserted auditorium.
"I don't even know where Kaitlyn is!" Vanessa heard Gabe say meaning it was her time to step out into the spotlight.
She took her steps on stage and opened her mouth to say her first line when the door opened, letting light stream in. A couple kids gasped. Vanessa squinted through the blinding lights, trying to make out who the dark silhouette was. She suddenly remembered the guy watching her that morning. There wasn't a doubt in her mind that this was him.
"Who's there?" She called out. The echo of the question rang hauntingly in her ears. But she received no response and when she looked again, the shadow was gone.
"Probably just a janitor." Henry concluded. "Let's get back to what we need to be doing. We'll take it from 'I don't even know where Kaitlyn is!'"
Vanessa retreated backstage again, a queasy sensation in her stomach. She knew she was being followed. It was the only explanation. Someone was stalking her. Terrifying as the realization was, Vanessa made a deal with herself. If she saw her stalker again, she would tell him to leave her alone or she'd call the police.
"Okay people! That's good for today! Study up on your lines and be sure to be a rehearsal tomorrow after school!" Henry yelled an hour later. They all began filing out the door, Vanessa trailing behind dreading the walk home.
The air was crisp and cool. Vanessa walked against the gentle fall breeze. It tousled her long hair, blowing it in her eyes. Chills crept down Vanessa's spine as the sensation of being watched washed over her. A voice cut through the wind. It sounded like a boy calling for someone. Vanessa spun in a full circle coming to a halt, facing the way she had just come. The shadow, the follower, her stalker was standing a few meters away beneath a tree. The wind whipped her hair around as the stranger jogged slowly a few feet forward as Vanessa stood rooted to the spot.
"Nessie?" The guy called.
Nessie….Vanessa played the name in her mind and felt her legs trembling. She sat down on the curb, cradling her head in her hands. Visions, almost like images from another lifetime, flew through her mind. A beautiful brunette with eyes the exact same color as hers, a handsome man with her bronze hair rocking her…and a sweet, warm boy who she loved more than life itself. Then she saw a crowd of murderous monsters advancing toward her and her family. She felt the pain in her heart as she remembered her Jacob taking her from her parents.
After that it had gone blank.
Renesmee Cullen had died and Vanessa Blake had been born.
Vanessa heard someone sit down beside her. She was too afraid to look up knowing who'd she'd see.
"Nessie?" She felt fingers running through her hair.
Vanessa lifted her head. "Who are you?" She asked although she already knew the answer.
"You don't remember me?" Her companion's face was disappointed. "It's me. Jacob."
Vanessa hopped off the curb. "I don't know you. Leave me alone." She growled.
"Yes, you do." Jacob insisted.
She rolled her eyes and started off toward home.
"Wait! Wait! Nessie! Hold up!"
Vanessa kept on walking, keeping an annoyed expression plastered on her face. She felt a tug at her arm and Jacob pulled her around to face him; holding her tight in his arms.
"Listen to me. Please. I gave you up once and that was hard enough. But I stayed seventeen for sixteen years for your benefit."
Vanessa struggled to get out of his grasp. "Stayed seventeen? For my benefit? What are you talking about?"
Jacob smiled slightly. "I wanted us to be close in age when we met again. So I could…do this." Jacob moved his face in to kiss her. Vanessa pulled away and slapped him.
"OW!" She exclaimed, nursing her hand.
Jacob chortled. "You are so like your mother. Only less breakable. Her hand broke when she hit me."
"You know my mother?"
"I know your biological mother."
"My biological…what?"
"You don't…they never told you?"
"TOLD ME WHAT?" Vanessa yelled.
"That your name is Renesmee Cullen, that you live in foster care, and…that you're half vampire."