Chapter One
"Isabella Marie Swan! Get inside right this instant! What have I told you about going outside without shoes on?" The young girl rolled her eyes as her mother prattled on about the dangers of not wearing shoes outside. As if there were actual dangers of touching the soft grass with your bare feet. She also bristled at the use of her full name. Since she was old enough to talk, she had insisted upon being called Bella. "Yes mother, I understand I could die a thousand ways all because I didn't put shoes on. But I love the way the earth feels on my bare feet. It would be worth a million deaths to always have soft grass to walk upon." With a frustrated sigh, Renee literally throws in the towel. Right into the sink with all the dirty dishes. "Isabella, you've been on this earth for 16 years and I still don't get you at all. Girls your age should be out having fun, chasing boys, and being girly! Not admiring the "soft green grass". "This is an argument that happens at least once a month, so Bella spews out the same reassuring promise she uses every time to end this non-sense. "I know Mom, I'm sorry. I will go call Jessica and Angela to see if they want to go shopping!" This solution always seemed to please Renee and get her off Bella's back. With a faked enthusiastic smile Bella heads up the stairs to her room. Sometimes she can pull it off and make herself actually go shopping with the girls. But not today, today she plans to visit her favorite place in this Washington waste land. It's not much, just a clearing in the woods off Noble Street. But it has the most beautiful flowers Bella has ever seen, and they form an amazing circle. Someone had to of planted them, the circle is way too perfect to appear randomly. But regardless she is thankful to whoever planted them, as they make a loud cry to her soul. Sometimes she keeps herself entertained by trying to guess who would plant a circle of flowers in the middle of nowhere, as it took about 20 minutes of walking after you parked at the main road. When she's not creating her own stories, she's reading the ones someone else has created. Today she found herself totally engulfed in another land with palm trees, scenic beaches, and good friends. The author is describing everything so well she can almost smell the sea and feel the harsh wind blow across her face. All of which is shattered when a darkness covers the rare bright sun. Cupping her hands of her eyes she sees a man. A very large man. A very large man holding an equally large sword. After a few seconds of shock wear off Bella is on her feet and 3 steps back from the intimidating man. She's still speechless and is gaping like a fish out of water, never having been on the violent side, the sword scares Bella to death. After the significantly awkward silence, the sword yielding man speaks. "My name is Marcus. I am the best tracker and sword fighter in Skylied. Do not run child and this will be over quickly." Bella had still not uttered a single word or moved an inch. But the end of his little speech was enough to change that quickly. As he lunged sword first toward Bella, she took action and started to turn around to run. Much to her dismay she didn't even get to fully turn around before this Marcus guy had her pinned to the nearest tree with the scary sword at her throat. She could already feel the blade had drawn blood that was now trickling down her neck, she could also smell it and knew live or die she was about to lose consciousness. "Do you wish to make any final goodbyes Princess?" It all happened so quickly she wasn't sure it was real life. As Marcus brought the sword back to finish the job, something flew out of the tree line and collied loudly with her executioner. Just as Bella tried to make out what was happening she lost her battle and fell unconscious.