Thank you to all for the wonderful reviews! I'm glad my story went over this well, because I have to confess… I'm a bit of an OC snob. I tend to dislike fanfics featuring new characters, because I find that the new character is usually some idealized extension of the author themselves, so that they might live vicariously in their favorite stories. I really hope I haven't done that here – and I also really hope you guys enjoy this second chapter. I like it a LOT – it was really fun to write, so hopefully you guys like it as much as I do. Let me know what you think… I trade cake for reviews!

On my first Saturday in Forks, I decided to go hiking, even though Tess had invited me to go shopping in Port Angeles. I was happy to have friends again, but I needed to ease in slowly. After two years of solitude, friendship was slightly terrifying. I couldn't quite remember how to act around people – I was a bit like a home-schooled kid suddenly being tossed into public school, shy and over-zealous.

Hiking was something I could do by myself, even if I shouldn't. Hiking safety dictated that I go with at least one other person, as well as let somebody know where I would be, in case I was hurt or something. I did neither. I wanted to be alone, and I knew my mom wouldn't like the idea. I told her I was going to Port Angeles with the Tess and her friends.

She beamed at me over the breakfast table, overjoyed that I had friends again. "Of course!" She jumped up and fetched her purse. "Here – buy some new clothes." She handed me fifty dollars from her wallet.

I felt guilty as I tucked the money into my pocket. I would give it back in the afternoon, and tell her that I didn't find anything I liked.

Mom hung out the front door as I crawled into my car. "Bye honey! Have fun!" In her excitement over my sudden sociality, she didn't notice that I was wearing cargo pants and hiking boots.

I waved, smiling, and backed out.

- - - - -

I'd been hiking for nearly three hours when I needed to rest. I sat on a mossy boulder, jutting from the ground on the side of the trail, and took a long drain on my water bottle. The weather was nice – for Forks. Though the sky was overcast, they were thin, harmless clouds that harbored no threat of rain. The blanket of clouds was oppressive though, trapping the heat down in the moist Forks climate, making it unbearably muggy. Sweat dripped down my face, chest, and back in rivulets. I doused my face with a splash of water from my bottle.

"Hello, darling." A hypnotically beautiful voice startled me, coming from behind. I whirled sharply, hands going quickly to the bear mace in my pocket. Behind me stood an impossibly beautiful man, with the palest skin I'd ever seen. His high, sharp cheekbones and narrow, aquiline nose set off his full mouth in a way that was seen only in fashion ads for men's cologne and the like. I could only stare, mesmerized by his haunting beauty. His eyes, though, were frightening beyond anything I'd ever seen before. They were sharp, angry, intense – but worst of all, they were blood red.

Despite being awestruck over his beauty, there was something in me that knew instantly to fear him. I took a step back, clutching the mace more tightly. The same little part of me that knew to fear this unnaturally beautiful man also had a sneaking suspicion that bear mace would do nothing to protect me from him.

The man smiled, looking almost sad as he regarded me. He seemed almost sheepish as he observed my retreat. He raised his hands, to show he meant no harm, and carefully took a step away from me as well.

"I'm sorry," he said softly, in the same entrancing voice as before. I felt my fear of him ebbing, but I knew I couldn't let that happen. "I didn't mean to frighten you."

I blinked, trying to remember that there was something obviously quite wrong with him. Possibly he was very ill, and contagious, and I instinctively knew to stay away. That would explain his paleness and strange eyes. Or perhaps he was just an odd-looking murderer, and I could sense his evil intentions. Either way, I kept my distance.

"Your eyes…" I said slowly, my mind working slowly through the awe of his beauty. He was like a Greek god – only terrifying.

His slender, long-fingered hand went to the corner of his eye, and he smiled softly again. "Yes, I'm albino."

I could feel myself flushing with shame. The reason I recoiled from him was because deep in my horrible Neanderthal heart, I was programmed to fear that which is different from me. Human nature – it's not always pretty. I smiled, trying to hide the fear that I just couldn't vanquish. Was I really so shallow?

He lowered his hands, and stepped towards me. I struggled not to run from him, as my brain was screaming at me to do. But I couldn't run if I wanted to. His brilliant red eyes paralyzed me with fear. I watched his approach helplessly, clutching my mace – though I doubted I'd be able to use it, should I need to.

His gait took on a predatory stealth as he drew closer, and I sensed a power in him that no man or beast could defy. The part of me that feared him tried desperately to reason with my politically-correct shame. Just because he's an albino doesn't mean he's a saint. He could still want to hurt you! Use the mace and run!

But I couldn't make my legs obey. The strange man drew closer, closing the distance between to an uncomfortable hair's breadth between our noses. He inhaled softly, closing his eyes as if savoring the scent of me.

"Mmmm…" he sighed. "You have a lovely aroma… like clover and lavender. Delicious," he purred.

Now I was officially frightened. I sidestepped him and pushed past him, making my way back the way I came. It was a three hour walk, and I doubted I could outrun him. Leonine grace and power emanated from his every move. Faster than I could blink – he was in front of me. I stopped short, drawing in a startled breath. How had he done that?

"Where are you going so quickly? We've only just met." He blinked, though still red, were suddenly darker, more intense. I took a step away from him, too afraid to be near him by pushing around him. I turned and headed the other way down the trail.

But he was in front of me again. I shrieked in terror, jumped backwards as he materialized in front of me, a blur of motion to perfect stillness. "Come now, don't be shy. I won't hurt you – I'll be very quick about it."

"Wh-what?" I croaked, finding my voice at last. This man couldn't really mean to kill me! I couldn't believe that I'd actually known what I was doing wrong, and the worst consequence came true. Nobody would know I was missing for hours and hours, nobody would find my body in this endless wilderness… nobody would even hear me scream.

But I screamed anyway, long-shot that it was. My only hope was that somebody else was out hiking, not too far from here, and would come running before it was too late. The stranger was suddenly upon me, so quickly that I didn't even see him leap for me.

I found myself suddenly wrapped in his iron embrace, pressed tight against his cold, rock-hard body. His cold hand clamped over my mouth, cutting off my scream. There was something very unnatural about him, and his proximity nearly had me fainting in fear. My senses were in a riot as fear clashed with confusion. I couldn't understand what it was about him that repelled me so strongly, but whatever it was, it ran deep, and my blood chilled.

I stilled, realizing that fighting him was futile. His strength was unbelievable, and his speed even more so.

"Ah, there's a smart girl," he said smoothly, his lips pressed against the curve of my ear. He released me, and spun me around to face him. I stood, frozen in place, as I tried to think of some way to save myself.

"Don't touch me!" I gasped hoarsely, impressed that I was even able to make a sound.

"Now, don't be like that," he said, feigning a pout. "I've been nothing but nice, and I promised to make this painless."

I pulled my wallet from my pocket and threw it at his feet. "Take it! I don't care, there's fifty bucks in there. Please don't kill me."

He bent and picked the wallet up, examining it delicately. "I'm not interested in your money, my dear. What I want from you… well, it rather requires your death I'm afraid."

I gaped wordlessly.

He smiled, shaking his head pityingly. "I want your blood." At the word blood, his entire demeanor shifted. He crouched low, like a panther about to pounce, and his gentle smile stretched into a horrific display of gleaming fangs.

I stood where I was. Instinct and survival warred with each other in my mind – instinct told me to run like hell and not look back, while survival assured me that running would only provoke a chase… one that I would certainly lose.

"Oh my God," I gasped, finally understanding. "You're a vampire!"

He straightened sharply, his expression losing its demonic hunger. He looked confused, afraid even. If it were possible, I think he may have paled even more. He turned his head sharply to the left, blood red eyes searching the dark forest.

"No!" he gasped, falling back a step. Emerging from the trees were the largest wolves I'd ever seen. They were easily bigger than even the largest bear I'd ever seen. I staggered back weakly, certain that I'd met my death. If the vampire didn't kill me… well, the giant wolves would probably consider me a tasty snack. The wolves glanced between me and the vampire, probably debating between which of us would taste better. But when I met the gaze of the rust-red wolf, I was astonished to see an intelligence within those dark eyes that normal animals did not possess.

What the hell was wrong with Forks?

The vampire turned and darted into the trees on the other side the trail, moving faster than my mind could register. In a second he was gone from sight. The wolves – six of them tore after him, leaving the trees trembling and swaying in their wake. For a moment, all I could do was stare after them, stunned.

Then, quickly, my brain dropped back into my skull and I took off running down the trail. I flat-out sprinted the entire hike back to my car, fueled by fear. I all but ripped the door off its frame and lunged into the driver's seat, whipping the door shut and locking it. Not even pausing to catch my breath, I turned the ignition and peeled out of the small graveled lot.

When I was halfway home, my adrenaline rush faded and I found myself sobbing and shaking. I pulled over to the side of the road, slumped over my steering wheel, and screamed as loud and long as I could. When my tears dried up, I continued to hiccup and sniffle, terrified. My hands trembled, even though I clutched the steering wheel so tightly my knuckles were white.

A knock at my window tore another scream from me, and tried to jump into the passenger seat, only to be wrenched back by my seatbelt. My head knocked painfully against the window, but I ignored it, pulling away and looking up to...

Chief Swan.

I sighed with relief, and found myself crying again.

"Are you alright?" Charlie asked, sounding alarmed.

"Giant wolves!" I gasped through my sobs.

Charlie's expression evened, and he seemed completely unfazed. "You can't drive right now – I'll take you to your mom."

I let Charlie help me from the car and into the passenger seat of his cruiser. I hoped I wouldn't have to talk to him much. Even though I'd admitted to the giant wolves, I wasn't sure I should have – and I certainly had no intention of telling anyone that I'd nearly become vampire lunch. First off, they'd think I was nuts. And second, what could they do about it? As a firsthand witness to the strength and speed of a vampire, I knew no human would be a match. Not even twenty humans.

Fortunately, Chief Swan was not particularly talkative. After ascertaining that I was alright, he assured me, "You shouldn't have gone hiking alone – it's too dangerous. People have been seeing these wolves for a while now. My daughter saw them." He left it at that. He seemed a little tight-lipped when he mentioned his daughter, but I didn't ask about her.

- - - - -

"Oh my God! You told me you went to Port Angeles!" Mom wrapped me in a crushing embrace, hurting my ribs. I'm not sure if it was love or anger that inspired her bear hug.

Charlie stood shyly in the doorway. "In the future, don't go into the woods alone. It's not safe." His chastisement was hardly stern, but I assured him he could rest easy on my behalf. I didn't plan on ever going into the woods again.

Mom rushed to Charlie, embracing him warmly. Charlie flushed bright red, patting her shoulder nervously. "Thank you so much, Charlie! I can't even think of what would have happened if…" Mom released him and stepped back, dropping her face into her hand. "Cat, go to room right now, while I figure out what to do with you."

I left the entryway, but I hovered just around the corner in the kitchen, listening.

"I really can't thank you enough, Charlie."
"No thanks needed," Charlie assured her modestly. "I have a daughter too; she's done things just as ridiculous. She went into the woods herself… she bought motorcycles a few years ago and had one of the boys at the reservation teach her how to ride them."

Mom's laughter was authentic – more real than I'd heard since dad died. "Oh, God. I would absolutely kill Cat if she did that… though I don't know that I would put it past her," Mom mumbled.

Charlie laughed softly. "Well, I better get going. See you later," he said politely.

"I hope so," Mom called after him. I couldn't hear Charlie's response, but I could imagine him turning bright red. I was turning red myself, but with fury. We're barely done grieving Dad – we don't need someone else coming in and messing up our lives. I wasn't sure Mom could stand another heartbreak. In the first few months after Dad died, I chucked out all the pills in our house and I would hide the knives when I left for school… just in case. I didn't want to go through that again.

I heard Mom sigh whimsically as she shut the front door, and then her footsteps came down the hallway. As quickly and as quietly as I could, I fled upstairs, swinging my door shut.

I stared pensively out my window at the expanse of forest just at the end of our lonely road. A shiver crawled up my spine and I forced myself to look away. What had we gotten into? Vampires and giant wolves? Did they exist everywhere and I'd never noticed before? Or was Forks just a hotspot for supernatural weirdness? Whatever it was, I worried that moving to Forks was an even worse idea than I originally thought.

Okay, let me know what you thought of it. Chapter three is coming soon, because I'm nearly finished with it. Also – I promise Bella and Edward will appear in Chapter four – and it's gonna be good!!