Recap: There were people worse than a drunk, and the cycle for blood was already beginning to grow. It was all clear, yet something was wrong. Something did not feel right. Something was missing.
Chapter Three "Quenched":
It was interesting to see how much my appetite pushed me now that I had decided to give into the desires of my monster. The blood from the humans around me seemed to swirl in the air around me, tempting me. It had been several weeks since my last kill with the deer. I decided to stay in a run-down motel on the outskirts of a large city, the kind of motel that did not ask for names. The city itself was teeming with people, which is exactly what I wanted. Everything seemed to be falling into place to start my new lifestyle, but still I felt empty inside. What was wrong with me? In my mind I pictured how I had hurt Carlisle and Esme, my family. But it was probably time that I moved on, and I tried to convince myself how they had probably already moved on. This would give them a chance to be together without me interrupting. I had tried to make it easy for them. No prolonged talk or leading up to my leaving. I had made a clean break, which was always best.
Into the city I stealthily moved. The roar of people's voices in my head could be deafening, and usually were unoriginal. In this city it seemed it never slept, there was always someone awake, no matter what time of day it was. The buildings were taller here than in most, which left a lot of dark alleys and streets. The perfect place for the scum I was trying to find. The moon tonight was only about half full, and the clouds covered most of the light.
I was still trying to be active in the day, but it had become more difficult when there was no one to talk to. I had to be more careful here as well. The sunlight was a lot more frequent in this place than in my previous.
Here I was though, in the night. More and more it seemed I welcomed the nighttime. I sat in the dark alley behind one of the large buildings. Several dark figures had passed by this point already, but I was keeping watch on one in particular. His thoughts were loathsome, and he had picked my alleyway to sit in. He hid in the shadows a few feet in front of me, never knowing I was there.
It cut me to the core when a young girl turned into the alley. She was clearly new to the area and was very much lost. I could see that the directions she was following were poorly written. Immediately the man's thoughts began to coil like a snake, and he prepared himself to strike. He had been planning this all night, or course, it did not matter who, but she had happened to step into the alley first.
Steeping out behind her as she passed the man spoke.
"Are you lost miss?" his voice sounded rough, and he was smiling. It was all a game to him. The anger inside me was beginning to really swell now. It seemed the more angry I was becoming the more the picture of Carlisle was pushed from my mind.
She was brave, and answered calmly. "I will manage thank you." Her mind was racing, looking for a way out. The dirt alley only had two ways out, one behind the man, and one the stretched out too far away. Large metal trash cans were placed along the backs of the walls on either sides. The only lights that would be there, by the back door of the shops, were burned out or broken.
"Are you sure I couldn't help you." He stepped forward. Inside he was laughing. He was actually enjoying his mockery. Inside I could feel myself boiling up like a pressure cooker.
"Just leave me alone." She picked up her pace. The man picked up his, and was about to leap into action. Not able to hold back, a growl was let loose from my throat. The deep noise resonated down the dark alley. Both immediately stopped and turned to look where the noise had come from. I hit the large rusted garbage I was hiding behind. The woman was the first to run. She knew something was there. I was happy to see that she thought it must have been a large dog, or wolf. It was something so much worse than those however, it was me.
The man was the next to run. I knew the moment for indecision was gone, and the time for action was now. But even here at the last second Carlisle's face passed across my mind. So many times it had been his face that had held me back in the last moments when things got rough. I quickly shoved it aside, and could feel the arms of monster taking control. I gave in and watched as I sprung from my hiding spot. The man was so startled when he saw my face. The anger inside had built up and built up through the night by all the things he had thought. Now, happily, I was able to release what was inside and push back everything else.
"Are you lost mister?" came the angry growl from my lips.
"Just leave me alone." Cried the man.
"No, I think from now on you will be the one leaving everyone else alone."
The blood I received that night was like everything I had dreamed of. I seemed that the monster inside was cheering from it. I could feel the thirst that had been built inside for so long so easily pushed away. It was the final freedom that I was looking for. All had been quenched inside. Yet somehow something inside was not quenched.
That night I returned home, after cleaning up. It bothered me, this feeling of something empty inside. It was not a desire for blood; that had been quenched…for now. It was something else. Looking around the empty room I began to see more clearly what was bothering me. I could not handle being alone any longer.
Author's Note: Thanks to all those who have written a review. It really helps a lot. Edward's turn to this decision isn't over yet, so I hope the next chapter will illuminate where he is headed.
