A/N: So Hi guys! I don't feel like dragging the A/N but I will tell you this. I was kind of disappointed about the number of reviews. I only got ONE review!! That's it! People I want you to review because like I said in the summary if you don't review I will feel hated and right now I feel hated. Thanks so much to my Beta, A Colorful Crayon (Edward'AtTheDisco)!! She rocks like crazy!! Thanks so much to edward4life for being the ONLY one who reviewed! You get double servings of ice cream. Enjoy this chapter even though it is a little depressing but this is where every thing starts. Commence in 3…2…1…
Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight. Only the amazing author Stephenie Meyer does.
Alice: The challenge will begin tomorrow afternoon in the mountains. This will give both of us enough time to get ready for it. Are you up for it?
Jacob: Hell yeah!!
Alice: Good. Now go.
Me: I cant wait for this.
Alice: Come with me to go help prepare the family! skips away
Me: Ok! Wait for me!
To be continued…
Pleasant Things turn into Nightmares Eventually
"Ah! Mary Alice! Darling! My, you have become a lady!" Aunt Beth gathered me in a hug and squeezed hard. She hugged me until Cynthia ran in yelling "Auntie!" Aunt Beth let go and hugged Cynthia just as hard while I gasped for breath.
"Cynthia! There you are! How are you my sweet pea?" asked Aunt Beth. Cynthia began chatting away animatedly. Aunt Beth gave her a big kiss and went to greet mother.
I walked alongside Aunt Beth to where mother was. Mother told me to go tell the maids to prepare dinner and to greet Uncle George. I went obediently and entered the kitchen. The maids were bustling about preparing dinner so it was a waste for me to be in here at all. I wished mother would have a little more trust in them but I fear that she shall never trust them, especially not after that incident on Christmas evening four years ago.
It was Christmas evening of the year I was 15. Mother was wearing a beautiful dress that Father gave her as a birthday gift and I was taking care of Cynthia because she was only a year old and needed a lot of attention. Nearly the whole family came to have dinner with us including Aunt Beth and Uncle George; we were having chicken and other exquisite foods. Mother decided to trust the maids on deciding who would serve the food and to get prepared on their own. However, they decided to fight over who would serve the chicken and who would clean to kitchen. That ended in a disaster in which food ended up splattered all over the kitchen room floor and walls. The gravy was splattered on mother's expensive chiffon dress. No one ate that night; they all decided to go separately to a cheap diner for Christmas dinner instead. Mother was extremely upset and fired the maids who were involved and severely disciplined the others for not stopping their colleagues. Mother eventually hired new maids and everything became better afterwards, but she made a promise to herself that she would never trust the maids again.
I left the kitchen and went to the living room where Father and Uncle George sat, chatting. When Uncle George saw me he smiled his toothy smile and hugged me. "My, my Mary Alice," he said, "You have grown to be a fine lady."
Uncle George was a tall, plump man and slightly resembled a walrus. He had the mustache and the squinty eyes. His cheeks were chubby, and his hair was light brown. He wore glasses but only when reading books. I liked to read as well, but not as much as he did. He would read anything so long as it was a book. He was the one who recommended A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, and it proved to be wonderful so far. Uncle George also liked to play golf and would often challenge Father to a game when he could. He worked as a lawyer and was selected as one of the cities very best. He once helped his client win a case against the richest man in New York! Aunt Beth was extremely proud of him. She wouldn't let pass anyone without letting them know she was married to Uncle George. They were a perfect couple. I knew Aunt Beth was very much in love with him because every time Mother complimented on how cute they looked together she blushed a bright crimson.
I thanked Uncle George and told them that dinner would be ready soon. They smiled and said OK. I went to go to the sitting room by the front window but a vision appeared, stopping in me place. Dinner was going to be lovely. There would be roast beef and biscuits, salad with egg slice in it, and there would be cranberry sauce on top of the roast beef. Finally there would be wine to content the adults and ginger ale to content us children (Cynthia and myself). I was not old enough to drink alcohol, although I wasn't planning to drink any when I reached the legal age. I enjoyed my youth and didn't plan to waste it. If I looked like a child then I might as well act a little like one.
When I reached the sitting room, mother was chatting happily with Aunt Beth. Cynthia was sitting on Aunt Beth's lap and sucking her thumb while playing with a doll.
Aunt Beth was a tall, plump woman whose face crested with deep dimples whenever she smiled. Her eyes were blue, and her hair, blonde, was always kept tight in a bun. I always wondered how she would look with her hair down but I dared not ask fearing it would be rude. The strange thing is that she did not look at all like Mother. It is as if they weren't sisters at all. Aunt Beth was twenty-seven and very energetic. She loved to tell us stories and entertain us. She was always a romantic, telling us things about fairies flying to our windows at night when we were asleep. Mother disapproved of her telling us these things but she just ignored her and kept on telling us. Aunt Beth could not have children so that is why she doted on us so much. She thought of us as her own children and that made me happy. I was making her happy just by letting her be nice. She worked as an accountant and was very good with numbers. I knew she loved Uncle George, what with her flushing whenever they were complimented on their appearance as a couple, and because she always said to me that I would meet a man that would love me as much as she loved Uncle George. Of course, I didn't have any plans of marriage anytime soon but I thought it better not to discourage her. Besides, it made me happy seeing her blush.
Aunt Beth looked up and smiled. She invited me to sit and chat with her and mother but I alerted her that dinner would be soon in a few minutes and that there wouldn't be much time to chat. She smiled her dimpled smile and said, "It is quite all right. We will chat over tea and cookies just as ladies should. In the meanwhile, I am hungry. What is for dinner?"
Mother laughed and said, "Well Beth, let's find out."
We all went into the kitchen and found that Father and Uncle George were already there, china plates lain in front of them. The plates were in front of all the seats and the cups shined. We sat down and the maids started bustling in with silver platters of food. There was roast beef, biscuits, cranberry sauces, salad with egg slices in it, wine, and ginger ale just as my vision had shown.
We said prayers and began to eat. I ate carefully, chewing my food slowly so that I could enjoy it. Dinner was chatty, and very delicious. When we had finished the maids came back in and served dessert, my apple pie. Father and Aunt Beth eyes lighted up when they saw it and they were the first ones to eat it. I watched carefully and hoped I hadn't messed up anywhere in the ingredients. When Aunt Beth and Father had finished chewing they had smiled and said that it was the finest pie they ever tasted. My vision showed me the exact words and expressions.
When we had finished eating, we got up and went to the sitting room. Aunt Beth, Uncle George, and Cynthia went to one couch. Mother and Father went to other on the opposite end facing them, and I pulled a chair to sit on. Jessica, a maid, came in with a tray of tea and cookies and set it on the table in front of Uncle George and Aunt Beth. She then left to go clean up the dining table. The adults began chatting about how life was for them, and then they began talking about mine.
Mother said how responsible I had become and that she was looking for a husband for me. I internally groaned and wished we could get off the subject. However, Aunt Beth became ecstatic when she heard that so I let her have her fun. Then Uncle George commented on how nice my dress was. Aunt Beth said the same. I thanked them both, mentally checking another thing my vision predicted correctly.
Aunt Beth said she was so proud that I was becoming a lady. They all began conversing about my success at 'ladyhood'. I sat back, listening, happy that everyone was impressed about me.
The night went on and then it became late. Aunt Beth and Uncle George were staying for the night so I showed them to their room. They thanked me, bidding my goodnight. Mother was passing by as I closed the door. She hugged me saying that she was pleased with how well I acted. She said goodnight, hugging me again. I hugged her back. I heard a soft snoring coming from the living room, so I went to go investigate; there on my couch was Cynthia, deep asleep. I smiled then lifted her off the couch, taking her upstairs. After dressing her and tucking her into bed, I kissed her forehead and whispered goodnight. Finally I could go to sleep. I trudged towards my room, yawning. I undressed into my nightgown and went to go brush my teeth. Then I slipped into bed, grabbing A Tale of Two Cities from the nightstand. After reading for about an hour and making sure that everyone else was sleep, I turned out the lantern and rested my head on the pillow, awaiting sleep.
It wasn't before long that my head was jumbled with thoughts from tonight. I was thrilled
at how impressed and proud my parents and Uncle George and Aunt Beth were of me.
Then I felt a vision appearing. My eyes glazed and my mind soon focused on a dark alleyway. It seemed to be around midnight. I saw Aunt Beth in the vision, walking to a store opened all night and day. She pulled open the doors and walked inside, asking the clerk for a music box. She opened her wallet to pay for it when suddenly, a man dressed all in black bursted through the doors, demanding money. When Aunt Beth refused, the man stuck a gun at her face, threatening to shoot. She backed towards the wall, and the man shot her, a deafening gunshot ringing through the air. Blood splattered all over the shop, Aunt Beth lay on the ground, her blue eyes open and vacant. The scene faded with the image of a blood-splattered calendar marked with today's date. My vision ended.
My eyes enlarged as I realized what happened. Aunt Beth was going to be shot, around this time, today! I knew I heard someone leave the house. The doors were slammed shut about fifteen minutes before. I threw off my covers and hurriedly descended the stairs. I threw on my coat, slamming the door behind me.
Aunt Beth would reach the store soon; it was only a short distance away from our house.
She would get there within ten minutes. I began with sprinted steps. Blurred bushes and trees passed me.
Nine minutes remaining.
Horrid images of my aunt flailed on the ground diseased my mind. I quickened my pace. I almost tripped over a branch while turning a curb.
Seven minutes remaining.
Memories of my aunt rushed through my head, times of her gracing us with her affectionate kisses and hugs. I remembered that disastrous Christmas dinner and how she distracted us all with presents while mother scolded the maids for the mess.
Five minutes remaining.
My foot caught at the hem of my dress, and ripped. I fell on the ground, cursing myself for not shortening the dress's length. I quickly got up and resumed running. Only a few more turns. Images of my aunt, her eyes stoned became stronger. I ignored the dizziness from running too fast. I had to save Aunt Beth! She was too kind and young to have her life thrown away like that.
Three minutes remaining.
My breath came in heaves, spiraling around like smoke rings. It was a cold night. Twigs cracked under my thumping feet as they hit the ground. I ran quicker now, my hand tightly gripping the edge of my dress up so it wouldn't slow me down. The second curb passed. Only one left before I reached the store. I turned away thoughts of a grieving Uncle George.
One minute.
I ran as if I were in a marathon. My unpinned hair slapped my face, the wind howling behind me. I prayed while running. Oh, God, please let Aunt Beth be all right. Only a few more seconds now.
I turned the last curb, the lights on the store gleaming. I ran as fast I could now, bursting through the front doors of the store. A man in black clothing pointed the gun to Aunt Beth now, his finger positioned to shoot. Aunt Beth's sapphire eyes, widened with fear met mine as I opened my mouth, a shrill and resounding scream erupting as the gunshot spoke through the night. Blood poured out from my aunt's chest, her face glancing at me once more before slumping on the floor. My Aunt Beth's blue eyes faced the ceiling, vacant, just as my vision predicted.
A/N: What do you think? Tell me in a review! Again I want reviews or I will feel very hated. Ok? Thanks! Peace!