Bella

The vampires are here to give us breakfast. There are two men today; passing meals back to us with irritated expressions on their faces. What a shame that their food source requires such demanding care. I don't think I've ever seen one of them smile throughout all the time I've been at the blood mill. It's probably ridiculous to be bothered by that, given the circumstances, but if they're going to drink our blood, they could at least be friendly.

As I stare at them, I realize there is something more revolting than ending up in the unnamed room after all. The disgusting destiny that befalls on 1% of humans: To contribute to the ever-inflating populous of immortals.

To be transformed into a vampire…

A shudder runs down my spine at the thought. Forget about dying. I'd stay in that damn unnamed room for an entire lifetime and then some before I'd even consider joining their ranks.

In an attempt to sidetrack myself from these thoughts, I turn to Angela and start conversation. The meaningless babble flows easily between us. Soon we are laughing, the glum mood that my reflections have cast on me lifting from my heavy mind with relief.

Then our stone-face servers of the day, who normally pace up and down the rows to keep an eye on everyone, pause directly behind me. Angela goes on chattering obliviously while my muscles lock in place. Were they going to take me? Take Angela? Was someone's life about to end?

I can hear they're eerily smooth voices speaking back and forth. Holding my breath, I tune out Angela and strain my ears…

"…taking three hundred thru one fifty tomorrow."

"Only half?"

"The rest are going to be sent to Reproduction. I'm going to oversee that personally. If the blood filled aren't performing up to speed, I'll show them how it's done."

"Like hell you will. All these fucking humans haven't even got laid, and they still have more experience then you've had in the last eighty years."

The last one to speak laughs at his distasteful joke as they continue to make their way down the line.

Even with they're presence no longer pressing on me, I stay frozen. I run they're words over again in my head. What did they mean….?

Taking three hundred thru one fifty tomorrow… The rest are being sent to Reproduction…

A startlingly loud gasp echoes off the walls. The soft background murmur of voices gives way to dead silence. The overseers whirl around at a speed only their kind can accomplish. I can see three hundred and one pairs of eyes all wide and…staring at me. The gasp came from me. Oh.

"Bella?" Angela whispers with concern.

"Is there a problem?" one of the vampires asks icily. They hate speaking to lower life forms, and I can see his irritation is reaching maximum capacity. His ruby eyes shoot daggers at me.

My hands start to shake.

"N-n-no," I stammer. I don't think he would appreciate a lengthy explanation very much, so I leave it at that.

"Good." He turns his attention away from me instantly, as if I am not deserving of it.

The others hesitantly return to their meal, but Angela continues to stare.

"Are you okay?" she presses.

"Yeah," I answer, even if it will only be true for the next twenty four hours.

She stares at me for awhile longer. It dawns on me belatedly that she will be taken to the Draining Room tomorrow. As number one fifty, she just missed the cut off. I wonder if I should tell her, tell everyone, but soon decide against it. It isn't as though they could do anything about it but worry anyway. Who am I to deny them their last peaceful day on Earth?

I wish I was in her place. She is one of the many that would do anything to avoid death, and here I sit, longing for it. Just thinking of where I'll be, with that sick overseer watching me…

No.

I will not go there.

I would rather die, and so I will die. All I need to do is rebel. To attempt something outside of the vampire code of law. Something like…like…

The answer washes over me so suddenly, I have to cover my mouth to prevent another head-turning gasp.

All I need to do is try to escape.

A/N: Just a notice to all who read this; I'm going on vacation tomorrow and won't be back until Tuesday night. So, as much as I would love to update (the next chapter is where Bella and Edward finally meet) I won't be able to. Thank you so much for reading and, if you have time to give me some feedback, I'd love to hear what you're thinking so far!