Chapter 4

I started planning immediately. Where to go, where would I hear Edward again? I contemplated for awhile in my room before coming up with the decision to just wander about the woods. Edward had always warned me about wandering about on my own so maybe the voice in my head would feel some kind of concern for my safety.

It was just after ten o'clock at night when I crept silently out of my room and down the stairs. Charlie had been in bed for a good half an hour so I doubted he would be alert enough to stop me from sneaking out. I locked the door behind me and walked towards the path which led towards the forest. It was extremely cold and the rain made it worse. I was glad I had worn my thermal t-shirt underneath my shirt. The forest was dark and gloomy, my boots squelched in the mud and snapped a few twigs-as I went further into the forest-making me jump. I became tired after awhile and was concerned that the voice in my head had disappeared. Not a sound. Not one murmur from him. Nothing.

I stopped and sighed. This was a stupid idea. A very stupid idea. I was about to turn back when I heard a rustle behind me and a twig snap.

I spun around to find nothing.

I had imagined it. My mind was playing tricks on me. It wouldn't be the first time. But then I heard it again and an eerie 'whoosh'. I spun around again and found nothing. This was my worst idea ever. The forest seemed to become misty but when I blinked it was gone. My mind was over imaginative. And then I heard it again, a faint 'whoosh'. It sounded so familiar and yet so terrifyingly familiar. I knew what it was. It was the exact same noise made when a vampire ran through the forest. So why was it circling me?

That was the worst question to ask. It was circling me. A vampire was closing in and nobody was around to help me. Great, I thought. The day – or night – you decide to wander about the forest a vampire is running around most probably hunting. I sure knew how to pick them.

I heard another rustle and a snap of a twig and decided to run.

I didn't have a clue in which direction the path was but I had to run. I ran and stumbled over and over again. My breathing was becoming ragged, my heart was beating faster and the adrenaline was pumping around my body at an inhuman pace. And all the while the whooshing and rustling continued, following me as I ran.

I stumbled and fell to the forest floor. The leaves and ferns cushioned my fall. The whooshing died down and I curled up into a ball hoping that the morning would come soon so that I could find my way home.

I drifted to sleep and as I slept I dreamt.

I was standing in the forest with Edward his perfect face was serious as he stared out ahead. I wanted to comfort him tell him everything was ok and that he should be happy. But then I realised why he was staring ahead seriously.

Jacob stood by a tree; his arms crossed his lips pulled into an evil smirk. He stared intently at Edward and Edward growled, his entire body shaking with the tenor of it. I winced and stepped inbetween them.

Edward said something then which was deaf to my ears but Jacob's smirk disappeared and he trembled, his entire body shaking. He growled and ran at Edward his face determined to hurt him. I was suddenly ten feet away nowhere near where I was before and had no chance of stopping Jacob. He burst into his wolf form and threw Edward into a nearby tree. Edward disintegrated into dust at the impact and I screamed.

I woke with a scream and blinked several times, trying to erase the image of Edward turning to dust. It was just a dream, I told myself. Just a dream. I sat up and looked around. It was morning. The sun was just about shining through the trees and the rain had ceased, the atmosphere was happy but I was far from it.

No voice. No hallucinations. Nothing. Not one darn warning, even though I was being stalked.

I sat up and then realised where I was. I was in the trees opposite my back yard. I had run from the side of my house to the back last night. I could have walked back home if I had realised. I was truly annoyed now.

I got up and walked round to the front of the house. Charlie's cruiser was gone so I didn't have to worry about explaining why I was covered in mud or why I looked like I'd seen a ghost. I could go in and have a shower without being questioned about my whereabouts. Perfect.

I walked into the kitchen and found a note by the phone.

Where the hell were you? I wake up this morning to find you bed empty. You've got some explaining to do missy.

Dad x

I was in so much trouble, so much for no explanations. I headed for the stairs just as the phone rang.

At first I was going to ignore it-it might have been Charlie-but then I realised Charlie would have waited behind to talk to me. So I walked back to the kitchen to answer it.

"Hello?" I asked picking up the phone.

"Bella, its Billy."

I was surprised; I usually called him, "Hey Billy. Charlie's not here. He's at work.

"I was calling to talk to you actually. Jacob called about three minutes ago saying he was on his way back." He told me.

I smiled, "Thank you so much for telling me. Tell Jacob to call me or come round when he gets back. Please?" I asked.

He chuckled, "Of course. Talk to you soon Bella. Take care."

"You too Billy. Bye." And he hung up.

I skipped upstairs and into my room. Pleased with how soon Jacob would be back. I really needed him back.