Thanks to all the peeps who R&R'd, and who have learned to discount promises of quick updates. I had a seminar on Monday, so instead of paying attention I chose to have my mind wander for awhile and enter the forests of Forks.

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As I ran, Rosalie's words echoed endlessly in my head. It was all I could hear, beyond the pounding of my heart. The forest whipped by me, branches striking me all over. But I barely felt it. I stumbled and pushed my way through the dense foliage. The scene eerily mirrored my escape a few weeks ago, except for the heavy gray light filtering through the trees.

I only felt the urgency of finding Edward. There was nothing I wanted more. My body rushed to meet him, almost as if drawn to him by the powerful imperative to protect him. I had to stop him before he got maimed or ripped to shreds.

Rosalie's voice in the back of my head… "Why would he risk his life for mine, if he didn't want me?" It was like a tiny glimmer of reason that broke through my terror. I would give my very life if it meant he would not be harmed. Why would I risk my life for his, if he does not care? Thevoice was hurtful, and relentless. But this went beyond reason—I would die for him.

I'd lost track of time. I had been running for awhile, and only then did exhaustion catch up with me. I paused for a moment: I noticed the heavy skirt of my dress dragging me down. I pulled off my petticoat from under the dress. There seemed no point to it. I tossed the filmy tulle and gauze aside, creating a bloom of white on the dark forest floor.

The difference in weight was noticeable as I continued running through the trees. With a heavy sense of foreboding, I realized I was hopelessly lost. There was no dappling sun to guide me towards the town or the exact center of the forest. There was no clamor of feral fighting to indicate where Edward might be.

If the newborn vampires were coming solely for me, it did not seem right to have the Cullens risk everything for me, a measly human. Let them have me, let the vampire's mate exact her revenge. I could not help but think that Rosalie was right in everything she said. Despair and fear gripped my heart. I feared I would not reach Edward in time. Alice's vision could go any which way; he could be destroyed and I knew I could never survive that.

I recalled the dismal view from my bedroom window: the vast expanse of forest reaching out, the town hidden from sight. I'd no idea if I was any closer or simply wandering in meaningless circles.

As I took stock of my situation, I tripped and plunged into a thorny bush. Sharp pain needled my hands as I thrust them in front of me to break my fall. Some of the thorns were embedded deeply. I picked myself up, pulling out the thorns I could see.

Blood welled up, spotting my hands. I tried to wipe it off on my skirt, staining it. Then I had an idea. I veered deeper into the woods, willing the blood to seep through my skin. When the drops began to run in rivulets down my arm, I smeared my bloodied palms across the tree trunks. I ran bloody trails over the ferns. I reached into my hair and pulled a few loose strands, draping them over the rocks. I had learned a few things while at the Cullen's.

I kept strengthening the trail, marking everything with my scent. I had no sense of direction, but the foliage was denser, wilder somehow. I felt nearer the heart of the forest. And then I heard it.

The growls and snarls emanating from somewhere close by made the hair on the nape of my neck rise. Nevertheless, I strode forwards at a faster pace. I didn't know what I was walking into, but could not muster the necessary concern. All I cared about was finding Edward.

I pushed against the thick bracken, listening with all my might for the sounds of the fight, attempting to get closer. Quite abruptly, the green vanished, leaving me in the midst of a clearing. I could see rusted, abandoned rails and spikes strewn about the ground, where they would soon be overtaken by the forest.

I lingered for a moment, deciding whether to cross the clearing or return to the forest depths when a shadowy figure burst through the trees, facing me. The paleness of the skin made my heart skip a beat, but only one. The tangled reddish hair was not his.

The woman crouched close to the ground in a cat-like fashion, licking her lips. "Finally," she hissed.

I froze, knowing I had arrived to the right place. And hopefully, at the right time.

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Almost done! 2 more chapters to go…