BLOOD! There was blood everywhere. All over me. My hands, my feet, my arms, my legs. I was covered in it. The bright red seemed to incase me like a glove. In vain, I kept rubbing my hands over my body in attempt scrape it off. I had pulled my blood soaked dress over my head and dropped it a few hundred yards back. I didn't notice where it fell nor did I recognize where I ended up. In the woods behind the high school somewhere? After what I did, I couldn't think straight. I just started running. Running away from the gruesome scene.
What had I done!? Is this what some of my family felt like after they had killed someone? Like a monster? I don't know what came over me. The blood seemed to draw me in like a magnet. One second I was walking along, completely lost in my own world and next moment I'm bent over a bleeding body. It happened so fast, I didn't know what hit me. All I knew was I wasn't safe to be around anymore.
I figured someone would be searching for me right about now. Either the police or my family. Preferably the latter if Alice had seen what happened. Either way, I knew my family would at least get to me first. Meanwhile, I had to do something. I couldn't just let my murdering self wander free. Who knows when or if it will happen again?
I quickly looked around for some sharp-ended branches, collected them and them began my next search for a nook in some nearby cliffs. It didn't take long before I cornered myself in the sharp rocks and then stuck the blunt end of the large sticks in the ground so that the jagged ends were pointed towards me, threatening me to say put. I couldn't go past them without injuring myself. This is exactly what I intended. Killers like me need to be locked up.
"Someone call 911! It's an emergency!" A concerned citizen yelled through the school where hoards of parents, students, teachers and random guests were giving their congratulations to the graduating class.
Carlisle and Esme were in the middle of smiling proudly for pictures-none of which they intended to keep-with their own three 'graduating' children when she looked at her husband in concern. He stared back, his forehead wrinkled in thought.
The announcement had caused quite a stir, of course, and most of the people naturally began to flock towards the scene of the accident, offering their assistance wherever they could. The victim was lying in the school hallway near the restrooms.
"You had better go and see what you can do." Esme advised her husband. He nodded in agreement and made his way through the crowd, which parted with ease in respect of his well-known profession.
On the ground, surrounded by a pool of blood, was Mr. Buddy, the school janitor. Next to him was a fallen ladder which appeared to be the obvious cause of the harm. He seemed to slowly regain consciousness as Dr. Cullen began checking his vital signs.
"Wh. . .what happened?" Mr. Buddy asked, putting his hand up to his head.
"I'm not sure, yet." Dr. Cullen answered. "I was kind of hoping you could tell me."
"Last thing I remember, I was at the top of my ladder changing a light bulb." He replied, still quite shaken up.
"What are his injuries, doctor?" A first responder asked Dr. Cullen, assuming he had already assessed the situation.
Carlisle shook his head in confusion. "I don't see any."
The EMT looked skeptically at Dr. Cullen. "Then whose blood is this?" He asked, gestured to the small puddles at their feet.
"I have no idea." Dr. Cullen replied. "Where are you hurt?" He asked the man still laying on the floor.
"I'm not. . . anymore." The man answered, still in shock.
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know." Mr. Buddy looked in bewilderment up at the ceiling and back down at his body. Then he stared straight into Dr. Cullen's eyes and said incomplete awe, "I think I died."
Just at that moment the paramedics arrived on the scene and took over, strapping the janitor onto a gurney and loading him into an ambulance, despite the fact that the man appeared to be in perfect health and full mental capability.
Carlisle returned back into the auditorium where his family waited for him. They had stayed behind due to the massive amounts of blood that could be smelled even from there.
"Is he going to be alright?" Esme inquired with concern.
"Yes, I believe so." He replied, a little lost in thought.
"What is it? Is anything wrong?" Esme asked, sensing his mood.
"Where is Lanie?" Edward asked, knowing what his father was thinking. "Shouldn't she be back by now?"
"Yes, she should. That's what I'm worried about." Carlisle replied to Esme. "I could smell her scent all around the accident."
All of the others looked puzzled. "You think Lanie caused it?" Jasper asked doubtfully, trying to make sense of what was happening.
"No. The exact opposite, in fact." Carlisle replied, still unsure of his own assessment. Once again the others looked at him in confusion. "I'm going to the hospital to look into this further."
"I have to search for Lanie before she gets into trouble." Esme announced, beginning to walk away.
"Darling, I think you should stick around here." Carlisle advised his wife. "It would strange if all of us disappeared at the same time."
"I suppose you're right." Esme said, reluctantly. "But if she had anything to do with this, then wherever took off to, she is probably scared and confused."
"The rest of you should go find your sister as quickly as possible." Carlisle urged.
"Carlisle, what is going on?" Alice demanded, flustered that her gifts weren't giving her answers. "Do you think she healed that person?"
"I believe Lanie did more than just heal someone. I think she brought him back to life."
It seemed like I had been sitting in the middle of the forest about a mile away from the school for forever or maybe it had just been a few minutes. Either way, it was way to much time to sit there and think about what I'd done. What my future might hold.
Where is my family? Surely they've noticed me missing by now. Why haven't they come for me? Are they even planning on coming for me? I mean, I think they have to. After all, I am their responsibility. But what's going to happen to me once they get to me? Will they keep me or send me back to Volterra? Will Aro sentence me to be put to death? I know they've screwed up a few times themselves, so surely I'm allowed to make mistakes too. But maybe I shouldn't be allowed to live anymore seeing as how I'm a monster now.
That was a miserable time for me. Like after you get into trouble and you're waiting in the principle's office or for your dad to come home and punish you or something. Only this time it was a hundred times worse. This time, I didn't lie or steal or skip school. I murdered someone. I had never felt so ashamed. So alone.
Crack! I jumped at the sound of something in the woods. Had someone finally found me? I peeked through my handmade enclosure, but didn't see anything so I settled back in . . .until I heard it again a few seconds later. This time it was louder and much closer.
Ever so slowly, I leaned forward and looked through an opening around the side of the cliff and then gasped. My heart skipped a beat when I first saw it. An enormous sandy-colored wolf, the size of a small horse was standing just a few feet away from me. I don't know what I expected to see, but certainly not that. It was so close! And I was so frightened, I could barely move.
We both just stood there for a moment staring at each other. I didn't know what to do next. Why isn't it moving ot attackimg me? In desperation, I pulled one of my pointed sticks out of the ground and threw it at the rugged animal, where it bounced off him like a straw.
"Go!" I yelled, unsure if doing so would make in run away or more angry.
But then I noticed, much to my surprise, the wolf wasn't even angry or hostile to begin with. As a matter of fact, it looked very peaceful and calm. The sort demeanor you'd see in a family's collie or golden retriever. That made feel kinda guilty.
I scoffed. "Here I am, treating you like a monster when I'm the one you should be scared of." I mumbled to the huge dog.
The rugged wolf whimpered in response and crouched down in sort of a submissive pose as if he were trying to let me know he was non-threatening and inched towards me until he was in arm's reach. Hesitantly, I stretched my hand forward and laid it on his large head, scratching him behind the ears. He wagged his tail and glanced up at me with almost a gleam of happiness in his eyes. The expression almost looked 'human' and seemed out-of-place on an animal.
"What are you doing here, anyways?" I wondered out loud. I had never seen a wolf that big before in my entire life. "You wouldn't be if you knew what just happened."
Then, as if the wolf knew what I was saying, he stood up on all four legs and sniffed me, no doubt noticing all the dried up blood that still clung to me. I heard a low rumble come from the wolf's throat, then saw him he raise his eyebrows and tilt his head to the side in question.
"I'm alright." I said. "That's not my blood, it somebody else's." Someone that would still be alive today if it weren't for me.
That thought made me start crying. Softly at first, but my sobs became harder as I dwelt on what had happened. To my surprise, the wolf began whimpering as if it were bothered by my crying. He nuzzled his snout into my chest to comfort me and then licked the tears off my face.
Suddenly, his ears perked up and he stopped and looked up into the woods behind him, hearing something that my human ears could not. Turning back towards me, he nudged his forehead against my head and gave me one final lick on the cheek before he took off into the forest.
The instant the wolf disappeared, four images blurred into view. Four of my siblings. They stood there about ten feet away, staring at me in bemusement for a moment.
Finally, Rose broke the silence. "Laine, what are you doing out here?"
I didn't know what to say back. Don't they already know what I did? Haven't they come to try and destroy me or something? Oh, no! I hope I don't accidentally kill them like I did that poor guy! Who knows what I'm capable of!? I should warn them to run for their lives. I don't want to hurt them. . .
The expressions on their faces went from confused and concern to slight humor. Then Emmett scoffed, shaking his head and started walking boldly towards me. "Come on, sis, we gotta get you outta here."
"Stay away from me!" I warned him. "I'm dangerous!"
"You are!?" He said in a joking way like he was talking to a small child. "Yeah, I guess you DO look pretty frightening now that I think about it."
"I'm serious, Emmett!" I warned him again. "I've killed someone else and I could kill you too!"
"What!? A cute, harmless, little human like you trying to kill a big, mean, scary vampire like me?" He said, cock-eyed and unmoving. "That does sound terrifying! You're right, I better keep my distance."
Jasper trotted up next to his brother and acted like he was sizing me up. "I don't know, Em. If we work together, I think we could take her on." He said with a smirk.
I shook my head sharply. "There's no sense in risking it." I said a second before I realized he was teasing me.
Why are they joking about this!? Do they want to die? With my unpredictability, I could go psycho right now and snap them like a twig. Stupid boys! Why can't they take this seriously!?
"What is this contraption?" Alice asked, gesturing at my wooden cage.
"I've imprisoned myself for your safety." I told them somberly. Once again, my brothers reactions showed they of thought the whole thing as a joke . I swear I'm about to knock some sense into them if they don't quit laughing at me!
"Don't be ridiculous, Lanie." Alice said, rolling her eyes. "You are a human. You can't hurt us even if you tried."
"I wouldn't be too sure about that." I cautioned. "You should all stay back before I attack you!"
"Just don't hurt yourself trying, darlin'." Jasper said with a half-smile.
"Enough of this nonsense!" Rosalie exclaimed, pursing her lips together in annoyance. "We need to get you home."
Emmett stepped forward and effortlessly pushed a few of my spears out of the way as if they were toothpicks. I moved slowly backwards, scared of what I might do to him. He didn't seem to notice, but instead just picked me up like I was a toddler and flung me over his shoulder. I sat on his forearm and clung to his chest as he carried me over the debris.
"Lanie, where are your clothes?" Alice asked with exasperation, reminding me that I was wearing nothing more than a bra and panties.
Holy crap, this is so embarrassing! I can't believe it. How the hell did I forget I was barely wearing anything? Why do I always end up in these predicaments? I can't believe the guys have to be here! At least I haven't gotten 'big' enough yet for it to really matter too much. Just nonchalantly fold your arms in front of you like you don't care. . . .
I let out an exhausted sigh and pointed in the direction from where I came. "It had Mr. Buddy's blood all over it." I said, tearing up at the thought.
"But that was Baby Phat." Alice reminisced, her eyes tightening at the thought.
"Alice! How can you act that way over a stupid article of clothing when some innocent person just died because of me?" I yelled, my voice cracking near the end. All four of them stopped and gazed at me for second.
"Who died?" Alice asked, sounding genuinely perplexed.
"Really!?"
"This conversation is over." Rose said with determination. "Carlisle and Esme are waiting for us back at the house."
"Alright, Lanie, you need to tell me exactly what happened after you left us at the school." My father told me. He had just returned from the hospital where he went to go investigate what was going on with the janitor. The instant he returned, a family meeting was called. We were all sitting at the dining room table. My mother still hadn't let me go since I stepped foot in the door.
"Well, I was on my way to the restrooms and I look over and see Mr. Buddy on the top of his ladder fixing a lightbulb or something and then he falls down to the ground. Next thing I know, I'm leaning over him with his blood all over my hands." I told him, barely holding back the sobs. "Some small vampiric part of me must have smelled all the blood and then went crazy and killed him. I can't even begin to tell you how sorry I am."
"Mia cara, calm down. You did not kill anyone." Carlisle put his hand on my back in attempt to soothe me. "The school janitor is not dead.".
"What!?" I said in disbelief. "But he was, though! His eyes were open and rolled to the back of his head."
"I ran some extensive testing and I spoke to him myself." Carlisle gave a light chuckle and shook his head like he wasn't sure if he believed what he was saying. "He has all the medical staff baffled. Things like this don't happen often and even when they do, even we doctors can't explain it."
"What sort of things are you talking about, darling?" Esme pressed, earnestly laying her hand on her husband's arm.
"Mr. Buddy DID die, Lanie." My father stated plainly, looking into my eyes. "But something brought his body back to life. And I believe it was you."
I sat there, overwhelmed by the idea and not knowing how to respond. At this point, I was too relieved to find out that wasn't a murderer to think much past that.
"Another gift?" Esme proposed with a light gasp.
"Or rather. . . an elaboration of the one she has." Edward guessed.
"The two may or may not be related." Carlisle said. "I've barely had a chance to investigate the first one."
"Does he know it was Lanie?" Jasper asked, his tone dripping with alarm.
"No." My father shook his head. "From what he told me, he simply blacked-out for a moment and then had an out-of-body experience. Next, he saw a shining light and as he started to move towards it, he suddenly felt himself moving backwards and then he 'came to'."
"That could have easily happened without Lanie." Rosalie pointed out. "There's no proof that it was something she did."
Carlisle shook his head. "The blood loss was too extensive. No one would have been able to survive it otherwise. This was a miraculous event. No question about it."
"Wow." Emmett said after a moment of silence. "Who would've guessed?"
"Baby, promise me one thing." Esme pleaded.
"Oh!" I snapped out of the daze I was in and focused on her. "What?"
"The next time something like this happens or whenever you reach a moment in your life where you don't know where to go, never run away from us. . . run towards us."
"You are our daughter. We will always be here for you." Carlisle added. "That's what this family is for. So all of us will have a place to turn to."
I smiled softly and nodded in agreement.
"Alright! Now that this has all been sorted out, I have a graduation party to plan!" Alice announced, jumping up. Count on Alice to find party-planning more exciting than all this. Rosalie, Emmett and followed her. Edward took off to pick Bella up for the party.
"The guys are never going to believe this." I said, still stunned at the discovery.
"Until we get a chance to look into this further, I strongly suggest that we keep it to ourselves." Jasper asserted. I scoffed. Suggest? From his tone, it sounds like more of a command. In your dreams, soldier!
"Whatever! You are NOT my boss!" I exclaimed, sticking my nose in the air defiantly. "And I refuse to keep something this awesome a secret!"
To my chagrin, my dad agreed with my brother. "Jasper's right. I don't think it would be a good idea to tell anyone about this either. At least for . . . "
This is so unfair. You've got to be shitting me! Suddenly, both my parents shot me-what I thought was- random expressions. Hers was filled with dismay and his with disappointment.
"Is there a problem?" I asked sarcastically, still pissed that I couldn't tell my friends how cool I am. My mother got up and walked away, in a flustered state.
"Nothing we care to discuss with you at the moment." My dad replied with narrowed eyes. He left to join his wife in the other room.
What the hell do they know? I'll just tell the boys not to tell my family that I told them. My heart sank when I noticed Jasper was still standing next to me, with a scrutinizing look on his face.
"No!" He stated firmly, staring me straight in the eye.
How did he know what I planning? Fuck! He must have known I was planning something by my mood. Damn him!
The look on his face switched to something that resembled smug humor. I glared back at him and then ran off to my room, hoping he wouldn't feel my shame but knowing it was probably too late.
Wow! So what do you think of Lanie's gift now, huh? And what shapeshifter do you think came to Lanie when she needed him most? ;)
The next chapter has some SethXLanie sweetness! ^_^
Thank you all for your reviews! They always encourage me to write more. :)