Here it is. You ready?
Only the plot belongs to me, the characters belong to Stephenie Meyer
An hour.
My stomach felt heavy, like I'd eaten a barrel full of cement. It was time to go.
Everyone I knew had been gone all day, off to God knows where, most likely awaiting the outcome of my task today. I'd spent the entire day worrying and preparing for any type of occasion. My messenger bag was stocked with a flashlight, batteries, mace, that bear spray stuff, the compass/pocket watch and key. I'd even thrown in an extra pair of socks, a scarf and other stuff, just to be on the safe side.
Also, in the messenger bag was each and every letter they had ever given me, bound together by paper clips and folded neatly into a small plastic folder, in case their clues might help me later. Although, after reading over them so many times, I almost had them all memorized.
They'd said I needed comfortable footwear and apparel, so I complied with a pair of stretch jeans and a fitted black v-neck t-shirt over a gray camisole and my sneakers. Finally, after checking and rechecking that I had everything I needed, I pulled my hair back into a ponytail and made my way out of the dorms.
Although the weather was warm, the campus seemed to have less people out and on the lawns than normal. I suppose it had to do with the grayish clouds set directly above us, and though I knew it wouldn't rain, it still didn't ease my current state of mind. The campus was an eerily silent today; even the wind didn't blow… as though Mother Nature herself was holding her breath in anticipation of my mission. Her blue skies were clouded over, blocking the sunlight, making it appear as though her eyes were closed in a silent prayer for my deliverance.
I made my way to my car and placed the directions within grasp, even though I had memorized them already. Taking a deep breath, I put the SUV into drive and made my way out of campus, following their directions exactly.
The drive seemed to take forever, winding in and around secluded roads, further north, and beyond the town adjacent to the University. The number of trees began to grow, and though I didn't see any large bodies of water around, making it clear that I wasn't going to be sailing, my heart did not get any comfort.
I had a sickening feeling that I was, in fact, going into the woods.
About half an hour later, I was arriving at the final turns they had specified on the directions. I was on a small, seemingly deserted road, with a thick forest of trees on either side. The directions told me to carefully look for a small off road to my left, but around here there didn't seem to be any.
Then I spotted an opening in the trees, and a tiny dirt road that I wouldn't have noticed had I not been looking for it. I made the turn and went up the dirt road, and for about half a mile, I saw nothing, until finally, I came to a ominously tall, very old looking wrought iron gate.
The first thing that came to mind when I saw it was that I should immediately turn around.
This thing looked like something straight out of the Addams Family movie. It was very tall, ancient, and menacingly sturdy looking. On the other side, I could just make out more of the winding dirt road and more bloody trees. Where the heck was I?
I waited in my vehicle, looking at the clock in the car. It was 4:45. I had fifteen minutes to get to this final location, but I saw no one around and no electronic equipment for me to talk in to or somehow gain access. Was I just supposed to wait here?
The instructions on the letter had said 'Inside there you will find further instruction' … so I had to get in.
Reluctantly, I exited my car and walked up to the gate. At about ten feet tall, it was even more frightening up close. I studied the design, looking for some kind of latch, but it was completely locked. And there would be no climbing over it, this thing was a menace. I looked closer, inspecting it when I saw a tiny hole in the front and center of it.
A tiny, old brass looking key hole.
Immediately I ran back into the car, into my messenger bag and grabbed the brass key I'd gotten on the first task. Crossing my fingers, I ran back to the front of the gate, jammed the key into the hole and turned.
There was a very loud metal clunk noise and then the gate opened for me, both sides of it opening inward, creaking the entire way as it allowed for enough room for me and my car.
With a sudden thrill of relief, I ran back into my car and drove up, but the Emily Post part of my brain made me stop after I'd gotten in far enough. I got out, closing the gate back up again. It's rude to just waltz onto someone's property and leave the door open, is it not? Then I drove my car up the windy road, going up into the depths of this unknown path.
Finally, the trees cleared out some, and within them, I made out a very large, ancient looking Victorian style home. Talk about the Addams Family… I thought to myself as I drove up to it, following the dirt road to its end. The house was quite large, but it was very old and by the looks of it, it wasn't used much. The old red brick covering the entirety of the house was eerily darkened by time, adding to the haunting atmosphere of the site and the dense forest surrounding it.
I checked the clock once more before exiting my car; it was now 4:55. I had five minutes to spare, knowing that in there began the mission.
They're probably waiting for me, I thought, but as I looked around, I saw no other cars parked in front of the house. Nothing. The house itself looked abandoned and empty.
I grabbed my messenger bag with everything in it, my red, light hoodie that I'd brought, since they said I might need a jacket and made my way up the rickety wooden steps of the porch and up to the large, old, thick wooden front door. There was no doorbell, no knocker, just a pair of thick wood double doors with a brass handle and key hole. I went to look through the windows and could see nothing, they were covered on the inside by something, blocking out any view of the inside.
The doors were locked, so once again, I tried the brass key they had given me, thrusting it into the hole and turning it. Once again, the key worked for me, unlocking the doors. They were very heavy and I had to push hard against them to go inside.
And once I did, I wanted to run! As far away and as fast as I could.
The inside was completely dark, which wasn't surprising since long, dark, thick velvety fabric panels were covering each and every window. The walls on the inside were faint beige with old fashioned style paneling on the inside, which must have at one time been very beautiful, but now, it just added to the fear-provoking look of the dark interior. There was much furniture scattered around the room, but I could see none of it, for everything in sight was covered in ghostly white sheets.
Bang!
The doors slammed back shut behind me, leaving me in the pitch black foyer. My heart pounded loudly as I reached a trembling hand into my messenger bag, feeling around for the flashlight. My fingers closed around it and I immediately turned it on.
"Hello?" my voice came out as a hoarse whisper. I cleared my throat and tried again, "Hello? Is anyone here?" I couldn't stop my voice from trembling, for I was incredibly frightened, in a dark abandoned house, alone, in the middle of nowhere. I walked carefully through the foyer and into what seemed like a sitting room, from the shapes the covered furniture made. I recognized the outline of a grand piano in the corner, covered in a large white sheet. On the other side I saw a thin staircase with a once-elegant old railing.
Knowing in my gut that it was a bad idea, I headed up the stairs.
At the top of the steps there was more darkness. My breathing was coming out in frightened shallow spurts as I pointed the flashlight around, walking down a very thin hallway. Pointing the flashlight up higher, I made out the shapes of identical picture frames, all in a row and side by side, with maybe two inches in between each. They continued all the way down the long hallway. I brought the flashlight up to one of them, trying to see what it was a picture of and I gasped, bringing my hands to cover my mouth and dropping my flashlight. I heard it roll away but I was too transfixed to do anything about it.
In front of me were dozens of black and white photographs all in a row of seemingly the same thing: a portrait of a cloaked head; in the front, where the face should be, was just a black hole of nothingness. Each was holding a single long lit candle.
Breathing hard, I ran towards the light of my flashlight which I spotted somewhere on the ground. I picked it up and pointed it to each of the portraits… they were all the same. What the hell? I thought. This was too frightening. My heart was racing now, this was definitely too weird.
I scrambled back towards the stairs, half my mind intent on forgetting this entire thing when I heard a loud, definite creeeeeaaak.
The light from the flashlight shook on the floor as my trembling hands held onto it.
"Hello?" I said again, my voice coming out a few octaves higher than it should, "Is anyone here?"
Another creak. The sound of someone taking a slow, deliberate step on these very old wooden floors.
Creeeaaaak … the sound was coming closer, but I couldn't tell from which direction it was coming. I turned around pointing my flashlight ahead of me, but far ahead I just saw a closed door. Were they in there? "Hello?" I walked towards the door, my footsteps quickening as I neared it.
Creeeaaak.
I snapped around to the opposite direction, hearing it come from somewhere beside me, somewhere on the other side of the walls in this claustrophobically small hallway. Or maybe it came from on top of me? The only other sound was the fast thumping of my heart as it frantically beat loudly in my chest. Once more I heard the creaking and then, simultaneously, the opening of the door behind me.
I spun around once more, pointing the flashlight, and screamed.
There, standing in front of me was the real version of the photographs on the walls; a member, undoubtedly, cloaked in the dark silvery robe, holding a light in his hands. Though, upon closer inspection, it was a lantern, not a single long candle.
The hooded figure spoke, an impossibly deep voice coming through the place where his hidden head was. "Follow me please."
He strode past me, holding the old fashioned oil lantern in front of him, illumination the hallway with a faint yellow glow, much more useful than my flashlight. Still scared out of my wit, I silently followed him through the hallway and around the corner, up another flight of rickety wooden stairs. At the top was a door which he opened and held out for me to enter through.
Inside was the attic of the house, with light gray wallpapered walls, black trimmings everywhere and a large circular window that was not covered. There were two other hooded Twilight League members inside, each standing beside a small, black velvet covered table with a few instruments on it and a lit candelabra.
"Good evening, Bella," they said simultaneously in deep, altered voices.
"Hello," I spoke to them, my voice returning to its normal tone, no longer the high pitched, frightened squeak it was earlier.
The cloaked member behind me closed the door behind him and walked past me to stand in front of the other two. "Bella. We meet again." I nodded briefly, wondering if this was the final mission. Where they simply going to talk to me? "Do you know what we're looking for?"
I sighed. "I have been through every letter backwards and forwards," I explained to him, my eyes on the ground, "But I can't seem to understand what it is specifically."
The figure in the middle spoke again, "I see."
"Am I too late?" voicing my worst fear.
All three of them shook their heads, "No. Worry not, not many figure it out ahead of time."
I was confused. "Ahead of time? Isn't this the final mission?"
He spoke again, his deep voice grave, "Not quite."
I panicked.
"Your mission has yet to begin." He explained. "But before we get into the specifics, we must ask you a question."
"Sure. What is it?"
He took a breath, "Long ago we mentioned to you that this journey would change you, and that you may have to sacrifice something in order to continue. Have you taken notice of any chances within yourself or of any sacrifices?"
The question struck me as odd … I didn't understand the meaning behind it, but as I thought back about it, I couldn't say I had really changed at all. I was still me. "No … I don't think so. I haven't lost anything."
The three of them gave short, curt nods. "Hmm." Was all the middle figure said before he turned back to get something from the table behind him.
He turned around, holding a compass identical to mine in his hands, only it was very visibly older than mine. "This was the original," he said, "It belonged to one of the founders of our group. It still ticks, the pocket watch side of it, although it barely stays in tact at this stage in its long-standing existence." He took a step closer towards me, "You could say that it embodies our organizations values; old, antiquated, yet valid and strong." He kept coming towards me until he was about two feet away, "You have already proven something to us, Bella, something of great importance that we would not have let you progress to this stage without."
I thought back towards my encounters with them curiously, "What is that?"
He didn't answer me. Instead, to my horror, he looked down at the pocket watch and threw it up high in the air, as though it were meaningless.
I reacted immediately, dropping everything in my hands and grabbing for it. The ancient silver circular figure seemed to float through the air in slow motion, as I reached my hands to cup it.
When it made contact with my skin, I finally let out the breath I'd been holding in. "Are you crazy! You just told me how valuable this was."
"Exactly," I heard a smile in his voice, "You just proved it again."
I held the old compass/pocket watch in my hands, running my fingers slowly around the edges, trying to figure out what the heck I just did. What did I prove? That I have reflexes? "I don't understand." I said simply.
He reached a cloaked hand out for it and I handed it back to him. "Don't worry, you will by the end of your mission. Hopefully." And if I don't figure it out? "Now, it is almost time for you to begin your mission. Are you ready?"
No! I thought desperately, but my mouth said something else, "Yes."
"Good. Your items, please." He said, holding out his hand again.
I looked down at my bag with wide eyes. "Excuse me?"
One of the figures next to him spoke. "We have armed you with almost everything you will need for this task already, the rest we will give to you momentarily. However, you may only take with you want we have equipped you with."
Reluctantly, I handed over my messenger bag. The cloaked guy on the left took it and began going through it while the one on the right continued to speak. "Do you have anything else on you? Cell phone, wallets, anything?" Incredulously, I reached into my pocket and took out my car keys, cell phone and wallet and handed them over. "Thank you."
The cloaked guy on the left let out a deep rumble of a chuckle, and he pulled out my extra pair of socks. "Socks?" He asked simply.
I turned bright red, "I wanted to be prepared for anything. You had me thinking I was going sailing."
All three of them laughed, impossibly deep sounding laughs. I wonder how I had not realized they had altered their voices earlier; no one's voice was naturally that deep. "Sorry, Bella, but no sailboats will be involved."
"Don't apologize, that's a good thing," I said with a shrug, but their laughter died immediately. I looked to each of their faceless forms in turn, "Isn't it?"
The middle one cleared his throat, "I'm sorry, but we can answer no questions. Instead, we must give you this," He pulled out a parchment envelope.
My stomach was filled with butterflies again as I took it from him and opened it. There was a letter and another smaller parchment piece in there, but I went for the letter first.
Dear Bella,
Your last mission shall begin within moments of your reading of this letter. The task is simple; find an object and deliver it to us, safe and in its original splendor, without sign of the difficulties of your journey ahead.
Here is your first set of directions:
Upon the opening in the woods, 'tween twin posts of carved dark stone, a path you'll find. Continue it you may, though to further instruction it will lead you not.
Though dark, the road less traveled will prove most efficient on this timed quest. Man's made trail will take you North West, but keep straight North through rougher pastures and find, you will, the original meeting place. There, within the logs another letter awaits you.
The road ahead is treacherous, Bella, so we offer you one last chance to quit now, before you begin the hunt.
Good luck in whatever you choose,
Ťwilight Łeague
--
I looked up to them once I'd finished reading it, my heart thumping rapidly once more. "What exactly am I doing?"
The cloaked man on the left spoke, "A scavenger hunt of sorts." He spoke grimly. He gestured to the window and walked towards it, beckoning me to follow. "Out there."
I looked out the window and my heart dropped into my stomach. Out of the large circular window was a perfect view of the dark, dense, thick woods behind the house.
"Bella," spoke the tall one with the deepest voice. "As promised in the letter, you have one more chance to quit. Knowing what it is that you have to do, do you wish to continue?"
I closed my eyes tightly, thinking in my head about all the reasons I was doing this… My mother, my grandmother … that was the reason I had began, but not the entire reason I was continuing. Now I was fighting for the life I'd come to have in the time I began here. This was a part of me now, a part of my family, a legacy, and I was going to be a part of it… or die trying. "Yes." I answered.
They all nodded. "You will need everything we have given you so far," said one of the members handing me the key that was in my bag and holding onto the compass/pocket watch that they had also taken out of my bag. He held the long chain attached to it in his hands. "Night time is approaching and the air will be cool." One of the others moved towards my red hoodie and handed it to me. "Put this on. You'll need it."
I put it on robotically. My mind wasn't really registering my actions anymore… I was scared into autopilot.
"This will be your main tool," He said, holding onto the compass, "You will need to keep a close eye on it." He stepped forward and held the chain out, placing it around my neck. It felt heavy, as was the decision to continue. "You will have until midnight, Bella, to complete the mission."
"Midnight?" I squeaked out, my voice trembling, "I'm going to be out in the woods alone until midnight … in the dark."
They nodded sternly, quietly … grievously.
I nodded. "Alright." My hands clenched into fists at my side … I couldn't psyche myself out of this now, I was too close. I can do this. All my friends had done this, my grandmother had done this … I could do it, too.
The tall on in the middle went back over the black velvet covered table and picked up an oil lantern identical to the one he was using earlier. He took the red bottle next to it and filled the bottom of it. When he opened the bottle, the scent drifted over towards me; apple.
I thought back to my shopping trip with Rose and smiled slightly, in spite of my fright. School project, huh?
The League member lit the lantern and handed it to me. "You are fully prepared now. Remember to bring back the item in the best shape possible. And don't forget, we wouldn't have obliged you to do more than we believe you capable of. You've already proven something immensely important to us. Figure out what it is and reciprocate it, Bella. That's really the most important thing." He spoke slowly and seriously, emphasizing each word, trying to get across the importance of their meaning.
"Good luck." All three of them said simultaneously. Then they walked together past me, to the window and stared out of it, facing away from me.
I knew I was dismissed. I stuffed the letter and the unread piece of parchment attached to it with the torn off bottom into my back pocket and left.
Quickly, I made my way out of the dark house, holding the lantern in front of me. Once outside, I saw the sun was quickly setting while a slight mist settled onto the ground. At the back of the house, where the woods began, I saw the beginnings of a trail, right in between two thin, gray, carved stone posts.
With one final look back at the house, I sighed. In the circular window at the top I saw the three of them, faceless and motionless, staring down at me as I began my quest. I looked back at them for a minute, wavering back and forth between my decision. Was I really going to do this?
But without wasting another minute of ever decreasing daylight, I turned back around to the start of the trail.
Yes, I am.
--
