Chapter 1

"EDWARD!"

Alice's scream echoed in his head as clearly as if she was standing before him. He flinched and gripped the table top until the pale skin of his knuckles turned white. He listened to the other student's thoughts, but thankfully; no one had noticed his actions. Mr. Banner was running a film detailing the phases of mitosis, which would eventually culminate in a lab sometime the following week. If he could have fallen asleep, today would have been the day because he was bored out of his mind; until Alice screamed.

Her vision played before him. The cafeteria was littered with dozens of bodies, which, for the small Forks school, was nearly a fourth of the student population. The rusty smell of blood was strong. His throat burned, and he swallowed hard to control his suddenly raging thirst. His jaw clenched when he saw Rosalie and Jasper in their light-colored designer clothes drenched with the blood which dripped from their hands and chins as they drank their fill. They paused; their piercing red eyes peered unflinchingly at Alice before they continued with their meal.

When the bell rang, Edward was the first student out the door. He hurried to his Volvo and found Alice waiting for him in the cool mist.

"Edward," she began, pushing back the hood of her jacket and shaking the droplets out of her hair.

"I know," he cut her off.

"We should drive," Alice said. "The principal is going to check the parking lot soon."

Edward started the car and drove aimlessly. The constant burn in his throat distracted him whenever he considered the events from the vision.

"Should we hunt?"

Alice nodded. They picked up Rosalie's car and left it at the school, stowing the keys in the visor. They would explain later why they left…or maybe not. First, they had to assuage the hunger which assailed them both.

They didn't want to go far for their meal, so settled for the deer which roamed the area. Edward drank deep to soothe the burning ache in his throat. He drank until his stomach was so full it would slosh if he tried to run, so they strolled back home through the dense emerald forest.

"There was blood by some bodies, but they looked mostly intact," Edward realized.

"Someone shot them," Alice explained. "I didn't see the shooter. We must stop him… or her. If we don't, so many will die. Jasper and Rosalie..."

Edward put up a hand to stop her with a shake of his head. Worry would only be a distraction. They had to stay focused.

"I'm so used to tuning people out but how could I have missed this? I will listen to see who is… troubled," Edward said.

"We know what Jasper and Rosalie will wear the day it will happen. My feeling is it will be soon."

"Let's not say anything to Carlisle. Not yet. We don't want to worry him or Esme," Edward said.

"Agreed."

The next day, Edward roamed the halls and lingered in the cafeteria. He learned more about the school population than he wanted to, but it was mostly mundane daily chatter. It was obvious the students had no clue about the potential danger they could be in. It was as if the shooter wasn't even there.

Ah! Edward thought to himself. That has to be it!

He strolled by the office, crouching outside the door and pretending to tie his shoelaces. The principal was eating lunch in his office and was thinking only about the sub sandwich his wife had packed for him. The only other person in the office was the receptionist. She was putting the list of absentees together for the principal.

Angela Weber - sick

Cady Lewis – 2 hours late, orthodontist appointment

Jim Allen - sick

Nikolas Carliotte – counseling

The receptionist stopped, her mind racing. Nikolas's stepfather sent a note to excuse the boy for an all-day counseling session. She hoped he was getting the help he needed. Nikolas had tried to hurt himself and they caught him just in time. She said a quick prayer to God to help him and guide him. Her earnest hope and wishes for Nik warmed Edward's heart. It had been the first positive thing he had heard all day.

Edward didn't know anyone named Nikolas in his class. Could he be a younger student? He mentally chastised himself for not paying closer attention. Could Nikolas be their shooter, and if he was, what could they do about him?