2brown-eyes is the prereader!

And all mistakes are mine!

I wake with a start, bright sunlight beaming from overhead and cold iron lay beneath my sore body. The Forks Central Park bench provided a place to close my eyes at near dawn this morning after a night of running and hiding. Only seven miles from home, there's no question I'm unsafe here, but my hope is the sheer size of the place will allow me a slight reprieve while I replenish my mind and plan my next move.

I have no one to turn to save a handful of girls I met in college, and there's no way I could put them in danger for someone they barely know. My mind runs in circles as I follow a tree-lined path, trying to blend in with the early morning park-goers. My black dress doesn't do a great job, but the hat with its thin veil helps to hide my bruised face.

The smell of coffee and bacon swirls around me from the food carts offering burritos and biscuits, and my stomach grumbles. Like an inexperienced fool, I didn't have the forethought to grab any money, not that I ever have much more than twenty or thirty dollars anyway.

"Isabella!"

I freeze in terror, my heart leaping from my chest. Even though I recognize the voice and call him friend, I know my place in the pecking order, and it's below my father. I take off running, but the footsteps pound behind me, getting closer and closer. I'm frantic as I veer off the pathway and into a flower garden, moving with everything inside me.

"Stop!" Jasper calls, and he's too close. "I swear I won't tell. Please!"

My chest burns and my legs are numb, but I run and run and run until a force tackles me from behind. The lashes on my back sting from the contact with the ground, but I ignore it. I kick and fight, my life depending on it, but each blow is weaker than the last. I don't have it in me to beat him off, and yet, I can't give up.

I refuse to go back.

"Let me go!" I pound at his chest, frantic. "Please, Jasper." Sobs wrack my body, and my chest heaves, but the fight never leaves me. "I can't go back. I won't do it. They'll kill me."

"Shhh." He brushes matted hair away from my face. "I know, Isabella, which is why I'm so thankful it's me who found you."

My eyes snap open, and I stop struggling. "Are there others nearby?"

"Probably." He moves off me and gets to his knees, helping me to my feet. "You're too exposed here."

"I don't have anywhere to go," I say, realizing the pickle I've gotten myself into. "No friends. No family. No one I can trust."

"Have you considered a shelter?" He shoves his hand into his trouser pocket and pulls out a wad of cash. "Take this and use it to get to the north side of town. It's a rough area, but there are places that will take care of you there."

"Why are you helping me?" I ask, leery of his kindness. "Is this a trap?"

"No," he says softly, looking both right and left before leaning closer. "Eleazar has been promised free rein if you're returned, and I don't want that." He sighs. "I wish I could do more, but I can't."

"I understand," I reply, nodding. "You're already risking your life."

He smiles. "It's worth a little risk if I can save yours."

I don't mean for them to, but the sobs break free, and I throw myself into his arms. "Thank you, Jasper. I needed guidance so badly."

He holds me tight for a brief few seconds, and my back burns from his touch, but I don't dare refuse the affection. After one good squeeze, he pulls me to arm's length. "Just be careful. There are other dangerous families out there."

"You mean C-Cullen?" I stutter out the name of my brother's killer, and that's when it hits me.

I could be valuable to him.

His eyes widen and he whisper-shouts, "Where did you hear that name!"

"My father mentioned it to me on the way home from the funeral." I keep my voice low and sure, even as my mind continues to plot my future.

"You need to lay low," Jasper says, pulling my hand over and writing an address on it with a pen from his shirt pocket. "Go here and give them a fake name, backstory, whatever it takes to get you a bed. That'll give you time to plan your next move."

"Thank you, Jasper," I say, truly meaning it. "I promise I won't forget this."

"Just live, Isabella," he replies. "That's all the thanks I need. Now get out of this park before someone else spots you."

I turn and race off, not bothering to look back again. Jasper has fulfilled his friendship duty, and now, it's completely up to me to figure out how to survive on my own. I stick to the trees as I travel to the far end of the park, keeping my eyes peeled for anyone who looks like he works for my father.

By the time I reach the gate on the far side, the sun is hidden behind the large skyscrapers that line the roadway, causing them to cast a long shadow over the trees. I take a deep breath and start up the sidewalk, unsure exactly where I'm going but planning to locate that information somewhere along the way.

After traveling four blocks east, I turn and head north, noticing a sign for a library up ahead. My footsteps quicken as I consider all the information available to me there. The attendant barely glances my way as I slip inside and head for the bank of computers on the back wall.

I open a browser window and begin my search.

Five minutes later, I've discovered that the Cullen Corporation is only four blocks away. Am I sure the murderer works there? Nope, but it's an excellent place to start. Surely someone will accommodate me once they know who I am and that I'm searching for the Cullen prince.

I clear the browser and hurry back to the sidewalk, keeping my head down and my eyes focused ahead. Every man in a suit I pass causes me a slight moment of panic, but I'm able to breathe a sigh of relief when none of them reach out and grab me.

It's a messed-up feeling.

All this fear and uncertainty swirling around makes me lightheaded. Add to that the aches in my body along with hunger pangs and I'm surprised I can put one foot in front of the other and continue forward. By the time the large chrome and glass building looms before me, I'm on the brink of passing out.

"Can I help you, miss," the doorman says, his bushy brows furrowed between his bright blue eyes. "Are you searching for something?"

"Yes," I answer him, putting on a smile. At least, I hope I'm smiling. It's hard to tell with my body so numb. "I'm looking for Cullen."

"Cullen?" He seems confused. "You are at Cullen Corp."

"Exactly." I'm a little woozy so I prop against the building. "And I'd like to see Cullen, or Mr. Cullen?"

"Miss… " He pauses, but I don't provide my name. "The Cullens are very busy, unless you'd like me to pass along a message?"

"Do you have direct access to Cullen?"

"Yes, miss." He bobs his gray-covered head. "I can ring one of them right now."

"One of them?"

"Of course." He pulls open the door for a lady to exit. "Do you know which one you'd like me to speak to?"

I sigh, my hopes dying before my eyes. "The young one?"

"Very well." That seems to work, so I perk up. "And what shall I pass along?"

I move closer to the portly man, my legs getting weaker with every step. "Would you tell him that Isabella Swan is here to see him?"

His eyes narrow, and I think my name has rung a bell, but it could be my weak mind playing tricks. "Yes, miss," he finally says before pulling out his cell phone. "Mr. Cullen, so sorry to bother you, but we have a situation." He pauses while the person on the other line speaks. "Yes, sir. There's a young lady here to see you." He stops again, and this time I can tell by the tone on the other end that he doesn't like what he's hearing. "Yes, sir, but she says her name is Isabella Swan." He practically whispers the last part. "Yes, sir."

"Well?" I drop to the sidewalk, my back propped against the building.

He shoves the phone into his pocket and looks at me. "He'll be down momentarily."

"Good." I pull up my knees and bury my face in my arms. Tears of relief leak from my eyes, even though I have no way of knowing what type of reception I'll receive.

It has to be better than what I left.

Right?

I'm gonna give you this today so I can focus on finishing Christmas Ink. Only a few chapters left to write. We'll start that Thursday, and I'll see you back here one day next week.

Our girl is finally where y'all want her.

Do we think that's gonna be a good thing?

See you soon :)