I was paralyzed by the pain. I heard a beep. I barely managed to opened my eyes. I heard another beep. And another. I was in a hospital. Does the beeping mean I'm alive? I wondered, at the same time that I thought that if I were dead I couldn't possibly be in as much pain as I was.

I saw the ceiling of my hospital room, but then my vision turned and I was looking at an intricate machine, and then I got a close-up of someone's arm, and then I saw my dad's face framed by a window. And then I was looking at the ceiling again. Why wasn't I staying still? Through the terrible pain that had just spread into my thighs I registered that something was touching my head. I heard myself let out a whimper.

In seconds Carlisle's face came into view. Through the pain coursing through my body I managed to feel calmer. Nothing bad could happen when Carlisle was watching me. And then my mind cleared. My throat felt like it was being jabbed at by thousands of burning pokers, but I managed to make a sound.

"Edward?" My voice barely made it through my lips, but I knew Carlisle could hear me. As his face began to look more grim, I noticed that he was holding my head in place. He said in a low voice, "We've sent Alice to look for him."

I tried to nod but was so consumed by pain that instead I lost my vision and all control over my body. I thought briefly, I must have been writhing in pain, which is why my head was moving.

I thought briefly and peculiarly that it was funny that I hadn't know myself that I had been moving, but then couldn't think of anything else as my mind was drawn to the fact that the pain was still spreading, and now I became acutely aware of the fact that Edward's venom had reached my knees. It was like my skin had been peeled off of them and my kneecap had been ripped out of place, and then somebody had hammered at the remains of my leg and thighs. And the feeling kept spreading and I felt the pain in my lower leg and wondered if I was screaming at the feeling of acid being poured over my legs. I felt fire everywhere and at times I almost wished that I could just die.

I thought of Edward.

The pain stopped. I opened my eyes.

I wasn't in the hospital, as I had thought I would still be when I woke up, but in the Cullen mansion. The first two faces I saw were Carlisle and Esme's. They were looking worriedly into my eyes and I realized that they both had they hands wrapped around my arms, restraining me.

"Hi." I said. My voice surprised me as it came out perfectly and smoothly. I didn't feel like I was in pain at all.

"Hi, Bella. How do you feel?" This was Carlisle. "I'm going to let go of your arms so that you can sit up, but… do so carefully." I wondered what he meant, but he let go and I sat up, making an effort to sit up slowly.

"Bella… I don't know how to tell you this but…"

And suddenly I remembered what the pain had been. And I realized why Carlisle and Esme were both acting so cautious, so… concerned.

"I'm a vampire…" I whispered it.

And then suddenly I felt it. And I smelled it. And I heard it. And I was. I was a vampire. I felt ravenous.