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~ Phoenix, Arizona - December 6, 1994 ~

Garrett and I reached the outskirts of Phoenix just as dawn was breaking. It had been almost a week since I decided to take Garrett to Alaska. However our trip was not expedient or direct. Much to my surprise, I found I enjoyed Garrett's company. Both my vegetarian and vigilantly lifestyle fascinated him. In return, I enjoyed hearing and reading his thoughts on our existence, as well as his own history as a vampire. Changed before the revolutionary war, Garrett has seen and experienced much of America's violent past. However, spending time with him was not the only motivation for our delay.

On the night I met Garrett, there was a letter waiting for me back at my room. It was from Alice and it must have been delivered via courier, as her scent was nowhere to be found. Even after receiving it nearly a week ago, I still found myself going over its contents, hoping to glean all the things Alice did not tell me.

Dearest Brother,

Please forgive me for contacting you. This may not be a dire circumstance, but I hope you will indulge me and read this. I also hope you will do as I ask in this letter…but more on that later.

Since you left I have been playing around with different scenarios all in an attempt to get you to come back home. You know how this works with me better than anyone. "I going to talk Edward into doing 'this'…I going to ask Edward to do 'that'." Most of the time my visions don't change. I know you are rolling your eyes at me right now, but I don't care. We all miss you, even Rosalie, and we want you back with us.

When Garrett came to visit, Emmett made the comment that it was "too bad that Edward doesn't take Garrett to meet the Denali sisters, because he needs to get himself lai…" Well, never mind the rest of his thought. I played around with scenarios of you going to Alaska with Garrett and my visions of you changed in some surprising ways.

So let me get to the point, I am asking you to please…pretty please…take Garrett up to Alaska, but spend some time getting to know him first. Make a road trip out of it. Things are still unclear, but after running through countless scenarios, you and Garrett need to be in Phoenix by the 6th of December. Something happens in Phoenix that changes everything for you. I wish I could tell you more, but once there you need to make some decisions that I cannot account for. If I get a more refined vision, I will send you another letter at one of the stops I see you two making along the way (by the way, Garrett is going to love sharing with you some of locations in Texas and New Mexico he has fought in).

Edward, I hope you do not over think this letter and its contents, but I can see that you will. However, I do hope you agree to join up with Garrett for while. Regardless of whatever is to happen in Phoenix, I see you both benefiting from each other's company, so please consider it!

Love always,

Alice

Alice did not say my future changed in good way, only in a surprising way. At least when I was with the family my gift allowed me to cut through her cryptic retelling of her visions. I swear she did that just so she could sound like a clichéd carnival psychic.

Phoenix created a bit of a problem for vampires with its interminable sunshine. However, the morning of our arrival we were blessed with rain, which allowed Garrett and I to move about the city without too much of an issue…except for Garrett's need for sunglasses. We entered Phoenix from the northeast, as we came from the Tonto National Forrest. We cut through the city to get our bearings. Just southwest of North Mountain, we came across a nondescript house that was for rent. I tracked down the owner and made a cash deal to rent it for the month. Garrett was amused by my need for housing, considering I spent so much time existing in wilds of the Rocky Mountains. When he wasn't prowling around, Garrett typically found an abandoned building and hid out. When I was around humans, I liked having a secure place I could retreat to when needed. This difference in our lifestyles contrasted my family centric lifestyle to Garrett's nomadic existence. However, he did enjoy having access to a shower to wash off the travel grime we had both collected.

Just as evening approached, the rain stopped. I had hunted the night before, but Garrett was getting thirsty. He had a strong sense of right and wrong, which he exercised during his hunting activities. Garrett's favorite hunting practice was to do so during wartime. Half-dead soldiers were often plentiful and he felt little remorse ending the lives of men that would die anyway. During peaceful times, he would often seek out men that had shady or criminal backgrounds and feed form them. I was surprised how similar his preferred hunting style was to my rebellious period, except he waited until after people had proven themselves worthy of execution and he showed little remorse afterwards. Part of me envied his ability to shun the guilt of taking a human life. Each and every soul I removed from this earth haunted me, despite their evil natures.

As I expected, Garrett decided to hunt. He would stalk prospects late into the night before finally selecting a victim and feeding. Shortly after Garrett left, the landlord delivered a note sent from Alice. Its contents were direct, to the point, and unsettled me greatly.

E,

December 10th at 8:07pm, go to Cactus Road and 58th Street. Bring Garrett!

I'm hesitant to say more except that I'm sorry for what may occur and what you will go through. Just promise to remember you are a Cullen.

Love,

A