A/N: I just want to take a minute to say thank you to -harlem syndicate- for being my first and only review for the first chapter. I wasn't going to continue because I was worried it was a bomber. Then I just read the review and found somebody liked it so this chapter is thanks to that review. Also, I realized the timing was confusing. Kari's family got the notice from the Cullens on a Friday. The Cullens were starting on Monday but they won't get to Kari's family that early. I hope that clears up any confusion.
KARI
I tried to act as normal as possible for the next three days. I didn't want to make any of them nervous. The only thing I did differently was not showing up to work. I figured, by the time, the Cullens were finished, it wouldn't matter whether or not I had a job. When my siblings asked I said that I just needed a break. Our dad did what he usually did when he was nervous or upset. He worked a shitload of overtime. We used my taking some time off to excuse his actions.
I also spent most of the weekend,secretly preparing the bomb shelter for them to live in for a week.
On Sunday, I told my siblings they would not be going to school that week. Mike and Mia got smiles on their faces when I told them. Skyler, Matthew, and Meggie knew there was something going on. Thankfully, they waited to question me until I put the twins to bed.
"So, something's not right here." Skyler stated as I walked into the living room. "You never miss work. Even when your sick."
"And dad only works overtime when he's worried or upset." Matthew added.
"And you're always telling us how important school is." Meggie said. "But you and dad are going to let us skip a week."
I took a deep breath and sat next to Meggie on the couch. Skyler clicked off the T.V. and looked at me expectantly.
"The Cullens are beginning there monthly collection tomorrow." I stated. "And they're coming here."
"No, that can't have any of you! I won't let them!" Matthew yelled.
I shook my head and pulled a sobbing Meggie toward me.
"You won't be able to stop them." I told Matthew.
"I'm going to have you three, Mike, Mia, and dad spend the week in the bomb shelter. I'll be the only one to meet them when they come."
"No way, Kari!"
"You can't!"
"Please don't!"
They all started shouting at once. I held my hand up to silence them.
"Dad and I already talked about this." I said. "We agreed that it was the best way. I don't want anyone to argue. And I want Mike and Mia to think it's just a game. Do you understand?"
They all just stared at me in varying degrees of shock.
"Do you understand?" I said but with more force this time.
Knowing there was nothing left to say on the subject they all nodded.
"Now, get to bed." I ordered. "You guys need to be moved down there as early as possible tomorrow."
They stood and hugged me then trodded to their rooms. I stayed up until our father came home. I told him that I was getting the kids up at five and moving them down to the shelter. He nodded in response.
My father had never been a very emotional man. We never really had a close relationship either. The most I got from him that night was a "Good Luck" and "Be careful." He didn't even give me a hug. It didn't bother me because it was easier without an emotional goodbye.
THE NEXT DAY...
I woke up at four forty five after the worst sleep of my life. I got some last minute supplies ready and into the shelter. Then at five she went to rouse the kids. Dad ended up having to carry Mike and Mia outside and down into the shelter. Meggie, Matthew, and Skyler didn't want to be up but they understood the importance of the situation. They got up and went without complaint.
When everyone was set up and everything ready, I said my goodbyes to the family and went back into the house. I spent the whole day scrubing, cleaning, and doing laundry. I was trying not to think about what was going to come at any time. I even tried to pick up a book but that didn't work either.
I thought about taking a shower but I didn't want to give them the advantage of coming while I was naked.
Monday passed but they didn't come. Tuesday and Wednesday passed in the same boring way. The Cullens didn't show.
THURSDAY
I had chosen to scrub the kitchen today because it really needed it. Also, I was still trying to distract myself. My mind kept drifting to my family in the bomb shelter. I wanted to go see them so badly but knew it wasn't safe. Who knew when the Cullens would come?
At noon that day, I got my answer. I heard the front door creak open. They didn't think they had to knock.
"Show time." I thought as I took a deep breath. I tried to calm the beating of my heart. I slowly and shakily walked through the dining room to the living room. I stood in the doorway and crossed my arms my chest.
There they were. The Cullens or at least the six remaining ones. I had heard two of them died during the war but I couldn't remember their names.
The first two I saw were Edward and Bella. Edward had the most interesting bronze hair and his eyes were black but something about them wanted to pull me in. He was just as perfect as I had heard from others. If it hadn't been for the fact that he was there to destroy my family, I would've thought he was cute. He was made leader of the coven after the war. The humans found him a little more intimadating than Carlisle.
Bella was at his side. He had his arm around her waist but I knew all the stories about how the marriage was going downhill. It had been since the war started. Bella had long beautiful bushy brown hair. Her eyes to were black but they weren't as interesting as Edward's she was as beautiful as I've heard.
Alice and Jasper were behind them. Jasper had short blonde hair and looked like a brooding movie star. His eyes were black as well. Alice was slightly shorter than Jasper. She had spiky black hair. Her eyes were black as well. She didn't seem like the hyper upbeat person I heard she used to be.
Finally, there was Carlisle and Esme. The parental units of the family. Carlisle had blonde hair with a little on his face. Esme had red hair. Both their eyes were black.
(A/N: Sorry for the crappy description of the Cullens. I was trying to impose a first sight thing with Kari but it didn't work very well. And BTW, I want to let you know that Carlisle is still considered the father and leader of the family. But because the humans find Edward more frightening, Carlisle put him in charge of the dealings with humans.)
I wasn't sure how long I stared before Edward spoke.
"What's your name?" he demanded.
"Kari." I replied. I knew I had to get this off on a good foot.
"Well, Kari, our research says that their are supposed to be seven of you here." Edward stated.
"That's right." I said.
"Well, where are they?" he asked as if I were stupid. That got me upset. I hated when people talked to me like that.
"Now, why would I tell you that?" I asked.
"I can just read your mind for the answer." he said. I had forgotten about that. I tried hard to clear my head. "But it would be easier if you just answered me."
"Sorry. I've always done things the hard way." I sounded a whole lot braver than I felt.
He stared at me intently for a minute, I looked down at the floor. After a minute, I felt his finger on my chin forcing me to look at him.
"That's interesting." He said. "This hasn't happened in thirteen years."
"What?" Bella asked and I noticed she rolled her eyes.
"I can't get a thing from her." he answered. "So I'll ask you again, human, where is everyone else?"
"I'm not telling you. I won't aid you in turning my sister into whores and my brothers into slaves." I said as defiantly as a could. He was just feet from me. He could snap me in half if wanted to.
"We gonna find them whether or not you tell us. It would be easier on everyone if you just tell us."
"Like I said before, I always do things the hard way."
Edward looked me up and down with an evil smile twisting on his face. Finally he said,
"No matter what we do with the family, I want her. She looks like she'd be a real challenge. I like a challenge."
"Go to hell." I said through gritted teeth. He backhanded me. I felt his ring split my bottom lip as I fell to the floor from the force.
I realized I was bleeding right away. I reached my hand up to wipe it off but Edward grabbed my wrist.
"I don't think so." He whispered then leaned in like he was going to kiss me. He took my bottom lip to his mouth and sucked the blood off. He pulled back after a few seconds. "Another reason to keep you around. Only one human had better blood than you." He looked back at Bella.
I imagined she would've blushed if she could. Edward turned to look at the rest of the family.
"Find the others." he ordered. "Search everywhere until you find them. I'm going to stay with my new friend. Just to make sure she doesn't get too brave."
The others scattered through the looking for my family. I tried to stand up but he pushed me back down.
"No one told you to get up." he said.
He stared at me for a long time. I stared right back. I saw many emotions in those black eyes. The most apparent were anger and intrigue. I looked deeper though and found sadness, pain, and regret. I didn't understand.
"You weren't always like this, were you?" I asked unsure of why I was asking.
"That's none of your business, human." he replied digusted.
I didn't say anymore because I didn't want to make him angrier but I knew there was something. Something in his past that made him who he is today. Soemthing that killed his soul. Maybe, he could be saved. I had to have that hope. It might save me and other innocent humans.
Before I had a chance to ponder much more, the rest of the Cullens returned holding a member of my family. Esme had Mike and Mia who were crying because they had no idea what was going on.
"It's going to be okay." I said trying to soothe them.
"Shut up!" Edward yelled and kicked me.
"Please, leave them alone!" I begged from the floor. "Take me! Do what you want but please leave them!"
Edward grabbed me by the wrist and yanked me off the floor. I was inches from his face.
"I can't do that." he said in barely above a whisper. "Especially after the stunt you just pulled but I have a solution to the problem."
He said it as if it were the best thing in the world. I found my heart beating faster. I didn't even know what he was going to say and I was terrified.
"You don't want them taken to be placed in the service of our friends. And well, it's been a couple days since the family's been hunting. We were just considering having lunch at the next place we stopped at but we can make it a little earlier." he said.
"No!" I yelled and tried to pull away. "Please, no!"
He pulled me back to him, turned me around and wrapped his arms around my waist.
"What do you guys think?"
"The smell pretty good." Alice who was holding Meggie said and sniffed her hair. Meggie flinched.
"Please!" I tried again.
"Hush, you'll get what you want and we'll get what we need." he whispered and kissed her neck.
I heard the loud sound of a bone snapping and Skyler's scream of pain. Bella, who was holding her, had twisted her arm so far behind her back that it snapped.
"Bella," Edward said with a sigh. "I thought we talked about this."
"Just because we talk about it doesn't mean I have to like it." Bella replied as Skyler continued to whimper in pain.
"So are we having lunch or what?" Jasper asked nipping at Matthew's neck.
"Be my guest!" Edward said. I didn't need to see his face to know he was smiling.
"No!" I yelled and struggled to get away again.
Edward tighten his grip on my waist as the family growled. I heard the ripping of skin and my families screams of pain as their blood was drained from them. I cried and screamed. Edward kept making shushing noises. I tried to look away but he wouldn't let me. I struggled but he just held me tighter. Eventually, he let me slide to my knees on the floor. I was crying hysterically.
Once the family finished, Edward leaned down to my ear and whispered,
"Maybe that will teach you some obedience."
He grabbed my wrist again and dragged me outside. Everything that happened in those niext few minutes was a blur. I founf myself tied up in the trunk of a silver volvo. After that, darkness took over.
A/N: Hugs for reviews.
