A brief note from the author: Happy New Year!So the strangest thing happened. I had about a gazillion hits, but only one review! :( Not that I was expecting many, it was just a short prologue. And somebody did subscribe. Yay! Here is a (cyber) cookie for you. :) So with all the visitors, I decided to post Chapter 1 a few days early. Not that anybody is actually waiting for it, but maybe if I get another spike in readers, you'll be more likely to review this chapter. There are characters you'll recognize!
Also, I realized after I posted the prologue that I forgot to add a disclaimer. But technically only my OC was in there, so… Still not OK, I know. Sorry.
Wow, I suck so far.
Disclaimer: If you recognize it, it's not mine. If you don't recognize it, it's probably still not mine. Alex is mine. All things Twilight belong to Stephanie Meyer. Now on with the story!
"So, Alexandra. Why did you decide to leave New York City after-" a quick glance at my resume-"more than four years?"
I drew in a slow breath as I put my answer together.
"To put it simply, Chief, New York is very crowded," I answered, smiling. Chief Charlie Swan smiled back and nodded in agreement.
"I've never been one for large cities, myself," he said.
I nodded eagerly, glad we had found a common ground. "I grew up in a small town, much like Forks," I elaborated. "I enjoyed New York, and my two years with the NYPD, but I think Forks would be a better fit for me."
"And how do you think you will fit Forks?" the Chief asked. "New York is a tough town. Forks doesn't require the aggressive approach New York does."
I nodded again. "Exactly why I think Forks and I will get along just fine. I'm tired of looking at everyone like they're a perp."
What I was really thinking was that I was tired of looking at millions of people like they were dinner.
Chief Swan gave a quick nod to himself as though he'd just made a decision and closed the folder that held my resume and NYPD records.
"I think it's gonna be real nice working with you, Alexandra," he said, extending his hand. I smiled and shook it.
"I look forward to it, sir. And please, call me Alex."
We dropped hands and he stood. I followed suit.
"Okay. Alex. Call once you're settled," he continued, as he walked me to the door of his office. "We'll get you set up with uniforms and equipment-"
"Actually," I interrupted, "I'm ready to start. Whenever you're ready for me."
He raised his eyebrows. "Didn't you just get into town this morning?"
I smiled sheepishly. "I'm, uh, a fast unpacker."
He seemed to toss whatever suspicions he had aside. "Ok. I'll see you tomorrow night at 11:30."
I pulled into the driveway of my new home, killed the engine and let my head fall back again the seat, basking in the silence. The two story, two bedroom, one and a half bath was perfect for me. Not too big to be maintained, but not so small that I'd feel claustrophobic. And it was all by itself, far from the main road, surrounded by trees. I wouldn't have to worry about temptation here. This was going to work out perfectly.
I stepped out of the car and locked it, relishing the sound of the beep that echoed through the trees. I didn't really have to lock it. Who was going to steal it? But old habits die hard. I got the key to the front door ready as I stepped onto the porch. My porch, I mentally corrected myself. I smiled. This wasn't a house. It was my house. My driveway. My yard. So different from renting a one bedroom on the fifth floor of a walk up.
Still smiling (grinning like some kind of moron may have been a better description), I slid the key in the lock and turned. The door didn't budge. I tried again. Nothing. I jiggled and jostled and wiggled side to side. I didn't want to turn too hard, for fear of breaking the key off in the lock. Wouldn't have been the first time.
"What the eff?" I groaned out of frustration through my gritted teeth.
A twig snapped. A peculiar scent wafted over me. The hairs on my neck stood straight and goose bumps rippled down my arms as chills shot down my spine, collecting in a puddle of dread settled in the pit of my stomach. My head snapped up. I was suddenly hyper-aware of everything.
I held my breath and listened. Another twig snapped, closer this time. Maybe a hundred yards or so into the trees, to the west. But the scent was coming from the east. Whatever it was, there were more than one. It would appear I was surrounded.
I pulled the key out of the lock and slowly turned to face my driveway. And then I saw it. Two black eyes peered back at me through the greenery, not more than fifteen yards away. That's when I suddenly realized, with a nasty twist of my gut, that I hadn't been issued a gun yet.
I was freakishly strong and fast for a girl. A girl who wasn't particularly buff, a girl who was actually somewhat slender. But whatever was out there had me surrounded and I had no way of knowing how many there were. There were at least two. Could I defend myself against all of them? I had to get to the car. It was my best bet.
I took a cautious step forward. The pair of eyes also moved.
I leaped down the stairs and I was running. I hit the remote to unlock the car. I was already opening the door and scrambling in when the eyes were out in the open, part of a larger beast-a much larger beast-sprinting toward me. I fumbled with the ignition as I watched the creature in my mirror.
Was that-?
No. Couldn't be. They didn't get that big. But… Was that a wolf?
I watched as the black furry monster leaped over my car… then landed in front of me. We stared at each other for a full five seconds. Then his lips pulled back and he growled.
I screamed, screaming louder as his growl grew louder, having momentarily forgotten about turning on the car.
He crouched and sprang. I reflexively held up my arms in defense, palms facing the enormous wolf. The massive beast came to a halt in midair, hovering six inches above my windshield.
I gasped and looked around in horror before remembering there was no one around to see my freaky talent. I sighed, and then looked back to the massive wolf, still suspended above me. One massive paw started to swing toward me. I shrieked, and pushed him further up in the air just in time.
Then I remembered that there were others.
Keeping the wolf up with my left hand, I started the car with my right. I reached for the seat belt, and a movement from my left caught my eye. Another one. I moved my arm as though I were throwing a baseball toward the second wolf, and the first one hurtled through the air toward his companion. I heard the dull thud of the two animals colliding as my tires screeched down the driveway, protesting against the sudden speed. I didn't even let the car come to a complete stop as I whipped it around and threw the gear from reverse to drive. I floored it, thanking Christ I had splurged and bought the Turbo edition.
The speedometer crept upward. 80. 85. 90. I checked my mirror. No monsters were following me. I looked front. No monsters were following me because the monsters were in front of me. With a gasp, I slammed both feet onto the brake pedal. The tires squealed in protest once again as the car slid. I lost control and the car began to spin. I felt like I was on a tilt-a-whirl. The trees that lined the road were getting closer and closer. I turned my palms to the ground and pushed. Still spinning, I felt the tires leave the ground. I kept my left hand down and pushed my right hand straight out in front of me, willing the force leaving my hand to catch onto something solid.
With a jolt, the spinning stopped. I turned my right hand down again and with my left I put the window down, stuck my head out, and threw up. It took a couple of seconds to hear the splatter, so I guessed I was pretty high up. I didn't want to look. But I knew I couldn't stay up here all day. Someone was bound to drive by eventually.
I sniffed. I didn't smell the wolves, if that was indeed what they were. But I did hear an engine approaching from less than a mile away. I slowly let the car down, careful not to let it drop too hard. The tires made a soft, squishy landing, rather than the hard thud I had been expecting. That meant that I had landed in the dirt shoulder.
I heard the approaching engine turn around the bend and slow. The driver must have seen my car. As I turned to see who it was, I heard a disconcerting groan of metal, and felt the car start to slide to the right. Panicking, I looked out the passenger window, down the steep ravine I had landed on the edge of.
As the car slid, it turned and went front-first. I tried to steer, but the forest was too dense. I barely registered the tree my bumper was crashing into before the airbag went off and hit me square in the face.
Thank you for reading!
Allthenuts: Do you see that Twilight connection now? Thanks for the review! Do it again! :D
My plan is to update about once a week. I'll try my best to stick to that, especially if reviews pick up.
Please leave a review! If I suck and should stop, please tell me! If it's totally kick-ass, tell me that too! Thanks!
Ren
