"You can skydive without a parachute."

"You can skydive without a plane!"

- West, Claire (The Kindness of Strangers)

Part Fourteen:

I turn to the side, looking over my shoulder into the mirror as I appreciatively run my hands down the soft ripples of fabric. The strapless red dress hugs my curves, ending right above my knees. My green eyes stand out in the dim lightning and my mussed blonde hair cascades freely around my shoulders. Slightly flushed, a small smile makes it way on my face as I stare at my reflection and twirl around. I know I look good, much older than my seventeen years. The dress I had picked out for the Homecoming dance back in Texas couldn't compare. This dress deserved to be worn out some place really special, not just a high school dance.

My fingers find the price tag that hangs off from the side. That was too many zeroes above my budget. Even if I was able to afford it, where would I wear it? The school dance coming up? I could do without all the stares and awkwardness that would entail. Besides, there is no way dad would never let me out of the house looking like this.

Ah well, evening was fast approaching and I still wanted to stop by that book store down the street. After all, that was the excuse I gave Mike to get out of going to the dance with him; of course, I came here to Seattle on a different weekend then the one I said I would. I had surprised myself after my confrontation with Edward when I decided on the drive home from school that very day that I would go to Seattle without him or anyone else, and certainly not on the planned date.

The idea of just leaving Forks had become very appealing to me. I didn't want to be stuck in that small town and play pretend or stew over a certain someone all weekend. I wanted out. Maybe mom could tell when I asked her about it. Granted, she was distracted with Mr. Muggles when I proposed my weekend plans, but then again, she has always been looser when it came to privileges than my father, who undoubtedly would have made me remain at home to keep me "safe" if he wasn't out of town on business.

With my plans set, my mood substantially improved the rest of the week. I became a bit more upbeat around Angela, and yes, even Jessica, who I found actually pleasant to be around when she wasn't obsessing about Mike Newton. Said Newton boy didn't seem so intimidated by Jessica's clutches and began to frequent our table during lunches. Soon the rest of the group migrated over and I found that it was only when I was left alone that I had time to grow sober and let my thoughts drift to my past, my problems, and occasionally Edward.

The last thought hasn't come to mind as much as it used to. After our confrontation, I had thanked him, probably much to his bewilderment, and walked away. I had felt surprisingly calm because it only confirmed what I had denied myself from seeing before. I thought we could step forward into a kind of mutual trust yet he wasn't willing to make that leap with me. It was a naïve kind of thinking on my part, but at least my intentions were good. I tried, and that is all I have. I'd rather not be so chained down by what ifs and might haves. I want to move forward even if that means being alone. What I'm doing now is a step in the right direction. When I get it to the point of complete apathy in regards to him, I can better focus on issues that are much more important to my well being and that of my family.

So with a change of mind and plans made, this Saturday morning I drove out to Seattle in my truck and thankfully it didn't break down like Edward insinuated that it might (Thank you Jacob, wherever you've gotten yourself off to). The drive was smooth and the sun was out. I rolled down my windows and unabashedly sang along with the radio. Upon arrival, I parked and wandered the streets for a while, just window shopping. The sun came out even stronger during the afternoon, so I took off my coat, tied it around my waist, and took a long walk in the park. I ate a surprisingly delicious hot dog from a street vendor as I sat on a park bench and watched the people go by.

After I finished, I joined the flow of moving bodies. Being alone while in a sea of people was rather nice. I could walk the streets and not seem any different on the surface than the people that surrounded me as they bustled about on their day-to-day lives. I was just one face in a crowd, left alone to my thoughts with no reminders of problems in need of being dealt with or people I have to act around.

My wanderings had led me on a long loop, and I was almost back to where I had originally parked my truck. I was walking in front of a high end department store when out of the corner of my eyes I saw movement in the dark alley on the side of the building. It was probably a stray or somebody messing around, nothing unusual and none of my concern; however, it sent an unwarranted shiver down my spine as I quickened my step. I mentally chided myself for being paranoid, shaking my head only to have my eyes catch onto something that alleviated the shadow from my mind temporarily.

In the department store window, a bright strapless red dress stood out to me on one of the mannequins. I felt compelled to walk into the store and take a closer look. The sales lady whose name is Margaret Smith, as so I gathered from the name tag, perked up from behind the counter when she noticed my interest in the dress and came over to assist me. I knew there was no possible way I could afford the dress, but her bright brown eyes and her hands clasped in front of her made me give in to my desire and I requested to try the garment on. Cheerfully, she carefully took the dress off the mannequin, all the while chatting about the nice weather and how I was enjoying my visit to Seattle thus far. She held up the dress in front of me and complimented me on how it contrasted with my skin and hair. I blushed a shade lighter than the dress and went into the dressing room.

Thusly, I find myself in the dressing room where I am currently. I hear the sales lady on the other side of the dressing room waiting for me. She invites me to come out and view myself in the dress in the big mirror outside the dressing rooms but I decline, knowing that seeing it in all its glory under the store lights will make me want it more. With a final look over, I take the dress off and hang it back up, pulling back on my long sleeved blue-green shirt and jeans. I exit the changing room and hand off the dress to the sales lady with a wistful sigh. She gushes over how "marvelous" and "splendid" I must have looked, but I just shake my head. Looking slightly disappointed, she smoothes out the dress and goes back to the front to put the dress back on the mannequin.

Feeling slightly guilty for making her go to all the trouble of getting the dress down in the first place when I had no intention of buying, I watch her go, rocking back and forth on the balls of my feet with my hands buried deep in my pockets. Looking around, I see that the store is near deserted, hence the sales lady's eagerness. People probably want to catch the last of the Sun rays before they disappear for the day. I sigh, figuring I should go now too if I want to swing by the book store before heading home.

Then I hear a voice speak a name I haven't been called in quite some time.

"Bennett?" A voice says from behind me.

My fingers in my pocket twitch with a sudden nervous energy as the rest of my body has gone completely still, my ears straining.

I know it could be a coincidence, a mistake, but I don't turn around in case it isn't and I remove all doubt. Casually, I move toward the back of the store, head ducked down. Immediately, the clicking of heels starts, following me across the floor. I have to clamp down on the urge to sprint for the door, knowing that it could potentially remove all doubt from this person's mind as to my identity. …And with my luck…

I'm almost at the door when a well manicured hand grabs my arm in a viselike grip and spins me around. A blonde woman only a few years older than me takes in my face quickly with recognition in her eyes. "Claire Bennett." She isn't asking this time.

"Excuse me." I say gruffly while jerking my arm away, immediately sounding defensive. "I don't believe we've met." And that was actually the truth. Honestly, I'm positive I've never seen this woman before. She isn't familiar in the least, and her demeanor doesn't speak of long forgotten friends. The masked intent in her eyes makes me wary as this whole situation very well should.

I step back. "My name is Butler." I insist, only buying myself time cause I know I hardly sound convincing. My eyes dart around, searching for the green exit sign. I have to leave now. Where are all the other customers? This is too quiet.

The woman radiates calm and control which is the opposite of what I am. She wears a cheeky grin that slowly spreads across her face. "Well Claire Butler, allow me to introduce myself." She steps forward and surprises me by grabbing my hand tightly in hers in the semblance of a hand shake. "I'm Elle Bishop and I work for the Company."

I'm shocked, literally. An electric current shoots out of her hand and into mine where it races up my arm, dropping me to my knees with my arm limply hanging in her electric grip. In a moment it stops and I rip my hand out of hers and fall back. Slightly shaking, I lift my hand to my face to see my skin regenerating from a bright red to my normal skin tone.

Lowering my hand, I look back up. The company agent is obviously pleased with her work, a sadistic grin coming over her features as she leisurely moves to stand over me. I look desperately around but she has maneuvered us farther back to a quieter area of the department store. I can't see the sales lady from down here, separated by rows and rows of clothes. Hell, I can't see anybody. All I hear is the department store music that floats from the speakers placed in the corners.

I try to scramble to my feet, a scream for help on my lips when another bolt of energy twice as potent as the last shoots out of Elle's hands, sending me flying backward into a clothes rack.

"Daring," Elle smirks, "But stupid." She stands right above me, arms folded as blue sparks flicker warningly in her hands. "I think it'll be healthier for you if you stay down there for the time being."

Wait-what? Did nobody just see that? How could they not? But nobody has come running over to investigate… My thoughts must be apparent on my face because Elle's smirk just grows wider. "You really are completely ignorant. Agents don't go in blind. It's called securing a scene. The front door is locked and we made sure there were no other people in here before we made our move, or at least we thought. This is a convenient mistake on our part. Imagine my surprise when after being sent out on a boring retrieval marking assignment, I run into the elusive Claire Bennett." Elle looks gleeful, leaning in closer from over me. "Won't my father be pleased when I bring you in."

Panic grips me. I feel like lead weights are dragging me down as my mind takes off in a whirl, frantic to take some form of action but unable. Elle must know she has all the cards since she freely shares with little reserve. "The original target was just some middle aged sales woman called Margaret Smith. Lame power, all she could do was glow in the dark. We'll bring her to the Company, tag her, and release back into the wild probably since I doubt they'll find her as a threat to humanity. Of course we'll erase her memory first."

Erase her memory… How could they do that if- But wasn't he working with my father? So he's really still with the Company! And if he is coming back then I've only got now until it'll be too late because he'll-

Elle doesn't seem aware of the dreaded revelation that has just come to me as she coldly proceeds to taunt me. "Of course you'll become a more permanent resident at the Company and you'll have a cell all to yourself; they're really hospitable that way. But don't worry; you won't have to stay in there all the time either because they'll frequently take you out to run tests." Elle's eyes loftily stare down at me and I turn my own eyes to meet hers, refusing to look away. "And maybe if you behave they'll let you visit your family from time to time after we bring them in."

I've managed to gain back a measure of control. Slivers of ice now run through my veins. Her statement's intended purpose falls flat and my face remains impassive much to her ire. She brings down her heel hard on my hand, grinding it in to emphasize exactly how the Company planned to learn where my family was if I proved to be difficult, which I undoubtedly would. While obviously painful, it's dull in comparison to other forms of…discomfort I've endured. I don't flinch, keeping my expression hard. Like hell I'd give her the satisfaction. And if she thought that this prelude of pain would intimidate me of what I was going to endure to protect my family then for all the information the Company may have of me on file, it must be severely lacking because there is no way I'd break so easily. If I have it my way, they'll never get the chance.

Sarcastically sweet, I say, "Your sales pitch could use a little work."

Her facial features contort for a second due to confusion then turn to surprise when my unpinned hand took aim at her ankle, twisting my body to throw force behind the movement. Caught off guard from the unusual maneuver, Elle stumbles and loses her footing, falling. I'm on my feet, knocking into her as she tries to get back up. Landing on top, I struggle to pin her flailing limbs. In the next moment when she realizes the futility of that, she grabs onto my forearms and unleashes a stream of her blue energy into me. Blood pools in my mouth as I bite my tongue, my muscles locking up even as I refuse to let go.

Besides my labored breathes, not a sound has escaped my lips. I haven't lost consciousness yet from sensory overload yet either. She has undoubtedly noticed too as her expression is telling this is not the normal case. Any trace of smugness has long since dissipated from Elle's face, leaving a flicker of an emotion that wasn't accustomed to crossing her usually confident features. As blue sparks dance around my vision and my body spasms, a determined smirk comes to boldly taunt her from me in the face of this mayhem, making the psychopath underneath me wonder briefly if I'm the one who is mentally unstable.

I'm brought back when I hear the opening of the store's front door. My slight advantage is going to slip through my fingers fast if I don't act right now. Leaping up, I break contact with Elle's current momentarily as my eyes swing to the front. I see him and I know he sees me. It's naïve to hope that he is not what the evidence points to but it is only confirmed as he moves into a dead run in my direction. The Haitian is here and he apparently is no longer an ally of my father's.

I have one other escape route then the front which is blocked. Swiftly, I spin around, sprinting towards the back door and wherever it leads to. I hear Elle scrambling to her feet and the Haitian where I was only a moment before. My sweaty palms almost slip as I grasp the back door handle and swing it open. And there is stairs, leading up only to the next level where they end. But I don't have any other option. I slam the door shut behind me as take the steps two at a time. One flight, two, just one more… I hear them behind, opening the door with a bang. I can't help myself. I look down and almost have my face blown off by huge blast of energy issued from Elle' fingertips. I pull back in time, stumbling but somehow remain on my feet. The door is there. I've reached it, the second level of the department store. It opens and I run through, bright light making me squint.

…And a gust of wind blows my hair into my eyes…

I pull it back with my hand only to see the city of Seattle sprawled out before me.

No…

I run up the edge and feel my stomach instinctively lurch at the drop. I see people and cars in the distance, yet they seem so far removed. I back away, then desperately look around. There has to be another door, a fire escape-

A blast of Elle's blue electricity knocks me back, scraping my hands and face against the pavement. I warily eye the edge that I am but a few feet away from. Wobbly, I push myself back onto my feet and face my-would-be captors.

The Haitian and Elle are by the door. My ability makes quick work of the raw skin on my hands and face. The Haitian's expression is neutral as always but Elle's mouth opens slightly and I know she is putting the puzzle pieces together of why I could withstand her power for so long and why her father wants me. Then the blue electricity in her hands flares anew and she looks out for revenge. The Haitian throws up a hand to stop her. She scowls and does as she is bid but then a spark lights up in her eyes as she sees the Haitian's look of concentration.

And I know what he is doing. He is using his power to block my regeneration ability. I am now like any other person. If Elle uses her ability on me now at the high voltage she has been then she could potentially kill me.

Elle grins when she sees that I understand the situation. My eyes skirt around Elle and the Haitian, looking for any kind of opening. She knows what I'm thinking and she just shakes her head at me like I'm some naughty child for even considering. Confident once more, she playfully lights up a few sparks that crackle and buzz in her hands, letting me know exactly what might happen if I try to resist.

The Haitian's eyes never leave me as he slowly moves toward me like I'm a wild animal he might spook. Elle begins to move forward too. Automatically, I step back once, twice, thr- my foots hits the ledge.

Wait, the ledge!

"Stop!" I yell out, throwing my hands up as if it would be any better kind of a barrier than the decreasing space between us. "If you come any closer I'll jump!" The words just pour off my lips before I even think their implications through, just following the potential shadowy path discovered in my mind.

Surprisingly, they do freeze. Elle blows a lock of loose hair out from her face, the picture of impatience and annoyance. "You'd never survive the fall." She says, but for a second her face says something else. I catch it. Latching onto it, I run down the ever increasingly illuminated second path. There's a possibility… The Haitian's range is strong but his range has limits… And if I could suddenly increase the distance…

I'm no longer looking at them, looking for another way around. Instead, my head is turned to look down behind me over the ledge and to the plunge I could take. It is risky, and if I misjudge then it could be over. But even if I do, then my family is safe for I cannot break if I am no more. And that is worth fighting for. This is one leap I have to take.

Without hesitation, I take that final step backwards. A jolt of adrenaline shoots through me as my body instinctually tries to right itself though there isn't anything to grab onto. The Haitian and Elle become a blur as they slip from view as I tumble over the edge. Somehow in that moment my body twists and my face is towards the fast receding darkening sky. And in that moment I desperately wish that I'll see it brighten again.

Promised it was going to pick up didn't I? Unless nobody remembers that anymore since it has been a while since I've updated. My apologies for taking so long to update...again. For a rather short chapter this one took a while to write besides various activities that eat up a large chunks of my time. I wrote parts of this chapter multiple times before I was semi-satisfied with the result. Before it wouldn't come out right hence the rewrites and the delay. No, really, if you read some of my attempts you'd probably laugh. And yes, this chapter is short, but there is some action that many of have been craving and other characters from outside the Twilight-verse. Also, the plot is defintely moving forward... and perahps towards the part we're all looking forward to. ;)

Hope it doesn't all seem too incredibly random and eventually it'll make more sense later on. I hope you enjoyed and are actually still reading. I read every message, review, etc. They all mean a lot. Thanks for your support!

So...What do you think is going to happen next?