It was a really stange dream. Not the first that I've had, not by a long shot. But definitely one of the clearest.
I rolled over. The threadbare mattress squeaked a little. It wouldn't be long, now. Less than a few minutes.
I heard from outside the door a woman talking. "Dr. Murphy, I'm sorry, but I just got this message from Dr. Cullen. He's gone to help the... victims." I sighed. There goes the hope that it was just a weird dream.
The door opened. I decided not to even give him the opportunity. He started to greet me, but I just cut him off.
"Ok, Dr. Murphy. Who is Aro, who is Dr. Cullen, who the hell are iyou/i, and why am I here? And what the hell do you mean you're a 'vampire?'"
He just stared. "I knew you were perceptive, Alice... but this is amazing. You'll make an amazing addition to the family.
Family? Did he say 'family?' "Whose family? And what if I don't want to be added to any family?
"Oh, but you will, Alice! I'm offering you immortality! Do you understand that? Immortality!"
"At what cost?" I screamed at him. He was cornering me, backing me against the wall. "At what cost, Nathan?"
"I'm Nathan now, am I?" He said. A cold look crossed his face. "Think about this, Alice. Think carefully. I will not offer this again. You have a gift--a gift that will only be amplified in immortality."
"This is nonsense. Absolute nonsense."
With a flash, he was appeared behind me. He lifted my bed above his head, and twirled it on finger. "Nonsense? NONSENSE? I'm offering you the world!" He grabbed my throat. "You feel my skin. You see my eyes. You see my strength, my speed, my power. You iknow/i what I am. I could give you this."
"At. What. Cost. Nathan. Do you expect me to run around and kill people just so I don't have to die?"
"No, Alice. You should hear Carlisle talk. He's been feeding on animals for centuries! It doesn't ihave/i to be like that!"
"You're insane. Must be why you work here. Go home, I won't join you."
"Well. It seems I cannot persuade you," he said, his posture utterly still and deathly cold in his voice. Maybe I can introduce someone who can? Please, come in, James.