The Afterlight

Chapter 2

When I woke up I was dazed and disoriented, I immediately thought that I had died. But this thought collapsed in my head as I felt a searing pain in both my legs, neck, and shoulders calculating that there was no possible way that death could be this painful, or at least that's how I figured it as.

Slowly, my senses were coming back to me, and the memory of the few hours before was coming to me and began replaying itself through my mind. I managed a loud scream as I pulled away from the reverie and came back to reality. The hard surface of the floor of the cave was barren and cold and as I crookedly tried to sit up, I could feel the bruises and scrapes on my back and arms. I couldn't move, or at least I didn't want to try further. I was stiff and my muscles had tensed, unable to relax.

I starred down at myself, covered in my own dried blood and it seemed as though every bone in my body had gone awry. I was helpless and seemingly paralyzed, whether by fear or the pain that overtook me.

"Edward!", I screamed his name, a dull but lingering sound, hoping that in some way, he would be able to hear me. Had Alice seen what had happened to me? Were they looking for me? Did Charlie know that I was missing?

My hope slowly faded then as I heard the pinging of the rain, slow at first, on the stone roof above me, but then gradually getting heavier. I knew then that the blood would be washed away in the moments that followed and that I may die right here where I lay with no one ever being able to find me.

"Edward!", I cried again weakly, desperately trying to cry over the high volume of the rain. It was overpowering though, too much for someone down in hollowed rock. I could see the lightening through he entrance of the cave.

I suddenly remembered what had brought me here, though I couldn't see any of the wolves nearby. They must have gone out looking for their next meal somewhere in the dense forest. I was confused as to why they hadn't finished me yet, though in the growing pain, I indistinctly wished for death to come.

I tried to picture their faces, their massive bodies, larger than I had expected from werewolves, were so powerful and immense that I could see why vampires could put them into their enemy category, rather than their food. Their hind legs were longer than their front, almost as if they could stand upright if motivated to. They had claws that resembled the talons of an eagle, but longer. Their teeth, which I had gotten to see in action would compare to that of a wild cat, but had abnormally long fangs in the front They appeared as large wolves, but far more intelligent and steady. But the werewolves were far from elegant, and any desire to live such a life was clearly unimaginable.

My fear began to reach me again, I tried not to let it but it was clear to me that I was in serious danger. I had to get out of this cave and escape from the presence of such horrible creatures.

I frantically tried to move my legs but cried out in agony as I failed. I hated myself for making any noise at all, for at that very moment a werewolf made its way into the entrance of the cave barring its teeth at my debilitated movements and snarling vigorously as it approached.

It advanced towards me cautiously as it walked, swaying back and forth slightly. As I predicted, it swung up on its hind legs to growl at me once more, with a screech so vividly evil, it was nearly deadly in itself. I closed my eyes awaiting the next shear of pain but it never came. I realized that the lunge had just been a threat as the creature fell back to its normal stance and sniffed at me purposefully resuming back to its normal actions.

Soon after my encounter with the wolf I presumed had been the leader, seeing as how it had been the first to tackle me earlier and primarily the one to come the closest to me, the rest of the wolves prowled steadily into the cave. But they disappeared into the darkness of the shadows surrounding me and I was alone again.

But, in the next, flash of lightening, I could see him, his tall, dark figure dripping wet from the rain, he had never been more beautiful, a look on his face of pure anger as he stepped lightly into the cave. "Edward!", I yelled, "They're here with me, don't-" But I was interrupted from the intense, deep growls on every side of me. The wolves had planned for this to happen. I was just the pawn they needed in order for them to attract the vampire to slay all to themselves.

They lunged at him simultaneously, but he was too quick for them and at my side in a moment as the vulgar creatures collided behind him. But they must have seen this coming, for in the next moment I was thrown to the far wall and slammed hard against the a large boulder that stood in the way. I fell to the ground in even more pain then when I had left it. But I had no energy in me to scream again and my consciousness began to fade once more.

I could here something intense going on behind me, knowing that Edward was so outnumbered it worried me so but it was difficult to keep up with reality in the pain I was feeling.

I felt a cold hand on my shoulder as I rolled to my side vulnerably. "Bella!", it was Alice, her distinguishable voice like the hallelujah chorus to my ears. "Alice, help me", was all I could manage in a weak voice. She turned me over to my back as I moaned and tears began to roll down my face. "I'll be right back", she told me as I lay there watching her brilliant teeth flash white as she lurched to attack.

Without much waiting, Edward was next to me again, caressing me with his soft touch and assuring me that I would be okay. "Your alright, Bella, you can make it through this, I'm going to get you out of here.", he whispered to me softly. "I promise", was what he said then.

I fell limp in his arms as he lifted me cautiously, Alice close by his side. I was still holding onto his promise as we left the cave and in that moment, I had never been more certain of anything.