1Twilight and its characters are the property of Stephenie Meyer
11.
Shortly after I crossed the border into Mexico I came across an abandoned apartment building. The scent of human decay covered the air in a thick fog. I entered the building cautiously, but before I could register his thoughts in my mind he had me pinned to the ground. I twisted myself from his hold and delivered a solid blow to the center of his chest. He slammed against the wall. He had long blonde hair pulled back from his face. His clothes were covered in a mixture of dirt and blood. He looked like an untamed animal and he glared at me with wild, bright red eyes. A newborn.
His thoughts were chaos, nonsense, but it was clear he felt the need to defend himself. I stalled for a moment to assess my surroundings. He seemed to be alone, but if the only way out of here was to kill him I needed to be sure.
"I'm looking for Victoria," I said. "Were you traveling with her?"
Her scent was not evident in this place, but asking bought me time.
"Is she the red head?"
I nodded, never moving my eyes from him. He could attack at any moment and his newborn strength was not something I should dismiss.
"She never told me her name," he spit through his clenched teeth. "She doesn't stay with us much. She's splitting up from us I think. Heading somewhere in Rio is what I heard. They all left a few days ago, but she told me stay behind and wait."
"Wait for what?"
He let out one loud laugh.
"You."
His mind flashed to the conversation with Victoria. She only knew they were being followed, but not that I was the one in pursuit of her.
"Are you to kill me then?" I asked in defiance.
"That's what I was told. Although, I would prefer to kill someone that tastes a little better," he said with a grin.
I surveyed the carnage around me, several bodies in various states of decomposition. Men and women, old and young alike ... much too young. My eyes locked on a small child in the corner. He could not have been more than five years old. My attacker saw my point of interest.
"They taste so much better when they are young," he said, smiling widely. "Don't you think?"
I was no longer myself. The demon ruled completely. It was exhilarating to release myself to the blinding rage. His strength was formidable, but he lacked skill, and it was only moments before I had him trapped. He was face down on the ground, with my foot pressing into his back when I finally ripped his head from his body. I was belligerent. I tore him to pieces violently. I was lost in my hatred of this race. My race. They were animals, all of them. A species of savages, and in this moment I was one of them.
I sniffed out a lighter in the pocket of one of the victims, and burned the place to the ground. Save for the child, whom I carried outside and buried in the shade of a nearby tree.
If Victoria knew she was being followed she would be more diligent in hiding her tracks. I was inept, and she knew it. If I was going to succeed in this chase I would need to improve ... quickly.