The Hunter
We three exited the house together and stood before the forest.
"Emmett, follow me." Edward said, excitedly dashing into the forest. Emmett gawked at Edward's ridiculous speed and looked at me curiously.
"Can I do that?" He asked, looking at our hands for the one hundredth time.
"We all can." I smiled at how excited he looked. Like a child witnessing a carnival for the first time. He tightened his fingers through mine and grinned.
"Okay, then let's go, together." Emmett's eyes gleamed with anticipation. Just to throw him a surprise, I began running before he expected. He quickly caught up with me and we ran together at an impossible speed.
"Slow down." I said quietly. We came to a stop and Emmett gave me a look of confusion. "Can you smell that?" I asked, testing his senses.
"I'm unsure of what I'm looking for…" Emmett's dark eyebrows scrunched together as he gazed around.
"Find Edward with your senses." I watched his face relax in comprehension and then he went completely still. I made sure not to make a sound as Emmett attempted to locate Edward. All of a sudden, Emmett shot through the trees at run, practically dragging me along. I eventually found my feet and ran beside him.
As he began slowing down, he mumbled, "I'm sorry." Edward appeared from behind a tree with a small smile stretched across his face. "I did it!" Emmett shouted in victory. I laughed lightly and released his hand for the first time since he had awoken. He looked at me, obviously unsure of my action. I threw him a small smile and nodded, letting him know that I wasn't leaving him.
"When do I get to hunt?" Emmett asked, rubbing his throat.
"In a minute or so, first, we have something to share with you." Edward looked at me unsurely and I nodded for him to continue. "We don't feed on humans, although some vampires do. You may do as you please, but Carlisle, as our father, encourages us to feed on animals as an alternative. That's the reason for our eye color."
Emmett studied Edward and nodded. "I'd like to try your lifestyle," Emmett said, glancing at me, most likely searching for approval. I nodded slightly and began searching for food.
"There are some deer nearby. Should I search for something larger?" I asked Edward, wanting Emmett to experience a real hunting trip.
"The deer are fine for now." Edward ran ahead of us and Emmett quickly dashed after him. I laughed at them and ran to catch up. We all stopped at a clearing where twenty deer were sipping water.
"They don't smell good." Emmett commented, looking at Edward in concern.
"Ah, brother, they taste better then they smell. Trust me." Edward chuckled and peeked back at the deer. I watched Emmett's solid expression turn to a full smile when Edward mentioned 'brother.'
"Alright, choose about two or three that please you. On my count, run and snap their necks. All the rest will disperse in fear. Once your three are dead, you may feed." I said curtly. Emmett nodded in comprehension. After five seconds, I began counting. As soon as my mouth formed the word 'three,' we rushed out and each of us caught three, aside from Emmett, who caught five. I smiled at him and shook my head in amusement.
I quickly drained my first two. Just as I went to bite into my third, I heard a rustle and Emmett was nowhere to be seen. I looked to Edward for an answer, but my nose had already told me. There was a human nearby. Edward threw his deer aside and raced after Emmett. I followed close behind, hoping that we would make it in time.
Edward stopped short, causing me to slam into his back. I caught sight of the back of Emmett's gray t-shirt. He was in a crouching position. I looked past Emmett and saw an elderly man, strolling through the woods.
"Emmett, no!" I shouted just as his muscles coiled and he sprung at the man. I began to run to Emmett, but Edward shot his arm in front of. "Move, Edward!" I yelled, pushing his arm out of my way.
"Rosalie, we told him that he had the choice. If this is his choice, then we have no right to stop him." Edward was obviously disappointed, despite his wise words. I ignored him and ran to Emmett.
"Listen, Emmett, you must evaluate the situation that you're in. You're killing this innocent human who probably has a life and family and people who love him. You have to stop." I said it very quickly, but Emmett acted as if he hadn't heard. Maybe he hadn't. I chose to try one last time. "Please, Emmett." I whispered, crouching beside him.
Emmett pulled his lips from the man's neck and looked at me.
"Please." I murmured one last time, placing my hand on his shoulder. Emmett all of a sudden looked confused. He turned his eyes back to the lifeless man and then dropped him. I stood up beside Emmett and grabbed his hand.
"I—I don't know what happened." His eyes continuously returned to the dead man's body on the ground.
"It's okay. It's instinct. I don't blame you." I watched Emmett's blood-covered face quickly go through a series of emotions.
"Thank you, Rosalie." My full name sounded so strange coming from his lips.
"You can call me Rose," I murmured, half smiling. He chuckled once and began pulling me back toward Edward.
"How do you feel?" Edward asked Emmett.
"Bad. I feel bad." Emmett clearly wasn't interested in discussing what happened no more than three minutes ago. I rested my forehead on Emmett's shoulder for a minute and then looked up to his bright red eyes.
"Let's go home." I said quietly, beginning a slow jog.
When we returned home I directed Emmett to some of Edward's clothes so that he didn't have to sit covered in human blood. While he was upstairs, Edward quickly told Carlisle of the situation.
"How did he stop?" Carlisle asked, completely immersed in the story. Edward's eyes flashed towards me and Carlisle nodded in understanding. Just as Edward finished the story, Emmett came from upstairs, guilt written across his face.
I took his hand and announced that we were going out. Carlisle and Edward went about as if I had said nothing and I appreciated it, considering that Emmett felt guilty enough, he didn't need two extra sets of eyes watching over him.
Emmett allowed me to lead him out of the house at a walking speed. We began on a path through the woods by the east side of house.
"Where are we going?" Emmett asked, watching my face.
"We're going to a beautiful lake. I assume that the clouds will disperse just as sunset rolls around and there's something you have to see." I could tell that he wanted to ask more questions, but he followed me in silence.
We reached the same log that Edward and I had been sitting on a little more than twenty four hours ago. I pulled Emmett down to sit beside me and we faced each other.
"You saved me, didn't you?" He asked, stroking my hair with his free hand.
"I'm surprise you remembered that much. You were so distraught. The bear tore you apart." I looked up to see his eyes wandering into the distance.
"Yeah, I remember that. It hurt pretty bad, hard to forget."
"I'm sorry," I murmured, running my index finger across his palm.
"For what? You saved my life, Rose. You have nothing to apologize for."
"Emmett, I've made you into a monster. No one can be thankful for such a thing." My face scrunched in disgust.
"Better a monster, then dead." He said quietly. My eyes snapped up to meet his.
"You're wrong." I hissed. "I wish I were dead, Emmett. Much rather dead than trapped as this forever." I made a quick gesture toward myself and stood.
"I think this is beautiful." He made the same gesture toward my body. I tried not to smile in such a serious conversation, but I couldn't stop myself. Emmett's silly grin was beyond irresistible. "Rose, what happened to you that made you hate life so much?" He asked, intensely curious.
"Abuse." I breathed out the word and turned to the lake. Emmett's strong hands landed on my shoulders and I could feel his cool breath against my ear.
"I'm so sorry." He whispered.
"It was no less than two years ago. My fiancé, Royce King, seemed like a dream. I was a beautiful, young bachelorette and I had convinced myself that I was in love with a man that I had only known for two months.
"After leaving a friend's house late one night, Royce was on a nearby street corner with some of his friends, drunk. He had always told me that he bragged to his friends about how beautiful I was. As it turns out, they wanted to know for themselves." I stopped short, checking to see if Emmett understood what I meant. His eyes met mine, intense pain filling them.
"So, they left me there, believing I was dead. And believe me Emmett, I was ready to die. But it wouldn't happen. I kept on expecting the world to just turn black so that the pain would wash away. It started snowing and I was so sure that hypothermia would set in and I would pass, but nothing. Eventually, Carlisle found me. He smelled all the blood. So, he changed me." I took a deep, shaky breath. Emmett's hand's traveled up and down my shoulders in comfort.
"I am so sorry that you had to through that." Emmett sounded enraged. I turned to face him and his crimson eyes were boiling with anger. "Where is that lowlife?" He growled.
"I...I already took care of him." I said quietly, unsure whether Emmett would be pleased or disgusted. His face relaxed in comprehension.
"Good." He pulled me into a tight hug and I locked my hands together behind his back. I felt his cool lips against my hair. I nuzzled myself further into his broad chest, just wanting to stay there forever.