The Meadow

Hannah and Angela met up at the airport, and Angela noted that Hannah looked wide eyed and dishevelled.

"What's wrong?" Angela asked suddenly.

"It's a long story. Everyday I would pass the population sign in Appin, and it was declining…"

"So? People die on motorways everyday" retorted Angela, calmly.

"But this was different… about 20 people died everyday… soon all my neighbours had disappeared… Appin was like a ghost town" Hannah's distress was evident – Angela took her by the arm, "come on, Hannah. Let's go for a walk."

Bella had made up her mind. She loved Jacob. Now, using her great sense of smell, Bella began to track him. He was near the clearing, in Forks forest. Her mind was focussed only on him, so warm, tall… dark, intense brown eyes like chocolate. She realised she had love dhim all along. Who cared that she was a vampire? After she confessed her undying love, he would leave his troubled thoughts behind and marry her. Bella would divorce Edward and have a happy ending. She came steadily nearer…

Jacob Black stood in the centre of the meadow, feeling the sunlight on his skin. He envisioned the time when he, Sam, Paul and Embry had saved Bella from the vampire Laurent. They had come just in time to save her from certain death. This time, Jacob thought sourly, he was too late. Jacob looked forward to when he would burn Bella's remains, and this intensity burned in his eyes.

Angela took Hannah's arm in hers, and she acted as counsellor to her cousin, as they walked down the path to Forks Forest.

"I'm so sorry to intrude on you and Ben… especially since you only just moved in. Give me a week to find some accommodation."

"Nonsense, Hannah" replied Angela, "stay as long as you want."

Hannah smiled, "thanks Angela"

Angela smiled back, "let's go for a walk in the forest" she suggested. Hannah looked at the lush forrest and the storm that hovered ominously overhead.

"I hope we don't get attacked by a wolf or something"

Angela laughed off her feeling of uneasiness. "It's okay. Forks Forest is perfectly safe."

Bella stood at the edge of the meadow, half hidden in shadow and ferns. She saw Jacob's tall form, gazing into the distance. Ever since Bella imprinted on him, she realised she had been wrong all along. Edward was not the one for her, and she should not have married him. As a friend, Edward would stay, but she wanted Jacob for herself. Suddenly she smelled humans, and shrank further into the undergrowth.

Angela and Hannah also came to the edge of the meadow.

"That's funny. I never knew there was a meadow here" mused Angela, half to herself.

"It's gorgeous" replied Hannah, who then caught sight of Jacob, "Who's that?" she asked suddenly.

Angela also spotted him.

"Jacob?" she called. Grudgingly he turned around.

"Leave me alone." he replied, hurt evident in his voice.

Meanwhile, Bella had been trying to ignore the scent of humans, trying to force herself away from devouring them then and there. Some part of her remembered Angela as her best friend, but the other human she could probably spare. Bella studied the other human, and with sudden dread, fury and hate Bella realised what had happened. Hannah had looked up into Jocob's eyes, and he into hers, and something had clicked. Jacob had imprinted, Bella could tell.

Jacob's immeasurable sadness had turned to hope as he gazed into Hannah's eyes, but suddenly he heard a low, threatening hiss. He turned on his heel and glimpsed the one being in the world he truly hated.

Bella prowled around jacob, trying to get closer to Hannah. Suddenly, she lunged. Hannah screamed and Jacob slammed into Bella's ice cold, hard form with a thud.

Jacob growled at Bella, shaking with fury.

"What's your problem, Isabella?" he snarled.

Bella flinched despite herself.

"I love you, Jake" she said passionately, ignoring the cowering humans behind him. Jacob was determined not to care about Bella.

"So you keep telling me. But it doesn't matter now. I hate you. And you know what that means?–"

"Jacob, I've imprinted on you!" exclaimed Bella, and Jacob suddenly stood still.

"All the more reason for me to kill you." Jacob said in a low undertone, as he stepped towards her with fierce determination. Bella shrank back, half with sadness at Jacob's rejection, half with fear, as his looming form came nearer.

"Jacob… it doesn't have to be this way… You don't have to kill me" said Bella piteously knowing she could not put up a fight without hurting Jacob.

"I do have to kill you" replied Jacob sourly. "What? you're not going to fight me?" Jacob mocked, grabbing Bella's arms and shaking her to reinforce the point.

"No" she whispered, defeated, looking into the eyes of her executioner.