I do not own the rights to the Twilight saga or any of the characters within the Twilight saga. This is merely an attempt to extend what was a very enjoyable reading experience.
Thanks for continuing to read, I hope you will take the time to review as it encourages me to keep posting!!
Big thanks to Charlotte for my first review :o)
My legs felt weak beneath me and my breath was coming in short pants, the water was also threatening to make a comeback all over Mr Crane's shoes, his sickly sweet scent really wasn't helping.
My brain seemed to be working at a million miles an hour, trying to process the new and recover the old but after a couple of seconds everything stopped.
I focused on getting my brain to order what was there and was struck with the realisation that although I seemed unable to grasp memories of who I was or where I came from, I still possessed knowledge and logic.
Crane had sounded completely sincere when he'd pretty much told me that wherever I came from didn't appear to be located on this planet.
But the more I thought about it, the more preposterous it seemed, perhaps he's joking I thought.
I looked into his eyes and saw nothing but sincerity and concern, OK not a joke.
My thought train then brought me to my next conclusion, how can a theory like that be based simply on one item looking out of place? I or anyone else for that matter could have made that drivers licence using a photo of me, an imagination and a good computer.
The more I thought about it, the more I felt like my brain was trying to tell me that the licence was a fake but I felt like I was missing a vital piece of information, like the licence was a joke and I was in on it. Only I couldn't remember the punch line.
As my thoughts ran around in circles Crane's arm reached out and patted my own. I was pulled out of my stupor and pulled directly into his bottomless eyes "Don't worry, I promise we're going to get to the bottom of this, together." His voice was calm and reassuring, like the steady rumble of a car engine.
"I already think I know how you came to be here" The steady rumble turned into a slight growl as he spoke. Ah obviously he had more evidence to be sounding so sure. It was as though he were angry at whoever had torn me from my home and dumped me into the unknown.
I felt a surge of warmth towards Crane, he seemed so protective over me and I needed that in my vulnerable state. "I am going to do everything within my power to help you Vanessa" He promised.
"Ness" I corrected him unconsciously, blinking lazily as I spoke
I snapped into focus again, realising what I'd just said.
I blinked several times and tried to concentrate on where I'd managed to pull that little bit of info from, it just seemed right, like that's what everyone calls me.
Crane's features flickered for a moment before resuming their calm smile "See, you're remembering already."
I felt buoyed by the thought of my memories coming back to me, although it was not enough to banish the sinking feeling that told me I could be very far from home. Wherever that is.
"How do you think I came to be here?" I asked whilst secretly hoping he would tell me that I was dreaming and any second now I would wake up to an obnoxious alarm clock in a bed that felt familiar.
At the thought of a familiar bed my nostrils filled with the ghost of a scent; rich, earthy, musky with a hint of pine. I licked my lips to taste it in the air but of course all I got was a taste of Mr Crane's sickly sweet scent, the other had been a memory of some sort.
"I know you are anxious for answers V…Ness" He corrected himself "But I really think it would be best if we got you properly fed and watered and set you up with a room before I share my theories with you."
For a brief second I felt the urge to shake him violently and demand he share his information with me, I had a feeling I could command considerable strength should I so wish. However, the idea immediately seemed repulsive and I pushed it from my mind.
I decided to hold my tongue and let him play the good host for a while seeing as I hadn't gotten the impression he was avoiding answering my questions, it just seemed that he honestly believed my welfare to be more important than the information.
I forced a sweet smile before replying "OK then"
"Excellent!" Crane said as he clapped his hands together and turned towards Mina.
I'd forgotten she was even there, her heartbeat and breathing which had earlier sounded so loud in my ears had faded into the background. Becoming aware of her again increased the volume once more.
"Mina would you be so kind as to show Ness to her room?" Crane asked in a bright voice.
Mina nodded and fluttered her eyelashes at Crane, I heard her heartbeat quicken and her breaths become slightly shallower.
Hearing the blood pumping furiously through her veins caused my mouth to water. I remembered my burning throat and swallowed in a vain attempt to moisten the desiccated flesh.
Mr Crane turned to me again before placing his hand upon my own, I noticed his fingers twitch slightly as they made contact with my skin again "As soon as you have freshened up we shall take a meal together and we will talk properly."
He swept out of the room and a fresh burst of his scent hit me, I was getting used to it but it still left a slightly unpleasant tang on my tongue.
I followed Mina down a well lit but slightly claustrophobic corridor getting more frustrated by the second. I told myself it was her painfully slow walking and the infuriating squeak of her rubber-soled shoes but I knew deep down that I was frustrated by myself and the monstrous thoughts I kept having involving the woman's blood.
I was becoming more aware of my body and senses and I was beginning to feel like I had something within me that longed for release, it longed to take control and turn Mina's neck into a bloody and pulsating mess. My fingers reached out unconsciously towards her.
NO! I told myself, curling my fingers into fists and snapping them down to my sides. Whatever this urge is I will not let it win.
I made a conscious decision in that corridor to exercise supreme self control at all times and an unconscious decision to keep the urges I was feeling a most guarded secret.
"Here we are" Mina said, pulling me from my thoughts.
We had stopped at a large metal door, it was bright shining steel and didn't appear to have a handle or any sort of hinges. I wondered for a moment whether it was actually a door before Mina placed her palm on a backlit panel mounted on the wall next to me and the steel door slid aside with a hiss.
We stepped into a reasonable sized room that was lit like it basked in the glow of the sun, although I noticed no windows.
There was a large bed with crisp white sheets and a bunch of bland looking bedroom furniture including a wardrobe, chest of drawers, desk and small sofa. All of it looked brand new and the overall effect was like looking at a page from an Ikea catalogue.
"Welcome to your room dear. The pad's programmed for your hand too so you can come and go as you please" She took a breath and continued like a bellboy showing me my hotel room, I would have slipped her a tip to make her go away but I was wearing paper clothes with no pockets so I let her continue with her pointless tour as her pulse throbbed in my ears.
She finally left me in peace, informing me that when I was ready I should wait for Mr Crane in the Mess Hall which was further down the corridor.
I let out my breath in a whoosh as soon as the door hissed closed behind her.
After a long shower I discovered that all the drawers were filled with clothes – actual clothes, not more of that paper crap.
I selected a pair of black leggings that looked metallic along with a white t-shirt that was made out of fabric that felt like liquid between my fingers. The clothing fitted perfectly with the leggings sitting snugly on my hips and the t-shirt flowing down my torso and clinging in all the right places.
I had searched for over ten minutes trying to find the plainest clothes possible, the mess hall sounded like a public place and the last thing I wanted to do was waltz in there looking out of place.
After combing and drying my curls I searched for something to wear on my feet, having thrown away the paper slippers that had been provided for my walk down the corridor.
I located a pair of flat shoes that reminded me of ballet slippers (my size of course) and slipped them onto my feet before placing my palm onto the pad by the door and making my way to the mess hall.
The door to the Mess Hall was the same as the door to my room, I placed my palm on the pad and it whooshed open revealing a cocophony of sound that assaulted my ears. I had gathered already that I had very good hearing so I was lead to the conclusion that rooms with doors like this must be very well soundproofed.
Music that was heavy in bass reverberated off the walls, there was male laughter and sound effects that sounded like a fight issuing from the corner to my right.
As I stepped through the doorway a riot of scents came at me. I smelled the distinct musky smell of teenage boys, various unappetizing smells of food, cigarette smoke some chemical smells I couldn't place and lastly, just lingering underneath the surface of all the other smells was an aroma that made me think of meadows full of flowers.
The room itself was not at all what I had been expecting, for a start it was massive with a high ceiling and warm colours on the walls.
There was a large kitchen area with a massive fridge, appliances I couldn't name and a breakfast bar with several stools lined up along it.
One of the stools was occupied by a willowy looking girl with latte coloured skin and straight auburn hair that hung down her narrow back. She didn't look up as I entered, choosing instead to stare into the glass of water she was nursing.
To the right of the kitchen was a games area which was mostly dominated by a large pool table covered in electric blue felt, balls were scattered across it as though a game had been stopped midway.
As my eyes roved further they settled on two guys in their late teens standing opposite each other in front of a massive flat screen TV. The were both wearing headsets and gloves and I could see computer generated images of them projected onto the TV.
A bell sounded and the guys stepped away from each other.
They were standing about 5 feet apart when one of them threw the first punch. The other's head recoiled as though it had been struck but he immediately righted himself and delivered a high kick in the direction of the side of the other guy's head.
As they performed their moves into the air in front of them their counterparts on the TV seemed to be engaged in the actual fight, the player's blows connecting with synthesised sound effects.
One of the guys dodged a blow from the other saying "Nice try asshole" with a sneer. The other growled "I'm gonna fuck you up dude!" and the fight continued.
When the game had finished they removed their gear, engaging in more banter.
One of the guys was tall, muscular and had messy brown hair that hung down to the middle of his neck. He had a pretty face but it held an expression that told me he knew he was pretty and that immediately put me off.
The other was slightly shorter and very lean, he had greasy black hair that was scraped back and clung to his scalp looking like an oily helmet, his eyes were black and his skin had an unhealthy pallor to it. I noticed that his movements were sinuous and the overall affect was unnerving.
As they turned and spotted me they both stopped talking. The face of the brown haired guy split into a predatory grin and he immediately made his way over to me.
I kept my eye on him but couldn't help notice the guy with the black hair step to the side and seemingly melt from my view.
"Well well, you must be the new girl." The pretty boy sneered and then whistled at me whilst looking me up and down "Holy shit you are ball-achingly hot!"
I looked at him with the most unimpressed expression I could muster before replying in a flat voice "That's funny because I was just considering kneeing you in the balls"
The monster in me growled, it wanted to play with him, make him sweat a little.
I smiled at him but it had no sweetness to it.
He looked at my teeth and his smile slid from his face. I took amusement in seeing him force himself not to step back.
I filed away the knowledge that my teeth seemed to scare people, remembering Mina's reaction earlier.
Pretty boy's eyes suddenly focused on something behind me and I could feel the presence of the oily one.
It was as though he had just materialised behind my back, I could feel him moving towards me, disturbing the air around him. I heard the material of his clothes move, I heard his breathing and pulse and heartbeat. I could smell him and his scent made me think of a very cold, very dark room.
I knew he was trying to sneak up on me so I decided to surprise him first.
I whipped my body round and caught his hand as it gravitated to where my ass had been, I pulled it upwards, careful not to exert too much force and he grunted and fell to his knees with a horrified expression on his face. Huh, I thought as he writhed in my grasp I'm either pretty strong or this guy is pretty weak.
"No touching" I told him in a tone someone would use to scold a dog.
Before the situation could go any further the door hissed open and Mr Crane stepped in carrying a tray containing two plates of steaming food.
I released the arm I had been holding and dropped my hands to my sides.
Crane took in the scene before him, his brow creasing as he looked from one guy to the other "Nestor" He said whilst looking at the greasy one on the floor who was massaging his shoulder.
His gaze moved to the other standing behind me before he continued.
"Tobin, please go to your rooms" he asked through a clenched jaw.
Nestor and Tobin left the room with their eyes to the floor, they didn't say a word.
"Maya, would you mind leaving us too please?" He asked the girl at the breakfast bar with a much gentler tone of voice.
"Sure" Maya replied.
As she walked past me I got another whiff of meadow flowers, it was very pleasant and I wanted to inhale as much as I could before being faced with the overpowering sweetness of Mr Crane once more.
Once we were alone Crane made his way over to the breakfast bar and placed the tray down.
He sat himself down on a stool and pulled a plate toward him before patting the stool to his left and moving the other plate to sit on the surface in front of it.
I sat next to him and looked into his eyes expectantly.
He smiled warmly at me and said "You eat and I'll tell you everything I know"