"I still can't believe it! I just got the call from Steven this morning and I have to perform for Mister Cullen on Thursday. I'm so nervous." I don't know what he was doing Saturday or Sunday, but I gave him a good lashing for making me worry.

"Oh don't sweat it Bella, you'll be great." Angela reassures me. I'm so lucky I met her, Angela Weber is a hostess at the restaurant I wait tables and she has been a wonderful friend to me. "You've got three days to prepare, not that you need it but, so you've got nothing to worry about."

"I suppose." I think nervously to my self as the cook calls an order up. I finish out the rest of my shift and Angela and I leave, chatting on the way to my building where she also has an apartment. We talk about work and our love lives, or lack there of.

Eventually, we get back to my meeting.

"So what are you going to sing for him?" She asks.

"I have no idea. I mean, he liked Think of Me but should I do something more modern?"

"That would show you're versatile I think."

"And that would be a good thing, right?" I ask.

"Yeah, but you need to think about what you want to be singing for your albums. You do something pop and they might have you doing that kind of music. You don't want to turn into just another Christina or, god-forbid, Brittany."

"So true" I say, I'd rather sing like Christine Daaé than Christina Aguilera. "I don't know Angela, I just want this to work out so much that it's driving me nuts."

"I can tell! Just stop stressing for a while, go to bed and start fresh in the morning." I sigh, defeated, if I stress any more I'll have a breakdown. We head inside and ride the elevator to her floor, say goodnight and I continue up to my floor. As I turn out of the elevator, I see my door and in front of it sits two dozen long stemmed red roses. Recovering from my astonishment I hurry over to them, I open my door and bring them inside.

Setting my things aside I put the flowers on my tiny dinner table. I run my fingers through my hair and try to figure out who could have sent me something so extravagant. My eyes spot a card amongst the roses, pulling it from its holder I bring it into the light.

Welcome to Chicago

E. Cullen

My heart skips a beat, Cullen, Mister Cullen sent me these. My new boss sent me roses before he'd even heard me perform for him live or even sold an album. I'm flattered of course, but this is so much. I'm sure he just meant to welcome me to his company and make me feel at home, but now I'm worried if I don't wow him on Thursday I won't have a prayer! I sit at the table and stare at the flowers, glancing at the card now and then.

After fifteen minutes I finally calm myself down enough to go on with my evening. I put the card next to my bed and take a shower. The warm water washes out my day at work, the steam relaxing my stressed body, the troubles of the day melting away. I let the water run down my body, the long day finally starting to wear on me as I turn off the water. I change into my nightclothes and fall into my bed. Comfortably under the blankets I drift off to sleep…and dream.

The world is dark around me and I can't even see my hand when I touch my face. I turn my head from side to side, looking around for something to guide me. In the distance, a single light flickers to life. It is small and weak out on its own but soon other lights join it. Row upon row of small candles come to life on either side of me as I turn but I'm boxed in, only one direction open to me. I turn towards the darkness of the end of the line of candles and slowly step forward. I hear a footstep, harder than my bare foot would make. I step again and again my step is matched by another. I hesitate, but take another step forward. The dark space before me fills with candles so that I can't continue.

I stare at my blocked path and suddenly feel a chill crawl up my spine. It reaches the top of my neck and spreads throughout my body and I start to shiver. I turn to face the source, my gaze falling on a man. He's a few inches taller than me, wearing a pair of black slacks and a nearly shredded silk shirt that reveals a well-defined torso, his auburn hair accents his topaz eyes; he is beautiful.

He takes a step towards me, his face neutral as he approaches. I feel like I should run from him, but I can't bring myself to move away. He is a breath away from me now, his face so close to mine; I shiver again from the chill and my anticipation. Bringing his hands to my arms he gently draws our bodies together, nuzzling my neck and collar. I take in a short gasp; there is blood on the back of his shirt. He backs his head away for a moment and looks into my eyes smiling a reassuring smile to me. I smile back at him and we stay that way, smiling at each other with him holding me, for a few moments.

Suddenly all of the candles go out and I am left in the dark again. I feel his hands on me start to tighten their grip and I try to cry out, but there is nothing. A single light flickers to life and I can see his face, still smiling. But his grip tightens and his smile becomes menacing, I try to break free but I can't even budge him, he opens his mouth with a feral growl and lunges at me.

I find my voice and scream out in fear as I wake, screaming into the night.

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"Sixteen hundred miles and not a drop of rain, some kind of crazy luck I guess.… I hate the big city; give me the woods around Show Low any day. I can't imagine why she'd choose to come here. Then again, Bella was always a little different.… That wasn't a jab, calm down…. It's getting dark so I'll start tomorrow. I'm dog tired anyway…. Sure, sure."