The Beginning: Alice's POV
It all suddenly stopped. The heat lessened and it was as if the sky returned to its normal state. And there are clouds…I couldn't believe it. Things are going to be fine and things are going to go back to the way they were. Or better.
The ice is melting, though slowly evaporating at the same time. Some of the humans had minor burns from the sun, but we had tried to conceal them all. Seeing the sky full of clouds again was heartening…If only no one had to be sacrificed to have a normal sky again.
People were cheering, though we kept other vampires away. Then I noticed Tia looking towards the horizon where they all had sprinted.
"Hey," I said softly and she didn't respond nor looked at me.
I let her have her peace for a moment, and then she spoke.
"I should have gone with him," she uttered.
"He didn't want you to. He wanted you to stay and live."
"But how could I live without Benjamin? Imagine yourself being an immortal without Jasper."
"Okay," I sighed. "But don't feel regretful about this. You have a chance to start over. It's a whole new millenia and maybe someday you'll find someone."
"That's what he told me; to find someone. I've been with him much more than a century, Alice. I can't just love someone else that easily."
"Maybe not now, but let him find you. Besides, we have a planet to fix," I smiled. "Let's go."
"Okay."
I took her arm and we walked leisurely back - back to where there is hope. This is the beginning and I will forever cherish what my friends and family had sacrificed for us.
I'm going to post the Epilogue (watch out for that!) after this...