Taken

The next morning, I was the first one up. I was sat at the breakfast counter, eating a bowl of cereal and watching the news on TV. I never usually watched it because it was depressing, but I had found that I took quite an interest in the world in the last day. Maybe being with Edward gave me a new perspective on life or something. There wasn't anything crucial at first, but one story came on about a missing girl who had just been found after 30 years.

'Molly Tibete disappeared when she was 16. Now being 46 has just been found in a perfect state. Our reporter Lauren Mallory is with her now in an interview. Over to you Lauren.'

The screen switched to a blonde, blue eyed girl, holding a microphone, and another woman who didn't look any older than 16.

'Thanks Karen, I'm now with Molly Tibete. Tell me Molly, how did you come to disappear?'

'I went away with some friends for the summer. It was all going great, and then got kidnapped. They kept me there for 30 years and I managed to escape. I didn't know who they were and I still don't.'

'May I ask how you look so young for a woman of 46?'

'It must be the air.'

I could see a glimmer of worry in the woman's eyes. I frowned. She was lying. I could feel someone's arms wrap around me and I jumped.

'Oh sorry baby, you looked so serious and I couldn't help myself.' I leant to the side and kissed him.

'It's okay.'

'What are you watching?' We both looked at the TV. 'The news? But you hate the news.'

'It's a very interesting story. She lied to the reporter.'

'How do you know?'

'I could tell. Something has happened to her which she is keeping a secret. I think I want to change my major to journalism, I really want to meet this girl and ask her some questions.'

He laughed, making me smile.

'Well what do you want to do today?' he asked, sitting down, with a bowl of cereal, beside me.

'I don't know; I would actually like to go for a walk.'

'Do you want some company?'

'Yes, I would love some company.' I pecked his cheek then ran upstairs to get dressed. I was soon joined by Edward.

Once we were ready, we left unnoticed by the other, tired, members of the household. The air was fresh, but not cold. Edward took my hand and smiled at me. I kissed him and then continued to walk. He twirled me around once or twice. Soon we came to an opening. It was on a cliff-side, a big drop, but was absolutely breathtaking. I could see the forest creating its own pointy garden. The sky was clear. It was mid-morning, so I could feel a slight breeze run through my air and across my face. The sun was just starting to warm the atmosphere around me.

I felt one of Edward's arms encircle my waist and his other hand gently tilt my face to his lips. He kissed me, a passionately gentle kiss. I turned around in his arms and slid my hands to the back of his neck and into his hair, pulling him down closer to me. He picked me up slightly, making me laugh. I pulled away, smiling at him. His eyes were gentle and loving. He put me down, I continued to walk on. After almost five minutes, I heard a noise behind me. Turning to Edward, I came to a sudden realisation that he wasn't behind me.

I looked around, worried about where he may be. 'Edward?' I called. No answer replied. 'Edward?' I ran back to where I had came from, stopping at the body that lay before me.

It was Edward. 'Edward?' I put my fingers to his neck, checking for a pulse. The skin pulsed underneath them, and I let out a sigh of relief.

'They did that.' A silky, familiar voice spoke, from behind me. I turned, standing up.

It was Molly, the woman who had escaped. 'Molly.'

'I didn't know I was that famous.'

'You lied.'

'Yes, I lied. Do you really think I'm going to tell them what kept me?'

'What kept you? Don't you mean who kept you?'

'Trust me; those creatures are far from being human. Why do you think I still look sixteen?'

'Why are you telling me all of this? Why tell me and not them?'

'I've been watching you Bella, you and your friends making the same mistake I did.'

'You mean this is the lodge you were...'

'Yes. Leave now please, before they get you. Bella, they are after you.' With that she disappeared.

'Molly, wait, what's after me?' I looked around me, trying to find something that would lead me to where she had gone, or a trace of what was after me.

Nothing...

I walked to Edward, who stirred and opened his eyes.

'Edward, are you okay?'

'What? Apart from a major headache, yeah, I'm fine.'

'What happened?'

'You tell me, I heard a noise and turned around, to be met with a hand knocking me out.'

'I had no idea, after you put me down, I continued walking, but heard a noise and you weren't there. I ran back and saw you lying here. I felt for your pulse, then...oh...'

'What?'

'Molly...'

'Molly? Who's Molly?'

'You know...Molly Tibete, from the news this morning.'

'Oh yeah, what about her?'

'She was here, she told me her secret.' He gave me a look like I'd gone crazy. 'I'm being serious. She was here. Edward, she's still sixteen, there is something out here. She told me that they are after me.'

'Bella...just stop a second. Isn't there anything in your mind that tells you this is just a tad crazy?'

'I guess...but if it's crazy, how come you were hit over the head and still have everything you came with? How come I heard a noise too, but I didn't get hit, then I saw Molly.'

'Okay, I guess that's just a bit weird. Let's just give it a few more days and if anything else happens, well, then we'll leave.' He jumped up and started to walk back. He turned back when he realised I wasn't behind him. 'Are you coming?'

'Edward, I think we should listen to her. I don't think we should stay here anymore. That lodge was where she was with her friends, it's how she was kidnapped and...Well, I don't know exactly what they did to her, but she told me...she told me they were after me now.'

'Bella, one more night. Trust me, everything will be fine.' He pulled me up and hugged me. I still wasn't sure about this, but I went along with it. We didn't tell the others as we didn't want to scare them.

I lay awake for hours that night, not being able to sleep. So not to wake Edward, I went downstairs and sat on the couch. I was so tired, that I didn't realise the man sitting in the dark corner of the room.