CHAPTER 2
6 Months Later
"Cherese. Cherese. Cherese!" The sleeping girl finally stirred and glared at her friend in the seat next to her.
"What?" she asked impatiently, putting her head back against the headrest. "We're here!" The excited girl squeaked in excitement.
"Huh?" Cherese asked mid-yawn. Suddenly, an announcement came over the speakers.
"Please fasten your seatbelts everyone. We are now landing. Thank you for flying American Airlines."
Cherese slowly fastened hers while her friend quickly snapped hers in place. "Aren't you excited?" asked her friend, bouncing up and down in her seat.
"Yeah, yeah. Now calm down, Rainbeau! Geez." The plane finally hit the runway and cruised down until it reached men waving signal-lights.
All the passengers on the plane undid their belts and got up to claim their carry-ons. Stewards and stewardesses rushed around, opening compartments and leading others out.
Rainbeau waited as a stewardess opened their compartment and grabbed her duffel bag and Cherese's backpack.
Cherese lazily stood and slumped to Rainbeau while the other girl beamed and handed her the backpack.
"Are you ready?" Rainbeau asked as they walked with the crowd to the airplane door.
"Kind of, I guess. I know I definitely didn't expect to be at an airport in Forks, Washington 6 months ago." she sighed.
"Oh, don't be such a party-pooper. We're finally here! Alone! No parents! No siblings! No one to tell us what to do except police officers! Isn't that great?" Rainbeau exclaimed happily, twirling and making other passengers stare.
"Uh. I guess." Cherese replied as they stepped into the airport hallway.
The air was nearly freezing, and both girls were glad they had worn heavy jackets.
They checked out at the terminals and headed outside, where even in their jackets they shivered.
"I'm glad I didn't bring any extra non carry-on cargo. Imaging standing out here for an hour waiting for a vacant taxi to pick us up." Cherese thought out loud.
Rainbeau nodded and quickly stepped out to flag down a taxi. "Wow. Just like in the movies." Rainbeau remarked as the taxi driver stopped next to the curb.
"What? You mean being in a taxi?" Cherese asked, laughing as she piled in the taxi. Rainbeau nodded and stepped into the yellow cab.
"Where to, ladies?" The man in the drivers seat asked.
"Um.. La Push?" Rainbeau asked, looking at the paper with her mom's instructions and directions on it. "Okie doke! Off to La Push it is." The man said, kicking the car into gear.
As he drove, the girls oohed and aahed at all the sights they could see out their windows.
Finally, the driver stopped near a hotel. "Is this good?" he asked. "Yeah. This is fine."
Cherese said as she analyzed the paper with the directions.
When they got out Rainbeau paid the driver. "How far to the house?" Rainbeau asked, looking around. There was a number of residential places near the hotel.
"Uh.. This way." Cherese pointed. They walked down a narrow road nearly to the end, where a small pale-yellow house greeted them as they turned into the driveway.
Past that was forest and cliffs. They followed the instructions and got the key under the doormat, then let themselves in.
Rainbeau dropped her duffel and sank into a recliner. "So. This is the place? Not too shabby." Cherese commented as she sat on the large couch.
"Yeah. I could live here." Rainbeau replied. "Actually, I still feel like moving around. I think I want to explore the forest behind here." she said, getting up and walking to the door.
"Are you sure? We just got here, plus who knows what's out there?" said Cherese uncertainly.
"Don't worry. I think I saw a trail going up to those cliffs in the forest. I'll be back soon. You rest." Rainbeau said, then left the house.
The walk to the house had made her warmer, so she took off her jacket and wrapped it around her waist.
She was wearing a pale blue thermal sweater, and she opened her arms to take in the refreshing chill from the air. Then she began her hike.
The trail was narrow but well-beaten down by generations of people walking down to the cliffs, and she jogged along, taking deep breaths to keep her energized.
As she walked along for a while, the forest seemed to be less inviting and more ominous. She creeped along, constantly checking around to make sure no one was watching her.
Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a sudden movement behind her. She froze, then began jogging faster to the open cliffs.
The movements started coming faster and faster. Rainbeau broke out into a run, running past brambles and thorns that scratched at her arms and legs, cutting into her skin like little knives all over her body.
Finally, she reached the edge of the thicket, But before she could turn around and see what was chasing her, she was pushed over the edge of one of the cliffs, into the deep cold gray water of First Beach.