Authors note: Finally, a new chapter. Its a relief to be publishing again! I know you guys have been waiting for a really long time, and I'm so so so sorry. I hope the quality of this chapter makes up for it! I've been lazy, and I've been busy, so I barely wrote until this past year. Well, I hope you like Chapter 5! I will continue to write AMAP so I can finish this story and you all can relax. There might be a part 2 too, so.. o_____o

Anyways, ENJOY! :D

Chapter 5: Second Meeting

Edward ran, with everything he passed a complete blur.

It wasn't anything new to him. Ever since his wife and child had died, his whole life had been a blur.

Nothing mattered, he didn't care about anything. But now, at least for the moment, he had a purpose. And he would stop at nothing to fulfill it.

The wind stung his cheeks, tiny daggers constantly meeting him in combat.

As he inclined, the brush and long branches of old trees whipped him, gave him red welts over his pale body, but he continued on, never slowing, oblivious to everything around him.

Then he felt it. He came to an abrupt stop, showering dirt in high places soil had never been before. He had felt eyes on him, cold, evil eyes.

He was surrounded by trees, large oaks that looked down on him as if he had disappointed them.

They concealed things that would have been invisible to the naked human eye.

But he wasn't a normal human.

He became hyperaware of his surroundings, and made a chilling observation.

There were no animals anywhere near him. The patch of forest was unearthly quiet and still, as if someone had paused it. He could hear no thoughts.

He felt the eyes again. He turned in its direction, and saw the blur of something large moving.

Edward snarled and began his chase. He knew it was no regular human or animal. And it wasn't a wolf or he would have smelled its stench long before. There was only one way to find out.

He gave an exhausting chase, but at every turn, when he thought he had it cornered, it sped through a small shortcut he had not seen before. The day was turning into night. They were near the cliff.

He could see it through the now sparse forest and he wondered when it would turn around. He'd have it truly cornered then.

It gave way, and Edward rushed out.

Only to see it jump off the cliff. Mystified, he peered over the side.

He could see nothing falling, no splash in the dark waters below.

Then he heard it. Out of the corner of his eye he could see it step forward behind him.

Edward moved back a bit, pretending to still be looking for it over the edge. Then it came for him, and Edward was ready.

They wrestled around, precariously close to the cliff, but Edward kept himself away.

The creature had a ghastly ash gray face, and dull green eyes that glared at him as they rolled this way and that.

He had small tufts of faded brown hair in odd places on his head, and he was not wearing a shirt.

He had ratty faded pants that if in better condition would have belonged at a fancy dinner.

They were near the edge again, with the creature having the advantage.

Edward struggled as the creature's cold gray hands enveloped his neck. He looked back and saw the cold water underneath him. He was trapped.

Suddenly, the creatures head turned in a snap.

It was looking at something in the forest, beyond the forest.

Edward could catch a small scent but he was too far away to tell what it was. Plus, the smell of saltwater was much stronger.

He pushed off the creature in its moment of inattention.

It turned and glared at him from where it fell to the side but looked back beyond the forest. Then, it ran.

Edward gave chase, beginning to fear what was happening.

The saltwater smell was left far behind as they whizzed through the forest, a deadly race fraught with obstructions at every turn.

The smell from outside the forest was not so faint anymore, and Edward could smell something he was far too familiar with.

Human blood.

He stared at his opponent and in those brief glances; he could see hunger in its eyes.

Renewed with panic for the safety of the human, he dashed forward in leaps and bounds.

They were coming to the edge of the glade now, and the scent was overwhelming his senses.

Even though he had fed the night before, hunger and desire burned in his veins like fire.

But he could not be distracted, or he would end up being the very thing he was fighting.

With tremendous force, he lunged out of the trees.

He saw his opponent's object of desire, a young woman with raven black hair and a pale face.

Her expression was that of being lost and afraid, then horror as she saw him and the creature propel themselves out of the forest. Her mind spoke the same as her expression, barely thinking, just watching in fear.

Edward barely had a second thought as he grabbed her and began to run.

The thing gave chase for a few yards, then seemed to come to a boundary and stopped.

It hissed in anger, yowling like an oversized, deformed cat.

Edward ran, not looking back for fear of losing his pace, with the girl holding onto his neck for dear life behind him.

She was scared silent.

The creature's hisses became faint in the distance, and when Edward was sure they weren't being followed he slowed his sprinting.

He turned to look at his passenger, whose eyes defied golf balls and whose lips looked like a blob of ice.

She stared ahead of her, then whispered: "I f-forgot m-my b-bag at h-home."

Edward stared in amazement. There was no secret meaning to her words, all he could see in her mind was some daily items anyone would need for going out.

Of all things for her to say she had said she forgot her items at home? Like this travel was supposed to happen?

He shook his head as they sailed through the trees, almost at the Cullen house.

He felt her rest her forehead on his shoulder, a low moan escaping from her lips.

They reached the door and he slowly put her down.

A great cacophony of footsteps echoed down the stairs as the Cullen family minus Rainbeau barreled down the stairs to see the perpetrator.

"Edward?" Esme asked with caution, staring at the woman next to him."It was after her." Edward explained. Carlisle slowly descended the rest of the stairs, and the rest of them followed suit.

Alice held tight to Jasper's hand. He hadn't fed in 3 days.

Emmett grinned. "Another lost soul, eh? We might as well make this place into a hotel." He laughed.

Alice strode forward, Jasper safe with Esme.

"Hi, I'm Alice." She held out her hand with a warm smile, and then introduced the rest of the Cullen's.

Cherese smiled nervously, still looking a little pale.

"H-hi, I'm-"

But she never got to finish.

Rainbeau had begun to come down the stairs when she recognized the girl below.

"CHERESE!" she screamed.

Cherese looked up in shock.

Seeing her friend, she looked around her in bewilderment.

Then she fainted.

Woohoo! Suspenseful, eh? :D I'm so glad I finished it, cause I know all you guys will be relieved. I hope you liked it? If so, please review and say why! If you didn't, then, review and tell me why not. I have plenty room for improving :) Thanks for reading! I'll write the next chapter ASAP! Much love3