Sunrise

Chapter 15: Time Of Dying

Time of Dying—Three Days Grace

HUZZAH! This is the CLIMAX!!! THE ULTIMATE CLIMAX!!!! YAY!

IMPORTANT: Also, please, if you guys want yet another sequel, because I like Cara too much to be done with her after this story, tell me what you want it to be about. I'd be happy to write one, but I need ideas, okey dokey?

AND ZOMG!!!!! THEY'VE CAST EDWARD!!! AHHHHH! I think no one can live up to his wondrous standards, but he's still good for a movie.

OOO

Okay, I thought to myself. Time to get going.

I took a deep breath, surveying the ropes above me. My wrists got rawer with each movement—I was surprised they wouldn't have to be amputated. Biting my lip, I began to move my legs back and forth, then my hips and waist. I was gaining momentum.

Sure, I could've just changed into my vampire self, but I had thought about it, and since I hadn't fed in at least seven months, I figured I wouldn't be very strong. That and since my clothes had dried blood on them… well, you do the math.

So I kept swinging, watching the ropes that hadn't been changed in who knows how long give way strand by strand. I felt the sweat rise up—something like this was extremely difficult for me to do. I'd been made weak by Lucas and his antics. I would gain my strength back, but not for a while.

Come on, I silently begged the ropes as they cut into my skin. Come on…

It was barely minutes later that there was a loud pop! and I felt myself flying backwards, farther than the restrictions of my rope. My head hit the back wall with a loud crack, and I winced as I thought, Maybe that was a bit too much swing…

I blinked rapidly, trying to clear my head. My hands were resting on my knees, not above my head. This realization took me a moment to further register what had happened. I was… free? Free of hanging from a ceiling?

My mind went into overdrive. I began to tear the broken ropes off with my teeth, careful to avoid contact with my chaffed wrists. I saw the full damage to them once the ropes were gone and gasped. They were red and bleeding a little. A couple scabs covered patches of dry skin. I tenderly lifted a finger and prodded the cuts and bruises, and winced in pain. I took another deep breath to calm my nerves. First things first.

After I untied my legs too, I grabbed the jagged stones of the wall, lifting myself up. As soon as pressure was put on my legs, I collapsed. Dammit, I growled silently. I tried again, and after five minutes, my legs got some feeling back into them—but it didn't feel too hot. It was that tingly feeling you get after sitting on your foot for too long, or sleeping the wrong way on your arm. It was that feeling where you feel as if you move your leg at all, it'll fall right off.

I waited until the feeling subsided, and stood gingerly. I didn't collapse or fall, but I needed blood or else I'd never escape. I listened quietly. I knew there was a rat in the back left corner of the room. I leapt, changing in midair, and drained it. I felt better—a lot better. It was only a rat, but it was filled with life. The life that had just been transferred to me.

I took more deep breaths. I needed motivation. I couldn't do this by myself.

I swear on Robbie's grave I'll kill you.

I let my own words echo through my mind, and I frowned, remembering my vow. It began to pump adrenaline through my veins. I could stand and not feel weak. I had to run.

I ran to my cell door and kicked it open. "Yahoo!" I yelled, running down the hall. Lucas and his vampire hearing would've heard the ropes break—I didn't need to worry about noise. I did need to make my way to Alex and Maddie though. I focused on where they would be. I ran down complicated tunnels, higher to the surface. I pumped my legs faster and faster until I was wind. And then, I burst into their cell.

I took in my surrounding at light-speed: Alex was huddled in the corner, as far away from Madison as possible. He glanced at me as I strode over, checking his frail form for any injuries. Besides the broken arm, there were only a few cuts to tempt Madison.

"Cara?" I heard her gasp. I turned to her, and she didn't look like she had the strength to lift her head. "Dear God," she continued, her tawny-black eyes wide. "He told me you were dead. Said that's why he gave me this." With an immense struggle—her arm shook with the effort—she reached behind her and under her pillow, drawing out the iPod. She dropped it into my waiting hand and said, "Robbie gave it to you before he… passed away, didn't he?"

I swallowed, my throat tight. "How…?"

"It's a twin thing," she answered, smiling wistfully. Then, "Does Miss Genius World Record have a plan?"

I smiled at the nickname from my childhood. "We need to get out of here," I launched into my brilliant, rough-created plan, untying Alex's bonds as I talked. "I need your help, but after that you can go back to Alaska or wherever. I, though, have to get Alex back to Jaime. He can't stay with me, and he can't go on his own." I finished with Alex, motioned for him top stay against the wall, and continued to pull on Maddie's chains.

"Your wrists—" She broke off in horror, her mouth open. I sighed, tugging on the chains again, ignoring the pain in those very wrists.

"It's nothing," I huffed, tugging on the chains one last time. The rust flew into the air as I fell back, banging my head on the stone floor.. "That's been happening a lot lately," I growled, getting back up

"Sorry," Maddie said about the same time Alex asked, "What about security?"

I glanced at him, surprised such a question would come from him. I raised an eyebrow. "What?" he asked. "I play video games."

I blinked before continuing, "I don't know where we are or how many newborns this goon's got on his guard, but if we work together, then we can keep Alex safe and get the hell out of here. We can wing it," I added, smiling. "But first you need blood."

"I think it hurts so much I've finally gotten used to it," she confessed, grimacing.

I sighed. "Spectacular. Man do I wish my family were here. They'd know what to do." I began to look around the cell. My only option was rats. I could only catch a few, and I handed them to Maddie without saying anything.

"Alex, don't look," Maddie told him with a stern look.

"Oh, come on!" he protested. "I've played Resident Evil! Blood and guts rule!"

I covered his eyes with my strong hand, saying, "Go," to Maddie. I didn't look either. I didn't need more temptation then I already had. I held my arms around Alex, protecting him in case Maddie snapped. She didn't, and I was glad to see her sit up.

"I feel human," she exclaimed, stretching. "God, I can move!"

"I get the feeling," I mumbled, uncovering my brother's eyes. "Let's go. Now."

She pulled herself up and was immediately her perfect self. Her eyes were bright and excited, and she said, "Let's go kick some ass!"

"Yeah!" Alex agreed. I shot him a stern look and he shut up. Good boy.

I noticed one of Maddie's wrists still had a shackle around it, but she was free, and that was all that mattered. I pulled Alex on my back and opened the door again. Almost instantaneously, a clang vibrated the walls. The alarm was going off. Shit.

"What the hell?!" Maddie called out to me, clamping her hands over her ears. "Isn't this god forsaken prison supposed to be from the seventeen hundreds or something?"

"Who knows?" I yelled back, and motioned for her to start running.

I lead the way, using my power to tell me where to go. The place was like a maze, twists and turns going every which where. "Stupid colonial prisons!" I shouted over my shoulder to Madison. "I remember reading about them in History! They told us that the prisons were built so that runaways either got lost or died before they ever made it out." At Alex's worried glance, I added, "But I know things, so give me a sec to figure it out." I closed my eyes as I ran, letting the information flow forth. I got an image of tunnels twisting and turning, the nighttime sky laden with stars. "This way!" I shouted again, opening my eyes and bursting forward. I felt Alex tighten his hold on me, heard Maddie's footfalls behind me. I turned left, left, one right, and then another left. Then there was the exit. I almost sighed in relief, but kept running.

"You did it, Cara!" Maddie yelled from behind me. I smiled, daring to believe it. Yes, I was free. We were—

Doomed.

"Oh, shit."

That was Maddie. Then came Alex's "Crap" and my never-ending profanities in my mind. I could not believe what was happening. It was insane. Completely wild. And not in a good way.

Each reaction was a big understatement. We were surrounded, a mass of hungry newborns standing right in the way of our passage to freedom. They were all Lucas's little cretins. And Kayla was at the vanguard of them. Fury responded in me, but then I reminded myself that she wasn't Kayla anymore. Kayla was gone.

"He's not here," I told Maddie after I scanned the crowd. "The coward. I should have known when the creep didn't come after me."

"Bastard," she muttered in agreement. I shot her a glare. Alex was still here after all. "Let's take these freaks out, Cara. Just like football when we were kids. All our men are injured, only us left. We have to get by the linebackers with grace. We got to get that touchdown, aka, path to freedom. Also, while we're at it, let's kill the linebackers too. Should be easy." She paused, trying not to notice how ridiculous she sounded. "You with me, Cara? Come on. You totally kicked ass back then."

"Hold up," said Alex from behind me. "if this is so much like football, where's the football?" Neither of us said anything. "Me? I'm the football? No way! The football always gets squished!"

"We ain't gonna squish you," sighed Maddie, her tone exasperated. "We promise."

"Watch his arm," I said, handing Alex back to Maddie, and watching as she hitched him onto her back. "You do realize that when we played football back in Alabama, we hand at least ten kids on our team, someone almost always came close to fatal injuries, and we weren't playing the other team a gazillion to two?"

"And you do realize that we need a diversion, right?" she asked, ignoring my question. "We can't just waltz through."

I rolled my eyes. "I'm working on it," I snapped, surveying the crowd. They were waiting for us to make the first move. I'd lead them away from Maddie and Alex—then… well, I'd work that bit out later.

"Hey Alex," I said, turning to him. "If I don't come back, make sure you tell Maddie where you live, okay?"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," she interjected before my brother could. Her eyes were angry—black pits of fire. "No way. I said football, not sacrifice, dummy! Lucas and his Volturi-wanna-be cronies aren't gonna off any of us, alright? Stop being that pansy-ass Superman everyone is so obsessed with."

I exhaled. "Finally!" I exclaimed. "I'm not Spiderman. Don't get me wrong—Toby Maguire's cool and all, but really—"

"Stop rambling," Maddie ordered, handing Alex back to me. "Let's go."

"Football," I repeated again, for my own reassurance. "Right."

I took off running, and it was like I was free again, even if I was being chased by fifty or so newbies. I could move my legs, feel the fresh air. I couldn't help it—I laughed. "Yes!" I shouted, forgetting that Lucas was still alive, forgetting I was in so much trouble. Forgetting the very person of who I was.

A high pitched battle cry rang through the night air.

Whoops. That brought me back. I wheeled around as fast as I could, and saw a blondie wheeling towards me. I braced myself as she bowled into me, feeling a strange sense of Link flashbacks from playing Zelda back in the day with Maddie and Rob. My arms absorbed the impact as she knocked me to the ground. I rolled and kicked, and he hissed in pain. I threw him off.

"Cara!" Maddie shouted as one snapped at her. "A little help!"

"Kind of busy, Mads!" I yelled back, dodging another newborn. Holy crap—we were all gonna die. They were frikken everywhere. It was only two and a football against… a million. GAH!

"Cara!" called Maddie again, leaping back in forth between two newbies. She yelled a head's up and threw Alex at me. I caught him and spun around, witnessing a guy that look a lot like a linebacker running at me. Holy crap; It was exactly like football.

I ducked, brought Alex to my chest, and rolled to the ground. I ended up on my back, with Alex locked in my arms. Okay—bad. I rolled again as a redhead tried to crush me and sprang up, running full throttle back to Maddie, who was dealing with only a couple newbies. I threw Alex at her and continued running.

Football…. Football… Okay, this was nothing like football…. It was more like wishing to be Doctor Cox from Scrubs and send all the frikken newbies to hell, cowering in fear. Where were fictional characters when I needed them? I mean, these idiotic, blood crazed fiends were organized!

I was so lost in my thoughts, I didn't notice the upcoming cliff. Shit! Soon there was nothing but air beneath my feet. Who builds a fortress next to a watery grave anyway? Oh, that's right, Cara! Everybody!

I dug my nails into the side of the cliff face and watched as the vamps that had been chasing me plummeted downwards. That would only hold them off for a bit, but I could deal till then. I pulled myself up and grasped the ground—if I were human, I probably would have fallen too. They just fell because they were stupid.

I stood and raced back to Maddie and the ever-present snarling, ripping, and growling. I caught sight of her face behind a couple of jumping newborns and nodded. She threw me Alex and I spun him onto my back. I was still running when he said:

"You know, I think I'm starting to lose my fear of heights." He paused for a moment, and I wasn't exactly sure what he was thinking. I was thinking his comment was completely random, until he added, "Getting thrown back and forth by two extremely strong vampires can do that, I guess."

I blinked. Poor, poor Alex.

"How many are following me?" I asked, and made as sharp turn—the stupid newbies were back… and wet. "Scratch that," I told him as three came into view behind me. "I think I know how many."

Twelve. Huzzah!

"Hey Number 5!" Maddie called out to me. Five was my football number back in the day. "Mind letting me know how to destroy these things? It's cat and mouse, here!"

I didn't really have time to search within my all-knowing self, but I did anyway. Images floated into my mind about a war not too long before I was born. I saw Jasper, Alice, Emmett, Rosalie, Carlisle, even Esme—who, to me, wouldn't harm a fly. And then there were the wolves. There was a flurry of limbs and chasing, and then I saw Jasper tearing one to shreds, the wolves biting at the newborns with their teeth. Then a huge fire—a purple-black smoke rising to the clouds.

I gasped, wrenching my eyes open. I raced over to Maddie, stopped by her and looked at the faces of the now still newborns. They had all stopped in astonishment at my sudden appearance—they hadn't been expecting me. I kicked one in the jaw and it flew back. Then I turned to Maddie. "Tear them to shreds and burn them."

"Burn them?" she asked incredulously as one snapped at her feet. Do we have any source of frikken fire?"

I thought for a moment. I knew Lucas had a lighter in his office. "I'll get one, I promise," I said to her, trying to ignore Alex tugging on my ragged sleeve. "What, Alex?" I exclaimed finally, turning around to look at him.

"That," he said, pointing. Newbies. Big surprise. I took off running.

It was complete chaos. I don't know how long I was chased, but it was getting old. Now I was cornered, and I had Alex behind me, backed against the wall of the prison. We are so totally dead, I thought to myself. Three were in front of me, two on each side. If I kicked or punched, Alex would be at risk.

"Why the H-E-Double-Hockeysticks is my dad here?" I heard Alex say. Damn. Was the boy frikken hallucinating?

I took a quick look to where he was pointing. What I saw was twelve (or more) wolves running off in different directions, tackling newbies in a fit formation. I saw two running at me and recognized a russet wolf and then a black, slightly larger one. Jacob and Sam. "Bye bye, boys," I said, stepping back as there was an explosion of screeches and fur.

I picked Alex up, nodded to my foster father and ran as hard as I could to Maddie. She was helping a young wolf finish off the newbie that had snapped at her earlier. "Watch Alex," I told her, and she detached herself from her task and took him from me.

"Where are you going?" she called over the now booming thunder. "I don't see anyone chasing you!"

"I'm going after Lucas." Maddie's eyes widened and she looked livid. Alex looked at me as if I was crazy.

"WHAT?!"

"Lucas," I told her, placing my hands on my knees and bending over. "I'm going after him. He's gonna be dead in less than an hour. Plus, I have to get that lighter."

She shook her head, the fierce wind whipping her hair around her face. It only made me frightened of her—She looked like Storm from the X-Men, minus the weird glowing eyes. "Are you crazy?" she yelled, probably because of the storm… and because she was angry with me. "Are you positively insane? Do you really think you can take him Cara? By yourself? Plus! This dude here brought a lighter!" She gestured to what looked like Jared (Jaime's friend) only appearing to be five years older and wearing sweats. Had he left? I hadn't noticed. "We don't need one!"

My lips set into a firm line. My voice betrayed no emotion except sole determination. "Maddie, you know I can't let him exist. If I do, this'll just happen all over again. He's gonna start picking off the people I love. After that, he's going into world domination. Does that sound that spectacular to you?" She didn't say anything, and neither did Alex. I saw Jared glance up at me from the corner of his eye and smile in encouragement, so I continued. "As for taking him, I think I have the right motivation."

She didn't say anything for a moment. "Who would you rather I compare you too? Superman, Spiderman, or Robert Neville?" Her stare was cold. She was trying to detach me.

"Robert Neville dies, Maddie. I'm not going to die."

"You don't know that!" she exploded. "Just because you have motivation doesn't mean a lifetime guarantee that you'll continue to exist!" She smacked her forehead. "God, Cara! I can't let you do that alone. Take one of the wolves with you or something. Take me."

I stared her in the eye. "You know I can't do that," I said. Still no emotion in my voice—good. "You know it's something I have to do alone. You know that I wouldn't even bring my family with me in there—even though they'd probably follow me. You know this."

She shook her head, her chin jutting out. Her eyes were bright, as if she were about to cry, but she knew she couldn't. The fight raged around us, almost in that movie-like slow-mo. "No," she said forcefully. "No way in freezing hell."

"Have a little faith, Mads. I can do this."

"Please," she begged. "Don't."

My expression was cold. Lifeless. Detached. "I have to," I said. Then the fire returned to my eyes. "I promised, Maddie. I promised your brother."

Her eyes flamed. "He would never ask you to do something like that, Cara."

"He didn't. I did." I felt the urge to sigh, but repressed it. "Maddie, you can't stop me. You know that, too."

"You. Are. An. Idiot." She hissed the words, but her eyes softened before she rolled them.

"Wish me luck," I said with a bit of enthusiasm, leaping forward to hug her. She patted me on the back. "I love you both."

"Don't die," remarked Jared sarcastically. I rolled my eyes at him and he grinned.

"You too, Jer," I said. My mood was beginning to sour. I had a task, and a big one at that. "Bye, all."

Then I was racing to the entryway to the prison, catapulting down the steps. The walls were a blur beside me, and I used my power to tell me where Lucas's headquarters were. When I reached the corridor leading to it, I stopped. I made myself cold, lifeless, strong and ready. I could do this.

Think of what he's done to you, Cara, I told myself. Think of what he did to Alex and Maddie. Think of what he did to you family by capturing you. Think of what he did to Matt, making him feel your pain.

Anger flared within me. That did it. He was so dead.

I walked forward and opened the door, immediately crouching into an attack position. But he wasn't there. I scanned the room thoroughly, including the corners and ceiling. Nothing. I walked to the desk in the middle of the room and pocketed the light green lighter.

Okay, sneered a voice that sounded like Maddie's, misson accomplished. Get the hell out of here. I knew it wasn't her. It was my self-conscious trying to get me to do the smart thing by acting like someone I loved. Well, the joke was on my self-conscious.

Another item on the desk was the photo of Matt and I that he'd taunted me with. I pocketed that, too.

I strode over to the big, leather chair and sat down, turning my back to the doorway. I took several deep breathes, trying to mull things over while I waited. The wolves had arrived, but how had they known? Alice had definitely seen me, but if that were the case, they would have been here already.

Weird.

Had the wolves been living nearby? Had they heard the screams and yells and chaos? Had they—

"What the hell are you doing here?"

I froze. I had pictured myself confronting him with bravado, grace, making him tremble in fear. But he'd found me before I could ready myself, and I found the chair whipping around. Lucas's face was inches from mine, angry but controlled.

"I'd thought you would've streaked the hell out of here, but I guess my guard forced you back in here." He smirked. I hacked a loogie—as Rob would say—right it his face.

"Wrong. I came back in here of my own free will," I informed him as he wiped it off his face. "Didn't you hear what I promised my deceased friend?" His face—if it was possible—seemed to pale. His eyes, almost black, began to fade in horror. "I guess so. Well, I'm here to carry it out."

He scowled at me. "Like you could defeat me," he sneered. "You haven't had any blood in nearly a year."

"I don't need blood," I growled. The whole time my leg had been bending, and now I struck my foot to his stomach, slamming him back against the wall. I pushed myself up from the chair and strode over to him, glaring down at hi s shocked figure. "You remember what you did to me? Maybe this—" I showed him my bloody clothes "—could remind you. Or maybe this." I took out the photo and shoved it in his face. He was completely still, glaring at me with every fiber of his evil being. "That, right there, is what I need. All I need is to remember that, and darling," I smiled, "that's what we call motivation."

He did not blink, breathe, speak, or make any move to hurt me, but his eyes laughed at me. I knew what he was thinking—memories. "Don't even try that," I hissed. "It won't work. I know how to stop it." Complete lies, by the way.

"Oh?" he asked, his eyes baleful. "What about… now?"

Images of Matt came into my mind. But it wasn't Matt—it was Matthias. The way he'd been before he knew me, before he loved me. Him, leaning in my car door window. Him, behind the wheel of the truck that pushed me to the edge. Him, speaking to me as I glared at him, asking if he and I could—

I stopped. There was something different about "Matthias". Like… he looked similar to the guy who ran me into the lake, he looked similar to the guy who was leaning in my window, but… the sound of his voice as he asked me perverted questions… if was completely different. Wig my ass. It wasn't him.

It was Lucas.

I felt nothing as the torrent of memories came to a halt. When I opened my eyes, Lucas was no longer below me. He was behind me, his hands on my shoulders. I resisted the urge to flip him over those shoulders. "Now," he said, a somber tone to his ugly voice. "Would you really want to go back to something like that?"

"No," I answered immediately. I felt him stiffen in surprise. "Because it wasn't him. It was you, you idiot."

Now I could flip him.

As he landed in front of me, I placed a foot on his chest to keep him there. "tell me," I snarled. "Why the hell would Matt lie about something like that? Why would he protect you, a little bastard of a brother. After he punched you, after he knew you were a threat to me—why the hell did he protect you?" I pressed harder on his chest. "Answer me, or I will kill you here and now."

"In no response to the threat," he growled, "Matthew has always felt that urge, even when I told him I hated him. Whenever I missed curfew, it was him who took the blame. So, I guess he took the blame for me trying to kill you, even if they were orders."

I shook my head at him in disdain. "And yet you still want to hurt him?"

"Just because he stood up for me every now and then changes nothing." His red eyes gleamed dangerously at me.

"It changes everything," I insisted.

"No, it doesn't. I never loved him, not once. He never loved me. He did it because it was what he thought was right. He did it because he knew I was going to hell and he would go to heaven if he did numerous good deeds. That's why."

He flipped and threw me at the wall. I didn't feel anything but fear suddenly, as he came and stood in front of me. "See, we're turning the tables. You are going to die tonight, not me. I have a motive to show my brother what shadows feel like."

"You're not a frikken shadow, psycho!" I yelled. "You got into the guard of the Volturi, just like Matt! What's your deal?" I kicked up again. He flew back.

Okay, Cara, I told myself as I got up. Go about this fight with grace. No more talking, no more sorrow, just ruthlessness. Kill him. Kill him dead.

I threw myself at him, and we collided. The force of impact was like a ton of bricks falling on my body, and as we rolled and kicked and bit, I gained confidence. Remember what he did, I reminded myself. I ripped his arm from his shoulder and he howled in pain.

"Do you even know what it feels like to love?" I asked as I stood over him. He was writhing in pain, and I almost relished in victory.

"No," he hissed.

"I thought not." In my pity, I didn't even notice I had turned back into a human. I didn't register the knife until it was at my throat. I moved back instantly and the blade slide across my skin like fire. Actual fire. It didn't just burn—it literally burned.

I cried out, putting my hand to my throat. The cut hadn't been enough to kill me, but the pain was unbearable. "That," Lucas growled, "will never go away. See this?" He was standing now and he thrust the blade into my face. I cringed back, pressing my hand to my throat tighter. "It's coated in venom. Vampire venom, which leaves a scar on its own kind. Even if you changed, you'll still have to look at that forever." He grinned, which only made me angry.

I changed and collided into him again. I pinned him, holding his hand at his side, and because his other was gone, I placed my other on his throat. "This is what happens when you mess with Cara Cullen and her family," I said with menace. "Outside, there are twelve-plus werewolves, picking off your army and a very POed vampire. In my world, I have three families. One is the wolves, including my brother at Dartmouth—who will be very pissed if he learns I left you alive. Now, we can't have that. The second is my birth family," I continued, pressing harder at his throat. "And the third is Matt and Matt alone. And you can bet on your life—which will be over in just a few moments—that I will find him and tell him what happened. And I can guarantee he won't give a damn if I killed you. Now, tell me I won."

"You won." There was no emotion on his face except defeat.

I smiled without humor before I slashed my nails across his throat and the head was free of its body. I continued dismembering what used to be Lucas until he was a heap at my feet. I ripped a piece of the desk back and laid it on top, and gently bent down and set the lighter to the pile.

"That's exactly what happens." I watched as the flames consumed the twitching limbs and as a purple-black smoke filled the small room. And then I took the duffle bag he'd confiscated hen I came here and left. My task here was done.

Maddie gapped at me as I walked out and I smiled. I felt free. Lucas was gone.

I noticed that there was a huge, burning pile of ugly newborn limbs. That elated me. I reached Mads and yelled, "Who's your daddy?"

"Oh my effing god," she said, her tone subdued. "You're effing alive."

I blinked. "Yeah, I'm pretty much in one piece." I gave her the evil eye and said, "Thanks for the obvious support," as the wolves came up.

"He dead?" Jared called out. Sam shot him a look.

"He's gone," I confirmed. Everyone sighed in complete relief.

"Burned?" Jacob asked.

"Yes, Jacob, burned." It felt kinda weird calling him by his first name, but hey. He wasn't my dad anymore.

We remained in silence for a bit. And then I broke the ice. "Alex?" I asked, and realized he hadn't congratulated me when I'd returned. I glanced at him. He was conked out. Completely asleep. "What about Alex?"

Jacob sighed and looked at Sam. "He's safest with Jaime," the Alpha told him.

"Jaime let him run away," Jacob retorted. "Jaime could have handed the kid death on a silver platter."

"Speaking of Jaime…" I asked, kind of interrupting. "Where is he?"

"Still at his house in Hanover." Jacob was glaring at Sam, not even looking at me.

"Doesn't he know?" I asked. Sam sighed.

He looked at me. "No one told him."

I blinked. Ouch. "No one told him where his brother was?" I asked. "He was the one watching him! He's probably worried sick. Why would you dorks do that?" I asked.

They kind of just looked at me. It occurred to me that maybe I shouldn't be ridiculing a pack of werewolves that had just taken down an entire army of newbies.

"He is worried," Jacob confided. "Big time."

Jared looked around. "So… did we get all the bastards?"

Sam shot him another look. I guessed he could be annoying sometimes. "Yes," Sam continued. "Well, all but two."

"Let me guess," I commanded. "A girl with long black hair and an annoying twerp who's a complete idiot?"

Jared nodded. "That describes them pretty well. I mean—,"

Sam cut him off: "You know them?"

"Well," I scoffed, "I'm not exactly on good terms with them. The girl's name is Kayla. She used to be someone I knew when I was in Alabama. Jack… well, he's just a dork."

We talked for a while longer, mostly about what happened. How they had found Maddie and I. "You guys are in Canada," Sam informed us before launching into how they were on a run and heard the fight fifty miles off. Then, bam! Rescue! They also said that the Cullens had contacted them shortly before they came.

"It was that loud?"

"Newborns can be… loud, yes." Jacob stayed when the groups broke off, scavenging for any last pieces of the newbie army. Maddie handed Alex to me, and I handed him to Jacob.

"Sam's right," he said after a moment. "He can't stay with the pack right now. And since Lucas is out of the picture, he has to live with Jaime. You're going to see him right?" I nodded. I did have to drop by so he knew I was okay. "Could you take Alex back for me, if it isn't too much trouble?"

"Of course." I smiled, taking Alex from him.

"Well," he said gruffly. "Thanks. I have to go see Sam. We should pull out soon."

I watched as he walked away. "Oh, and Jacob," I called. He turned raising an eyebrow. "Thanks," I told him. "Not just for this, for everything. You were a great father to me while it lasted."

He nodded, some emotion in his eyes I couldn't place, before walking away again, into the midst of his pack.

OOO

WHOOPYAH!

…. I don't even know what that means. But hey, remember—if you tell me you want a sequel, TELL ME WHAT IT SHOULD BE ABOUT. Cuz, as of the moment, I don't have any ideas. This story will probably be over in about five chapters, but that's justa guestimate.

BTW I have another spoiler on my site. You can check it out.

Jamie