Hnmmmmm. . .How long has it been? Months? Well, I hope you all haven't deserted me.

I've been kind of going off on a tangent lately. I'm writing almost 100% of the time at school, which is lots of fun, just not on fanfiction because I got rather bored with it. But I finished a 27 page short story and am a sixth or so of a way through a novel-like thing. But I kind of started missing my fanfiction world. . .so I'm going to try to return and jump back into Solstice and my other long forgotten stories.

Please review if you're still out there!

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Bella's POV

My hands shook violently as I opened the door to the car that was glinting dimly, resplendently silver, even in the dim moonlight. I fastened my seat belt when I got inside, shoved the key into the ignition and sped out of the parking lot as fast as I trusted myself to go.

The night was black and still. A vague wind whistled outside the car, barely ruffling the leaves of the trees that surrounded the highway in a black and shady cloak.

I was vaguely aware of a sense of desolation and urgency. I was running-that much was obvious. But how long would it be before they came back for me? How long would it be before Alice opened the door to the hotel room and instantly knew I was gone? They would leave immediately, running at twice the speed of the car after me-barefoot on the cold, hard pavement, hidden under the cover of night.

I would be defenseless against them. I imagined Edward's face appearing on the side of the car, stopping it with his bare hands. It would be easy for them.

The most prominent question in my mind, though, was wondering fervently why they had left the key. It was obvious that they didn't forget anything. No detail was left behind. So why had they missed something like leaving a car key with their captive? And why had the door, though it had obviously been locked, opened at the little force I could muster?

The night sped behind me, and I wondered.

Alice's POV

I ran at a full speed ahead. There was a small colony of elk ahead, three or four by the smell of it. It hadn't been that long since I had hunted, but it was a relief to me. So much stress lately and it was a relief to give in to primal instincts and hunt.

Before the deer could run, I sprang.

And as I sunk my teeth into the male's neck, my vision blanked out and a new one replaced it.

It showed a still image-almost an overview of a dark highway and two long headlights stretching out on it. The windows of the car on it were darkened, but it was instantly obvious to me what it meant, and not just because there was a vague glint of silver.

I fell off of the deer, and it struggled to limp off.

"Edward!" I cried, my voice desolate and high pitched.

I rose carefully, registering the deer's frantic heartbeat. Edward appeared beside me and snapped the deer's neck, muttering something about putting it out of its misery. I looked at him, his eyes dark and troubled, and he avoided my gaze. I knew that he had already seen what I had, and I knew that he understood. But for some reason, he was avoiding action.

"Edward?"

His face rose slowly to parallel mine.

His voice was almost completely inaudible.

"I had to, Alice. Please understand."

His voice was full of a pain that broke me. I leaned closer to him, his hands now covering his face. My hand hovered near his shoulder, then rested on it.

"Edward. Are you ready to take the risk?"

His head shook slightly.

"I had to," he repeated.

I wrapped my arms gingerly around him. It wasn't often that Edward needed comfort, but this was one of those rare times. He didn't respond.

"I'll call Carlisle. We can meet back up in Alaska." I removed his hands from his face, although it took a considerable amount of force, and looked straight into his eyes. "We will get through this."

His eyes never registered mine.

"I'm sorry," I whispered, and I rose and called out to Emmett and Jasper. They appeared at my side, Jasper with a thin streak of blood down the corner of his mouth. I took a step toward him and wiped it off with the side of my hand and he replied by kissing me, ever so gently. I closed my eyes and held my body close to his, even as he released me. Emmett was looking away for once, no doubt remembering and missing Rosalie. I kept my hand against Jasper's as I pulled out my cell phone and hit the first button. It dialed Carlisle's number and I registered only one ring before he picked up.

"Alice? Is everything alright?"

I closed my eyes again.

"Not particularly. Edward let Bella leave and we're still in Fort Nelson. The Volvo is gone."

There was a pause on the other line.

"How exactly did Edward let Bella leave?"

I clenched my teeth.

"He left her the key."

Another, longer pause.

"What is your plan?"

I took a deep, but unnecessary breath.

"We can get to Alaska on our own and meet you there. Where are you?"

"Phoenix. Give us two days."

"Thank you, Carlisle," I whispered, then snapped the phone shut. I slid it into my pocket and started the run into the night.

Bella's POV

It was around two hours later that I realized I had absolutely no idea where I was going. The roads all looked the same, the same snow-bitten landscape that tortured my sight as a reminder that I might never find my way home.

Stupid vampires don't need maps.

I had searched the car as thoroughly as I possibly could and had found nothing that could help me on my way. I presumed I was still in Canada, but for all I knew, I could have been driving the wrong way-into the ocean or actually to the place I was trying to run from.

Along with my confusion came remembrances of my first day at Forks High School-that had ended in this tragedy and had flipped my life upside down in a vortex of mythical creatures and death. A solitary tear ran down my cheek, thinking about Forks. I hated Forks, but now I would give most anything to be back there, to be back to normalcy and Charlie and my sort-of friends from that first day-though for all I knew, most of them were dead. Which had been in the biology class?

I shook my head and rid myself of the memory, but it crept back just as quickly. Edward's eyes filled my vision, a mystery unsolved and unknown. He was compelling in his own way, a repelling force that attracted at the same time. He was beautiful, but he was a killer.

Sometimes.

He had saved and almost ended my life in just two days. The Corvette entered my mind, the red force that had nearly ended everything. I couldn't help but wonder why he had saved me. He regretted not killing me when he had the chance - that much I could see. Rosemary had said that they were just waiting for the perfect moment to kill me, that was what they always did.

For the first time, I saw her through the eyes of my former captors.

Her flame red hair billowed in the wind, but it was a symbol of threatening forces. Her dark eyes pierced her target with a deathly power.

The image was frightening.

I had never seen her in sheer anger, but I imagined that my interpretation of it would be startlingly accurate.

Is it possible that the werewolves could be the bad ones and I could have been protected by the ones I was running from?

The thought was impossible, so I shook it as well.

It was a magical world that I didn't fit in to; more importantly, didn't want to fit into. I wanted no part of their mythical world and their battles and kidnapping of mortals.

And yet, somehow, their world was now a part of mine.

Alice's POV I had visions as I ran. They pertained entirely to Bella. She was driving, confused, trying to find her way. And of Edward. The visions of him were of his depression, and of his weak flashes where his resolve broke, where he swore to go back immediately and stop her. Weak, though, they were, they still stirred in him more turmoil than he needed.

I also got flashes of Jasper and of his future. Nothing specifically significant, but I could see, at least, that his future was secure.

The flashes continued of those three, continuing until I finally decided to check on each of my family in turn.

Emmett, fine, as would be expected.

Esme and Carlisle appeared together, worried, but safe.

. . .

When I tried to envision Rosalie in my head, nothing appeared. Irritated, I pushed it harder, trying to see something relating to my sister.

Nothing.

Rosalie's future had disappeared.

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As per tradition, I come back and give you a cliffhanger. I just love them too darn much. :)

I'll be surprised if I get more than three reviews on this chapter-I've been gone so long I'll bet 99% of you have given up on me!

But please, please, review if you're out there reading this.

I am quite surprised at how many random favorites and alerts I've gotten lately on this story-and pleased! I'm glad people out there are enjoying this, even if I'm so fickle about updating.

Thank you all so much for sticking with me!!