AN: Longest chapter yet! I hope to keep the chapters this long from now on, but I want to know what you think!

Sadly I do not own twilight.


Chapter 7

Then just as suddenly as the darkness came, it started to fade away. Black became grey, grey became light. And as I became more aware I started to comprehend that I hadn't died, I was still alive and I could feel my heart thrumming in my chest and my lungs rising and falling. I wasn't dead and this was not heaven! This was a world where Edward didn't love me and my family left. I remembered all the memories that flooded my mind in the last moments before I lost consciousness and I gasped as the wound in my chest tore at my heart; Edward's angelic face flashed his crooked smile at me. It all hurt so much…how could I be alive and live through this everyday, it wasn't fair!

I hadn't even opened my eyes yet but I could feel the tears pouring down my cheeks and dripping off my ear lobes to the floor. I felt the crisp cool air blow by my body and I shivered. I didn't have to open my eyes to know I was still lying on the floor in the ball room. My limbs felt so heavy that I wasn't sure my will would be enough to move them. I struggled to get to my feet and blinked rapidly while my head swam with fatigue. I had no idea how long I had been lying there but the sun was up. The pain in my chest flared as I looked at my arm. I had large bruises on either side of a jagged wound that was caked with dried blood. And suddenly, I was angry. Why hadn't he just killed me, how did he stop? I didn't want to be alive now. I want to be with Edward in my dreams or subconscious or anywhere he wanted me, anywhere but here. I was furious; I think a small part of me always thought he would come back. That there was a good reason why he left, or that Alice would worry about me and come running, but it didn't happen. Laurent could have just killed me right now and no one came…because no one cared. It was just like Edward said, he didn't want me, he didn't love me and neither did the rest of them.

It was that moment that I decided I would hate them and lock up every memory I had of loving them, somewhere so deep inside of me that hopefully it wouldn't hurt so much. I decided to embrace what my life was now and go wherever that would lead me.

Laurent approached me quite carefully later that day. He seemed to be trying to feel out my mood after practically killing me. After half an hour of lurking around corners but never approaching me finally stepped up to the plate.

"I am sorry, my pet. I could not resist." He smiled. "But I have a gift for you, I happened upon an opportunity for us. Pack only what you can carry, we are going to travel over sees tonight. It has taken a great deal of planning to secure transportation, considering both our needs, but I believe I have found the solution."

I stared back at Laurent while he waited for me to respond to this new turn of events. "As you wish," was all I could think and then I went up stairs and gathered all of my most valued possessions. I didn't have much, just a few books that I could not bare to leave behind, my bag of toiletries and my wallet. What I had was easily packed into a medium sized bag which I slung over my shoulder. I looked around my so called room two more times and then went to the bathroom to clean up my arm. I washed off the dried blood and gently cleaned the wound itself. I could probably use some stitches, but I didn't have the luxury of having a doctor near by anymore. Once I had cleaned up, I took my bag and went downstairs, looking for something to wrap the cut with. I went into the office area and banged around through different drawers and cabinets until I found a first aid kit. I had everything I needed so I bandaged up my arm which was quite difficult when you can only use one hand and then threw the rest of the contents of the first aid kit in my bad. Knowing me, I would need the rest of this stuff much too soon, especially if I was going to start being Laurent's human refrigerator.

A few hours later Laurent appeared before me and we left. Laurent ran through the forest with me on his back, wind wiping my hair furiously behind me. I would say we ran for most of the night and into the wee hours of the morning. When we finally started to slow down, I could hear the crashing waves of the ocean, boats horns and I could see massive ships parked in a harbor. Laurent set me down abruptly and we walked at a quick pace toward one of the ships. The ship was different shades of black, grey and red, probably faded from the sun. I must have slowed down to take in the sight, because Laurent took a firm hold of my elbow and pulled me along toward one of the ships that had massive crates and shipping containers on its deck. I could see a man standing at the end of the dock under the light. Laurent let go of my arm when we got close and spoke to the man while I continued my assessment of my surroundings. I looked at the other ships and the ocean and then a sign caught my eye. I realized I was in Massachusetts and apparently we were about to board a freight ship in order to get wherever we were going. I knew Laurent wouldn't be able to fly on a plane, but I didn't realize he didn't trust me enough to let me get on a plane alone.

"Come along" Laurent snapped me out of my inner babble and extended a hand to me. I took his cold hand and together we followed the man into the ship. As we walked the man talked and it was becoming apparent by the things he was saying that our presence on the ship was not exactly legal, nor would the rest of the crew know we were there. We followed him down long winding passages and went down stairs; all the while the smell of oil, metal and rust was profusely present. Finally, he stopped and opened a large metal door gesturing us in.

I stepped into a large dimly lit open room that had bunk beds built into the walls, a small table in the middle and three chairs. To the left I saw another door which the man pointed towards and said that there was a sink, toilet and shower in there. I watched Laurent walk around the room, looking displeased. Then I turned to look at the man and was surprised by what I saw. He wasn't an old man, like I thought he was from the sound of his voice. In fact, he looked like he was in his early 20's, he had dark brown hair with a strong chin and he was probably a foot taller then me.

"This is as good as it gets I'm afraid. I will bring you two food and water every other day or so once the crew is done working. Do not leave this room, and try not to make too much noise. The crew should not come down this corridor, but I don't want to take any chances. If you do hear someone, stay calm and be quiet. I am only worried about the coast guard discovering you, but it is rare that they actually search here, because mainly they search the cargo."

The man took a step toward me then. "My name is Cole. If you find that you need anything else, let me know when I bring your food." I nodded my head at him and watched him as he stared at me a moment longer then was necessary before he turned and closed the door behind him.

Laurent seemed to have noticed Cole's prolonged staring and was muttering something under his breath that my human ears could not make out. I made myself comfortable on one of the bunk beds and pulled out a book. The time in that room seemed to pass by in long agonizing blocks. Laurent and I would talk for short moments of time and other moments Laurent would pace back and forth. There were no windows or clocks to tell me how much time was passing, so I slept when I was tired and read when I was awake. I know a whole day had passed by after a while.

Then suddenly Laurent was by the door. "He's coming." Laurent said. I put my book down as the door creaked open and Cole walked in. "I need some fresh air" Laurent snarled as he took off out the door.

Cole was carrying a trey with some food and bottled water on it. I watched him set it down on the small table in the middle of the room and I got up to see what he had brought. I picked up the apple off the trey and as I took a bite I saw Cole watching me very carefully. I chewed what I had in my mouth and looked back at him. We stood there staring at each other for a long time, until he spoke.

"What are you to him?" Cole questioned seriously. I honestly didn't know what to say. This is the first human I have been able to talk to in two months, but I had no answer to his question.

"I can't say" was all I could reply.

"What's your name?" Cole asked. But before I had a chance to answer or for Cole to ask anything else, Laurent appeared and Cole followed my eyes.

"I told you, names were not necessary in this situation" Laurent said, venom coating every word as he walked behind me and placed his arms around my shoulders possessively.

"No harm, no fowl" Cole said as he glanced at me one more time before turning to leave. After that Laurent and I went right back to our past times without speaking. He even seemed to take an interest in one of my books, for lack of anything better to do. It felt like forever in the room, like we would never be able to get out of there, but then two days later or so Cole returned again with food and water. Laurent gave me a hard glance before exiting the room and Cole watched him leave.

"I hope I didn't get you in some kind of trouble before" Cole said.

"Don't worry about it." As I picked through the trey of food for something I could stomach.

Cole picked up one of my books and read the cover. "This is some serious literature you have here. You are obviously not dumb." I gave Cole a hard look at his last comment. What was that suppose to mean exactly?

"What I am really trying to say is why are you with him? Somebody like you doesn't need somebody like that… If you are in some kind of trouble maybe I can help you?" Cole reached out and took hold of my arm, and I winced at the stinging pain from the wound. I haven't given that day much thought, and as long as I didn't touch the wound it didn't hurt. Cole's eyes went right to my arm as he shifted his hand, no doubt feeling the gauze that I had wrapped around my arm. In a quick movement, Cole shifted his touch to my upper arm and used his other hand to push back my sleeve before I was able to protest, revealing the large bruises and the blood stained gauze.

"Did he do this? What power does he have over you, to make you stay with him?" Cole's eyes were pleading with me, but I didn't want to tell him my story. I knew Laurent would be back soon, so I quickly pulled my arm from his grasp, which was now throbbing.

"If you're smart, you will let this go and forget about me" I told Cole as I took a step away from him. Laurent entered the room a heartbeat later and I knew he would have heard at least some or all of that conversation. Laurent stood next to me and stared at Cole blackly, so I took another step toward Laurent and leaned into his chest while pulling his arm over me. Laurent looked down at me and smiled before turning back to Cole with a smirk. Laurent's cold skin felt both strange and familiar at the same time. When Cole left I knew he still didn't understand, but it wouldn't be long now before we would be able to get off this ship, I hoped.

"You need to eat something, my pet" Laurent said. "I was also thinking, maybe it's time for you to go by another name, a new name for a new life, perhaps?"

"Yes, I think a new name would be appropriate. Where are we going? Maybe the name should fit my surroundings…What would you suggest?" I couldn't help myself but to use this moment to get some more information about our destination.

"Ha, perhaps you are right. How about Sophie? It was my mother's names and we are going to a place not far from where she grew up."

"Sophie" I tried the name out loud for size. "I think I like that. How much longer?"

"Only a day or two left, it takes a long time to travel across the ocean by boat."

I tried to smile at him, but all I saw was how black Laurent's eyes were getting. He needed to hunt or we were going to have a repeat performance from the hotel. I didn't want to push him, but my arm was still stinging from Cole's touch after I was done eating. Laurent was sitting on the floor reading one of my books. I walked over to him and sat down on the floor while he was reading and he looked over me.

"May I borrow one of your hands?" I asked. I don't think he was expecting me to say that, but curiosity must have gotten the best of him, because he put his hand out in front of me. I pushed my sleeve up, then took his hand and wrapped it around the part of my arm that hurt. I sighed as the cold soothed my arm and I opened the book I had brought over with me and started reading. We stayed like that for the longest time until my eyes started to droop and my head started to bob. Laurent must have been watching me, because as soon as I closed my book he removed his hand from my arm. I started to try and get up, but Laurent took hold of my shoulders, shifted his weight and then leaned me against him, replacing his hand over my arm.

That night or day, because I can't really be too sure what time of day it was, I slept against Laurent. My dreams that night were stranger then most, as Laurent's sweet smell swirled around my head…I dreamed of being in Edward's cold embrace, but as the dream continued Edward's face was replaced with Laurent's as he leaned down to bite me. I woke as the door opened loudly and Cole entered. Cole's eyes widened at the sight of Laurent and I sitting together. I promptly got up and headed into the bathroom. I took a few minutes to collect myself, splashing water on my face and then I started to hear arguing. As I dried my face I the arguing was growing quite loud so rushed out of the bathroom just in time to see Cole try to punch Laurent. Cole put all of his weight into the punch, but Laurent was behind him in the blink of an eye and Cole staggered toward me from the force of the throw. Cole looked up at me as soon as he caught his balance and as our eyes met. Then I saw Laurent lean forward over Cole's shoulder and bite.

"No" I screamed, but it was too late. I watched horrified Cole's eyes bulged and then glance back at where Laurent had latched on to him. Cole's arms were frantically trying to push Laurent away, but it was no use. Cole's eyes rolled back toward me as I stood there with my arms out stretched toward him. He didn't speak he just looked at me with understanding as he finally understood the warning I gave him and his eyes stopped moving, instead staring fixed right past me. Laurent dropped his lifeless body to the floor and then looked at me while I slid down the wall to the floor in front of Cole's body. Laurent's eyes were bright crimson as he eyed me as his next meal, but then he blinked.

"We have made shore, wait here while I dispose of this." Laurent picked up the body and sped off in a flash. I stayed there on the floor like I was told, shaking at the evil I just saw. I had just watched a man die and instead of running or screaming, I just sat there and waited for him to come back for me. Was that what was going to happen to me soon? Laurent came back in then, gathered up my things putting them in my bag and then picked me up in his arms. I closed my eyes, but I couldn't shake the sight of Cole's still eyes on me and I shuttered.

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