I had so far stuck to the forest and ran mostly at night. I didn't trust myself too much, plus, there's always a chance that someone would be hiking. But now I have no choice. I can't keep running around aimlessly without a plan.

The sun is just now setting, so I waited for it to finish, before going into town.

I don't know exactly how I found a town, but I did. According to the sign, it was 'Cloudcroft, California' . It was sort of like my home town, but not exactly.

It was really lucky that I found this town, actually. I sort of have a plan, but not a whole one. Anyway, I needed somewhere to get information and maybe a map. This was the perfect place.

The sun had finally sunk beneath the horizon, so I found a path to the road leading into the town and followed it. Some of people in the really few cars that passed looked at me strange, but no one stopped and that was relief. I finally made it to the town and I spotted a gas station with a small shop. It was perfect.

I crossed the street, and entered the store. There was a man at the counter. The sweet aroma coming from him made my throat burn. Apparently hunting doesn't help much with the throat burning. I sighed, and went to the bathroom first; just to make sure I have a hold on myself.

It still smelt like the man in here, but not nearly as strong. I leaned against the closed door, and then slid to the floor with my head in my hands.

I can do this. I have to do this. I'm not a murderer.

I had changed after hunting so at least my clothes were clean. Well sort of, they were dirty and slightly ripped, but there was no blood, so that was all that counts. My hair still had dried blood in it, but being still up in a ponytail, it didn't show that much. Some of it had rubbed off anyway. I took a deep breath and my throat burned.

I stood up, picked up my bag, and opened the door back up. I stop breathing, but moved my shoulders slightly, so it looked like I was.

I walked over to the counter and smiled at the cashier.

"Hello, may I help you?" He asked politely, after a few seconds of staring at me.

I nodded, "Yes, would you by any chance know of any place sort of close that has a constant cloudy forecast?"

My voice was like bells, it shocked me as well as the all ready stunned cashier.

He stuttered incoherently for a second before answering.

"Er-yeah, Forks, Washington, it's always rainy." He said, and then added with suspicion, "Why?"

Oh, crap.

"No reason. I just love the rain. Don't you? It's so beautiful" I lied in my beautiful voice.

I had no choice but to suck in a breath and I winced slightly at the searing pain in my throat.

He still looked suspicious, but just said "Oh."

I looked around for something that could be useful. I saw a rack of maps of different places to the right of the counter. I saw an atlas of the whole U.S. and picked it up. I flipped through it quickly. It was perfect.

I set it down on the counter, "Could I buy that, please?"

"Of course" The man said, before bringing it up on the cash-register.

He slid it back to me silently and I handed him the money.

"Thank you" I said.

I was about to leave, when a sudden idea struck me. I turned back to him. He gave me a strange look.

I dug up some money out of my bag. I handed him the one hundred dollars.

"If anyone asks about me, I didn't ask you anything." I said sweetly.

The man looked startled as he took the money from me.

"B-but" He stuttered.

I glared at him, and he gulped.

"Understood?" I asked menacingly.

He nodded.

I smiled again, "Good."

I turned and walked out of the store. The burn in my throat eased a little with the fresher, less polluted air.

I crossed the street and sat on a bench under a street light. I could hear a car a little bit down the road.

I pulled out my atlas and looked around in the front of my bag. Surprisingly, I actually found a pen and it actually worked.

I opened the atlas, and found a map of California and marked where I was. Then I found one of Washington and found Forks. I circled it, and then went back and made a rough path from my spot, through Organ, and to Forks. I couldn't follow it exactly, but I could follow it all the same.

That's when I noticed it. A car was stopped in front of me. The driver was a little old lady with white hair and thick glasses, and was staring at me through the open passenger window.

I looked curiously at her, as she looked curiously back.

Oddly, she didn't smell that strong. Maybe the smell got weaker with age.

"Can, can I help you?" I asked dubiously.

She smiled at me, "Oh no, dear. It's you I can help"

"Excuse me?" I asked, confused.

"I was wondering if you would like to come home with me. You look like you could really use a shower and some food.

I bit my lip. Should I? She didn't seem like the type to just let it go. She would probably try to follow me, insisting that if I didn't have somewhere to stay, to come with her. I sighed. Could it really hurt? The smell's not that bad, I could deal for a few hours. I shrugged.

"I suppose. But aren't you curious?" I asked.

She looked confused, "Curious about what, dear?"

"Who I am, what I'm doing here. That kind of thing." I explained.

"Oh no, dear. I just want to help you." She said, smiling again.

"Oh. Okay." I said.

"Well, come on, get in" She said.

I nodded and stood up. I opened the car door and sat got in. I put my bag at my feet, and put on my seat belt.

"Thanks" I said.

"You're welcome dear." She replied.

"Oh, I'm Dorothy, what's your name?" She asked suddenly.

"Rea-" I almost said my name, but thought better of it.

"Rachel" I lied.

"Oh, what a lovely name" Dorothy said.

"Thanks"

It only took five minutes to get to Dorothy's house. It was a small, but looked cozy. Dorothy parked the car and we both got out. I followed her to the front door with my bag on my shoulder. She unlocked the door and led me in.

Dorothy gasped when she saw my skin in proper light.

"Are you okay? You look ghostly." She said.

I nodded, "Yeah. I'm fine, it's just my skin. I'm always pale."

She nodded, but still looked dubious. Luckily, though, she didn't say anything more about it.

"All right-y, what would you like to do first? Would you like some dinner first? Or would you like to shower? Or you could watch some TV if you'd like" Dorothy said.

I thought for a second. It would probably be best to pretend to be hungry.

"Um, food sounds good." I said.

"Food it is."

"Would you like to watch a little TV while I make you something?" Dorothy offered.

I nodded, "Yeah, that'd be nice."

"Okay."

Dorothy showed me the TV and handed me the remote.

"There you go sweetie. Watch whatever you'd like." Dorothy said, turning to back to the kitchen.

"Uh, Dorothy?" I asked.

"Yes?" she asked turning back around.

"Um, what's today's date?"

"It's Friday, the 20th of March." She said.

"Oh. 'Kay, thanks." I said.

"You're welcome dear."

Dorothy turned and walked into the kitchen.

I'd been 'missing' for nine days. No wonder mom and dad were so freaked. Not to mention that all the evidence they found was a puddle of my blood, my purse, and the books I'd checked out that day. I sighed and pushed the power button.

It was on a news station, so I just left it. Maybe something interesting happened while I was roaming around the forest.

Suddenly my senior high school picture came up behind the anchor man.

"17-year-old Reagan Taylor went missing last Wednesday, from her home town of Ruidoso, New Mexico. The local police have no leads at the moment, but are hoping someone may have some information. If you know anything, please contact your local police immediately. If you have seen this girl, please, let us know."

I couldn't listen any longer, so I turned it back off. I was very glad Dorothy couldn't see who was on the screen. Leave it to dad to get the national news involved. I groaned silently. I got up and went to the kitchen, it wasn't hard to find, since the house was very small.

"Uh, Dorothy, on second thought, I think I'd like to take a shower now." I said.

She looked up from the pot she was working at.

"Okay, dear. Let me get you a towel and a wash-rag."

I nodded. Dorothy disappeared and then came back a few minutes later with the a fore mentioned objects.

"Thank you" I said, taking them from her.

I took a shower, and then changed my clothes. I put my hair back up into to a ponytail.

When I opened the bathroom door, a disgusting smell reached my nose. I wrinkled my nose.

I walked back into the kitchen and saw Dorothy fixing a huge plate of spaghetti and meatballs. She heard me, and looked up.

"Oh good, perfect timing!" She said.

I forced a smile.

"Sit, sit!" Dorothy insisted.

I obeyed and sat at the table silently. She sat the huge plate in front of me. I had to stop myself from gagging.

"It smells great" I lied.

"Well, go on, eat. You must be starving." She said.

I nodded and took a huge bite. It was like eating dirt, only worse, because of my extreme senses.

"Mmm" was all I could manage without gagging.

Dorothy beamed at me.

Dorothy had been doing other things, but in the same room. So I couldn't even throw it away and pretend that I ate it. I had eaten about half all ready and my stomach was churning uncomfortably.

Suddenly, the phone rang. Dorothy got up to answer it. Luckily, it was in the living room. Relief filled me. I got up, threw the rest of the spaghetti into the trash, and dumped the glass of water into the sink. I took the empty dishes and sat back down. I set the dishes in front of me like they were before. Dorothy had barely finished saying 'hello'.

Dorothy talked for about fifteen minutes. After she hung up she can back into the room.

"Oh, you're done all ready? Would you like some more?" She asked.

I shook my head, "No thanks, I'm stuffed. Thank you, it was delicious." I said.

I looked at the clock that Dorothy had on the wall. It was nearing 10 o'clock.

I stood up, "Um, Dorothy, I really should be going."

She looked startled, "Are you sure? It's almost ten o'clock at night! Why don't you just say here for the night."

I shook my head, "No, I've got to go. I'm sorry, but please don't worry about me."

Dorothy sighed; she seemed to know it was a closed subject.

She nodded, "Okay, do you want me to drive you somewhere?"

I shook my head, "No, thank you. You've done me enough favors today to last a lifetime."

"Are you sure? I wouldn't mind at all."

I nodded, "I'm positive."

She looked defeated, "Oh, all right."

I smiled, "Take care of yourself. I'll always remember you, I promise."

"And I you" She promised.

Suddenly, she came up and hugged me. She smelt much stronger now, that I was so close, but I was in total control. I hugged her back. Dorothy let go of me and I found my bag, still in the bathroom. Dorothy followed me to the door, and waved when I turned around from outside. I waved back, and then turned and walked away.

I knew I would keep my promise, I knew I would always remember the kind old lady who took me in. Despite the fact that she didn't know who, or what I was. I smiled to myself, crazy old lady; she'll get herself killed one day. I left the little town of Cloudcroft, California, thinking of Dorothy.