Something Meaningful

Chapter 3

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight.

A/N: I wanted to thank those of you who have reviewed, favorited, and/or are following this story. As I am totally new to writing stories, I really appreciate the support and encouragement you have given me. Thank you! So, on with the story...

RPOV

I couldn't run fast enough out of there... feeling completely humiliated. I pummeled some trees with my fists as I ran through the dense foliage, trying to release the rage within me. I couldn't believe my family put me through what felt like an interrogation.

Finally, I came to a halt, after having run a distance from the house, in a deeper part of the woods; closing my eyes listening for the sound of prey. I smelled the deer before I heard it running up ahead. I reacted instinctively, tearing off in the direction of the scent… I crouched low as I neared it… waiting for the right moment… and then, I jumped high over the bush that was covering me, landing on the unsuspecting doe, tightening my arms around it as I pushed it down to the ground, sinking my razor sharp teeth into its neck, drinking it completely dry.

I felt no remorse for the animal whose only crime was being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Indeed, the Monster in me relished the kill. As I washed in a nearby river cleaning myself off as best I could, I noticed the reflection of my face in the water. While humans only saw a beautiful perfect face, I could see beyond the illusory beauty into the face of the Monster that lurked within staring back at me ready to chase down and hunt any vulnerable prey.

Vulnerable prey… I thought of the human girl, Bella. Did my family believe that I would turn an innocent human girl so that she could become 'one of us'? A Monster in a beautiful outer package. They knew, of course, about my past… how difficult the transition into the Vampire existence had been for me. Then two years after I was turned, I did ask Carlisle to turn Emmett for me when I found him mauled by the bear. But I have lived with the guilt and shame of this selfish request ever since.

I detest this existence. If I could become human again, I would sell my very soul, if I had one. Can a Vampire have a soul? Does it make a difference whether you drink human or animal blood in regards to possessing a soul? Are we forever and eternally damned? I wonder what Carlisle thinks?

I sat on a large boulder and slumped my shoulders as I contemplated what significant meaning or value I could ascribe to this existence as a Vampire. I smiled as I thought about what my life would have been like if I had been able to live a full human life. All at once, full realization hit me that given a choice, I would have chosen to have been left to die in that alleyway that night that Royce and his friends savagely assaulted me than to have been 'saved' into this horrid existence I was living now as a Vampire; forever frozen, never progressing, never changing…

I still couldn't understand the connection I was to have, according to Alice's vision, with the human girl, Bella… Although, I tried to strongly deny any feelings for her to my family earlier during the 'Cullen inquisition', I couldn't deny it to myself, if I was to be truthful, that this morning's incident in the cafeteria where her eyes gazed deeply into mine had a significant effect on me. The question remains, "What effect?" Since Emmett came into my life, I have not felt interest in anyone else; certainly not a human, much less, human girl.

Suddenly, I was snapped out of my thoughts when I heard a blood curdling scream coming from further in the forest. I immediately jumped off the rock I was resting on, running in the direction of the screams that were getting more desperate and louder from what sounded to be a human female.

As I neared the location of the screaming human girl, I could see the clearing the girl was in… and there in front of her was the biggest black wolf, foaming at the mouth, walking toward her. Once I reached the area where they stood, I finally was close enough to make out her human face… I gasped as I recognized the human as none other than Bella…

My body froze in place. What was I to do? Here stood the human girl that, for all I knew, could possibly pose a danger to me and my family through exposure of our secret way of life here in Forks. Should I intervene and save her from the rabid wolf? Or should I walk away letting things run their inevitable course? I was paralyzed as my eyes focused on the scene…

Bella had picked up a large stick holding it in front of her trying to keep the foaming wolf at bay. The wolf was crouching down getting ready to make its leap toward her… then my eyes saw it… the blood trickling down Bella's left arm… a loud growl emanated from the deepest part of my Being… I leaped into the air, my teeth exposed for the kill.

As I jumped onto the wolf's back, I heard Bella gasp as her surprised eyes met mine… she walked backwards into a hedge never taking her fearful eyes off of me. I secured my arms around the rabid wolf, sinking my teeth into the back of its neck; hearing a loud snap as my strong teeth broke its neck.

It was then that my heightened senses picked up, again, the scent of the blood on the girl's arm… I got up off the wolf's limp body, stepping over it as I walked toward the girl. Her eyes were open wide still transfixed on mine which undoubtedly were pitch black. As I approached, she questioned fearfully, "Wh…What are you?"

I did not respond to her question but rather tore a piece of her shirt off and proceeded to wrap the cloth around her wound. All the while, fighting back the thirst in my throat for her blood and swallowing the venom filling my mouth. I grabbed her other arm pulling her with me as I took a step forward when, suddenly, the earth beneath our feet opened up and swallowed us whole.

We found ourselves falling deeper and deeper into the abyss. The earth around us was closing in so that there was no longer an opening at the top from whence we fell…