Hunter
Have any of you guys read The Short Second Life Of Bree Tanner yet? I'm about halfway through it, and I have to admit, I like Bree's characterization more than Bella. Of course, I realize now that Bella is a timid, uncoordinated, obsessive teenager who hangs out with werewolves, allows her hybrid baby to nearly tear her apart, and marries a vampire who's a little behind in terms of equal rights for women. That is the girl I'm supposed to relate to? Maybe that's why I always make my Bella so tough and funny. The original is just boring.
Here's chapter thirteen. Things are gonna get ugly.
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Edward's POV
I have these nightmares…and sometimes…they come true…
I've seen things that you couldn't even imagine…
She gave me a year…
November rolled around and I paid my dues…
Next thing I know, I'm waking up in my own grave…
What's dead should stay dead…
Bella was even more amazing than I thought. Not only did she save people from all the monsters in the dark, but she didn't hesitate to save her mother, even though it meant her own damnation.
How could anyone be so selfless? Was it because of the way she was brought up, trained to protect others at all cost? She wasn't a soldier! She was a child!
Albeit, a very intelligent, resourceful, and mature child.
It was Friday, and Forks's high schoolers had been blessed with a three-day weekend. Probably due to a teacher's meeting for prom, but I wasn't too interested in reasons.
I was more interested in the weather.
"Just a little while longer!" Alice called up to me cheerily from the living room. "You'd better go get Bella. She'll want to come."
Rosalie snorted, but said nothing. I sensed Emmett's mood lift through Jasper and smiled in response. Even Bella's macabre past didn't lessen his affability toward her.
"On the double, Edward!" my favourite sister called impatiently. "We'll meet you there."
I sighed and got off my couch. I raced downstairs and grabbed the keys to Emmett's Jeep, then quickly ran to the garage and started the engine. I didn't think Bella would appreciate having to wash off all the mud that would undoubtedly accumulate on her precious Impala.
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Bella's POV
Lightning crackled in the sky.
(Something is coming!)
Thunder roared in my ears.
(They're coming!)
It was foggy, but I could just make out three shapes in the mist.
(They're HERE!)
Then they were gone, and I was in a house, and then…
(FIRE!)
I jerked myself awake. My eyes scanned the room as I lied flat on my back.
Just a dream. There was no fire, and nothing was coming for me.
I slowly sat up and stretched. My back ached with tension. I rubbed my neck soothingly, trying to relieve the strain.
Finally, I stood up and made my way to the bathroom. I'd slept longer than usual, a testament to my exhaustion. At least now I felt a bit better.
After showering, I dressed, and went downstairs to prepare breakfast. I grabbed the remaining two eggs and made a mental note to go shopping soon.
Just as I finished, someone knocked on my door. I looked through the window and saw an unfamiliar jeep parked out front. My gun rubbed against my stomach reassuringly as I walked to the door and opened it a crack.
All my anxiety vanished as I saw who it was.
"Hey, Superman! What's up?" I pulled the door open wider to let him in. As I did so, I saw that he was dressed in some sort of uniform, complete with a baseball cap. I grinned.
He stepped onto the living room mat and smiled. "Actually, I was wondering if you wanted to watch my family and I play baseball."
It took me half a second to decide. Anything to get out of this house. I grabbed my leather jacket and nodded my head at the jeep. "Nice ride."
"It's Emmett's," he replied. "It's going to be muddy near our field, and I didn't want to mess up my car."
I laughed. "Yeah, you and me both, Superman." I gave his hat another surreptitious glance. "So…do I get a cap?"
He took my hand and led me to the jeep. On the passenger seat was a hat that looked about my size. I hopped in and put it on, examining myself in the side view mirror. "Nice. Leather plus designer cap equals one fine Hunter."
Edward grinned at my lame joke, and then started the engine. As we drove, I created a mental roadmap in my head of where we were going, and where we'd been. I never knew when I'd have to drive Renée home after a Hunt gone bad. It wasn't that I didn't trust Edward, and it wasn't because I was worried about that stupid dream.
Still, it was best if I kept sharp.
We arrived at a field fifteen minutes later. The rest of the Cullens were suited up just like Edward. Emmett and Jasper tossed a ball back and forth as we got out of the jeep and walked over to them.
I looked up as a lightning bolt zigzagged its way across the sky. The dark clouds hinted that a storm was coming.
"You sure this is good weather for baseball?" I asked.
"Don't worry. Alice said the storm won't pass over us. Besides, we can only play when there's thunder."
As if his words were a cue, the sky boomed overhead.
"It's time!" Alice called eagerly. She and Emmett then took off toward the other side of the field. Emmett ran out farther while Alice stopped dead centre. I could just make out the markings of the bases, like little slabs of flat, white stones.
Edward grinned at me and then ran out as well, fast enough that some of my hair flew into my face. I brushed it back and tucked it under my hat. "Cute," I muttered, knowing he would hear me.
"Bella, I'm glad you're here," Esme said, taking my arm gently and leading me next to home base. "We need an umpire."
"Hey, sure, no problem," I said distractedly. I stared out at the forest behind the outfielders, watching as the fog rose up between the trees. With the lightning and thunder overhead, it could've been an image straight out of my nightmare.
Of course, Forks was always stormy and foggy. How would I know if my reality was invading my dreams, or if my dreams were invading my reality?
Just keep an eye out for the fire, I thought, but I somehow knew that the fire wasn't here. It was…
The sound of the ball cracking against Rosalie's bat startled me out of my daydream. It was louder than I expected.
"So that's why you need the thunder," I remarked. Rosalie's dash around the bases was almost too quick for my eyes to keep up with. At the same time, I noted that the ball was soaring into the forest, and that Edward was running after it.
"Come on, Superman," I hissed.
Esme, who sat crouched beside me in the catcher's position, reassured me, "Edward's very fast."
To prove that, Edward finally reached the ball and threw it back toward us. Rosalie passed third base and started heading home. Seeing the ball, she ducked down and tried to slide the remaining length.
Tried was the key word. While this was going on, my head started pounding. My eyes locked on the ball, flying closer to Esme's waiting hand.
It wasn't going to make it.
I clenched my fists, willing it to move faster, if only to wipe that smug look off Rosalie's face.
And then suddenly…it did.
I didn't know if anyone else noticed the change of speed. It accelerated just a fraction, but it was enough for Esme to grab it and clip Rosalie's ankle just before she made it.
I should've brought some aspirin, I thought miserably as I massaged my temples.
"Out!" I called automatically, still distracted by the pain. I sensed Rosalie giving me a dirty look as she got to her feet, but couldn't bring myself to care.
Carlisle took the bat next, and this time I watched carefully as Alice pitched. She was amazing. I wondered if she would give me a few pointers, not that I played that often. In fact, the only time I ever participated in team sports was when I was in school. Hunting didn't exactly offer much time for fun.
Still, all that style did nothing to stop Carlisle from executing a perfect swing.
Back on the field, Emmett and Edward were in a race to get to the ball before Carlisle made it to second. I held my breath as they both jumped a dozen feet into the air and collided with a loud crash. The ball landed gracefully behind them as they collapsed in a heap. Carlisle slid to safety and I exhaled. The boys shoved each other playfully as they got to their feet, and I could've sworn Edward flipped his brother off.
"Don't make me come over there!" I warned. "Stop crowding each other! And if you have to do that again, at least try to catch the ball!"
Emmett waved me off playfully. Edward shook his head and laughed as they got back into position.
Jasper stepped up to the plate, twirling his bat like a baton. Alice threw the ball and he hit it full force. I wondered what that ball was made of. Steel?
Carlisle zoomed into third, and I knew he would make it home. Emmett raced after the ball, climbing a tall tree in half a second and catching it midair. He tossed it back to Esme before he even landed.
"That's the way!" I said excitedly.
Carlisle was safe, and Jasper was on second. Rosalie took to bat again and hit the ball full force. She took off for first…
…and I felt another headache start.
I hadn't noticed when the pain went away - too distracted by the awesome sight before me - but now it was back, and impossible to ignore. I squeezed my eyes shut and clutched my head as an image flashed inside my eyelids.
The three figures in the fog, accompanied by a rush of wind that sent a batch of leaves into the air in front of them.
"Bella, are you okay?" Carlisle asked, breaking my trance. His hand was on my shoulder. When did that happen?
I was just about to tell him that everything was fine, when Alice's fearful voice called out, "STOP!"
The vampires all turned toward the forest, perhaps hearing or seeing something that my human senses couldn't detect. The next sharp jab of pain would've sent me to my knees if not for Carlisle. He gripped both my arms and held me steady. "Bella?" he asked again, a note of anxiety entering his voice.
My eyelids slammed shut again as an image of the three vampires who killed Waylon appeared in my mind. They seemed to be walking casually, but their surrounding rushed by them, showing just how quickly they moved.
The vision cut off, and my headache ebbed away slowly. "Son of a bitch! They're coming here?" I questioned. I found my footing and Carlisle released me.
The Cullen family had all run to home base while I was caught in my vision. Now, they looked alarmed, and a little frightened.
Alice stared at me with wide eyes. "You saw them?"
I bit my lip in frustration. "I dreamt about them this morning, but I couldn't make them out. I knew this field looked familiar," I grumbled under my breath.
Edward grabbed my arm and started walking me to the jeep.
"It's too late," Carlisle told him hopelessly.
"I'm always too late," I grumbled angrily to myself.
No one responded. They were too busy getting organized. Carlisle stood at the front of our little group with Emmett and Jasper close by. The women stood behind them, and Edward and I stayed at the rear. Despite all the protectors in front of me, I felt unnerved. I reached inside my jacket and touched my gun to reassure myself. I wondered how quick off the draw I'd have to be if one of our visitors attacked.
Luckily, I had my knife too, just in case things got up close and personal.
I ducked my head as I finally saw them in person.
The guy in front was the tall, dark-skinned, French guy who told the blonde, James, not to play with his food. I suppose I should've been grateful that he'd stopped the sociopath from making Waylon suffer too much.
Then again, I had higher standards for my supernatural friends, number one being that they don't eat people.
Number two, a guy shouldn't have bigger boobs than me.
The redhead moved like a cat. Her long, curly hair flowed behind her. I wondered if it ever got in her face when she ate-
-best to stop that thought before I put a bullet between her eyes and pissed her friends off.
They finally stopped about ten feet in front of Carlisle. The way they sized us up made me think of animals greeting each other in the wild. I hoped it wouldn't turn into one of those times where they decided they didn't want to be friendly. I peeked at their red eyes from under my hat and my mouth tightened in disgust.
A second later, both groups seemed to relax. Frenchy held up the baseball almost as a peace offering. "I believe this belongs to you," he said courteously. He tossed the ball to Carlisle. Faster than I could blink, the Doc snatched it out of the air without taking his eyes off the trio.
Carlisle twisted the ball in his hand to get a better grip and nodded respectfully. "Thank you."
"I am Laurent," Frenchy introduced. "And this is Victoria, and James." Victoria gave a slight nod in greeting, a strange smile on her face, almost like a mixture of amusement and mocking. James merely stared at us.
"I'm Carlisle. This is my family." I didn't miss how Laurent's eyebrow rose at the word, family, but he politely greeted us with a hello.
"I'm afraid your hunting activities have caused something of a mess for us," Carlisle went on.
Laurent looked repentant. I didn't have to wonder if he was just being nice because of the size of Edward's family. It was easy to see that manners were bred right into him. "Our apologies. We didn't realize the territory had been claimed."
"Yes, well, we maintain a permanent residence nearby," he explained.
Laurent couldn't hide his surprise when he heard this. "Really?" He turned to look at James, as if seeking the man's approval. The vampire didn't acknowledge the look. He and Edward were locked in a staring contest that I wanted no part of.
"Well, we won't be a problem anymore," Laurent continued, despite the lack of response. "We were just passing through."
Carlisle nodded. "Excellent," he said, but I heard a note of desperation creep into his voice.
Laurent either didn't hear it, or chose not to acknowledge it. "So, could you use three more players?" he asked eagerly. No one responded. "Oh, come on, just one game?"
Carlisle's tone changed as he responded. "Sure, why not? A few of us were leaving. You can take their place. We'll bat first."
Ah, he'd noticed an opening to get me out of here. Smart guy. I hoped he was smart enough to tell me where they were going. I wanted to track them down later.
He tossed the ball to Laurent, but Victoria's hand reached out and grabbed it. "I'm the one with the wicked curveball," she boasted.
I felt some of my anxiety ease as Jasper spoke. "Oh, well I think we can handle that," he drawled. Emmett ohhed in response.
Victoria and Laurent turned around and clapped their hands together in an awkward high-five. "We shall see," she whispered.
James didn't move.
I fought to keep my eyes from locking onto his. No doubt he would notice the dull brown and figure out that I wasn't one of them. I kept my gaze on the ground and noted that none of the newcomers had any shoes on. I wondered how I hadn't noticed before. I was getting sloppy.
Finally, he began to turn away…
…and then the wind picked up.
James's head tilted up and he sniffed the air like a dog. Then he turned to me and smirked. "You brought a snack."
For the next second, I felt like I was chained to a comet. Both James and Edward lurched forward into crouches. Then the Cullens - including Rosalie, much to my surprise - and Victoria and Laurent followed suit, growling like lions and tigers and werewolves.
Esme pulled me back and wrapped an arm around my shoulders protectively. Her other hand was free to fend off any attacks. My own hand was underneath my jacket, finger resting on the trigger of my gun, safety off with a muted click. My headache came back with a vengeance, only this time there was no vision.
I stared at James as the pressure built up behind my eyes and I knew - knew - KNEW - that if he tried that again, I could stop him from touching me. I could stop him from moving altogether! If I concentrated hard enough, I could shatter him to pieces, just as I'd done to the light bulb at home.
Honestly, why had I even brought a gun?
My moment of insanity disappeared along with my headache as Carlisle spoke. "The girl is with us. I think it best that you leave."
I never knew the Doc could sound so scary.
There was silence for a half-second as the trio's eyes locked on me. I gave them my best don't mess with me look; the one I'd mustered up every day in hell. It had been enough to make more than a few demons hesitant to go near me, and it seemed to have the same affect on Laurent.
"I can see the game is over. We'll go now." He took a step backwards and glanced to his right. "James."
The blond vampire lifted himself out of his crouch in a huff, and Victoria followed quickly behind him. They turned their backs on us arrogantly even as Laurent kept me in his sight. James leaned in and whispered something to the redhead as he wrapped an arm around her affectionately. She leaned toward him in response, glancing back once to look at me. I barely restrained myself from sticking my tongue out at her.
Finally, Laurent spun around and they hurried into the forest.
"Get Bella out of here," Carlisle ordered Edward. "Go!"
Instantly, he grasped my elbow and led me to the jeep in a rush. I flicked the safety back on my gun and grabbed my seat belt. Edward moved with barely restrained violence as he started the jeep and drove us out of the field.
"Listen to me," he ordered. Desperation coated his words as he explained. "James is a Tracker. The hunt is his obsession. I read his mind. My reaction at the field set him off. I just made this his most exciting game ever. He's never gonna stop!"
I grasped his shoulder firmly. "It's fine, Edward. I've been in worse jams then this," I said soothingly. I didn't like this panicky, furious Edward. Finally, I registered that we weren't heading back to my place. "Where are we going?" I demanded.
"Away from Forks," he answered. "We'll catch a ferry to Vancouver, and then-"
"I cannot leave my car!" I yelled, startling him.
"Forget about the car! Alice will look after it."
"No! You don't understand, Edward!" I fought to explain this quickly. "My whole life is in that car. I have my passports, and my fake I.D.s. Do you have any idea how hard it is to make those realistic?" I asked rhetorically. "Not to mention my journals, and my weapons. Please, Edward, I need these things to protect myself. Do you want to leave me defenceless?" I questioned.
"I'll look after you," he said.
"You can't protect me from everything, Edward," I told him. "You don't know how many things are out there, and you don't have a clue how to stop them if they come after me. Turn this jeep around and get me home, or I will jump out!" I unlocked my seat belt and reached for the door handle, just as he swerved onto the side of the road. I held onto my seat as he spun around, and then I put my seat belt back on.
"Fine," he clipped. "But just two minutes. Grab everything you'll need, and then we'll go back to my house and try to think of how to lead them away."
"Way ahead of you, Superman." I smirked. "This isn't the first time I've had to make tracks. I know a few tricks."
We arrived at my house in just a few minutes. I unlocked my seat belt again and jumped out onto the driveway. I then ran inside the house, leaving the door wide open, and snatched my keys off the kitchen table. Time was running out, so I took the stairs two at a time up to my room. I pulled my duffle bag out from under my bed, and packed it full with some clothes, a flask of holy water, and a bag of salt. I gave my room one last glance, telling myself that it was just because I wanted to make sure I didn't forget anything, and not because I was worried I'd never see it again.
My journal sat on my desk next to a pencil. I tucked it under my arm and then raced downstairs. Once there, I took out my cell phone.
"Bella, we don't-" Edward cut himself off. He looked out the window, searching for something.
Or someone.
Perfect.
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Hey guys. I know it's late. But I have a good excuse(s). I was a little sick last week, so I wasn't in the mood for writing, (or eating, moving, opening my eyes), but I'm feeling much better now. The second reason is (try to hold in your squeals of joy) I started the next chapter of Talent Search! Wahoo! Go me!
Now, let's be reasonable. I'm not going to have it up for a while, but I will update it as soon as I can.
What could Bella's plan be? And what about the fire from her vision? You'll find out in the next chapter.