"Is it supposed to storm again tonight?" Rosalie asked, plopping down on the couch with the television's remote control in her hand.
"Try the weather station," Mike suggested.
"Or maybe an I-phone." Jacob rolled his eyes.
"Do you even get service out here? Cuz I don't unless I go to certain spots."
Everyone in the room simultaneously glanced down at their phones.
"I've run into the same problem," Carlisle said with a nod. "I found a spot kind of by the lifeguard stand if you can catch it right."
"Good to know," Mike said with a nod. He shoved his phone into the pocket of his green cargo shorts and folded his arms over his chest.
Emmett grabbed a Diet Coke and slumped beside Rosalie on the couch. "So, any plans for the rest of the evening?" He looked around the room.
A few people shrugged, but no one said anything.
Rosalie flipped through the stations until she found the local weather. "I wouldn't suggest a fire," she told them all, "Looks like rain will be here within the hour."
"Bummer." Emmett scrunched his nose, and then stood up. "They got any good videos here?" He strolled over toward a cabinet that appeared to be filled with DVDs and even a few VHS tapes.
"I think it'd be a good idea to beat the rain this time and make sure everything's covered up," Jasper said. He stood up from the leaned position he was in against the door. "Alice?" He grinned, "Care to go check on some of our equipment... the archery targets?"
Alice smiled, jumping from the edge of the counter where she sat with her legs dangling off. "Sure."
"You should take a flashlight," Esme suggested, "It's getting dark."
"Good idea."
"Umbrella?" Jacob asked.
"Nah," Jasper grinned, "We'll beat the rain... and if not, there are a number of other cabins around."
"I don't think we'll melt," Alice added with a giggle. "Come on Jas." The two of them gave a wave before heading out the front door.
Esme looked at Carlisle, waving a deck of cards. "Want to play something?"
"Sure." He glanced at Edward and Bella, who stood beside them, "Want to join?"
"Yeah," Bella said with a nod. She looked at Edward and the four of them made their way to a table in front of the kitchen windows.
"There is nothing on TV," Rosalie complained, huffing as she did.
Emmett turned from where he stood by the DVD collection. "Get your swimsuit."
"What?"
He grinned, "Let's go for a night swim."
"Really?" her voice was a combination of leery and interested.
"Why not?"
Rosalie stared at her beau with his big smile and dimples to match. A smile took over her face. "Alright. There aren't alligators or anything that come out here at night are there?"
He laughed, drawing one from Jacob, Mike and Leah as well.
"No, babe," Emmett assured her, "I think we're safe."
She sighed.
"He didn't say there weren't snakes though," Jacob told her.
"What?" Rosalie looked at him.
"Don't listen to him," Emmett urged, now towing her by the hand. "Let's go before it starts to rain."
The two of them disappeared down the hall, emerging a few moments later clad in their swimwear and toting a pair of towels.
"Have fun," Leah said with a smile.
"We will." Rosalie snickered and lead the way out the door.
Jacob glanced at Leah, who smiled and shook her head.
"I'm still a little pissed at you," she told him.
Jacob grinned and snickered, putting his hands on his hips. "For what?"
Leah raised her eyebrows. "Do I even need to explain?"
"What that kiss?"
She laughed. "It was a one way kiss. You do know that, don't you?"
"Was it?"
Mike looked back and forth between the two of them.
"Do you want to take a walk?" Leah asked him.
Jacob's eyes widened just a little bit and he saw Bella glance in his direction with a half-grin. He then looked back at Leah. "Yeah."
"Great." She smiled, "I'll get the umbrella."
"It's not suppose to rain for another hour or so I thought."
Leah smiled and headed toward the closet, removing an umbrella big enough for the both of them. "Just in case I actually enjoy your company and we get caught in the rain."
He smiled a little wider, "Fair enough."
They waltzed out of the cabin, not saying much of a word to anyone else as they went, leaving Mike standing by himself in the center of the living room.
"Hey Mike," Bella called over to him, "Do you want to play cards with us?"
He shrugged and then shook his head, "Maybe in a little bit. I'm going to go shower. I smell like the lake."
"Okay," she said, "Well when you finish we'll be here."
Esme nodded in agreement, "We'll reset the game so it's fair. You should join us."
"Yeah, maybe." He nodded and headed down the hall.
"Why don't we take this game to the little table out on the porch?" Edward suggested. "It's a little stuffy in here and we'll be safe from the weather either way."
Carlisle looked to Esme, who nodded.
"Yeah," she agreed, "It is summer. Let's take advantage of it."
"Yeah we'll be wishing we could go sit outside when December rolls around."
The four of them headed out onto the front porch, bringing the cards with them, as well as a few snacks and some sodas.
Mike wandered down the hall, feeling slightly sorry for himself in not having a partner in crime to spend the evening with. He assumed they would all reconvene at some point in the evening before bed, but since Jacob and Leah had gone for their walk, he suddenly felt like the odd man out.
The cabin felt suddenly quiet, and every little noise could be heard. A low creaking sound came from the back of the house down a back hallway.
Mike stopped for a moment and listened when he heard a set of footsteps begin and the immediately stop.
"Hello?" he called out lowly, letting his eyes wander back and forth.
There was another set of footsteps.
"Hello?" he paused, "Can I help you?"
Mike took his time rounding a corner that lead to the back door of the large house. The large, wooden door was open about six inches and swayed just slightly for several seconds before it stood still.
He sighed, looking once over his shoulder before crossing toward the door to close it. For a moment, Mike stared down at the handle, wondering to himself who had crossed through the door.
"Alice?" he said, "Jasper?"
Nothing.
"Hello?" Mike spun completely around to take in his surroundings from all angles. He walked around the corner, looking for signs of entrance before retracing his steps back toward where he came from. The creaking of a bedroom door made his head snap up, and the door to the room shared by Edward, Bella and Jacob had opened just an inch or two.
"Bella?" he asked quietly. "Edward? Jake?'
Mike tiptoed toward the room and pushed the door open slightly, seeing nothing but darkness. When he attempted to flip the switch on, light failed to fill the room.
"What the hell?" he asked himself, noting that he could see the pale light that filtered in from the kitchen. In the darkness, he managed to see that a tall lamp near the doorway had been unplugged and so he took it upon himself to plug it back in.
Mike squatted down, shaking his head, still confused about what was going on. A creak on the floorboards behind him made him stiffen up and turn around.
"Hello?" he whispered. A lump suddenly developed in his throat and the feeling of being in immediate danger suddenly took over his being.
In the darkness he could make out a figure; tall, broad shouldered and walking toward him with something covering his face.
"Emmett..." Panic paralyzed him, and his heavy feet stayed in place as the figure reached an arm out, clutching his shoulder hard before plunging a machete through the center of his chest.
Mike didn't have time to think or react. Blood began to fill his mouth, and the last thing he saw before everything faded out was a hockey mask.