Chapter 4

A little over a month after my near death experience in the school parking lot, I was finally without my wrist brace, and we were being blessed with more and more sun as Spring approached.

Of course it was never sunny for long, but about once a week there would be enough sun at lunch time that most of the school took their lunch out to the slightly mossy picnic tables outside the cafeteria. Though there was one notably absent group every single time. The Cullen's.

I noticed after a couple of sunny days in a row that when the whole day was sunny, they were all taken out of school, more than once I saw them all leave early before a sunny afternoon, and then on those days where we braved the cool temperatures to eat in the small amount of patchy sun, they all stayed indoors and away from the rest of the students.

Eventually Jessica noticed my curiosity.

"You've noticed the weirdos seem to be afraid of the sun?" She said. She was pearched on the top of the table we were at, her jacket shrugged off and her pale arms bared to the weak sunlight. It was one of the beautiful and rare sunny days today.

"Actually, yeah I have." I replied.

"It's so weird," Jessica continued. "Apparently on those sunny days they skip its because their parents take them camping and hiking and whatever, but look at the other guys who are outdoorsy people." She said, tilting her head to the three aside basketball game headed by Mike. His parents owned the outdoors store in town and Mike was the biggest sun lover in the school. He was even wearing a basketball jersey as a shirt today.

I normally wasn't one to gossip, but without the Cullen's at school today, and with everyone being so open about how they felt about the strange pale family, I was happy to indulge this time.

No one else seemed to be adding anything.

"So, I take it none of you girls are particularly outdoorsy?" I said. I was sitting with Jessica, Angela, and Lauren.

They all laughed, Lauren snorting a little as she did, which she tried to hide by picking up her bottle of sprite and drinking.

"No," Anglea said with a giggle. "I much prefer the mall than a trail."

All the other girls agreed.

"Acutally speak of the mall," Jessica explaimed, "We all need dresses for the dance in a couple of weeks."

And that was how we ended up piled into Lauren's mums car and on our way to Port Angeles to shop that Friday night. The great weather had continued for the rest of the week, and we found ourselves basking in the warm sunlight streaming in through the windows as Lauren drove. Angela and I were in the backseat, Jessica had called 'shotgun' early in the afternoon.

Our plans were to shop until dinner, then head to a little Italian place the girls all raved about, and maybe catch a movie afterwards. It wasn't often that were were able to get out of Forks all together, Jessica and Lauren both had part time jobs, and Angela looked after her younger brothers a lot, and this was the first girls trip I had actually been able to come to, I'd not even been in Forks for two months yet. So when the girls did head to Port Angeles, it was a bit of an event. And luckily Charlie was cool with it, as long as I was home by midnight.

Of course shopping wasn't my chosen past time, and I wasn't attending the upcoming dance, but I had found a bookstore in Port Angeles that held a lot of books on local ledgends. My internet research to track down the truth on the Cullen's had yielded zero results so far, and the boys on the res hadn't been much hope. So once I had done enough of my friendly duty with the dress shopping, I was ready for more answers.

"Would you guys mind if I ran off to a bookshop for a bit and met you at dinner?" I asked from where I was sitting in the window of the little dress boutique.

Lauren was in the little curtained off change room but I could still hear the little snort of laughter, while Jessica and Angela were admiring the dresses they had on in the full length mirrors beside where I sat.

"For real Bella?" Jessica answered, almost whining. "You really aren't going to try any dresses on and are leaving us for a book shop?" She pouted.

"Sorry Jess, but I'm busy the night of the dance anyway, and I really want to head to the bookshop before it closes, I've been wanting to visit it since I moved." I responded.

"Oh don't worry about Jess and Loz," Angela said. "You go to the bookshop and meet us at dinner, I know its no fun to just watch people try on dresses."

"Thanks Ange, you're the best." I said as I jumped to my feet, knocking my purse to the ground and watching as my belongings went flying. "Oh shit!" I was back down on my knees again and scooped everything back in, and was about to race out the door.

"By the way, Jess you should definitely go for the pink one, your boobs look great!" I said enthusiastically, hoping that flattering her would get me back in the good books.

"Fine!" She stage sighed. "But you better come shopping with us before prom and actually try something on!"

"I promise!" I yelled as I ran out the door and onto the street.

I had looked up the location of the store a couple of times and knew it was north of the dress boutique, then a left, across and intersection and a right. I would get there in no time, it was such a small town.

Though I wasn't prepared to be entering the slightly seedier side of Port Angeles to get to an alternative book and crystal shop.

To be completely fair, I hadn't even thought about the town having a seedier side. It seemed too small for that.

I passed a dive bar wih music blaring from behind the closed door, the neon sign flashing ominously and a thousand motorcycles parked outside, and made my way further into the strange backstreets before any of the smokers outside saw. And finally, around the last corner, I found the little shop. It was an old house with a tiny porch filled with plants spilling out onto the sidewalk, and everything about it screamed that it was an alternative hippie place, the kind of place that sells every crystal you can imagine and is staffed by a woman in her sixties with grey hair down to her waist and a million bangles on her wrists.

Exactly the kind of place Renee had dragged me to a million times throughout my childhood as she looked for her next spiritul answer.

Perhaps this wasn't the place to go, but their website showed a few hits for books containing local ledgends and folklore. Short of asking some of the tribal elders, which was sure to get me nowhere, it was my last chance at figuring this mystery out.

The lady at the counter looked exactly as I imagined her to, and the smell of incense hung heavily in the air, while the slightly lower than comfortable lighting left me feeling claustrophobic, like I was stuck in a cave. But still there was something kind of comforting about it anyway, it did feel like my childhood. And given the age of the shop, it had to be somewhere Renee had visited at least a few times while she lived with Charlie.

I made my was as quickly as I could to the books at the rear of the store without being rude and down right ignoring the quirky woman, and began my search in earnest. I knew the title of the book. I knew the author. I knew this shop had carried the book. I just had to hope there was a copy on the shelf.

I trailed my finger along the book shelves, picking up just the smallest amount of dust along the way. Making my way through the alphabet to the section I needed. Finally after getting down to my hands and knees, I found it.

It was larger than I expected. More like a textbook than the casual book I had anticipated. But it was beautiful. The cover looked like it was made of wood, and had a forest scene seemingly burned into it. I was enraptured by its beauty, and hoped it could answer some of my burning questions.

"Did you find what you were looking for, dear?" The quirky woman asked, scaring me out of my thoughts. She was standing beside me, somehow I didn't hear her appreach even with the thousands of bangles on her arms that even seemed to jingle as she stood still, as did the anklets I could now see on her slim legs from beneth her long skirt and above her bare feet.

I nearly dropped the precious book as I startled.

"Oh, yes thank you." I responded as I carefully made my way to my feet, clutching the book to my chest.

She smiled at me and gestured to the book.

"If you want to take a few minutes to have aread before you buy that one, go ahead. I'll be closing in about twenty minutes though."

I thanked her quickly, and then took a seat on the small ottoman next to the bookcase where I had found my treasure.

I flipped to the section on Pacific Northwest legents and skimmed through the small text until I found the lean section lablled 'Quileute Tribe'. Just one paragraph. Less than a quarter of the next smallest section I had seen.

I knew from my time in La Push that the tribe was exceptionally small and kept to themselves for the most part. Charlie and I were probably some of the only nonresidents who frequented the small village. Certainly they didn't like to share their legends with many people. But I read what was there several times over.

The legends of the Quileute Tribe, located on the north western most coast of the Olympic Peninsular, are closely guarded and not often told to outsiders. The commonly told story of the creation of the tribe is they decended from great wolves, and use the power of these wolves to protect the tribe. The enemy of the wolves was said to be powerful beings refered to by a name that translates to 'Cold Ones'. This myth of a powerful being with skin cold to the touch is repeated in other neighbouring tribes and communities.

It wasn't a definitive answer. In fact it was almost not an answer at all. But it was pointing me to other sections of this large book, and hopefully there would be further answers in there.

I knew I had been sitting in the dark area for a while, and the kindly woman was probably wanting to close up for the night, so I decided to buy the book anyway. Even if it didn't have the exact answers I wanted at first glance, it would provide to be an entertaining and educational read anyway. Plus, the book had some footnotes on the Quileute section as to other ones to check out.

I quickly paid the twenty dollars and stepped out of the claustrophobic store, and heard the owner slide the lock behind me.

Now I knew Ihad to head back south to find the more touristy area again and the restaurant to meet in, but I wanted to check my map first before setting off in completely the wrong direction.

I dug through my bag, my purse wasn't large but one of those bags without any pockets and it was almost always impossible to find anything, and desperately tried to grab my phone.

Except after far too long searching through the bottom of the bag, I realised I didn't have my phone at all.

I was stuck in the seedy part of a town I only knew in glancing familiarity, with only a vague recollection of how to get back. Well, this was fun.

I rearranged myself, swinging the strap of the tote back my new book was housed in over my shoulder along with my purse strap, and began the walk back to the dress shop.

Once I was there, hopefully it would be open and I would be able to find my phone, which surely must have just fallen out of my bag when I knocked it everywhere. And if the store wasn't open, at least I would be in the right area of the town to find the restaurant and the girls.

I set off towards the south, confident that if I could first find that seedy dive bar, I'd know I was on the right track.

I reached an intersection that looked somewhat familiar, and I was certain I needed to head right here. But as I made my way down that street I began to feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

It was a mild day, but the temperature seemed to be dropping, and I began to feel a little on edge.

But I was fine. I had lived in Phoenix for a decade, this little town was far less dangerous and scary than any big city.

I heard a crash to my left and jumped what felt like three feet into the air. Quickly I looked around and tried to see what made the sound, and I saw a trashcan lying on its side across the street.

Had it fallen?

From down the street, past where I had just come from, I heard a raucous laugh and I quickly turned to see four men walking my way. Or perhaps staggering.

Two of the men had their arms around each other, and all of them were carrying bottles of some kind, and egging each other on.

I deep coldness settled into my stomach.

They has seen me, were walking right towards me, and there were no other streets between them and me where they could be heading.

I quickly turned back in the direction I was heading, no longer sure it was the correct one, and desperatly tried to gain some more space between me and the group.

"Aww baby, don't run away, we just wanna talk!" One yelled as they continued to gain on me, even in their drunken state.

I huffed as I continued to try and out pace them.

But it was no use.

I was tiny, I had small legs and almost no co-ordination at the best of times let alone when my pulse was thundering in my ears and I could nearly taste the adreneline in my system.

I was still a hundred feet from the nearest intersection, and even getting there would likely offer me no additional security. The streets were silent and deserted other than my stalkers.

They continued to yell and whistle at me as I broke into a jog, but that only seemed to encourage them more.

I could hear their heavy footfalls as they started to run after me, and the cold sitting in the depth of my stomach reinforced the odea they weren't wanting to simply have a friendly conversation with me.

I was so close to the intersection, running now, but they were gaining.

Maybe if I made it those extra feet to the other road there might be someone who would see me.

If I could just take the next three steps, maybe I would find my refuge.

I was so close. I could almost taste the near safety this corner seemed to offer me when one of the men managed to grab a hold of my arm.

I was so close.

But now I was off balance and I tumbled like a bag of stones.

I could hear the other three still gaining on us and I rolled myself over to at least look at the man who had managed to trip me.

He stared at me like a starving animal at a piece of meat. His mouth was pulled up to the side in a sinister half grin. His greasy blond hair hung to his sweaty forehead and his muddy brown eyes seemed to be looking at all of me as well as all of what he planned with me.

Any moment now they would all be upon me, and it was all over. There was no escape from this. I didn't have a phone, I didn't have pepper spray. There was no weapon stashed in my purse. All I had was a beautiful book.

I took a breath and resigned myself to having to try and fight them as best as I could with the limited self defense skills Charlie had taught me over the years, and I just hoped that I could do my dad proud with my efforts. Another deep breath and I readied myself. Perhaps I could swing the book into his greasy face and stun him? Probably not from where I still sat on the ground, too stunned to move over the last few seconds since I hit the ground.

The other three had caught up to me, and joined the greasy one in staring down at me like they wanted to eat me.

My breath began to seemingly get stuck in my chest and catch in my throat as I raggedly tried to get as much oxygen as I could.

It seemed to have been hours since I first spotted the men.

Suddenly, I heard a screech of tyres as a car drifted around the very corner that I had sought refuge behind.

It was a shiny, silver hatch and pulled some kind of familiarity from my jumbled brain.

Instantly, like he formed out of thin air, Edward Cullen stood protectivly over her. Growling.

Growling like an animal.

He pushed the greasy man away from her, and the man seemed to fly back feet further than should have been possible.

But of course Edward was stronger than he looked. He had stopped the van after all.

He was still growling and was half squating, like he was crouching down about to attack the attackers.

"Bella!" He snarled, barely looking over his shoulder to me. "Bella, get in the car!" He snarled again, looking back to the men on the street who had seemingly sobered up enough to look for where to run. Other than the greasy man who was unconscious on the ground.

"Dammit, get in the car! Now!" He yelled.

I was still on the ground, where I had been since being tripped.

But something about Edward unfroze me.

I scrambled to my feet, looked to his car.

And then he began to stalk towards the men, like a lion hunting its defenseless prey.

Something snapped.

I took two steps towards Edward's shiny,m silver volvo, still running and with the drivers door open.

And instead of listening to this dangerous creature that looked like a strange mix between a teenage boy and a snarling beast, I ran.

Straight down the street I had been aiming for, which as I ran I realised was the street the dress shop was on.

I could see the sign down the road, and out the front was Lauren's mums car.

I didn't stop running until I nearly slammed into the car, panicing the other girls.

"Bella! Oh my God!" Jessica nearly screamed. "Are you okay?"

I just nodded as I leant against the car, hands on my knees and panting. I had never run so hard in my life and all of the adreneline had left me.

Angela laid her hand gently on my shoulder and I tried so hard not to flinch.

"Bella," She said gently as if she were negotiating a hostage situation. "Did something happen?"

I took another two gasping breaths before I could finally reply.

"I-got-lostand-I-didn't-have-my-phone-and-then-these-guys-started-following-me-and-they-were-cat-calling-me-and-I-freaked-out-and-I-just-ran." I blurted out. Every bone in my body screamed at me to not bring up Edward. There was something so feral about him it terrified me to my bones and I didn't want anyone to know until I figured it out.

The girls were silent for three seconds while my heartbeat continued to pound in my ears.

"Only you Bella Swan,"Lauren said with a little smirk. "You are such a magnet for danger."

And then I lost it, after all of the adreneline and terror, I just started laughing. Quickly Jessica and then Angela started giggling too, and suddenly we were all in hysterics.

"Oh, I have your phone, by the way." Jessica eventually said, "It must have fallen out of your bag and under the couch you were sitting on bu I heard it ringing, you have like six missed calls." She said as she pulled it from her purse.

I lit up the screen quickly to see eight missed calls. All from an unknown number in rapid succession.

"Must be a scam or a prank or something." I brushed it off. There was something too strange about this.

"Well, now you've found us again, let's eat." Lauren said.

"I need some sugar after that." I laughed as we began to walk down the street, the girls giggling with me. I didn't want to acknowledge just how terified I had been, and it seemed like they were willing to let it go to.

But as we walked, I couldn't help but fall silent, just walking along with them as they spoke, joking around, being typical teenage girls.

The hairs on the back of my neck were still standing up uncomfortably. My instincts still screaming at me to run from something.

I tried to push it to the back of my mind as we entered the restaurant and were quickly seated.

I ordered a coke on autopilot and whatever pasta I pointed at. I think it has mushrooms. And waited for the feeling of being hunted to leave.

Because that's what it felt like. Something deeply primal within me knew I was being hunted, and I was sure it wasn't the drunk me on the street. There was something more sinister than that.

I was pulled out of my thoughts by Jessica's high pitched whisper.

"Oh my God, don't look all at once but there's Cullen's at the door." She said.

I was sitting on the same side of the table as Jess, and could easily see the door.

Sure enough, Edward stood beside the hostess's little podium with one of his sisters. The small one with black hair.

She hadn't been with him when he found me on the street. I was sure of it.

The freezing feeling settled back into the pit of my stomach, and I ached to run.

Our food arrived as the two pale creatures that looked almost like any random couple of high schoolers out on a Friday night were seated at a table between us and the door. If I wanted to run I would have to walk right past them.

I excused myself to the bathroom, the opposite side of the restaurant, and splashed some water on my face. Thankfully I wasn't big on make up, I had no idea how to really do my face, and so after patting dry with s crinkly paper towel, I didn't look like a hot mess.

I leaned against the sink for a moment and took some deeper breaths.

Whatever had happened earlier in the street, at least in a crowded restaurant there couldn't be any repeat of the strange predatorial behaviour I had seen from Edward.

I took what felt like the thousandth deep, calming breath of the night, and turned to leave.

As I reached for the door to the bathroom, it opened to reveal Edward's tiny, dark haired sister.

"Oh, hi Bella, how are you?" She asked with a smile and a far away look in her eyes.

I didn't even answer her, I just pushed past her and made my way out of the bathroom. I didn't even care it was rude.

My meal was sitting on the table when I returned and the other girls had begun to eat.

I picked at a few pieces of pasta, which I'm sure would have been amazing had I not been so on edge, and waited for them to eat.

Eventually, the food was gone, the waitress asking a few too many times if everything was okay with mine but I just played it off on not feeling well.

"You are looking a little bit pale Bella," Angela said, concerned. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah," I assured her. "I just managed to scare myself a bit earlier, and now I'm just exhausted."

They all nodded sympathetically with me.

"If I'm being honest, I'm really not feeling like a movie and then driving home either." Lauren agreed.

"Shall we get the cheque and head home then?" Angela asked the table. We all nodded, no need to discuss further.

A few minutes later, our cash sat in the folder on the table with a tip, and we pulled on our coats to head back to the car. I had almost forgotten Edward was sitting between me and the door until I felt that prickling at the back of my neck once again.

I looked up to see him staring at me, his eyes unforgivingly black, like the darkest of nights.

I swallowed almost adibly, and steeled myself to walk past. Determined to not look into his eyes ever again. They looked like eyes that had seen death and destruction.

I fixed my eyes to the ground and followed closely behind Angela as we all filed out.

Just steps away from the door and the strange man creature, who I was sure wasn't human, I felt a bone chilling cold in my hand. My eyes snapped to it as I snatched my hand away.

It was Edward's hand that had brushed past mine as I walked.

My step faltered for a half a second, before the terifying cold settled back into my stomach.

Quickly, I stumbled forward and out of the restaurant, before I could have any further interaction with Edward.