As usual, Izzy started off her world religions class strong. She took endless pages of notes and answered every question correctly. To top it all off, Professor Smith called her comments during the group discussion 'wise and insightful." Maybe Jake was wrong, it was possible to keep every ball in the air without going insane. All she needed was a ride in the fresh fall air and a quadruple shot of espresso in her afternoon coffee.

Unfortunately, Izzy's stint as a half-decent student didn't last long after she drained the last of her coffee. By the time the half-way mark passed, Izzy had been forced to divert all remaining energy from taking notes to keeping her droopy eyelids open. She'd been a fool to think any amount of coffee could compensate for six hours of sleep spread out over three days.

'I can't take anymore of this," Leah moaned to Jake and Izzy. "I just fell asleep in the freaking shower! You guys should have said no! We're humans in need of rest, not dog rescuing robots!"

While Izzy's brain knew Leah was right, her heart begged to differ. How could they have even thought about turning their backs on five pregnant husky mixes? Leaving them in the shelter would have been the same as signing their death warrants. Those poor, emaciated dogs had already been through so much. They, and the puppies growing inside them, deserved a chance to find a loving home. She'd just have to find a way to keep her GPA up with zero sleep or time to study.

Izzy was about to drift off to sleep when she heard someone playing the guitar. How strange. The music department was all the way across again, one never knew what to expect at Olympia community college. She'd once found a group of seniors square dancing in the library. Much to everyone's surprise, the ever-suffering librarian didn't even bat an eye. She was just glad it wasn't another herd of goats nibbling on the philosophy books.

Nessie, Izzy's friend and classmate, poked her in the ribs.

"Marie," she hissed. "Your phone!"

Izzy's face turned crimson when she realized the entire class was staring at her. Hoping it wasn't another Black Pack crisis, Izzy scrambled to check her phone.

When Izzy saw who was calling, she wished it was another problem at the rescue. It was Esme. She'd called twice and left over a dozen text messages. Izzy noticed the date and bit her lip. It was October 1st, the anniversary of the day Esme and Carlisle adopted their sons. The family celebrated it like a birthday complete with cake, presents, and the most anticipated party of the year. Now, there was no cake or party and the only presents were wreaths for their children's graves.

Knowing there was nothing she could do to help Esme, Izzy apologized to the class and silenced her phone.

"As I was saying," Professor Smith continued. "Cults are not just a thing of the past. There are over 10,000 cults currently operating in the United States."

That impossibly large number drained any residual sleepiness from Izzy's system. While her travels with the band had exposed her to plenty of weirdos, she would never have guessed there were over 10,000 cults in the world. That number existing in the United States alone was mind-boggling.

"Most cults are small and prefer to stay under the radar." Professor Jones continued. "Because of the Waco massacre, most law enforcement officers are hesitant to intervene without good reason." He paused and looked around the room. "Have any of you heard the news about the Denali family?"

While most people nodded their heads, Izzy had no idea what he was talking about. The only news she came into contact with was the newspapers lining the bottom of dog crates.

"Over the last six months, a dozen people have disappeared in Talkeetna and the surrounding towns. Until recently, police believed there was a serial killer targeting tourists." Professor Smith paused and cleared his throat. "That theory was proven incorrect when A hiker found Bree Tanner badly injured in the woods. She wasn't much older than you."

The name Bree Tanner rang a bell. Izzy recalled meeting her parents during a benefit concert in Portland. fifteen-year-old Bree disappeared while on vacation with her family in Talkeetna. She'd been gone for over two years, but her parents still believed she was alive. While she knew the odds of a happy ending were slim, Izzy understood the pain of not knowing and took a flyer promising to keep an eye out for their baby girl.

"While Bree's injuries proved fatal, she was able to tell investigators about the Denali family compound where she'd been held captive." Professor Smith paused, delighted that for once all 25 of his students were awake and paying attention. "After a twelve-hour standoff ending in a gunfight, the FBI and Alaskan state troopers stormed the compound and found something horrifying."

Izzy was on the edge of her seat. All they needed was a campfire and the crash of waves and it would be like they were on First Beach listening to Sam share tribal legends with the next generation of Quileutes.

"There were dozens of people, including children as young as four, spread out over the compound with their incisor teeth sharpened to points. Most had fatal gunshot wounds."

Izzy felt sick to her stomach as she thought of Bree. While she'd never met her in person, she knew Bree loved horses, softball, and playing with her younger siblings. For the age of six, she knew she'd need to study hard if she wanted to become a doctor like her dad when she grew up. The family trip to Alaska was a reward for graduating at the top of her eighth-grade class and being accepted into a prestigious private high school. Now, thanks to a madman, she'd never have the bright future she'd worked so hard for.

"Investigators believe cult leader Eleazar Denali shot his own followers and used the ensuing chaos to escape." Professor Smith said. "Police are unsure of his current whereabouts."

"Why would someone do something like that?" Nessie asked, tears streaming down her face. "Hurt little kids?"

Professor Smith considered Nessie's question for a moment before answering. "I wish we knew."

He looked up at the clock. It was 6:20. The class had been over for twenty minutes, yet no one had even thought about leaving.

"Class dismissed." Professor Smith said. "Don't forget, the midterm will be next week Friday at 12:30 in this room."

With that, people started gathering their belongings and moving towards the exit while chatting about weekend plans. None seemed as shaken as Nessie.

Izzy placed a hand on Nessie's back. "You okay?"

Nessie wiped her eyes and nodded. "Yeah. It's just horrible to think there are other people out there like that. Other people like...him."

Izzy was about to ask Nessie who "him" was when the overpowering scent of cologne made her eyes water. As always, Mike Newton had picked the worst possible moment to make an appearance.

"Hey Marie," he said, sliding into the chair next to Izzy's. "I scored two tickets to the Wolves concert in Seattle this weekend. You in?"

Izzy rolled her eyes. "No thank you."

"You sure?" Mike asked, wiggled his eyebrows. "I went to high school with Izzy Swan. I bet I could get us backstage passes."

Izzy wanted to slap him upside the head. How was it that he'd made it almost an entire semester without realizing Marie Olivia Masen, or Mom as Nessie often called her, was Izzy Swan wearing fake glasses and a blonde wig? Maybe there was a reason why he was in his fifth year of community college with only a handful of credits to show for it.

"Come on, Marie," Mike said. "You know you want to."

Izzy rolled her eyes. Not after last time. Someone could offer her tickets to a luxury European cruise and she wouldn't accept if it meant enduring another date from hell with Mike.

"No thank you," Izzy said.

Mike pouted. "Why not?"

The corner of Nessie's mouth twitched. "I think Marie has plans this weekend."

Unlike Mike, Nessie figured out Izzy's true identity right away. Much to Izzy's relief, Nessie didn't blab to the paparazzi or ask for an autograph. She understood why Izzy would prefer not to be mobbed by fans. Other than sharing her notes on the days concerts overlapped with class, she never treated Izzy and differently than her other friends. For that, Izzy was grateful.

"How about you, Nessie," Mike asked. "Are you free this weekend?"

"I'll be spending the weekend studying," Nessie said. "Midterms are just around the corner."

"I've got a 100% foolproof exam strategy," Mike lowered his voice to a whisper. "Always pick C. You're guaranteed at least a B."

Izzy snorted. "That only works in classes where there are more than two answer options."

"Two answer options?"

"Yes. A for true and B for false." Nessie said slowly as if talking to a particularly dull child. "Like the quizzes we do every week for homework."

"What quizzes?" Mike asked. "I haven't been doing any quizzes!"

Izzy shook her head. She didn't need a crystal ball to see a sixth year of school in Mike's future.

"Marie," Nessie said. "Is that your phone I hear ringing again?"

Mike furrowed his brow. "I don't hear anything."

Izzy didn't hear anything either but had grown tired of Mike's weak attempts at flirting.

"You're right, Nessie," Izzy said with a smile. "We should probably answer it. It could be important." She looped her arm through Nessie's and dragged her towards the exit.

"Wait! Stop!" Mike exclaimed. "Where are you going? It doesn't take two people to answer a phone call!"

Unfortunately for Mike, his protests fell on deaf ears. Nessie and Izzy were already out the door racing down the hallway with zero intentions of waiting or stopping.

Knowing Mike wouldn't think to check for them there, Izzy and Nessie went to the library and collapsed in a fit of giggles in their favorite study room.

"Do you see the look on his face when he told us about his exam strategy?" Izzy asked, gasping for breath.

"I believe it was something like this," Nessie said, crossing her eyes and sticking her tongue out. "Herp de derp. I am so smart. S.M.R.T!"

"Hold that pose," Izzy said, tears of laughter streaming down her face."That's so becoming your new contact picture!"

She grabbed her phone to take a picture only to freeze before she got to the camera. There were almost a hundred missed calls and texts. Even for Esme that was a lot. Her thoughts immediately went to Carlisle. Could something have gone wrong at the clinic?

Hoping things weren't as they feared, Izzy played the first of many voicemails.

"Bella!" Esme exclaimed. "It's Esme! Pick up your phone! I found them! Edward, Jasper, and Emmett are alive. They're hurt, but alive. We have to get to them! Come to my house as soon as you get this message!"

Izzy sighed. She thought Esme was learning to cope with her grief. It had been over a year since the last time she "found the guys."

Curious as to which corner of the world Esme wanted them to jet off to this time, Izzy played the next message.

"Bella! Esme shouted. They're in a place called Talkeetna, Alaska! They were taken by some type of cult! There's no time to get our plane ready, so we'll have to fly commercial. I already bought the tickets so you just have to.."

Izzy stopped playing the message before Esme could finish her rambling. As much as she wished it wasn't true, the guys were dead. They'd been dead for five years and running off to Alaska wouldn't magically bring them back to life.

Izzy took a deep breath and put her phone down.

"Want to get dinner? she asked Nessie. "I think they're serving pizza in the caf."

Izzy grabbed her bag and moved towards the door. Nessie didn't move a muscle. "Don't you have to go to Esme's house?"

"Why?"

Pizza was probably the only thing the Olympia Community College dining hall served that was even half-way edible. They'd have to hurry if they wanted more than crumbs and wilted salad.

"So you can stop Esme from going to Alaska," Nessie said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Izzy sighed and returned to her chair." I'm not going."

"Why not?"

"If Esme wants to go that fine, but I don't have time for another wild goose chase. I have a dog rescue to run, homework to do and songs to write."

"But what about Eleazar Denali? Nessie asked. He's still on the loose!"

"Esme is a smart, determined woman. Izzy replied. "She'll be fine."

Nessie looked down at the table. "How much do you know about my Mom?"

Izzy scowled at the mention of that vile woman. "That she's a narcissistic witch who only takes in foster kids for a paycheck."

Nessie took a shaky breath. "Not my foster mom, my biological mom."

"Well...nothing then."

In the same way Izzy changed the subject when weddings came up, Nessie was quick to steer the conversation away from adoption. Izzy never pried figuring Nessie would explain when she was ready.

Nessie closed her eyes and exhaled slowly. "When she was a teenager, my mom went away to church camp and came back with a little souvenir...me. Her parents kicked her out, so she went to the father for help."

Izzy's thoughts went to her own parents. Renee was a few months shy of seventeen when she found out she was pregnant. Even though they'd broken up earlier that week, Charlie came right over and held close when she told her parents. He wiped her tears away as they packed up her childhood bedroom and moved into his parent's dingy basement.

Nessie started wringing her hands. "He was older...and married. He gave my mom a couple of thousand dollars for an abortion and told her never to show up at his home again. A few months later, she gave birth alone in the county hospital under a fake name."

Renee started her senior year with a baby bump and a wedding ring on her finger. Nine months later, on what would have been her prom night, Isabella Marie Swan came into the world with a full head of dark hair and a set of lungs ready for the opera.

"Between diapers for me, food for her, and hotel rooms when it got too cold to sleep outside, it wasn't long before the money from my father ran out," Nessie said. "My mom tried to find a job, but no one was willing to keep a fourteen-year-old who called out half the time to stay home with her sick daughter on payroll."

When Bella was six months old, Charlie's parents were killed in a robbery gone wrong. His wages from the local steel mill were barely enough to keep food on the table let alone cover the mortgage. Renee wanted more than anything to ease the financial burden on her husband, but there was no one willing to watch Bella while she worked. By Bella's first birthday, they were forced to sell the house and move to a rundown apartment complex on the bad side of town. It didn't take long for twelve hours shifts and endless packets of ramen to wreak havoc on their relationship.

Nessie started fiddling with one of her bronze curls. "One day, right around Christmas, it started to snow. My mom didn't have money for a motel, so she ducked inside a church to get warm."

Renee grew up going to church every Sunday and wanted his daughter to do the same. Charlie, who preferred spending his Sundays sleeping in and drinking beer, refused to accompany them on all days that weren't Easter or Christmas. Charlie's lackluster enthusiasm for church became yet another thing for them to fight about.

"When the pastor found us, my mom thought he would take one look at her dirty clothes and make us leave, but instead he gave her something to eat and asked her to stay for the sermon," Nessie said. "Afterwards, he told her about a place she could go. A good place, a farm with food, warm beds, and other kids for me to play with." Nessie wiped away a single tear. "My mom thought it was a Christmas miracle, but it turned out to be more of a Christmas nightmare. There were beds and food, but there were also guns, barbed wire fences, and all-night prayer sessions." She paused and looked up at Izzy. "You must think we were idiots for staying."

Izzy shook her head. "No."

Izzy thought about some of the places she lived with Renee after the divorce. The motel with the stained mattresses and algae-filled pool. The women's shelter where babies cried all night and no one ever felt full. The dark, painful places not even Jacob, who she told everything, knew about. Most of all she thought about Phil and his little ranch house in Arizona. At first, it seemed like paradise. Bella had her own room and there was always plenty to eat. Best of all, They were within walking distance of one of the best elementary schools in the state. Then Phil showed his true colors. Renee feared the consequences of leaving would be far worse than a black eye and a sore lip.

"How did you escape?" Izzy asked.

Nessie needed a moment to compose herself before continuing her story. "When I was eleven, Pastor Emmanual had a vision of me marrying Nahuel, his second in command. By then, my mom was eight months pregnant and didn't have the energy to fight when they took me away. What happened after that isn't important."

"What happened to your mom?" Izzy asked.

"What happened next isn't important," Nessie repeated.

Izzy begged to differ. What happened next was the most important part of the story. She needed to know if Nessie had the same regrets she did. If she ever spent the night staring at the ceiling wondering if there was something she could have done differently. Something to save her mother.

"The only thing that's important right now is Esme," Nessie said. "That Eleazar guy is still on the loose. Guys like him prey on desperate, broken people like her." Nessie looked into Izzy's eyes. "If you care at all about Esme, you'll stop her from going to Alaska."