Chapter 14: Making Plans

Sgt. Gregory had just gotten back to his desk after the longest morning of his career. His muscles ached, and the tension in his shoulders felt like a permanent fixture. His wife had roused him in the middle of the night, pushing the phone into his hand. He had been concerned at first that something had happened to one of his parents, who were getting up there in age, but it had been the precinct.

"Gregory, you need to come in. Now. It's urgent," the voice on the other end had said, terse and to the point. He didn't get much info other than it was in regard to some sort of terrorist attack. That woke him up real quick, and he hurriedly got dressed and drove to the station, his mind racing with worst-case scenarios.

The drive through the pre-dawn streets felt surreal, the usual calm of the early hours shattered by the sense of impending crisis. Once at the station, it had been one meeting after another, a relentless barrage of briefings and strategy sessions. The fluorescent lights overhead buzzed incessantly, adding to his growing headache.

No one really knew what had happened out in central Mass. The reports were conflicting and chaotic. The boys from DC still couldn't make heads or tails of it. Gregory had sifted through write-ups and calls from the first responders at the scene, but piecing together the puzzle of what had happened out there was above his pay grade.

It was now mid-afternoon, and he had finally gotten a break before his next meeting in an hour. He sank into his chair, rubbing his temples, trying to stave off the exhaustion that threatened to overwhelm him. The precinct was buzzing with activity—phones ringing, officers huddled in tense discussions. The air was thick with a mix of uncertainty but clear determination.

Opening the tuna sandwich he had bought from the vending machine down the hall, Sgt. Gregory allowed himself a rare smile, anticipating his first bite. The stale smell of the office was momentarily replaced by the scent of mayonnaise and fish, a small comfort in an otherwise relentless day. But just as he was about to sink his teeth into the sandwich, the dispatcher's voice crackled through the intercom.

"Sir, I have a Chief Swan for you."

"Who?" Gregory asked, his eyes lingering longingly on the sandwich.

"He says he spoke to you the other day. He is the Police Chief in Forks, Washington."

He remembered now. The man had a missing daughter. He had put some feelers out the other day, but nothing had come back yet. "Okay, put him through." He heard some beeping as the call was transferred, then spoke, "Chief Swan?"

"Sgt. Gregory, good to speak to you again. I'm just calling to relay the good news that Bella contacted my ex today and she is okay. Thank you for speaking with me the other day. We were just really concerned as Bella had never done anything like this before."

He was happy to hear this story had a happy ending. That was unfortunately not always the case in situations like his. "That's good to hear. Was it boyfriend trouble like I thought?"

"You hit the nail on the head. She went off to find herself after the breakup and forgot to call us. Now she has some cockamamie notion that she wants to quit school and wander the earth for god knows how long. I plan to have a stern talking to her tonight."

He shook his head and tried to stifle his laughter. Kids today. "Well, it sounds like you've had about as trying a day as I have. I don't know if you've heard, but Boston is under a terrorist threat advisory. Last night there was an explosion out in central Mass that the bigwigs in DC think was some type of unknown nuclear device."

"My god, was anyone killed? I heard a blurb about it in our local news, but they didn't portray it as anything so dire."

"We haven't reported it yet, but a park ranger is missing who was in the area. They think he might have confronted the terrorists. His actions might have saved thousands. We'll never know for sure what happened, as anyone in that blast radius would have been vaporized instantly. Thank god it went off in the middle of nowhere. Everyone, though, is taking the situation quite seriously."

"I can imagine. Well, I realize you must be very busy. I wish you and everyone there success in tracking down whoever caused the explosion and bringing them to justice. Thank you for your help earlier regarding Bella."

"It's not a problem, and thank you, Chief. I'm glad you heard from her. Goodbye." Gregory ended the call.

He smiled, lifting his sandwich up to take a bite, but before he could bite down, his phone rang again. "Son of a bitch," he mumbled, closing his eyes.

Bella slowed as she reached the driveway, her still-bare feet making no noise as she walked on the gravel. The house loomed ahead, and she hoped being in a home again would give her some sort of comfort. Noting the missing front door, she walked up the front porch, considering if she should try to put it back in place, but it didn't really matter. She knew she would have to leave soon, and the door was the least of her concerns.

She walked into the living room, the slight creak of the floorboards under her feet echoing in the silence. She sat down on the sofa, its cushions sinking slightly under her weight, and closed her eyes, leaning her head back.

That had to be the worst experience of her life. The images played in her mind like a relentless reel. She had murdered not one, but two people—an innocent man and woman whose only offense was jogging through the forest and having the misfortune of running into her.

Bella had been running slowly, not wanting to travel into any populated areas. She had been hoping that the first experience last night was a one-off, and that she would be more rational this time. But sadly, that had not been the case. As soon as she smelled the people, all rational thoughts had evaporated, replaced by an overwhelming, uncontrollable hunger. She had bee-lined for the source of the scent, driven purely by instinct. It could have been anyone, and she wouldn't have noticed until it was over.

The horror of coming back to her senses and finding herself trying to suck out whatever remnants of blood were left from a woman's neck was just about the worst feeling in the world. And she had wanted that blood so badly. The taste, though fading, was so intoxicating, and she had been desperate to savor every last drop. When she lifted her head and saw the dead man next to the woman, a wave of revulsion and shame washed over her. She wished she had had the restraint to not crawl over to him and bite down on his neck to see if he had any blood left in him, but she hadn't. She bit right in, only to find she had already drained him as well. Her disappointment mingled with her disgust was almost unbearable.

Bella had dug a larger pit this time, several feet deep, and buried the man and woman together. The effort had been physically easy but emotionally draining. As she covered them with earth, she once again apologized, her voice trembling. "I'm so sorry," she whispered, her words lost in the stillness of the forest. It was a ritual she had a feeling would become a common occurrence in her new reality.

On the way back to the house, her mind raced with plans and regrets. She had decided that tomorrow she would leave this area and try to find a new house to spend a few days in. She had already killed three people, and it was still the first day. She couldn't keep killing people in this area, or they would suspect there was a serial killer. She would have to keep on the move and do a better job burying her victims.

Bella found it hard to believe that she had actually done these things and then just covered them up as if it were any other day. Three people… and she drank all their blood. Thinking about it, she had to wonder where all that blood was going? The blood had to have filled up her bladder by now, but she hadn't once gone to the bathroom since she woke up last night. Her insides must be bursting at the seams by now; why hadn't she felt the urge to pee?

Confused, Bella got up and headed to the bathroom. Once there, she carefully pulled down her pants and underwear and sat down on the toilet. She waited… Nothing was happening. She looked down between her legs, but everything looked fine down there.

She reached over to the sink faucet and slowly turned the water on, so it had a nice trickle going. That sound always did the trick for her in the past, but still nothing. She tried pushing, but nothing was coming out. She didn't know what to make of this. Maybe she would feel the urge later.

Standing up, she carefully lifted up her underwear and pants, her mind racing with questions. Whatever she was—and she was suspecting more and more that she was a vampire—there were so many unexplainable things that she was having to learn about in real time.

Bella looked at herself in the mirror. Her eyes were still red, a stark reminder that she was something else. There was some blood on her face, but it was a lot less than when she had wiped her mouth after that first incident. She picked up a washcloth, carefully wetting it, and began to wash her face. The cool water felt refreshing against her skin. She smiled wryly as the washcloth only received a minor tear, a small victory in her otherwise chaotic day.

Looking at herself again in the mirror, she noticed that only her hands were still pretty dirty, with dirt caked around and under her nails from digging. She washed her hands carefully in the sink, watching as the water turned dirty before running clear. Drying them off, she smiled again, pleased that she didn't think she needed to take a full shower this time.

Leaving the bathroom, she wondered what she should do now. Sitting on the sofa and watching TV didn't appeal to her; the thought of sitting still felt suffocating and would only give her the chance to think about things she wanted to forget. What she really felt an urge for was to get out and run. While the feeding aspect of her new life was the worst, she loved her new speed. It was incredible, and even while going full speed, she had not once felt tired. The sensation of the wind whipping past her, the ground blurring beneath her feet, was exhilarating.

Bella decided to go to the front yard and see if there was anything else she could learn about her new body. The idea of having any sort of athletic ability amazed her. It was a known fact that she had been the least athletic person at her high school in Phoenix. Everyone had quickly learned that they should never play any type of sport with her unless they wanted to be kicked, punched, or otherwise battered—all by accident, of course.

Bella stepped outside, the sunlight making her skin glitter like a million diamonds. She marveled at the way her arms caught the light, creating a dazzling display that was both beautiful and unsettling. She wondered what she should try first. Spotting a rather large rock nearby, she thought it looked quite heavy, though she couldn't judge its weight precisely. Picking it up, she placed it in one hand and, with all her might, heaved it into the sky.

"Holy shit!" she exclaimed as the rock shot off beyond the tree line, disappearing from sight. How strong was she, she wondered in amazement. The realization of her newfound strength sent a thrill through her.

Next, she decided to try jumping. Bella knelt down and sprang up. She laughed out loud, sailing up into the air higher than the house's roof. The sensation was amazing. She did it again, loving the ability to see the surrounding area from such an elevated position. Everything looked so different from up there.

Jumping was cool, but those jumps had been from a standstill. She wondered what she could do if she jumped while running. Nodding to herself, she smiled. No better time than the present to find out.

Bella took off, her feet barely touching the ground as she sped through the yard. Spotting an open area with fewer trees, she gathered her strength and jumped, soaring high into the air. She screamed with joy, the wind rushing past her as she ascended.

As she started to descend, she realized she was heading straight for the tops of the trees. Somehow her instincts knew what to do, and she adjusted her trajectory, landing gracefully on a sturdy tree branch. It cracked slightly under her weight but held firm. She looked down, estimating she must be 30 to 40 feet in the air. She should have been scared being up at this height, but somehow she wasn't. The world below looked small and manageable, and she felt a surprising sense of peace.

She hopped down, and as she fell toward the earth, everything seemed to move in slow motion. Her enhanced senses allowed her to process every detail with stunning clarity. She noticed the individual leaves on the branches, the texture of the bark, the slight movement of a squirrel darting away. Her brain was processing everything so quickly that what once seemed hard physically now felt like child's play.

Landing lightly on the ground, she took a moment to revel in her abilities. It was like discovering a whole new world, one where she was powerful, agile, and unafraid. The horrors of her new life momentarily faded, replaced by the sheer joy of her newfound capabilities.

Bella did tests all through the rest of the day and into the night. It was interesting to see how her body went from a sparkling freak show to slowly looking normal as the sun set over the horizon. She really hoped there was a way to not sparkle, as being relegated to only going out during the nighttime would really suck. If she was a vampire and there were others like her out there, wouldn't there be stories throughout history about sparkling people? Once again, she wished there was someone she could ask all these questions to, but she was on her own.

Satisfied with her skills testing, Bella ran back toward the house, slowing to a walk when she knew she was about a mile away. She marveled at her innate sense of direction, knowing exactly where the house was even after traveling such great distances through the forest twice. It really felt like once she learned something, she couldn't forget it.

As she walked, she began to think about what she would say to Charlie and how she would tell him she wasn't returning to school. It would be an incredibly tough call, but she knew she had to make it.

Finally, she arrived at the road leading to the house, and shortly after, she was walking up the small hill to the driveway. Stepping inside the house, the quietness helped calm her mind, which, even while she was focused on other things, seemed to be simultaneously creating scenario after scenario in the back of her mind on how best to talk with Charlie.

Entering the bedroom, she felt ready. She sat on the bed, picked up the phone, and dialed Charlie's home number, her fingers moving carefully so she didn't punch through the phone by mistake. The phone rang twice before being picked up.

She projected happiness and assurance—both questionable in her current predicament, but she had to pull them off. "Hi, Dad."

"I love you too, Dad. I'll talk to you soon." Bella ended the call, placing the phone back in the receiver and shutting her eyes.

It had been a long and difficult call, and she was sure she would have been crying if she could have, but by the end, Charlie had reluctantly agreed to her plan to travel and see the country. Charlie had not been happy at all, and Bella could perfectly understand his point of view. What she was telling him and her reasoning behind it sounded completely crazy. She knew that. She just couldn't tell him the truth and why she really had to do this.

In the end, she had promised to call her mom daily and to call Charlie much more often than she had been. Truthfully, she was thrilled to be able to do that as she knew her life was going to be pretty lonely for the foreseeable future. If she killed everyone she encountered before she even got a chance to say hello, it would put a real damper on her social life. Being able to speak with her parents would be a true lifeline to the real world and hopefully allow her to keep her sanity while she navigated this new existence.

It was getting late, and this had been absolutely the most trying day of Bella's life. She was surprised she hadn't started to feel tired yet, given how much she had done today. She really should be zonked. She had never bothered turning on any of the lights in the house, as it seemed she could now see in the dark, so Bella lay back on the bed, getting ready for sleep. She didn't feel the need to get under the covers either, as she also had never felt cold in the past day.

Resting her head on the pillow, she closed her eyes and tried to relax her brain, which she was finding difficult to do. Thoughts raced through her mind, each one vying for attention, refusing to let her rest. Deciding to think about some of the amazing things she had done today, she hoped that would allow her mind to drift off to sleep.

About twenty minutes later, Bella still hadn't fallen asleep, so she decided to try some relaxation techniques that had helped her in the past. She began with the tried-and-true method of counting sheep, but after envisioning 350 sheep jumping over the moon, she was still wide awake. Frustrated, she heaved a sigh and let out her breath slowly, focusing on calming her mind.

Maybe actively trying to fall asleep was the problem, she thought. Perhaps she needed to let her mind wander naturally, letting it lull herself into dreamland. She began thinking about her new situation. Aside from the killing, she loved the new her. Once she got a handle on her situation, she planned to make something meaningful out of her life. She just had to stay positive.

The killing was beyond awful, but despite that, she knew in her heart she wasn't a bad person. She was a good person who had been forced into a situation where she had to do horrible things. No matter what, she could never forget that, as losing sight of it would only lead to falling into a depression.

She already saw so many positive aspects to her new life, and she was sure she had only scratched the surface of what was possible since this was only the first day of potentially an eternity. The concept of living forever... she was sure she hadn't even fully grasped what that meant yet. If what she thought might be true turned out to be, she would be able to do so much.

She could become anything she set her mind to and then, in twenty or thirty years, change everything up. The old playbook of life as a human didn't even apply anymore, and she knew these initial thoughts of hers probably took too many human ways of thinking into account. She would just have to learn. She had time. Time to learn... everything.

There was no limit to what she could one day achieve. But first things first, she needed to get her hunger under control. Then her new life could truly start.

James had been fine around others, so she had to believe that, in time, she would be too. Maybe she didn't even need to kill anyone. Maybe she could drink from blood bags at a clinic? She realized it would be hard to get a constant supply, and large quantities of missing blood would probably be noticed, but the idea was intriguing.

She could also target only certain types of people. She liked this idea even more and vowed that once she learned to control herself around people, she would never kill another innocent person again. There were so many bad people in the world: criminals, gang members, drug dealers, people who were violent towards others. If she targeted people like that, she was sure she wouldn't have this hollow feeling every time she took a life.

She smiled at the thought. While it was gruesome to think about murdering anyone, the idea of only targeting those who harmed others was far more palatable than the horrors she'd had to do in the past twenty four hours. She looked forward to the day when she wouldn't have to take innocent lives; that day couldn't come soon enough.

Bella continued thinking about her new life, the possibilities swirling around in her mind as she mapped out the never-ending branches of how her future could play out. She imagined traveling to distant places, experiencing different cultures, and viewing beautiful landscapes she had only read about. The thought of witnessing future history unfold over the centuries was a thrilling prospect.

Before she knew it, the tranquil melody of birds chirping outside invaded her thoughts, prompting her to open her eyes and gaze out the window. The early light of the sun cast a gentle glow through the windowpane, illuminating the room with a soft, golden hue. Dust motes danced in the beams of light, creating a peaceful, almost magical atmosphere.

She realized she had been awake all night and had never dozed off. Maybe whatever she was now didn't require sleep as much as she had in the past. Despite the whirlwind of the past day, she felt a strange sense of calm. She was usually pretty high-strung, but now she felt a sense of peace that she found comforting. Whatever was causing this change, she smiled approvingly.

Bella sat up and stretched. Despite the lack of sleep, she felt surprisingly refreshed. Her muscles were loose, and her mind was clear, a stark contrast to the exhaustion she had been expecting.

It was a new day, and Bella held onto the hope that this day would be better than the last. On top of her agenda for today was going out and finding a new home. It was a shame, really, as this one was so nice. Even though she had only been here a day, it already felt like a safe haven for her, but she knew she couldn't stay.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, Bella gazed out the window, the early morning light casting a gentle glow on her sparkling skin. It created a mesmerizing display of tiny rainbows that danced around the room. As she considered what direction she might head, she realized several potential flaws in her plans. Traveling during the day would expose her to being seen while she was sparkling in the sunlight, a consideration she wasn't used to having to think about.

She traced the pattern of her skin refracting the light on the bedspread with her finger, her mind racing with thoughts. She knew that during her travels, she would eventually come across major roads and highways that she'd have to cross if she wanted to remain in the forest. With a resigned sigh, she had to acknowledge that this sparkling issue was going to be a pretty major obstacle in her new life.

In the future, she really should be traveling at night. She hadn't considered that option last night, as for some crazy reason, she thought she would need to sleep. It wasn't humorous at all, but she still had to grin a little at the absurdity of it all. She knew trying to navigate this new reality would be a challenge, but she was ready to face it head-on. She would get used to her new life sooner rather than later, and then it would be like second nature for her to head out into the great unknown.

She began revising her plans, quickly deciding to depart after twilight. It was too early now, but later, when she knew her mom would be up, she would give her a call. Hopefully, unlike her, her mom had gotten a good night's sleep and had calmed down from the fright she had given her. Bella knew she would have to be very positive when speaking with her mom and Charlie to allay any of their fears about her exploring the country. She smiled, understanding their worry, as the Bella from last week was about the most least likely person to want to do anything in the great outdoors.

Bella also realized she would have to hope that her new residence would have a working phone. At some point, she would need to get a cell phone, even if right now she had to steal one. It wasn't enjoyable to think about, but she really should be going through the pockets of her future victims to take things like cash. She had not done that yesterday as she hadn't understood what her life would be like, but she had destroyed their cell phones because she didn't want what she had done to be exposed. Right now, money wasn't at the top of her list of things she needed, but she hoped to rejoin society one day, and you can't buy anything with just a pretty smile.

She knew with money she could buy a pay-as-you-go phone, but to do that, she would need to be around people. Baby steps, she told herself. There were so many things to consider and plan for now, but she felt a sense of determination. She could do this. She had to do this.

Bella thought about breakfast, but thankfully, the hunger pains of yesterday had not returned yet. In the back of her mind, she acknowledged she was hungry, but the hunger wasn't intruding on her every waking thought, making it impossible to do anything else. She needed to be proactive though. If she wasn't leaving right away, she resolved to put her time to good use and start looking around the house to assemble a travel bag containing essentials she would need.

She began revising her plans, quickly deciding to depart after twilight. Bella hopped out of bed and, luckily, found a backpack right away in the corner of the closet. The first thing she did was start going through the clothes drawer, pulling out several pairs of pants and blouses and putting them in the backpack. She grabbed some socks, hoping eventually to find a pair of shoes that fit, even though traveling barefoot the other day hadn't bothered her in the slightest.

Smiling to herself, she began going around the house, searching every nook and cranny to see if she could find anything she thought might be helpful. The reality that she had become a murderer and a thief, to boot, was nagging at her conscience, but these were desperate times.

After collecting all that she could find that she deemed useful, Bella eyed the clock and realized her mom should be up by now. She smiled, heading to the bedroom to make the call. It would bring a little normalcy to her life, which at this point she desperately needed.

As twilight approached, Bella prepared to head out. She had found a map of New England and studied it closely, marveling at her newfound ability to recall every city, highway, and landmark in minute detail with just a glance. When she closed her eyes, the entire region unfolded in her mind, as clear as if she were looking at the map itself. In one of the kitchen drawers, she had also found the address of her current location, which allowed her to better plan her travel route. The route she now had planned would avoid all major towns and cities as she made her way north into New Hampshire. It looked like the further into the state she traveled, the more sparse civilization became. For the time being, that was exactly what she needed.

Bella figured spending a week or two in the Granite State would suffice, and then she could move over to Vermont to see the pretty foliage she had heard so much about during her freshman year at BU. Thinking about New Hampshire rekindled a memory of her friends back in Boston, particularly the time they had visited the New Hampshire/Massachusetts border for shopping because there were no sales taxes. She smiled, recalling how Stacy, a local Bostonian, had animatedly explained that everyone shopped in New Hampshire for that reason. At the time, the concept had seemed foreign to her.

Earlier in the afternoon, she had had a long conversation with Stacy about her plans to take a break from college. Stacy, of course, had been confused by her reasoning but was really just relieved that she hadn't been dead in a ditch somewhere. Bella had asked Stacy to relay to all their other friends and David that she was, in fact, okay. Stacy found it hard to believe that she was off to see the country but wished her good travels nonetheless. Bella was pretty sure that Stacy thought she would be back at school in a week or two.

In truth, Bella was looking forward to seeing the country, something she had never thought she would be physically able to do. The thought of experiencing new places and seeing the natural beauty of the land filled her with a sense of excitement.

Before Bella departed, she tried to clean up as much of the mess she had made as she could. She started in the kitchen, tidying up the spilled food and the general disorder she had created.

Next, she moved to the bathroom, carefully cleaning and disposing of the torn towels. She decided to gather all the shredded clothing throughout the house and hide them several miles away under a giant rock. There was no reason to leave behind unusual questions beyond the physical damage she couldn't repair.

Writing a note proved to be a significant challenge. It took many attempts before she figured out the correct pressure needed to write without tearing the paper. But once she managed it, she carefully wrote a long letter to the owners of the home, apologizing for all the damage and the theft of their belongings. She explained how she had become homeless and needed the items but acknowledged that it was no excuse for her actions.

As she stepped out into the cool night air, she walked over to the front door, which was still on the ground, and brought it back to the house. With a gentle touch, she pushed it into place so it stood by itself, the final step in leaving the home as close to how she had found it.

Nodding at her handiwork, she pulled out the compass she had found in the kitchen drawer. The compass felt reassuring in her hand. She glanced at it, confirming her path, and then took off north, her steps light and swift. The forest welcomed her as she sped through it at breakneck speeds. Sadly, her hunger had returned. She would continue heading in the direction she had mapped out, but sooner or later, she knew the inevitable would come. Pushing negative thoughts out of her mind for the time being, she marveled at how much her life had changed in just two days' time.

To think she had awoken in fire not two days ago, and now she was headed into the unknown to begin a new chapter in her life. Bella saw a cliff edge coming up fast in front of her. She smiled—she had never done this before, but she figured, why not? She ran even faster, leaping off the ledge and seemingly flying out into the unknown, her scream of joy heard only by the forest.

I hope you enjoyed reading Bella's first foray into vampirism. I've read your comments about her switching to an animal diet, and that will be explored in the next chapter. Bella really has no clue about anything—what is and isn't possible. If she were with the Cullens, of course, she would be doing the animal diet, but she's not with them and doesn't know it's a workable option. I'll just say the next chapter is the last one where she kills an innocent person. After that, she'll have gained the control to slowly start reintegrating herself into society.

Now, the next chapter will have several short time jumps and will include Bella learning some pretty amazing things about herself. Everyone get ready to meet "The Bubble Girl"... excuse me, I think Bella is looking at me crossly. Alright, everyone get ready to meet "The Bubble Woman." The story will pick up a lot once Bella is no longer stuck alone in the forest. The newborn period sucks for Bella and her writer! Reviews or comments are welcome. I really enjoy reading your feedback. Is everyone still enjoying the story?