Chapter 16: Bella in the Big City
"Oh, you'll like this one. I met a really cute guy last night. His name is Dave, and he bumped into me in the library. I can't be positive, but I'm pretty sure he did it on purpose just so he could talk to me," Sandy said, her voice filled with excitement.
Bella laughed as she listened to her childhood friend. Catching up with Sandy always lifted her spirits, even though she had to be careful about what she shared regarding her current situation.
"Dave, huh? Well, just make sure he's not gay before you start planning out your future with him," Bella teased, grinning. She leaned back against the sofa, her cell pressed to her ear. Talking to Sandy brought back memories of simpler times, before everything had changed. She had told Sandy all about the end of her one and only long-term relationship, including that disastrous last night with David. Sandy couldn't get enough of hearing about what it had been like kissing both David and Stephen at the same time.
"Oh, I don't think that will be an issue. My sorority sister Karen dated him briefly last year. She didn't go into particulars but said he was a great guy and that he really knew what he was doing, if you get my drift. I can't wait for Friday night. I might even lower my five-date rule before any hanky-panky happens; there was just something about him."
"You bitch!" Bella laughed, her voice echoing in the quiet room. "You're killing me here. If you can believe it, I haven't met any eligible bachelors in Cleveland. Maybe I'll have more luck when I head to Columbus next week." Bella's friends from both high school and college were still amazed that she had been traveling and seeing the country for so long.
Sandy's voice grew quieter, as if she were hesitant to say what came next. "You know, Bella, you could come to Dallas and stay with me for a while. Our sorority house has several guest rooms. You'd really love it here."
Bella felt a warm wave of gratitude fill her. It heartened her to know she had such supportive and caring friends. All of them had made similar offers during their conversations over the past few months, always ready to lend a helping hand or provide a place to stay. "I appreciate that, Sandy, but really, I'm doing okay. After Boston, the cold air just doesn't seem to bother me anymore. I'm really enjoying my chance to see the country."
"Okay, but just remember the offer is always open," Sandy replied. "Now, tell me about some of the sights you've seen. I never would have pegged you for a nature lover. We could hardly ever get you to go exploring through the wilderness in Phoenix like you are now. Are you sure you're really Bella Swan? You're not Bella's pod person replicant, are you?" Sandy laughed, the sound light and teasing.
Bella couldn't help but smile, surprised at how on the nose her friend was. "I know, it's like I've discovered a whole new side of myself. The mountains, the forests… they're incredible. I even saw a bear the other day. But don't worry, I was very far away and kept my distance."
"Bella Swan, wildlife explorer," Sandy teased. "Who would've thought?"
In the fourth month of her new life, Bella thought the time had finally come. Her control and restraint had improved tremendously, and she felt she was ready to make her first small forays back into society. She was now feeding every other day, diligently working on her ability to resist her primal urges. To accomplish her goals, she had been locating humans in the forest and following them unseen at a distance, allowing herself to become desensitized to their overpowering scents.
Each encounter was an internal battle of her willpower. As she watched the unsuspecting humans, her senses were flooded with their scent, and every instinct urged her to attack. It was almost like a devil on her shoulder whispering, telling her how much she needed to satiate her thirst. Yet, she forced herself to hold back and eventually turn away, leaving the human alive and unharmed, blissfully unaware of the danger they had been in. It was incredibly difficult, but the satisfaction she felt from walking away from an assured meal was immense. Now it was time for a much harder test. Tonight, she would go into the city to test her control, and if she was successful, tomorrow night she would try to find her first real criminal.
Standing at the outskirts of one of the roughest areas of Cleveland, Bella stood stock-still, trying not to breathe. It was three in the morning, and she truthfully didn't want to run into anybody on this trip. The scent of blood inundated her from all sides, an overwhelming assault on her senses. Oh god, did she want to run and find someone to munch on, but she held firm. She realized this was going to be a lot harder than she had thought. The scent of one human did not compare to this onslaught that was assaulting all of her instincts. She forced herself to remain still, focusing her mind and asserting control over her urges.
After thirty minutes of standing motionless, she determined she was ready and could do this. She was confident in her preparation. She was ready.
She walked slowly with her head down, wearing a winter jacket as it was a freezing night in January. The light dusting of snow crunched under her boots, but it wasn't nearly as bad as it had been two weeks ago when she was in southern Ohio, where the snow had piled up well over a foot in the forest. The cold weather, of course, did not bother her in the slightest, but she had to pretend to be normal as her goal was to fit in amongst the humans and retake her place in society.
The streets were almost entirely devoid of traffic at this late hour, but every now and then, she watched out of the corner of her eye as trucks moved through the streets. The rumble of their engines echoed off the buildings, the only sound breaking the stillness of the night. Occasionally, she walked by people who were unfortunately huddled on the sidewalks in makeshift homes. Bella felt a pang of sadness whenever she saw a homeless person. Being homeless herself now, she knew the feeling all too well. She vowed never to harm anyone who was just down on their luck, once she learned to pick her victims more judiciously.
The city seemed like a maze of shadows and flickering streetlights. At one point, Bella would have been terrified walking these streets alone, but now she knew it was everyone else who should be terrified of her. But if she mastered her control, no one would realize it unless they were up to no good.
She walked past a closed diner, its neon sign buzzing faintly, casting a red hue on the snow-covered sidewalk. The sight of the empty booths inside made her long for the warmth and normalcy she once had. Soon, she told herself. She continued on, her footsteps almost silent in the snow, her senses on high alert, making sure nothing startled her. Mistakes were not an option tonight, not while she was exposing herself like this for the first time.
After walking for several miles, Bella reached a spot that felt right to end her test for the night. She stopped and turned around, a slow smile spreading across her face. She had done it. She had resisted the overwhelming urge to kill, proving to herself that she could indeed control her instincts. Tomorrow night, she would return and try to find a criminal. Then, hopefully, her long nightmare of murdering the innocent would finally be over.
Continuing to walk until she was certain she was out of sight, she looked around one last time to ensure she was alone. Then, with a burst of speed, she took off, the world around her blurring as she raced back to the house where she was currently staying. The wind whipped through her hair, and the ground seemed to disappear beneath her feet, leaving her feeling almost weightless.
Reaching the house around five in the morning, Bella headed to the backyard and began practicing using her abilities. She had been working on her bubble constantly. When she first learned she had it several months ago, it had only come when she needed it, but now she had been learning to project it and keep it up.
The key was exercising the bubble, and when she was outside in the forest, she liked to try and keep it up as long as possible. As the weeks went by, the process became easier and easier until now, when it would come instantly at her beck and call. The bubble was really amazing to behold even if it was invisible. While it couldn't be seen, its presence was undeniable. Projecting it in front of her and then leaning against it was a truly bizarre experience, feeling a solid force where there was seemingly nothing.
The bubble also turned out to be the one thing stronger than she was. One of her first tests after she had learned to project it and keep it in place in front of her was to punch it with all her might, but it hadn't budged an inch. That was also the first time her new body had felt real pain in her hand. However, the pain had only lasted for a moment, instantly disappearing as she studied her hand to make sure she hadn't truly hurt herself.
When she kept the bubble around her body and ran past trees, she could tell when the trees came into contact with it, as they were either destroyed or toppled over. The bubble was like an invisible wrecking ball, and its power astounded her every time. Now, she was working on refining her bubble, trying to mold it closer to her skin rather than the large circular area she had originally formed around herself, which was more like… well a bubble.
Wanting to work on another aspect of her bubble, Bella spotted a lawnmower beside the garage. She enveloped it in her bubble, feeling the familiar tingling sensation in her mind as she lifted it effortlessly off the ground. She floated it to the center of the backyard and began spinning it in circles, testing her control. Once she was confident in her grip on the lawnmower, she extended another bubble to a rake leaning against the house. The rake floated up and joined the lawnmower in its dance.
Bella's eyes then landed on a large tree stump at the edge of the property that she had sliced off the day before. She enveloped it in a third bubble and lifted it, bringing it towards the other floating items. Multitasking had been extremely difficult at first, but she was starting to get the hang of it. As she moved the lawnmower, rake, and stump in opposing directions, she felt a surge of satisfaction. The longer she worked at it, the more stable and precise her abilities became. Refining her power was always her goal; she wanted everything to feel seamless.
Bella marveled at her mind's ability to separate these diverse movements and execute them simultaneously. It was something she knew no human could do—this level of multitasking required a supernatural focus and control.
As she manipulated the three larger items in front of her, her thoughts drifted to tomorrow night's outing. She hoped she had inherited some of Charlie's skills in spotting a bad guy, as she would be completely out of her element when dealing with the criminal world. She was pretty sure they wouldn't have a big red arrow above their heads proclaiming, drug dealer, drain me, please.
The next night, Bella ventured into another part of the city, this time choosing a run-down residential area known for its crime and illicit activities. The streets were lined with dilapidated three-story buildings, their facades cracked and weathered by years of neglect. Graffiti adorned the sides of the buildings, and broken windows were haphazardly boarded up. It seemed like an opportune place to find a drug dealer.
She knew that when she was human, she never would have ventured into an area like this. The very thought of it would have sent shivers down her spine. Now, as she walked along the cracked sidewalks, Bella felt a blend of determination and unease about how the night would unfold. The city was alive with sounds—the distant wail of sirens, muffled shouts and arguments echoing from within the buildings, and the occasional bark of a dog.
The people she passed on the street did not look friendly. They cast furtive glances her way, their eyes cold and wary. No one smiled or nodded at her; instead, they regarded her with suspicion or indifference. Bella kept her head down, trying to blend in, her senses on high alert.
It was 11:30 at night, and Bella hoped she would be able to spot someone who was up to no good. It had been two days since she last fed, and her throat felt like it was on fire, but she was determined not to be a slave to her thirst. Temptation was everywhere, every human scent a siren call, but she steeled herself against it. She would choose her meal carefully; she just prayed she would find a criminal soon.
It felt surreal to be walking among people after nearly four months of isolation. Bella maintained an even pace, always paying constant attention to her movements. When she had started to maintain her sanity and practice her control around humans, she had noticed that the humans always seemed to be walking slower than she thought they should. It finally dawned on her that it was her own pace that was off—she was moving too fast. After some practice observing people walk in the forest from afar, she had learned to match human speed pretty accurately.
The night was clear, with no clouds visible in the sky. The moon cast a pale glow over the city streets, creating an eerie yet serene atmosphere. Bella prowled the streets, her eyes scanning the surroundings, analyzing each person she passed, trying to determine if they were a criminal.
She saw several women whom she believed were streetwalkers, their attire and mannerisms suggestive of their profession. However, she did not consider that an "eatable" offense, and besides, perhaps due to her own morals or personal preferences, she didn't really want to drink from women if she had a choice. That would probably change if she encountered a truly despicable female criminal, but for now, if given the choice, she would focus on men.
The city's noises formed a constant backdrop—the hum of distant traffic, the occasional shout or laugh from a group of late-night revelers, and the faint strains of music drifting from a nearby bar. Bella's senses were on high alert, each sound and scent painting a vivid picture of her surroundings. She passed a group of young men, their laughter loud and boisterous. They noticed her, making their interest known with whistles and catcalls, but she paid them no mind.
Finally, Bella came to a rather deserted-looking street, its desolation punctuated by the occasional flicker of a streetlamp. Far in the distance, she spotted a lone man standing at the street corner. Something about him screamed shady in her mind. She slowed her pace, moving behind a set of stairs at a distance where he couldn't see her, but she could watch him.
The man wasn't doing anything suspicious at first, just standing there, hands in his pockets, looking around occasionally. The street was eerily quiet, the only sounds being the distant hum of the city and the occasional blast of cold air from the wind. After about five minutes, a car drove up and stopped beside him. The man leaned in for a brief moment, exchanged a few words, and then the car drove away.
Bella smiled, her instincts telling her that she was on the right track. Despite the torment, she took a deep breath, inhaling through both her nose and mouth. The man smelled yummy, as all humans did, but there were other unfamiliar scents mingled in. She wondered if these new aromas were drugs or other substances. She noted the scents carefully, thinking they might help her identify potential targets in the future.
Looking around cautiously, Bella didn't see any cameras or people peeking out of windows. The buildings around them seemed mostly abandoned, their darkened windows and peeling paint adding to the sense of isolation. She knew she would have to be quick. First, she needed to determine if he was indeed a drug dealer as she suspected. If he was, she would zip him over to the alley she could see two buildings beyond him.
She psyched herself up, glancing around one final time to ensure they were alone. The night air was cold, but it, of course, didn't bother her. Her focus was entirely on the man. With a sense of determination, she stepped out of the shadows and began to approach him, her movements slow and deliberate. Her target didn't notice her at first, his attention elsewhere.
Jerome stood on his street corner, shivering in the cold and wishing he was back at his crib. He could have had his girl Vanessa over, and she could have been sucking on his cock at this very moment. But no, he was out here in the freezing night, slinging dime bags like some punk ass. He looked around at the deserted street in frustration. The occasional gust of wind made him pull his jacket tighter around himself.
"Fuck this shit," he muttered under his breath. No one was even buying at this hour. Most of his usuals had already come and gone—smarter than him, it seemed, wanting to be inside on such a cold night. He was about to give up and walk home when he saw someone approaching from a distance. Their form, still in the shadows, was unmistakably that of a woman.
As she moved under a streetlight, his breath caught in his throat, and he stopped moving. "Shit," he whispered, eyes widening. That had to be the hottest hooker he had ever seen. Most of the girls around here were all used up, their faces and bodies showing the wear and tear of the streets, but her—damn, she was something else. Her long, wavy brunette hair cascaded over her shoulders, and even from a distance, he could see the smooth, pale skin of her face.
Jerome's heart pounded as she drew closer, the rhythmic sound of her boots on the pavement echoing in the night. The streetlight illuminated her features, revealing a face that was almost too perfect, with high cheekbones and full lips. What the hell was a hoe like her doing in a shitty slum like this?
Oh man, he prayed she was buying. He'd offer her all his crank for free if she would just suck him off. Hell, even if she wasn't buying, he'd give her everything he had just for a chance to fuck her. Man, did she look fresh. The hooker stopped about four feet away from him, her serious expression catching him off guard. It was like she was thinking hard, maybe working on some sort of math problem. Was she already fucked up?
"Yo, what you looking for, baby?" he asked, his voice tinged with hope and anticipation. He wanted to hear her ask for a fix, any type of opening would do.
Finally, she spoke, her voice halting like it was hard for her to get the words out. "What are you selling?"
He smiled, a grin spreading across his face. She was looking to score. The dim light from the streetlamp above cast long shadows, accentuating the smooth angles of her face. Her eyes were a striking pitch black, almost too vibrant for the dull surroundings, as she stared at him with a piercing intensity.
"I got's the stuff, baby. What you looking for? Uppers, downers, weed, the serious shit. You need a hit or what?" He studied her, but she wasn't acting like the usual hoes he dealt with.
She stood there, her expression unreadable, eyes dark and intense. The streetlamp's glow cast a soft halo around her, making her look almost ethereal. Jerome's mind raced, trying to figure her out. There was something off about her, something that didn't quite fit the usual mold.
Deciding to help her out as she was coming off a little slow, he leaned in a little closer, lowering his voice. "Maybe you're looking to sell that sweet ass of yours? I'll make it an even trade for you. A hit for a blow, some of the serious shit for a fuck. You into it, baby?" He prayed she would say yes, already imagining being balls deep inside her.
"Oh.… yeah, that sounds good," she said slowly, like she'd never had some dude hit her up before. "A hit would be just fine. I'm kinda in a rush, so... how about I do the deed in that alley over there?"
He looked towards where she was pointing, the dark alley just off the main street. "Well, lead the way, baby." She smiled for the first time, and damn, she had the face of an angel. How the hell had she turned into a hoe? Well, he wasn't one to question a gift horse—this was his lucky night.
As she walked past him, he caught up and slapped her ass. It was surprisingly solid, with no jiggle at all. That's a shame; he always liked a little junk in the trunk. She turned her head, her eyes locking onto his with a stare so piercing it confused him. Whatever, all hoes know their place, he thought, dismissing his momentary unease.
The alley was narrow and dimly lit, the only light coming from a flickering bulb above a back door. Trash cans were lined up against the walls, and the smell of garbage mixed with the cold night air. He followed her, his anticipation growing with each step.
Finally, she turned and faced him, and he felt a surge of anticipation. This was just what he needed—a happy ending to a crappy night. His fingers fumbled with the buckle of his pants; his cock was already hard as a rock. The thought of this bitch wrapping her sweet lips around it was causing him discomfort as it strained to break free.
He saw her licking her lips in anticipation, and his heart raced. She was clearly into him. The way her eyes were fixed on him, the subtle curve of her smile—oh man, this was going to be the best...
Bella flung herself at the drug dealer. Before he could even react, she snapped his neck quickly, silencing him before he could let out a scream that might alert any bystanders. The anticipation had been killing her. He had been standing so close for so long, and the man smelled so good. The scent of his blood had been maddening, heightening her thirst with every passing second.
Her thoughts of draining him had only intensified the longer he talked, but the guy just wouldn't shut up. She had endured his chatter, biding her time, feeling the tension coil tighter within her. Now, finally, she could give in to her hunger. As Bella drank greedily, she considered this her first real kill and was glad that it had gone surprisingly well. The guy had practically begged her to lead him into the dark alley.
The taste of his blood was intoxicating, flooding her senses, and with each gulp, she found her sanity and hunger ebbing into a blissful state. The alley was silent except for the quiet sound of her feeding and the distant hum of the city.
Pretending to be a prostitute had never occurred to her, but now she saw the merit in it. The angle of offering herself to lure the criminal away had worked perfectly. This whole experience had given her many new ideas to work with when she had to do this again in two days' time.
The blood finally ran out, and Bella slowly disengaged her mouth from the dead man's neck. She felt nice and full, just the way she liked it, and she happily noted that she did not feel the remorse she always felt when she drained an innocent human. Yes, she had finally found the balance she needed to live this new life without regrets.
As Bella regarded the dead man she was still holding up, she realized she had not thought this situation out fully. What was she going to do with the body? She was in the city and couldn't bury him in the forest. Carrying a dead drug dealer over her shoulder while making a break for it was also a no-go. She looked around the alley, her eyes scanning for a solution. There were many trash barrels, including a large metal trash bin. She determined she could throw him in the bin and cover him with trash.
Thinking quickly, she decided it was best to cover up how she had killed him. She had never heard reports of people being drained of blood with teeth marks in their necks. She still thought it most likely she was a vampire. If there were others like her, they must have methods of covering their tracks too. For all she knew, there could be obvious steps she was supposed to take that she had just never thought of.
She leaned the man over a barrel and, first thing first, opened his wallet and pocketed his cash. He had been carrying close to $400. She found a large assortment of drugs in his other pocket. She didn't want those but smelled them carefully so she would know the scents in the future. She stuffed the drugs back in his front pocket and found he was carrying a switchblade. Perfect.
Quickly, she righted the man and went to work masking her teeth marks with the knife. The blade glinted in the dim light as she made precise incisions around the puncture wounds, transforming them into stab wounds. After she was done and he now looked like he had been in an altercation and lost, she tossed him into the larger bin and started covering him up with a lot of trash bags.
Looking around, Bella nodded approvingly, satisfied that there were no signs of anything suspicious in the alley. She pocketed the knife, deciding to determine later if she had any future use for it or if she should dispose of it in the forest somewhere. She also made a mental note to check if she still left discernible fingerprints—a test she could conduct when she got back to the house she was staying at.
Before leaving the alley, she pulled out a compact mirror and some handy wipes to check her face, ensuring it was not bloody. The mirror reflected her flawless complexion, unmarred by the recent kill. She smiled, pleased with her appearance. Her red eyes glowed faintly in the reflection. She didn't know why her eyes turned black when she was thirsty, then red again after her thirst was satiated. Just another mystery to her new life.
She licked her lips, savoring the final specks of blood her tongue could find, the taste lingering as a reminder of her successful night. She felt a deep sense of satisfaction, her hunger fully satiated. The night had gone perfectly, and she relished the control she had exhibited.
As Bella walked the streets on her way out of the city, the hunger that had consumed her was under control, allowing her to appreciate all the hard work she had done to get to this point. She marveled at how much her life had changed in the past two months. When she first began seriously working on her control, the thought of walking down a city street like this, surrounded by humans, had seemed impossible. Yet here she was, passing by strangers as if it were the most natural thing in the world. It wasn't, of course, but she was determined not to let that dampen her positive thoughts for the night. Her grin widened, a reflection of the hope swelling within her for a better future.
She could hear snippets of conversations as she walked past groups of people, their laughter and voices blending into a comforting murmur. A couple of young men glanced at her with curiosity, likely wondering about her buoyant mood. She imagined they might think she was on drugs, but she didn't care. She was just so happy with the realization that she no longer had to kill innocent people to survive.
As Bella reached the edge of the city, she paused and turned around, her eyes scanning the cityscape she had just traversed. She took a deep breath, the cool night air filling her lungs as she reflected on everything she had accomplished that night. Her sense of triumph was palpable, but she knew this was just the beginning.
The realization hit her with excitement: she had to immerse herself in the human world once again. The idea of walking among humans every night, even when she wasn't hunting, needed to be her new mission. She needed to perfect her control, and the only way to achieve that was through relentless practice. It would be torture, the constant proximity to humans and their tantalizing scents, but it was a necessary step. She was determined to master her instincts.
Bella began to formulate a plan. Her nights would now be dedicated to blending in, getting accustomed to the smell and presence of humans without giving in to her thirst. She imagined herself sitting in a crowded coffee shop, the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingling with the scent of human blood. She envisioned walking through bustling markets, the noise and activity serving as both a distraction and a test of her resolve.
The idea of reintegrating into society was daunting, but it also filled her with a sense of normalcy she had been craving. She knew it wouldn't be easy, but she was ready for the challenge. During the day, she would keep her sparkling ass busy in the forest, honing her abilities and pushing the limits of her newfound powers. Each day would be a balance of discipline and discovery.
Her thoughts wandered to the possibilities that lay ahead. She began making mental lists of things she might like to do or places she might want to visit. The possibilities were endless, and for the first time in a long while, she felt a spark of excitement about the future.
Finally, as she took off towards the house, her pace quickened with the thrill of anticipation. The wind whipped through her hair, and she moved over the frozen earth with a lightness that barely left an impression on the snow. The night sky stretched out above her, vast and full of promise. Bella felt a sense of liberation she hadn't known she was missing. Her life was starting to return to normal, or at least a new version of normal. With each step, she felt more confident, more in control, and more ready to face whatever came next.
This marks the end of Bella's newborn period. Now the story can pick up as Bella doesn't have to be alone in the forest anymore. It will still be a bit of time before she meets any vampires and gets the answers she so desperately needs. Who will she meet first? I'll give a clue and say it's not Edward. That memorable meeting comes later. I really enjoy reading your comments, so if you could leave some, it would be appreciated.