next morning

…

I laid under the window above my bed staring up to the grey sky through the trees, I've been awake since they left this morning, leaving me with a 'warm' goodbye. I wonder how long I've been out already; they came home for a few hours. That never happens when they go on a feeding frenzy. Either way, it was time away from them, and I could just rest. I wish I could bathe; I couldn't eat even if I wanted to, I'd probably throw it up. I have no strength. I can taste the blood in my mouth, felt it running down my jaw from my right cheekbone, I can feel the blood behind my neck.

I had to breathe rather shallow to not irritate my injuries, my face hurts, my eyes hurt, my stomach, my legs, the side and back of my head. I rolled onto my back my head waged war along with my stomach and the rest of my injured body, I needed to get to one thing, I just needed one thing.

Using my arms to get myself at least to my knees if I could until I got to the window, grabbing a solid grip on the window sill became unsuccessful. I tried again, I felt the paint on top the wooden sill, my thumbs came into contact with the bottom lip, I groaned aloud getting my legs underneath me. I was pretty sure one of sprained or a muscles was injured deeply, the pain raked up into my spine and through my eyes. I registered my skin against my arm, the heat of my breath against my mouth, the pain in my eyes was because the bruised side of my face hit the wall, I mustered up every once of strength I could. Pulling myself up enough to open the window enough to stick my hand out.

I wasn't able to feel the water droplets, I fell back onto my bed on my right side. The left side of my face was throbbing into numbness. I listened to the wind, the rain hitting the tree leaves and the sill itself.

I loved this, these moments I had of just silence, nothing coming for me.

This was my peace. Just me, my pillow, my sheet, and my cracked window. The rain added to that peace. The chill added to it.

I thought about Mom. I thought about my brother. They believe I don't remember them, but I do, I remember all of them. But I think of them right now, my current mood was too low to begin to think that deep.

I thought about Bella.

She was the only person to sit near me at lunch. Her light red brown hair, she was so timid, but she was confident in talking to me. I appreciate it now.

I don't know if I fell asleep, but I took in sharp inhale with the feeling of rain drops falling over me. The sheet is damp, and the icy chill didn't provide comfort. With the little strength I could muster within me to lift myself up and close the window.

My body waged war with me when I laid back down on the bed. I thought about Jacob, thought about the look he gave me, red hot pain flared in my chest. I felt like a part of cheat was punched out, collapsing in on itself. I inhaled through my nose, it was more a wheeze. The pain knocked me unconscious with that look Jacob gave me.

The last image that flashed before my eyes was unnerving and seemed all too real, I was glad darkness consumed me. I didn't want to remember.

…

I looked down at him in the small room, my vision was wavy midnight blue and dark grey the edges of my vision simmering as if coated in clear film.

I don't know why I'm here, but he's here.

I didn't think twice when I crawled into the available space, his arms closing around me, shifting to my presence and holding me ever so tenderly. He didn't wake, he didn't speak. I was enveloped in his heat, falling asleep so easily inhaling his scent through my nose. All I knew, he was the only one that could ease my nerves with just a touch, or his scent alone. He shifted, and I held onto him, this familiarity was everything to me right now, he was everything.

"I have to leave you now." His mouth didn't open but his forehead rested against mine, his hand cradling my cheek. "You're going to be okay, I promise. Don't trust your father."

I held onto him as my chest flared with pain feeling something disconnecting within my chest.

"Please, don't leave me."

He held me tighter, closer, completely weighed down with his weight, "I'm sorry... he'll take care of you. He'll love you. Love him."

"Jacob."

"Everything is going to be okay, I promise." He rested his forehead on mine, "Live. For me, please. Love him for me."

I felt his body weight slowly subside, I clung onto everything I could of him, never being able to fully sink this whole moment in, to feel his presence. I felt my tears before I heard my cries before I succumbed into darkness.

…

two days later

…

"Naomi. Mariposa, despierta."

I woke up confused and shivering, no water but it was freezing in here, I rolled over and lifted myself up. I looked up at him with my teeth chattering, he handed me a towel.

"Métete en la ducha."

I was so glad to hear those words and also very scared at the same time. But what took me back was lightness in his tone, I stared at him in shock. No insult. He scrutinized me heavily, I watched the emotions flash across his face like a slideshow before he crouched down too quickly. I whimpered in fear and backed up against the wall, my breath hitched in my throat when his hand came out to my face. I squeezed my eyes closed with my heart pounding against my ribcage, in my ears, I put my hands up in front of my face. I opened my eyes not feeling anything. His eyes were attentive as he hesitated for a moment. A bright, vivid purple glow behind bloomed in the palm of his hand, that seemed all too familiar to me, I stared up at him in shock realizing he was healing me.

It was silent within the house, I couldn't hear Uncle, didn't feel him lurking nearby. I could feel my body repairing itself, I could feel the power throughout my muscles. I looked at him in disbelief. He lowered his hand; I stared back at him. My brows furrowed at the gaze in his eyes, he's different. He's very different. My brain unfolded subconscious memories of him in infancy.

His warm tone, the love in his eyes. I didn't disappoint him. But I seen his love here, my skull spiked with a migraine. My chest feeling open and exposed as I felt blood in parts of body I haven't in a while, in my feet, my fingers. I shivered, the chill came back. He stood up and left the room.

I escaped to the bathroom before it was too late to do so. I sucked in a sharp surprised breath when I looked at myself in the mirror. My skin was vibrant, healthy, smooth, clear. My eyes were bright with color. My hair was matted together with blood, but the color was there, life. The bathroom looked different; I looked around more.

I found feminine products and supplies along with a lot more space and , even hair ties.

He's going to kill me.

But my brain pushed the look he gave me in my room.

No, I can't be fooled by this act. I can't be fooled by this whatsoever. I locked the bathroom door. Combing and brushing my hair was a hassle, I had to wash my hair three times, by the end I couldn't believe they ever let me out of the house. My head hurts more from detangling my hair, I rubbed my scalp and wrapped the towel tightly around my body.

I froze in my bedroom doorway. The bed was gone, there was a new backpack a pair of boots, and folded stacked of clothes with new packages of socks maybe. Deodorant. I walked over curious as to what's going on right now. I looked through the clothes confused and in utter disbelief. He healed me, he changed up my room, I have a full toothbrush, body wash. Shampoo.

He's going to kill me.

I pulled the faded styled burgundy zip-up hoodie with a black tank top and a graphic tee of a rock band by the looks of it, dark army green cargo pants. I could enjoy the change of fashion for a while. What could I lose?

I tied the laces of the white sneakers I slipped into, I slipped the backpack onto my shoulders. My head was still waging war, I sighed grabbing the black parka and hung it on my arm.

Are we moving again?

I unlocked the door and waited for him to come get me but instead I got an incoherent call from him from the other side, I opened the door and poked my head out confused. I walked down the hallway and looked into Uncles room, my eyes widened at the emptiness. Everything was gone, he wasn't even here.

He's gone?

What's going on? Are we moving again? I thought about Jacob, I thought about the disappointment that nicked my heart.

Not a single once of malice in his tone or facial expression, not even his body language even while opening the front door.

He's going to kill me.

"¿Qué está sucediendo?" I asked, playing with the end of the strap.

"Nos vamos un ratito. Te lo explicaré en el camino. ¿Quieres unas patatas fritas?" He asked, I blinked a couple times at his answer.

"Patatas fritas?" I questioned.

He nodded, "Si, vamos," he jerks his head out the door with a small smile. "Vamos mariposa," he widens his smile.

I walked through the living room and put the front door, I was so confused and he didn't hit me or shove me. He smiled at me.

I sat in the backseat and sat the backpack next to me, I buckled up. Dad was backing up as soon as he was in the car, he parked at the end of the driveway in the direction towards my bus stop. He unbuckled and turned around to look at me.

"We're leaving for a little while because I've been under a manipulation spell since your uncle first arrived when your were 3, " He started explaining, "You remember when he first arrived eleven years ago?" I remember everything, I nodded, "You were in the other room, your mother was there all I remember of that night was going to protect to the two of you. Then, I woke up in the forest with shapeshifters and a clan of vampires and your uncle…," He stopped looking at me, his eyes turned sad.

One of the strongest emotions I've seen him have this morning.

"He's gone for now but he could come back and when he comes back we'll be more prepared out of the public view. I don't know where we're going but it's going to be somewhere unfortunately where a war could take place. Your life depends on it."

"Because of me?" I blinked confused, I really didn't know if this is reality or if I'm dreaming. I've always dreamed of this but never once did I think it would happen. I knew my reality but this, this is a dream.

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because you were destined to be great, Naomi. You won't see the vampires unless we need to relocate you again. We're not the only ones leaving, you'll see when we pick some of them up. I know that this could be confusing but I promise I'm going to prove to you I'm not what you've known, and I hope you can forgive me."

Something sparked in my chest. I don't know what it was but it was there.

I nodded anyway, uncle wasn't here that's for sure and I didn't wake up to moving furniture or a moving truck. This is a different kind of move but I can't believe him. Actions spoke louder than words and I know him. But this atmosphere is calm. Nothing gave off danger, and I wasn't running on survival instincts.

He turned back around and shifted the gears, I looked out the window as he pulled onto the road, I brainstormed on this atmosphere, the sincerity in his voice. It's early morning now that I look out of the windows with the sky brightening above. The car made a left turn. It was all too quickly the car stopped and I looked out the window to see a familiar face from school, but I don't know anything about him. All I know he's one of the Native Americans that make up most of the student body. On their land in the first place. He opened the front passenger door and climbed inside.

"Goodmorning," The boy greeted.

"Goodmorning," Dad greeted.

I looked between them, they greeted like they were friends. The boy turned to me as Dad looked in the rearview mirror. They took my silence as a reply, the heat in the car was no effect on bringing me warmth. Dad sighed and the boy turned back around in his seat.

"Ready?" Dad asked shifting into reverse.

I looked out the window. I really don't know what to do right now, I don't know what this is. I watched the trees go by as the car moved to another location, more people. Was this it? Was this an elaborate plan to slaughter innocents along with myself? I don't know.

…

Dad pulled the car into a driveway with an older woman and a girl with styled short hair in her early twenties loading up duffel bags, garbage bags and backpacks into the trunk. I gawked seeing Bella from school walking with a boy my age of younger off the porch, I closed my mouth and observed the house. It's dark within, they're coming too. Who else?

Jacob?

Why was I thinking about Jacob? My head hurts. I turned to the other door opening, I grabbed my backpack and set it on my lap. I met Bella's eyes as she climbed into the backseat, a bit clumsy at the end of her destination, I looked away when she looked back at me but looked back at her. She was confused too, the younger boy slid into the seat as the other car passenger door closed. I didn't met the boys eyes, I was already feeling claustrophobic and maybe on the verge of the beginnings of a mental breakdown.

Dad shifted into gear once he seen we were settled and turned the radio up, I looked out the window and caught the boy in the front looking at me. I felt like the whole world is staring at me again. I shifted in my seat, turning towards the car door pulling my hood over my head and crossed my arms over my chest. The drive was full of the radio, I fell asleep sometime along the way.

…

I opened my eyes to a McDonald's parking lot, I leaned back and looked over to my left, Bella glanced at me groggy and the younger boy was snoring.

"Food, yes," The older boy in the passenger seat said louder than I was expecting, the younger boy snored himself out of slumber.

"Hm?" he was sitting up and with closed eyes.

Bella giggled softly as Dad chuckled at the other boy, the noise was genuine. It freaked me out.

"Hash browns, sausage eggs McMuffins, sausage eggs bagels, egg and cheese bagels, egg and cheese McMuffins, hash browns," The boy in the front sang.

"Your energy is astounding," The young woman from before was holding the door open with older teenage boys filing in, cars lined up next to ours and the woman's.

She has beautiful copper skin and facial features similar to the younger boys snoring in the car, the relativity was clear as day. I assumed the older woman was their mother by the identical shape of all their eyebrows. I stuffed my hands into my pockets as Bella fell into step with me inside.

I barely ate the hash browns Dad bought. The group in the dining room of the empty lobby of the McDonald's with beeping, and drive thru windows opening and closing. I scratched at the irritating ache in my chest looking outside, watching the sun ascend slowly in the sky. I blinked a couple times seeing a familiar figure with two others, a man in his early twenties and a woman with long black hair. I wasn't the only ones waiting for their arrival I assumed once they walked in, and the teenage boys went nuts like as if they were celebrities, I looked at Jacob as two of the boys attached to his side.

"Don't stare at Emily," Bella whispers to me, I glanced at her confused, "it bugs Sam."

I glanced back over at the group, why would I stare? Oh, oh, ohh, I glimpsed at the well healed red scars on the right side of her face, I glanced away at her and seen him there. His body outlined in a hazy film, looking at me with a look I couldn't believe I understood.. My heart missed a beat in my chest, he stayed locked eyes with me as he sat down across from me. I didn't know what to do, I certainly didn't have anything to say but he's here. I had hoped he would be and I can't even believe I had been waiting for him show up, like I knew he would. Every time I meet his eyes the unknown overwhelming sense of familiarity was driving me mad, it made my head hurt even more, I can never shake off that familiarity. He broke eye contact first looking down at the table, and then up to Bella next to me.

Bella looked up crumbling the sandwich paper up in her hair and dropping it on the brown tray with McDonald's advertising sheet lining it.

Te amo. A hazy memory of Jacob behind my eyes with those words coming out of his mouth, his eyes held an intensity I couldn't explain, he lifted my right hand placing kisses on my fingers. The familiarity is strong, what I was seeing behind my eyes seemed like memories that started to bring my skull discomfort.

"This is the plan?!" I looked over to the girl Bella told me not to stare at, "I'm sorry but no, absolutely not."

"Emily, this doesn't just concern you," The older woman pressed.

The girl stood up as her boyfriend looked slightly embarrassed and relieved, "I don't give a fuck. Let the fucking girl die, you're not going to kill my Sam right along with the rest of you."

"Your Sam?" The other young woman stood up with her hands flat against a tabletop, the younger boy from the car glanced at me mid chew into a breakfast sandwich, "Emily, if you haven't noticed we're born to do this. She's not just a girl. She's not just someone we could walk away from and let her deal with it. You saw what he did to Kim and Jared… and... He could do it to you. To Sam. To Bella. To her," I shrunk into Bella's side as everyone in the group looked at the people she mentioned. "The world doesn't revolve around you just because Sam gave you a face lift and a reality check."

"Emily, please understand that I knew he was showing up all those years things would be different. But it's not. He made me kill my wife, there are worst things you're going to deal with when he comes back and you two are there. We all have to leave for him to follow us somewhere else before he causes property destruction, murders on the reservation, the towns. Do you think that just Sam will be able to save if…," Dad spoke quietly for just that table to hear, I watched the tables faces pale as my fathers twisted in that familiar anger, but it was restrained.

He spews swears in Spanish about his little outburst to himself, "Mariposa, si no quieren venir, no tienen por qué hacerlo, pero él los matará. Ya sabes lo que les hará. No puedo dejar que mueran así, no tienen por qué hacerlo sólo porque tienen miedo."

"Deja de llamarme así. Pero no deberían morir así. Ella no entiende y porque tiene miedo no entenderá. Ellos nunca entienden algo que parece antinatural," I replied crossing my leg over the other and crossing my arms not making any eye contact.

"No podría convencerla de lo contrario aunque quisiera." He balled up the sandwich paper in his hands.

"No, no puedes." I replied.

"No quería que vinieran, entonces debería haberse quedado donde estaba. Perdiendo tiempo. Tenemos que irnos pronto," He said standing up with his garbage.

"De todos modos, parece un dolor de cabeza," I replied while glancing at Emily back to Dad, three of the boys face went into shock as a vivid, pretty purple flash, I looked around for a moment.

I met one of the boys eyes in front of me, I seen his eyes brighten as he leaned back in his chair, whose face dropped from shock to something behind me blinking a couple of times.

"Naomi, idioma." Dad scolded, I glared at him. "Está asustada."

"Y nos vas a matar a todos. Ella sabe que estás mintiendo, y yo también. No cambias. Nunca lo harás y yo nunca creeré que lo harás," I retorted.

The conversation ended there with him walking out the building, the young woman (from before I still haven't gotten her name) stared at me with a furrow in her brow. Heads turned to the windows behind us or in front of them, that purple light glew from under me. I looked down to the light glowing beneath my shirt from my heart, everything went black.

…

several hours later

…

My eyes fluttered open to white lights, mumbling voices.

Black.

Mumbling voices.

Black.

"He reversed your healing… this should work… I don't…"

Black.

What's going on? What's happening?

I don't…

Is Jacob okay?

That boy that was sitting in front of me… is he okay?

Is Bella okay? The pain in the ass?

Heat engulfed my hand, I was falling backwards harshly into a black abyss.