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〃I'm alone。〃 I'd never been more alone in my entire life。
〃Very good。 Now； do you know the ballet studio just around the corner
from your home？〃
〃Yes。 I know how to get there。〃
〃Well； then； I'll see you very soon。〃
I hung up。
I ran from the room； through the door； out into the baking heat。
There was no time to look back at my house； and I didn't want to see it
as it was now — empty； a symbol of fear instead of sanctuary。 The last
person to walk through those familiar rooms was my enemy。
From the corner of my eye； I could almost see my mother standing in the
shade of the big eucalyptus tree where I'd played as a child。 Or kneeling
by the little plot of dirt around the mailbox； the cemetery of all the
flowers she'd tried to grow。 The memories were better than any reality I
would see today。 But I raced away from them； toward the corner； leaving
everything behind me。
I felt so slow； like I was running through wet sand — I couldn't seem to
get enough purchase from the concrete。 I tripped several times； once
falling； catching myself with my hands； scraping them on the sidewalk；
and then lurching up to plunge forward again。 But at last I made it to
the corner。 Just another street now； I ran； sweat pouring down my face；
gasping。 The sun was hot on my skin； too bright as it bounced off the
white concrete and blinded me。 I felt dangerously exposed。 More fiercely
than I would have dreamed I was capable of； I wished for the green；
protective forests of Forks… of home。
When I rounded the last corner； onto Cactus； I could see the studio；
looking just as I remembered it。 The parking lot in front was empty； the
vertical blinds in all the windows drawn。 I couldn't run anymore — I
couldn't breathe； exertion and fear had gotten the best of me。 I thought
of my mother to keep my feet moving； one in front of the other。
As I got closer； I could see the sign inside the door。 It was handwritten
on hot pink paper； it said the dance studio was closed for spring break。
I touched the handle； tugged on it cautiously。 It was unlocked。 I fought
to catch my breath； and opened the door。
The lobby was dark and empty； cool； the air conditioner thrumming。 The
plastic molded chairs were stacked along the walls； and the carpet
smelled like shampoo。 The west dance floor was dark； I could see through
the open viewing window。 The east dance floor； the bigger room； was lit。
But the blinds were closed on the window。
Terror seized me so strongly that I was literally trapped by it。 I
couldn't make my feet move forward。
And then my mother's voice called。
〃Bella？ Bella？〃 That same tone of hysterical panic。 I sprinted to the
door； to the sound of her voice。
〃Bella； you scared me！ Don't you ever do that to me again！〃 Her voice
continued as I ran into the long； highceilinged room。
I stared around me； trying to find where her voice was ing from。 I
heard her laugh； and I whirled to the sound。
There she was； on the TV screen； tousling my hair in relief。 It was
Thanksgiving； and I was twelve。 We'd gone to see my grandmother in
California； the last year before she died。 We went to the beach one day；
and I'd leaned too far over the edge of the pier。 She'd seen my feet
flailing； trying to reclaim my balance。 〃Bella？ Bella？〃 she'd called to
me in fear。
And then the TV screen was blue。
I turned slowly。 He was standing very still by the back exit； so still I
hadn't noticed him at first。 In his hand was a remote control。 We stared
at each other for a long moment； and then he smiled。
He walked toward me； quite close； and then passed me to put the remote
down next to the VCR。 I turned carefully to watch him。
〃Sorry about that； Bella； but isn't it better that your mother didn't
really have to be involved in all this？〃 His voice was courteous； kind。
And suddenly it hit me。 My mother was safe。 She was still in Florida。
She'd never gotten my message。 She'd never been terrified by the dark red
eyes in the abnormally pale face before me。 She was safe。
〃Yes；〃 I answered； my voice saturated with relief。
〃You don't sound angry that I tricked you。〃
〃I'm not。〃 My sudden high made me brave。 What did it matter now？ It would
soon be over。 Charlie and Mom would never be harmed； would never have to
fear。 I felt almost giddy。 Some analytical part of my mind warned me that
I was dangerously close to snapping from the stress。
〃How odd。 You really mean it。〃 His dark eyes assessed me with interest。
The irises were nearly black； just a hint of ruby around the edges。
Thirsty。 〃I will give your strange coven this much； you humans can be
quite interesting。 I guess I can see the draw of observing you。 It's
amazing — some of you seem to have no sense of your own selfinterest at
all。〃
He was standing a few feet away from me； arms folded； looking at me
curiously。 There was no menace in his face or stance。 He was so very
averagelooking； nothing remarkable about his face or body at all。 Just
the white skin； the circled eyes I'd grown so used to。 He wore a pale
blue； longsleeved shirt and faded blue jeans。
〃I suppose you're going to tell me that your boyfriend will avenge you？〃
he asked； hopefully it seemed to me。
〃No； I don't think so。 At least； I asked him not to。〃
〃And what was his reply to that？〃
〃I don't know。〃 It was strangely easy to converse with this genteel
hunter。 〃I left him a letter。〃
〃How romantic； a last letter。 And do you think he will honor it？〃 His
voice was just a little harder now； a hint of sarcasm marring his polite
tone。
〃I hope so。〃
〃Hmmm。 Well； our hopes differ then。 You see； this was all just a little
too easy； too quick。 To be quite honest； I'm disappointed。 I expected a
much greater challenge。 And； after all； I only needed a little luck。〃
I waited in silence。
〃When Victoria couldn't get to your father； I had her find out more about
you。 There was no sense in running all over the pla chasing you down
when I could fortably wait for you in a place of my choosing。 So；
after I talked to Victoria； I decided to e to Phoenix