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thought there was nothing in
that to disturb me。 But I felt uneasy； and I wasn't sure why at first。
It wasn't until almost the very end； as I watched a haggard zombie shambling
after the last shrieking
survivor； that I realized what the problem was。 The scene kept cutting between
the horrified face of the
heroine； and the dead； emotionless face of her pursuer； back and forth as it
closed the distance。
And I realized which one resembled me the most。
I stood up。
〃Where are you going？ There's； like； two minutes left；〃 Jess hissed。
〃I need a drink；〃 I muttered as I raced for the exit。
I sat down on the bench outside the theater door and tried very hard not to
think of the irony。 But it was
ironic； all things considered； that； in the end； I would wind up as a zombie。
I hadn't seen that one ing。
Not that I hadn't dreamed of being a mythical monster once—just never a
grotesque； animated
corpse。 I shook my head to dislodge that train of thought； feeling panicky。 I
couldn't afford to think about
what I'd once dreamed of。
It was depressing to realize that I wasn't the heroine anymore； that my story
was over。
Jessica came out of the theater doors and hesitated； probably wondering where
the best place was to
search for me。 When she saw me； she looked relieved； but only for a moment。
Then she looked irritated。
〃Was the movie too scary for you？〃 she wondered。
〃Yeah；〃 I agreed。 〃I guess I'm just a coward。〃
〃That's funny。〃 She frowned。 〃I didn't think you were scared—I was screaming
all the time； but I didn't
hear you scream once。 So I didn't know why you left。〃
I shrugged。 〃Just scared。〃
She relaxed a little。 〃That was the scariest movie I think I've ever seen。
I'll bet we're going to have
nightmares tonight。〃
〃No doubt about that；〃 I said； trying to keep my voice normal。 It was
inevitable that I would have
nightmares； but they wouldn't be about zombies。 Her eyes flashed to my face
and away。 Maybe I hadn't
succeeded with the normal voice。
〃Where do you want to eat？〃 Jess asked。
〃I don't care。〃
〃Okay。〃
Jess started talking about the male lead in the movie as we walked。 I nodded
as she gushed over his
hotness； unable to remember seeing a non…zombie man at all。
I didn't watch where Jessica was leading me。 I was only vaguely aware that it
was dark and quieter now。
It took me longer than it should have to realize why it was quiet。 Jessica had
stopped babbling。 I looked
at her apologetically； hoping I hadn't hurt her feelings。
Jessica wasn't looking at me。 Her face was tense； she stared straight ahead
and walked fast。 As I
watched； her eyes darted quickly to the right； across the road； and back
again。
I glanced around myself for the first time。
We were on a short stretch of unlit sidewalk。 The little shops lining the
street were all locked up for the
night； windows black。 Half a block ahead； the streetlights started up again；
and I could see； farther down；
the bright golden arches of the McDonald's she was heading for。
Across the street there was one open business。 The windows were covered from
inside and there were
neon signs； advertisements for different brands of beer； glowing in front of
them。 The biggest sign； in
brilliant green； was the name of the bar—One…Eyed Pete's。 I wondered if there
was some pirate theme
not visible from outside。 The metal door was propped open； it was dimly lit
inside； and the low murmur
of many voices and the sound of ice clinking in glasses floated across the
street。 Lounging against the wall
beside the door were four men。
I glanced back at Jessica。 Her eyes were fixed on the path ahead and she moved
briskly。 She didn't look
frightened—just wary； trying to not attract attention to herself。
I paused without thinking； looking back at the four men with a strong sense of
déjà vu。 This was a
different road； a different night； but the scene was so much the same。 One of
them was even short and
dark。 As I stopped and turned toward them； that one looked up in interest。
I stared back at him； frozen on the sidewalk。
〃Bella？〃 Jess whispered。 〃What are you doing？〃
I shook my head； not sure myself。 〃I think I know them〃 I muttered。
What was I doing？ I should be running from this memory as fast as I could；
blocking the image of the
four lounging men from my mind； protecting myself with the numbness I couldn't
function without。 Why
was I stepping； dazed； into the street？
It seemed too coincidental that I should be in Port Angeles with Jessica； on a
dark street even。 My eyes
focused on the short one； trying to match the features to my memory of the man
who had threatened me
that night almost a year ago。 I wondered if there was any way I would
recognize the man； if it was really
him。 That particular part of that particular evening was just a blur。 My body
remembered it better than my
mind did； the tension in my legs as I tried to decide whether to run or to
stand my ground； the dryness in
my throat as I struggled to build a decent scream； the tight stretch of skin
across my knuckles as I
clenched my hands into fists； the chills on the back of my neck when the dark
…haired man called me
〃sugar。〃
There was an indefinite； implied kind of menace to these men that had nothing
to do with that other night。
It sprung from the fact that they were strangers； and it was dark here； and
they outnumbered us—nothing
more specific than that。 But it was enough that Jessica's voice cracked in
panic as she called after me。
〃Bella； e on！〃
I ignored her； walking slowly forward without ever making the conscious
decision to move my feet。 I
didn't understand why； but the nebulous threat the men presented drew me
toward them。 It was a
senseless impulse； but I hadn't felt any kind of impulse in so long I
followed it。
Something unfamiliar beat through my veins。 Adrenaline； I realized； long
absent from my system；
drumming my pulse faster and fighting against the lack of sensation。 It was
strange—why the adrenaline
when there was no fear？ It was almost as if it were an echo of the last time
I'd stood like this； on a