“Quick, Bella! There isn’t any time!” Alice told me, and when I came to her, without further ado she swiftly put me on her back and immediately dashed outside my house. Next thing I knew, we were speeding through the forest. Trees blurred past us as she ran fast. Edward was right, Alice’s speed was quite extraordinary.

“Damn! Why could thishappen today? I send Carlisle, Esme and Rosalie on a hunting trip so that Edward could have his Stag Party at home!” she retorted. Her pace was increasing as the time went by. I knew it was just seconds since we left Charlie’s house, but I didn’t know how deep we were now inside the forest. It was obvious that we’re heading towards their home. She held me on her back supported by her left arm, whilst her right hand grabbed her cell phone from her shirt pocket.

“Hello, Carlisle? It’s me, Alice," she said in to her cell phone. This was the first time I had ever heard panic in her voice, and that gave me a reason to feel very terrified. Whatever she saw back there in the house with Jane in ithad panicked her. I couldn’t imagine how terrible it might be.

“Caius and company are on their way now, and they are extremely fast! They'll get here as soon as-"

But I didn’t hear her next words as we suddenly stopped. No… wait… everything stopped. Falling leaves that were supposed to fall remained in mid-air. Birds hung up above us like they were just glued there in the air. Alice was very still as a statue, her cell phone still pressed to her ears, but she wasn't not talking anymore. Clearly, time had stopped, but I wasn't included in it.

“Alice!” I cried, panic overflowing in my chest. “Alice!" I shouted again, and again, but I knew that no matter how loud my voice was, she couldn’t hear me.

Then, at that moment, chuckles came from behind my back. I had heard their laugh before. The same baby-like chuckles I heard last from Volterra. I slowly turned my head, and my eyes widened in terror at the waiting scene.

The group of the Volturi was less than the last time they were here. But this time, instead of a large group of ‘servants’, the group now was mostly composed of the highest-ranking vampires in the Vampire Royal Family. There were 5 of them. Alec’s hand was raised towards us, snickering with Jane, who was at his side clearly praising the good work of her ‘lover’. A tall, muscular guy I recognized immediately as Demetri was at the far back.