I walked briskly up the sidewalk to the cafeteria. A crisp wind whipped my hair around my face, almost to the point of blinding me. Although I was walking in the center of the sidewalk, it felt as though if I strayed to either side a tiny bit, I would fall into a never-ending crater. None of my surroundings mattered; all I saw was the cafeteria ahead of me. It was almost as if I was wearing blinders, making me completely oblivious to everything around me.

Well, it was certainly no different from the past few months. Or was it years? Everything just seemed to blend these days… and nights. Like I was constantly living in a haze, in a dream. Only the dream was more of a nightmare.

There was no noise, despite the increasing wind. My footfalls were silent, and yet the silence was calming. It was better than the screams that echoed from my own mouth when I woke up in the middle of the night, thinking of him.

My chest ached, even though I did not think his name. I wished for his granite touch, the way he handled me like a newborn baby. His crooked smile flashed before my eyes, reminding me of the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland. I stopped in my tracks, the cafeteria just a few feet ahead of me. I was not alone.

“Bella! Bella, please!” A velvet voice called out to me frantically. He sounded so close, yet he felt so far away. At least, he felt far away, until an icy-cold hand clamped around my wrist. I turned in stark surprise, nearly falling over.

Don’t look at his face, a small voice rang through my head, it will only hurt more. I shut my eyes as fast as I could, shivering from the sudden chill that flashed through me. In my mind, I saw his perfect face, the features etched in stone. His eyes, though, I could not imagine.

Just a little peek, the other half of my conscience reasoned. I decided that I liked this half better.

“Edw-” I began, parting my lids to see his perfection. But what I saw was not him. My body throbbed with pain at the empty shell I saw in front of me and I screamed, louder and shriller than I ever had before. His face was gaunt, the features sharper despite the hollowness of his cheeks. His mouth was open from his pleading, and I could see razor sharp teeth that glittered on their own accord. Despite his predatory appearance, he emanated such sadness and regret that it was nearly palpable. I braced myself to look into his eyes, but nothing could have prepared me for what I saw.When I lifted my eyes to his, the scream intensified ten-fold. They were fire red, the red that trapped you in its depths and never let you go. I watched in horror as they morphed from the startling red to endless spheres of black. The purple crescents beneath his eyes grew darker. He hungered for my blood, and for once, I doubted his ability to restrain himself. His hand started to burn my wrist, as if his venom was transferring from the contact.