My head was spinning. I sat in a bright room, on a smooth tile floor. Where was I? Am I dead? I thought warily. I frantically looked around the room for my mother. “Mom?” I cried, my voice cracking from anxiety. Or perhaps it was just from lack of use. I shivered at the memory of the hospital room, people disappearing everyday. Going to who knows where.

I shoved the thought out of my head. I had to find my mother, and maybe…I shivered again at that thought. Though, it wasn’t from fear, but from happiness. I remembered her sweet, pale face. Her brilliant blue eyes. Her perfect, silky voice. Mary. My Mary.

A lump began to form in my throat. I had to find her. She had died much too young, as I had. We had plans; we were going to be a family. I heaved myself to my feet, finding that I had much more balance than I had expected. I looked around the room, skimming for any sign of life. Then I remembered…

I remembered the pain. The horrible burning sensation…the feeling of my heart halting to a stop. I closed my eyes, desperate to wake up from this horrific dream. I had been so caught up with finding my Mary, that I had completely forgotten what had happened over the past few days. Or had it been months? Years?

“Good, he’s awake,” a soft voice murmured.

I spun around to confront the newcomer. But strangely, there was no one there. “H-hello?” I called. No answer. I must be going insane, I said to myself. Hearing voices? I shook my head, and went back to trying to figure out what had caused the horrible pain I had experienced. Then, the voice spoke again; this time, I heard it was coming from behind me.

“Good to see you up on your feet, Edward,” the deep, calming voice said. I whipped my head around and saw him. He stood at least six feet tall, with blond hair. His skin was extremely pale, and there were dark circles beneath his eyes. His eyes…were what captivated me the most. They were tinted a strange golden color. I opened my mouth to speak, but he held up his hand to silence me.

“There will be plenty of time for questions,” he told me. “But first, let’s get you fed.” He turned and walked—no, glided out the door. I suddenly realized how hungry I was. Instinctively, I followed the man, desperate for food.

Strangely, he walked toward the door leading outside. “Wha—?” I began, but he just ignored me and walked outside.

“We’re going to run,” he announced. I glared at him. How did he expect me to run when I had just had influenza? “Ready?” he asked politely, but I had a feeling he wasn’t at all concerned. I nodded stiffly. He nodded for me to start first.

“Go on,” he said, although the sound didn’t come from the direction he was in. I started at a slow-paced jog, not wanting to waste all my new found energy on one sprint. I looked around and my jaw dropped with surprise. I knew I was running at a slow rate, but the trees were flying by as if I were going a hundred miles per hour. The blond-haired man jogged right beside me. I gave him a confused, startled look, but he just smiled and raced on. He became smaller and smaller in the distance. I picked up my pace frantically, not wanting to get lost in the mass of trees.

Once I finally caught up to him, he slowed to a walk then stopped completely. “What are you in the mood for?” he asked, turning to me.

“Umm…” I replied puzzled. He just chuckled and dropped into an unnatural-looking crouch. “What in the name of God are you doing?” I blurted out. Then I heard a rustle in the bushes. Whatever it was, the smell coming off of it was deliciously tempting. The man stood up as a older man stepped out of the bushes. He was alone, I could tell, for his scent was not mingled with any other.

The pungent smell of the forest, clinging to his clothes made my mouth water. I dropped into the same crouch the blonde man had, and a strange growl escaped my throat. The old woodsman’s bright expression turned to one of shock and fear. He turned to run, but I reacted as fast as a whip.

It all happened within at least a second. I sprang at him and sank my teeth into his flesh. The ruby liquid began to flow out of his wound. The smell from the blood was extremely tempting. I pressed my lips to his neck, and began to drink in the fluid. It tasted so good! No matter how hard I tried, I could not stop myself from enjoying the man’s blood.

“Edward!” I heard the blonde-haired man call in my head. “Stop it!” His voice now coming from behind me. I heard him take a step toward me. I growled, determined to protect my freshly caught meal. He stopped dead in his tracks, leaving me to finish off the rest of the man’s bodily fluids.

I lifted my head, blood dripping down the sides of my mouth. My prey’s body was pale, his eyes glazed and blank. My spine shivered as I realized what had happened to him. What had happened to me. I spun around to look at the pale man.

“W-what’s wrong with me?” I pleaded. “How could I k-kill him? And I…I drank his blood!”

The man sighed. “You’re a vampire,” he forced out. I stared at him as the words sunk in. My eyes widened with shock.

“I’m a what?” I demanded. “What did you do to me?”

“My name is Carlisle Cullen. I was a doctor to you and your parents. You see, just before your mother died, she made me promise to do everything in my power to keep you alive.” I noted his emphasis on the word “my”. “I believe she realized what I was just before she died. I had become very fond of you all—not a wise choice for my kind, might I point out. But I just couldn’t let your mother down and let you die. So, I did what I thought was best…”

I inhaled sharply. “This is what you thought was best?! Turning me into a…a blood-sucking monster?” I felt the furious expression on my face. How could he do this? Why couldn’t he have just let me die, like I was supposed to? I whipped around and raced through the unfamiliar forest, away from my creator.

“When you get yourself together,” I heard Carlisle’s voice say, “you’re welcome to come and find me.” I pushed his thoughts out of my head, pelting through the trees, into the unknown darkness.