It was sick, completely and utterly sick. He was sick for not caring about what others thought. She was sick for turning out this way. The world was sick for just standing still. As the world began to slowly disintegrate, breaking down to the edge of insanity, the dark haze began to dissipate. Leaving an agonizing guilt that tore you to pieces.

The world: all wandering around helplessly, oblivious to the killer stalking the streets.

The people: the few here of importance. The few people who knew the truth. Or, a part of the truth.

Jason: the good one. He, unlike most, won’t give into any of it. None of it can contain him. But he, the alternate side to Jason, was careless and vicious. He would lose control, giving in to the burning desire. Losing control over her, the one he loved.

Bella: the girl he transformed. The girl he loved. The girl t.h.e.y both lost control of.

As the lurid images flashed across the television screen, everything and everyone came into play.

“Dark times have befallen the city once known for its cloudy skies and relative quietness.”

“Shirley Anderson for Channel Seven news, yet another victim has been discovered in a killing spree that has shocked the nation”

“Another murder victim’s body has been found in Portland, Oregon where…”

“cause of death has yet to be announced.”

“Autopsy revealed that the cause of death was loss of blood”

“No one has yet sighted the serial killer.”

“painful death which has the community in mourning and…”

“on high alert, as the killer has not been caught and the murders have”

“yet to stop and continue to grow ever more”

“horrific.”

The moment she stepped into the doorway, he knew. He knew and his heart sank. Just like the time before. Usually Alice wasn’t the one to break the news, but the anguish in her eyes as she entered, and the sickly green color on her usually pale skin, spoke volumes.

As always, the optimist in him searched for a spark of hope. But everything was dark and chaotic now, and he was in over his head. He let his head fall against the cushion, it was throbbing again. He closed his eyes in preparation for her words that he knew would come.

“She’s killed again,” she said softly.

A deathly quiet crept over the room and no one dared move. Eventually, the silence died out, and all four figures were left shuddering, anticipating. Silence tended to smash things, depositing dark tension and unrest until they were left silently searching for the last trace of humanity. He closed his eyes again, desperately trying not to think.

It was his fault and he knew. He knew and it made him sick. He had given in to her; let her become what he feared most. Bella had once been his lifeline, his love. But now she was a newborn killer, the killer he had created, and she was out killing her next innocent victim.

It hurt to ask, but it had to be done. “Who was it this time?” Jason’s voice was raspy, hoarse from days spent screaming and crying.

“John,” Alice answered, staring down at the floor, all life gone from her eyes.

Inwardly he tensed, surprised, no. It couldn’t be…. He’s a cop; he could have easily fought her off…. Outwardly, however, he remained motionless. His eyes were closed; his ears reluctantly open for more words. But none came, only cries.

Alice choked on her tears as sobs began to erupt from her quivering form. “How did this all happen?” she asked quietly.

He knew the answer. He was the only one who knew the real answer.

Flashback- Bella’s Point of View

Kissing was something she loved feverishly, whether it was a peck on the cheek or an open mouthed caress from one set of lips to another. The first time he had kissed her, she had felt elated and giddy. The type of kiss that reminded her of true love: bold sunsets and fields of gold. The first time he had kissed her, it had been a rush that set her veins on fire. It was addicting and wrong, it had made her mind wander to places she had never dreamed of: adrenalin filled touches, nails scraping down her back. The first time he had kissed her, her lips had surfaced dripping with red. For the last time ever.

At first it had been …heavenly. His lips had brushed hers so softly it was almost a whisper of a kiss. She had responded somewhat cautiously, insecure about her inexperience and nervous of the repercussions. Inwardly, however, a giddy excitement rushed forth and it took everything in her power not to scream for joy. After that was when the real fun began. He was gentle, almost graceful in the way he touched her. Shy, reserved and yet somehow managing to shower her with affection, making her feel like she was the only girl in the world.

And then there were two: him and him. Two separate affairs, emotions, and secrets. Two separate ways of treating her, of making her feel. Two separate actions that fed off each other, bled for each other, created each other. He was careful with her, treating her like a fragile doll and keeping his distance from temptation. He refused every one of her desires, mature and collected like the true wonder he was. But he was willing to risk everything for her, to do everything for her as long as she remained next to him. He was twisted and vicious, full of venom that he did not care to keep inside him. Two very different figures, one body.

It was only when he kissed her that confusion would fill her and familiarity would dawn on her. But then all it took was the shake of her head and she would rewrite the entire scene: him or him.

A shuddering sigh escaped her as his arms slithered around her waist, and his lips began to wander over her neck none too gentle. She was completely immobilized, pressed tightly against him, part of her tense and hyper aware while the other part was so completely at home in his embrace. It was electric, seductive, and wrong, but she never wanted to let go. His lips brushed her ear, warm breath radiating out onto her shivering flesh.

“I want to show you something…”

She looked up at him, breathless, eyes glazed over at the intensity of his actions.

“Show me what?” she asked.

He didn’t bother answering; instead he grabbed her hand, roughly dragging her along as he broke into a run. He was running at human speed, she noticed. But even then she panted, struggling to keep up.

It seemed like it was hours that they ran. Later she would wonder why he didn’t bother carrying her so he could run at vampire speed. But she was too caught up in the moment to care, to bother to stop and rest her aching legs. She was too caught up in the moment, too caught up in him.

They stopped at an old warehouse with him standing straight and collected, while she was hunched over panting. He hadn’t said a word, yet she was tingling all over. Electric with some excitement that she could not explain, nor did she care to. She was too enamored with the new feelings he evoked within.

He spoke finally, grabbing her hand again and leading her towards the door, “C’mon.”

They paused at the shabby entranceway. He tugged her hand fiercely, pulling her towards him into another heated embrace. His lips crushed hers, setting her skin afire with sparks. He pulled away just as quickly as he had brought his lips down, an enigmatic look on his face.

He spoke again, brushing a quick kiss to her forehead, “I think you’re ready now.”

She barely had time to register his strange words before he pushed her into the doorway….

He could never explain it to her in a way she could rationalize. Sometimes she thought she had a glimmer of understanding, but most of the time she found herself grasping for straws that did not exist. He never even bothered to explain.

Distractions though, she understood that. He would kiss her, offer a gentle caress and make her feel perfect in just a few words. Soon, she would forget what she wanted. Other times she would beg and plead with him to let her become what he wanted, and he would only smile at her. Distractions they were, oh how her mind would turn to putty when his lips touched hers. Yet the distractions were temporary, and she could never really forget her goal. One day, maybe, one day she could be so close, be so attached to his heart,that she wouldn’t need to forget. He would bite her; let the fire course through her veins, letting them be together for eternity.

And eternity came….

Aftershock

4:00 AM, Tuesday morning, Ocean Cove Estates; Portland, Oregon.

He groaned angrily as a knock echoed throughout his room, successfully rousing him from a rather pleasant dream. A sigh escaped him as he pulled off the covers and he reached for his robe, hastily covering up his night attire.

“One minute,” he called, his feet padding over to the dark mahogany door as another knock resounded.

With his hand on the door knob, he glanced at his clock: 4:09 AM. Eyebrows lowering dramatically, he paused, ‘Who in the world would be knocking at this hour?’ He bit his lip. Sam, maybe, with an important mission? Though they usually waited till morning… The line between his brows deepened and a frown worked its way onto his mouth.

Another knock came and he jumped, startled.

Throwing caution to the wind and risking the chance of a late night argument with the police department, he opened the door. A small smirk worked its way on to his face as the visitor was revealed.

“Well, of all the people to come knocking at my door at 4 a.m., you were the last I suspected.” His voice changed into a low, husky tone as he stared her up and down. Bella had changed considerably since the last time he’d seen her. Her bronze hair was shining brilliantly in the moonlight, her eyes dark with something he couldn’t quite understand, her skin glittering in the light. “Why are you here?”

She pushed her way in without answering. He frowned at this and began to wonder why she had come.

He watched her as she circled the room, slightly annoyed at her lack of attention.

“What are you doing here?” he asked again, watching her walk in circles.

She slowly turned to face him, each motion of her body revealing a tiny bit more until she was looking directly at him. He felt that familiar fire light in him at the sight of her. He had longed for this moment, but she had never shown anything more towards him than friendship.

She smirked, and suddenly his smile began to falter. Something was off… The scene was beautiful, the light of the moon casting shadows and accenting her contours, highlighting her eyes and her face …she was stunning. But her expression: it was the one she used on boys to make them swoon, yet now it held a feral quality to it. There was a spark in her eyes that was too bright, too harsh, almost malicious.

He repeated his question, his voice quivering as she began to draw near, “Wh-what are you doing here?”

She was face to face with him now, animalistic smirk still in place. He could see his own terrified blue eyes reflected in her black ones.

He opened his mouth, gaping, “Bella, wha-“

His heart stopped.

Just literally stopped for a moment as the realization dawned on him: Bella’s eyes aren’t feral.

She was one of them….

The realization hit him with unimaginable force. He clutched his stomach, reeling. Bella, the girl he loved, was a killer. And she was going to kill him.

He could have pushed her away as her teeth grazed lightly over his skin. He could have run away as she whispered so many things in his ear: violent, destructive, seductive things. He could have killed her, right then and there, with his gun in his hip pocket and bullets in place. But he didn’t.

7:30 AM, Tuesday morning, Ocean Cove Estates; Portland, Oregon.

“H-hi this is Wendy Stephenson, I’m a maid at Ocean Cove Estates. I’d like to report the murder of John….”

Bella

The simple thrill from the chase was not enough to contain her. The surge of power from the blood was not enough to fill her. The hazy memories of him left everything to the imagination, yet she felt herself enticed further. She was addicted to two things: blood, and the memories of him. The memories that she could never forget. Like a looming cloud, she could not escape it.

With every step she took, she felt herself break down further. Her mind began to slowly break away from her body, and she soon found herself wandering in time and space. Nothing simply mattered anymore. Her mind had disintegrated, and she was addicted to this new drug.