L I S A

What again? Did I hear them right or there was this loud bang in my head that prevented me from hearing? I must've missed a word or two, right?

Wedding? Tomorrow?

They knew it was just a joke and they're messing with me, wasn't it? I couldn’t really think of any other reason or logic.

I gazed silently at Edward’s side and saw him striving against the familiar horror and confusion that had masked my expressions at the moment. There was really no point or logic in her words that my mind could process.

Married to Edward? That thought had me thinking deeply in a state of stupor, I was dreaming my next ten years with him at the moment and how doomed my life was going to be.

If this was their way of torturing an innocent life then they were crueler than I thought. This distress could overwhelm any physical pain!

“Isn’t it Malcolm?” She asked Malcolm who stood across from her behind me.

“It is indeed Rory.” He replied to her smirk with an evil glint of his.

I was kept getting more distressed as the reality seemed to be pacing up with Edward and he stared between Malcolm and Rory in bemusement and bafflement. “Wait, she’s Rory?” He asked as if not believing him.

Malcolm and Rory shared a few knowing looks like they were trying to choke their laughs. And at last when it became hard to hold it in, both of them burst into laughing.

And what even more annoying than their laugh was that Edward and others had joined them in their act whilst I stayed completely out of any clue. I actually felt like the time when I went to school studying science accidently during my math test.

I couldn’t have been more fooled than I already was so I decided to speak up, “Would you tell me now what’s so funny?” I asked keeping my voice awfully calm and smiling a little myself. I just couldn’t help it.

They gazed at me still smiling which made me smile too.

“I like the idea of you not knowing.” Rory grinned and for once her tone wasn’t laced with venom she must’ve wanted to kill me with.

I sighed in return.

“We’re getting married tomorrow.” Malcolm was suddenly by Rory’s side with his arm wrapped around her waist.

They looked at each other sharing secret glimpses of an emotion I wasn’t accustomed to. When they peeked into each other’s eyes, it seemed as if for a moment they’d forgotten our presence.

And I didn’t know what I felt at the moment but for a while I felt like I was reminiscing an old piece of memory—though I didn’t remember what I’d recalled, it felt both like a relief and sadness took over my soul. And I just stared at them without feeling anything but a whiff of melancholy.

* * *

The night was bright and shiny looking up in the clouds. If I had to contrast it with something I’d take a piece of diamond or a juvenile smile of Jenna’s.

As I stared up above I recalled of the old memories, I summoned the happiness from the past to overcome my loneliness of tonight.

I had nothing better to do and currently had no real company so I just sat there with my legs crossed over one another and playing with my fingers.

Although I wouldn’t blame anyone for not escorting me as I’d preferred his state of solitude over a company from a vampire—besides they didn’t seem to be in their right mind. Already celebrating the wedding of their master.

I didn’t know it myself until Edward told me that Malcolm and Aurora were the ones to gather this whole colony in the first place. They were the first ones to escape Mason’s clutch and settle down here in the hopes of a new beginning and finally tomorrow they’re going to get it.

But among all this joy and glee I couldn’t bring myself to even smile let alone enjoy this evening. I kept thinking about tomorrow, a thought that almost each and every one of them was trying to escape.

So they would be a wedded couple tomorrow and would start a new life but what about me? When it was time, when it’d become almost inevitable to ignore, when the danger was standing upon their door and all he wanted was me, what would happen then? Would I be sacrificed for their sake?

Then I will protect her as long as I can.

Edward’s words kept ringing in my ears. How long would his protection last? Surely when his mother was hurting he would send me over to Mason without a second thought.

How could I count on him knowing he had others to save who were apparently more prominent in his life than me? Who was I to trust? Who was I to count on?

I wanted to ask those questions from every one of them: Edward, Christophe, Jacob, Malcolm and even Aurora if I could face her poisonous wrath. I was curious to know what my future would be made out of since they’re the gods to decide my fate—or should I address them as Satan’s army? Didn’t matter, they’re still the cruelty that had a grave access to my life.

So I just sat there, stilled as a statue, my voice was suppressed by the chattering of the crowd and my figure was rather too short and simple to come into notice of men who danced gracefully with the beautiful women out there.

I couldn’t help but feel downcast at how they’re enjoying themselves. I knew well enough I’d catch some eyes so I thought it better to just spend the night alone, uncared for.

Now that I thought about it, among the people to genuinely care for my life were left none. And I wasn’t sure if I cared about myself either to live another day of this drastic life.

But I just wanted to know the reason I was to die for; I sought to know if my life would bring some good to someone that it wasn’t for just nothing. So in a way, I thought to not blame Edward for swapping me for his mom. He might’ve let my parent got killed but I’d do my best to save his.

I stared at him at my right side, far away from where I sat in the middle of the bushes and him in the middle of the crowd drinking something looking like wine. I stared at his face who was gaining some joy and color these days, and for some reason I wanted him to be happy.

I didn’t have anyone now to live for, no one to wait for me at home, no one to ask about my nightmares and no one to make delicious food for me. I felt so lonely now, I’d never wish for such a pain to be inflicted on anyone. No one deserves to know what it’s like to live without a faithful shoulder to cry on.

I was really accursed.

I hadn’t realized I was gawking until Edward’s gaze fell on me and I quickly averted my eyes to the trees in my front, trying my best to hide in the garden with tall scrubs but somehow I felt a light poke of his vision on me and I knew he’d spotted me in all that darkness.

Good now I’ll have to explain everything to him.

“What are you doing here?” He asked softly making himself comfortable beside me.

I wanted to laugh at him for asking me that but kept quiet, “So now you miss me." I couldn’t help the sarcasm and sullenness that laced my voice. I was gone for like an hour so he was kind of late to question me that—like I said, he was having some great fun.

He budged beside me. “What’s wrong?” He asked, genuine care dripping off his tone.

I closed my eyes and remembered everything I’d thought in the last one hour and well everything was wrong.

I said nothing to him and kept quiet like I hadn’t heard him at all. I hoped he would just take the guess and leave before my outburst. I was ignoring this talk with him because it’d bring me nothing but tears and I was absolutely positively tired of crying. I’d had enough of that.

He waited now and then sending me several gestures to speak but I didn’t even look at him. That ought to annoy him but he simply put his arm around my waist and brought me closer.

I didn’t know what attempt was meant for but I didn’t argue or fight, I simply left myself in his caring hands. Meanwhile I sought to think my last wish, a thing I’d really like to do before I die and nothing rang the bell.

“I’m going to die, am not I?” I blurted but my mood stayed the same, unaffected by my words.

He was, on the other hand, much affected by me for his hand around me suddenly firmed into a strong grip. He held me like his life dependent on it and at once gentle considering my fragile human state. I didn’t open my eyes and slowly sank further into his chest, holding him closer to my body.

I shouldn’t feel this way about him but at this moment I couldn’t care less since I had a very short-termed life left to live. I wanted to savor every moment of it.

“Hey I was thinking if—” We both got abstracted by the sound and looked at the source. Julie was standing there with some other girls behind her. “Aw . . . you guys are so romantic!” She squealed.

Edward hurriedly let go of me and coughed uncomfortably. I stared at Julie’s playful eyes that were still looking at the both of us. I wanted to ask what she was doing here apart from the crowd but before I could she began,

“I and the girls are going for a moonlight bathe and I thought you’d like to join us.” She cheered as all of the other girls stared me up and down, either disgusted or envious—for what I couldn’t seem to figure out.

“I would love to.” I declared before Edward could protest and from his mood he sure did seem to be in a mood to do it.

I swiftly snuggled out of his grip and rushed towards Julie before I felt a clutch around my wrist. I twisted back to see Edward on his feet looking at me with damp eyes.

“We have to talk.” He suggested, looking almost like pleading.

“Later.” I murmured with a slight smile.