It had taken much less time than I'd thought — all the terror, thedespair, the shattering of my heart. The minutes were ticking by moreslowly than usual. Jasper still hadn't come back when I returned toAlice. I was afraid to be in the same room with her, afraid that shewould guess… and afraid to hide from her for the same reason.

　　I would have thought I was far beyond the ability to be surprised, mythoughts tortured and unstable, but I was surprised when I saw Alice bentover the desk, gripping the edge with two hands.

　　"Alice?"She didn't react when I called her name, but her head was slowly rockingside to side, and I saw her face. Her eyes were blank, dazed… My thoughtsflew to my mother. Was I already too late?

　　I hurried to her side, reaching out automatically to touch her hand.

　　"Alice!" Jasper's voice whipped, and then he was right behind her, hishands curling over hers, loosening them from their grip on the table.

　　Across the room, the door swung shut with a low click.

　　"What is it?" he demanded.

　　She turned her face away from me, into his chest. "Bella," she said.

　　"I'm right here," I replied.

　　Her head twisted around, her eyes locking on mine, their expression stillstrangely blank. I realized at once that she hadn't been speaking to me,she'd been answering Jasper's question.

　　"What did you see?" I said — and there was no question in my flat,uncaring voice.

　　Jasper looked at me sharply. I kept my expression vacant and waited. Hiseyes were confused as they flickered swiftly between Alice's face andmine, feeling the chaos… for I could guess what Alice had seen now.

　　I felt a tranquil atmosphere settle around me. I welcomed it, using it tokeep my emotions disciplined, under control.

　　Alice, too, recovered herself.

　　"Nothing, really," she answered finally, her voice remarkably calm andconvincing. "Just the same room as before."She finally looked at me, her expression smooth and withdrawn. "Did youwant breakfast?""No, I'll eat at the airport." I was very calm, too. I went to thebathroom to shower. Almost as if I were borrowing Jasper's strange extrasense, I could feel Alice's wild — though well-concealed — desperation tohave me out of the room, to be alone with Jasper. So she could tell himthat they were doing something wrong, that they were going to fail…I got ready methodically, concentrating on each little task. I left myhair down, swirling around me, covering my face. The peaceful mood Jaspercreated worked its way through me and helped me think clearly. Helped meplan. I dug through my bag until I found my sock full of money. I emptiedit into my pocket.

　　I was anxious to get to the airport, and glad when we left by seven. Isat alone this time in the back of the dark car. Alice leaned against thedoor, her face toward Jasper but, behind her sunglasses, shooting glancesin my direction every few seconds.

　　"Alice?" I asked indifferently.

　　She was wary. "Yes?""How does it work? The things that you see?" I stared out the sidewindow, and my voice sounded bored. "Edward said it wasn't definite… thatthings change?" It was harder than I would have thought to say his name.

　　That must have been what alerted Jasper, why a fresh wave of serenityfilled the car.

　　"Yes, things change…" she murmured — hopefully, I thought. "Some thingsare more certain than others… like the weather. People are harder. I onlysee the course they're on while they're on it. Once they change theirminds — make a new decision, no matter how small — the whole futureshifts."I nodded thoughtfully. "So you couldn't see James in Phoenix until hedecided to come here.""Yes," she agreed, wary again.

　　And she hadn't seen me in the mirror room with James until I'd made thedecision to meet him there. I tried not to think about what else shemight have seen. I didn't want my panic to make Jasper more suspicious.

　　They would be watching me twice as carefully now, anyway, after Alice'svision. This was going to be impossible.

　　We got to the airport. Luck was with me, or maybe it was just good odds.

　　Edward's plane was landing in terminal four, the largest terminal, wheremost flights landed — so it wasn't surprising that his was. But it wasthe terminal I needed: the biggest, the most confusing. And there was adoor on level three that might be the only chance.

　　We parked on the fourth floor of the huge garage. I led the way, for oncemore knowledgeable about my surroundings than they were. We took theelevator down to level three, where the passengers unloaded. Alice andJasper spent a long time looking at the departing flights board. I couldhear them discussing the pros and cons of New York, Atlanta, Chicago.

　　Places I'd never seen. And would never see.

　　I waited for my opportunity, impatient, unable to stop my toe fromtapping. We sat in the long rows of chairs by the metal detectors, Jasperand Alice pretending to people-watch but really watching me. Every inch Ishifted in my seat was followed by a quick glance out of the corner oftheir eyes. It was hopeless. Should I run? Would they dare to stop mephysically in this public place? Or would they simply follow?

　　I pulled the unmarked envelope out of my pocket and set it on top ofAlice's black leather bag. She looked at me.

　　"My letter," I said. She nodded, tucking it under the top flap. He wouldfind it soon enough.

　　The minutes passed and Edward's arrival grew closer. It was amazing howevery cell in my body seemed to know he was coming, to long for hiscoming. That made it very hard. I found myself trying to think of excusesto stay, to see him first and then make my escape. But I knew that wasimpossible if I was going to have any chance to get away.

　　Several times Alice offered to go get breakfast with me. Later, I toldher, not yet.

　　I stared at the arrival board, watching as flight after flight arrived ontime. The flight from Seattle crept closer to the top of the board.

　　And then, when I had only thirty minutes to make my escape, the numberschanged. His plane was ten minutes early. I had no more time.

　　"I think I'll eat now," I said quickly.

　　Alice stood. "I'll come with you.""Do you mind if Jasper comes instead?" I asked. "I'm feeling a little…" Ididn't finish the sentence. My eyes were wild enough to convey what Ididn't say.

　　Jasper stood up. Alice's eyes were confused, but — I saw to my relief—not suspicious. She must be attributing the change in her vision to somemaneuver of the tracker's rather than a betrayal by me.

　　Jasper walked silently beside me, his hand on the small of my back, as ifhe were guiding me. I pretended a lack of interest in the first fewairport cafes, my head scanning for what I really wanted. And there itwas, around the corner, out of Alice's sharp sight: the level-threeladies' room.

　　"Do you mind?" I asked Jasper as we passed. "I'll just be a moment.""I'll be right here," he said.

　　As soon as the door shut behind me, I was running. I remembered the timeI had gotten lost from this bathroom, because it had two exits.

　　Outside the far door it was only a short sprint to the elevators, and ifJasper stayed where he said he would, I'd never be in his line of sight.

　　I didn't look behind me as I ran. This was my only chance, and even if hesaw me, I had to keep going. People stared, but I ignored them. Aroundthe corner the elevators were waiting, and I dashed forward, throwing myhand between the closing doors of a full elevator headed down. I squeezedin beside the irritated passengers, and checked to make sure that thebutton for level one had been pushed. It was already lit, and the doorsclosed.

　　As soon as the door opened I was off again, to the sound of annoyedmurmurs behind me. I slowed myself as I passed the security guards by theluggage carousels, only to break into a run again as the exit doors cameinto view. I had no way of knowing if Jasper was looking for me yet.

　　I would have only seconds if he was following my scent. I jumped out theautomatic doors, nearly smacking into the glass when they opened tooslowly.

　　Along the crowded curb there wasn't a cab in sight.

　　I had no time. Alice and Jasper were either about to realize I was gone,or they already had. They would find me in a heartbeat.

　　A shuttle to the Hyatt was just closing its doors a few feet behind me.

　　"Wait!" I called, running, waving at the driver.

　　"This is the shuttle to the Hyatt," the driver said in confusion as heopened the doors.

　　"Yes," I huffed, "that's where I'm going." I hurried up the steps.

　　He looked askance at my luggage-less state, but then shrugged, not caringenough to ask.

　　Most of the seats were empty. I sat as far from the other travelers aspossible, and watched out the window as first the sidewalk, and then theairport, drifted away. I couldn't help imagining Edward, where he wouldstand at the edge of the road when he found the end of my trail. Icouldn't cry yet, I told myself. I still had a long way to go.

　　My luck held. In front of the Hyatt, a tired-looking couple was gettingtheir last suitcase out of the trunk of a cab. I jumped out of theshuttle and ran to the cab, sliding into the seat behind the driver. Thetired couple and the shuttle driver stared at me.

　　I told the surprised cabbie my mother's address. "I need to get there assoon as possible.""That's in Scottsdale," he complained.

　　I threw four twenties over the seat.

　　"Will that be enough?""Sure, kid, no problem."I sat back against the seat, folding my arms across my lap. The familiarcity began to rush around me, but I didn't look out the windows. Iexerted myself to maintain control. I was determined not to lose myselfat this point, now that my plan was successfully completed. There was nopoint in indulging in more terror, more anxiety. My path was set. I justhad to follow it now.

　　So, instead of panicking, I closed my eyes and spent the twenty minutes'

　　drive with Edward.

　　I imagined that I had stayed at the airport to meet Edward. I visualizedhow I would stand on my toes, the sooner to see his face. How quickly,how gracefully he would move through the crowds of people separating us.

　　And then I would run to close those last few feet between us — recklessas always — and I would be in his marble arms, finally safe.

　　I wondered where we would have gone. North somewhere, so he could beoutside in the day. Or maybe somewhere very remote, so we could lay inthe sun together again. I imagined him by the shore, his skin sparklinglike the sea. It wouldn't matter how long we had to hide. To be trappedin a hotel room with him would be a kind of heaven. So many questions Istill had for him. I could talk to him forever, never sleeping, neverleaving his side.

　　I could see his face so clearly now… almost hear his voice. And, despiteall the horror and hopelessness, I was fleetingly happy. So involved wasI in my escapist daydreams, I lost all track of the seconds racing by.

　　"Hey, what was the number?"The cabbie's question punctured my fantasy, letting all the colors runout of my lovely delusions. Fear, bleak and hard, was waiting to fill theempty space they left behind.

　　"Fifty-eight twenty-one." My voice sounded strangled. The cabbie lookedat me, nervous that I was having an episode or something.

　　"Here we are, then." He was anxious to get me out of his car, probablyhoping I wouldn't ask for my change.

　　"Thank you," I whispered. There was no need to be afraid, I remindedmyself. The house was empty. I had to hurry; my mom was waiting for me,frightened, depending on me.

　　I ran to the door, reaching up automatically to grab the key under theeave. I unlocked the door. It was dark inside, empty, normal. I ran tothe phone, turning on the kitchen light on my way. There, on thewhiteboard, was a ten-digit number written in a small, neat hand. Myfingers stumbled over the keypad, making mistakes. I had to hang up andstart again. I concentrated only on the buttons this time, carefullypressing each one in turn. I was successful. I held the phone to my earwith a shaking hand. It rang only once.

　　"Hello, Bella," that easy voice answered. "That was very quick. I'mimpressed.""Is my mom all right?""She's perfectly fine. Don't worry, Bella, I have no quarrel with her.

　　Unless you didn't come alone, of course." Light, amused.

　　"I'm alone." I'd never been more alone in my entire life.

　　"Very good. Now, do you know the ballet studio just around the cornerfrom your home?""Yes. I know how to get there.""Well, then, I'll see you very soon."I hung up.

　　I ran from the room, through the door, out into the baking heat.

　　There was no time to look back at my house, and I didn't want to see itas it was now — empty, a symbol of fear instead of sanctuary. The lastperson to walk through th............