The Other Cullen

Chapter One

I walk down the street, avoiding many others. The Great Depression has been going on for about five years, it now being 1934. My entire family has passed away due to different illnesses we had no money to treat, my baby brother just yesterday. The alleyways have become my home, something I'm not overly fond of. My once beautiful hometown of Atlanta, Georgia has deteriorated before my eyes. Certain areas are the same, but where I live has fallen into despair.

I only have two blocks until I can claim my usual spot in a dark alley to spend the night. Today, I actually managed to find some food worthy of a meal. The first time I've eaten in a week, and I'm majorly happy. Five men, obviously homeless like me, walk towards me. Wel, there goes my good luck for the month.

I clutch my locket closer to my chest, worried. This doesn't look good. "Hey! I don't really think you need that sleeping bag anymore." I look up at one of them. Each has a mask on, so I can't recognise their faces-it's highly unlikely I would anyway. "Sir, I just want to go to sleep. That's all I want after I had to watch my brother die yesterday." They all laugh. "Then I guess you don't have anyone who will miss you!"

Next thing I know, the men are beating me. I fall to the ground in pain. Punch after punch. Kick after kick. My ribs break, followed closely by my nose and cheekbones. I feel darkness closing in around me, but I try holding on. Mama, Daddy, Sarah, and Ethan wouldn't want me to die, at least not this way. They each fought as hard as they could before they passed. I can wait for help. Suddenly, one stabs me, slicing my stomach open. I pass out.

Time passes by, I don't know how much, until I feel like my body is on fire. I hope they aren't burning me alive. I'm not dead yet! "Can you hear me? Think yes or no. You can't talk yet." Yes. "Carlisle, she can hear us." I hear something next to me move. "Hello, I'm Carlisle Cullen. The one who can read your mind is Edward. We found you beaten very badly and bleeding out. Edward could tell you didn't want to die that way. I changed you into a vampire because there isn't any other way for you to live. I'm so sorry." Thank you for saving me. I don't want to fade out of existence and leave my family with nobody to remember them. Edward relays the message, and I wait for my transformation to complete.

The entire time, I stay quiet, only conversing with Edward to keep my mind off the pain. I ask simple questions, mostly about vampires. I learned about the Volturi, our laws, and that some vampires have powers, just like Edward. Someone comes and changes my clothes, cleaning me up and brushing my hair as well. Slowly, the pain recedes, heading to my heart and throat. My heart speeds up, faster than ever before, until it stops. Is it over, Edward? May I speak now? "Yes, it's over. Wait up here while I get everyone else. Then, you can talk to all of us."

I hear him run off and cautiously open my eyes, sitting up. I look around, feeling safe but alert. Everything is more defined, like a layer of dirty glass has been removed from the world. I can see, hear, feel, even smell everything better at least ten times better. I grab my neck, feeling for my locket. It isn't there! If those men took my locket I'm going to be super disappointed.

The door opens, and two men and two women come in. They are all very beautiful people. One man has blonde hair, the other bronze. The women closest to the blonde man has brunette hair, the other blonde. Their eyes are golden, an effect from only drinking animal blood. I smile at them, feeling certain I can trust them because of a gut feeling. "Hello. My name is Maddison Lewis. Thank you so much for saving me." They smile at me, moving closer. The blonde man sits in front of me, pulling the brunette women with him. "I am Carlisle Cullen and this is my wife and mate Esme. These are Edward Masen and Rosalie Hale. I'm sure you have questions. Feel free to ask away."

I ponder for a moment, thinking over what Edward told me, eliminating questions along the way. I already know my appearance and voice will be slightly different, especially my eyes. "Did any of you see a locket? I remember that it was around my neck. It's the only thing I have of my family since they died." Rosalie rushes out of the room and comes back holding my locket. "Sorry, I cleaned it to get the blood off. I also changed your clothes for you. It's a lovely picture." I smile at her. "Thank you so much! I thought those awful men got it. I would've given you a hug but I don't know how to regulate my strength. That, and I don't know if you like hugs." She cuts off my rambling by hugging me. "It's okay. If you need to talk to anyone, you can come to me. I was turned due to a similar situation."

I look in her eyes and wish I knew what she went through. Suddenly, I see something. Rosalie was being beaten and raped. She is so strong to go through that! "I think I just saw what happened to you. No one as pretty as you should have that happen to them. That was absolutely awful. I can barely believe it happened to me. I'm only sixteen." They look shocked. "She really did see it. I saw it through her thoughts. She's gifted." Well, at least I know I'm not crazy. "Now next question, would it be alright if I stayed with you? I really don't want to be alone." They all smile and look to Carlisle. "Of course. Do you have any more questions, or would you like to hunt first." I debate for a few seconds. "I'd like to hunt first. I'm pretty thirsty, even though it isn't too bad to tolerate."

Carlisle walks with me outside and into the woods. "Close your eyes. What do you hear?" I listen, stretching my senses out. The beating of a heart lures me in, calling out to me, beckoning me closer. I take a deep breath, letting the scent of my prey guide me as I run. Sprinting lightly on my feet, I silently rush to the source, a coyote. I launched myself at it, breaking its neck so it wouldn't feel unnecessary pain. I drank until it was dry. Carlisle was waiting a few feet away, watching me. "I like how you didn't want to make it suffer. I try to do the same thing. Let's hunt a little more before going back."

By the time we're done, I have additionally hunted and drained three deer. I liked the coyote better, but that's because it's a meat eater. Carlisle and I run back to the house to talk to the others. "We can stay for a little while longer, but then we must leave. I'll blame it on the depression and we'll leave. Once we are in our new location, we can buy Maddison clothes. We have a house in Gatlinburg, Tennessee where we can live. Maddison, your powers may further develop, but we will teach you how to act like a human, even with it. You're a part of our family now. We'll be with you no matter what."