ling。　I　could　feel　that　it　was

the　middle　of　the　night—I　was

still　half…asleep；　maybe　more　than　half。　I　closed　my　eyes　wearily　and　prayed

for　a　dreamless　sleep。

That's　when　I　heard　the　noise　that　must　have　wakened　me　in　the　first　place。

Something　sharp　scraped

along　the　length　of　my　window　with　a　high…pitched　squeal；　like　fingernails

against　the　glass。

12。　INTRUDER

MY　EYES　FLEW　WIDE　OPEN　WITH　FRIGHT；　THOUGH　I　WAS　so　exhausted　and　muddled　that

I

was　not　yet　positive　whether　I　was　awake　or　asleep。

Something　scratched　against　my　window　again　with　the　same　thin；　high…pitched

sound。

Confused　and　clumsy　with　sleep；　I　stumbled　out　of　my　bed　and　to　the　window；

blinking　the　lingering　tears

from　my　eyes　on　the　way。

A　huge；　dark　shape　wobbled　erratically　on　the　other　side　of　the　glass；

lurching　toward　me　like　it　was

going　to　smash　right　through。　I　staggered　back；　terrified；　my　throat　closing

around　a　scream。

Victoria。

She'd　e　for　me。

I　was　dead。

Not　Charlie；　too！

I　choked　back　the　building　scream。　I　would　have　to　keep　quiet　through　this。

Somehow。　I　had　to　keep

Charlie　from　ing　to　investigate

And　then　a　familiar；　husky　voice　called　from　the　dark　shape。

〃Bella！〃　it　hissed。　〃Ouch！　Damn　it；　open　the　window！　OUCH！〃

I　needed　two　seconds　to　shake　off　the　horror　before　I　could　move；　but　then　I

hurried　to　the　window　and

shoved　the　glass　out　of　the　way。　The　clouds　were　dimly　lit　from　behind；　enough

for　me　to　make　sense　of

the　shapes。

〃What　are　you　doing？〃　I　gasped。

Jacob　was　clinging　precariously　to　the　top　of　the　spruce　that　grew　in　the