ive。

〃Follow　me；〃　Jane　spoke　again；　her　childish　voice　a　monotone。　She　turned　her

back　on　us　and　drifted

silently　into　the　dark。

Felix　gestured　for　us　to　go　first；　smirking。

Alice　walked　after　the　little　Jane　at　once。　Edward　wrapped　his　arm　around　my

waist　and　pulled　me　along

beside　her。　The　alley　angled　slightly　downward　as　it　narrowed。　I　looked　up　at

him　with　frantic　questions

in　my　eyes；　but　he　just　shook　his　head。　Though　I　couldn't　hear　the　others

behind　us；　I　was　sure　they　were

there。

〃Well；　Alice；〃　Edward　said　conversationally　as　we　walked。　〃I　suppose　I

shouldn't　be　surprised　to　see　you

here。〃

〃It　was　my　mistake；〃　Alice　answered　in　the　same　tone。　〃It　was　my　job　to　set　it

right。〃

〃What　happened？〃　His　voice　was　polite；　as　if　he　were　barely　interested。　I

imagined　this　was　due　to　the

listening　ears　behind　us。

〃It's　a　long　story。〃　Alice's　eyes　flickered　toward　me　and　away。　〃In　summary；

she　did　jump　off　a　cliff；　but

she　wasn't　trying　to　kill　herself。　Bella's　all　about　the　extreme　sports　these

days。〃

I　flushed　and　turned　my　eyes　straight　ahead；　looking　after　the　dark　shadow

that　I　could　no　longer　see。　I

could　imagine　what　he　was　hearing　in　Alice's　thoughts　now。　Near…drownings；

stalking　vampires；

werewolf　friends

〃Hm；〃　Edward　said　curtly；　and　the　casual　tone　of　his　voice　was　gone。

There　was　a　loose　curve　to　the　alley；　still　slanting　downward；　so　I　didn't　see

the　squared…off　dead　end

ing　until　we　reached　the　flat；　windowless；　brick　face。　The　little　one

called　Jane　was　nowhere　to　be

seen。

Alice　didn't　hesitate；　didn't　break　pace　as　s