Chapter One
"Fear in Forks"

(Bella's POV)

fear
[fɪə]

NOUN
1. an unpleasant emotion caused by the threat of danger, pain, or harm
synonyms: terror · fright · fearfulness · horror · alarm · panic

VERB
1. be afraid of (someone or something) as likely to be dangerous, painful, or harmful
synonyms: be afraid of · be fearful of · be scared of · be apprehensive of

The round clock on the North wall of my bedroom is deafening in the silence. The strong tick-tock is the only constant in my life but it also means that every day, including this cold Sunday night, time is moving. So, perhaps it isn't the sound that is constant, but rather time itself.

It measures our existence.

It is irreversible.

It cannot be stopped.

If an outsider were to walk into my room and find me right now, lying unmoving on my bed like a corpse, they might be concerned enough to ask if I was okay. Feeling as frightened as I did, perhaps I would be honest and tell them that I wasn't alright; that I needed help. But no one will ever check up on me because, being Chief Swan's daughter, it was meant to be guaranteed that I would be safe. They all think there's something wrong with me anyway so I suppose there's no use pondering over whether or not anyone would care.

Maybe there is something wrong with me.

My father would be waking from a drunken nap any time now, and I would be waiting for his heavy feet travelling up the stairs and towards my room. The cycle was tedious, but terrifying. I had no one to scream for and no reason to cry—that would only make it worse. I didn't really have anyone to tell, and what would I say? The Chief of Police beats his daughter? It sounded stupid, even in my head. No one would believe me.

Tonight would be just another cycle.

And time would keep moving.