The Impact Of Internet On Public Opinion On Society

Today, the Internet is where society can find any type information, including the news worldwide. Companies, advertisers and online systems have personalized Internet experiences to draw in users. In other words, users are forced to read certain topics based on their search history and are recommended more of the same topics. This causes a large impact on public opinion in society, but the ability to find diverse content is more of an issue. The challenges to overcome diversity include, the user s motivation, awareness and ability to seek for diverse content (Hoffman et al. 1). With the obstacles of filtering and web programming, are users receiving all the different viewpoints? Media content with filtering, personalization and†¦show more content†¦Based on the user’s search history, filtering is applied in the system. Programming would find a way to determine the search, in some way, similar to previous searches. Hoffman discusses more that, â€Å"The awareness chal lenge lies in users inability or difficulty in experiencing diversity due to a lack of knowledge about the production, filtering, and consumption mechanisms at play† (3). This forces users to view only what they are given. It will have viewers looking at stuff based on their previous searches. With this in mind, users awareness of different content is becoming nearly impossible if filtering is applied. The media is becoming more specific from large companies such as Google or Facebook, that can draw us to different sides with filtering technology for profit benefits. In Engin Bozdag’s 2013 article, he shares that personalization is a major aspect for advertisers, and can be used for online targeting for potential customers (107). There are more online product purchases than ever before, and advertisers design these online personalization systems to persuade customers (Li and Unger 623). Advertisers collect customer data to design recommendations. Bozdag also adds, â€Å"Facebook uses various profile elements to display targeted advertising including age, gender, marital status, and education† (98). These companies earn large profit with advertisements because of filtering and personalization. In addition, itShow MoreRelatedPublic Participation and Internet Regulation1432 Words   |  6 PagesPublic participation, a process involving citizen or stakeholder engagement in decision-making, has gained increasing emphasis in recent years. Interestingly, the emergence of the concepts of â€Å"e-governance†, â€Å"e-government† and â€Å"e-democracy† reflects the increasing connection of online tools such as the Internet with the concept of public participation (Freeman, 2013). Does governmental regulation of the Internet necessarily not promote public participation then? I think not; to my mind, there areRead MoreHuman Resource Training For The Media Sector1679 Words   |  7 Pagesimportant role in the development of today s society. It impacts on the social consciousness to establish and consolidate a system of political thought leaders for society; associate members of society into a unity, a whole on the basis of the stance, political attitudes generally. Mass media also perform monitoring functions, and social management, monitoring, detection, promptly report the problems, new conflicts arise, contributes political stabili ty to society. Such an important role, to focus on developingRead MoreDoes Social Networking Have A Positive And Or Negative Affect On Individuals?942 Words   |  4 Pagesof children. In my opinion, I agree with greenfield’s statement because many individuals are relying on their social media accounts for everyday use. However, social networking has greatly influenced the way individuals communicate with one another. An example of the positive effects of social networking include: reconnecting and or connecting with friends/family, receiving information, and building relationships. Social media has a positive impact on individuals in society because individualsRead MoreFreedom Of Speech : Positive And Negative Impact On The World1251 Words   |  6 PagesFreedom of speech had a link of positive impacts to the world. One positive impact would be the citizens questioning the government about their personal interests and opinion on free speech. This means that before freedom of speech was questioned, many citizens did not have a voice. The government was not concerned with increasing individual’s voices based on personal opinions and beliefs. When citizens began to question the government, the government had not one motive behind not giving individualsRead MoreThe Impact Of Online Media On The Society Of Bangladesh1589 Words   |  7 PagesBangladeshi society. They become sources of contr oversial issues , they become the catalyst of mass protest , they are now the medium of becoming united to raise voice against violations and again they are also used or exploited to do some kind of violations. Increasing number of Facebook and blog users in Bangladesh is creating some incidents those indicate that the pattern of public responses is changing because of the online media. Bloggers and Facebook users expressing theirs opinions about societyRead MoreHow Media Influences Public Opinion Essay1621 Words   |  7 PagesAbstract In our democratic society, mass media is the driving force of public opinion. Media sources such as Internet, newspaper, news-broadcasts, etc, play significant roles in shaping a person’s understanding and perception about the events occurred in our daily lives. As long as the newspapers, internet, network television, etc, continued to be easily accessible to the public, the media will continue to have an influence in shaping its opinions. Factors such as agenda-setting, framing andRead MoreA Comparison Of The Internet On Batman And Ballot Boxes778 Words   |  4 PagesOn Batman and Ballot Boxes Batman and the internet have much in common. Both positively impact society, but both do it through controversial and sometimes blatantly flawed methods. How do they do this? Batman stops crime through violence and vigilante justice, while the internet aids democracy but also spreads rumors and dissension. However, with a responsible and thoughtful guiding force, such as Alfred the butler or a prudent citizen, both Batman’s and the internet’s great potential for improvingRead MoreEffects of Technological Advances806 Words   |  4 Pagesthe dominant medium to the modern era where the internet has emerged as the dominant medium the field of journalism has experienced colossal growth, development, and evolvement. The changes caused by the gradual introduction of new and more efficient mediums consistently affected journalism and the way journalists delivered content to the public. Prior to the concept of broadcasting, newspapers were the primary means of communication in society. Initially newspapers were a means of spreading newsRead MoreThe Impact Of Mass Media On Youth And Society1378 Words   |  6 PagesThe Impact of Mass Media on the Youth and Society Nowadays, the issue of mass media has caused much debate in the modern society, as well as mass media is becoming more important as a component that negatively affects the behavior of young people. There are many other factors, such as micro-environment, economic instability, the decline of moral values affecting children and young people and encourage them to commit unlawful acts. However, unlimited access to the Internet, mobile phone use in theRead MoreInformation Medias Impact On The Effects Of News Media901 Words   |  4 PagesChristopher Kramer HUM/186 August 7, 2017 Allyson Wells Effects of News Media The development of mass media had drastically changed over the last century and will continue to change. These advancements offer society a variety of avenues to access information instantaneously, which has an impact on American culture. Information Media and Social Responsibility Most major information media outlets do provide a social responsibility to provide fact-based information to the masses. The sole job of the

The Great Pyramid Essay - 1399 Words

Outline Thesis Statement: The Great Pyramid is a mystery to the modern age, even though its purpose, uses, history, and condition have challenged explorers for centuries it will always be considered one of the greatest wonders of the world. 1. Why was the Great Pyramid built? A. Who built the Great Pyramid? B. Why was it built? C. Comparative theories. 2. What was the Great Pyramid used for? A. Religious uses. B. Astronomical uses. C. Environmental uses. 3. How was the Great Pyramid built? A. Workers. B. Dimensions. C. Surrounding community. Why the Great Pyramid of Giza was built is a question that has been challenging archeologists, philosophers, and historians†¦show more content†¦Some theorists also believe that it may have been a combination of all these things. (v) According to Egyptian and Sumerian mythology, there was a battle between two families of gods for supremacy and control over the ancient lands and the pyramids of Giza were strategic strongholds for the gods. (vi) The different shafts and chambers of the great pyramids are said to point to various constellations that represent several Egyptian gods. (vii) It is also thought by some that the pyramid may have been a place where Egyptians made a pilgrimage to honor the gods or their pharaoh who, according to legend was a descendent of the gods. (viii) Scientists have discovered that in the ceiling of the grand gallery the thirty-six ceiling stones were individually removable. Because of this, it is believed that during the construction of the pyram id it could have been used as a stellar observatory. They have also noticed unusual facts, such as the descending passage of the pyramid pointed to the pole star Alpha Draconis, which was the North Star of that time period. The southern shaft in the king’s chamber pointed to the star Al Nitak which was associated with the god Osiris. The southern shaft of the queen’s chamber pointed to the star Sirius which was associated with the god Isis. It has also been discovered that the Giza pyramids are a mirror reflection of the Orion constellation.Show MoreRelatedThe Great Pyramid Of Giza930 Words   |  4 Pagesfeats of architecture ever assembled, The Great Pyramid. Located approximately 5 miles west of the Nile River near the city of Cairo, Egypt, The Great Pyramid is part of a larger complex called the Giza Necropolis, which also houses the Great Sphinx, and two smaller pyramids. It is said to have been built by the enslaved citizens of Khufu, second ruler of the 4th dyn asty, and son of Snefru. Although archaeologists have since disproved that theory. The pyramids are said to have been built to house theRead MoreThe Great Pyramid Of Giza1382 Words   |  6 Pagespaper will examine the Great Pyramid of Giza during the Fourth Dynasty, the period in which it was built. My purpose for this topic is to not only educate myself further in the humanities of Ancient Egypt but to also get a better understanding of how the art relates to the people and their lives, I will do so by examining how and when The Great Pyramid of Giza and the surrounding pyramids were built, then how the culture of the people at the time influenced the making of the pyramid, and finally I willRead MoreThe Great Pyramid Of Giza Essay1704 Words   |  7 PagesThe Great Pyramid of Giza is one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. It is located at El Giza, Egypt. This pyramid was built for the pharaoh Khufu in around 2560 B.C. and was intended to last an eternity. Also, this py ramid was the tallest structure in the world for nearly 3800 years with a height of more than 481 feet. This pyramid is a great tribute to engineering and decades-long labor by tens of thousands of workers. It was estimated that the pyramids were built by 100,000 workersRead MoreThe Great Pyramid Of Giza Essay1147 Words   |  5 PagesThe â€Å"Great Pyramid of Giza† is situated in the Giza Necropolis which borders the largest city in Egypt – Giza. It is also identified by two other names; the Pyramid of â€Å"Cheops† or â€Å"Khufu†. The Great Pyramid stands as the largest and oldest among the Giza Necropolis pyramids. Furthermore, it is listed among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, holding the record of being the oldest in that list. The magnificence of the pyramid’s structure is an attraction that has grabbed the attention of severalRead MoreThe Great Pyramid Of Giza859 Words   |  4 Pages The Great Pyramid of Giza, is one of the oldest and sole surviving wonders of the Ancient World, has attracted the interest of many people such as tourists, philosophers, and travelers for hundreds of years. The pyramids interest has centered on the question of whether the ancient Egyptian people created and or possessed certain mathematical concepts and rules in the pyramids for the proportions and measurements. The Great Pyramid’s elevation encodes three of the most important constants in createdRead MoreEssay on The Great Pyramids1941 Words   |  8 PagesThe Great Pyramids Throughout the thousands of years that the Great Pyramid has been standing, there have been many myths and legends that sprung up. Among them was a landing site for alien spacecraft, a spacecraft itself, or the means to predict the future. This report is going to explain the actual reason the Great Pyramid of Giza exists, how and why it has existed for so long, and the story of its construction. The builder of the Great Pyramid does not get enough credit for his unbelievableRead MoreThe Great Pyramid Of Giza1138 Words   |  5 Pagesbuilt. The Pyramids! We find these mysterious, immense, and fascinating structures throughout the world. We gaze at them in wonder and ask ourselves: who built them? How were they built? what were they used for? and, when were they built? The Great Pyramid of Giza is the oldest and largest of the three pyramids in the Giza pyramid complex bordering what is now El Giza, Egypt. It is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the only one to remain largely intact. The pyramids purpose hasRead MoreThe Great Pyramid of Giza Essay679 Words   |  3 PagesThe Great Pyramid of Giza Who built the Great Pyramid? The Great Pyramid was built by the Egyptian pharaoh Khufu. Khufuwas born in 2589 BC - 2566 BC. His real name was Khnum-khuf meaning the god Khnum is his protection. Khufuwas the son of another great pyramid builder, King Sneferu. Khufus mothers name was Hetepheres. Khufuwas the second king in the 4th dynasty. The Greeks referred Khufu as Cheops When and Where was the Great Pyramid built? The GreatRead MoreThe Great Pyramid Essay examples1438 Words   |  6 PagesStatement: The Great Pyramid is a mystery to the modern age, even though its purpose; uses, history, and condition have challenged explorers for centuries it will always be considered one of the greatest wonders of the world. 1. Why was the Great Pyramid built? A. Who built the Great Pyramid? B. Why was it built? C. Comparative theories. 2. What was the Great Pyramid used for? A. Religious uses. B. Astronomical uses. C. Environmental uses. 3. How was the Great Pyramid built? A. WorkersRead MoreEssay on The Great Pyramid of Giza1176 Words   |  5 PagesThe Great Pyramid of Giza is also recognized as the Pyramid of Khufu, Khufus Pyramid and Pyramid of Cheops. It is the most significant and earliest structure in the world. This pyramid is the oldest of the three pyramids standing on the Giza Necropolis. It is also the largest of them all (Larry, 2000). This great pyramid is located on the northern edge of the Giza Plateau, which is 25 km outskirts, southwest of Cairo, Egypt. It is the only remaining standing monument of the Seven Wonders of the

The Twilight Saga 2 New Moon Chapter 20 VOLTERRA Free Essays

string(70) " us and said angry words that I was glad I couldn’t understand\." WE BEGAN THE STEEP CLIMB, AND THE ROAD GREW CONGESTED. As we wound higher, the cars became too close together for Alice to weave insanely between them anymore. We slowed to a crawl behind a little tan Peugeot. We will write a custom essay sample on The Twilight Saga 2: New Moon Chapter 20 VOLTERRA or any similar topic only for you Order Now â€Å"Alice,† I moaned. The clock on the dash seemed to be speeding up. â€Å"It’s the only way in,† she tried soothe me. But her voice was too strained to comfort. The cars continued to edge forward, one car length at a time. The sun beamed down brilliantly, seeming already overhead. The cars crept one by one toward the city. As we got closer, I could see cars parked by the side of the road with people getting out to walk the test of the way. At first I thought it was just impatiencesomething I could easily understand. But then we came around a switchback, and I could see the filled parking lot outside the city wall, the crowds of people walking through the gates. No one was being allowed to drive through. â€Å"Alice,† I whispered urgently. â€Å"I know,† she said. Her face was chiseled from ice. Now that I was looking, and we were crawling slowly enough to see, I could tell that it was very windy. The people crowding toward the gate gripped their hats and tugged their hair out of their faces. Their clothes billowed around them. I also noticed that the color red was everywhere. Red shirts, red hats, red flags dripping like long ribbons beside the gate, whipping in the windas I watched, the brilliant crimson scarf one woman had tied around her hair was caught in a sudden gust. It twisted up into the air above her, writhing like it was alive. She reached for it, jumping in the air, but it continued to flutter higher, a patch of bloody color against the dull, ancient walls. â€Å"Bella.† Alice spoke quickly in a fierce, low voice. â€Å"I can’t see what the guard here will decide nowif this doesn’t work, you’re going to have to go in alone. You’re going to have to run. Just keep asking for the Palazzo dei Priori, and running in the direction they tell you. Don’t get lost.† â€Å"Palazzo dei Priori, Palazzo dei Priori,† I repeated the name over and over again, trying to get it down. â€Å"Or ‘the clock tower,’ if they speak English. I’ll go around and try to find a secluded spot somewhere behind the city where I can go over the wall.† I nodded. â€Å"Palazzo dei Priori.† â€Å"Edward will be under the clock tower, to the north of the square. There’s a narrow alleyway on the right, and he’ll be in the shadow there. You have to get his attention before he can move into the sun.† I nodded furiously. Alice was near the front of the line. A man in a navy blue uniform was directing the flow of traffic, turning the cars away from the full lot. They U-turned and headed back to find a place beside the road. Then it was Alice’s turn. The uniformed man motioned lazily, not paying attention. Alice accelerated, edging around him and heading for the gate. He shouted something at us, but held his ground, waving frantically to keep the next car from following our bad example. The man at the gate wore a matching uniform. As we approached him, the throngs of tourists passed, crowding the sidewalks, staring curiously at the pushy, flashy Porsche. The guard stepped into the middle of the street. Alice angled the car carefully before she came to a full stop. The sun beat against my window, and she was in shadow. She swiftly reached behind the seat and grabbed something from her bag. The guard came around the car with an irritated expression, and tapped on her window angrily. She rolled the window down halfway, and I watched him do a double take when he saw the face behind the dark glass. â€Å"I’m sorry, only tour buses allowed in the city today, miss,† he said in English, with a heavy accent. He was apologetic, now, as if he wished he had better news for the strikingly beautiful woman. â€Å"It’s a private tour,† Alice said, flashing an alluring smile. She reached her hand out cf the window, into the sunlight. I froze, until I realized she was wearing an elbow-length, tan glove. She took his hand, still raised from tapping her window, and pulled it into the car. She put something into his palm, and folded his fingers around it. His face was dazed as he retrieved his hand and stared at the thick roll of money he now held. The outside bill was a thousand dollar bill. â€Å"Is this a joke?† he mumbled. Alice’s smile was blinding. â€Å"Only if you think it’s funny.† He looked at her, his eyes staring wide. I glanced nervously at the clock on the dash. If Edward stuck to his plan, we had only five minutes left. â€Å"I’m in a wee bit of a hurry,† she hinted, still smiling. The guard blinked twice, and then shoved the money inside his vest. He took a step away from the window and waved us on. None of the passing people seemed to notice the quiet exchange. Alice drove into the city, and we both sighed in relief. The street was very narrow, cobbled with the same color stones as the faded cinnamon brown buildings that darkened the street with their shade. It had the feel of an alleyway. Red flags decorated the walls, spaced only a few yards apart, flapping in the wind that whistled through the narrow lane. It was crowded, and the foot traffic slowed our progress. â€Å"Just a little farther,† Alice encouraged me; I was gripping the door handle, ready to throw myself into the street as soon as she spoke the word. She drove in quick spurts and sudden stops, and the people in the crowd shook their fists at us and said angry words that I was glad I couldn’t understand. You read "The Twilight Saga 2: New Moon Chapter 20 VOLTERRA" in category "Essay examples" She turned onto a little path that couldn’t have been meant for cars; shocked people had to squeeze into doorways as we scraped by. We found another street at the end. The buildings were taller here; they leaned together overhead so that no sunlight touched the pavementthe thrashing red flags on either side nearly met. The crowd was thicker here than anywhere else. Alice stopped the car. I had the door open before we were at a standstill. She pointed to where the street widened into a patch of bright openness. â€Å"Therewe’re at the southern end of the square. Run straight across, to the right of the clock tower. I’ll find a way around† Her breath caught suddenly, and when she spoke again, her voice was a hiss. â€Å"They’re everywhere?† I froze in place, but she pushed me out of the car. â€Å"Forget about them. You have two minutes. Go, Bella, go!† she shouted, climbing out of the car as she spoke. I didn’t pause to watch Alice melt into the shadows. I didn’t stop to close my door behind me. I shoved a heavy woman out of my way and ran flat out, head down, paying little attention to anything but the uneven stones beneath my feet. Coming out of the dark lane, I was blinded by the brilliant sunlight beating down into the principal plaza. The wind whooshed into me, flinging my hair into my eyes and blinding me further. It was no wonder that I didn’t see the wall of flesh until I’d smacked into it. There was no pathway, no crevice between the close pressed bodies. I pushed against them furiously, fighting the hands that shoved back. I heard exclamations of irritation and even pain as I battled my way through, but none were in a language I understood. The faces were a blur of anger and surprise, surrounded by the ever-present red. A blond woman scowled at me, and the red scarf coiled around her neck looked like a gruesome wound. A child, lifted on a man’s shoulders to see over the crowd, grinned down at me, his lips distended over a set of plastic vampire fangs. The throng jostled around me, spinning me the wrong direction. I was glad the clock was so visible, or I’d never keep my course straight. But both hands on the clock pointed up toward the pitiless sun, and, though I shoved viciously against the crowd, I knew I was too late. I wasn’t halfway across. I wasn’t going to make it. I was stupid and slow and human, and we were all going to die because of it. I hoped Alice would get out. I hoped that she would see me from some dark shadow and know that I had failed, so she could go home to Jasper. I listened, above the angry exclamations, trying to hear the sound of discovery: the gasp, maybe the scream, as Edward came into someone’s view. But there was a break in the crowdI could see a bubble of space ahead. I pushed urgently toward it, not realizing till I bruised my shins against the bricks that there was a wide, square fountain set into the center of the plaza. I was nearly crying with relief as I flung my leg over the edge and ran through the knee-deep water. It sprayed all around me as I thrashed my way across the pool. Even in the sun, the wind was glacial, and the wet made the cold actually painful. But the fountain was very wide; it let me cross the center of the square and then some in mere seconds. I didn’t pause when I hit the far edgeI used the low wall as a springboard, throwing myself into the crowd. They moved more readily for me now, avoiding the icy water that splattered from my dripping clothes as I ran. I glanced up at the clock again. A deep, booming chime echoed through the square. It throbbed in the stones under my feet. Children cried, covering their ears. And I started screaming as I ran. â€Å"Edward!† I screamed, knowing it was useless. The crowd was too loud, and my voice was breathless with exertion. But I couldn’t stop screaming. The clock tolled again. I ran past a child in his mother’s armshis hair was almost white in the dazzling sunlight. A circle of tall men, all wearing red blazers, called out warnings as I barreled through them. The clock tolled again. On the other side of the men in blazers, there was a break in the throng, space between the sightseers who milled aimlessly around me. My eyes searched the dark narrow passage to the right of the wide square edifice under the tower. I couldn’t see the street levelthere were still too many people in the way. The clock tolled again. It was hard to see now. Without the crowd to break the wind, it whipped at my face and burned my eyes. I couldn’t be sure if that was the reason behind my tears, or if I was crying in defeat as the clock tolled again. A little family of four stood nearest to the alley’s mouth. The two girls wore crimson dresses, with matching ribbons tying their dark hair back. The father wasn’t tall. It seemed like I could see something bright in the shadows, just over his shoulder. I hurtled toward them, trying to see past the stinging tears. The clock tolled, and the littlest girl clamped her hands over her ears. The older girl, just waist high on her mother, hugged her mother’s leg and stared into the shadows behind them. As I watched, she tugged on her mother’s elbow and pointed toward the darkness. The clock tolled, and I was so close now. I was close enough to hear her high-pitched voice. Her father stared at me in surprise as I bore down on them, rasping out Edward’s name over and over again. The older girl giggled and said something to her mother, gesturing toward the shadows again impatiently. I swerved around the fatherhe clutched the baby out of my wayand sprinted for the gloomy breach behind them as the clock tolled over my head. â€Å"Edward, no!† I screamed, but my voice was lost in the roar of the chime. I could see him now. And I could see that he could not see me. It was really him, no hallucination this time. And I realized that my delusions were more flawed than I’d realized; they’d never done him justice. Edward stood, motionless as a statue, just a few feet from the mouth of the alley. His eyes were closed, the rings underneath them deep purple, his arms relaxed at his sides, his palms turned forward. His expression was very peaceful, like he was dreaming pleasant things. The marble skin of his chest was barethere was a small pile of white fabric at his feet. The light reflecting from the pavement of the square gleamed dimly from his skin. I’d never seen anything more beautifuleven as I ran, gasping and screaming, I could appreciate that. And the last seven months meant nothing. And his words in the forest meant nothing. And it did not matter if he did not want me. I would never want anything but him, no matter how long I lived. The clock tolled, and he took a large stride toward the light. â€Å"No!† I screamed. â€Å"Edward, look at me!† He wasn’t listening. He smiled very slightly. He raised his foot to take the step that would put him directly in the path of the sun. I slammed into him so hard that the force would have hurled me to the ground if his arms hadn’t caught me and held me up. It knocked my breath out of me and snapped my head back. His dark eyes opened slowly as the clock tolled again. He looked down at me with quiet surprise. â€Å"Amazing,† he said, his exquisite voice full of wonder, slightly amused. â€Å"Carlisle was right.† â€Å"Edward,† I tried to gasp, but my voice had no sound. â€Å"You’ve got to get back into the shadows. You have to move!† He seemed bemused. His hand brushed softly against my cheek. He didn’t appear to notice that I was trying to force him back. I could have been pushing against the alley walls for all the progress I was making. The clock tolled, but he didn’t react. It was very strange, for I knew we were both in mortal danger. Still, in that instant, I felt well. Whole. I could feel my heart racing in my chest, the blood pulsing hot and fast through my veins again. My lungs filled deep with the sweet scent that came off his skin. It was like there had never been any hole in my chest. I was perfectnot healed, but as if there had been no wound in the first place. â€Å"I can’t believe how quick it was. I didn’t feel a thingthey’re very good,† he mused, closing his eyes again and pressing his lips against my hair. His voice was like honey and velvet. â€Å"Death, that hath sucked the honey of thy breath, hath had no power yet upon thy beauty,† he murmured, and I recognized the line spoken by Romeo in the tomb. The clock boomed out its final chime â€Å"You smell just exactly the same as always,† he went on. â€Å"So maybe this is hell. I don’t care. I’ll take it.† â€Å"I’m not dead,† I interrupted. â€Å"And neither are you! Please Edward, we have to move. They can’t be far away!† I struggled in his arms, and his brow furrowed in confusion. â€Å"What was that?† he asked politely. â€Å"We’re not dead, not yet! But we have to get out of here before the Volturi† Comprehension flickered on his face as I spoke. Before I could finish, he suddenly yanked me away from the edge of the shadows, spinning me effortlessly so that my back was tight against the brick wall, and his back was to me as he faced away into the alley. His arms spread wide, protectively, in front of me. I peeked under his arm to see two dark shapes detach themselves from the gloom. â€Å"Greetings, gentlemen,† Edward’s voice was calm and pleasant, on the surface. â€Å"I don’t think I’ll be requiring your services today. I would appreciate it very much, however, if you would send my thanks to your masters.† â€Å"Shall we take this conversation to a more appropriate venue?† a smooth voice whispered menacingly. â€Å"I don’t believe that will be necessary.† Edward’s voice was harder now. â€Å"I know your instructions, Felix. I haven’t broken any rules.† â€Å"Felix merely meant to point out the proximity of the sun,† the other shadow said in a soothing tone. They were both concealed within smoky gray cloaks that reached to the ground and undulated in the wind. â€Å"Let us seek better cover.† â€Å"I’ll be right behind you,† Edward said dryly. â€Å"Bella, why don’t you go back to the square and enjoy the festival?† â€Å"No, bring the girl,† the first shadow said, somehow injecting a leer into his whisper. â€Å"I don’t think so.† The pretense of civility disappeared. Edward’s voice was flat and icy. His weight shifted infinitesimally, and I could see that he was preparing to fight. â€Å"No.† I mouthed the word. â€Å"Shh,† he murmured, only for me. â€Å"Felix,† the second, more reasonable shadow cautioned. â€Å"Not here.† He turned to Edward. â€Å"Aro would simply like to speak with you again, if you have decided not to force our hand after all.† â€Å"Certainly,† Edward agreed. ‘†But the girl goes free.† â€Å"I’m afraid that’s not possible,† the polite shadow said regretfully. â€Å"We do have rules to obey.† â€Å"Then I’m afraid that I’ll be unable to accept Aro’s invitation, Demetri.† â€Å"That’s just fine,† Felix purred. My eyes were adjusting to the deep shade, and I could see that Felix was very big, tall and thick through the shoulders. His size reminded me of Emmett. â€Å"Aro will be disappointed,† Demetri sighed. â€Å"I’m sure he’ll survive the letdown,† Edward replied. Felix and Demetri stole closer toward the mouth of the alley, spreading out slightly so they could come at Edward from two sides. They meant to force him deeper into the alley, to avoid a scene. No reflected light found access to their skin; they were safe inside their cloaks. Edward didn’t move an inch. He was dooming himself by protecting me. Abruptly, Edward’s head whipped around, toward the darkness of the winding alley, and Demetri and Felix did the same, in response to some sound or movement too subtle for my senses. â€Å"Let’s behave ourselves, shall we?† a lilting voice suggested. â€Å"There are ladies present.† Alice tripped lightly to Edward’s side, her stance casual. There was no hint of any underlying tension. She looked so tiny, so fragile. Her little arms swung like a child’s. Yet Demetri and Felix both straightened up, their cloaks swirling slightly as a gust of wind funneled through the alley. Felix’s face soured. Apparently, they didn’t like even numbers. â€Å"We’re not alone,† she reminded them. Demetri glanced over his shoulder. A few yards into the square, the little family, with the girls in their red dresses, was watching us. The mother was speaking urgently to her husband, her eyes on the five of us. She looked away when Demetri met her gaze. The man walked a few steps farther into the plaza, and tapped one of the red-blazered men on the shoulder. Demetri shook his head. â€Å"Please, Edward, let’s be reasonable,† he said. â€Å"Let’s,† Edward agreed. â€Å"And we’ll leave quietly now, with no one the wiser.† Demetri sighed in frustration. â€Å"At least let us discuss this more privately.† Six men in red now joined the family as they watched us with anxious expressions. I was very conscious of Edward’s protective stance in front of mesure that this was what caused their alarm. I wanted to scream to them to run. Edward’s teeth came together audibly. â€Å"No.† Felix smiled. â€Å"Enough.† The voice was high, reedy, and n came from behind us. I peeked under Edward’s other arm to see a small, dark shape coming toward us. By the way the edges billowed, I knew it would be another one of them. Who else? At first I thought it was a young boy. The newcomer was as tiny as Alice, with lank, pale brown hair trimmed short. The body under the cloakwhich was darker, almost blackwas slim and androgynous. But the face was too pretty for a boy. The wide-eyed, full-lipped face would make a Botticelli angel look like a gargoyle. Even allowing for the dull crimson irises. Her size was so insignificant that the reaction to her appearance confused me. Felix and Demetri relaxed immediately, stepping back from their offensive positions to blend again with the shadows of the overhanging walls. Edward dropped his arms and relaxed his position as wellbut in defeat. â€Å"Jane,† he sighed in recognition and resignation. Alice folded her arms across her chest, her expression impassive. â€Å"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. â€Å"Well, Alice,† Edward said conversationally as we walked. â€Å"I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised to see you here.† â€Å"It was my mistake,† Alice answered in the same tone. â€Å"It was my job to set it right.† â€Å"What happened?† His voice was polite, as if he were barely interested. I imagined this was due to the listening ears behind us. â€Å"It’s a long story.† Alice’s eyes flickered toward me and away. â€Å"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 â€Å"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 coming 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 she strode toward the wall. Then, with easy grace, she slid down an open hole in the street. It looked like a drain, sunk into the lowest point of the paving. I hadn’t noticed it until Alice disappeared, but the grate was halfway pushed aside. The hole was small, and black. I balked. â€Å"It’s all right, Bella,† Edward said in a low voice. â€Å"Alice will catch you.† I eyed the hole doubtfully. I imagine he would have gone first, if Demetri and Felix hadn’t been waiting, smug and silent, behind us. I crouched down, swinging my legs into the narrow gap. â€Å"Alice?† I whispered, voice trembling. â€Å"I’m right here, Bella,† she reassured me. Her voice came from too far below to make me feel better. Edward took my wristshis hands felt like stones in winterand lowered me into the blackness. â€Å"Ready?† he asked. â€Å"Drop her,† Alice called. I closed my eyes so I couldn’t see the darkness, scrunching them together in terror, clamping my mouth shut so I wouldn’t scream. Edward let me fall. It was silent and short. The air whipped past me for just half a second, and then, with a huff as I exhaled, Alice’s waiting arms caught me. I was going to have bruises; her arms were very hard. She stood me upright. It was dim, but not black at the bottom. The light from the hole above provided a faint glow, reflecting wetly from the stones under my feet. The light vanished for a second, and then Edward was a faint, white radiance beside me. He put his arm around me, holding me close to his side, and began to tow me swiftly forward. I wrapped both arms around his cold waist, and tripped and stumbled my way across the uneven stone surface. The sound of the heavy grate sliding over the drain hole behind us rang with metallicfinality. The dim light from the street was quickly lost in the gloom. The sound of my staggering footsteps echoed through the black space; it sounded very wide, but I couldn’t be sure. There were no sounds other than my frantic heartbeat and my feet on the wet stonesexcept for once, when an impatient sigh whispered from behind me. Edward held me tightly. He reached his free hand across his body to hold my face, too, his smooth thumb tracing across my lips. Now and then, I felt his face press into my hair. I realized that this was the only reunion we would get, and I clutched myself closer to him. For now, it felt like he wanted me, and that was enough to offset the horror of the subterranean tunnel and the prowling vampires behind us. It was probably no more than guiltthe same guilt that compelled him to come here to die when he’d believed that it was his fault that I’d killed myself. But I felt his lips press silently against my forehead, and I didn’t care what the motivation was. At least I could be with him again before I died. That was better than a long life. I wished I could ask him exactly what was going to happen now. I wanted desperately to know how we were going to dieas if that would somehow make it better, knowing in advance. But I couldn’t speak, even in a whisper, surrounded as we were. The others could hear everythingmy every breath, my every heartbeat. The path beneath our feet continued to slant downward, taking us deeper into the ground, and it made me claustrophobic. Only Edward’s hand, soothing against my face, kept me from screaming out loud. I couldn’t tell where the light was coming from, but it slowly turned dark gray instead of black. We were in a low, arched tunnel. Long trails of ebony moisture seeped down the gray stones, like they were bleeding ink. I was shaking, and I thought it was from fear. It wasn’t until my teeth started to chatter together that I realized I was cold. My clothes were still wet, and the temperature underneath the city was wintry. As was Edward’s skin. He realized this at the same time I did, and let go of me, keeping only my hand. â€Å"N-n-no,† I chattered, throwing my arms around him. I didn’t care if I froze. Who knew how long we had left? His cold hand chafed against my arm, trying to warm me with the friction. We hurried through the tunnel, or it felt like hurrying to me. My slow progress irritated someoneI guessed Felixand I heard him heave a sigh now and then. At the end of the tunnel was a gratethe iron bars were rusting, but thick as my arm. A small door made of thinner, interlaced bars was standing open. Edward ducked through and hurried on to a larger, brighter stone room. The grille slammed shut with a clang, followed by the snap of a lock. I was too afraid to look behind me. On the other side of the long room was a low, heavy wooden door. It was very thickas I could tell because it, too, stood open. We stepped through the door, and I glanced around me in surprise, relaxing automatically. Beside me, Edward tensed, his jaw clenched tight. How to cite The Twilight Saga 2: New Moon Chapter 20 VOLTERRA, Essay examples