Chapter One
*** Why Her? ***
~ Edward's POV ~
The lights of the passing cars flew by me on the damp Washington streets. I could hear, in my mind, the unspoken comments of the drivers around me. I knew I was driving way over the speed limit, but Carlisle had asked us all to come to the hospital. There was something we all needed to discuss. For the past few days Carlisle was careful to keep his thoughts to himself, not wanting my always open mind in his.
This was odd for Carlisle. He normally didn't worry. I was used to having any of the others' thoughts away from me. For them, I didn't care. Rose was always complaining about how much she wants mortality. Emmett's thoughts…I wished he would keep to himself. It would save my mind from disturbing images. Alice was always thinking about clothes, while Jasper was always just…thinking.
I pulled into the parking lot. Everyone was already here. I parked my silver Volvo next to my brother's enormous Jeep, and headed towards the door.
"Good evening, Edward," one of the secretaries smiled sheepishly.
"Hey," I grumbled.
The woman sunk back down into her desk chair. Her eyes followed me as I reached the elevator.
'Hello,' thought the tall woman in the elevator.
I rolled my eyes while I pressed the button to the seventh floor.
When the doors opened again, I stepped into the small sitting are finding my family already sitting there.
'Do you know what's going on?'
Alice's question drifted into my mind. In her eyes I could see excitement and fear. I shook my head, and she looked back out the window.
We all seemed to be on the edge, either because we really were or because Jasper was toying with our emotions. Never-the-less, I had a bad feeling.
Esme sat across from me reading an issue of Home Living. She was the only one that hadn't seemed upset or worried. She hummed a soft tone flipping through the glossy pages.
'Can you hear Carlisle?'
Alice's thoughts floated into mine again. I shook my head once more. Her tiny face turned into a scowl, and she folder her arms at her chest. Jasper stretched his arm behind her shoulders as she leaned into him.
Emmett sat with Rosalie chewing on the draw strings of his hoodie. If any one of us could pull off any "normal" human behavior, it was him. Rose rolled her eyes.
'You can be such a freak.'
The side of my mouth curved into a smile with the entry of her thoughts.
All six pairs of eyes turned to the door before Carlisle stepped through. I couldn't fully read his expression.
Esme put down her magazine and went to greet her husband.
"Hello, darling," Carlisle said kissing her sweetly.
"Hello."
The five of us left, got up and stood in a semi-circle around Carlisle. I looked at Carlisle who was directly in front of me. Not being able to read his face, nor his locked thoughts was irritating.
"Well," Carlisle began, "there is a patient I want you all to meet."
Carlisle's golden eyes stopped on me. I eyed him questioningly. He smiled, draped his arm around Esme, and walked down the long hallway.
I didn't like being in the hospital. There were too many sad thoughts that lingered in the air.
We piled into a small room, and Carlisle closed the door. On the bed laid a tiny girl, not much bigger than Alice. Her face was cut and bruised. There was a large gash on the right side of her forehead. A monitor in the corner kept track of every beat of her fragile, steady heart.
I looked at my families' solemn faces. Alice went to the girl's side brushing the dark stringy hairs out of her face. I leaned back against the wall and placed my hands in my coat pockets realizing what was happening. I could tell by the look on the rest of the families' faces they knew as well. Even though I knew, I wasn't going to say anything until I heard it.
"Everybody this is Krystine," Carlisle looked at the girl then me. Without any warning at all his thoughts became mine.
Before I knew it, I was charging down the hall and back into the elevator. I couldn't be around this place any longer. I couldn't be around her any longer.
The elevator reached the ground floor, but Carlisle was already there waiting for me.
"Let's talk, Edward."
"No!" I shouted.
I breezed by him.
"Son," he said calmly, "please."
He motioned to another small sitting area like the one before. I agreed not wanting to fight my humble father.
"Carlisle you can't do this," I said flatly.
He didn't respond at first.
"Edward, her situation is almost exactly like yours was."
For some reason that didn't make it sound any better.
"But her parents died in a car accident. They don't have the flu, Carlisle. She is still alive!"
I ran my hand through my hair to keep down the frustration that was at boiling point.
"She's brain dead. She has been in the hospital for almost six days and there are no signs that show she is going to wake up."
"But how do you know this is what she wants…" I sighed, "what's best for her."
I pinched the bridge of my nose fighting back my own personal kind of headache. Too many of my crowded thought!
The look on his face told me he knew what he was doing. I trusted him, and always would.
"If that's what you think is the right thing to do," I whispered, more to myself than to him.
He smiled softly and patted my back before returning to the elevator.
I watched Carlisle leave and heard his excited thoughts mixed with those of the rest of my family. I quickly blocked them from my mind and headed for the exit. I had to get out of here! I could no longer stand the silent cries of agony from the patients, or my families' excitement for the upcoming death of the young girl.
As I reached the doors I heard Carlisle speaking with the others as he reached the room in which Krystine was currently residing. They were all talking energetically about the small girl.
I found my Volvo and silently cursed my vampire abilities, got into the driver's seat. There, I started the ignition and pulled out of the hospital parking lot and onto the highway where I could easily take advantage of the speed limit.
