Author's Note: Hi, I've been addicted to FanFiction for a while and now I have plots floating in my head I have to get them out somehow. Yes I am crazy and here is my first attempt at a story* so maybe if I get it out of my system I'll have some piece of mind.
*Stephenie Meyer owns Twilight and is gracious enough to let me play with her characters and Twilight Universe. All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
HOME [When Shadows Fall]
Evening brings the close of day,
Skies of blue begin to grey,
Crimson hues are fading in the west.
Evening ever brings to me
Dreams of days that used to be,
Memories of those I love the best.
When shadows fall
And trees whisper, "Day is ending",
My thoughts are ever wending home.
When crickets call,
My heart is forever yearning
Once more to be returning home.
When the hills conceal the setting sun,
Stars begin a-peeping, one by one.
Night covers all,
And though fortune may forsake me,
Sweet dreams will ever take me home.
When the hills conceal the setting sun,
Stars begin a-peeping, one by one.
Night covers all,
And though fortune may forsake me,
Sweet dreams will ever take me home.*
*Lyrics- Peter Van Steeden / Jeff Clarkson / Harry Clarkson 1931 Rudy Valle & his Connecticut Yankees rec Jan 1932 New York also- Nat "King" Cole '50 Mildred Bailey Dick Haymes Margaret Whiting
2:30 a.m., Thursday, January 1st 1931. Passing through Indianapolis, Indiana.
Edward was riding outside on the top of the train's last passenger car as the wind whipped his bronze hair in disarray, the locomotive leaving an unknown town behind him. He had been traveling aimlessly for three years, hunting monsters. He was a vampire. He thought he could find a divine purpose for his soulless existence by exterminating murderous brutes that barely passed for men. He was able to read the minds of everyone within a three-mile radius; which made it easy to find the most evil kinds of humans. Edward thought that he could save innocent lives by choosing to feed off the most sadistic killers. But after all his wanderings he felt desolate. He was lying on his back staring at the night not caring where or when the next train stop would occur. His immortal body immune to the cold and the train's velocity, he could actually out run the train if he wished. But he was in no rush and hesitant to get to his destination.
He had corresponded with Carlisle months ago, anxious for any news from his creator.
Carlisle had turned him into a vampire when he found Edward dying from the Spanish Influenza in 1918. Now Edward was forever frozen in a 17 year-old body. The letter in his pocket was wrinkled and creased from constant examinations. He had the verse memorized and his mind kept falling to the same three words – "Edward come home."
Edward was disturbed with conflicting emotions. He wanted more than anything to return home to Carlisle and Esme. He had hurt Carlisle's wife, Esme by leaving their coven. But he felt tainted by the lifestyle he had been leading and fearful of rejection. Carlisle and Esme did not feed off of humans but instead survived off the blood of animals. The remorse and self-loathing Edward felt was painful. He missed Carlisle's patient understanding and Esme's gentle affections. Reluctantly, he headed home.
4 a.m., Friday, January 2nd 1931. Clearfield City Hospital, Clearfield Pennsylvania.
The Doctor watched grimly as the Medical Orderly pushed the gurney down the dimly lit hallway towards the hospital morgue. Two Policemen followed behind, the older of them was in his late forties with dark brown eyes and hair, a receding hairline. His younger partner was taller at six foot four inches with bright red hair. The junior officer appeared emotionally shaken, his pallor was chalky white covered with a clammy sheen of perspiration. The gruesome contents of the body bag on the gurney would be what caused the younger officer's distress.
Doctor Carlisle Cullen ran his fingers nervously through his blond hair as he followed behind the macabre procession. George Lehman the orderly rolled the gurney next to the morgue autopsy table. "Hey Van, can you give me a hand with the body." He said to the younger policeman, indicating he needed help lifting the body bag onto the table.
Officer Joseph VanBuskirk, know as "Van" to all acquaintances looked like he was going to be ill. "Excuse me!" Van choked out as he covered his mouth while running quickly out of the room.
The older officer, Lt. Shaw rolled his eyes and said "That's the third time, since we found the bodies." Shaw huffed as he assisted Lehman in moving the body bag onto the morgue table. "Bodies, as in plural?" ask Lehman shocked.
"Yes." Answered Shaw stoically. "We uncovered these two bodies in from of a small cave beyond the old railroad depot. "I have deputies searching though the cave now. We suspect we may find more remains." Shaw shook his head sadly as he recounted the discovery.
"By the looks of these two they have been dead for awhile but died at different times." Doctor Cullen said sternly, "Both have been dismembered".
"Doc, can you make these cases your top priority, and keep it quiet too?" Shaw asked.
"Lieutenant you will have my utmost discretion in this manner." The Doctor replied, "I'll have a report for you tomorrow."
Shaw thought Doctor Cullen looked a little young to be a surgeon at city hospital but had learned his youthful appearance belies the good Doctor's abilities. The Lt had come to trust and admire Dr Cullen since he moved to Clearfield three years ago with his wife.
Carlisle had a long day ahead of him. He started separating the remains and preparing for the autopsy. The two bodies were young males between seventeen and twenty-four years old at two different stages of decomposition. Both were dismembered, the heads were missing. He was too engrossed in his work to comment on the lieutenant's exit. The Doctor worked diligently through the day finalizing the autopsy reports and making his rounds through the hospital. He documented his discoveries in his report to give the police the next day.
8:30 p.m., Friday, January 2nd 1931. Clearfield Pennsylvania.
Doctor Cullen was accustomed to extended shifts but the horrors of this day made him yearn for home and anxious to return to his lovely wife Esme.
The sky was over cast with gray clouds, as he left the hospital early evening was approaching. He drove his automobile across town towards his residence. The house was an old Victorian Esme had restored to perfection. He parked his roadster in the old stable next to the house. Esme had converted the stable into a garage. Carlisle walked towards the front gate of the white picket fence that surrounded the house and it's rose garden. He could hear Esme puttering around inside the house. He pulled up short catching his breathe as he noticed a man resting in the shadows of the oak tree at the street's corner.
Carlisle gasped as the figure slowly moved towards him. He recognized the identity of the visitor immediately by his walk and scent. "Edward, it is good to see you." Carlisle smiled as he spoke softly.
"I am sorry, for so many things Carlisle." Edwards head hung down in shame, he couldn't meet Carlisle's eyes. "I don't know if I can ever atone for my sins." The younger vampire looked sadly down at his feet. "Son, you are here," Carlisle's voice was joyous, "I was afraid we had lost you, and now you are home." He threw his arms around Edward hugging him to his chest. "There was a hole in our hearts when you were missing." Carlisle said tenderly as his son started to sob brokenly into his shoulder.
"Edward!" Esme cried as she launched herself at vampire speed from the porch. "My boy is home finally!" She threw her arms around Carlisle and Edward with such force she almost knocked them to the ground. Esme kept hugging Edward as she sobbed and cried.
"I'm so happy, so happy!" Their reunion embrace lasted for another ten minutes their sobs slowly subsiding.
Edward was overwhelmed with their thoughts and emotions. He could hear the elation in their minds at his homecoming. He was astonished by the unconditional acceptance.
He finally felt like he was truly home.