Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight!
Dying Sun
The Beginning of the end
I stared out the misty window preparing to face the cold outside, I did not know what I would find, and I hoped I would not be too late as this was my last chance.
Mother was ill, that was to be expected many were dying from the Spanish influenza and now I was the only one left, Father had died during the first wave of the epidemic I had no brothers or sisters the only other people who I knew in my family was my auntie and her husband and their son Edward Masen.
I knew it was a long shot for help but I didn't know who else to turn to.
I don't know what I would do if mother died where would I go how could I afford the rent?
I am nearly sixteen in a few months I could get a job and support myself as a maid or something like that the war is still going on in Europe I hope so much that America doesn't get caught in it so many men have died I used to sneak at Fathers newspaper when he wasn't looking.
I remembered the last few months, the last happy memories I had of my family before forcing myself out of the door and into the Chicago streets.
The wind hit me first biting away at my exposed skin;
I pulled my coat around me tighter and walked swiftly to my first stop my Auntie's house.
It wasn't that far maybe a few blocks, I breathed through the mask on my face we were told it would stop us getting the influenza I didn't trust it much as mother always wore hers and she still got ill. I walked quickly down the silent streets past boarded up theatres and empty parks.
I was there I quickly ran up the steps my bronze chestnut hair flying back in the wind, my mask nearly flew off at the same time. I rang the doorbell and waited.
I waited.
No sound could be heard of approaching steps, I prayed and prayed someone would answer.
No one did.
There was only one other place to look, The Hospital.
I knew I was taking a risk but I had to try, it was another 30 minute walk and by the time I got there I was shaking in my coat.
The Hospital was full of doctors and nurses running round in desperation, beds were everywhere full of the sick, the dying and the dead. I could feel the thick wet tears running down my cheeks as the shouts of the dying rang in my ears. On the bed closest to me was a boy not much older than me, his skin pale white a dead white with dark shadows under his eyes and mouth.
The lights reflected dimly off his skin his black hair plastered to his forehead I nearly reached out to touch his hand lying limply at his side but a doctor shouted out.
"Don't touch him" his voice was so beautiful and yet full of sorrow.
I followed the voice looking for its owner and my eyes came to rest on the most beautiful man I had ever seen, I was momentarily dazed by his face he was young with short blond hair swept back as if hands had run through it many times;
His skin was pale white nearly as white as the boy on the bed his eyes were the most amazing honey colour he looked like he should be in Hollywood rather than in a hospital. He was wearing a doctor's coat with a light blue shirt underneath with pale beige trousers and polished shoes, a stethoscope hung lightly round his neck. He looked concerned and confused to why I was here I was so amazed by his beauty I was struggling for the right words.
"Who are you? Can I help you?" his voice so gentle it sounded like music.
"I am Holly; I... was looking for someone, my Auntie and her son." I finally managed to choke out.
"Hello Holly, I am Carlisle may I ask what their names are so I can check to see if they are here." His voice answered back gentle and understanding it took me a few seconds to get my response out.
"They are Elizabeth and Edward Masen I went to their house but I didn't get an answer."
His expression changed for a fraction of a second he seemed upset and sympathetic as if he already knew the outcome of my search, but it changed back to the gentle face as he led the way towards the reception.
I followed eagerly past the many beds of men women and children all at different stages of the influenza loved ones holding hands, mothers saying their goodbyes to their children; I knew these scenes would haunt me to the end of my life.
"Rachel; can you look up Elizabeth and Edward Masen for me please."Carlisle spoke confidently he was exactly the person I would trust with my life he was so assuring.
"Yes, there were people of that name registered" she paused for a minute looking down at some papers, her voice was rough and she looked tired her mousy hair tied back into a scruffy bun her glasses sliding slowly down her nose I sympathized with her to have to see this suffering every day.
"Elizabeth Masen died on Monday evening and..." she paused again shuffling through some more papers before giving up and looking at the list of the dead.
Many emotions were coursing through me, I was angry at myself I knew I should have come earlier, I also felt a crushing grief at my loss and my mothers.
But what about Edward? Was he still alive? I remembered when I last saw him a few months ago; so happy and healthy he was strong he could lift me up without a problem I couldn't imagine him reduced to being weak like so many around me now.
"Edward Masen was admitted but there isn't a record of his discharge so I assume he must have died, everything is hectic here and doctors don't have time to fill out death certificates I am sorry honey." She looked up at me as she said the last part.
I was crying so hard by then I couldn't see properly just a blurry mass of colours all flowing into each other. So there it was my last hope, I was alone now mother was near the end and I had tried everything.
I had failed.
Not only that I had lost my Father, My auntie and now my cousin who I would miss the most we always talked and wrote letters he was like the brother I never had.
Carlisle walked me to the door his hand rested on my shoulder, it seemed slightly colder but I was so caught up in my loss I didn't notice, the hot tears turned cool when I reached the door I turned to face Carlisle to thank him for his help I could barely get the words out I was shaking slightly.
"Th... Thank you Carlisle I should go." I spoke very quietly I did not know what I should do next I looked outside the sky had darkened and it was raining lightly I wasn't so confident I could find my way home now it all looked slightly different in the dark.
"Holly, be careful there are desperate people out there get home as quick as you can" His musical voice was layered with concern.
I nodded and headed out of the door.
To consol my grief I took my mind back to happier times when I was thirteen and I was sitting at the grand piano in the living room at home, most of the family were over for thanksgiving and I was determined to play a piece I just learned but I was still having difficulty with the end which was a grade higher than my abilities.
Then Edward came in dressed smartly his bronze hair a mess as always his green eyes sparkling half laughing at my attempt.
"What do you think is so funny?" I accused him watching carefully as he positioned himself next to me on the piano stool.
"You obviously, you have been trying to play that same piece for the last hour and you still get it wrong" he said it half chuckling.
I could feel myself going slightly red in the face at his remark.
"It's not as easy as it looks." I retorted
"Well let's see shall we?" he answered back smugly his smile was crooked I knew he was better at the piano than me and he was just going to show off.
His hands glided effortlessly across the keys playing the melody perfectly, I enjoyed listening to him play it was a change, when he got to the end he did it slower so I could watch and see how he played it. Of course it all makes sense now he makes everything look easy.
I played the piece and got it right finally.
"Told you" he smiled as he said it smugly.
We played the piano together when we met up at family functions and sometimes the odd weekend it was always fun to play with Edward.
I felt another tear drift slowly down cheek as I made my way home, the rain was lifting, now it was only a drizzle as I half way home the streets were still deserted apart from a few men on the corner I was wary of them so I turned off down a narrower street to avoid them.
There wasn't much light and I couldn't see ten metres ahead but I kept going,
I heard a rustling behind the dumpsters I froze with panic for a few seconds then kept walking ahead.
It is just a cat or something nothing is going to hurt you I thought quickly I could now see the gap at the end of the ally and I started to run, I couldn't wait to get home.
But before I could start running I felt something hard and cold slam into me from the right, I was so disorientated I didn't know what was happening as teeth bit into my neck. The pain was unimaginable I screamed but it barely made a sound as I heard by heart pounding against my chest franticly.
I could vaguely hear someone's voice mystical and beautiful like Carlisle's but this was not his voice this tone was deeper.
"Casper put her down I think we can find some other use for her"
All in heard in response was a hiss
Then before I knew it the cold hard thing was off me and was slammed against a wall and the last I heard was ripping and screams like my own but being cut off quickly as I sank into the blackness.
The pain didn't leave it grew intense, it was like I was burning at the stake all I want to do is die nothing is worth this I don't even know what is happening, I scream for someone to kill me but no one does I cry out begging for someone to end this pain.
It felt like years would pass and I would still be in this pain as I burned on. All I could hear were my now weak screams for death but my hearing got sharper and I could hear other things as well. Pots and pans banging together filled with boiling water Was someone cooking? How anyone could be cooking while I was in this much pain was beyond me how could they not hear my pleas for death?
Then my heart grew hotter all the fire retreated to my heart beating impossibly fast I felt I was going to explode. Then it stopped dead my heart stop beating and the pain was gone.