To Save a Life
Chapter 1
This story came to me in a dream (a very vivid and emotional one) that I had last night (12/25). It's about how someone is given a chance to try and save a life because of a vision they had. I've Bellwardized the actual subjects of my dream for fanfic purposes. Don't fret; nothing remotely similar ever actually occurred in my life. However, I was never able to save the victim in my dream despite my efforts. Let's hope our hero has a better outcome.
All belongs to Stephenie Meyers. The story idea is mine.
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
I was exhausted; the flight from Chicago to Seattle had been delayed twice due to weather and I was about to spend the night curled uncomfortably across hard plastic seats in the airport waiting area huddled in my trench coat, my duffle bag serving as a pillow. I'd just hung up on my girlfriend Tanya sick of her yammering about me leaving her alone. It was all about her, oh yeah; I was irritated and ready to pull the plug on this trip. If I didn't make the next flight all bets were off. The next flight was scheduled for six a.m.; I'd be lucky to get any sleep. Unfortunately for me, I did drift off and dreamt a most horrible dream…
My family and I were at some sort board meeting in a large hotel…my parents were there it was a family reunion of sorts…an event with food, drink…
People were milling about…Out of the corner of my eye an unfamiliar figure leaves the hotel. Who is this beauty?
Suddenly, there's so much crying and confusion; my mother is sobbing and clutching at me; police…lights…sirens; a body bag being dragged from a boat…a covered form on the shore's edge…pictures being taken…
…Rewind…
A familiar figure is leaving the hotel, long brown ponytail bouncing as she stepped briskly through the lobby clutching her oversize purse, looking lovely in her red and navy suit…she glances furtively behind her as she leaves…she's going to die…
I try to talk to her…warn her…my mouth can't make itself heard…she doesn't see me…stop, stop I shout but the sound goes nowhere…she doesn't turn…
Sirens and lights…I'm closer, I see the small body lapping against the shore, flashes of navy blue and red…long brown hair floating loose in the water as the waves lap over her form…against the shore…a gunshot reverberates from the boat moored nearby…I call 911…too late…
…Rewind…
…. I'm desperate…plotting…how can I get to her…we're still at the hotel…I can't find her…but she hasn't died yet. If I can grab hold of her…keep her from the bad man…something catches my eye…a quick flash of navy blue and red, long brown ponytail as she once again leaves the hotel…no…I agonize.
I call 911 immediately the operator is unintelligible…I'm screaming…someone is going to die if you don't stop the bad man…no I don't know her name. …wah…wah…wah… I can't understand the operator… Don't hang up! Go to the water look for a boat…send police! Where? How the hell do I know! Hello? Hello?
…I hold onto my sobbing mother, grief stricken guilt laden by my failure to save the beautiful woman…I'm the only one who knew she was going to die…I'll do better next time.
…Rewind…
I need to keep her from leaving; talk to her about the bad man. She exits the ladies room heading for the exit once again…I step in front of her…she looks past me…"He said he's not mad at me anymore"…she says it dreamily…hopefully…don't go I shout…she ignores me, smiling sweetly, her face lights up, I'm stunned by her beauty, her deep brown eyes twinkle as she smiles…her hand reaches out and caresses my cheek…she turns away…"let me go to him"…she can't die I beg the universe desperately…
…I'm running but it feels like I'm moving through molasses…I'm dragging myself up the grassy hill approaching the rivers edge…I see the god damned boat…I see her standing on the short pier clutching her bag shouting at the bad man…I see the bad man extend his arm towards her…I hear the shot and watch her slight form crumple and fall into the water…the second shot might as well have killed me…
I throw myself down on the grass and pound and pound the ground furiously tearing handfuls of turf…I need one more chance to save her…please God please I cry…desolate…
The reporter on TV drones on…
The family is shattered by the death of Bella, tragically murdered by her abusive husband, James, who killed himself shortly after taking her life…
I'm jolted awake by the PA system announcing that my flight is finally boarding. I'm wrung out emotionally, just one thought occurs to me as I barely recall threads of a powerful dream… Who the hell is this Bella? My dream fades from my consciousness as I move to gather my bags and head to make the flight that will take me to my parents home.
.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
My name is Edward Cullen, attorney at law. I'm traveling back to Forks Washington at the request of my parents, Carlisle and Esme Cullen. They are under the misapprehension that their youngest son (me) can be talked into moving back from Chicago to join the family business. They have deluded themselves into thinking they can convince me to leave my current life behind.
Hardly. I consider Chicago my home. I have a job I love, a home and a steady girlfriend.
Why in the world would I leave my rich and fulfilling life behind to become a small town family attorney with one client; my own family? Now make no mistake, I adore my parents and am very loyal to them and my brother Emmett and sister Alice as well. I greatly enjoy spending time with all of them and their own families the two or three times each year I come out west to visit with them. I generally try and spend at least a week per visit and attempt to include at least one major holiday.
After I graduated Forks High as valedictorian with a full ride to Northwestern I never looked back. Mom and Dad, truth be told, are ridiculously wealthy which makes it even more confusing to me why they chose to hide the extent of their wealth by living in a small town such as Forks. Even by Forks standards they stick out like a sore thumb with their lavish home but my Dad plays country physician; Chief of Staff toiling long hours when he need not and my Mom a top interior designer, spends hours making the elite of Seattle look like they live in homes straight out of Sunset Magazine. I never understood their motivations. Their wealth puts them in the stratosphere but they do not want attention drawn to them.
Maybe, I was more like them than I realized at the time…I wanted to make my own way and allowed Mom and Dad only to pay room and board through my undergrad and law school years. All else, I'm proud to say I covered myself through scholarships and part-time jobs. I never relied on them and was able to become independently wealthy in my own right but through my own efforts. I have to say they let me know how immensely proud of me they were. Yeah, I really love them.
I have yet to convince my girlfriend Tanya to make the westward trek with me; it's a bone of contention that she feels it unnecessary to meet my parents and siblings. She likes to keep me wrapped up in her family's clutches; dreaming of the day I make partner at her daddy's firm. She has no need for Forks or my family. She is under the misapprehension that I'm going to ask her to marry me. Hardly. If she knew the truth about my parent's wealth I'm sure she would find Forks incredibly appealing. Like I'm going to tell her…
Alice says she's a witch. I laugh but don't disagree; the sex is however worth the aggravation…for now.
Alice also says my true love is waiting for me to come to her rescue. I laugh at that as well. I can't imagine myself as anyone's Prince Charming. I'm kind of an arrogant prick truth be told. Who could truly love a self-involved animal such as me…
My brother Emmett has been a thorn in my side agitating for my return. He's now part-time Forks Fire Chief and football coach at Forks High of all things…Emmett could be starting for the Seattle Seahawks but chooses to coach high school ball. His wife Rosalie, ah, no love lost between us but so what, she makes him happy; Rose is a brilliant aerospace engineer leading the latest effort on the Space Shuttle at Boeing but to the townsfolk of Forks she just can't seem to keep her twin boys, Riley and Tyler under control. You just need to ask Chief Swan how many times he's had to get those two out of trees or mud holes. They are good boys, just full of energy.
Why Emmett thinks I would be better off in Forks is beyond me although I have to admit they all sure seem to be enjoying life.
Alice's husband, Jasper is a strange one. The two of them share a deep bond I certainly don't understand but I do know he reads people well. I guess he should given he's Fork's only Psychiatrist. I get very nervous whenever I'm around him…a very attractive man with deep blue eyes, I feel as though he is evaluating my every move, cataloguing my actions seeking deeper meaning as he stares at me. Yeah, he makes me uncomfortable. Nice guy though…
So that's why I find myself at Seattle Airport as I seek my checked baggage and look for the driver scheduled to meet me per my parent's instructions. I spy the large "Edward Cullen" sign and approach the craggy man holding it. Felix, his badge reads.
"Felix, you ready to head out? I'm Edward Cullen, I've got my bags."
"Certainly Sir, let me put those in the trunk for you."
"I can do it, thanks, though" I smile and slide into the back seat after tossing my bags in the trunk. The back is roomy so I recline and try to catch up on my sleep…
…Rewind…
I grasp her by the shoulders and shake her…Look at me I shout…Her beautiful brown eyes are frightened…Oh God she's afraid of me…Don't go to him I plead…she pulls away annoyed and runs out the door…
…I stare at her dead body…No!
I gasp and shake myself awake. I look out the window greatly disturbed by the brief dream that seems to be haunting me. It's horrific and awake I try and think through what I would do if I ever encountered a similar situation in real life…Yup, I'd lock her up. Brilliant, I laugh at myself as I realize we've reached my parent's home.
Felix hands me my bags and I tip him.
Looking up, I see my parents standing just outside the front door smiling broadly. The walk to them is somewhat long; as I ascend the flagstone steps I feel their love radiating as I approach, my Mom can hardly contain herself from launching down the stairs towards me. I smile back at them picking up my pace.
I am in my mother's embrace as she usher's me in the house. My father has an arm on me; they can barely contain their delight at my return. A fleeting thought occurs to me…why do I wait so long between visits when I am so damn happy to be here? Is my Chicago life all that spectacular? I don't know what's happened to me in the last twenty-four hours but that last thought seems to have emanated from a stranger but it's not unwelcome.
"Darling, your room is as you left it, I'll get your bags sent up, you relax with us in the kitchen, I've made a roast in your honor!" My favorite meal of all time…
We finish eating amidst idle conversation the unspoken being that they expect me to agree to join the family business and relocate back to Forks. Tonight will not be the night for that discussion although what we discuss is equally surprising and perplexing.
"We've bought a place for you Edward" my father states eying me carefully." We know how you dislike letting us help you out but the place is spectacular."
My mother pipes up, "and I didn't want to be presumptuous and decorate it for you so we've asked an associate of mine, a lovely woman and very successful designer in her own right to assist you in decorating your new place. Please Edward, it's so very important to us all that you say yes." She looked at me with pleading eyes, gripping my hand. I supposed that I could use it as home when I visited and I didn't want to crush their hopes just yet.
"All-right" I said, "Let's take a look at the place tomorrow, and I want you to know I do really appreciate it although I am surp"…my mother leapt up unable to contain happiness.
"I'll have Bella meets us there after lunch tomorrow. Can you believe it? Chief Swan's daughter Bella will have a field day with your place…"
My mother's voice drifted off as I felt suddenly hollow; I was in a vortex of noise without meaning as I sought to hold onto reality. I was gripped by a horror that I had a mission to fulfill…I wasn't fully conscious of it at the time only a sense of unreality as I tried to keep a grip on right now…