A/N: My first Twilight Fanfic, I've always wanted to write about Edward. I'd appreciate any ideas comments, reviews, support ect. Like should I continue with it or not? (I will anyway coz it's so much fun!) Oh and before you say 'whats with the random guy? He has no point?!' I wanted to show a different perspective on the war and on Edward than our main characters.
Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight, unfortunately.
Summary: It's 1918 and Edward Mason is a sixteen nearly seventeen year old, who like every other young man/ teenager, wants to join the war for his country and for the glory. That is until his father, who will hear no nonsense about the war with a family to look after, is one of the first of many, to contract Spanish influenza, the pandemic that is about sweep across Chicago and change his life forever.
Prologue
Third Person (some random)
A man in uniform stumbled along the cobbled streets of Chicago from where his horse was waiting. He awkwardly pulled a thick sheet of paper from his satchel and managed a one handed mounting on the already covered wall of posters that beared the similar messages. The dull monochrome colours shouted their purpose in bold letterform.
"Join the war, help the allies", "America wants you", "want to see the world and become a war patron and make your country proud? Join the men in the trenches alongside our allies" and "help America's son's to win the war." And the others that announced "Hun or Home Buy more liberty bonds."
As soon as he had finished, he moved onto the next wall, doing his duty, calling all the men to war. He moved to his next destination leading his horse laden with artillery and posters all bearing the same message. The man paused in front of a shop, not looking to see its name and wondered how many innocent men he was wrenching away from their proud families, how many he was killing. He shook his head to clear it of the depressing sights he had seen on the front. They are brave enough to do their duty to their country, unlike me. He thought, the many hideous and mangled faces of his comrades, shooting across his memory. I should be out there… he thought, but I am not brave…
"Excuse me?" a smooth, but excited voice interrupted, merely a teenager, too young to fight. The solider turned to look at the teenager, sadly, another sucked in by the war.
"Where are they holding the registration for the front?" he continued excitedly, ignoring the depressed look on the man's face.
The man sighed then replied, "nice try kid, how old are you? Eighteen?" he laughed sourly, " The point is you're not old enough to join up, wait until your twenty one."
The man began to walk away. " It doesn't matter, my age that is," the teenager said smiling "as long as I can fight, to help my country and the allies…" he trailed off, a fierce edge and determination to his voice. This kid was used to getting his way.
The solider turned, smiling sourly again, "I like your courage … what's your name?" he trailed off. "Edward… Edward Mason." The man continued, "well Edward, at least you want to go for the right reason, I wouldn't encourage you to go, as like mine, most war stories don't end …" he stopped seeing the excitement fade instantly into desperation, lord how'd he do that? As the boy looked up through his lashes, pleading silently, as if it was the only thing he had left.The soldier thought. "Well I guess son if you're that desperate I know a man that can help you get in…" Edward smiled enthusiastically. "Excellent."
Edward's POV
I walked down the street past the thinning crowd, towards home.
Unconsciously I examined the passer-by's expressions, dissecting from what I could see on their faces into what they seemed to be thinking. A worried, middle classed woman walked swiftly past pulling two children behind. She looked as if she was worrying about a husband that had gone away to war… I tried to clear my head, to not think about the woman, I could not read their minds. I was being unreasonable again. She could be just worrying about something else, like the Spanish influenza reaching Chicago, I laughed silently at that, (as if after all the governments precautions after the Kansas outbreak!) or maybe just how late it was…
I cursed silently to myself. I had got myself so caught up with the glory of going to war, I had forgotten to escort Lillian-Rose, the girl that it seemed I had only met yesterday, to my parents for their approval. The girl, I loved dearly, the girl I wanted to marry. Just thinking about her brought her face into my mind, her beautiful sapphire eyes and her soft brown hair and the way her dimples formed when she smiled, it seemed for me. I quickened my pace cursing again at how it could have slipped my memory… and remembering the war, a new set of pictures forming in my mind, as I imagined my self in the crisp uniform, rifle at my side. She would understand, Lily, she would know me enough to let me part shortly after I had her bound to me. That was my one promise to her; to marry her, tie her in the only way I knew possible to me. On the other hand, would she? Should I wait, so not to disappoint her if I didn't return? I wanted many things, but to make her a widow was not one of them, I couldn't live with myself if I disappointed her in that way. However, I thought to myself, I couldn't risk getting married after the war, to return to find her on the arm of another. I brushed the morbid thoughts from my mind, letting my doubt fade as I knocked on her door. Happy thoughts entering my mind instead as I glimpsed her relieved face behind the arm of her maid, and I knew I was forgiven. "Edward Mason?" the maid asked timidly.
Lily chatted about her day to me, highlighting how boring it was without me, by her side. I sighed, agreeing. She was making it harder for me to leave, to do what was right for my country. To be selfish and get what I want, but my guilty conscious wouldn't let me dreg up such thoughts. Especially when my best friend's face, flew into my mind, covered in gauze, mud and crimson blood from his injuries, the last picture of him I had imprinted on my mind.
He had been rushed from the front line to home, a war hero. Will, my best friend, only nineteen when he had rushed off to war, unconcerned of his welfare, unlike me at the time. He had been asked to lead his team in a suicide mission after his general had been shot, to give the soldiers a chance to advance. Just those small metres… In the mission, all his men had been shot dead in the first couple of minutes, except his best friend and comrade, Jared, who had held his back. They fought bravely, by some small miracle, dodging every bullet. Their luck had to run out sometime. I thought bitterly, remembering.
Jared had tripped over a fallen comrade in the charge. Will, a loyal friend had jumped in front of him to protect him while he scrambled to his feet. He had died in hospital, not long after he had been delivered home.
"Edward!" Lily complained, when I had missed what she was saying. "Sorry my love." I apologised sincerely, with a hint of sarcasm in my voice. " I got distracted." She sighed and began her story again, ignoring my marred sarcasm.
I tried to listen, nod at the right points and answering her questions as I watched the street around me darken. We were nearly at my family's home and shop. The windows off the other shops reflected the sun setting over the dull clouds as I walked through the ally way, Lillian on my arm. We passed by the old bar. It's battered door nearly falling off its hinges, swung gently in the still air as we passed it. Lily was nearly at the peak of her tale when the door slammed open behind us, and the noise of somebody being hauled onto the street. I grabbed Lilly's arm harder and started to lead her away as quickly as I could without attracting notice of the stranger. Ignoring her complaints. " The Turks are coming!" said a crazed voice, grabbing hold of Lily's right arm. She screamed, it piercing the almost silent night. The man was wearing a torn and blood spotted uniform and a mad look in his eyes, holding onto her dress. Shell shock, I thought. This man had obviously been brought home after going mad with trenches and gunshots blaring the night. "What are you doing!? Standing there!" he attempted to pull Lily away, I pulled her behind me. " We are all going to die, there is no hope!" he shouted, mutterings accelerating at places and rising in volume in others. "Not safe, not safe, we are all going to die…" he whispered, pleading in his crazed eyes as he passed on the message. I watched the man being dragged away by armed soldiers, holding Lily as she sobbed quietly into my jacket.
It was pitch black, and the lamp in the street flickered, sending shadows onto the windows of the shops. I had taken Lily home, instead of introducing her, as she was not in the best condition to meet my parents after the mad man had been dragged away, shots echoing in the distance.
For the second time that night I was nearly home, it felt like deja vu. I shuddered, pushing the negative thoughts from my mind. The wind rustled the paper-strewn street, autumn leaves dancing in the darkened dank air. I heard something hit the tiles of a roof above me. My eyes darted up to the source of the noise searching. Topaz coloured eyes stared down at me from a large body… a human shaped body. I blinked trying to clear my head, I was imagining things again. When I had opened my eyes, it was gone. It was probably several cats, not a human! I laughed at myself for being so stupid. However, as I reached home I couldn't shake the image from my head.
I was so preoccupied with my fantasies, I did not realise the unusual silence in the house until it was too late.
I heard footsteps run into the hallway, "can you confirm?" asked a strained voice. "Yes," replied a solemn, but smooth, velvet like voice, " he has it," Worried I ran into the room, "Edward, do not come in!" my mother called. "it's not safe!" she screamed. That was when my eyes focused on my father, sprawled on the floor, screaming in mute agony. I recognised the signs from the papers, the warning pamphlets, my father Edward Anthony Mason Sr. had the Spanish Flu.
A/N Now onto the more interesting chapters of becoming a vampire and dying. Please review and tell me what you think!