Anomaly
I felt my expression go rigid. I was completely perplexed. This usually only happened with Bella. I couldn't find any answers in Chris's mind. It was like listening to an empty room. I felt nausea creeping up on me as I made the comparison.
"What do you mean?" I asked, my voice laced with worry.
"They-- they're dead," she said, her whole body shaking now. She looked up and met my confused gaze. "Um, I-- they, I have to go." She stood up and burst into tears. Before I could comfort her she was running. I couldn't move. When she had swiftly gotten up so fast, I got a whiff of her blood. I don't know why I hadn't noticed it before. Thirst wasn't something I wasn't thinking about up until now. The scent was abnormally sweet. Not as perfect as my angel's, but it was unlike anything I had ever smelled and wanted before.
I knew I had to find her before she could go through with her desire, but I was also now unsure if I could control myself. Of course, I could. Right? I sat and debated for a moment too long.
I followed her trail and when I turned to face the old Cathedral, the bells tolling, I froze.
Under the shadow of the large tower, in the cold water of the bay, the young girl's body drifted motionlessly with the soft current. How had she gotten there so fast?
"Chris!" I screamed. This could not be happening. I cannot lose another friend. I jumped into the bay and carried her to the cobblestone street. I could still hear her heartbeat, but it was slowing rapidly.
"Chris….no," I muttered. Her life was slowly slipping away. I knew there was no chance. But what to do? Death was what she wanted. But, so young, is it what was right? This is not the time for a right and wrong debate, I told myself. I had to save her. She was different, in a way that I knew she had to be kept in this world.
I bent over her neck, and stopped. Her wet hair gave off the most alluring scent.
No. I had the willpower. If I was going to die, I had to know that I lived an honest life. For Carlisle, at least.
But…I had to know. I whipped out my phone and speed dialed Alice.
"Do it, Edward, and quick. It will be alright. I am on a plane now," she said quickly and hung up.
I should have known she would know. I bent over her once more and sunk my razor sharp teeth into her neck. The coinciding rush was overpowering. Her blood tasted so divine, if only I could--
I stopped myself once more. NO! I know I can do this. Alice said it would be okay. I listened to Chris's heart beat and I knew she would become conscious soon by its rapid pulsing. I bit her again closer to her heart, injecting as much venom as I could, so that the process wouldn't be excruciatingly slow.
Her body twisted in the most unnerving way as her eyes popped open, red and tearing.
"OH!" She screamed. Her body was reacting to the venom. Could I do this? Would I be able to sit and watch her writhe in agony? What would I do with her for three days?
"The fire….it's divine……..," she sighed. I didn't understand. I could almost feel the fire through her mind, it pained me to know that this innocent girl must endure this. But I could also feel the relief that was flooding through her. As if this agony was better than what she was feeling before. I shuddered at the thought.
"Chris listen to me. I will take care of you. I will explain this after it's over. Can you hear me?" I struggled to tell her.
"Edward? It……feels so strange. It -- it's getting worse….oh…." she moaned. But after experiencing this myself, her reaction was not as bad as it should be. It worried me and comforted me simultaneously.
I carried her to a nearby hotel. I was confident that I could get her inside without her screaming. I held her the whole time and when I set her on the bed, she had the slightest smile on her face. Such a strange creature.
I could hear Alice coming down the hall now, but I could not move, entranced by Chris's experience. She would groan every now and then, but overall she was extremely quiet. Too quiet.
"Alice, I'm worried." She was sitting next to me now, on the bed parallel to Chris's.
"It's alright Edward, I am confused as well, but as long as she is breathing, it should turn out okay." Her voice was unsure but steady.
"But Alice, what do we do when it's over?"
"Give me a second," With that, she slowly rubbed her temples, focusing on something important. I focused as well.
What I saw in Alice's mind was fascinating. Chris was sitting in our home, completely at ease. My family sat around her, marveling. But I noticed something, I was nowhere to be seen. I knew what this meant and I accepted it with an open heart. This is surely a sign that I would be with Bella soon. I cringed at her name, wishing my memory served her face justice. But what about Chris? Did this mean that she would be functioning normally as soon as this mess was over?
I looked up to see Alice looking at me intently. "Edward, you know that I don't want you to do this. But I just don't know if we could take you being miserable for the rest of eternity," her hands were trembling. "Edward, as your sister, I ask you to do what you think is right. What your heart is telling you. Are you listening Edward?"
I knew what she was saying was sincere. It hurt me to know what this must be doing to my family. "Yes, Alice. Thank you. I'm not sure if I can sit here much longer," I knew I couldn't stay here. My own fire was ripping through my heart. I had let myself become wrapped up in the present and when I thought about why I was here, I could not breathe.
"Goodbye, Alice," I said with a shaky tone. "Goodbye, Chris. I hope you can accept my decision and I am sorry. Alice will take care of you now. Good luck." I stood up and kissed Alice on the cheek. I touched Chris's hand and she looked up at me.
Be happy, she told me. I was amazed that she had figured out my talent. I had to get out of here. My emotions were so jumbled that they were choking me.
"I will," I whispered, and closed the door on the remnants of my life.
