Bella's POV
9:10am
Finally, after waiting for what seemed like hours, the 74 bus rolled down the street. I jumped onto it, paid the fare, and sat down in the back. Out of the window, I saw the security guard from Clearview turn onto the block as the bus pulled away. Whew! I was glad the bus came when it did.
I tried to settle down, knowing that the ride would take about a half an hour or more due to traffic. However, I just couldn't do it. I kept turning to look at the North and South Towers. Smoke was continuing to rise out of both of them. I called Mom, Charlie, and Phil again, but there was still no answer. I started to bite my nails.
The lady in front of me also peered out of the window and shook her head. She looked to be around thirty years old. "I can't believe that those planes were intentionally crashed into those towers. What a gruesome way for those people to die."
"Excuse me?" I gasped in horror, not believing my ears.
The lady swiveled in her seat. "You didn't know that the hijackers meant to fly into the North and South Towers?"
I shook my head, newfound dread welling up inside me. "No."
"Hmm. No, it isn't likely you would have known," the lady remarked. "You were probably just sent home from school. It's all a part of this terrorist plot on the country. This wouldn't be happening if Bush hadn't caused trouble by sending our troops to the Middle East. The countries they were sent to weren't doing anything to America at all."
I just gazed at her wordlessly.
The lady scowled in wonder. "Where are you heading to anyway? You don't live in Manhattan, do you?" she queried.
I shook my head slowly. "No, I live here in Brooklyn. I have to go to Manhattan to make sure that my parents and stepfather are out of the North Tower," I replied.
"WHAT? But why would your parents and stepfather be in that building? Do they work there?"
"Yes. My mom and stepfather are interpreters and my dad works as the Head Security Officer."
"Oh. You should just go home. It's not safe to be anywhere near those buildings."
"I know, but I have to find them. If something happens to them, I don't have anywhere else to go! I have no other family!"
The lady went to grab my arm, but I shifted away from her. I didn't allow strangers to touch me. "Don't be foolish, child! You could get yourself hurt by risking your life! Go home where you'll be safe!"
Shaking my head again, I said no. "I have to find them," I repeated firmly.
When she realized that I wasn't going to change my mind, the lady sighed in bitter defeat and turned away.
Twenty-five minutes later, at the last bus stop before the Brooklyn Bridge, the lady stood. "Good-bye, child. Obviously, I can't keep you from doing what you feel you have to do. I hope you find your loved ones, though. But be careful! Don't get too close to those Towers!" she added.
I nodded. "Thanks. I'll try not to. Good-bye," I muttered.
The lady got off the bus. A moment later, it started to cross the bridge.
Carlisle's POV
9:10am
Alice, Jasper and I were still standing by the living room window. Ever since Flight 175 crashed into the World Trade Center's South Tower-as Alice told us minutes before-nothing else had happened.
Jasper's voice interrupted my thoughts. "What is it now, darlin'?" he inquired.
Glancing to my left, I saw Alice leaning against him, her eyes closed and her expression blank. A second later, she opened them. "Carlisle, the girl just got on the 74 bus. She'll arrive in lower Manhattan in about thirty to forty minutes. You'll have to walk down there because you can't use your car. There are a lot of traffic jams in that area," she stated.
I quirked an eyebrow. "What if someone sees me?" I demanded.
"They won't. I just thought of something," Alice said. She went to my bedroom and came out with a bundle of black clothing. "You can put the coat on to hide your arms and neck, the gloves to hide your hands, and this wide-brimmed hat."
"Good idea. Thank you."
I quickly donned the clothes while Alice gave me some more advice.
"Stick to the alleyways. The streets are crowded so it won't be easy trying to walk through them," she warned.
"Understood. What does the girl look like?" I asked.
Alice paused and shut her eyes once more. "Mahogany-brown hair, some red on the surface, dark brown under it. It goes straight down past her shoulders. Chocolate-brown eyes, a heart-shaped face that's somewhat like Esme's, but the chin area is not as prominent as hers. She's about five foot one. Slender. Smells like strawberries and freesia. She's very pretty."
"What type of clothes are she wearing?"
"A denim jacket with a white shirt underneath, dark blue jeans, and black sneakers. She's carrying a lavendar backpack."
"Age?"
"She looks to be around fourteen or fifteen. She definitely hasn't been in high school for very long. There you are. You look good. Sort of like a young Russian Bolshevik."
I rolled my eyes at her. Even though I was nervous, I couldn't help but smile a little at her teasing. "Shut up," I snorted.
Alice and Jasper chuckled.
I picked up my keys and medical bag, just in case I would need it. "I'll be back as soon as I find her."
"Bring her home safe," Alice murmured.
"I will. Good-bye."
"See you, Carlisle."
"Bye, Pop," Jasper added.
I nodded to them and left my apartment. I walked down the stairs, out of the building, and onto the street. The weather was spectacular. Who would have guessed that a terrorist scheme would be conducted on a day like this? The idea of it was barbaric!
As Alice had recommended, I made my way to lower Manhattan by using various alleyways. I jogged in human speed because if I ran in vampire speed someone would notice. There was not much chance of that, however. Everyone was so distraught over the events that had just occurred that they did not look at me more than twice, if at all. I bumped into several people, and was jostled by the crowds, but I continued on.
There was a life for me to save, and I aimed to save it.
Bella's POV
9:41am
The bus had crossed the bridge and was now in the middle of a traffic jam. We had been stuck in it for the past twelve minutes. Perfect.
I glimpsed at the cars passing by as I looked out of the window. Nearly all of them were taxis that were also trying to get into Manhattan. Most of them had paused to a stand-still, but there were a few that sped right past as if it were an empty road.
Seeing them gave me an idea. I went up to the bus driver. "Can you please let me off here, sir?" I inquired.
The bus driver nodded. "Sure, miss. Be careful out there!" he admonished.
"I will. Thank you, sir," I grinned before stepping onto the sidewalk. I strolled further up the block and hailed one of the taxis that were about to drive past me. One of them stopped almost immediately. The driver had a turban on his head.
"Drop me off five blocks from Liberty Street, please," I claimed in Arabic.
The driver was pleased and impressed. I don't think he expected me to know his language. "Yes, Missee Sahib," he smiled, sounding uncannily like Ram Dass from the 1939 version of the A Little Princess movie. He started to drive again.
I noticed that everyone looked more and more frantic as we moved deeper into lower Manhattan. People were running and shouting out to others. Pointing in the direction of the World Trade Center. Fire truck and police sirens blared all over the place.
I peered closely at every single person I saw, trying to see if Mom, Charlie, or Phil were one of them, but none of them were. I kept calling them, but after a number of rings, their phones when to voicemail.
"So, Missee Sahib. Who taught you how to speak Arabic?" the driver asked curiously, in Arabic, of course.
I jumped. I wasn't expecting him to speak to me. "My mother and stepfather. They are interpreters." I responded in the same language.
The driver nodded thoughtfully. "Ahh. They taught you well. You know a great deal. Do you know any Hindustani as well? That is my other native tongue."
I jerked my head. "Oh yes. They taught me how to speak and understand Hindustani also," I replied, this time speaking Hindustani.
"Your mother and stepfather really have taught you well! I am amazed of how much you know. At least you are not showing off or acting too proud. I can see that you are not."
We were only a few blocks from my destination when we were caught in another traffic holdup. Luckily, it was brief, and I reached my destination in no time. I looked at my watch. It was 9:54.
"Choukran," I said to the driver, getting out of the taxi after paying him.
"âFowan," he returned with a grin.
I shut the door and made my way to my destination.
(A/N: "Choukran" means "thank you." It is pronounced chu-KRON. "âFowan" means "You're welcome." It's really spelled that way. The small A before the F is pronounced like the main or stressed A in Château.)
Carlisle's POV
9:54am
I was three blocks away from lower Manhattan when I received a text message from Alice.
The girl just got off of a taxi five blocks away from Liberty Street. You better hurry!-A
I sent a reply. Thank you-C
I quickened my pace, hoping that I would find the girl soon.
Bella's POV
Same time
Because the streets were full of people bustling to and fro, it was proving difficult to get to where I needed to go. People collided into me and I was shoved from all sides.
"Excuse me," I huffed, squeezing past a few individuals.
"Watch it!" someone snapped at me.
"Sorry!" I called over my shoulder.
It took me two minutes just to get to the end of the block. I crossed the street and was faced with the same problem. But the Twin Towers, which were still pouring out smoke, loomed closer. At least I was getting somewhere.
I called Mom and Charlie and Phil several more times to let them know that I was nearby, but there was still no answer. I grew even more worried. "Damn it!" I hissed.
There were three blocks to go now. Hopefully, they had left the North Tower by now and would meet me halfway. Maybe they had already gone home and were searching for me. But then, if they wanted to find me, they would have called.
Suddenly, I heard a ear-splitting CRUNCH, and the ground began to tremble.
"RUN! RUN!" a man yelled at the top of his lungs, bolting in the opposite direction of where I was headed.
Pivoting, I saw why and was immobilized by fear and dismay.
The South Tower was collapsing right before my very eyes. The earth shook more violently than ever. Smoke and debris belched out of the building as one floor smashed into another.
Holy. Fuck!
Everyone outside raced down the street or into shops. There were screams of terror all about me. Confusion. Panic. Sobs. Disorder. And I was still unable to move. I just gazed open-mouthed at the South Tower as it continued to fall and as the ground quaked even more.
A large cluster of people galloped towards me as a thick, massive cloud of dust rolled in the air after them.
I unfroze then and dashed into the craft shop next to me to keep from being trampled by the advancing horde. I was just in time too. The dust cloud swept by, fogging up the store's windows.
"OH, MY GOD!" one of the cashiers shrieked. "WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?"
I attempted to give her a reply, but couldn't speak. Someone else answered her instead.
"The South Tower collapsed."
The cashier's hand flew to her mouth. "Oh, my God!" she repeatly softly.
I sat down in a corner of the shop next to a girl and hugged my knees to my chest. I rocked back and forth, taking deep breaths.
The girl placed a hand on my shoulder. She didn't look much older than me. "Are you okay?" she queried in concern.
"No," I responded in a 'duh' voice. "Why would I be? My parents work in the North Tower! What if something happened to them when the South Tower collapsed?"
"Hopefully, nothing did. I'm sure they're fine."
I just shrugged. If I were her, I wouldn't be quite so certain.
Carlisle's POV
9:56am
I had finally arrived at my destination. Giving an unnecessary sigh of relief (for vampires did not need to breathe. Hence we could not drown or suffocate) I took my cell phone out and prepared to texting Alice. She sent a message just before I could type one letter.
You're close to the girl; she's only three blocks down and two blocks to the right from you, still heading towards Liberty Street-A
I thanked her and put my phone in my pocket. Liberty Street was seven blocks away. If I didn't get held up, I could cut through the two righthand streets very quickly by using the alleyways.
Of course, nothing went the way I planned. The streets were overflowing with people on the phone, talking to others, and running around, many of them searching for someone as I was.
"Have you seen this man?" one person asked another breathlessly.
"Do you know where mom is?" a girl around sixteen inquired in a dismal, pleading voice.
I was glad when it took only a couple more minutes to get through the next two streets. I was about to make my way to the girl when I received another text message.
CARLISLE, YOU NEED TO SEEK SHELTER!-A
I frowned in bewilderment. Certainly, Alice, but why?-C
Just as she sent a reply, there was an exceedingly loud CRASH. Then lower Manhattan erupted in screams, and the earth rumbled. I glanced up to see the South Tower of the World Trade Center collapsing. My mouth fell open in blank horror. Oh no! I said to myself.
"RUN! RUN!" I heard a man bellow a few blocks away.
I didn't have to be told twice. I spun around and tried to run into the nearest store, but it proved nearly impossible to do so. If they streets were filled with chaos before, it was now pandemonium. People were scattering all over the place, making it hard to even move.
A cloud of dust and debris mushroomed from the South Tower as it continued to crumble to the ground. A group of people fled from it, but it was rapidly overtaking them. I wanted to keep looking for the girl, but it would seem strange to other people if I was caught wandering around in the smoke without coughing.
Finally, I was able to get into a small grocery market. Several others followed me inside. The cloud of dust rushed past the window, obscuring the view of the street.
"Did you see that?" a woman gasped.
"I can't believe that this is happening!" another yelled tearfully.
I stood by a crate of oranges and sent Alice a text message. Is the girl safe? Did she find shelter?-C
I would never forgive myself if I had failed to get to her.
My phone vibrated. Don't worry, Carlisle. She's all right; she's in the craft store three blocks away-A
Good-C I replied, exhaling deeply. As long as the girl wasn't harmed, everything was wonderful.
Bella's POV
10:05 am
The dust cloud was thinning little by little as I huddled in the corner of the craft store. It was still too thick to see anything clearly, however, so I would have to wait a while to find my family.
The girl next to me gazed in the direction I was looking. "It's crazy, everything that's going on this morning. Those poor people. I feel so sorry for them," she murmured softly.
I didn't comment. I wished that she would be quiet. She talked too much for my liking.
Unfortunately, the girl chose this moment to speak to me. "What are you doing down here anyway, knowing what happened?" she asked.
"Looking for my parents and my stepfather. I'm trying to see if they made it out of the North Tower okay, but they won't answer my phone calls."
"They're likely just too worried to pick up the phone. If they haven't left the building yet, then they're probably too busy trying to get out."
Reflecting on that, I decided that she was almost certainly correct. If I were them, I wouldn't likely have noticed that my phone was ringing either. "Maybe they'll call me back soon," I conceded.
The girl bobbed her head. "Yeah. Maybe."
I said nothing else to her. I wasn't intending to be rude, but I wasn't in the mood for having another conversation. The girl seemed to take the hint and grew silent.
The minutes passed by sluggishly. The smoke grew less thick, and by 10:19, it was nearly gone. I began to see people filtering out of the stores across the street. Here was my chance!
I stood up and readjusted my bookbag before leaving the shop.
"Hey! Don't go back out there!" the girl yelled after me.
I ignored her and started to jog down the block. The girl said something else, but I didn't hear her. Her voice was lost in the wind.
Carlisle's POV
10:18am
Less than twenty minutes had passed since that South Tower had collapsed. The cloud of smoke that was opaque at that time had faded to almost nothing. Nearly everyone that was in the market were getting ready to go. I prepared to leave myself.
"The sooner I'm out of here, the better," one of them announced.
"I couldn't agree more," I proclaimed, causing the person to smile.
My cell phone's text message ringer sounded. I took it out of my medical bag. The girl just left the craft shop. She running to Liberty Street right now. Move quickly, the impact site of the North Tower is growing weaker by the minute!-A
I'm on it!-C
"Excuse me, please. Medical emergency," I declared, weaving my way through the crowd of people at the door.
"Ouch! Pay attention, mister! That was my foot!" a man hollered at me.
"I apologize wholeheartedly, sir."
The man stared at me as if I had lost my mind. I really needed to start talking to people in the modern English language.
Once I had exited the market, I sprinted down the block as fast as I possibly could. Since people had left their safety refuges, it was jam-packed again.
But I refused to let this hinder me. I was on an important mission.
Bella's POV
10:20am
I pelted down the once again crowded street. I was now a block away from the North Tower, and at the rate I was moving, I wasn't going to get there by tomorrow. I pushed through several individuals impatiently before crossing over to the next block.
Many people turned as I raced by them. "Why are you going that way?" one of them demanded.
I didn't respond. I just kept running.
As I was about to finally cross Liberty Street, I saw that my path was obstructed by nine fire trucks and eight police cars.
I searched for a way to get around them without being noticed and found an alleyway behind me. I darted through it. Seconds later I was crossing where Liberty Street intersected with Church Street.
There was rubble everywhere, but I avoided it and ran along Church Street. I glanced at my watch. It said 10:25.
Carlisle's POV
10:22am
Two blocks away from Liberty Street, another message appeared on my phone.
Cross through the alleyway in ahead of you and go down Church Street-A
I did as she instructed. I was getting close!
Bella's POV
10:25am
It took me less than a minute to get to the corner of Church Street and onto Vesey Street. The North Tower was further up the block. I was almost there. I wanted to cheer.
My phone rang and I stopped to answer it. "Hello!" I panted.
"Bella?" Mom's panicked voice drifted through the phone. FINALLY! It was about time she called me back!
"MOM! Oh, Mom, where are you?" I yelled, pausing once more.
"Charlie, Phil and I are still in the building, but we're on the ninth floor."
"I'm down the street. I'll meet you inside."
"Okay."
Carlisle's POV
Same time
She's on Vesey Street-A a new message said.
I'm halfway there!-C
I edged up the block faster.
Bella's POV
10:26am
I started to bolt down the street again, continuing to speak to Mom.
"Are you guys okay?" I queried.
"We're perfectly fine. Are you okay?" Mom demanded.
"Yes."
"Where are you now?"
"A few feet away."
"Good. We're on the fifth floor."
While she was saying this and made a left and sprinted through the huge courtyard.
Carlisle's POV
10:28am
I was now in the middle of Vesey Street, heading towards the North Tower, which loomed overhead.
There was no sign of the girl, since debris from the South Tower was piled high between me and the North Tower. I could smell her scent, however. It was a very appealing one. Maybe a bit too appealing.
I had almost reached the spacious courtyard when I saw a lavendar backpack bobbing ahead of me, slightly to my left. There she was, at the entrance! Even from this far, I could see that she was speaking on the phone to somebody.
"Mom, I'm here now," she was saying. Her deep, lithe, melodic voice drifted back to me.
Wait a minute. Lithe? Melodic? Where was this coming from?
And then a second catastrosphe occurred right at that moment, jerking me from my thoughts.
The North Tower started to collapse! The girl began to dash away from it when she fell. Debris pelted down towards the ground, towards her.
I jogged to the girl at half-vampire speed. Would I make it to her in time?
Bella's POV
Same time
I was panting to catch my breath, standing by the door. I was about to open it. "Mom, I'm here now," I gasped.
Suddenly, before Mom could reply, there was a deafening BOOM above me. I covered my ears, then glanced at the sky.
THE BUILDING WAS BEGINNING TO COLLAPSE! FUCK!
"MOM! HURRY! THE TOWER'S COLLASPING!"
"I KNOW! I KNOW! WE'RE COMING! JUST RUN!"
I turned and started to race away from the building. I had ran five paces before I tripped and fell, scraping my knee. SHIT! This was the end of me! I was now going to die because of my foolish, inopportune clumsiness! WHAT. THE. FUCK! But...at least I would die near the people I loved so much, who would surely take the trip to heaven with me. I would see them again soon.
And perhaps that wouldn't be so bad.
I grabbed my phone as the earth quaked fiercely. "MOM! DAD! PHIL! I LOVE YOU!" I bellowed, praying that they heard me.
And they did. "WE LOVE YOU TOO!" they yelled with the emotion strong in their voices.
Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a colossal piece of granite shooting down at me.
I shouted in fright and covered my head.
This was the end!
(A/N: Oh, my God! What a chapter! Just typing it made me feel nervous, jumpy, and scared! At the end, I just felt tears coming to my eyes. *Sniffles, on the verge of sobbing.* PLEASE REVIEW! Let me know what your opinions are!)