Chapter 6

Charlie was up with the sun on Friday morning. He was actually afraid to get on the radio. He knew more people died during the night; the Volturi house lit up the night sky from the other side of town. His first stop, after the Volturis', was the Hale and Whitlock homes.

"Charlie."

He turned to find Geoffrey in the doorway. "Dad. Don't let the kids go anywhere today alone. The five of them go together if they leave the house."

Geoff nodded. "Ephraim and Quil are bringing that group up. We're raiding Newton's, while your mother and Sue are hitting the grocery store." Charlie opened his mouth, but was stopped. "Son, you're gonna have a long day today. Let us handle getting the kids ready. We'll talk about it tonight."

He nodded then headed for the door.

Rosalie walked down the road towards Emmett's house. She had left right after Charlie did. She had a bad feeling that if she didn't get Emmett to the Swan home, she wouldn't see him after today.

Turning onto the lawn, she noticed Mr. McCarty standing near the front door, looking around. Rosalie had just raised her hand to call out when his eyes met hers. A chill slipped down her back. She turned to run back to Bella's, but found herself face down on the ground. A hand in her hair pulled her head back.

"We-ell. If it isn't the stuck-up bitch, Rosalie Hale," a deep voice hissed in her ear. "Tell me, Rosie. Do you part your legs for most of the football team like your whore of a mother did? Or is it just for my son?" She felt his free hand grip her hip. Bruises were going to bloom later. "I've always wondered how tight you are. If Emmett takes after me in every way, I bet that pussy gets beaten every time he fucks you."

"Please don't," she whimpered.

"Don't what, little girl?" He lifted her to her knees, keeping her head down. "Don't fuck you till you bleed?"

Tears streamed down her face as her yoga pants and underwear was pulled down. She could feel him loosening his pants. The head of his dick butted against her entrance.

"This is gonna hurt. A lot."

She squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for the intrusion. A thwack and his weight was gone. Another thwack from behind her made her crawl away. Turning, she found Emmett beating his father with a baseball bat. Blood splattered him with every swing.

"Emmett? Emmett!" He paused. When she saw his eyes, she gasped. They were red-rimmed, as if he'd been crying, and his pupils were dilated to the point no blue could be seen. "Emmy? It's Rosie."

He dropped the bat, backing away. He stumbled and fell. "Rosie?"

"Yeah, baby. It's me." She pulled up her pants.

"He almost-"

"But he didn't. You stopped him. Let's go inside and shower, okay? Pack you and Jamie a bag and go to Bella's. It's safe there." A sob broke through his lips. "Em?"

"Jamie's dead. He put Mom and James in the car and turned it on."

"Okay?"

His gaze lifted. "It was in the garage." She gasped. "I just found them when I saw you and him."

"Let's go, baby."

"You want us to rob the bank?" Tiffany Call asked.

Geoffrey gave her frown. "It's not robbing the bank if we're emptying our own accounts."

Ephraim stroked his chin. "But everyone else is dead. Or will be."

"But, that's wrong," Tiffany insisted.

"I want my son to have every chance out there, Tiff," Allison Uley said. "I'll do it." She held up her manager keys. "I can make it look like every account was closed in case the FDIC comes in with questions."

"Thank you, dear." Helen patted her hand. "Now we just need someone with access to the school records."

"Why?" Tiffany asked.

"We want the kids to have their transcripts if they ever go to college, or in Seth's case, another high school," Sue answered. She mentally rolled her eyes. Tiffany was a sweet person, but she wasn't the smartest on the Res.

Charlotte clobbered down the stairs, her eyes wide. "I can't find Rose."

The front door opened, causing everyone to look in that direction. Rosalie and Emmett stood there.

"Rosie!" Charlotte flew into her sister's arms. "I thought-"

"I had to get Emmett." She raised her eyes to the elder Swans. "I'm sorry I sneaked out, but I needed to get him."

"It's alright, dear. The kids are out back." Helen waited until the door closed behind them before speaking. "Her clothes are grass-stained."

"And he's shell-shocked," Quil said. He picked up the radio. "Charlie?"

"Go for Charlie."

"Rosalie Hale just brought Emmett McCarty over. I think it's bad, Chief."

His sigh could be heard over the radio. "It's bad all over. You guys get going to do what you need to. I'm coming to get the Hales and Whitlocks so they can get clothes and mementos."

"Roger that. We'll let them know."

"Alright," Geoff began. "Junior, you, Joy and Billy clean out your store. Bread, lunch meat, drinks, granola bars and the like. Greg, Sue and myself will hit the Thriftway here in town. Sue's gonna get first aid kits together. Josh, you and Allison go to the bank. Empty it. Helen, go visit Vivian Stewart. Get into the computers at Town Hall. We need those transcripts. Print them out or put them on a flashdrive."

"Ephraim and I will take our kids back to pack up a bag," Quil said. "Tiffany, can you stay here and keep an eye on the other kids?" She nodded.

"Wait," Josh said. "Who's hitting Newton's?"

"Esme and I can," a voice said from the front door. Carlisle Cullen and his family stood there. "Charlie sent us."

Helen covered her mouth. "Are we the only people left in town?"