Disclaimer: I do not have the privilege nor honor of owning this brilliant story that is Twilight. Nor it's sequels, which is quite unfortunate. Of course I do own this plotline.
High five for my beta ColourBlue who just did a wonderful job at beautifying this chappie.
Chapter 9: Timing is Everything
September 4, 2007
Dr. Murphy of Forks Hospital sat on his couch eating junk food while watching the local news. His wife walked in, finally home from the grocery store, and grabbed the bowl of chips from him.
"Dinner will be ready in fifteen minutes," she said in annoyance and Dr.
Murphy simply nodded in reply, not even glancing away from the screen.
"And in more recent news, Isabella Swan went missing one week ago," the newscaster announced and Dr. Murphy sat up in interest, "We're here with Samantha Stanley, mother of Jessica Stanley, one of Isabella Swan's old classmates. What did you see Mrs. Stanley?" The newscaster asked, handing the microphone to a plump woman.
"Well, I was driving back from work on my usual route, which passes by the Swan's house, when I saw a redheaded woman and a tall man with black hair outside of their residence. I couldn't see their faces because of the rain, but I saw Bella open the door for them before I drove off." The screen switched back to the newscaster.
"If anyone sees Isabella Swan please contact this number," the newscaster continued as a picture of Bella and a phone number popped onto the screen. Dr. Murphy quickly turned off the TV and picked up the phone. No, he was not going to call the number on the TV, but rather an old friend he had made a promise to call if anything happened to one of his old patients. He dialed the number to call Carlisle Cullen.
September 4, 2007
In Denali, Alaska, Carlisle and his wife Esme had just returned home from hunting. As they were changing, Carlisle's cell phone rang and Esme gave Carlisle a purposeful glance. They both knew that anyone who would need to talk to Carlisle was currently living in the same house as he was; everyone that is except for Edward. But he only called every three months, never sooner, never later. Exactly three months for the past two years.
Esme picked up the phone and tossed it to Carlisle, who easily caught it.
He checked the caller ID 'Unknown Caller.' He opened it regardless, and pressed it to his ear.
"Dr. Cullen?" A look of sadness flashed in Esme's eyes because the voice was clearly not Edward's.
"This is he. May I ask who is calling?" Carlisle asked, and glanced at Esme's sad face yet beautiful face.
The person on the other line took a deep breath, "This is Dr. Murphy. You told me to call you if anything life threatening ever happened to Isabella Swan." Esme reached over and snatched the phone away from Carlisle in a flash of movement.
"Yes, what happened to Bella?" Esme asked in a motherly yet forceful tone.
"Um, yes, I was watching news and they said she was kidnapped by a redheaded woman and a man with black hair." The man was slightly flustered from the smooth voice of Esme.
"Did they give any other information?"
"No, I'm sorry. I'll call you if anything more develops."
"Don't bother, we'll be in Forks in a day or two," Esme hung up the phone without another word, "You don't think it's" Esme looked at Carlisle, unable to say her name.
"Victoria? What other redheads do we know that would want to harm Bella?" Carlisle responded as he grabbed one of his suitcases and started packing.
"And that man? Do you think it could be Laurent?" Esme asked as she too began place clothes in a suitcase, "After all, he did go missing a year ago and we knew he would never be able to stick to our diet, though I never thought he would go back to Victoria," she finished as Carlisle was zipping up his suitcase.
"Where are you two going?" Emmett asked as Carlisle and Esme carried their bags downstairs.
"We're going to our cottage in North Dakota for a little alone time. We don't know when we'll be back," Carlisle lied easily and Emmett accepted it with even more ease. Everyone needed a vacation from the stress that seemed to constantly darken the household.
It took Carlisle and Esme a day and a half to reach Forks. They went straight to Bella's house as soon as it was dark. Her scent was faint, but still traceable; and it lead them down the driveway but then disappeared.
"Victoria must have taken a car," Esme said, mostly to herself, but Carlisle nodded silently in agreement. They circled the house, searching for more scents but the rain had already washed away any other traces. They slowly began to expand the search area, but the days spent searching were to no avail.
"What are we going to do?" Esme asked sadly as she leaned on Carlisle's shoulder where they sat resting in the middle of the forest after a long day of difficult and fruitless searching.
"I don't know, but one thing is for sure." Esme turned so she could look him in the eyes.
"What is it?" The sadness in his eyes pained her greatly.
"We can't tell Edward."
September 14, 2007
Alice sat in the living room reading a dictionary, Jasper sitting beside her simply enjoying her presence. Rosalie strutted into the room, the super model look even more apparent than usual.
"When are Esme and Carlisle getting back?" Rosalie asked as she sat down across from the loving couple.
"I don't know, they didn't say," Alice said without looking up from the dictionary.
"Well, can't you just look into the future?" Rosalie asked with a huff,
"Honestly."
Alice finally looked up at Rosalie; she had been quick tempered ever since they moved from Forks. Regardless, Alice closed her eyes trying to see the future. She shuffled through various images in her mind, silently repeating Carlisle's and Esme's names until one of the visions caught her mind's eye.
It was Edward. He was kneeling on the ground, tearing up clods of dirt while sobbing, a piece of paper barely visible in his tightly clenched fist. The rest of the Cullen family surrounded him, looking on and at a complete loss as to what to do. A large burning building loomed in the background, the signs of destruction visible all around. Suddenly Edward stood and ran over to Alice.
"Why didn't you see this sooner?" He yelled, shaking her roughly by the shoulders, continuing to shout in between sobs, "Why did she have to die? Why did they have to take my Bella?"
The vision faded and Alice came out of her trance, her hands shaking. Jasper was holding her tightly to his chest sending her calming waves.
"What's wrong Alice? What did you see?" He asked in a loving voice that was only meant for her.
"Bella is going to die." Everyone in the room, save Alice, gasped at her words. She stood up and ran out of the room while everyone was still in a daze.
"Alice! Alice where are you going?" asked Jasper as he tried to control all of the emotions swirling around the room and catch up with his girlfriend.
"We need to get to Forks now!" she yelled from her room.
"What about Edward?" Rosalie asked. Alice reentered the room now wearing loose clothing that would make the running ahead much easier. Before she could speak up, Jasper answered for her.
"He doesn't need to know. His emotions are unstable as it is and I'm positive he'd go crazy if he sees Bella dead." Emmett and Alice nodded their heads in agreement, but Rosalie's face lost all expression.
"You're right. You three run ahead and I'll catch up once I change and call Esme and Carlisle to leave a message."
Seconds later the other three were gone, running toward Forks, while Rosalie slipped into the kitchen. She quickly punched in a cell phone number, nervously tapping her fingers as the ringing continued. It rang for what seemed like eternity and when it finally stopped it was replaced by a dejected voice.
"Hello?" the voice asked.
"Edward? This is Rosalie..."
September 14, 2007
Edward dropped his cell phone on the dry dirt of the little Mexican city he had been staying in. He took off running, leaving the small electrical device to be fried in the bright afternoon sun.
'Please don't be dead.' Edward chanted in his mind. 'Don't die.'
He was going too slow, he could feel it. 'Why didn't I choose a closer place to stay?' Edward asked himself, though he already knew the answer. If he had been too close to Bella there would have been no way of stopping him from running back to her.
He passed through Arizona into Utah as the sun was setting. When he finally reached Forks it was well after midnight. The Cullens' scent was everywhere, but Bella's was nowhere to be found.
Suddenly there was a loud explosion in the distance and he immediately took off running in that direction. As he moved closer to the explosion, the scent of smoke and Bella filled his nose.
Edward finally broke through the tree line only to be faced with a large burning building. He could hear six pairs of feet running behind him but he paid them no mind the smell of Bella's blood was far too distracting to him. He followed the scent and it led him to a small shredded piece of paper held down by a single grey stone. It had only four words written on it but those four words were enough to shatter Edward's world.
'She deserved to die.'
He knew the red ink was Bella's blood, its scent still strong and fresh.
Edward fell to his knees and reread the words over and over again, repeating them in his mind after he crumpled the paper into his hands. His breathing became ragged as his fist pounded repeatedly into the earth until his family's thoughts penetrated his mind. He stopped and stood up, slowly scanning all six of them before focusing on Alice.
"Why didn't you see this sooner?" He grabbed her roughly and shook her, continuing to shout, "Why did she have to die? Why did they have to take my Bella?"
She didn't answer him. She didn't even know how he knew about her vision, about all of this. Edward shook her again, a sob escaping his mouth, but Jasper stepped in and pulled him off before he could do any more.
"Edward," Jasper said feebly.
"She might still be alive," Edward whispered to himself as a crazed look found its place in his eyes. He started sprinting toward the burning building, but Emmett grabbed him and shoved him to the ground.
"Let me go Emmett! She has to be alive. I can feel it!" Edward punched Emmett hard in the gut and continued running until a wave of fatigue hit him. He slouched and slowed his pace. The only thing keeping him from falling to the ground was sheer determination and hope.
'Edward, she's dead. I can't feel any feelings coming from that building." A sad growl ripped through Edward's chest, but Jasper didn't stop talking, "I'm sorry Edward, but she's dead."
Edward fell to the ground trying not to let Jasper's word register
"I don't believe you," he said in between sobs, "It just can't be..." Edward didn't finish his sentence.
'Why did you have to die? Why today?' Edward took a painful breath, remembering what today was.
It was the two year anniversary of the day Edward left Bella.
Did you all like the detail of them thinking it was Victoria and Laurent? I loved that idea. The next chapter might take a little longer then usual because it's one of those that are an in between chapter that has to be written for the plot. I hate those, but they are necessary. Please review and go to the top of my profile to see the fanfic I chose for the best fanfic of the week. Also I posted another one shot.