The next morning, Dad went out fishing with Charlie and one of Charlie's friends. Eli was unfortunate enough to get dragged along. This surprised me. Such a normal activity amidst all of the chaos. It was comical, in a way. Billy was also out. I don't know with who or where.
I called Anna's house, but nobody answered. I figured Anna was probably awake, eating breakfast right about now, getting ready for her day. She was definitely avoiding me. I didn't bother leaving a message. I put the phone back on the cradle, then went to pour myself a bowl of cereal. Mom joined me shortly after.
"I want to take you somewhere today." She said.
"Where?" I asked.
"It's a surprise." She said.
"Is it on the rez?" I asked.
I've scoped every inch of the rez, and I didn't know what possibly she had to show me.
"No." She said.
"I don't know, Mom… it's a bad idea to go out." I said.
She gave no response, or anything that betrayed her nonchalant attitude.
Mom did the dishes as I got dressed. When I was finished, Mom was waiting for me outside in her rental car. It was a little Toyota, a deep blue colour. I don't know the model or year. I got into the passenger side, and Mom started the car.
She drove us out of La Push. My stomach hurt. We most definitely shouldn't be doing this. It was a bit rich coming from me, but after the red-eyed demons and the dead wolves, I knew it wasn't worth risking my life.
Mom drove down the long highway that led from La Push to Forks. We reached the outskirts of Forks, and I expected her to turn into town, but she kept on the highway, driving East.
"Mom, you missed the turnoff." I said.
"We're not going to Forks." She replied, keeping her eyes on the road.
"We shouldn't go too far out of town." I said, squeamish.
"We won't." She said.
I stared at the window, surrounded by the endless trees. I debated whether or not I should demand she stop the car, but she started to slow down, as if looking for something. I don't know what she could possibly be looking for. There was nothing until the next city. But she was insistent, driving barely past 20, almost coasting, watching the trees lines. I was on alert, wondering if she saw a threat.
Eventually she pulled off to the shoulder of the highway, and turned off the car.
"We'll have to walk from here." She said.
"Mom, where are we going?" I asked.
"Where the Cullens used to live." She said.
My insides went cold.
"Mom, we really shouldn't be here." The words stumbled out, "Do you even know where you're going?"
"I know where we're going." She said, but there was a hitch in her voice that made me not fully trust her.
She got out of the car, and I followed her. She started walking into the deep forest, which looked endless. She seemed sure of where she was headed, although this meant very little. It was easy to keep up with her. She kept stumbling over the smallest of vines, and I watched her to make sure she wouldn't get seriously hurt.
"Mom, are you sure you know where you're going?" I asked after at least a mile of walking.
"I'm sure." She said, confidently, looking ahead.
We continued walking through the dense greenery. We've must've been out here for almost an hour. The forest was deeply overgrown, which made it difficult to move. And if we had to turn around, I didn't know the direction to go. The trees above us were too thick to receive direct sunlight, and there was hardly enough light to see properly. The deeper into the forest we got, the stronger my anxiety became. We were essentially stumbling in the dark. My heart pounded, my pulse raced. I started to feel a bit dizzy.
"Mom, there has to be a better way. At least bring Dad or something." I said.
"Jacob would never come here." She said, oddly unbothered.
"Please Mom, this isn't safe. You know how dangerous it is out here." I said.
"They won't hurt me." She said, confidently.
I assumed she was talking about the Cullens.
"They might not, but they're not the only ones around here." I said.
"That's a risk I'm willing to take." She said.
"Mom, it's my life you're risking too." I said.
She was quiet again, thinking.
"It's probably the Cullens." She brushed off.
I sighed, and continued walking. I wanted to leave, but I couldn't abandon Mom. I didn't own a cellphone, and I didn't think to check to see if Mom brought hers. I didn't expect her to lead us out in the middle of nowhere, with her believing that there would be somethign deep in the middle of the massive forest.
"Mom, we should go back." I said.
"We're almost there." She assured me.
Our damp steps were the only noise in this forest. I was about a minute away from throwing a full-blown temper tantrum when Mom started to jog, but she kept tripping over walls of vines and branches. I could tell she was moving as fast as she could, even though her speed didn't increase by much. I matched her pace, slightly impatient because I could move faster. I strained my eyes to see what she saw, and against the darkness, I saw light in the distance. Eventually, I saw the white specks breaking through the green.
The large house was of a contemporary design, with most of the walls replaced by glass. But nobody had been here in a long time, and the forest had overtaken it. Moss and vines crawled up the house. The walls were almost entirely covered in various greenery. The windows were flecked with dirt and leaves, as the wind would blow and stick it on with the rain. The roof was completely covered as well.
"Mom, what is this place?" I asked, scared.
"This is the Cullen's home." Mom said, her voice breaking.
I looked at her, and she was silently crying.
"I thought they'd be here." She whispered.
"I'm sure they're around." I said awkwardly.
"But where?" She sounded so heartbroken, haunted.
I wanted to comfort her, but I didn't know how.
"You really loved them, didn't you?" I asked.
"I did." She said, barely louder than a whisper, bereaved.
And in that moment, I truly believed she loved them more than anything else. Nothing could ever rival her love for the Cullens, including me and Eli. This revelation didn't hurt, but I hurt for my mom's yearning. How long she's lived without people she's loved. I don't think I could ever have the bravery to do that.
"Mom, they're not here. We should go." I said softly, taking her arm.
"I want to go inside first." She said.
I followed her up the porch, which was caked with debris and mushy leaves. The handrail was also covered in mush, but I held it so I wouldn't slip. Mom touched the door handle and pushed the door open.
It was completely dark inside, with some light shining through the matter that was plastered onto the window walls. My hands automatically went for the light switch, but it didn't turn on, naturally. I left the door open, as it was the best light source.
Through the light, I could see dust motes floating in the air from the years of disuse, the stagnant yet somehow sweet scent tickling my nose. Beyond that though, there was another scent that was faint yet distinct. It was very sweet, reminding me of apples and sunshine, and was almost appetizing. This scent didn't belong in a cold, dark, abandoned house.
I looked around the room. It was difficult to see, but I could make out a large open area, completely inviting. I think the den was to the left of us. I could make out a luxurious grand piano, the only item in the spacious room. I could also make out the kitchen sink in the far left corner by the window casting light behind it. To the right was probably the dining room, judging from the design. Near Mom was a long staircase, which led to a hallway with a bunch of other rooms.
"This house is so different without them here." She said, solemnly.
"Yeah." I agreed, although I couldn't imagine this house beyond a set of a horror movie.
She started walking up the stairs. I followed her. My anxiety started kicking up into high gear. We definitely shouldn't be here. It wasn't safe.
"Where are we going?" I asked.
"His room." She said.
His. She must be talking about Edward.
Although she has the uncanny ability of tripping over her own two feet, she navigated this house with ease. She reached the top of the stairs, and went to a doorway that was at the end of the hall. The door was left ajar.
She pushed the door open, inviting dust motes to dance at our feet. The room had two glass walls, sunshine peeking through the dirty glass. There was a gold couch against the far window wall, and rows of CD's and a CD player against another wall. A giant tv was hanging on the wall near the door.
"He left everything here." She said, walking over to the couch and curling up on it, smelling the couch.
"I guess he didn't need it." I said, my voice uneven.
We definitely needed to leave. Something wasn't right.
"It still smells like him." She said.
"Mom, I really think we should go now." I said.
"Just one more minute." She said, almost in a dreamy haze.
"No, now." I demanded, but my voice was weak and quivering.
"You can go, then. I'll catch up." She said, still dreamy.
"I'm not leaving without you." I said.
"Wise choice." A deep male voice said behind me.
I shot around. A dark figure leaned against the doorway, his arms crossed. His posture was casual and relaxed, nonthreatening. Through the sparse light, I could make out the red eyes.
He straightened up, and took a step toward me.
"I knew you'd show up here eventually." He said.
Mom stood up, and walked in front of me, putting herself between the vampire and me. Her pose was trying to be defiant, but she was definitely not a threat.
"Why are you here?" Mom asked.
"Why, I thought that would be obvious." Evan said with a malicious grin, "I came to see some friends of my old friends, the Cullens."
"You won't get away with this. The wolves will know who did it." Mom said.
Evan shrugged, "By then, my revenge will be complete, and I'll be long gone from here."
"The Cullens will follow you." Mom threatened.
"The Cullens will follow me anyway. They're no threat." Evan said, "I liked Jessica, but she was weak. I have other much stronger friends who have no qualms against taking lives. I can take the Cullens."
"Please, let us go." I said, my voice barely audible.
Evan laughed, "I worked so hard to find you alone. Why would I let you go?"
Evan raised his hand, and there was a blinding blur as Mom was lifted off her feet and went flying through the window.
"Mom!" I screeched, running to the window, but a stone vice wrapped around me, hitting me in the gut.
"You're coming with me." He said, and it hurt as he held me too closely, his body stone and unforgiving against mine.
The room was a blur as he jumped out the hole in the window, and onto a nearby tree. I looked down at the ground. Mom was still, face-down in a pile of broken glass and blood. Evan jumped to another tree with ease.
"Mom!" I screamed, futilely wiggling against my captor, "Mom!"