Chapter 22

When Bella woke up the following morning she was alone. A fact she was thankful for. It gave her a moment to gather her thoughts by herself. She didn't have to smile or pretend she was okay. She could just be.

Eventually, Bella made her way to the bedroom door. She quietly opened the door and peered out into the hallway to see if anyone was up walking around. When she came up empty, Bella made her way out of the room. As she walked through the hallway she was distracted by a piece of art work on the wall. It was old, or at least made to look that way. It depicted a man, a king or leader, ascending into the clouds. Below him, people were ascending too. They were all smiling. Others were on the ground, on their knees begging and crying.

Bella noticed briefly that all the 'people' depicted in the painting had the same pale skin and pointy ears as Edward and Carlisle.

In the bottom corner was a date and the title of the painting. Squinting, Bella was about to make out the words 17th century and the words 'Der Aufstieg' scribed underneath, with what she assumed the painter's signature next to it.

Bella snapped a photo of the painting and wrote down the words, she assumed were German, on her phone. Along with the date.

It was a beautiful painting, Bella observed. But sad as well. The people leaving were happy. Their faces, all of them, were made up with brilliant smiles. It was such a stark contrast to the people left on the ground. They were crying, obviously distraught. Bella wondered why they weren't ascending too. They had the same features as the others, after all. Had they done something to displease the leader, she wondered?

Briefly Bella thought about her own situation. Her father, wherever he was now, had left to a place she couldn't follow. Leaving her behind, crying and grieving for his loss. She had watched him leave, just as these people watched their families leave. A shiver ran up her spine at the similarities. She moved away after that, heading towards the kitchen.

As she drew closer, she could hear someone clanging around. The scent of eggs wafting towards her nose. Her stomach crumpled at the scent.

When Bella made her way into the living room, she saw Carlisle and Edward both in the kitchen, standing over a pan at the stove.

"Is everything okay?" She asked.

"Oh," Carlisle jumped, turning around to face Bella. "Good morning, Bella." He offered after recovering from his fright.

Bella smiled apologetically and returned the greeting.

"Yes, well, I know Edward has made eggs before for you but I wanted to watch. It's been a while for me. I was curious about it. And I wanted to make sure he was being safe, given what happened last night." Carlisle explained.

"Dad." Edward spoke, admonishing his father for bringing up last night's events.

Bella swallowed thickly. "It's okay." She insisted. "It's important to be safe."

"As soon as you're ready, I'll take you to your house." Edward told her, plating up the eggs and handing them to Bella.

She nodded and sat down at the breakfast bar. It seemed less daunting than the kitchen table. It was a great ornate piece of furniture. It looked old fashioned. Really old fashioned. As in a few hundred years old, not just a few decades.

After Bella had finished her food she showered and then the trio headed out to were Bella's house use to stand. When they arrived, a police officer made his way over to them.

"Can I help you folks?" He asked.

Immediately Bella's mind went to her father. He called everyone folks.

"Bella." He said, suddenly recognizing her. "I'm so sorry."

Bella nodded in response. "Thank you." She offered. "Can I have a look at what's left?"

"Yes, I've just finished my report. While you're here, I can take your statement if you want?"

"Okay."

"Can you tell me what you remembered? How it started maybe?"

Bella thought back to the horrible evening the night before.

"I was upstairs, in my room. I remember something breaking, downstairs. It happened four times. I went downstairs to investigate, I thought maybe Edward had dropped something. But then I smelled the smoke. Edward came flying up the stairs before I got a good look at the downstairs area, he tried to pull me up behind him." She told the officer, looking at Edward for help.

Even without saying anything, he was her rock. Grounding her when her memories started to. Overcome her.

"I must have let go of Edward's hand because the next thing I remember was staying downstairs. The smoke was suffocating but I was lost in the memories I had of my dad. I remember watching the kitchen table and his recliner going up in flames before Edward caught my attention again.

I followed him up the stairs to my room. I thought we were going to have to jump from the window, but Edward said we could use the tree. He helped me across the branch that leans up against my window."

"You left to get your quilt." Edward reminded me.

"Oh, yeah I forgot." Bella said, collecting herself before she continued. "Before I climbed across the branch, I took my quilt off my bed. It was my grandmother's. Charlie gave it to me as a birthday gift years ago. I just wanted something of him with me.

Once I had it around me I went to the window and climbed across the tree. Edward helped me down the trunk and then when ran around to the front of the house.

I remember looking back and seeing the flames in the upstairs windows. We'd just made it out in time.

We called 911 once we got to the front of the house." Bella finished.

The officer read back the statement and Bella signed it.

"Will it be okay, doing it this way?" She asked. "Don't you usually have to go to the station to make a statement."

The officer paused, looking at Carlisle, Edward and Bella before he continued. "The station was burned down as well last night. It's gone."

Bella gasped along with Edward and Carlisle.

"We didn't know." Carlisle started. "Why would someone…"

"The towns people are upset with us, angry. A small group of particularly disgruntled people have been meeting in secret. Plotting the attack for the last week."

"But you were all working so hard. Why couldn't they see that?"

Edward came up to Bella's side and wrapped around her shoulders. He could see Bella was losing her tenuous grip on her emotions.

"He was infected with the virus because he refused to stop doing his job. He died from it!" She exclaimed.

"I know, Bella. I don't understand it either." He said, trying to comfort her.

Bella's shoulders hunched as she let out a soft sob. Her hands coming up to her face, covering her eyes.

"Do you know who it was?" Carlisle asked.

"Yes."

"And?" Bella sobbed.

The officer let out a sigh. "I'm the only one left, they won't let me take them in without a fight. And even if I could where would I take them? The station and the jail have burned down."

"They're going to get away with it?" Edward asked incredulously.

"When we have order again, they'll be dealt with. But as of now…" He trailed off.

It made Bella unbelievable upset and frustrated to think that no-one would pay for destroyed her house. But she understood where the officer was coming from. He had a family. He needed to stay safe for them. Stay alive so that he could protect them.

"You can't call for reinforcements?" Carlisle wondered.

"We've been calling for help for two weeks from who we can get in contact with.

But there's no one left.

Every town in the surrounding area is in the same situation we are, if not worse. Seattle has fallen to pieces. Every man for himself is what the last report said."

The trio looked at the officer horrified.

"There's no order left?" Edward asked.

The officer shook his head. "I suggest you look through this lot and then get somewhere safe."

Bella nodded her head and thanked the officer.

"Can I speak to you, Doc?" He asked as Bella and Edward left to search the ruins of her house.