Friday 10th December

Just as he did every day, Sigmund scrolled through the news, through the rows of meaningless, pointless reports, until he found what he was looking for. He froze, his breath catching in his throat. They had been right. Everyone at the office had been talking about it- about the murderer who brutally massacred a group of people within a day, who had been locked up, but was now on the loose again, spreading fear through the country.

The murderer who was also a vampire that could kill as many people as he wanted, quicker and more easily than any human could comprehend.

On the evening of Thursday 9th of December, Edward Cullen broke out of prison after being convicted a week previously. The prison guards were knocked unconscious with no signs of serious injury. Once awakened, they reported having heard someone pulling the cell bars before they were attacked. Confirming what they reported are the heavily dented cell bars, pulled away from each other to create a gap to escape through.

There were hundreds of reasons why Edward could have broken out, and Sigmund was aware of that. But he was scared. He was terrified. For himself, for his family and friends, for society.

Emotions cloud judgement.

Perhaps, if he had been thinking clearly, not panicking so much, he wouldn't have done this. Perhaps he would have done nothing except continue keeping up with the news of the Cullens, to see if there was any more evidence against them; evidence that Edward was killing people purely for the sake of it. Perhaps he would have taken the time to think things through rather than making a hasty decision.

Yes, Sigmund knew there were many reasons for Edward breaking out- reasons that had nothing to do with slaughtering innocent humans- but right now, that was the last thing on his mind.

Which was why he made a call that he would later deeply regret.

"Officer Fernsby? Yes, it's Sigmund," he said, taking a deep breath. "I have some information that I think you'll find useful."


Carlisle looked up at his family, eyes lingering for a few seconds on each of them.

"He's done it," he said, sighing heavily. "He's broken out. The police are searching for him, and Officer Fernsby has requested us to come in for questioning."

"Requested?" Jacob asked, sceptically.

"Yes," Carlisle said. "It's a choice, but not to do so would be an admission of guilt. We each have to go in. She'll be questioning us separately, trying to catch us out. She wants Esme and I to go tomorrow morning. The rest of you, just go about your lives as normal. If you don't, you could arouse even more suspicion."

The next morning, Esme and Carlisle were sat in a bare room, opposite Officer Fernsby, who was sat ramrod straight, looking through files on the almost empty desk, not once glancing up at her suspects.

After five minutes of silence except for the sounds of the papers being flicked through, Fernsby placed the files down and looked up.

"I assume you know why you are here." Carlisle nodded. "Suspected accomplices of a murderer. But… you are so much more than that."

Carlisle stiffened. "What do you mean?"

"I think you know full well what I mean," Fernsby replied, smiling thinly.

"I'm afraid I really don't understand."

"You think lying to me will work? I know of your nature. I know the events that transpired at that house in Anchorage, on the 22nd of November."

"And may I ask how you know?"

"I have my sources," Fernsby responded, coldly.

Carlisle's eyes scanned the room. They landed on a small package addressed to Fernsby. He was about to lunge for it when Fernsby's words made him freeze.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," she said. "I have CCTV in this room. They're recording your every move. You wouldn't want to… give away your true nature now, would you?"

"How many people know?"

"Oh, only me, my source, and a few other officers."

"And what do you plan to do? Spread the news? Expose us?"

"That is exactly what I intend. I will tell everyone. Tell them about bloodsuckers and… shapeshifters," she breathed.

Taken aback and unable to mask his surprise, Carlisle asked, "You know about shapeshifters?"

"Oh, yes. I know that Jacob black is one. I also know that Renesmee Swan is only half human. After that, I'm going to have you killed… and that is all I have to say. You should go now. Don't bother having the rest of your family come in for questioning. I already have all the information I need." Fernsby gave Esme and Carlisle a cruel smile.

Knowing he had to try everything he could to protect his family, Carlisle said, "I could kill you, you know? I could kill you and everyone else who knows of our existence before you can spread the news!"

Esme gasped quietly, and Fernsby laughed. "You could. But it would only implicate your family further."

Carlisle didn't say anything, knowing this was true. If he was honest, he had no idea how his family were going to get out of this mess. They didn't even know where Edward was. Sighing defeatedly, he led Esme out of the room and to the car.

"Carlisle, what are we going to do?" she cried, hysterically.

"I- I don't know," Carlisle said, shaking his head. "I don't see any way to stop the news getting out. But we need to talk to everyone about this. Maybe together we can work something out. I just don't know."


The phone rang in Officer Fernsby's office. She picked it up, placing the folders on her desk and leaning back.

"Officer Fernsby. How can I help you?"

"It's me, Fernsby."

"Ah, Sigmund! How pleasant to hear from you. I assume you want to know how it went with the Cullens."

On the other end of the line, Sigmund shifted uncomfortably. "Yes. Is it confirmed?"

"Oh, it was confirmed long ago. But now they know what I'm going to do. They know that simply killing me, you, anyone who knows, will only make their situation worse. They're stuck with no escape!"

"Perfect," Sigmund said, half-heartedly. "When do you want the article shared? I have it written, including everything you requested, ready to go."

"Now. They'll be at work, the Cullens. I want everyone to find out when they can't escape. When Carlisle and Esme can't warn them."

"And what of Edward?"

"Do not concern yourself with such matters," Fernsby snapped. Then she took a deep breath. His disappearance was frustrating her. "Just… release the article."

A moment's pause.

"Sent. Published. Shouldn't be long now before it's spread far and wide. This is big news," Sigmund said, a hint of regret in his voice.

"Thank you, Sigmund. I should go now. Have a good day."

"You too, Fernsby."


Bella walked into her third period class, looking forward to teaching this lesson, only to find all the students' eyes widened when they saw her. Was she imagining it, or were some cowering slightly?

"What's wrong?" she asked. "Did something happen to you all?"

She couldn't have been imaging it. She couldn't have been imagining that all the students started shaking after she spoke. She definitely couldn't be imagining the frightened looks on their faces.

The door was flung open and Bella glanced towards it, stunned to see half the teachers stumble into her classroom, pushing a terrified Renesmee towards her. Bella instinctively pulled Renesmee into her arms, and gazed at her colleagues, bewildered.

"What are you doing?" she asked, her voice full of uncertainty.

"You're a monster!"

"I can't believe we let you teach here!"

"You bloodsucking murderer!"

At the last shout, Bella froze. She turned pleadingly to Ashley, who stood in front of all the others, tears glistening in her eyes.

"I can't believe it. I trusted you!"

"Ash, please! Let me explain," Bella said, taking a step towards her.

"No. There's nothing to explain. You kill people. You drink their blood. You're a monster!"

Bella physically recoiled, pulling Renesmee back with her. Her phone rang and the grabbed it out of her bag. It was Carlisle, and Bella really hoped he had an explanation for this.

"Bella, you have to get home immediately. Come to our house in Wytham."

"Carlisle, what's going on?"

"There's no time to explain. Just get out of the school and come straight to our house." The line went dead.

Bella grabbed Renesmee's hand. They were on the third floor or the building. The door was blocked by teachers who, Bella realised, were holding matches. She pulled Renesmee towards the window.

"You heard everything Carlisle said?" she whispered.

Renesmee nodded, glancing back at the teachers, fearfully. Bella opened the window wide enough for her and Renesmee to slip out.

"Jump!"

Renesmee quickly climbed onto the ledge and slid out, ignoring the screams around her, landing easily on the ground. Bella quickly followed her, and together, they ran to the car park- which was surrounded by teachers.

"We're going to have to run. Everyone already seems to know what we are," Bella said. They climbed over the school gates and ran through the streets, so fast that the humans could only spot blurs. When they reached Carlisle's house in Wytham, Bella banged on the door. It opened and Esme pulled them inside, quickly slamming and locking the door.

Looking around, Bella saw Rosalie and Jacob stood together, Rosalie looking agitated and terrified, Jacob looking grim, as he pulled Renesmee towards him. Jasper was stood with Alice, his arms wrapped protectively around her. Carlisle and Esme had intertwined the fingers, looking around at everyone, anxiously. Emmett and Edward weren't there.

"Where's Emmett?" Bella asked, scared to hear the answer.

"He didn't pick up," Carlisle said, his voice strained. "I don't know where he is. As for Edward, we have to way to get a hold of him."

Bella's breath caught in her throat, and she stumbled backwards, falling against the wall. She wasn't surprised that Edward could not be contacted, but Emmett? He should have given them some indication he knew what was happening… but he hadn't. She couldn't comprehend losing him, and knew it would be about a hundred times worse for Rosalie.

The entire house was silent. Everyone was waiting, hoping that Emmett would knock on the door. Hoping that Edward may somehow have heard the news and come to meet them.

Five minutes passed and still no Emmett. Another five minutes, and still nothing.

"Do you think he's okay?" Rosalie asked, quietly. She wasn't entirely sure what had happened, but she had a very good idea, and after everything that had occurred recently, she knew it was likely Emmett wouldn't return home.

"He is," Esme said, firmly. "Emmett can take care of himself. He'll be fine."

A few minutes later, Rosalie looked up, catching a scent, hardly daring to hope. "Is that…"

There was a knock on the door and Rosalie sighed with relief. She yanked the keys from Esme's hand and unlocked it herself. She pulled Emmett inside, quickly locking the doo again, throwing the keys towards Esme, who deftly caught them. Then she collapsed in Emmett's arms.

"You're okay. You're okay!" she cried, happily. "I was so scared…"

"I know," Emmett said, gazing around at everyone. "I'm sorry. I was arriving at the centre with a couple of rescued dogs, when everyone started shouting at me and trying to attack me. I managed to get away without seriously hurting anyone, but my phone fell out as I did. I ran to the repair shop first, but neither Rose or Jacob were there, so I came here."

"It doesn't matter," Carlisle said. "You're safe. That's what matters." He glanced around, warily. "Though for how long we'll be safe here, I really do not know."

"What's happening out there, Carlisle?" Bella asked. "When I went into my class- the one just after break- all the students were scared of me, and the teachers burst in accusing me of- of murdering people and drinking their blood, which I suppose is true, to some degree. Renesmee and I had to jump out the window to escape."

Carlisle sighed, wearily. "It's Officer Fernsby. She found out who we are through a source. Then she said she was going to spread the news of us, and kill us."

"So what do we do?" Bella asked, trying to stay calm. Trying not to think about Edward, who was still out there, most likely with no idea of everything that was happening.

"I don't know," Carlisle said, shaking his head. "We can run but they'll come after us."

Jasper frowned. "What if we run and hide? Somewhere they'll never find us."

"Where do you propose we hide? Neptune? Hijack a rocket to get there?" Jacob asked, sarcastically.

Jasper rolled his eyes. "No. We can stay on Earth. But we hide underground."

"Underground?" Carlisle asked. "I'm sure they'd still find us."

"Not if we went underground in Antarctica. Deep under the ice."

Carlisle considered this. It sounded ridiculous, but when he thought about it, it could possibly work. Antarctica was massive place; it would be difficult for humans to find them, especially if they were extremely far down.

"It might just work," Carlisle said, thoughtfully.

"Okay, but how will we get there?"

"We swim. We're all more than capable of that." Carlisle's face lit up, ignoring that everyone was looking at him like he'd sprouted horns. "Emmett! Get your laptop that you left here and put it in a waterproof case. We're going to need it. Everyone else, go home and pack the essentials you will need for many years underground."

"This is all very well but how long are we going to survive without feeding?" Rosalie asked. "Not to mention that Edward is roaming around out there, clueless as to what's happening."

"Don't worry about that!" Carlisle said. "I have a plan. Just trust me on this. We'll get through this together."