Author's Note:
Hi everyone. This is my first time having the courage to post on here. Enjoy and please review.
Special thanks to Carole Long, my dear friend and prereader. She's a true sweetheart.
Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight.
Prologue:
January 4th, 2022
My hair was matted, the blood seeping through the burly mess as my body floated,even gliding. I had descended to this perpetual doom,some might see it is falling from grace. When you're so far up ,you have an even longer way to fall than the average Joe.
I extended my legs, wiggling my toes, testing my leverage. I attempted to brace my already battered body for the hasty plunge into the stream. Paddling to the top, I tried to catch my breath, my punctured lung making each labored breath, a gruesome task. But, the water was much too cold on this dark, January night. The chance for a positive outcome dwindled; parallel to the drops of water falling from the metal bridge. I couldn't see anything in the darkness and I couldn't hear any cars going over the bridge above me.
Everything was black and blank. Was I deaf or blind, or both?
The impact of my fall was titanic. The irony wasn't lost that fate might bring me the same end as the Titanic. Please. I pleaded in my mind. A silent, empty prayer, lost upon the darkness; willing anyone to hear.
But nobody ever came…until the next morning when the divers found her. Dead.
~LtD
December 28th, 2021
Forks, Washington. Population 3,452.
Alice Swan snorted and let out a chuckle as she crossed Wickery Bridge. Last time, she drove across the bridge was in the opposite direction. Head first with the whole world at her fingertips, or at least that's what she told herself in order to fight the urge to look back. Now she was back in the same place, she ran from so hasilty four years prior.
Bella, her kid sister, repeatedly begged her to come and visit. Alice hadn't been back in four years. Four Christmases- was what Bella used as her bargaining chip. She knew it was shitty to miss four holidays, including the one that just/phrase passed three days ago. But her logic was that Bella would be eighteen soon and could go anywhere, and do anything. There would be nothing tying her to the small town that broke her.
At thirty four years old, Alice thought she had left Forks behind her but there was something in Bella's voice that made her break her resolve and drive the torturous ten hours to Forks.
As Alice passed the once familiar sights of her hometown, she grew uneasy to see her family, especially Bella. They hadn't seen each other face to face—(No, Zoom doesn't count), in four, long years. When Alice left she broke Bella's heart. Alice was a second mother to Bella. She was there for all her moments- from first steps to first crush. But she left and she left Bella in her rear view mirror and couldn't dare to look back.
When the car's gas light came on, Alice realized how long she trekked without having to get gas. Thank God for Prius'. Saving the planet and my wallet, she thought.
She passed the hospital on the way to the gas station. Her mother, Renee was probably doing her millionth double shift. She just lives in that place…
Alice was grateful that this particular gas station was in the wooded part of town, where not many locals frequented. This meant she wouldn't be bombarded with questions , just yet.
The car came to a halt for the first time in what feels like a lifetime. There must be something in the air here , it just sucks the life away from people.
Alice took the opportunity to jump out of the car and stretch her legs and have a much needed cigarette. Sure, it was a horrible vice and she knew her odds of getting cancer increased daily, but she needed her little cancer sticks. After all, they were the only vice she had left.
She dug through her purse for the sparkly lighter with her name etched in it, when she realized she must have left it at the previous stop.
"Fuck", she muttered as she walked towards the seedy convenience store.
"Need a light?" A deep masculine voice called from behind her. She spun her small frame around to see a good looking, sharply dressed man standing next to a grey Tesla. His tall stature had her intimidated and intrigued. He had deep reddish- brown hair and green eyes that glistened in the dim sunlight that the Pacific Northwest offered.
"Sure", Alice accepted as she walked closer to the electric car. Hold up, "What are you doing with an electric car at a gas station? Isn't that sort of pointless?"
The Armani clad suit guy chuckled, moving closer to retrieve his lighter. He held up two plastic bags filled with junk food and beverages. "Fuel for the day", he explained.
Spicy cologne hit the air as he waved the bags toward Alice- who was enjoying her newly light cigarette, as nicotine engulfed Alice's lungs and she could finally breathe.
"Ah I see, very nutritious!" Their banter was the most fun Alice has had in a while. "Yes-well this town isn't blessed with a Whole Foods, unfortunately now I must suffer"
Alice perked up, "Trust me I know, have you tried their new dairy free, soy, free, nut free ice cream. You know the one that is only 80 calories for the entire pint!'.
"Yes, my mouth is watering. Who knew it would have been such a great substitute and it has protein in it. Regular ice cream can't compare".
Alice was giddy to find another Whole Foods, health junkie. Rare in this town, where cobbler happens to be a main food group.
"Alice.", she extended her manicured hand for him to shake, "Riley.", he grabbed her hand firmly, just like his foster father taught him to.
"Well, it was nice to meet you, but I should be going, I'm late and hungry" he smirked. Riley held up the poison filled plastic bag and one of his sleeve tattoos peeked out. Alice snuck a peek but she said nothing. "Pleasure's all mine, and be sure to reuse those bags—we have a planet to save!"Alice countered while turning and depositing herself back into the safety of her tiny Prius and couldn't help but watch the Tesla drive away quietly, too quietly. Once she filled up the gas tank, she moseyed on over to her childhood home.
LtD~
The cream colored house on the tree lined path hadn't changed much since Alice's time away. The only noticeable difference was the trellis on the side of the house. What was once clean and straight against the house, was now leaning, uneven, it even looked as though the wood was rotting. Alice was reminded of all the times she used that very trellis to sneak in and out of her house, at all hours of the night. Her old room now belongs to Bella and Alice could bet her life that she wasn't sneaking off anywhere. She was a good girl,unlike her older sister.
As she pulled into the driveway she noticed another difference, the plants that she had planted four years ago, were now dehydrated and neglected. Renee was never much of a gardener and Charlie couldn't be bothered to move from the couch, let alone use a hose.
Alice sat there in her car, listening to the buzzing of the bees and chirping of birds on this unusually sunny day in Forks. She took a deep breath,looking over at her pocketbook, and down at the diamond ring on her finger. Slowly, Alice took the ring off and threw it in her purse, while exiting the compact car.
Walking up to the porch, she contemplated her next move. Knock or use her key that hung on her keyring like a tightly wound noose. Choosing to knock and avoid a power struggle, here goes nothing…
"What the fuck Renee? Did you forget the keys again? I swear to God…", Charlie spewed before looking up at his long-lost daughter. Charlie Swan was an unfiltered gruff individual. He showed zero emotion and nothing ever seemed to mean anything to him., even his family. Actually, especially his family. His grey eyes bore into Alice with a look of annoyance.
Alice pursed her lips, biting her tongue, giving him a once over look. His mustache was unkempt and his beer belly was out of control. Charlie used to be the star quarterback in high school, until a blow to the knees caused him to retire from his promising football career. Instead, he enrolled in the police academy and worked his way up the ranks throughout the years to police chief. But in true Charlie fashion, he messed that up too and had been forced to "retire" from the force almost four and a half years ago.
"Alice, wow. I can honestly say I wasn't expecting you. I know you told Bella you were coming back, but I wasn't holding my breath" Charlie admitted. "It's been a long time,a lot has happened since you ran out of town".
"You and I both know I had no choice, Daddy" she said with a pointed look towards her father.
The nerve he had, she wasn't in the door, two minutes and he was ready to bring up old wounds. Exhibit A as to why leaving was the healthiest choice.
"Where's Renee and Bella?" Alice asked-deciding to let him off the hook, for now. She looked at her watch and it was half past three, Bella should have been home half an hour ago. She then remembered she and Edward were like siamese twins these days, Ah to be young and in love…
"Bella is probably with Edward or Jessica getting everything ready for that gala dinner dance fundraiser. Why they must have another dance on top of the prom this May is beyond me. Back when I was in Forks High, we had prom and just prom; not all these other things to spend money on. To top it off, now your mother wants me to wear a monkey suit. Anyways, Bella. Yes-she mentioned something this morning about trying on colors and flowers and shit at the Cullens, but I have more important shit to worry about " Charlie ranted defensively. " More important shit" was drinking beer in the middle of the afternoon and watching golf on the flat screen. He shook his head at Alice, knowing she might start with the lectures.
As Charlie shook his head, his belly jiggled. God, he could benefit from an organic diet. Hell, maybe he'd lose a few pounds. Alice was glad she took after Renee and her metabolism. "Renee's working?"Alice asked but she already knew the answer. She asked more just to get on Charlie's nerves, a little playback.
"Of course she's at the hospital. Why do ask stupid shit, Alice?" Charlie sighed, "You and I both know the hospital is the most important thing to her".
Alice knew what her mother loved so much about the hospital and it wasn't her patients…
"Okay great talk, but I'm going to drive up to the Cullen's and see if I can find Bella", Alice started for the door. Get out while you can, her inner voice pleaded resulting in an external snort.
"Now you know Ally, no guys like girls who act like pigs! You had me fooled for a second, I actually thought you matured. About time, after all the bullshit you put mom and me through".
Alice left Charlie's comment alone, "Don't call me Ally", she muttered over her shoulder and went on to find Bella. After all, she was the only reason she was here.
Of course,Bella pleading for Alice to return wasn't anything new. In fact, it has become quite common –as of recently. But when Alice heard Bella and really listened to her pleas, she recognized them all too well and knew she had no choice but to come home and face the place that broke her. Bella's strange behavior throughout the past month just solidified Alice's need to visit and check up on her.
Alice had a good fifteen minute drive to the Cullen compound and along the way she grew more and more jittery. Not even her cigarettes provided a relief. She knew what, no—who she needed.
She pressed the button on the car phone, making sure her bluetooth was connected. The Pacific Northwest Wonderland was notorious for dropped calls and she didn't want to worry anyone. Some wonderland…Alice held her breath as the phone rang.
"Hello" said the calming voice, "I was expecting a phone call sooner than this, Al"
"I know, I got caught up with Charlie, and now I'm on my way to Bella".
"It's fine, it's just you know how I worry".
"Yes, it's fine. I'm fine". Alice sighed almost wishing she didn't make this call, right now.
The Prius climbed the hill, where a beautiful brick contemporary home sat. You could just smell the money as you drive up. Alice sighed again, not finding the right words and worried about what may come out of her mouth.
"I get it Al, we'll talk later. You call me…when you're ready".
Alice hummed into the phone and pressed the red button on the screen to disconnect the uncomfortable phone call.
After sitting in the Cullen's front yard a few minutes, she spotted Bella by the lake that led to the other side of the reservation where the Blacks lived.
Once she was certain that nobody was around, she watched Bella for the first time in four years. She looked happy, a little weary but happy nevertheless.
Bella Swan was perfect. You know those girls who have a sparkle to them, and can do no wrong. Yep, that was Bella. She was the golden girl, everyone wanted to be her and be friends with her. You were better when you were with Bella. She made them all better. Her nature was free spirited, and didn't want to ask anyone to change.
Not to mention, Bella was the polar opposite of her family, she didn't even really look like them. Sure, she had Renee and Alice's body structure and lucky, but annoying ability to eat whatever she wanted, but that was really it. She had long brown hair with reddish highlights, and doe-eyed, hazel colored could remember Alice's real hair color because she dyed it so frequently before she started caring about health and wellness, now she settles for a honey brown color.
Alice takes a deep breath and braces herself for the potential backlash that might occur with being reunited with Bella. She walks down the wood lined dock to the end of the pier and says, "Bella".
As Bella turns around her hair flips as though she's in a hair commercial. "Allyyyyyyy!", she yells while catapulting herself into Alice's waiting arms. "I've missed you".
Alice feels a sense of home. She breathes in Bella's sweet,lavender smell and feels at ease. Better than the edibles, she indulges in. Alice looks behind Bella and sees Edward, hair tousled in every direction, hands in the pockets of his wrinkled Docker's. God does she know how to pick them, Alice internalized. "Glad to have you back Alice", Edward states poliently.
Bella drapes her arms over Alice's shoulder and Alice felt her shoulder relax for the first time in four long years. Bella leans into Alice and whispers, "We have a lot to talk about". Alice's head jerks back involuntarily, surprised at the venom in her voice. All Alice can do is nod and she looks over to Edward, who pretends not to notice the tension between the sisters.
Bella looks at Edward longing to say something but settles for a quick kiss and says, "I'll call you later". She winks and hops away towards Alice's car. "So do you think mom will make her famous casserole or should we stop for a rotisserie chicken?" Bella says loudly enough for Edward's benefit.
Alice makes her way back in her car, now more than ever concerned for whatever lies ahead. It seems her perfect little Bella has an axe to grind. God only knows what kind of "family" dinner this will be…
LtD~
January 5th, 2022 (early morning)
The police station is frigid, taking on the outside temperature. The lights are dimmed, the smell is sterile. Alice gets chills, she rubs her arms trying to get her nerves to calm and goosebumps to disappear.
The door to the interrogation room swings open and Alice looks down, not wanting to be here. She sees expensive Ferragamo loafers and it triggers something in her. She slowly looks up at the tall handsome stranger, not so stranger acknowledging her, "Alice Swan", he says instantly recognizing her as the gas station girl from several days ago when they both arrived back to town.
Alice is jilted from the traumatizing last few days, let alone what transpired last night, so she's not so quick. She stares and realizes, " Cigarette guy! Yes!".
"Cigarette guy?" Charlotte, Riley's partner–a middle aged woman who has more than her share of crime , asks with a judgemental look directed towards her new partner.
Riley shuffles his feet for he was uncomfortable that his vice is out there. Alice explains, "We met the day I came back to town. I needed a light and was offered one by Detective…?"
"Biers, Detective Riley Biers."
Charlotte looked between the pair and she could have sworn she saw something.
"Well now that introductions are out of the way, let's proceed to the questioning."
Alice crossed her legs preparing herself for the long night ahead, she needed to stay sharp.
Detective Biers sat down next to Charlotte and directly across from Alice, his eyes bore into hers. He slid a file towards her asking, "What can you tell me about that, Ms. Swan?".
Alice's mouth dropped and she could have sworn she was going to puke, "WHAT. THE FUCK."