Chapter 4: A Bad Idea

A story by Yellow Smoke

Alle right's belong to their rightfull owners.


Year 1956


The third time Willow woke up was far more pleasant than the first two times. Mostly due to the fact that there was no drugs in her system, and so she woke up far more naturally, as she lay in the hospital bed, slowly blinking as her eyes once more got accustomed to the real world. She couldn't help but yawn, as she stared up at the white ceiling, trying to digest everything that had happened during the last day or so, not that she had been awake for much of it.

But although she hadn't looked around the room, she knew she was at a hospital, though she couldn't argue as to how she knew that. But this was certainly not her bed in New York, nor was it her frilly girly room at her uncle's house. All while the air itself held a very sterile smell, which in no way pleased Willow's nose, and as her memory began to work, she was only confirmed, this was a hospital.

She recalled the horrible scene at the cafeteria, and how she had bolted from the room in fear, and it made her cringe, as she realized she would have to face these people once more. Her small episode was rather hard to explain, unless she wanted to be admitted to an asylum, and at this point Willow actually didn't know what to say… was there any story that would explain her behavior at school yesterday? One thing was for certain, Willow's dream of a fresh start was over before it began. She was already labeled as a freak at this point, and she could only hope the school got over it at some point, and left her alone.

But Willow knew what she had seen, and although she was strange in herself, as she was able to see ghosts, what she had seen was even more strange and scary. Willow had more than once considered if she was mentally ill, and should seek help, but over the years she had learned that some of these ghosts actually matched people's descriptions of lost once, whom Willow never had met. It didn't mean Willow trusted her abilities in any way, but she knew those people she had seen in the cafeteria were all people who had lived once, and those they clung to, the Cullens, they were dangerous.

Willow was sure of that, which sent chills through her whole body, as she recalled just where she was… at the hospital. And although Willow's memory was foggy at this point, she recalled how dear Sharon Marshall, the popular girl, had informed her that their father was named Dr. Cullen, which meant she was on their territory… actually she was in their very palm, caged like a wild animal.

And as Willow's memory slowly began to work, her heart began to pick up, as she recalled the handsome doctor from yesterday, who kindly had introduced himself as Doctor Cullen, which only confirmed Willow was caught. She was at Leavenworth Cottage Hospital, and she was in a hell of a mess, which was far worse than anything she had tried before, as she was rather sure these people were actual murders. Why else would so many brutally dead ghosts haunt them all at once… although there was so much that still remained unexplained.

Because some of these ghosts hadn't died recently, or in this century… Willow was actually rather sure some of them had died in the Civil War, as soldiers… but why would they haunt these people, unless they had some kind of connection? It made little sense to Willow, but fear seemed to creep in under her skin, while her heart was beating erratic. Her primal instincts told her to run from this hospital as fast as possible, before anyone could do anything to harm her, but then Willow recalled how she had listened to those instincts yesterday, and it had gotten her nowhere, except the hospital. If she chose to run now, she would be sent off somewhere less pleasant.

And so she forced herself to take a deep breath, as she loosened her tight grip on the white sheets, and tried to think logically for once.

She knew these people were dangerous, but she had to turn it around and ask, if they knew that she knew these details?

And for a moment Willow thought about it, and relaxed, as she realized what they must have seen was a confused girl, who had looked sort of insane, before she had bolded from the room, and gotten herself into a car accident. She almost wanted to laugh, as there was no reason to be afraid… but then she paled, as she realized what an idiot she was.

Willow slowly managed to get herself into a sitting position, while she groaned, feeling rather sore in her body after being hit by a car, but she nevertheless did it, suddenly afraid of lying down defendless.

The whole episode came back to her slowly, like a dream coming back after you wake up, and Willow stared into the white wall in front of her, as she tried to comprehend what had happened last night. She wasn't even sure it was real, because it in itself was such a surreal scene, which in no way should be possible. But the last twenty four hours had been an experience in itself, although Willow would prefer not to repeat it.

But had the mysterious Edward Cullen truly been in her room, as she recalled it? The whole event was clear to her, far more clear than a dream should be. But how had a High School student managed to sneak into her hospital room in the middle of the night? His father obviously worked here, but it was a strange and scary scenario, and Willow truly just wanted to believe it was a dream. Although her face seemed to get slightly more pale as she thought about it.

Because there were two scenarios, the first being this indeed was a dream, and Willow was safe. She wanted to believe it was true, that her mind had made up the whole conversation, but if it wasn't the case… well that was scenario two. That this actually happened, as strange as it was, and Willow was in deep trouble.

Her heart began to pick up in speed once more, as she recalled just what she had told him, while she had been under what only could be described as a spell, and she could just as well have told him she saw ghosts! Had she actually said she knew he was a murderer? Willow groaned as she buried her face in her hands for a moment, cursing herself for being such an idiot…

But just as she tried to come up with some sort of plan, she heard someone speak on the other side of the door, and she just managed to sit up straight seconds before the door opened, and two people entered.

"... make sure to keep Mrs. Davis for another hour before you release her…" she heard a smooth velvet voice say, as the most handsome doctor Willow ever had met walked through the door, and she instantly recognized him. Although she had been hooked up on some kind of painkiller at the time, she still recognized the golden straight hair, which had been styled perfectly, and reminded her of a cornfield during the summer. Just like she recognized the honey colored eyes, and the perfect white set of teeth, which he flashed as soon as he saw Willow, in what was supposed to be a smile. "Miss Cross, it's lovely to see you are awake," he said, his voice smooth like a Hollywood actor, as he handed over a clipboard to an elderly nurse, who took it without question. "Nurse Williams, could you please ask for some breakfast for dear Miss Cross?" he asked kindly, although deep down Willow knew it wasn't a question, but an order, and her mind wanted to scream no, as she had no desire to be left alone with this stranger.

Nevertheless she had little to say as Nurse Williams grabbed the clipboard with a smile, clearly too lost in the doctor's eyes ever to disobey his command, and the good doctor flashed her another smile as she went off to do what she was asked too.

And Willow was left in the room with the charismatic doctor who looked like something from a magazine, although he shouldn't with his white doctor coat and blue dress shirt, deep green tie and dark shoes. It was such mundane clothing, yet he made it look like something from a fashion show, and had Willow's mother been here, she knew she would have jumped straight at him, married or not.

The thing was Willow knew he was anything but charming, as she had seen the secrets in his family, and he only seemed to add to the secrecy and confusion, as Willow for the first time realized he wasn't alone.

A boney elderly man was standing behind him, in what appeared to be a strange black robe, which almost reached the floor. On top of that he was wearing a white ruff around his neck, somehow separating his body from his holy head, and if Willow hadn't known better she would have thought he was a priest, although it couldn't be from this century. What however confused Willow further was the fact that this man seemed to have the same hair color as the doctor, the same corn colored golden hair, although the older man's hair was starting to turn grey, but to Willow it was as though these two people were related… but it seemed impossible, as one of them was a ghost from another century.

"Miss Cross, is there something about that wall I haven't noticed?" Dr. Cullen asked, and brought Willow back to the real world, as she realized she had been staring at the priest, while the good doctor had been staring at her, and now he was staring at the wall, wondering what he had been missing out on.

"Uhm… no… i just zoned out i guess," Willow muttered, and looked down for a moment, ashamed she couldn't control herself, but she couldn't help but take a second glance at this priest, who seemed to be staring at the doctor with such resentment and disappointment, but why? Had those two ever met one another?

"You took a rather hard hit yesterday, it's only natural if it's hard for you to concentrate," he told her, and sent her another smile, which Willow almost felt was reel, like he actually felt for her. In truth it was actually hard for Willow to feel scared of this man, and he seemed far too kind and gently toward her, and hadn't he been pale as a ghost himself, with an old dead priest behind him, Willow might actually have relaxed completely. But a part of her mind was still ready for anything, knowing something about all of this was completely off.

"How… how long have i been here?" Willow tried to ask, and coughed as her throat seemed slightly sore, which immediately made the doctor walk toward Willow, making her heart beat even faster, only to realize he wanted to grab a glass of water for her on the nightstand, which Willow gratefully took.

"It will help," he told her kindly, as she felt his cold hands brush hers for a second, before she took the glass, and drank the whole thing, suddenly feeling thirsty. It wasn't before she was done she realized this glass could contain something else, but it was too late. "And you have been with us since yesterday, and it's now…" he paused, and checked his expensive golden watch. "A little past nine," he informed her with another smile, and grabbed her glass as she was done.

"Oh…" Willow muttered, and couldn't help but be surprised, for a moment she had almost feared she had been here for days, too tired to wake up. But it did explain why her body still felt rather sore. "Did… was anyone here to see me while i was asleep?" Willow then asked instead, wondering if Edward Cullen had been by her bedside while she was out, although she doubted his own father would give her that kind of information.

"Your uncle and aunt has of course been here," Dr. Cullen answered, as he went down to the end of her bed, and began to look through her chart on the clipboard, his pale fingers quickly going through all the papers, and Willow began to wonder if it was possible for a human being to read so fast. "They however left as we kept you overnight," he informed her with a smile, and looked up from the board as he was done reading, now ready to look at his patient. "Are you in any pain?" he asked her instead, and his question seemed to be genuine enough, as though he actually cared about her wellbeing.

And while he asked, he dragged a chair over, to sit by her bedside, and the sound of the chair scraping against the floor made Willow look at her surroundings for the first time. Not that there was much to look at, as this place without a doubt was a hospital, with it's white walls, brown wooden floors, and white sheets. Everything was white, even the metal frame on the bed was white, and although Willow hated her pink girly room at her uncle's house, she almost missed it compared to this soulless room. The room however clearly indicated this was an old hospital, as the place seemed slightly worn down, and the floors created each time someone crossed the room…

"Miss Cross are you still with me?" Dr. Cullens voice said, and brought Willow back to reality, as she realized she had zoned out once more, but quickly turned her head to stare at his concerned face, while she noticed the priest was standing behind him, curious as well. What she hadn't thought of however was the fact that this Doctor noticed everything, and as she looked over his shoulder, so did he, clearly not understand what Willow saw he didn't.

"Sorry… i was just in my own thoughts for a second," Willow quickly apologized, as she felt how her face became slightly heated, and she blushed, cursing herself.

"Hmm…" Dr. Cullen muttered, as he stared at the empty space behind himself for a second longer, before he turned his attention toward Willow once more. "Never mind, I simply asked you if you are in pain?" he repeated his question, while he seemed to be staring curiously at her, as though she was a puzzle he was trying to solve.

"Not really, i feel surprisingly fine, although…" Willow muttered, and trailed off, as she was unsure if she should continue. Whatever she had been given during her stay, the drug had clearly kept all ghosts away from her, and given her peace, but she knew the drugs were about to wear off, and if she didn't get any aspirin, she would be able to hear this priest very soon.

"Yes?" Dr. Cullen encouraged her, clearly wanting to know what was wrong.

"My head hurts…" Willow admitted, and realized what a mistake that could be to say. "As in i have a headache," she added, fearing this doctor would want to keep her for longer than he already had. She still needed to get out of here as soon as possible.

"Of course," Dr. Cullen simply smiled, and wrote something down on her chart, clearly not thinking too much about it. "I will make sure the nurse gives you something," he told her, and for a moment Willow was slightly nervous about what something might mean, but she didn't have much time to think about it. "Now do you feel dizzy or nauseous in any way?" he then went on to ask.

And from there on he asked Willow several questions, clearly trying to make sure Willow didn't have a concussion, and his voice was so soft and gentle it lulled Willow into a false sense of being safe, although she deep down knew she was anything but safe. It was only when he suddenly grabbed her wrist to check her pulse that she was brought out of her state, as his cold stone hard skin reminded her something was wrong.

"Sorry… i have bad blood circulation," he told her apologizing, as she had gasped as he had grabbed her hand, and almost jumped out of the bed. Willow however had to force herself to relax as he checked her pulse, clearly trying to be sure nothing was wrong. Willow however began to sense that he wasn't just checking for a concussion as took her temperature as well, before he grabbed the stethoscope from around his neck, and placed it in his ears.

"Is that really necessary to make sure I don't have a concussion?" Willow asked rather sceptically, as she eyed the instrument, not sure what her lungs and heart had to do with her head.

"Well, no it's not necessary regarding your concussion," Dr. Cullen admitted, although his determined face made it clear to Willow it was going to happen anyway. "Your medical file however makes it clear you haven't seen a doctor for years, so i thought we might as well make sure you are healthy, unless you would like for me to schedule a visit for you on another day?" Dr. Cullen offered, although to Willow it almost sounded like a threat, as she would have to come back.

"No thank you… you can just do it now," Willow almost stammered, as she had no desire to come back. The very thought was a nightmare, and so she allowed the good doctor to listen to her heart and lungs, taking a couple of breaths while he listened to her, making a few notes on her chart.

"Your heart is slightly too fast, are you nervous?" he asked as he scribbled a last few notes, before he looked up at her, clearly expecting her to answer.

But what was Willow supposed to say? That she was rather sure he and his family were murders, and on top of that she knew something else was wrong with them? Oh, and that she was aware they knew she had acquired knowledge of them? No that just wouldn't do, and so instead Willow tried to lie as well as she could.

"I really don't like hospitals," she told him instead, and in truth it wasn't a lie, it was just not the reason for her fears at the moment.

"I see," was Dr. Cullens only responds, as he put the chart away and got up from the chair. "Well Miss Cross, after you have eaten I see no reason to keep you here any longer. You clearly don't have a concussion, and considering what could have happened i hope you know that you have been very lucky to leave that accident without a scratch," he told her seriously, and for a moment Willow almost felt like she was being lectured by a parents, the way a child is lectured after doing something foolish.

And deep down Willow knew her next words weren't that wise, yet they came out of her, almost to provoke the dear doctor as she didn't like to be lectured, and so without thinking it through she said.

"I was really lucky your son Edward was there, and got in between before the car managed to hit me," she said and tried to keep her voice straight, while Dr. Cullens eyebrow seemed to rise slightly. Willow wasn't actually sure if Edward Cullen had gotten in between her and the car, but the last thing she recalled was a pair of golden eyes looking into hers, and she never felt the car hit her. She was pretty sure she simply passed out.

"I think your brain might have mixed things up dear, the car did hit you, I am afraid, my son was simply the first one by your side…" Doctor Cullen trailed off, watching her intensely as he spoke. "He did mention you were awake for a few seconds before the rest arrived," he then added, as though that should verify his story, although it only made Willow even more suspicious.

Willow almost wanted to protest and say he was wrong, but then for a moment she just recalled the good doctor wanted to release her, which meant she could get away from this place, and so in the last second she chose to shut up, before she got herself into more trouble.

"Then you must give him my thanks anyway," she told him, and tried to force a smile upon her own lips, although she had little reason to smile.

"Of course," Dr. Cullen smiled, and was clearly about to leave, when a last thought occurred to him, and he stopped in his tracks, seconds from touching the door handle. "Just out of curiosity Miss Cross, why did you run off the school's property?" he asked, and Willow instantly felt how she became a shade paler. "You don't have to answer… but i would like to know, in case you need further help than what i have provided?" he added, and to Willow there was no doubt…

He had issued a threat.

It was discrete, covered in kind words and good intentions, but the threat was there. If Willow kept commenting on his family, he would sure as hell get her further help, probably dressed as an asylum of sorts, knowing what a horrible place it was. That was the last place Willow wanted to go, and she understood just how much power this doctor had compared to her, which made Willow silently promise not to tell anyone what she had seen. Not that she was planning too, that in itself would be a ticket to the nearest asylum.

"I must admit, i don't recall…" Willow quickly said, as she tried to think of a good excuse, until she recalled Dr. Cullens words to her aunt as she was half asleep. "I think all of it just became too stressful," she finally said, and Dr. Cullen seemed to nod, knowing she had understood the meaning behind his words.

"Understandable Miss Cross, now eat something, and I will see you when your aunt and uncle arravives," he said, and gave her one last smile, all his white showing, although to Willow, it reminded her of a shark smiling at its prey.

And so he left Willow, who slumped against the bed with a sighed, relieved the conversation was over.

She felt like a nervewreck at this point, and for every second she was near someone with the name Cullen, she understood less and less. First she had seen a man, surrounded by fifteen ghosts, all from a different era, and some had red eyes. None of that had made sense. Then she had seen all of the Cullen kids at a table, surrounded by far too many ghosts, more than normal, and they had all seemed to be terrified of these kids, not to mention most of them had suffered gruesome unnatural deaths.

And now she had met their father, who was followed by a priest from another century, who strangely enough looked like him. Willow didn't want to think about any of it, but her mind forced her too, and she just couldn't let go. Although she never talked to these ghosts and never would, she knew they always were connected to the object, place or person they haunted, and these ghosts seemed to haunt the Cullen family, but Willow could not see the connection, yet it had to be there somewhere?

Had Willow not been able to see ghosts, she would never have noticed anything, but because she knew something was off with these pale beautiful creatures, she had noticed other things as well. The first being how pale they were… it was almost unnatural, and when Dr. Cullen had touched her she had felt how cold he was… but perhaps that truly was bad blood circulation?

Willow was confused by all of it, and a part of her mind begged her to let all of it go, it would truly be for the best, but she really just couldn't. It was almost as though all of these thoughts about the Cullens were one big lake, and she had been placed in the middle of it, with two choices. Either she could drown in this mystery and leave it be, or she could try to understand it and swim back to shore.

No matter what it seemed to turn into an obsession over the course of the day, and Willow couldn't let it go, despite how much better things would be if she did. All while she tried to pretend nothing was wrong, as the sweet old Nurse Williams got back to her with what was a somewhat decent breakfast, which Willow ate, knowing she would have to stay further if she didn't.

Willow was however truly thankful for the aspirin she was given by the nurse, as several ghosts were beginning to talk just slightly. Nothing Willow could understand, but she knew their mumbles would turn into words. One of the reasons she hated hospitals so much were all the ghosts it attracted, people who had died at the very place, and seemed lost. And people who were unsatisfied with the way they had been treated, or people who simply had nowhere else to go. Willow hated it, and she had been counting the seconds until her uncle and aunt finally came to pick her up. Nurse Williams had been so kind as to call them, and tell Willow would be discharged when they had arrived, and so an overly worried Patricia had showed up. While her uncle followed behind, far less interested. Willow would almost go as far as to say he couldn't care less.

But the whole thing was the horror Willow had feared it would be. Patricia had almost attacked her on the spot, her small petite body hugging her so tight Willow barely could breath, while she repeated over and over how happy she was to see her well, and she was lucky nothing had happened. And then she had started to speak of god, and Willow had zoned out.

In comparison Frank had simply patted her on the shoulder, and said it was nice to see her awake. And that was the most affectionate he ever would be toward her, and Willow couldn't blame him.

Thankfully Patricia had brought some of her clothing along, and everyone had left the room, and given Willow some privacy to get out of the white hospital gown, and into her own clothing. Her aunt had of course brought one of her better dresses, a simple pastel blue dress with a belt, which in Willow's mind was meant for finer things, not leaving a hospital. But she got it on, as the alternative was nothing, before she went over to the mirror and tried to fix her messy curly hair, until she at last had to pull it into a ponytail, as nothing worked.

It was however as she stepped outside the hospital room, and into the hallway that she heard Dr. Cullens voice once more. Or rather her uncles first. They were standing around the corner, and so they didn't hear her as she closed the door slowly, but she heard her uncle as he said.

"And you are sure nothing is wrong with her head? At all?" Frank asked the good doctor, and Willow at first though he was referring to the accident. But then he added. "Her mother is my sister, who without doubt has her issues… and I just want to make sure she doesn't got the same problems?"

And it made Willow's blood boil slightly, as her uncle thought she was mentally unstable, although to be honest it wasn't completely untrue, but nevertheless she felt rather offended that her own blood thought she was insane.

"I can assure you she has taken no damage from the accident," the soft velvet voice of Dr. Cullen said rather diplomatically. "As for her state of mind, i can't say i know anything for sure as that would require some testing and further knowledge of her, but she seems to be well from what i have seen. But if you wish to know, you will have to schedule another meeting," he told her, which made Willows blood freeze… would her uncle Frank try to get her tested? That in itself was enough to make Willow wonder if she should try to run off once more, but before she could think further about it her aunt Patricia came from the other direction and spotted Willow, smiling as she saw her.

"There you are, ready to go home?" she asked Willow, and hadn't noticed her niece had been eavesdropping, as she grabbed her hand without asking, and took her toward the entrance.

And so Frank drove Patricia and Willow home in his beaten up police car, where no one dared to utter a single word, as Frank more than once glanced back at Willow, clearly annoyed at the stunt she had pulled off yesterday. Willow almost expected him to start yelling at her, but he remained silent during the whole ride, until he finally parked in front of their garage at Birch Street number 16.

And as Patricia got out of the car, Willow moved to follow, but was stopped by Frank as he stared intensely at her, and froze her to the spot, while Patricia looked questioningly at both of them.

"We will be inside in just a moment Patty," he told his wife with far more affection than he ever would give Willow, and his dumb wife simply nodded as she closed the door behind her, and went up to the frontdoor without thinking.

And that was when Frank turned around in his seat, to stare at Willow, who felt as thought she was getting smaller and smaller in the back, as he stared intensely at her, finally having removed his sunglasses, so she could stare into his cold uncaring eyes as he stared her down, making it clear he was displeased about her behavior. Willow could almost swear his veins had gotten larger.

"Listen kid… I don't know what kind of intentions you had behind your little trick yesterday, but make sure it's the last time you do something like that!" he warned her, and although his voice was sharp, he never yelled. "This isn't some big town where you can meet some new people… here in Leavenworth we all know one another, and unless you want to end up like your mom, i suggest you start acting normal," he warned her, as he turned the engine off, and mumbled loud enough for Willow to hear it. "No one likes an attention seeker,"

And that was it.

He never waited for Willow to say anything, as he simply stepped out of the car, and slammed the door behind him, and so, shocked, Willow stepped out as well. She felt misunderstood and violated after her uncle's words, and numbly she walked up to the front door behind him, and got inside before he slammed it shut as well. He didn't even speak to her as he walked into the kitchen, and grabbed the first cold bear he could find, before he left the house to sit in the back of the garden, like he had done every day so far. Unknowing to him that his own father was watching him with disappointment written on his face, if not anger.

And for a moment Willow stood silently in the hallway, wondering if she should seek out Patricia in the living room, but then she eyed Patricia's mysterious ghost, the young male with the gunshot wound, and decided she had enough for one day.

Instead she chose her own room, and her own company as she walked upstairs… saddened by everything. She only managed to close the door before she collapsed against it, and buried her head in her hands as she groaned, a single tear sliding down her cheek.

Why could nothing in her life just ever be normal?

But just as she was about to fall down in a hole of despair and self pity, she eyed her brown leather satchel, containing her school books. She couldn't even recall if it had been in her hands when she ran into that car accident, but someone had clearly gotten it back to her house, and now Willow eyed the red notebook that seemed to be teasing her, as it was close to falling out of the satchel.

And for a moment Willow looked at it, wondering if what she was about to do was wise, but then she decided it didn't matter as she grabbed the red notebook and a pen. She decided to start on the second last page of the notebook, knowing no one would look at it, and wrote one word at the top of the page.

Cullen.

From now on Willow was going to write down everything that was strange about that family, hopefully gathering some kind of picture at last that would make sense, and if nothing else it would take her mind of her own life.

If only Willow had known what a bad idea it was.


So i am on a roll! Here is the fourth chapter already, and i hope you guys enjoy it! this was pretty much Willow interracting with Carlisle, as i am a rather big fan of his character... although there is traits of OC in him, as i doubt the actual Carlisle would make a threat, although it was subtle.
Anyway, who is your favorite Twilight Character you would like to see Willow interract with?