Edward's POV

June 24, 1918

Several things have been happening lately. Recently I had just turned seventeen and stole my first kiss with Casey. A strange virus has been spotted in several soldiers and today…well today was Hazel's twelfth birthday.

"Hayz!" I said coming into her room and picking her up.

"Edward!" she shouted back.

"Happy Birthday…twelve years old. One more year of innocence" I said and she looked at me before shaking her head.

"Is that necessary?" she asked.

"Very" I said and she rolled her eyes.

"You are such an Edward."

"Well I'm not a Hazel like you if that's what you mean?" I said and Hazel laughed and did her smile that I loved seeing.

"What's it like being seventeen?" she asked.

"It's like one year older than being sixteen" I said and Hazel smiled again.

I stared at her…thinking about all the years she had been alive. I couldn't believe how fast time went it was like…several minutes ago and she just grew up so fast. I closed my eyes since I was almost crying.

Pretty soon…Hazel would be meeting a boy like me. She would grow up and get married hopefully would she forget about me? Would I still be able to keep my promise to her?

"Edward? Are you OK?" she asked.

"Yeah…I'm just amazed at how fast you've grown up that's all" I tried to sound casual.

"I'm only twelve you're making it like I'm eighteen!" Hazel said still laughing. She seemed so innocent.

"I hope the war's over before I'm eighteen" I said.

"Why? I thought you wanted to fight? Not that I want you to go" Hazel said.

"Because…I don't want to be faced with temptation…to leave you. Do you remember the promise I made to you when you were born?" I asked and Hazel got real quiet.

"Of course I remember it! But…if you want to do something" she sighed "you should do it…nothing's stopping you. Don't let me keep you behind."

"You mean that? Why are you saying this now?" I asked.

"Because…I realized that you're going to get older one day…you're not going to be right there by my side forever. I mean you will be but I'm going to learn to go off on my own you know?" Hazel said and I stared at her.

"I'm right here for you…I'm never going anywhere. You know that right?" I asked and Hazel looked at me.

"Is the sky blue?" she asked.

"Yeah" I said.

"Then of course I know that" she said and smiled at me again. I smiled back.

I wished in that moment that things could stay this way forever. Just me and Hazel, seventeen and twelve. Young and innocent…forever.

Hazel's POV

August 12, 1918

Today I was listening to the radio and the newsman was saying how it was now official. That there was a Spanish Influenza Outbreak Epidemic. This was apparently the beginning of a lot to come (which supposedly was a lot.)

I sent a telegram to Marilynn today and wrote a letter to my grandmother in England telling her about what was happening. It was pretty scary.

Mama began making us take a lot of safety precautions too. We weren't allowed to go to public restrooms anymore, we weren't allowed to use the public telephones, we weren't even allowed to go to our bench anymore. Edward and I were very disappointed about that but understood it was for our own safety.

Later that night Edward came into my room and we talked for a little while.

"When do you think this is all going to be over?" I asked Edward.

"I…I don't know" Edward said.

The realization of getting older hit me once again like what Edward had been talking about on my birthday.

When I was younger it seemed like Mama and Edward had all the answers to everything. They were older, wiser so of course they knew a lot…or at least more than me. But now as I was seeing before my own two eyes that even they don't know the answers to some of Science's most difficult questions.

Geez! Why was I so formal right now?

"Hayz?" Edward asked after realizing I'd been quiet for quite some time "I'm sorry that I don't have the answer."

I sat up "how did you know what I was thinking?" I asked.

"I'm doing it again aren't I?" Edward asked.

"Doing what?" I asked again.

"Remember how when you were ten or nine we were saying how we weren't human well I've been having some of those experiences again." Edward said.

"Yeah me too stuff happens but maybe we're just…imagining it slightly…right?" I said.

"No I don't think we're imagining it Hayz that's definitely an answer I know" Edward said smirking.

"Eddie!" I shrieked.

"Hazel" Edward said back and we both started laughing.

That night Edward kissed me goodnight but he didn't leave. Instead he stayed with me, stroking my hair. I remember that night being so calm it was as if I didn't have a care in the world…literally. It was just Edward and me. Forever young…or so it seemed.

September 13, 1918

Things have gotten a lot worse here in Chicago the Spanish Influenza is no longer an epidemic…it's a pandemic. All over the world and town new cases are popping up. People are dying and dead bodies are lying in the streets.

Marilynn sent me an instant telegram asking me if I wanted to come over. I asked mama and she said yes.

"This may be our last time we ever see each other you know" Marilynn said and I literally choked. The reality really had hit me. I never really thought about it that way.

"Don't even say it or you'll get me started" I said trying to joke around since I was practically in tears.

"Hazel…what do you want to do?" she asked.

"I don't know what do you want to do?" I asked at this moment I was willing to do anything since it was probably the last time I would see Marilynn.

"Can we play dolls? I know you don't really like them but please?" she asked.

"Surely" I said and Marilynn smiled.

We played dolls for the majority of the afternoon. Some part of me kept saying that I only had a few more days left of life…or human life at least. I wondered what it meant. Edward would probably have some kind of explanation since he was Edward.

Edward came to collect me at around 7:30pm. Marilynn and I looked at each other one last time and our eyes kind of seemed to say everything. She pulled me into a hug and we both started crying. I knew it was the last time I would ever see her.

Finally Edward gently told me we had to go back home. I looked back at Marilynn and stared at her for a long time.

On the way home Edward carried me I soaked his shirt with my sobs. I know it was ridiculous but I don't know why I was doing it.

When we got home Edward sat down on the sofa with me in his lap. He rocked me gently and told me to calm down. He took out the book that he had written for me when I was younger and read it to me.

Mama told us it was time for bed at around 10pm and Edward carried me to his room and tucked me in bed with him. He held me as I fell asleep. Usually I always fell asleep like that since I knew I was safe in my brother's arms.

At around 2am I was jolted awake by the sound of crying…it was mama.

"Edward…Edward please" she was saying and I sat up immediately and looked for my brother who had me pulled against his chest.

"Edward what's going on?" I asked and he looked at me.

"There's something wrong with Papa." He said.

"What?" I asked nervously.

"Come on" he took my hand and led me towards mama and papa's room.

"Mama what's going on?" Edward asked.

Mama turned around and looked startled for a second. "Children, papa's not feeling well, he's got a cough and a stuffy nose. He also says he has a headache." Mama sniffed and tried to dry her tears.

Edward sat down on the floor next to her and I did too.

"Papa, it's me…Junior. Please be OK?" Edward asked.

"I will son…it's just a quick illness I'll be better in two days or so" Papa coughed and my eyes filled with tears. It was already probably my last day with Marilynn now I was probably going to lose Papa today too.

We stayed at Papa's bedside for the remainder of the night.

September 14, 1918

When I woke up again still on the floor beside Edward and Mama I saw how Papa had gotten worse. His eyes were red and his face was slightly blue.

"Mama!" I shouted and she woke up.

"Oh my gosh Edward!" she shouted which woke Edward up.

"Mama is Papa…" but then Edward saw too.

"Oh shit!" Edward said and that was the first time he had ever sworn in my presence.

"Edward, go next door to Mrs. Taylor's house and ask to use her telephone so we can phone an ambulance…Hurry!" Mama said and she pulled me closer to her.

"Is Papa going to be OK?" I asked.

"I hope so Hazel…I hope so" Mama said but I could tell by the look in her eyes she knew that he wasn't…not at all.

It may not have been obvious now but to me it was. Papa had the Spanish Influenza.

The ambulance arrived in about 20 minutes and the workers came and took Papa onto a stretcher. Edward, Mama and I rode in the ambulance with him and I sat on Edward's lap.

When we got to the hospital Papa was unloaded from the ambulance and they told Mama she could go but Edward and I had to stay behind. Edward held me tight and made sure I was OK.

While we were waiting an extremely pale man with blonde hair and looked like he was in his early to mid-twenties.

"Are you Edward Masen's children?" he asked.

"Yes sir" Edward and I said at the same time.

"Follow me" he said and ushered for Edward and I to follow him. We followed him to Quarantine 16B.

Papa was in a bed with an oxygen mask on. He was unconscious and mama was crying by his bedside.

"Is he going to be OK?" I asked the doctor.

"At this point we don't know all we know is that he had the Spanish Influenza" the doctor said. "I'll come back in an hour to check on him. Would you like something to eat?"

"No thank you" Edward and I said together again.

"Thank you Dr. Cullen for everything" Mama said.

"Just doing my job Mrs. Masen" Dr. Cullen said.

The rest of the day we remained with papa who was unconscious and was blue to the face. He was suffering from a 104.8 fever.

Mama was going to stay overnight but she insisted Edward and I go home to sleep so we wouldn't get sick. We were both hesitant my mother put her hands on my shoulders and kneeled down to my height.

"Please Hazel, do as I tell you. Papa will be fine and soon we will be regular again but stay with Edward OK and Edward watch out for you sister please, its dark out."

Edward nodded but I felt a vibration in my head "lie lie lie" I heard a little voice in my head and mama kissed us goodnight. We kissed papa and as we were walking out we saw Dr. Cullen

"Please Dr. Cullen" I pleaded "please save our papa"

"I will do everything I can…Hazel." It freaked me out that he knew my name but maybe I was just being paranoid.

Edward carried me home. When we got back to our apartment Edward told me to sleep with him tonight.

I had done it so many times yet tonight it was different. Mama and Papa were both not there. I couldn't fall asleep so Edward pulled me closer to him and began to sing my lullaby. I didn't want to but at the sound of my brother's voice I fell asleep.

I had a dream that I was in a cave and was being engulfed by flames when I woke up and realized it was real…I was burning. I silently screamed in my head I saw Edward awake beside me…he was holding his head and was coughing up blood that was on his shirt.

I was panting…I felt like my eyes were on fire as well as the rest of my face. I couldn't breathe my throat felt tight.

"Edward" I whimpered.

"It's OK Hayz" Edward said soothingly though I felt a vibration.

I shook my head "it's useless lying to me."

I saw Edward put his hand on his head and groaned.

"Don't worry about me…worry about yourself first" I said since he shouldn't be worrying about my "patheticness." He was in danger too and should be concerned about it.

"No…come on let's go" Edward said picking me up out of bed.

"Where are we going?" I asked with a weak voice.

"To the hospital" Edward said and with that he ran to the front door and down the stairs before taking off towards the hospital.

"Stay with me Hayz do you understand" he kept saying.

"Stop worrying about me Eddie…worry about yourself" I kept saying and Edward stroked my hair. Dr. Cullen met us at the door it was like he knew we were coming.

"DOCTOR CULLEN!" Edward shouted.

Yes Edward what's wrong" he asked us.

"My sister Hazel…" Edward said gesturing to me in his arms. He took me and brought me to Quarantine 17A. That was the last thing I remember before passing out.

September 16, 1918

I woke up to coughing… my brother was in the bed beside me and had blood smeared on his shirt.

My eyes were on fire and Dr. Cullen said "here Hazel, this compress should help reduce your temperature. OK?"

I heard wailing in the other room and Dr. Cullen got an alarmed look on his face. He left the room and returned ten minutes later but with a sad expression and grave news for Edward and I.

"Children, I am deeply sorry to tell you this but your father has just passed away."

I froze…papa was dead?! How could this happen? I thought

"It's the Spanish Influenza outbreak Hayz" Edward said.

"Wait Eddie, how did you…?" I began.

"Don't ask" Edward said and I nodded and saw my mother was asleep in the bed next to Edward.

I did not sleep that night I listened to the slow steady breathing of my brother who lay beside me. My insides were burning up I wanted to scream to him but nothing would come out.

As my breathing began to slow I fell asleep thinking I wouldn't wake up…It amazed me how just six days ago I was perfectly fine and playing with Marilynn.

I woke up in the middle of the night. Edward was still awake and hadn't slept at all. He reached for my hand and I took it. I felt as if my hand was on fire now because we both had blazing 104.2 fevers.

Dr. Cullen came into the room and changed my IV tank my eyes fluttered I was literally waiting for the dead. Edward was staring blankly at the ceiling. Dr. Cullen felt my head as it continued to burn up his hand was soothing and cold to the touch. He ran freezing cold water and put it on my forehead on a compress. Same for Edward and mama.

"Dr. Cullen" I said in my weakening voice.

"Yes Hazel" he said.

"We're going to die aren't we?" I asked.

"No…no you aren't going to die."

I felt a sense "you will never die…not a lie not a lie not a lie" I nodded

"OK" I said

Edward was gagging and Dr. Cullen ran to his side. He stuck a tube down his throat and then gave him water. He smelled him for a second and I squinted my eyes then fell back into unconsciousness.

September 17, 1918

I woke up and felt a bit less hot.

One of the nurses was standing beside my bed with a tray of food a small bowl of mashed potatoes. I didn't eat any of it despite the fact I hadn't eaten since the night of September 14. Edward didn't eat either. We both just lay there.

September 19, 1918

There were two other families in our room by now. One was a whole family a papa, a mama, & two daughters named Marta and Louisa. The other family was a papa, a mama, a son named Henry, & their daughter Greta had died two days ago.

I wanted to be with Edward but the nurses said I had to stay put. Mama had to have water constantly brought to her because she was in horrible condition. Louisa broke out in boils that were almost the size of a fist! Henry was moved to another room with his father because his mother had died and the other family was moved as well except Louisa and the mother stayed. Marta insisted so she stayed also. The father went with Henry and his father.

We were in the critical room. I needed to hear my brother's voice and tell him I loved him before I died which I thought was going to happen.

"Edward" I said in my weak voice.

I wheezed a little and the nurse brought me my inhaler.

"Yes Hayz" Edward said in his weak voice and coughed.

"I don't want to die" I said.

"Oh Hazel" Edward said.

"I don't want to die and leave you here all alone" I said.

"Hazel, you won't die I promise you if you die I die." Edward said.

"But what about mama" I asked.

We looked over at mama who was unconscious. I knew I couldn't let a tear shed from my eyes so I gritted my teeth and awaited death. Dr. Cullen came in to see me.

"When will I die?" I asked.

"Please Hazel you won't die don't ever think that you're 12 years old!" Dr. Cullen said.

"What? I'm sick in this stupid bed with the Spanish Influenza that's killing every damn person!" I almost shouted

"Shush" Dr. Cullen said softly he bit his lip and my mama looked at him.

"Doctor! Doctor!" She called out and I turned to look puzzled at Edward.

Dr. Cullen went to my mother and said "what is it Mrs. Mason?"

"Please, I know what you can do and JUST PLEASE SAVE MY CHILDREN!" she said

People told her to shut up and looked at her like she was a nut. Dr. Cullen kneeled down next to Edward's bed and put a fist to his mouth it looked like he was about to cry.

Edward opened his eyes and gave his look of sheer terror and I saw the look of purity on his face that I don't think anyone could ever forget to this day.

That night a nurse came and brought us fresher pillows. Mine were covered with sweat from my fever. She took my temperature it was still 104.3 and Edward's was 104.7. Mama's was 103.8. The nurse put cold compresses on our heads and put a bowl of chill soup next to our beds on the side table. Dr. Cullen came in to watch over us.

"Please" I said my voice cracking "save my mama and brother…please Dr. Cullen" I pleaded.

He looked at me and then he put his fist to his mouth again

"Goodbye…Hazel" Edward murmured

"PLEASE" I cried.

Dr. Cullen immediately picked up Edward's head and bit his neck. Edward's eyes widened and he jerked then he fell into a deep sleep.

I felt my eyes closing as well…to die. Darkness was closing in on me and I didn't want to fight. I closed my eyes and then Dr. Cullen picked my head up and looked me in the eye.

"I told you I wouldn't let you die" he said and that was the last thing I heard right before he bit my neck and I was engulfed in a series of burning pains.

Well that's it hope you enjoyed :-) PLEASE REVIEW XD!