The idea and plot of this story belongs to gaara king of the sand. Thanks to them for letting me write this story! Twilight belongs to SM.
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What?!
How can he not have a future?!
There are flashes: His siblings, and two others I am assuming are his parents. The forest, but it's going past at ridiculous speeds. Animals, as if he's watching them. And then his death... He looks the same as he does now, exactly the same, and there are dark cloaks and fire and...
It stops.
Between every flash it is fuzzy, and then it just stops.
How much time does he have left?
I jerk my hand away from his, staring at him with wide eyes and an open mouth. Classroom noise slowly fills my ears as I come back to the present, and I realise that no one just saw...
Whatever it was I saw...
"Bella?" Edward Cullen asks quietly, trying to get my attention. He looks concerned, a crease forming between his eyebrows...
"What are you?" I whisper before I can stop myself. For a moment panic and shock registers on his face, before he composes himself and suddenly he is smiling.
"What are you talking about, Bella?" It's a simple question, but it's put too simply, too composed, as if he's trying to convince I'm insane. Maybe I am. I mean, who else sees the future?
I look away from him, shaking my head slightly to clear it. "Nothing." I'm trying to convince myself. It's not working. "It's nothing."
The bell rings. He leaves first. I skip last period.
I sprint across the parking lot, running straight for the forest. Once I reach it I continue running, going as deep as I can into the trees. Never, in all my life, have I met someone who has no future. And the flashes I did see of his future were weird too. His family, all inhumanely beautiful. Supposedly all adopted and yet they all look the same. Same gold eyes. Same unblemished skin. His family are a part of his life, so it's not unusual they'd be part of his future.
The forest. Perhaps he lives near the forest. But it was going by so fast... Maybe he does running, or rides bikes with his brothers. Maybe quad bikes. That would explain the speed, and it's not too strange.
Animals. It could link to the last one. Maybe he and his family go hunting a lot. Not too strange in this town. Charlie used to go hunting all the time. Who knows, maybe he still does.
His death... I assume it's his death, as I don't actually see him die. But he is on his knees in the middle of a room made of stone. A man with long black hair stand before him, smiling sadly yet cruelly. In chairs a few feet behind him sit two men. One with long brown hair and one with hair the colour of snow. A large fire is burning a few feet away, and as the picture progresses other men in slightly lighter cloaks step forward and surround him. It ends there.
Another strange thing about his future is that there's no sound. All of the futures I've seen have had people talking and sound in them. I used to curse it, as hearing someone's screams as they were shot or stabbed or watched someone they loved die used to haunt me and cause many nightmares, but now I feel I need the insight sound gives me. It lets me know why someone is in the hospital, or why they are where they are. Even though I'm not sure I want to know what he is, I want to know if the last scene is his death, and why I feel like the only way they could be killing him is by ripping him apart... They had no weapons...
I finally stop running and sit down on a log, panting heavily. I lower my head into my hands. My head is throbbing, and my stomach is churning. I haven't eaten today, and all I've had to drink is half a lemonade. The dehydration is taking it's toll, and my eyelids droop tiredly.
I wake to a terrifying growling sound. It has gotten darker, and I struggle to see through the trees. Were they always so dense? The growling starts again, but a lot closer and I hear someone shout "Shit!" Before I'm suddenly being thrown backwards. I land a few feet away, clipping my head on a rock. A loud roar sounds through the forest and I get up and begin running. But I trip again and just manage to turn around before I see...
It can't be.
For a moment I think Edward Cullen is standing over me, but then he's gone as if someone has yanked him away. I begin running again, but the cut in my forehead is deeper than I thought and I'm losing more blood than is healthy. A sharp pain in my leg informs me I twisted, broke or sprained my ankle on my last fall. It's too much, and I fall again. I don't get up, and the blood loss becomes too much as I close my eyes...
"Bella, can you hear me, sweetheart? Bella?"
"Dad?" I whine, opening my eyes slightly. But the glare from the harsh lights is too much, and I close them again. "What happened?"
"That's what we're hoping to find out, Miss Swan," Another voice answers. "Can you open your eyes for me?"
I force my eyes open, squinting against the light. I open them wider, and am greeted by the sight of my father, Emmett Cullen and who - by his golden eyes and pale complexion - I can only assume is Doctor Cullen. "Hello Bella," He says kindly, smiling. "My name is Doctor Cullen." My suspicions are confirmed. "Now, you were brought in earlier after suffering a minor concussion and you also have a sprained ankle. You're going to be here for the rest of the night for observation. Can you name these objects for me?"
He places a few items on the tray in front of me, and I name them. He seems pleased and I know he will ask me to recite the items later to test my long term memory. After running a few other tests he asks me a question. "Bella, do you remember what happened?"
"I went for a walk," I tell him, trying to think back. It all comes back then, and my breath catches. Looking back at Dr Cullen I decide to edit it. There's no way I'm going to tell him I thought I saw his son. His son, who has probably told him how much he hates me. "And I got really tired because I didn't eat lunch. When I woke up there was this weird growling, like an animal. I think it was a bear." Dr Cullen and Emmett visibly relax. I resist grinning. "Then I started running." No need to tell him something threw me back. "And I fell. I either hit my head or the bear got me but I started bleeding. I think I twisted my ankle when I fell. That's all I remember. How did I get here?"
"Me and the Jazz-Man were hiking. We found you and called Carlisle and brought you here," Emmett informs me before Dr Cullen can say anything. Dr Cullen sighs. I look at him with a confused expression.
"Emmett," He groans. "How many times do we have to tell you to stop calling Jasper that? You know he hates it."
"Yeah, but it's not like he's here," Emmett defends himself, frowning. "And it's not like Eddie-Boy or Ali are here to tell him I called him that."
"Stop calling Edward that," Dr Cullen orders. "He hates it too. And if you stop calling them those names behind their backs then you're less likely to do it in front of them. Now go home, your mother is worrying about you."
"Fine," He grumbles rolling his eyes. "Get well soon Bella," He says cheerily as he leaves.
"Who's Carlisle?" I question, as it occurs to me I don't know who that is. I'd like to know who it was that Emmett and Jasper called when they found me.
"That would be me," Dr Cullen smiles slightly. "I'll see you later Bella, get some rest. You should be free to go in the morning, but no school tomorrow, okay? You need to take it easy."
"Okay," I agree, leaning back in the pillows. He makes sure I'm properly supported before leaving. I turn to Charlie "You should go home, dad. I'm alright now."
He looks troubled as he leans towards me. "Bella..." He sighs, shaking his head slightly. "What were you doing out there on your own?"
"Just going for a walk, dad," I reply, almost honestly. "I really needed to clear my head. This is a big change for me. I miss mom."
"I know, honey," He replies, taking my hand in his. "But I couldn't bear it if I lost you. If those boys hadn't found you then you could have bled to death. Or even frozen to death. Do you have any idea how cold it gets out there at night?"
"Very?" I guess quietly, earning a just as quiet chuckle from him.
"Very very, Bells," He murmurs, standing to kiss my forehead. "I've got to go to work early in the morning, so I've left some clothes with Dr Cullen and his wife, Esme, will be over here in the morning to help you dress and then you'll be spending the day with her. You can't go to school tomorrow, and I don't want you to be on your own. The Doc agrees with me, and he said his wife would be delighted to have you."
I try to swallow the panic rising inside me, but some of it must have it's way to my face as Charlie steps back slightly. "You okay, Bells?"
"Yeah," I manage to say evenly. I'm surprised. I thought my voice would have broken, at least. "I just don't want to inconvenience them."
"You won't," Charlie reassures me. "Carlisle already reassured me. It's no trouble."
"Fine," I grumble. Leaning up to hug him, but a pain flashes through my side, and I wince. Charlie frowns.
"The Doc did mention you may have a few bruised ribs," He admits. "Another reason you're not allowed anywhere near school tomorrow, and possibly the day after."
"Fantastic," I huff, gently falling back into the pillows.
"Good morning Bella," Dr Cullen greets me the next day. "Did you sleep well?"
"Not really?" I mumble. "My ribs hurt."
"Does anything else?" He asks, holding one finger up and requesting that I look at it while he shines a light in my eyes.
"Just my head," I whisper lowly, hoping he won't hear. In fact I barely hear myself, so I'm surprised when he moves his hands to my head, gingerly feeling for bumps. Another way they're not normal.
Another reason I don't want to be trapped with one of them for a day, or maybe two.
"Where?" He questions, still gently massaging my head.
"Everywhere," I admit sheepishly. "But it's more like a headache than if I'd hit it."
"Well," He says, seeming pleased. "You seem to be healing well, and the headache is probably just dehydration. Now, my wife will be arriving soon. I hope the Chief told you about the plan today?"
"He did," I reply, looking down. "I'm sorry for inconveniencing you."
He smiles gently. "It's no trouble, Bella. Honestly. Esme is delighted to have you."
Only ten minutes after he has left, someone knocks on the door. "Come in," I call, and I'm greeted by Snow White. "Hello," I say, and I realise it must be Mrs Cullen when I catch sight of her golden eyes.
"Hello, Bella," She replies kindly, smiling sweetly. "I'm Esme Cullen. How are you feeling?"
"Fine thank you," I answer. "Only a bit sore. You don't have to do this, you know."
"Nonsense," She laughs, a soft musical sound that makes my breath catch. "You can't go to school and there's no point in you staying here and just staring at these white walls. It must be awfully lonely."
Even though I want to stay away from her, I'm touched by her kindness. "Thank you, Mrs Cullen," I say sincerely, and she smiles.
"Please," She says. "Call me Esme."
I nod, and she offers to help me dress because of my ankle. I reject the offer, and she smiles understandingly , hands me a stack of my clothes and leaves the room. I dress slowly, giving myself time to think. But something catches my attention before I can get too lost in my thoughts.
There are no gloves with the clothes.
I left my gloves at school.
Crap.
"Bella?" Esme's voice sounds through the door. "Can I come in?"
"Sure," I reply. I'm dressed now.
"Are you okay?" She asks as she sees my distressed features. I nod.
"I don't have any gloves," I admit. "I always wear gloves."
"Well," Esme smiles. "We have some at the house you can borrow if you want. Now, let's get you up."
She holds out her hands to help me stand, but I grimace and lean away slightly. She understands immediately that I don't want to touch her, although she could never imagine the reason why. Esme leaves the room, signalling she'll be back in a minute. I wait patiently, almost getting lost in my thoughts before she comes back, a pair of those thin, white rubber gloves in her hand. "Carlisle keeps a box of these in his office," She tells me. "Will they do?"
I nod gratefully and pull them on. They feel funny, but when Esme grabs my hands to pull me up I don't see anything I shouldn't. I smile. I am grateful.
Esme helps me out the car when we reach her house, and its almost impossible to believe that this house exists in such a small town. It's huge, and the white against the grey sky and dark forest make it stand out even more. Once we walk inside my breath catches. The entire space is very open, with the front wall entirely glass and the front room looks as though it used to be three rooms, but the walls were removed to create more space. Almost directly in front of the door is a grand staircase with a red carpet adorned with intricate gold patterns. A door off to the side is slightly ajar, and I can see a fridge through the gap. It's one of those fancy silver ones with a fridge on one side and a freezer on the other, and the freezer door has a water and ice machine in it. My mouth falls open, and suddenly I'm afraid to use my crutches or even walk inside at all just in case I damage the floor or make something dirty. It's all so white and pristine. Even the sofas are white.
"Come and sit down," Esme says, and I almost say no. I'm bound to break something, if not another bone. She helps me sit in front of the huge TV and extensive collection of gaming systems and then disappears. I'm confused at first until she reappears with a pair of very expensive-looking brown leather gloves. I take them from her cautiously. "You can keep them, if you like."
"I couldn't possibly," I tell her, smiling gratefully yet cautiously.
She smiles anyway, and places a hand on my knee and bends down to my level. "I'll let you think about it," She says kindly. "Can I get you anything? Juice, water, a hot chocolate? We also have sandwiches? Ice cream?"
"A hot chocolate?" I say nervously, not wanting to sound too demanding. Esme nods, and stands to go and get it. Once she's gone I lean back into the sofa, sighing as it cushions my back. I'm sore all over, and this is much softer than anything I've ever sat on. It's heaven, but I can't let myself enjoy it. I can't become attached to these people.
I place the brown gloves in my lap and then pull the surgical gloves off. Suddenly I'm worried Dr Cullen will be angry, but hopefully Esme will back me up and tell him that she took them. Then again, Carlisle doesn't seem like of type of person to be angry about something like that... Or angry at all, for that matter. Pulling the leather gloves on I'm surprised at how well they fit and how comfortable they are. It's like they were made to fit me.
"Here," Esme is back, and she hands me the hot chocolate in a pristine white mug. I almost groan. I'm bound to get that dirty, or spill it somewhere. Esme sees my distressed expression and places the mug on the coffee table. "Don't worry about spilling it," She says gently, taking my gloved hands in her bare ones. Even her hands are white and pristine. I'm so screwed. "Emmett and Alice spill things all the time." I nod, but I have a hard time believing her.
After that I drink the hot chocolate cautiously, but not as cautiously than I had planned. It turns out to be a good day after all, as Esme just lets me watch TV and shows me their huge (huge doesn't even cover it) DVD collection. They seem to have every DVD imaginable. After a few hours she offers me a house tour, and I can't find it in myself to decline.
I've already seen everything downstairs, so she helps me up the stairs with an arm around my waist. When we get up the stairs she points to each closed door in turn, still supporting me as I left my crutches downstairs. "Carlisle's office... Mine and Carlisle's room... Rosalie and Alice's room... Emmett and Jasper's room..." We reach the end of the hall and she points to the last door. "Edward's room," She tells me.
The door to this one is open.