Chapter 13: Not Normal


Bella PoV


I was woken by the door bell ringing.

"Oh! Hi Alice. Great to see you. Bella's still in bed. Go right up," Charlie's voice carried up the stairs.

I moaned at the thought of getting up and shifted in Edward's arms. The door was flung open and Alice bounced in the room.

"Come on, Bella, Edward. Up!" Alice's voice was far too chipper.

Edward started to move, gently disengaging himself from me. I very quickly came up with a plan.

I moved closer to him, deliberately making sure he caught my scent very strongly. I could see and feel him deciding he didn't want to move either. I smiled as his arms tightened round me and he sighed.

"Bella, that's nasty," Alice reprimanded me.

"So's getting me up at this unearthly hour," I mumbled into Edward's chest. I felt him chuckle.

"But you need to come to our house. We need to discuss the new family, especially Max. You've spoken to her most, so you'll be of the most help. Plus you're human, so's she."

"Or maybe not," Edward said very quietly.

"What?" I asked.

"We'll explain at our house. Now come on!" Alice cut in before Edward could answer me.

I dragged myself out of bed and into the bathroom. I took my time on my 'Human Minute', as Edward called it. Finally, when I was ready I went downstairs to find Alice chatting enthusiastically with Charlie.

"Oh, Bella. It's about time! Bye Charlie!" Alice towed me out the door, anxious to get to her house.

The car journey was silent and fast. I barely noticed the scenery passing and the next thing I knew we had arrived and Alice was yanking me towards the kitchen.

The family merely nodded at our entrance; they were so wrapped up in discussing Max. Carlisle was pacing, firing questions.

"Just how big was the hole? And her knuckle was completely unscathed? This seems very unlikely, perhaps impossible. Bella," He stopped and turned to me, "You spoke to Max. What did she say?"

"Um, her family all grew up in a foster home. None of them are actually related. She had a brother. That's what she got angry about. Jess asked about him. She made fun of him."

"Max was very upset by what Jessica said," Jasper's voice was quiet, remembering the pain.

"I saw a memory in her head. There was this face; I think it was her brother. He didn't look right. He was dying. Max was holding him." All the faces round the table were sad. It was then I realised Rosalie wasn't there. "Also, when we at lunch, when I tripped and dropped everything, she had yelled in her head. At me. Well at least I think it was at me. She said something about getting out of her head, and did I know how rude it is?"

The expressions had gone from sad, to surprised, to bewildered.

"They talk to each other, like in really low voices. Way too low for a human to hear. They've all got a sort of connection with each other. Like they've been through a lot together. I mean a lot. And did you see them messing around? They ran so fast! Then when Max fell off the stairs and was completely unhurt…" Alice trailed off.

Carlisle frowned. "Edward, Jasper. What are you getting from these kids?"

"The youngest are really happy, relieved. Max and Nick are nervous, on guard. The blind guy, James? Is in-between. All of them are slightly scared, though the older ones cover it very well. I almost didn't sense it." Jasper was thoughtful as he answered.

"Their thoughts are very like their emotions. Complicated, hidden. It's like they're all blocking their minds. With Max and Nick, it's almost impossible to get anything. When I listen to the youngest, Angelina's thoughts, I simply hear everyone else's, amplified. If I do catch anything off of them though, it's complex. Human thought processes are simple. This family's aren't." Edward sounded annoyed.

"So let's recap," Emmett spoke for the first time, "First, this family run amazingly fast. Second, Edward is blocked from their thoughts and when he does hear them they're intricate. Third, the same is to be said for Jasper with their emotions. Fourth, Max falls ten feet and is perfectly alright. Fifth, later the same day Max punches a wall and doesn't get a scratch. Unlike the poor wall, and she was holding Jessica off the ground by one hand. I think that covers it."

"Yes," Carlisle's voice was soft, brooding. "I think, overall, we can safely say, with all evidence taken into account, that Max, Nick, James, Tiffany-Krystal, Jason and Angelica are not normal."

Out of the blue Alice gasped and Edwards's eyebrows shot up. Everyone turned to look at them.

"We need to get to La Push. The cliff Bella jumped from," No one moved, "Now!" She shouted. The Cullens jumped into action.

Edward pulled me up and we ran to the car. By the time we got there the engine was running and the family inside.

I held on to the edge of my seat as Edward speeded out the drive and towards La Push.

"Edward, Alice, we can't go there," Carlisle voiced everyone's thoughts. Though Edward could hear them anyway.

"We need to. Max falls off the cliff. I saw her die. We need to save her." Alice's eyes were wide, worried.

Carlisle nodded and Edward crossed the boundary line.

We pulled up at the cliff to see a horrible sight; Max was fighting Paul. He was morphed. The rest of the Pack were watching, slightly amazed.

Edward jumped out the car and dashed towards the fight, just as Max kicked Paul in the head.

She glanced at us. Paul grabbed her and threw her over towards the cliff.

She twisted in the air, frantically trying to get her jacket off.

There was a shout, a scream and then a splash.