Warning another character death, this time one you haven't met yet. This is the shortest chapter of all of them. Some questions and answers below. See you tomorrow.

Chapter 4

I'm aware that I'm sleeping and having a strange dream. In my dream Edward is perched on the side of my bed looking over me. In my dream, I wake up and he tilts his head to the side. We just look at each other. Suddenly, a bang sounds, and I watch as Edward turns around with a fierce look.

"I won't let you hurt her," he snaps out with a growling sound. He turns back to me and he shakes me slightly. "Wake up, Bello, you're in danger."

I bolt upright, panting as my whole body gets that goose bump, eerie feeling.

Out the corner of my eye, I can see someone sitting in my rocking chair. I turn my body and turn on my lamp. Looking back, it's dim, but I swallow as I see it moving.

"DAD!" I scream afraid to move off my bed. I bring my knees up to my chest and bury my face in them. "Dad!" I yell again.

"What's wrong?" he asks from the doorway.

"I think someone was in my room," I say, looking up.

My father pulls out his small hand gun from behind him and starts to move into my room. He walks around by the rocking chair, and even kneels down looking under my bed.

"It's clear, Bella, stand at the door."

Not needing to be asked twice, I jump off the bed and almost land at the doorway. My dad moves around slowly and he's just about to walk into my closet.

"Meow," a cat howls loudly.

I leap off the ground as a cat springs out jumping past my dad and out my bedroom window, which is open. I swear I closed that, especially after dealing with Sam today, I didn't want to see him tonight.

"Stupid kitty, you almost got your head blown off," my dad grumbles out the window.

I chuckle as my heart starts to slow down.

"Bella, remember what I said about opening windows. I guess I need to get out the ladder and cut more of this tree down again."

I nod and frown knowing I didn't open it.

"It must have been the cat that spooked you, there's nothing else in here."

I nod and move back to my bed.

My dad walks over giving me a sad smile. "Are you going to be okay? I could get a sleeping bag and sleep on the floor like I did in the good old days."

I shake my head and smile at him. "I should be okay, but just keep my door open and the hall light on."

My dad gives me a nod and kisses my head. "You know where I am if you need me."

"I do," I say with a small smile.

He closes my window and then walks back out of the room with a yawn and I close my eyes. I'm just falling back asleep when I hear a creak of my window, and cold air fills my room. I pull my covers over me and roll on my side as I fall into a deeper sleep.

I wake early and get up, not feeling like eating breakfast, but I pick to make Charlie happy. I shower and do my hair, putting on my light blue dress. I rub my arms feeling cold and my eyes go to my window, seeing that it's open again.

I walk over to it, seeing the cat from last night.

"Did you open my window again?" I ask and it just bobs its head from side to side at me. "Are you hungry, you little fur ball?"

"Meow," it replies like it can actually talk to me.

I chuckle and tap the window. "I'll take that as a yes."

The cat jumps over and I pick it up closing my window and locking it. Walking downstairs with the cat, I head for the kitchen. Putting the cat down, I grab a bowl and pour some milk in it. Seeing the left over baked fish, I put some on a small plate. Placing the bowl and plate down for the cat, I watch it quietly as it inhales the offerings I gave it. Hearing the door, I look up and see Sam walking in.

"Hey, baby, did Charlie get a cat?"

I shake my head looking at him and he looks me up and down.

"Bella, what am I going do with you?" he asks rhetorically, I think.

It makes me self-conscious and I stand straighter and start to brush off my dress.

"You've got milk and cat hair all over you, and you smell like nasty fish. Go upstairs now and put on a nice black dress."

"I'm supposed to wear blue," I say and Sam frowns at me. "We agreed, long ago about this, the four of us. If one of us dies we have to wear the color the person wanted at their funeral. Lauren's color is blue, so we're all wearing blue for the funeral. Angela is the color red, pink for Jessica and yellow for mine."

Sam sighs and I can tell he is angry and frustrated. "Okay, what about that dark blue one I bought you for your birthday."

"I didn't bring it," I say, angry that he wants me to wear a dress that makes me feel like I'm someone's grandmother.

"Yeah, I know, but I put it in your luggage, because it's what's proper. Besides, as your boyfriend, you should wear it to please me."

"I wanted to wear this dress, Lauren bought it for me."

"Isabella, you can't wear this, it looks like crap!" he says pointing at my dress.

I look down and see there's a little cat hair on it, but nothing a lint roller won't fix.

"Please, baby, go change for me."

I sigh and nod moving away from him. I look back seeing Sam go to pet the cat, who hisses at him before jumping down off the table and running away. Sam mutters to himself, and I walk out heading back up to my room.

It only takes me a few minutes to get changed into the granny-looking dress. It has long sleeves and goes below my knees. The dress is overly loose, and I'm sure someone twice my size could wear it. I sigh as I pick up my jacket.

"Bel—" my dad stops mid-name as I walk through the living room door. "We need to go to Lauren's house."

I nod only a little and walk out the door. We walk the six doors down to where Lauren grew up. I am quickly joined by Angela and Jessica.

"Girls, you're riding in the first car behind her parents."

We nod as the tears fall as the cars all arrive. We get in and I close my eyes as we drive off.

I am grateful the service goes quickly. At the cemetery, I place a kiss on her casket as do Angela and Jessica before it is lowered into the ground.

It feels like it's been only days since Lauren was found murdered, but in reality it has been sixteen days. Today is Angela's and my first day at Sunflower School.

Alice had called after the funeral to say that Edward had told her about what happened, and she gave us two additional days off for bereavement.

Now, however, I feel ready to get to work. Being off of work, I found just makes me relive what I saw.

Jasper and Emmett had come by telling me that they hit a brick wall, with who it was calling my cell. They wanted me to keep my old cell and make sure I record calls with the application they put on my phone.

As for my new cell phone that Sam gave me, they don't want me to give out the number to everyone. They asked me to keep it around twenty people. I chuckled at that and told them it would be less than ten.

"Are you ready for this?" Angela asks pulling me from my thoughts and I nod at her.

Angela and I walk into the staff room and everyone looks up at us.

"I'm so glad you both made it," Alice says as she stands and moves to us. She hugs each of us one at a time before turning to address the others. "Everyone," Alice says clapping her hands so they stop talking. "These are our newest staff members, Isabella – Bella Swan and Angela Weber." She points to each of us when she says our names.

"Angela and Bella, these are your new coworkers. This is Tia Black – she's only been here a year: she's twenty-four and was the youngest until you two started."

I look Tia over and swallow a little as she fits the description, like Angela and I do, of what attracts this serial killer.

"Next up is Ben Turner—"

Both Angela and I look in shock at the guy she was dancing with on our night out. From everything that had happened, none of the girls had called any of the boys.

"He's twenty-seven. Next to him is Mike Newton, who is also twenty-seven."

"Was it Jessica?" Mike blurts out with a heartbreaking look on his face.

"No, it was Lauren," I say softly.

Mike looks a little relieved, but the sadness is still clear on his face. "I'm really sorry, if we had known, we would have come," he responds motioning his hand between himself and Ben.

I just nod at him unable to talk; if I try, I know I will break down.

"What's going on ... what are you talking about?" A blonde woman asks.

"Tanya, Bella and Angela were long-term friends with the woman that was just found killed a couple of weeks ago," Mike says.

Tanya pales a little and gives us an 'I'm sorry' nod.

"We met them all at a bar a few days before hand," Mike says. "She seemed like a great girl."

"I heard it's a serial killer and the police are trying to keep it all hush-hush and out of the papers," a redhead says.

"Vicky," an older lady says harshly, "mind your manners."

The redhead—Vicky— rolls her eyes a little and everyone starts talking at once.

Alice tries to get them all to quiet down without much luck. A loud wolf whistle from behind me makes me cover my ears.

"Thanks, Edward," Alice says rubbing her ears.

I turn seeing Edward standing at the door. "Anytime, DSP," Edward says smiling at me.

"Hi, Edward," Tia says softly.

"Good morning, Tia," Edward says softly, his head is down as if he's looking at the paper in his hand. However, I'm pretty sure his eyes are on me.

"What does everyone want for their lunch today?" he asks after a few minutes.

I watch Edward as everyone lists what they want. I frown, a little confused when I see he's not writing anything down. Instead, he's drawing a picture of a girl—a very pretty girl. I lean a little over so I can get a better look. The woman is young with fairly long hair, about mid-back. There's a wave to her hair, and it sits a little over her face. Her face is heart-shaped and she has small lips and a round nose. Her brown eyes look so warm and inviting.

"Bello," Edward says and I jump as he looks at me.

"What?" I ask looking around the room.

Edward chuckles, "What would you like for lunch?"

"Anything – I'm not picky," I say since I'm not sure what I want.

He nods and looks back down. "Angela," he says and I can hear her talking.

I look back down to the girl only to find Edward has turned the page and is now drawing a tree, with a cat sitting on it.

"I'll be back with your lunches later on. Call me if you need anything DSP."

Without saying goodbye, Edward walks out and Tanya starts to chuckle. "Jesus, Tia, you were almost drooling."

"Shut up, Tan," Tia says back.

"You like him?" Angela asks surprised to Tia, who blushes.

"He's nice, but I don't think he sees me like that."

I feel a little off knowing she likes him, more like a deep worry. This isn't the same as when I see Sam talking to other girls, this so much more painful, it's odd.

"I told you to leave it all to me and meant it. If you want to go out with him, I'll get him to go out with you. All you need to do is talk to him," Alice says kindly to Tia.

I feel my foot bounce and I'm not really sure how to take these feelings I'm having. Deep down I know Edward needs someone, and he should have someone, but I can't get over this feeling of wanting him for myself. I just don't know or understand it, and the worst part of it is, I have a boyfriend.

The morning goes by with Alice bringing us up to speed on our classroom schedules as well as handing us our student lists. About an hour before lunch, Alice has us play a few games to help us get to know each other.

The first game is the story bag. We each—without looking— pull something out of a mystery bag. Alice started the story bringing out an item and incorporating it into the story. Tia then carried on from where Alice left off in the story to bring out her item. It was interesting listening to everyone's imaginations as the bag worked its way around the room. In the end it really was quite funny and relaxing.

It was just after the mystery bag game that Edward brings in our lunch, with the help of Miss Cope, the school's secretary. Our lunches are all passed out, and everyone is laughing and enjoying their time. I get up and walk away from everyone so that I can call my dad and Sam. I promised them both, I'd let them know how my day's going.

"Forks Police Department, Sally speaking, how may I help you?"

"Hi, Sally, it's Bella, is my dad around?"

"Sorry, honey, he's out."

Before I can say anything else she's talking again.

"That serial killer, the one they call the Brunette Butcher has killed one of our girls," Sally sobs. "The worst part is she's been lying out there for DAYS naked!"

I feel my legs go and my heart starts to race.

"All the news stations within fifty miles must have a van here, because this time the killer left a note. In the note, the killer threatens about more killings, saying something about they will get their intended target."

"Bello," Edward says touching my face and holding me up.

"Turn on the news," I say loudly and everyone just looks at me.

"The local news – turn it on," I yell.

Alice turns it on and right away my father comes into view as he walks up to a car. I watch as Jasper and Emmett get out of the car my father approached. After a moment's silence the screen is filled with the face of the on-the-scene reporter.

"The body of the young woman was found three hours ago. Unlike the other girls, this one was left with what authorities have said is a note. KOMO News has unofficially been told that the note stated the killer will continue to kill until it has its intended target."

The screen of the television splits into halves. One side shows the reporter who continues to blather on. The other half of the screen now holds the photographs of all the victims so far. Angela and I both sob out loud when they show Lauren's picture.

"We can exclusively reveal the name of the newest victim to be twenty-five-year-old Leah Clearwater."

When they say her name, they bring up a picture of the girl.

I gasp seeing the girl's photo—it's the same girl Edward was talking to when I saw him at the restaurant in Port Angeles.

I turn to look at Edward. "I'm sorry; I didn't know that it was her."

Edward looks to me and I can see that his eyes are filling up with tears.

"An insider has just told us that the note attached to the naked body said, "I will get my intended target. –Brunette Butcher." On scene for KOMO News Four, this is Gianna Lair."

"Leah!" Alice sobs and drops to the sofa. "We need to get Seth, he's going need us," Alice says getting up and walking out the staffroom.

"Who's Seth?" I ask in shock.

"Her five-year-old son," Edward says.

I cover my mouth feeling a little sick, worrying about where this little boy could be.

"I can't get through to Jasper," Alice says running back in.

"I'll get Sally to put me through to my dad," I say calling the Forks Police Department again. I look around the room seeing the once happy staff fun-day is now full of somber co-workers all sitting together watching the news. I look back to Edward, and see that my hand is in his.

"Is he your son?" I ask and Edward looks to me.

"No, she lived next door to my mom and dad. My mom watched Leah some nights so her mom could go out and work. My parents were older, and they both passed away within six months of each other. I was twenty at the time and Leah was thirteen. I didn't see her again until last year. She—" He stops talking and drops his head. "Leah's mom had disowned her and she was on her own with a four-year-old. She needed money and a place to stay for herself as well as her son. I remember my mother loving her like one of her own, and I allowed her to move into my family home."

"What about her own mom, did she still live next door?"

"No, she moved back to La Push."

I nod knowing where that was. "I'm sorry," I say again and I feel him squeeze my hand.

"Forks Police Department, Sally speaking, how may I help you?"

I pick up my cell having finally gotten through. "Hey, Sally, I need to talk to my dad. Can you please patch me through, it's important?" I say with my voice wavering a little.

"Can do, Bella, please hold."

After a couple of clicks, I hear my father's voice. "Hey, baby girl, what's wrong?"

"Dad, Leah Clearwater, the girl you just found, she had a son, Seth. Do you know where he is?"

"How did you know that? I've only just found out when Jasper and Emmett arrived?"

"Alice, my boss, knows Leah," I say sobbing again.

"Chief Swan, it's Edward Masen, I'm Emmett Cullen's cousin and Alice is Jasper Whitlock's wife. We all knew Leah and were very close to her and Seth."

"I'm sorry for your loss, but know that we are looking for Seth right now. I got to ask how did you know that it was Leah, and how did you know already that we found a body?"

"It is all over the news, Dad. They reported her name, and even told everyone about the note attached to her body."

"Shit, how was all of that leaked out? I need to go and see how the hell they found out all this information."

"Okay, due to what just happened, I think we should end today here, and I'll see you all tomorrow," Alice says, but it honestly sounds more like she's asking us.

I wrap my arms around Edward and I feel him stiffen before he moves his hands from being around me.

"I am so sorry," I say embarrassed slightly about the way I was clinging to him.

"It's not your fault, and please stay safe."

I nod at him and move. Edward gives me a weak smile before walking out of the room.

A/N: So things just got even more interesting, what are your thoughts?

You can find us on Facebook Groups under: TeamAllTwilight & AndTAT FanFiction.

Answers to a few questions: (Spoiler Alert)

Are Sam and Bella dating?
Yes and Sam loves Bella, but Bella doesn't feel that love for Sam. Bella feels indebted to Sam for saving her from a stalker who attacked her.

Is Edward, Cullen or Masen and is Edward Emmett's brother?
Edward is a Masen and Emmett Cullen is his cousin.

Will this be a HEA? (SPOILER ALERT - DON'T READ THIS ANSWER, IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW. NO MORE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS BELOW THIS, SO ONLY READ BELOW IF YOU WANT TO KNOW.)

I cannot tell you all enough that Nikky and I are completely and certainly Bella Swan and Edward Cullen/Masen pairing, happy ever after, kind of gals and this story may be spooky and have some serious twists and turns and downright odd things in it, but us changing our stance on E&B hea, is not going to differ in this story's ending.