Carlisle and Esme wandered down toward the lake, knowing that Emmett and Rosalie had specifically stated they'd be there.

"Carlisle, they can't be out here," Esme told him, looking upward with squinted eyes at the rain that fell.

"Call for them," he urged.

"Rosalie!"

They headed for the dock and walked about halfway up, seeing nothing in the area. Rain pelted off of the lake, creating a rhythmic, peaceful sound.

Carlisle shined the flashlight around and shrugged. "They aren't here."

"Where would they go?" Esme asked.

"Maybe they wanted a little privacy and headed to another cabin or something."

"In just their bathing suits?"

Carlisle snickered and was about to make a comment about not needing clothes but he refrained. "Let's go back."

"What if we just check the other cabins?" Esme suggested. "Just to see if they're okay. I mean... what if something happened."

"Like what?"

"Like what if one of them got a cramp while swimming. Rosalie couldn't pull Emmett up if he went under."

Carlisle pulled her closer to him and kissed her forehead. "I'm sure they're fine."

"I want to know."

The urgency in her voice made him cave. Carlisle wanted Esme to feel secure, and thought her worry was valid. "Okay." He smiled, "But I am going to blame you if we happen to see something we shouldn't."

Esme let a smile take over her face, and she managed a laugh. "I'll take the blame."

They headed a little farther from the main cabin and found several smaller ones nearby that they had been prepping to get ready for when the kids arrived.

Carlisle shined the light ahead of them as they headed up into the first cabin they crossed by.

Esme's hand tightened around his as they closed in on the door. She took a deep breath as Carlisle swung the door open and flipped on a light switch.

Their eyes scanned the immediate area, which was made up of only one giant room with a small collection of beds scattered about.

"Well," he said, "There's not much room to hide here."

Esme continued to eye every inch of the cabin before looking at him. "Alright... let's move on to the next one."

Carlisle nodded with a grin and brought Esme around to each cabin, one by one. Each time they came up empty handed. There was no sign of any of their co-workers.

Esme glanced at him when she closed the door behind them of the final cabin in the area. "I suppose they could be back to the house by now," she suspected.

"I'm sure they are," Carlisle told her. He tried to sound reassuring. "Why don't we call it a night?"

She sighed and gave a nod before reaching for his hand again. They hiked back to the cabin where all the lights were still on.

"Hey, the front door's open," Carlisle pointed out as they got close, "So someone probably came back."

Esme smiled and hurried the rest of the way up the stairs and into the house. What she expected to see were their friends watching television, playing cards, drinking... but there was nothing; not a sound.

Carlisle looked around the place. "Hello?" he called out.

Esme glanced from side to side. She made her way a few steps ahead of Carlisle and peeked into the kitchen. There was no one.

"Edward and Bella were here before," Esme whispered, turning back to meet Carlisle's stare.

"They were down the hall," he whispered back.

"Should we call for them?" she asked, "See if they're here?" Esme arched her neck to see down the darkened hallway, and then began to head in that direction with Carlisle at her heels.

Her eyes landed on the half-open door that lead into the bedroom. "Bella?" she called out quietly.

Carlisle put a hand on her shoulder and the two of them peered into the blackened room.

"Edward? Jacob?" Esme continued to rattle off the names of the three of them who shared the room. She reached and pushed the door open just slightly before it gradually opened all the way.

Carlisle took a deep breath and flipped the switch as he entered behind her. The room was illuminated and their eyes fell onto the bottom bunk.

Esme stared in terror, eyeing an axe that was place perfectly in the center of the bed with the sharp end resting in a pool of blood on the pillow. She looked back at Carlisle, who's grip tightened around her shoulder.

"What is going on?" she asked him, unable to hide the confusion and fear that lingered in her voice.

Carlisle swallowed hard. "I have no idea." He couldn't take his eyes off the axe, and carefully lifted the sheet back just a few inches before letting it drop back down.

"Where are they all?" Esme asked again.

"This is a sick joke," he told her.

"Let's... get out of here." She pulled him by the hand and then eyed a single door that led to the closet. "What's that?" Esme pointed toward the door.

Carlisle followed her eyes and squinted hard. "I don't know." He crossed the room, taking a deep breath as he struggled to recognized what was protruding through the wood in several different locations.

He reached a hand up, touching the edge of one of the objects and staring at the split wood. "I think... I think it's an arrow." Carlisle gave Esme an odd expression, and despite his hesitation and the terrible feeling in his gut he proceeded to slowly pulled the closet door open.

It took Carlisle an extra second for his brain to register that what he was seeing was real. Esme's scream from behind him let him know that he wasn't at all crazy, and that his eyes weren't playing tricks on him.

Carlisle's mouth hung open partway and he felt Esme begin to tug at his arm from behind.

Jasper's body hung lifelessly against the inside of the closet door, pinned there by arrows and an extra large knife. His head drooped and shoulders sagged and it appeared as if his body would slump off the door and to the ground at any second.

"Oh my God..." Carlisle felt frozen as he stared at the lifeless body. Instinctively he reached up to attempt to find a pulse on Jasper's wrist. When there was none, he backed away and stared at Esme. Panic covered her face and she continued to claw at his arm.

"We need to get out of here!" she cried, "Let's go!"

Carlisle knew it would be foolish to go out looking for the others, and hoped maybe they could drive out to the local police to find help. He grabbed Esme's hand and towed her with him as fast as he could out of the room. A second later, the lights went out.