Disclaimer: I do not own Twilight or any characters.
"Prepare to dive into our riveting fanfiction tale, 'Setting Sun.' This is an Alternate Universe story that explores the turning gone wrong for a girl named Amillea, who ends up in an orphanage after Charlie's ill-fated attempt. With unexpected twists and turns, 'Setting Sun' promises to be a thrilling journey as we delve into Amillea's story."
A/N: All chapter have been re-written to provide more details to the story. I am new to writing so please let me know please feel free to provide any feedback. I hope you enjoy this story!
Chapter 1: A Twist of Fate
Dear Diary,
I can still recall that pivotal moment as if it happened yesterday, the event that forever altered the course of my life. I write these words hoping that someday, someone will read and find wisdom in my extraordinary journey. Let me share the story of my past and present, the girl I once was, and the woman I've become.
My name is Amillea Claire Thrones, and I was born on May 22, 1860, at a quaint Boston hospital. My father, a man of great wealth and influence in the city, and my mother, a respected lady of high society, painted the picture of privilege and opulence. But in the cocoon of my youth, I led the life of an ordinary child. I reveled in playful afternoons with friends, indulged in fanciful tea parties, and eagerly explored the world around me. Life was good until the precipice of my eighth year.
The eve following my eighth birthday is etched in my memory with an indelible ink. It was the night my life changed forever, the night my story began. I awoke on a surface far from my familiar bed, the cold, jarring carriage floor. My hands and mouth were bound tightly by ropes and cloth. In my groggy confusion, I looked up to meet the gaze of two men, their eyes wide and unsettling. The first man was of average height, with raven-black hair and piercing blue eyes, appearing to be about sixteen years old. The other, taller and red-headed, with light brown eyes and a smattering of freckles, seemed to be around twenty-five. Clearly, the younger was an apprentice to the older, red-haired man.
The two men conversed in hushed tones in a language they believed I couldn't comprehend, but I pieced together their intentions from what my tutor had imparted over the last two years. The apprentice, named Roger, discussed what they might do if my father failed to pay a ransom. The older man, Jared, shot me a cold, disdainful glance, and after what felt like an eternity, he declared that I would be put to work. I was uncertain how to react to this revelation.
Hours passed within the confines of that carriage, and I eventually succumbed to fatigue. Yet, sleep was fleeting, disrupted by the sharp rays of the morning sun streaming through the window. To maintain my pretense of slumber, I lay still, silently eavesdropping on their hushed conversation. It was then that I discovered the names of my captors and glimpsed into their lives. Jared, married to Susy, ranted about his wife's faults for what seemed like an eternity.
As the carriage gradually slowed, I decided it was time to feign awakening. Opening my eyes, I discovered we had stopped before a picturesque two-story cottage nestled amidst open fields. Jared carried me inside, placing me on a bed and releasing me from my restraints. He cautioned me against entertaining escape ideas before leaving me alone to survey the room. The chamber was modest, with a small window, a bed, a dresser, and a small desk area illuminated by a solitary candle.
Uncertain of what else to do, I crawled beneath the covers, and exhaustion instantly claimed me. Morning sunlight illuminated my world when I next awoke. Jared entered the room, shaking me awake and directing me to the clothes on the dresser. He left, and I hastily changed and followed him outside, only to find myself flanked by my captors, ensuring I wouldn't escape.
At the kitchen table, Jared offered me tea and toasted bread, freshly retrieved from the stove. Evidently, these provisions had been prepared for breakfast, likely by his wife. After a moment to eat, Jared sat across from me, explaining the circumstances that had led to my abduction. My father, it appeared, had owed Jared a considerable sum from a loan he had refused to repay. Their solution, as Jared humorously put it, was to kidnap me, but he added that it was strictly business and hoped I wouldn't hold any ill will. However, my father's response to their ransom letter was a harsh blow. He was suffering from terminal cancer, a secret he had hidden for years, and his letter indicated that he could neither repay the loan nor care for me. He was given just a month to live.
My heart ached as I realized the complexities of my predicament. Although my mother had passed away, and my extended family was either deceased or estranged, my father's desperate plea was for me to live with my captors. This revelation sent my world spiraling into chaos. I was just eight years old, unprepared to navigate the storm of emotions and uncertainties that now raged in my life. The only silver lining was that my captors seemed to be decent people. After a week of processing this life-altering information, Jared offered me an opportunity to work alongside his wife, Susy, while he and Roger managed their business in town. And so, after eight years of life in a privileged family, my existence began to merge with the realm of the everyday. Gratefully, I embraced the skills Susy would soon impart, learning to cook, clean, sew, and play the piano. This marked the beginning of a human life that would continue for nine years until the day I would meet him.