CHAPTER TWO
Half a mile from the farm I pull Star to a halt. I'm at least an hour late for my birthday celebration already, so a few more moments of solitude to gather my thoughts will have little effect on the hostile reception that no doubt is waiting for me. My lightly-clothed body, warmed by the setting sun at the beginning of the return journey, now aches with cold. Lightning rages in my heart though. With luck, Charlie will mistake trembling limbs for shivers.
My parents' anger is easy to imagine. To be honest, I've been expecting Charlie to ambush me on the road so he could admonish me in private for dawdling. Charlie is well used to my attitude towards birthday celebrations, especially this one. An excuse that they remind me of the time Gran disappeared ceased to be tolerated before I reached my teens. A reluctance to celebrate aging is not the reason why I'm late for my party this time though.
What should I tell Mom and Charlie? Everything … or nothing?
The answer to that is plain now. It has to be nothing. To claim that I'd seen a Catcher would mean immediate interrogation by the Elders followed by isolation. However, if I owned up, at least I'd miss my 'now available' party on Saturday, which I'll admit is a tempting option.
To claim that I'd spoken with a Catcher, and quite evidently not been killed by the Catcher, would, I guess, result in me being branded a liar, or at best, delusional. So how to explain why I'm late? A problem with the crab pots maybe? Star bolting on the beach, which is partially true? I settle on a frightened pony which is the only plausible option. Fortunately for me, I'm a convincing liar.
Decision made, I allow Star to walk on. Without encouragement, she breaks into a trot and then a canter. I guess she's keen to get to a bale of hay and her warm stable. Change that to cake and bed and I'm on the same page as my pony. Whatever happens between those two delights will be a challenge though.
Lights are on in the farmhouse but the drapes don't twitch when we clatter over the stone boundary onto the baked clay yard. Several recognizable carts and horses are tied up on the far side of the barn but at least they have left plenty of room for my cart to get access to the ramp which is a relief. Raucous laughter and unintelligible chatter indicate the guests haven't waited for me to arrive which bothers me a lot for two reasons. Mom has been baking all day so I hope they've left me something to eat. Despite the sick feeling in my stomach, I'm starving. Also, Charlie could already have had too much brew, which brings out the worst in him. If that is the case I'll have to be even more careful with my words.
After dragging the crab baskets to the coldest part of our barn, Star is relieved of her harness and led to the stables. Ranger scoffs a greeting and turns his back on her. She gets a kiss and cuddle from me though.
Deep breaths for courage, excuse settled in my head, our small, dark lobby is warm and comforting after the cold night air. Jupiter at least barks me a welcome from the kitchen where he's been shut in. Charlie's welcome I predict will be the exact opposite. I note the coat hooks are bulging with unrecognizable garments, except for a very familiar hat. The wide-brimmed felt I am sure belongs to Samuel Ulley Senior. Why he's at my party confuses me as Charlie and Mom have never really socialized with the Ulleys. They are okay to have as neighbors, but their son, Sam, is an ass. When the obvious reason slaps me in the face, blood rushes to my head. The Mating Game had clearly started even before my 18th birthday. Shit!
Our living room door flies open flooding the lobby with light. Oil lamps and a roaring wood fire sear my eyes. I have to squint to see past Charlie whose large frame blocks my view of the room behind him. When I've gotten used to the glare, I spot Mom squashed between Mrs. Ulley and Mr. Ulley's widowed sister, Jane, on our two-seat couch. Ulley Senior is slumped by the fire in what used to be Gran's chair which irritates me. That chair is precious and not for oversized lumps like him. The vacant chair beside him I presume is where Charlie was sitting. On our kitchen chairs by the window is Mike with his much younger sister, Frances, and their parents, my Aunt Carol and Uncle Michael, but no sign of Sam. Behind the door I guess are the several other neighbors whose horses I recognized. I can hear them talking, but thankfully there's still no evidence of loud-mouth Sam. Maybe I jumped to the wrong conclusion.
"Is ... abella!"
Charlie slurs my name as he lurches forward, slopping his drink over the polished floor. The familiar aroma gives away what he's spilled. Our barn reeks of the illicit concoction which even the Elders turn a blind eye to because of the quality of the brew. "Come in, dear girl, come in. Where's Sam?"
"Sam?"
Understandably I presume Sam had been sent out either to look for me or to help offload the catch. Why hadn't he then – lazy oaf!
"Yes, Sam. We guessed you'd been having fun at the beach and forgot the time. Don't tell us he's gone straight home?"
Charlie stares at me expectantly. Ulley Senior gives me a suggestive wink and adjusts his belt. Just that action makes me feel sick. I notice Mike has his hand over his eyes. He's embarrassed for me.
"Sorry, what? Sam, at the beach? No, Dad, I haven't seen Sam all afternoon. I'm late because Star bolted. Look, I'm shattered and stink of crabs, pony, and the sea. I need to clean up before joining you all. Will you save me some food, especially cake? I'm starving."
I turn to escape but Charlie grabs my shoulder. Genuinely, I don't believe he meant to be so rough but he unsteadies me which causes me to crash against the wall. Mom jumps up and pulls Charlie away.
"Go sit down, dear," she orders and guides him back to his chair. He knocks back the last inch and pours another from the flagon.
"Now, Isabella, are you certain you haven't seen Sam this afternoon?"
"Yes, Mom. Why would I say otherwise?" My voice I know sounds desperate because I really need to pee. "I didn't see anyone on the road today, there or back, or on the beach. There's no reason not to tell you if I did."
Ulley slams his glass on the small table beside him, hauls his giant frame out of Gran's chair, and staggers towards the outside door, pushing me out of the way.
"Martha, Jane, get your coats. I need to find out where that boy is. I'll tan his hide if he's with that Emily girl again. No way is blood from those low-life creatures going to pollute my family. Goodnight, Charlie, Renee. Goodnight everyone. Martha!"
Martha Ulley shuffles past me, catching the coat he throws at her. "Goodnight, Isabella," she whispers, flashing a weak smile. I look towards Mike for some sort of explanation. All I get back is shrugged shoulders and an amused grin.
While I'm scrubbing the stench of crab and everything else away, my reflection in the mirror tells its tale. Bewilderment about what happened on the beach not even three hours previously shows on my face. From this moment on, my life will never be the same. I have no one to confide in or go to for advice. Even Mike, who I'm confident would believe my story, must not get dragged into a clear breach of the rules about Catchers drummed into us by the Elders.
Everything I'd been brought up to believe about Catchers being ruthless killers is either untrue or at least exaggerated. I didn't learn much from this one, but I'm alive, which is proof they don't kill on sight which is what everyone is told happens. He couldn't be a murderer either. For a start, he's too young and …
My musings are interrupted by a knock on the door followed by, "You okay in there?"
I guessed Mike would be sent to look for me. "Come in," I respond. Mike enters, stares at my face, and then at my hands.
"Bella! What are you doing?"
I look into the bowl where my fingers are red raw and bleeding in places from scrubbing. My mind had been on the beach, staring into a pair of golden eyes that I could only compare to deep wells of sunshine. In them, I'd seen a glimpse of another world and maybe, just maybe, escape.
"Tell me what happened, Bella," Mike whispers. "I know something's up. I can read your face so easily."
Shit again! I'm so tempted to tell Mike everything but I can't. Whatever he's guessed won't be anywhere close to the truth thankfully.
"Nothing happened, Mike," I reply as calmly as possible. "Sam never showed. I didn't hit him with a rock or bury him in the sand. Maybe I would've because he's an immature ass, but he didn't appear. I guess Sam did sneak off to see Emily. Whatever he's done and wherever he is, it's not my problem."
Mike stares into my eyes and shakes his head. "Nope, you can't fool me, Bella. You've aged ten years since I last saw you. Something is bothering you. Is that gray hair I see?"
I pretend to laugh and flick cold water over him.
"Idiot, I'm just tired. I had to run the whole length of the beach to catch Star after she bolted." I laugh again and push him out of the way. "Did I see cake in there? I'm starving and it's still my birthday."
Mike jumps backward to block me from leaving.
"Bella, I'll get what's happened out of you if it kills me. I don't like it when you keep things from me."
"Mike, there's nothing to tell, I promise you. Now let me get to my cake."
Charlie is snoring when we go back to the living room. Mom has visibly relaxed which is so sad. I know she envies her sister, my Aunt Carol, who with her husband Michael are the happiest couple I know. Mike's parents genuinely love one another; an unusual situation in Forks for older folk. Being forced to marry at such a young age is not conducive to contentment in later life – my parents being a prime example. Only infertility can be used as grounds for divorce so they are stuck with each other until the end. Credit to Mike's father though as he petitioned the Elders last year to increase the marriage age to twenty-five for both sexes, no doubt worried about his own children's futures. The Elders refused to even discuss it.
When the celebrations are over and the guests have left, and despite being mentally and physically exhausted, sleep is a long way off. What happened on the beach will be revisited over and over. Another problem - Mom has many faults with her housekeeping skills but she makes the best cakes in Forks. The sugar buzz I'm experiencing is quite exquisite.
In the silent dark with eyes tightly closed, I'm able to transport myself back to the beach again. The Catcher stands before me, ankle-deep in foam. An open-necked pale yellow shirt clinging to his dripping torso. Sleeves turned back neatly to reveal pale arms. Creamy-white pants rolled up to just below the knee show firm calves above slim ankles. Longish wet hair, color impossible to guess, frames what on first impression looks like a human face, although I could easily be convinced it's not. Too pale, too symmetrical, too perfect; in other words, more beautiful than any boy or man I'd ever laid eyes on.
Light seems to bounce off any exposed areas of skin which creates a weird halo effect around his head and shoulders. I have to shade my eyes to look at him. When he raises his head to look directly at me, the intensity of his eyes unsteadies me. If I hadn't been holding onto Star's reins with my free hand, his stare would have knocked me backward. I felt like I was experiencing how a mouse would feel in front of a snake; unable to run even if I tried.
They say your life flashes before you in moments like these. This didn't happen, even though I expected my end to come quickly. I do recall thinking I'd already lived my best years so wouldn't be missing much if life ended now. What a depressing thought at age eighteen.
I don't know how many seconds or minutes pass before the Catcher calls out.
"Don't run. I'm not going to hurt you. I won't come any closer unless you permit me."
I attempt a reply but no sound comes from my open mouth. Instead, I nod my head. It's then I realize there are tears on my cheeks. Maybe I do want to carry on living even though my future appalls me.
"You're Isabella," he says. I nod again. His voice is clear and strong against the roar of the waves. I doubt whether he'd even hear my squeak if I tried again to reply.
"Relax. I'm not going to move from this spot. I can see that you're frightened."
Star nuzzles my neck and snorts. Animals are incredibly perceptive but even I'm not stupid enough to believe Star has permitted me to trust what he's saying. I open my mouth again and this time words come out albeit weakly.
"Why should I trust you … and how do you know my name?"
The youth smiles; my knees buckle.
"I know the name of everyone in your town, Isabella."
Boasting doesn't become him. Bravery kicks in.
"You should know then that everyone apart from my parents calls me Bella, smartass!"
For a fleeting second, the youth looks shocked and then he shakes his head.
"I wouldn't presume to call you Bella. Over-familiarity is rude. Do I have your permission if I ask nicely?"
Catchers have good manners then. Who would have thought? Embarrassed that I called him a smartass now, my reply is purposely light-hearted.
"That depends. You have to tell me your name first and then we're equal."
There's a long pause. I sense he's struggling with my request. Have we crossed a line here? Do Catchers have laws about familiarity with their victims? There must be a reason why he's so coy. "It'll be my secret," I offer.
The sun slips behind a cloud. His features become more discernible now that I'm not staring into burning light. Redish highlights become evident in his drying hair. His eyes though are what make my jaw drop. Jet-black pupils set in pools of gold. Totally unnatural. I can't be looking at a human.
Another pause before he says in a stronger voice than before, "My name is Edward, Isabella."
I relax somewhat, maybe because he has a normal name; nothing exotic to go with his looks. To be honest, I'm disappointed.
"Edward? Actually Edward? Not, Ed, or Eddie, or Ted, or Teddy."
"No, Edward, just Edward."
He smiles. I'm dazzled again. If sunshine could take human form, it's standing there in front of me.
"Okay, Just Edward, you can call me Bella now."
Edward drops his head. Is he trying to disguise that he's amused? Another smile has crept across his face when he fixes his eyes on mine again.
"Thank you, Bella. Now I'm going to walk out of the water and sit on the sand. Are you comfortable with that?"
I nod my head, then nervously watch as he takes long strides up the slight incline. His feet are bare which I'll admit I find incredibly attractive. Effortlessly, he drops cross-legged on the sand, now about fifteen feet away. I should be terrified of being so close but frankly, I'm mesmerized by his looks and physique.
Although Edward's skin seems unusually pale, his general appearance screams good health, fitness, and, strangely, wealth. Although wet, his clothes are of beautiful quality, like nothing you could obtain in Lympi. Each garment has a lightness about it which would be unsuitable for farming even after dismissing the unusual colours. No man in Lympi would ever wear cream pants or a lemon-colored shirt; or have collar-length hair like Edward's.
Blemish-free skin, ridiculously straight white teeth, and a slim but muscular build tell me he's been well-nourished and cared for during his upbringing. It's then I recall the book Mike found under his dad's bed. Mike said, 'The people were different in the pictures, Bella.' Maybe Edward is an example of what Mike tried to describe.
"Do you often swim out there?" I ask as it's the first question that comes to mind.
"Lately, yes; I like swimming. To tell you the truth, Bella, I make a point of being out there when you're on the beach. Have you noticed how full your pots have been lately?"
"Sorry, what!"
"I like to lend a helping hand where possible. Don't freak out though. I'm not expecting anything in return."
"Freak out? What does the 'freak' word mean? I've never heard freak before?"
Edward's eyes roll. "Sorry, I forgot. Some of my expressions will be alien to you."
"Al … ien? What does that mean as well?"
Edward covers his face with his hands. I guess he's suppressing laughter so as not to offend me. I'm not angry. I just feel … ignorant.
"Freak out means … uh … go a bit crazy. You know what crazy is?"
"Yes," I huff.
"Alien means not of this world, or in your case, not from Lympi."
I take a moment to digest this information before returning to his admission that he's in the sea when I'm here and that he helps with the catch. I don't know whether to feel flattered or worried that a Catcher's taken an interest in me. He's waiting for my response. What do I say, or ask next? Keep it simple, Bella - nothing to alter his mood, well not yet.
"Thank you for the help then, Edward. I could hardly lift the baskets today but I'm not complaining. Tell me though, why have you chosen to show yourself to me today and not before? I've been coming to the beach on my own since I left school three years ago. Why now?
Edward fixes his eyes on mine again. Something is coming and he wants to see my reaction.
"Bella, I waited for your eighteenth birthday before introducing myself. You became an adult today which is important to me."
My mouth drops open through shock and surprise. I know now who he is and that this isn't the first time he's spoken to me today. I'm thinking of the right words to say as a way to challenge him about his bedroom stalking habit when Edward jumps to his feet and puts his finger to his lips. So Catchers use the same signals to stop talking as ordinary folk – well well. I remain quiet for at least twenty seconds while Edward's eyes are fixed on a spot inland.
"I have to go, Bella. I'll see you another time. Enjoy your party."
With that, he rushes past so fast that I feel the air shift. Star rears up in fright and lurches forward snapping the hitching post in two. Now free, she rushes towards the sea dragging me and the cart with her. My right shoulder dislocates for a second causing me to scream in pain. Her reins cut deep into my palms as I attempt to stop her. Eventually, she pulls up by the water's edge still neighing with fright. I calm her with encouraging words, kisses, and lots of neck snuggles.
Delayed shock hits me when what just occurred hits home. Standing upright is a challenge so I clamber onto the cart where I stay for the next hour unable to put my mind to anything other than I'd faced death for the first time I'm my life. Looking back at the spot where he'd been sitting, I guess I'd be feeling the same if I'd survived a face-to-face encounter with a bear. The consequences of what could have happened only hit you once the danger has passed. I could have died, but I didn't. Instead, my view of the only world I know has been turned on its head and I am the living proof of that.
A cool breeze touches my face which brings me back to my room. I don't usually prop the window open at night but I want Edward to get the message that if he comes this way again, he's welcome to visit. He'd managed to get in through closed windows before, how I don't know. I'm not a hussy though. I just want to talk to him again.
Can I really put a name to my monster now? Should I be frightened, even though he told me not to be? If Edward is a Catcher, then am I the first person in Lympi to survive such an encounter, or have Catchers communicated with others in the past who have then kept it a secret for fear of what could happen to them? I have so many questions to ask, that's if I ever see him again.
One thing I am relieved about is that Edward doesn't look much older than me, which means there's no way he could be responsible for taking Gran away. Maybe he knows who did take her? Whoever is responsible, Catcher or not, I'll want to kill him if I ever meet him.
Sugar overload has worn off. Sleep is creeping up on me. My bed is toasty warm and very comfortable. Owls in the nearby forest are calling to one another. Night hawks screech overhead. I listen for a while and wonder what the owls chat about. Occasionally I hear wolves in the far distance, but not tonight. Just birds and the night breeze.
My thoughts turn to Sam Ulley and why he chose not to follow me to the beach. From what his father implied he's genuinely interested in Emily which means he won't be interested in me, for which I'm truly relieved. Emily's a nice girl so I hope some of her goodness rubs off on him because Sam was a nasty bully at school. For that reason, there is no way I'd contemplate for one second ending up with him. Strangely, Sam disobeyed his father which is out of character, especially as he also chose to embarrass him in front of his neighbors by not coming to the party. Everyone knows how terrified Sam is of Samuel. One bully breeds another so the saying goes, which is sad. No doubt Charlie will get to hear the outcome and tell Mom.
My last thoughts before my eyes close are about Edward and why he left so suddenly. Now I can think of a hundred questions I could have asked him and I'm sure he was ready to talk for longer before he was distracted by whatever was happening inland. Next time I see him … oh oh oh ... no.
A possible solution for Edward's swift departure comes to me in a flash and I can't help but shriek. This wakes Jupiter who growls and scratches at the door. Sleep now a hundred years away I sit up in bed and put my head in my hands. The reason why Edward rushed past me so fast is now as clear as the moonbeam shining through my elderly drapes.
Sam.
Oh heck. Do you think Bella's guess is correct? Did Sam spot Bella and Edward together, or did Edward just fancy a quick snack? You'll find out very soon.
Thanks so much to everyone who has reviewed the first chapter. It was so lovely hearing from old friends - it actually brought a lump to my throat reading your messages (honestly). This is why I love FanFiction - the fanbase is awesome and I'm so grateful for your support.
See you on Tuesday when Sam's unexplained disappearance causes ructions in Forks.
Joan x