CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Edward

No moon tonight. The Wastelands are as dark and lonely as they ever could be. Blasted terrain is hazardous to run across even with my enhanced vision. I have to be wary of where my feet touch the earth or I'll end up skidding across God knows what on my face.

The spot where I leap over the security wall surrounding Charlotte's village is in sight but I hang back. If they know about me and Bella and the Meadow House, there could well be another welcoming party waiting for me on the other side to prevent me from getting to Charlotte's bungalow. Within seconds of observing the wall, it's evident that the searchlights have enhanced their timings and range. I was right to be cautious. Damn!

Well out of range of the searchlights, I race about two miles north where security isn't as tight. There are still searchlights, but there's one spot where the medical facility's roof almost touches the wall which is permanently in darkness. This is how Alice could sneak in to see Jasper without being spotted while he was undergoing painful experimental treatment. The security services never found out she was there and with the full knowledge of the kindly doctors who didn't give a shit about government rules. When these same doctors finally admitted their experimental drug regime had failed, they made independent representations to the government to allow Alice to change Jasper. Their recommendation that Jasper should be rewarded for suffering additional pain during his treatment which, if successful, could have benefited other sufferers in the future, no doubt helped Alice win her case.

Once there, I still wait for a while before leaping onto the roof, to listen intently for any indication of a nearby border patrol. The parking lot below is flooded by dangerous light but I'll have to risk crossing it because the nearest buildings are too far to jump. After landing on soft ground, I keep as close to the building as possible until I have to step into the light. There's no point trying to hide. Instead, I stroll through the parked cars until I reach the street where I'll have plenty of opportunities to stay out of sight.

Keeping to the shadows I head in the direction of Charlotte's bungalow. If guards are stationed at the fence, I have no doubt they will be there too, but I have to check. I need to know whether she's still there, and if so, whether or not she's under duress. However, she may be oblivious to what is going on outside. The Village guards may be staking out the place without her knowledge. I could knock every one of them out before they have a chance to realize what's going on but I don't want to do that, but I will if I have to.

It takes me about twenty minutes of ducking and diving before Charlotte's street is in sight. There are guards everywhere, hiding behind bushes and crouched in her neighbor's yards. Didn't anyone warn them that Vampires have better night vision than anything humans could manufacture in the past or present? I can also hear their thoughts. Most are shitting themselves. Good.

The street that runs parallel to Charlotte's seems devoid of guards but I'm still extra cautious. Working out which property backs onto hers isn't difficult. A cacophony of agitated thoughts rather than dreaming residents brings me to the exact spot. At least three nervous guards are in her backyard but I don't have to get any closer to know that Charlotte isn't there. Unusually for older folk, I can tune into Charlotte's thoughts and her heart murmur as easily as an old radio station. Even her dreams are clear to me.

Where would they have taken her, or would she have had the good sense to hide? There's no way she would leave the mutt behind so it would have to be somewhere local. Think, Edward, think. She has friends, but would they risk taking her in if she was in trouble? No, they most likely wouldn't, so she must have been taken somewhere where they could keep an eye on her. A locked room knowing how feisty she is. Now where could she be? Think, think, think. Crap, of course. There's only one suitable building in the whole Village.

Where I'm heading is not far away but my journey takes a while due to the security cameras. Time is of the essence now as dawn is not far off. Once there I survey the surrounding grounds to check whether there's enough cover to get close without being observed. There are cameras, but only pointing at the main entrance. Thankfully the building has no upper floor, which would have made locating and extracting Charlotte very difficult.

I've never had cause to be in this building so have to presume that the barred windows at the sides and rear of the building are bedrooms. I make it to the first window without triggering an alarm thanks to a bank of conveniently situated shrubs and trees. If I still had a beating heart it would be racing dangerously by now. I'm not scared though. I just need to do this without anyone being alerted - well not immediately. The first room is empty so I creep on all fours to the next one. The heart in there is not Charlotte's. The next room is empty and the next. Around the corner, there are two more occupied rooms and then I hear her. She's asleep. She's distressed. There's only one heartbeat in the room so they've separated her from Rocky. Bastards.

Before I remove the barred window from its frame, I think again about my intended action. I won't even have to ask Charlotte whether she's ready. She's been begging me to take her back to Forks for years. Am I prepared for the backlash though? Already, I've broken every rule about interacting with the residents of Lympi and the Village. Kidnapping – no that's the wrong term – removing a Village resident from the Dementia Unit, even with her permission, will probably send the government into a tailspin.

Streaks of pale light alert me that dawn is approaching. Time is not my friend right now. I'm doing this for Bella, so here goes.

The Gathering Hall

The Elder makes his way to the platform but doesn't climb the stairs. As instructed the people of Forks become silent. Anxious eyes are fixed on the sinister men dressed in black who are blocking all four exits. Hands are either clasped together or intermingled with the hands of a loved one. Tension builds with every second the Elder relishes taking before uttering his next command.

Mike glances at his father who unsurprisingly looks stoic. He cannot see his mother's face. She has her arms around his sister who is quietly sobbing. An urge to launch himself off the platform and flatten the asshole that made Frances cry is overwhelming. He knows what would happen if he did, so he stays wrapped in Jessica's arms.

The Elder puffs out his chest before speaking.

"This meeting is over. Go back to your homes and stay there, but not before giving your names to my men stationed at the door. That is apart from the people on the platform. They …"

"No!" a man indignantly shouts from the audience.

"Who said that?"

A middle-aged man stands. Mike recognizes him as the farrier, Peter Brady. His wife was with his father when he waited with Bella outside his room.

The Elder points to one of the guards. "Take that man outside, now."

Several men and two women closest to Peter leap up to protest, followed by a few more, and then a few more until virtually every person near Peter is on their feet. He is now surrounded by a wall of friends and neighbors who collectively have decided he's not going anywhere. There's a crescendo of shouts of support until Samuel Ulley's voice booms across the hall.

"Quiet!" The talking instantly subsides. "I have something to say first."

Samuel pushes through the benches and places himself in front of the platform. His intimidating size dwarfs the Elder who holds his hand up to stop the guards from grabbing the dissenters. He's lost the room, that has become clear. After having the posters torn down, he hadn't reckoned on two hundred or more people showing up, including many sturdy-looking farmers, and their equally sturdy wives. A fraction of this crowd could easily wipe the floor with his band of guards whose only weapon they presumed they would need to quell a meager crowd would be intimidation and threats of retribution. Somehow he must find a way to regain control before he leaves or he'll have not just a rebellion to deal with, but a furious boss in Seattle.

Instead of laying into the Elder which everyone in the room expects Samuel to do, he turns to face his neighbors. Mike is wondering why Samuel has put himself forward as a rebel until he remembers that the Ulley family has more reason than most in Forks to discover the real truth about whether the Catchers only take sick people. Samuel's voice, although loud and strong, still cannot disguise the pain he is suffering.

"All of you know that my son suffered a serious riding injury some weeks ago. Dr Newton and his wife have done their best to help Sam, but other than pain relief and drugs to keep him calm, there is nothing more they can do for him. Now if Bella Swan says she has proof that there is a medical facility over the border that might be able to help our son, then Martha and I want to know more about it."

"Bella Swan is lying," the Elder immediately responds before the crowd has time to agree or otherwise. "There is no medical facility out there. This is a made-up story."

"Horseshit," Charlie responds from the platform. "Isabella has proof. I've seen it."

"No," the Elder says looking behind him to see who has interrupted him. He shakes his head as if he pities Charlie. "Your daughter has duped you, Mr Swan. She has duped everyone in this room, and everyone in Forks, because for a long time she's been in league with the Catchers."

Gasps and shrieks from some of the audience. Charlie stays silent. He has an answer for that but the time isn't now.

"Yes, Mr. Swan. We've been watching your daughter for months. She has befriended a Catcher and spent days and even nights with him. Tell me, are you or her mother aware that a Catcher took her over the border fence some days ago?"

Charlie remains silent. The Elder continues but with a hint of frustration in his raised voice.

"I'm sorry to disappoint you, Mr Swan, but it wasn't your mother who wrote those letters, but the Catcher. Catchers are evil. They are killers. They hate the people of Lympi. When they took your daughter over the border, the Elders decided there was no other option but to extract Isabella from your farm to keep Forks and the rest of Lympi safe. This morning we learned from her that the Catchers envy the Lympi community and want to take it over because they desire this fertile land for themselves. Isabella has already admitted that she aided their quest because they promised her life is better beyond the fence."

The Elder waits for Charlie's response but again he says nothing. Instead, Charlie has fixed his gaze on the Elder's face as if he's memorizing every word and every expression for future reference.

The reason for Charlie's indifference to his accusations becomes plain to the Elder. Bella must have already taken her father into her confidence. He doesn't have the time to consider how much Charlie Swan knows. That is irrelevant now - retribution on him and the other ringleaders must be swift and severe. Quelling this burgeoning rebellion is his only priority. In desperation, the Elder ups his game and expands his narrative to pull the crowd back on his side. 'Spread the blame further' is his next option. He points at Michael Newton and then launches into a work of pure fiction.

"Also, Dr Newton. We've suspected you and your wife for a long time of being traitors to your community. Rather than spending time and effort treating your patients to save their lives, you've been leaving messages in the surgery to inform the Catchers who is sick so you won't have the bother of looking after them."

"That's a wicked lie," Michael spits. "It's you and the other Elders who have passed information about my patients to the Catchers. I've suspected this for years."

The crowd starts to talk among themselves until another loud voice shouts from the back.

"I believe the Elders."

The crowd turns to see who has made that claim. Jake gets to his feet despite Billy's efforts to keep him seated.

"Bella Swan has an evil force within her. She is not a normal female. The Catchers have done something to her to make her what she is now. Bella has wrecked my life in ways you cannot even imagine. She should be locked up a long way from here to protect the rest of us. She must never be allowed anywhere near Forks again."

Renee has to restrain Charlie from leaping off the platform. "Don't, Charlie. He's not worth it. Stay focused a bit longer. We have to believe this will all come right in the end."

An old man in the front row who has remained seated during the confrontations struggles to his feet. The audience hushes in deference to his seniority. Leaning on his walking stick he points at the Elder.

"I guess I must be the oldest person in this room wouldn't you think, and maybe in Forks too. I've seen a lot in my time – not all of it good. You Elders as a group have ruled since before I was born through fear of outsiders, fear of the other, and fear of retribution if we don't behave ourselves. But listen here. I know Michael Newton. I know Charlie Swan. I knew their fathers too, and I know most of the people in this room, and they are good people which is why they are here. But I would take a guess that like me, they have defied you to show their support for Charlie and his family who have never put a foot wrong in this community. As I said before, I know these people but I don't know anything about you, or where you've come from. Now I'm speaking for myself and nobody else, so I'm telling you now that I've had enough of your rules and I've had enough of your restrictions. To put it bluntly, I've had enough of you."

"Sit down, old man," the Elder orders and advances towards him as he senses the room slipping further away. Samuel moves forward and blocks him without having to touch him.

"Let him finish," Samuel orders. "This man speaks for many of us here, including me. I want to hear what he has to say." The old man continues when shouts of support have died down.

"You say the Elders keep us safe. Tell us now then, safe from what? Safe from monsters that stalk our borders. We have a border guard here. Have you seen or caught any monsters lately, Charlie?"

Charlie can't help but smile at his late father's uncle and shakes his head.

"Let's try the Catchers then. You claim they are real and they are deadly? But they come and go as they please so you've failed to keep us safe on that score. And if they are so deadly as you say, how has Bella Swan remained alive for so long? Why didn't you attempt to rescue her or even attempt to catch the Catcher if you've been watching her for months? According to your warnings, the Catchers kill on sight. Bella is still alive. Jack Stanley claims he saw his mother being led away. That in itself is bullshit. The Mary Stanley I know would've fought like a bear protecting her cubs to stay with those kids. There's something off here and I want to know more."

The crowd is now calling out they agree but hush again when the old man remains standing indicating he has more to say.

"Now you've taken Bella away allegedly to protect us. Well, I don't claim to speak for my neighbors, but I'm willing to take a chance and listen to what Bella has to say. So I'm not looking to go home or anywhere else until you bring that girl to this hall, where the people of Forks can have the opportunity to question her. We, and only we, should decide whether one of our own is taken away for good, and I'm sorry, Jacob and Billy, that's the way it has to be."

The audience breaks into applause. The old man returns to his seat. The two Elders who accompanied the one in charge but until this moment have hung back, walk forward to talk in whispers. They can hardly hear themselves though. Shouts of 'Bring Bella here,' and 'We believe the Doctor,' and other such comments are difficult to ignore.

The Elders know they are in an impossible position because Bella Swan was not in the least bit intimidated when she was questioned by Elder Johnson this morning. Bringing her here would only strengthen Michael Newton's claims so that would never be allowed to happen. They decide their only option is to stall for time. Disperse the crowd with a promise of bringing Bella back to Forks when the Elders have finished questioning her. Of course that will never happen. In a couple of days, the Elders could claim that Bella had escaped the Compound with the help of the Catchers, never to be seen again.

The Elder holds up his hands. The crowd quietens. Samuel has refused to return to his seat. Jake is standing at the back becoming increasingly agitated. Everyone on the platform has linked arms in a show of solidarity. Tension is running high. Mike notices beads of sweat sliding down the back of the Elder's neck even though there's a cool breeze flowing through the open doors. There's a lot at stake here Mike thinks, and he's not just considering his family.

"People of Forks," the Elder shouts but this time in a more conciliatory voice. "You are right. Bella Swan should be brought here to answer for her crimes against you. Our evidence will also be available for you to examine and you can then decide what her punishment should be. This will not happen today …"

Shouts of 'why not' interrupt the Elder. His hand rises again for quiet.

"This cannot happen today because the girl is being questioned in the Compound by more able Elders than me. We will bring Bella back to the hall when this has been completed to our satisfaction. I can promise you that."

Charlie unlocks his arms and steps forward. He has heard enough from this man. He leaps off the platform and pushes one of the other Elders out of his way so he can come face-to-face with his daughter's accuser. Same height, same age, same mustache, but the similarities end there. This man has led a comfortable life which shows in his plump face and overweight body. Charlie's desire to bore into this Elder's lying eyes before he challenges his promise to bring Bella to the hall overrides the strong possibility of being hauled away by the guards and being taken to the Compound.

But before he turns to the crowd to speak, he notices something odd about the Elder. There's a weird sheen over the Elder's eyes. This is not anything he's seen before. For a second he questions whether the Elder comes from the same stock as Edward. Instinct tells him to back away. Instead, he fixes on the Elder's right eye until he makes out a disc of he doesn't know what, covering the surface of his iris. Charlie didn't need any further confirmation that the Old World still existed, but it was there in front of him. He wouldn't stay silent this time like he had with the sail-less ship and the horseless carts. He turns to the crowd and furiously points at the Elder's face.

"Friends, the proof you need that the Old World exists is on this man's face. This lying fucker has something covering his eyes that sure ain't been made this side of the border. How much more evidence do you need that we've been fed lies since the day we were born? Waylon, where are you? It's time to stand up now. Tell them what we saw through a gap in the border fence."

Waylon stands reluctantly. Even from a distance, Charlie can tell that he's nervous. His wife nudges him on his side to encourage him.

"We saw … we saw … metal carts that could move without horses. We saw bright lights that no lamp I know of could produce. We saw supplies coming into the Compound we reckon from the ship without sails that docks north of Lympi."

Mr Smith from the Distribution Centre stands up then, again looking nervous. The rim of his hat passes through his fingers while he speaks.

"Over the past ten years, the Elders have taken increasingly more of our produce from the Distribution Center. They demand the best of everything, including the choicest cuts of beef and lamb, and every lobster brought in. What they take could feed over a hundred and fifty people. There's something not right here."

"Stop," the Elder shouts. "These unsubstantiated claims are not relevant to the issue of Isabella Swan. This meeting is terminated. You are all to go to your homes. When it is time to bring Isabella back to the hall to be judged, you will be informed by a notice in the town square. Remember, there is to be no more talk about … "

A disturbance at the rear of the hall causes the Elder to halt mid-speech. His men guarding the door have suddenly disappeared. Everyone can hear them shouting at someone or something. Audience members closest to the door spring from their seats and rush outside while everyone else turns and then stands to see what is happening. After another thirty seconds or so where shouts of 'Let them in' is heard by everyone still in the hall, Lauren appears in the doorway with a huge grin on her face. She waits for the shouting to diminish and then waves her arms above her head.

"Sorry to disturb your meeting, folks," she says and looks behind her. "I've brought an old friend with me that you haven't seen for over eleven years. Now don't crowd her. She's in a state of shock, but she's desperately keen to tell you where she's been all this time and who's been looking after her. C'mon Mrs. Swan - I know you've been soooooo looking forward to doing this."

Oooh! Charlotte's dramatic entrance has been carefully timed to allow the Elders the opportunity to tell a pack of lies in front of the community. Very clever.

So strap yourself down for the final five chapters. The lid has been blown off Lympi, (well Forks, but it's a start). But first of all, Bella needs to be rescued from her freezing room. Hurry up, Edward. She's missing all the fun.

Joan x