Previously:
Holding his infant daughter for the first time, Charlie daydreamed about how Isabella's life would unfold. Before his eyes, he watched her take her first steps all the way to walking her down the aisle. It was a beautiful life, and he prayed she would have a long and happy one, where her beautiful brown eyes would only see joy and peace in the world.
Chapter 35: Hi, Dad
Bella's blood-red eyes sparkled against the flickering light above the dingy alley as she bit into the man's throat. She always savored that first gush of blood that invaded her mouth. On rare occasions, if she bit into the jugular just right, the blood would flow, literally spraying into her mouth without her even needing to suck. She loved when that happened, culminating in that pleasurable first swallow. Her body hummed as she drank, the sensation nearly euphoric. It felt as if the blood was propagating rapidly throughout her body, revitalizing her from within.
Her senses always grew sharper in this moment, a heady rush coursing through her veins, making her feel more alive than anything she had yet experienced. The taste, the warmth—it was an intoxicating mix of sensations. She knew she would never tire of this feeling.
At this moment, Bella was extremely happy. After she disposed of the trash, she would be returning home to see her mom again after a long absence. The anticipation of their reunion, coupled with the rush of feeding, made her heart feel almost too full with joy.
Bella had only returned to Phoenix for two brief visits during the past six months while staying with Peter and Char. Each time, she had captivated her mom with tales of everything she had learned, stories that amazed her mom as much as they had amazed her. Discovering a secret society that had lived among humans for millennia was quite the narrative to share. Bella eagerly anticipated recounting her experiences with Alice and Jasper, knowing her mom would be fascinated. Her mom was a firm believer in psychics and, much to Bella's consternation when she was younger, had often taken her to see people who claimed to have the 'gift'. Now, she was looking forward to telling her mom that she had actually met a real, live psychic.
Feeling the blood flow start to lessen, Bella sucked a bit harder, determined to get every last drop. The now dead man in her arms had deeply upset her, and she had not been gentle when she had taken him into the alley. Before she could make her move, she had been forced to hold back and watch him selling his filthy drugs to young kids who barely looked like they were teenagers. No, the man had deserved no pity.
Removing her teeth from his neck, she floated him into a plastic recycling bin and ignited a flame deep within his body. As she increased its intensity, the flames filled her bubble, consuming him entirely. Soon, there was nothing left but a few bits of ash and that distinct odor unique to immolating a body completely.
Turning to leave, Bella walked out of the alley as if nothing had happened and headed back to the quiet suburb where her mom lived. Arriving at the house, she let herself in silently. It was the middle of the night, and the gentle, steady beat of her mom's heart from the bedroom told Bella she was fast asleep. She had been traveling all day since leaving Peter and Char's place and had endured a rare torrential rainstorm, so she headed straight for her room, looking forward to a nice, long, hot shower to wash away the grime of the journey.
"Morning, Mom," Bella said with a smile as she placed a plate of fruity pancakes in front of Renée, who was just settling down at the kitchen table.
"Morning, sweetie. Thank you for breakfast," Renée replied, digging in. "I didn't hear you come home last night. Sit down and tell me all about the rest of your time in Houston." She savored that first bite, marveling at the flavors. It didn't seem right or fair that a vampire could cook better than a human, especially since her daughter couldn't even share in the amazing meal she had prepared. "So, how are your friends? You know I wish I could meet them."
Bella sat down in her usual chair. "Yeah, I'm sure they'd be happy to meet you too, but sadly, I don't see that ever happening. However, I do have a bunch of pictures to show you. And you won't believe it when I tell you about the two vampires I just met who are Peter and Char's oldest friends. From their visit, I learned a lot of fascinating things about my abilities. It turns out, I've been doing things all along that I had no idea I was doing."
As Bella began recounting her stories, Renée listened intently, her eyes wide with interest as she enjoyed her breakfast.
That night, Bella sat in the living room, staring at her phone and rehearsing the conversation in her head. She nodded to herself, finally feeling ready, and looked over at her mom with a smile.
With a few taps on her phone, she waited, hoping Charlie would pick up. After a few rings, she heard his gruff voice answer, "Swan residence." Bella couldn't help but find it amusing that Charlie still used a landline without caller ID.
"Hi, Dad."
Charlie juggled a big bowl of chips in one hand and clung to two beers with the other as he made his way into the living room. Plopping into his well-worn recliner, he placed the bowl of chips on the coffee table with a casual thud.
"Here you go," he said, handing a beer to Billy.
"Thanks," Billy said, tilting his bottle toward Charlie in a casual salute before taking a swig.
Charlie mirrored the gesture, taking a deep gulp of his own beer. He reached for a handful of chips, enjoying the satisfying crunch that paired perfectly with his drink. Leaning back further into his recliner, he let out a contented sigh, ready to enjoy the evening.
"So, Jake told me he's hoping to make it by halftime. He just had a job to finish up at the shop," Billy spoke in his deep, resonant voice before leaning forward to grab some chips.
"Great. That reminds me, Deputy Crabtree's wife's car is acting up. Can she bring it by Jake's shop? I know he's pretty swamped with business at the moment, but I told her he could take a look at it to see if it's an easy fix," Charlie asked, hopefully.
"Sure, sure," Billy replied, smiling.
Just then, the phone beside Charlie started ringing. He glanced at it with a sense of dread, hoping it wasn't work-related. He had been looking forward to watching the game with Billy all day. Reluctantly, he picked up the receiver. "Swan residence," he intoned.
"Hi, Dad," he heard back. Instantly, Charlie's face morphed into a wide smile as he realized it was his daughter on the other end.
"Bella, honey! How are you?" Charlie's smile widened as he quickly reached for the remote to mute the sound. "Are you still in Texas with your friends?"
"I'm doing great, Dad." Charlie beamed hearing that. He still worried about Bella, but her life had seemed to have stabilized to some degree in the past few years. "I'm actually back at Mom's for a bit, but I was wondering. I plan on heading north soon and I was hoping I could visit you. I know we haven't seen each other in a long time, and I want to remedy that. Would it be okay if I come for a visit maybe next week?"
Charlie was floored. He had hoped for a visit from Bella for years, but she had always put him off until he finally stopped asking. "That would be wonderful, Bells. I'd really like that." He glanced at Billy, who was watching him curiously. He mouthed, "Bella's visiting." Billy's face broke into a wide grin as he nodded happily.
"Great, Dad. I'll call when I know the exact day I'll be arriving. I'm really looking forward to seeing you. We can finally catch up face to face. And I haven't been to Forks in so long; I'd love to see how things are now that I'm an adult."
To Charlie, it felt like a dream come true. Bella hadn't visited Forks in ages—probably since she was about thirteen. He found it hard to believe how quickly the years had flown by, but he felt a surge of joy and anticipation at the thought of his daughter returning home.
"I can't wait." Charlie talked with Bella for some time, listening eagerly as she recounted some of her experiences in Texas. Eventually, they said their goodbyes, and he hung up the phone.
He beamed at Billy. "I can't believe it. My little girl is coming home."
"I'm happy for you, Charlie. Be sure to bring Bella by one night. Jake can do a barbecue, and we can have a welcome-back celebration." Billy's eyes reflected his pleasure. It had been real tough for Charlie during those first few years after Renée had left taking Bella with her.
"It's a plan." Charlie leaned back in his chair and unmuted the TV. As he and Billy started to watch the game, his thoughts remained on his daughter. He couldn't wait to see her.
Ending the call, Bella looked up at her mom and smiled. "That went well," she nodded mostly to herself. "I wish I could tell him the truth, but after learning about the vampire laws, I know I need to obey them. Plus, I don't want to put him in any danger. I mean, I already did that unknowingly with you."
"You're doing the right thing, honey. Besides, I really don't think Charlie would easily accept a world with the supernatural in it. He's always been such a straight arrow. Say everything you want to say to him and just enjoy your time together. I'll really miss you while you're overseas," Renée said, her voice tinged with longing. Bella had just returned, and now she was leaving again, seemingly for an even longer time. Renée knew Bella was an adult and deserved to live her life, but it had been so nice having her back these last few years.
"I'll miss you too, Mom, but we'll still be able to talk on the phone. And let's not forget, we're going to meet up in Paris in a few years. We can see all the sights together. I'm really looking forward to that. Just think about it—we'll be able to go to the top of the real Eiffel Tower, not just the poor imitation in Vegas. And the Louvre… I know how much you've always wanted to go there," Bella said, sitting down next to her mom and giving her a gentle hug, sensing her sadness.
Renée smiled thinking about their future trip. "I'm really looking forward to that too." She admitted grinning. "Are you sure its okay for me to use your money on the trip tickets and all our expenses in Paris? I'm sure its going to be pricey."
"Please, Mom, I really have no use for it, and let's face it, it's not like I earned it legally," Bella said, leaning in with a conspiratorial whisper. "I know it's kinda wrong, but if I ever needed money, I could just take down some bigger criminal operations. Bad guys seem to be flush with cash. Peter and Char regaled me with some of their more impressive scores over the decades. According to them, most vampires are millionaires. When you don't grow old, your investments just keep growing. They said they'll teach me how to invest and manage my money in the future when it becomes an issue."
She smiled. "Peter called me 'broke as fuck' when I explained how I'd been living." Seeing her mom snicker, Bella felt pleased to lighten the mood. "I never mentioned the stacks of gold bars they kept in a chest in their closet, did I?" she continued, watching her mom's eyes widen. "Yeah, Char says they got them from a cartel in Central America a couple of decades ago. Peter just likes having them around so he can take them out and play with them." She laughed, and her mom joined in. "So, regarding our trip, I think we should go in style, stay in a really nice hotel, go first class all the way. I want to make this the best vacation you've ever had, Mom. Please, for me."
"Okay, dear." Renée had to admit Bella's circumstances really changed the way at least she had to think about money. "So, what would you like to do before you head up to Forks?" she asked, hoping they could spend some quality time together before Bella took off to Charlie's and then to parts unknown.
Bella grinned. "Well, I have an idea for something fun we can do together tomorrow that I think you'll really enjoy." Before I met Char, I had no idea if my hair would ever grow back if I cut it, but Char explained how vampire hair works. Apparently, I can cut my hair, and it will grow back to the exact length it was when I was changed, but at an accelerated rate, she claimed. She even showed me some pictures of her and Peter from the '80s. She said they were punk rockers, whatever that means. Peter had his head almost completely shaved except for a spiky strip in the center. And I don't even know how to describe Char's look, but they both looked pretty scary."
Renée laughed. "I had my own punk rock phase in the '80s, but your grandma wouldn't let me do anything drastic to my hair. I probably would have if I'd been older, but I was too young when that fad hit. By the time I was the right age, it was all about big hair, and wearing neon and spandex."
Bella smiled, imagining her mom with a punk rock look, then shuddered at the memory of Char's style. "Well, that sounds equally cringeworthy, but despite your questionable fashion choices," she smirked. "I was thinking we could go to a salon together and have a full spa day. I can ask them to cut and style my hair to help me look older—anything to convince Charlie that I'm 25. So, would you like to spend the day getting pampered?"
Renée's eyes lit up. "Sure, that sounds fun. I know just the place. I've been there a couple of times, and it's really nice." She grinned, already thinking about what she might do with her own hair.
The next day, Bella and her mom went to the spa. Bella explained to the stylist that she was an actress needing to look older for a role. Sitting in the styling chair, she felt a twinge of fear as she watched the stylist approach with a pair of scissors. She had a fleeting vision of them breaking when trying to cut her hair, like in a Superman episode she had once seen, but luckily her fears were unfounded, and her brown locks fell to the floor like anyone else's. Eyeing the fallen hair, she wondered if the DNA from the strands was still human or if her hair too had been altered. While it was an interesting thought, she wasn't a scientist. Maybe one day, she mused idly and refocused on her transformation as the stylist worked her magic.
When the stylist had finished, Bella looked in the mirror, turning her head left and right, quite pleased with the outcome. While the stylist had been working, she had also been telling Bella about some makeup they sold that she believed, if applied just right, could enhance the effect Bella was hoping for. Bella quickly agreed to let the stylist give it a try. Sitting still in the chair, she watched as the stylist expertly applied various products to her face.
"Bella, I think it's working. You definitely look more mature," Renée said, studying her daughter's face.
Bella smiled, looking in the mirror at a more adult version of herself staring back. "You're right." She looked up at the stylist. "Thank you so much. I'll buy everything you've shown me."
Later that day, Bella and her mom left the salon looking beautiful, with Bella pleased with the knowledge that she could appear a few years older if needed. After the spa visit, they drove to the mall for some shopping. Her mom had had a brilliant idea on the way over and suggested she get a pair of dummy glasses. Bella had worn glasses for only a year as a child, but after breaking three pairs from constant tripping, she switched to contacts and never looked back. Seeing her reflection now in the mirror with glasses, she smiled, looking up at her mom standing behind her. The glasses added the perfect finishing touch, completing her transformation and giving her an air of sophistication and maturity.
Sitting at the mall food court while her mom had dinner, Bella glanced at some of the outfits she had just purchased. She had chosen some rather conservative pieces, hoping they would help enhance the more mature look she was going for. Her hair, now much shorter and layered, fell just shy of her shoulders, making her feel like a completely different person.
With her new clothes, hair, glasses and makeup, Bella felt more assured about her planned visit. She had decided to run north later in the week, rent a car in Seattle, and then stay at an inn outside of Forks for the duration of her visit. She thought it would be best to limit her stay to contained visits rather than staying at Charlie's house the whole time, as that would only increase the likelihood of unwanted questions being asked.
With her mom finished with dinner, they continued shopping, and Bella pointed out the Apple store as their next stop. She wanted to treat both her mom and herself to new cell phones. They each got the newest iPhone 5, which Bella had read included video chat capabilities, allowing them to FaceTime while she was away. Modern technology truly was a marvel. She wondered what phones would be like in ten years time. With technology advancing so rapidly, she imagined they'd probably be offering iPhone 15s or something even more advanced.
Renée, who already used her phone for almost everything, was thrilled with all the features her new iPhone boasted. She kept regaling Bella with what she was reading off the box as they strolled through the mall.
Passing the movie theater complex inside the mall, Renée thought it would be nice to relax in a cool, air-conditioned theater for a while. She put her arm around Bella. "How about a movie? Feel like seeing something?"
Bella, delighted by the idea, smiled. "Sure, what would you like to see?"
Renée looked over their choices. "The final Batman movie is out. I know you thought the previous two were a little dark, but come on, Christian Bale is a hottie." She looked at Bella, wiggling her eyebrows and making her laugh.
Bella, in fact, did think the Batman series was a little dark and depressing. She had seen a lot of superhero movies in the past five years and gravitated to ones with a happier message, which meant Marvel movies over DC. She looked at the choices of movies but had already seen The Avengers with Peter and Char a couple of months ago. She smiled, thinking about that night. Peter had kept whispering funny comments to her throughout the film about how she would have performed flying around in the movie in place of the Avengers. He really was funny at times, and people had given Char and her many dirty looks as they had only seen them laughing, not being able to hear Peter's witty side comments.
Not seeing anything she could say was any better, Bella smiled at her mom. "Sure, Batman sounds great."
Renée grinned. "Perfect! You grab the tickets, and I'll handle the snacks. Large popcorn for you, right?"
"You know it. And don't forget the butter!" Bella grinned as she headed towards the ticket counter.
Bella had a wonderful time with her mom over the next few days, but eventually, it was time for her to head north. After a long hug, they parted ways, and she raced off into the night. The thrill of being on the move again filled her with excitement. She loved exploring new places, and with her upcoming trip to Asia approaching rapidly, she could not wait.
At the mall, she had bought several books on the Japanese language. She read them all in one night as her mom slept, and the next morning, they tested her knowledge. With her mom reading statements in English, she responded in Japanese. Though her syntax probably needed work, she was able to converse in Japanese, much to their amazement. Peter and Char had told her this would be the case, and they were right. After Japan, she planned to spend time in China and Hong Kong, but beyond that, she would let her mood guide her.
Traveling the entire night, Bella didn't stop, eager to reach Washington by morning. She passed by Vegas, seeing its bright lights, but while the city called to her, she knew she'd have to visit another time. She slightly modified her course to pass by the spot she had exploded just for fun. When she arrived, the land looked normal again, with no trace of her destruction. Continuing her journey, she reached Seattle in the morning and, by 10:00 AM, rented a car to drive the rest of the way. Pulling out of the rental agency, she used her new phone to call Charlie at work, letting him know she was close and on her way. After speaking with Denise, the station clerk, she was transferred to Charlie.
"Bella, how are you? Are you here already?" Charlie asked, his voice bright with happiness.
"Hey Dad, not quite yet. I'm just leaving Seattle. I should get there by the time you're off work. I'm staying at the Misty Valley Inn, so I'll head over after dropping off my bag," Bella replied.
"You know you can stay in your old room, Bella. Your bed's still there," Charlie suggested hopefully.
"Thanks, but I don't want to impose. Don't worry, I plan to stick around for a while. You'll probably be sick of me by the end of my visit," Bella joked.
"I doubt that very much," Charlie chuckled. "Okay, well, if you get to the house before I'm home, the key's under the doormat."
"Of course it is," Bella laughed, shaking her head at small-town life.
"See you soon, Bells," Charlie said warmly.
"Later, Dad." Bella ended the call with a smile.
The car ride was slow, and Bella would have much preferred running. But, arriving in Forks without any mode of transportation would only raise questions. She really needed to be at the top of her game, especially with Charlie being a cop. She prayed she wasn't walking into a situation where she couldn't talk her way out.
Several hours later, Bella began driving through Port Angeles. The sight of numerous police vehicles, ambulances, and a fire truck speeding past her, all with their sirens blaring, caught her attention. Clearly, something significant had just happened. Her police scanner lay in her backpack on the passenger seat next to her, tempting her to switch it on. However, she decided against it. Now was not the time to go play hero.
But as another fire truck and more police cars, all with their sirens on, zoomed past her, Bella decided to find out what was happening. She reached over, pulled out her scanner, and turned it on. Immediately, her car was inundated with chatter from various emergency personnel. As she drove out of Port Angeles, she learned there had been an armed robbery where two store clerks had been shot, and unfortunately, the perpetrators had escaped. A situation like this was usually the type where she would try to help if the police had any leads, but they didn't, and all towns were now being placed on high alert. Besides, she was due to see Charlie soon, so without any solid information, she continued on towards her hotel.
Eventually, she arrived at the Misty Valley Inn, which turned out to be quite charming. Opening the door to her room, Bella smiled, appreciating the modern ambiance. Placing her bag down, she began unpacking. She carefully laid out all the makeup she had bought and her box of contact lenses on the dresser in front of the large mirror. Just as she was about to sit down and start applying her makeup, the police scanner she had left on the bed crackled to life, pulling her attention away.
"Chief, the silent alarm at Newton's Outfitters has just been triggered. Deputy Crabtree is currently on the other side of town responding to a domestic violence incident. Do you want to respond?" Bella's eyebrows raised in surprise; it sounded like this message was directed at Charlie. She stood still, her attention focused on the scanner.
"Sure. It's probably just Mike fooling around again. I'm actually just a minute away from Newton's, so I'll go check it out." That was Charlie's voice. It felt strange listening in on his daily work conversations.
"10-4, Chief." The radio clicked off.
Bella remembered going to Newton's with Charlie several times in the past when she was a little girl visiting him. One memory stood out vividly: Charlie, all happy and enthusiastic, trying to buy her a fishing outfit for their first fishing trip together. She laughed, recalling how that day ended with him having to fish her out of the lake. Just as she settled down to start applying her makeup, the scanner suddenly crackled back to life, pulling her attention away from the mirror.
It was Charlie again, but now his voice came through loud and clear, filled with urgency. "Dispatch, this is Chief Swan at Newton's Outfitters. We have a man down, I repeat, a man down. Requesting immediate medical assistance! Need backup on site, possible suspects still in the vicinity. Approach with caution; suspects may be armed and dangerous. Over."
Bella froze. Oh god… Charlie. She sat there, listening intently to the police scanner when the unmistakable sound of gunshots erupted from the device.
Charlie's voice broke through, yelling loudly over the gunfire. "Shots fired! Shots fired! I'm under fire, repeat, under fire! Need immediate backup, code 3!"
Before Charlie had even finished talking, Bella was out the door, slamming it so hard she might have damaged the frame, but she didn't care. She raced towards Forks, running faster than she had ever run before, and still, she pushed herself to go even faster. She had to save her father.
10 Minutes Earlier
Mike Newton sat behind the counter, wondering how his life had gone so wrong. It felt like these last few years after college had been just one downward spiral. He hated to admit it, but he knew that most of his problems were of his own making. He had been so close to having that perfect life. Right about to graduate, he and Jessica had been happy. Of course, their relationship had been strained at times, but what relationship wasn't? He had really seen himself marrying Jess after graduation, but he had screwed it all up.
It had just been meant to be a fun weekend in Vegas with his friends shortly before graduation. But when he and his buddies went to a strip club, he was shocked to find Jessica's best friend, Lauren Mallory, dancing there. He had always had a little thing for Lauren throughout high school, but she had never given him the time of day. Even during the times he and Jess were on a break, she had always said no. But now here was his chance to get a topless lap dance from her, and he just couldn't resist.
Mike shook his head, recalling the whirlwind of events that night. The heavy drinking and partying had culminated in him taking Lauren back to his hotel room. To his delight at the time, they had engaged in a real fuck fest that lasted all night until he finally passed out at dawn. Lauren, as it turned out, was quite the freak in the sack and seemed to love taking it up the ass. He had been only to happy to oblige, as that particular taboo had always been a hard no with Jess.
He had thought, like a fool, that what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. But when he got back to Jess, he found out the hard truth. How was he supposed to know that Jess and Lauren had a major falling out since high school? Lauren had sent Jess quite a few pictures of him and her naked in bed together. How he didn't notice her snapping photos while he fucked her every which way, he still couldn't understand. It was Lauren's final revenge for whatever her beef with Jessica had been. Well, that had been it for him and Jess.
Then again, right after college, life had given him another swift kick to the nuts when he had been arrested for sleeping with an underage girl. She had told him she was 18 and in college but the judge saw fit to sentence him to a year in jail. Jail sucked in so many ways, and he tried never to think about everything that had gone down in there.
Once he got out, he returned to Forks to take over the family business. His parents had moved to sunny Florida, likely in disgrace over his actions. Now, whenever they talked, which was a rarity these days, they only seemed to sing his little brother's praises.
He'd now been stuck in this dead-end job for the past two years. He looked around the store; only three customers had come in all day, and they had bought jack shit. What a fucking joke of a life. Just then, the bell over the front door chimed, signaling potential customers. He perked up, looking towards the door, but to his dismay, he saw three men enter... Fuck, they had guns. Without thinking, his hand reached under the counter, and he pressed the silent alarm.
"Wrong move, buddy," the closest gunman sneered as Mike watched the man in what felt like slow motion raise his weapon, pointing it directly at his face.
"Fuc…
Earlier that Day
Charlie hung up the phone after speaking with Bella. He couldn't wait to finally see her again. It was hard to believe eight years had passed since he last saw his little girl. Check that, he thought, shaking his head—she was 25 now and a grown woman. He wondered what she looked like now. Bella had always been a pretty girl, and knowing her mother, who was a real beauty, he was sure Bella had grown into a stunning woman as well.
After Bella's sudden disappearance from school five years ago, Charlie felt relieved to finally have the opportunity to see her again. Her decision not to return and finish college had him worried that she had no plans to ever do so. He wasn't going to put any pressure on her now, but he did want to subtly bring it up and hear her take on the matter. It truly astonished him how easily she had embraced a hermit's lifestyle, which seemed so unlike the Bella he knew. He remembered the countless times when she never wanted to do anything outdoors as a child. However, from their frequent conversations, it was evident she now found great joy in her constant traveling. Charlie shook his head, reflecting on how he'd never have imagined, not even in a million years, that this would be the path his daughter's life would take.
Charlie's musings were interrupted when Denise, his dispatcher, informed him about a robbery in Port Angeles. Two store clerks had been shot, one critically, and it was uncertain if he would survive. Quickly, he dialed Hank, the Port Angeles PD Chief and his friend, to offer any assistance they might need. However, Hank assured him they had it under control but warned that the assailants were still at large. He had just begun warning all neighboring areas to be on high alert, especially Forks, as it was the closest town.
After hanging up with Hank, Charlie promptly gathered his deputies and staff to brief them on the situation. He emphasized the importance of vigilance, instructing them on what to look for in case any unusual individuals were spotted in town. Thoughts of Bella nagged at him; the idea of her being in the area with such dangerous criminals on the loose unsettled him deeply. He would only feel truly at ease once the perpetrators were apprehended, allowing him to focus on spending quality time with his daughter without the looming threat of his job hanging over them.
Later that day, Charlie was in his cruiser heading back to the station after responding to a call about some strangers milling around behind the old gas station just outside of town on the 101. By the time he arrived though, they had already departed. Driving past the "Welcome to Forks" sign, the police radio crackled to life with Denise's voice. "Chief, the silent alarm at Newton's Outfitters has just been triggered. Deputy Crabtree is currently on the other side of town responding to a domestic violence incident. Do you want to respond?"
"Sure. It's probably just Mike fooling around again. I'm actually just a minute away from Newton's, so I'll go check it out," Charlie replied, stepping on the gas.
"10-4, Chief." The radio clicked off.
In less than a minute, Charlie pulled up in front of Newton's. He noted two cars parked outside—one he recognized as Mike's, but the other was unfamiliar. Stepping out of his squad car, he checked the plates of the unknown vehicle and noted it was from Oregon. As he entered the store, the doorbell chimed above him. Looking around and towards the front counter, he didn't see Mike or anyone else in the store.
Sensing something was off, Charlie called out, "Mike?" He continued to scan the store, his hand instinctively sliding to his belt. He unsnapped the strap securing his pistol, readying himself for anything.
Charlie was about to continue toward the front counter when something caught his eye in the large mirror on the other side of the store. The reflection showed the other side of the counter and revealed the unmistakable form of a body on the ground. Oh god, it was Mike, and there appeared to be a large pool of blood under him.
Instantly, Charlie drew his gun with one hand while simultaneously pulling out his radio with the other. His voice was steady but urgent as he spoke into the device, "Dispatch, this is Chief Swan at Newton's Outfitters. We have a man down, I repeat, a man down. Requesting immediate medical assistance! Need backup on site, possible suspects still in the vicinity. Approach with caution; suspects may be armed and dangerous. Over."
As Charlie finished his warning, he noticed movement behind the counter, beyond where the mirror reached. Suddenly, three men sprang up, all brandishing guns.
Fuck! He dove for cover behind a nearby ceiling support just as gunshots erupted. As he hit the floor hard, Charlie looked up, seeing the shelves behind where he had been standing being shredded by the barrage of bullets.
"Shots fired! Shots fired! I'm under fire, repeat, under fire! Need immediate backup, code 3!" Charlie yelled into his walkie, his voice filled with urgency. He quickly stood up behind the ceiling support, hoping it would offer him some cover.
He peeked around the corner for just a second, taking in the positions of the assailants as more shots rang out, forcing him back behind the support. His radio slipped from his hand, hitting the ground with a crackling sound as it went silent. God damn it, he was pinned down. He could hear the assailants talking, and it sounded like they were about to raid the guns and ammo stored behind the counter. Shit, Newton's had a real arsenal for all the outdoorsmen who came here during hunting season.
Charlie couldn't believe it. He had been so close to seeing his little girl again, and now she might arrive only to find out he had been killed in action. He took a deep breath. He wouldn't die like this, not without a fight. He knew he only had to hold them off until backup arrived. Steeling himself, he spun around, only to find them all wielding fucking machine guns. Charlie dove again as the deafening roar of gunfire erupted. Jesus, it sounded like hundreds of rounds were going off in the store. Goddamn those AK-47 clones that were so popular with hunters. The store was being torn apart as he waited for the onslaught to end.
After what felt like an eternity, Charlie heard the telltale clicks of empty chambers and knew this was his chance. He spun around and fired off three quick shots, striking one perp square in the chest. Satisfaction coursed through him as he watched the man fall, but his relief was short-lived. As he turned his weapon toward the other two assailants, he saw they were already leveling their reloaded AKs at him. Oh god, this was it.
He heard the ominous crack of the first bullet leaving the AK's chamber, followed swiftly by another. Bracing himself for the sting of bullets ripping through his body, Charlie's focus was shattered as the wall to his left exploded inward, sending debris flying. He instinctively turned his face away from the onslaught of concrete fragments. When he looked back, astonishment gripped him. A figure now stood between him and the gunmen. The assailants were firing relentlessly, the deafening noise filling the air as they unloaded round after round. Despite the overwhelming barrage, Charlie could make out the slim frame of a woman staring down the gunmen. Miraculously, neither he nor this woman were being hit.
Charlie couldn't comprehend what was happening as the magazines of both assailants' guns finally emptied. He looked down, startled. He was alive! His gaze shifted back to the woman, who stood motionless despite the barrage of bullets. She hadn't moved a muscle even after what felt like hundreds of rounds had been fired directly at her. As the smoke and debris began to settle, she took a single step forward toward the gunmen. To Charlie's astonishment, one of the perps suddenly rose up into the air, screaming. What was happening?
Charlie's mind seemed to glitch as the man's screams intensified, his hands clawing desperately at his head. The pitch of his cries reached a horrifying crescendo when, all of a sudden, his head exploded. What the fuck! His head had just popped like a grape being stomped on.
The other perp, now splattered in blood and gore, stood there just as shocked as Charlie. They both watched in horror as the headless corpse fell to the floor with a sickening thud. Snapping out of his daze, the perp turned his attention back to the woman. His eyes widened with fear as he threw down his gun and tried to run, but to Charlie's astonishment, he was wrenched backward, screaming, as he flew through the air into the woman's outstretched arm and... oh god... she was biting into his neck. It was a vampire. They had returned.
Charlie knew his end had come. There was nothing he could do against a vampire. In his last moments, he wondered why it had even bothered to save him if it was hungry. Silently, he said his goodbyes to his daughter. He watched as the vampire tossed the now-drained body aside; it landed in a crumpled heap near the register. The vampire slowly wiped at its mouth with its sleeve. This was it. It hadn't turned around yet and appeared deep in thought. Finally, it turned, and he stared into its blood-red, demonic eyes... As shock and realization slowly crept into his consciousness, it spoke.
"Hi, Dad."
Note to self: Never piss off a vampire by threatening her family. Holy shit!
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