Chapter 38: Charlie's Neverending Day
What a disaster. Looking at the mass of vehicles all along the sides of the 101, many with their lights flashing, it had turned the only road north out of Forks into a traffic nightmare. Charlie had never seen it this bad; it was even worse than when that logging truck had skidded off the road during a snowstorm and rolled over ten years ago. The scene was chaotic, with fire trucks, ambulances, and all the town's police vehicles present, not to mention a few from Port Angeles. And that didn't even account for all the locals who had come to see what was happening. The flashing lights everywhere created an eerie atmosphere, making the situation feel even more surreal.
Thankfully, his deputies had cordoned off the site, directing the curious onlookers away and trying to prevent even more congestion on the roadway. The sight was a stark contrast to the usually quiet town of Forks. Charlie noted the presence of several TV news crews that had shown up all the way from Seattle. They had initially come to report on the shootings in Port Angeles, but before they could even get there, the story had moved south—unfortunately to his neck of the woods. And, sadly, he had been right in the thick of it.
Charlie hated being interviewed by the press. The lights, the cameras, the probing questions—all of it made him uncomfortable. Finally, he had agreed to go over and say a few words. Standing before the cameras, the bright lights nearly blinding him, he spoke briefly, keeping his comments vague. In truth, he hadn't said much of anything at all, just enough to satisfy the reporters without giving away any details. He kept his responses measured, emphasizing the ongoing investigation and the need for public safety.
Throughout the afternoon, Charlie had been trying to reach the Newtons to break the news to them about Mike and the situation with their store, but so far, he hadn't been able to get a hold of them. He heaved a sigh, feeling the weight of his responsibilities. Delivering news like this to parents was the worst part of his job, but unfortunately, it was one of the many difficult duties that came with being chief.
Having already spoken with the Chief of the Forks Fire Department to go over his account of the incident, Charlie hoped his story would hold up under scrutiny. He was grateful that Jeff, the FFD Chief, was not just a colleague but also a long-time fishing buddy. He doubted Jeff would have any reason to start questioning his version of events.
Charlie knew the whole explosives angle was weak, but since his story had him only seeing them for a moment before the shooting started, he didn't have to be very specific—a fortunate detail. Jeff had been rightfully shocked when he arrived, seeing the devastation for the first time. He had never witnessed explosives that left absolutely nothing of the building behind. Neither had Charlie…
As the day progressed, Charlie and his deputies found their tasks multiplying rapidly. Each hour brought a new wave of officials to the scene, all representing different state agencies. With every arrival, Charlie was required to recount the day's events, his story growing more rehearsed yet no less draining. Just when he thought he might catch a brief moment of respite, another set of questions or requests for information would arise. Finally, it seemed he might have a few minutes to recharge and catch his bearings. Geordie, his dependable second-in-command, had thankfully anticipated his needs better than he had and handed him a sandwich from the diner. With a grateful nod, Charlie began to unwrap the first food he would be having since his early morning breakfast.
Leaning against Geordie's cruiser, Charlie dug into the sandwich, realizing just how ravenous he was. The day's shocks, and there had been many, had really built up his appetite. As he chewed, he gazed at his own police cruiser, still lying upside down in the ditch across the parking lot. The fire department had quickly extinguished the flames, but he could still see wisps of smoke rising from it. He had walked over earlier to retrieve a few personal items, which, though now wet, had survived. The car itself, however, was a total loss. His thoughts were interrupted as Geordie cleared his throat. Charlie turned toward him as Geordie spoke up, "How you doing, Chief?"
Charlie considered the question carefully. He had been trying to push thoughts of Bella aside; the town needed their police chief more than ever right now. He knew there was a lot to process later, and the conversation with Bella was going to be a challenging one. For the moment, though, his focus needed to stay on the crisis at hand. But he knew that Geordie was asking about the explosion and the events that had led up to it.
"I'll be honest, Geordie, it's not easy," Charlie admitted, his voice steady but heavy with emotion. "That was the first man I've ever shot and killed. It's not something one ever wants to go through, and I hope you never have to experience it yourself. But it's one of the possibilities that comes with putting on our badge." He noticed Geordie nodding thoughtfully, clearly contemplating the weight of their responsibilities.
"Charlie! Charlie!" The high-pitched wail of his name snapped him and Geordie out of their reverie. He instantly recognized the voice and turned away, hoping she would take the hint and he could avoid the most likely inevitable encounter. He quickly took a few more bites of his sandwich, knowing his free time was limited and he'd soon be needed back on the job.
"Charlie! Yoo-hoo! Charlie!" He closed his eyes briefly, mentally bracing himself. He had known Beth Stanley since they were children, and he knew she would keep calling until he spoke with her. After finishing his sandwich, Charlie sighed and walked over to where she and a few other locals were gathered, still watching the cleanup behind the police barriers.
"Yes, Beth? We're quite busy right now," Charlie said, his tone curt, hoping she would get the message and leave.
"Terrible news, Charlie. Just terrible. I heard Mike Newton was inside when it happened and that he's dead. Is this true?" Beth's eyes gleamed with the thrill of potentially juicy gossip, her curiosity barely concealed. Charlie could see the eagerness in her expression, hungry for any new scrap of information he might provide, which she could then share around town.
"I'm sorry, Beth, but I can't discuss the details of the investigation or any potential victims," Charlie replied, keeping his voice as professional as possible. "We'll release a public statement once we've notified the next of kin." He hoped she would drop the subject before he lost his patience. Beth was like a bulldog when it came to town gossip, relentless in her pursuit.
"You might be interested to know that Mr. and Mrs. Newton are away on vacation in Europe for the next week. It's their 25th wedding anniversary. I spoke with Karen just last week," Beth's grin widened with satisfaction and a sense of superiority. She relished the feeling, reveling in the fact that she knew more than the Chief of Police.
"Thank you for that information, Beth. Now I really must get back to work." Charlie turned to head back to the scene, but Beth's voice rang out loudly, probably meant for the crowd of onlookers as much as for him.
"I'm so glad my Jessica ended it with that boy when she did. He was a bad seed through and through. And what he did to that young girl... I thought he got off much too easily. Oh, I should call Jessica and tell her. She's at law school right now, just one year to go. You know, she's already getting job offers from firms wanting to hire her." Beth's voice carried a tone of smug satisfaction as she boasted about her daughter's achievements. As Charlie heard her continuing to crow, he stopped in his tracks and turned back.
Charlie didn't really want to engage with Beth, knowing that some people simply couldn't be reasoned with or recognize when they were in the wrong. But he felt compelled to stand up for Mike, who sadly could no longer defend himself. Clearing his throat, he waited until Beth turned to face him.
"Show some respect, Beth," he began, his voice firm and authoritative. "People have died here today. The town should be grieving for their lost sons or daughters. Mike might have made some mistakes in his life, but he was still a good man—a man your daughter cared deeply for at one time. I don't want to hear you bad-mouthing him around town. Now, good day."
With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Beth standing there in stunned silence, her earlier smugness replaced with a shocked expression of disbelief.
After Mike had completed his prison sentence and returned to Forks, Charlie had had a long conversation with him. Mike had insisted he hadn't known the girl was underage, and Charlie had believed him. If anything, Mike just had poor judgment, especially when it came to members of the opposite sex. Now, after the tragic events of the day, Charlie could only hope that Mike was at peace, wherever he was.
As the sun rose, Charlie reflected on what felt like the longest day of his life. The previous afternoon had been harrowing, where his own death had been all but assured. The rest of the day and night had been consumed by overseeing the investigation at the blast site where Newton's once stood. Exhausted was an understatement, and he was really running on fumes. The sheer amount of work required after a disaster such as this amazed him; so many different teams had to be called in to inspect the site—fire crews, gas, electric, water—each playing a critical role in ensuring the area was safe. It was a behind-the-scenes effort that he certainly hadn't considered when he saw Newton's go up right before his eyes.
Thankfully, by the middle of the night, the situation had calmed down. The highway was cleared of traffic, and as morning finally arrived, Charlie asked his deputies to take over. He would have liked nothing more than to go home and sleep for a week, but he knew that wasn't an option. In truth, the conversation he was about to have was probably going to be even harder than anything he'd faced the previous day. He had been avoiding thinking about Bella, but as he was driven home, he finally allowed himself to truly focus on her for the first time.
Bella was a vampire. The words felt alien in his mind, something he desperately wanted to reject, but the truth was undeniable. How had it happened? When had it happened? As Charlie pondered these questions, a realization hit him: this must have been the real reason she quit school. It was as if he'd found the missing piece of a puzzle, and suddenly, all her actions began to make sense and fit into place. If she was a vampire, it explained why she had to leave everyone and everything behind. It wasn't just a decision to drop out; it was a complete severance from her former life, a necessity he hadn't understood until now.
Charlie shivered as he thought about all he had been told about vampires, struggling to accept that his daughter could be one of those beings. Vampires were the most sadistic and cruel creatures ever to walk the earth, delighting in the misery of others. He couldn't shake the image of the man being lifted off the ground, screaming in agony, his body convulsing as if an invisible force had seized him. The sheer pain and terror in his eyes as he struggled against whatever held him had been palpable. Then, in an instant, his head just exploded, leaving nothing but a gruesome mess. The sound was like a sickening pop, one that Charlie hoped wouldn't echo in his nightmares for years to come.
And the other man... Charlie couldn't forget how brutally Bella had dispatched him, the way she had drained him of blood until she tossed his lifeless and pale body away. The loud snap when Bella broke his spine had been chilling, a sound so final and ruthless that it made Charlie's stomach turn. Bella had done it all so effortlessly, without hesitation, as if breaking a man's neck was as simple as snapping a twig. The coldness in her actions was terrifying.
Then, there was the explosion. The sheer destruction she had caused, obliterating everything around her with such ease, was staggering. It was as if Newton's had been wiped off the map in a matter of seconds, leaving behind nothing but a crater in the ground. Charlie shivered again, the enormity of it all weighing heavily on his mind. The image of his little girl, now a creature capable of such devastation, was almost too much to bear.
How had his little girl become such a monster? The thought gnawed at Charlie, a sickening realization that clashed violently with the image of the daughter he had always held in his mind. But then, beyond the violence, he recalled Bella's demeanor and words when they spoke briefly afterward. She hadn't seemed deranged or monstrous at all. In fact, she had been calm, concerned, and protective. The actions he had witnessed didn't align with the person he had seen standing before him, her eyes filled only with worry and compassion. It was confusing, to say the least.
If Bella had truly become a bloodthirsty monster five years ago, he had never sensed it in their phone conversations. In fact, they had spoken more frequently during that time than ever before. She had always been attentive, engaged, and caring, never giving him any reason to suspect something was amiss. This dissonance left him questioning everything he had been told about vampires. He realized that he couldn't make judgments based on a few horrific moments, no matter how shocking they were.
Charlie knew he needed to talk to her without any preconceived notions, without the fear and revulsion that threatened to cloud his judgment. He owed her that much—to listen, to understand, and to learn who... or what she had become. Bella was still his daughter, and he had to believe there was more to her story than just blood and mayhem.
Charlie spotted his house at the end of the street. "Thanks for the ride, Ted," he said, offering a tired smile and a nod to his friend, who had kindly driven him home after his police cruiser had been totaled in the explosion. Bella had seemed genuinely contrite about that one too...
"No problem, Chief. Try to get some rest," Ted replied, giving a wave as Charlie stepped out of the car. Charlie watched as Ted drove off, the taillights disappearing into the distance. The quiet of the early morning settled around him, a stark contrast to the swirling chaos in his mind.
Charlie turned and looked at his house, a mixture of apprehension and hope coursing through him. Bella had said she would be inside. He couldn't help but wonder what she had been doing to pass the time over the past day. But more pressing than idle curiosity, he needed answers. He had never been religious, but he couldn't help silently praying that somewhere inside the being Bella had become, his little girl was still there. Taking a deep breath, he steeled himself for whatever lay ahead. As he approached the front door, he knew the conversation they were about to have would change everything.
Opening the door, Charlie stepped inside, immediately struck by the deathly quiet that filled the house. He closed the front door behind him, the soft click echoing in the stillness. He quickly glanced into the living room, finding it empty.
"Bella?" he called out, his voice uncertain.
"Hey, Dad. I'm in the kitchen," came Bella's voice, clear and calm, breaking the silence.
Charlie walked into the kitchen slowly, halting in his tracks at the sight of Bella seated at the table. This was the first real opportunity he'd had to truly look at his daughter; their time together yesterday had been so brief, and his rattled state hadn't allowed him to fully take her in. Now, as he stared at her, he could see faint echoes of his little girl, yet the changes were undeniable and stark.
Bella sat with an almost supernatural grace, her posture impeccable, exuding an ethereal stillness. Her once warm brown eyes were now a striking shade of ruby red, a color as beautiful as it was disconcerting. He knew all too well what those red eyes signified. Her physique was flawless, and her skin, always pale, was now almost luminous in its whiteness. It was hard to believe there could be an ounce of fat on her. She was, undeniably, the most stunning woman he had ever seen. His initial impression yesterday—that she looked like an angel descended from heaven—hadn't been far off. Yet the irony was bitter; such angelic beauty concealed a reality he was still struggling to come to terms with.
After a few moments, Charlie noticed Bella's mouth curve into a smile as she looked up at him. "I made you something to eat. I thought you might be hungry after working all day and night," she said warmly. He watched as she gracefully stood and brought over a plate with a rather nice-looking breakfast, swiftly pouring a glass of milk. As she moved, he couldn't help but marvel at her grace; his Bella had never moved with such fluidity and poise. After setting everything in front of the seat opposite hers, she returned to her place at the kitchen table and gave him an encouraging look, subtly motioning for him to join her.
Charlie took a seat, eyeing the meal. "Thank you. I am, in fact, pretty hungry." The aroma of the food was inviting, and as he picked up his fork and took his first bite, he couldn't help but react to the flavors as they hit his taste buds. He gave Bella a cautious smile and spoke after swallowing. "While I eat, maybe you could fill me in on some things. I think some explanations are in order. How long have you been a vampire?" His voice was steady, but the uncertainty and need for answers were clear in his eyes.
Bella watched Charlie as he took a seat and started eating, though his eyes never left her. He seemed relatively calm, and his heartbeat remained steady, so she decided to dive right in. "Almost six years, Dad. It happened on my 20th birthday. You probably remember that time—it was when I mysteriously disappeared for a few days and then dropped out of school. "She shook her head, the memories of those chaotic early days surfacing. "Well, this was the real reason." She gestured to herself. "After it happened, my life got really messy. I couldn't be around anyone for months, and the people I did come across... well, let's just say those were not pleasant meetings. I lived alone in the forest during those early months, with really only you and Mom to talk to. I'm actually relieved I can finally tell you the truth because I know the story I was giving you at the time sounded pretty loopy."
Charlie nodded slowly, absorbing everything Bella was sharing. "Yeah, becoming... what you are makes a lot more sense than the story you gave me back then. I'm so sorry, Bella. I can't imagine how awful your life has been."
Bella saw the concern and resignation etched on Charlie's face and felt the need to set things straight. "Dad, I think you're under the wrong impression. I'll admit, those first few months really sucked..." Bella paused, closing her eyes briefly and shaking her head at the unintended pun. "But after I got through them, life has only gotten better, improving each and every year. Honestly, I love being a vampire. I'm much happier now than I ever was in my old life."
Utterly taken aback, Charlie could hardly believe what he was hearing. "Seriously? The people who told me about vampires made it sound like you're all just monsters, driven solely by an insatiable thirst for blood. They said a vampire would kill anyone and everyone they met without a second thought."
"What?" Bella looked at Charlie with a mixture of confusion and disbelief. "Dad, I don't know who you've been talking to, but they clearly don't know the first thing about vampires. After those first few months, once I learned to control myself, I've never once killed an innocent person. I choose my meals very carefully and only drink from people I want to."
Charlie, who had thankfully just finished his breakfast, felt a wave of nausea wash over him as he processed Bella's words. He was sure his face must be ashen. "So, you do kill people and drink their blood..." He shook his head. "What am I saying, I saw you drink from that person just yesterday."
Bella felt the need to explain further. "Yeah, about yesterday... I'm really sorry for how I acted and that you had to witness all that. I just got so enraged seeing those men trying to hurt you and my control slipped for a moment. But I want you to know, Dad, that's not who I am. I do exclusively go after criminals when I feed—mostly drug dealers. But I don't go around exploding heads like that. That was the first time I've ever done something so... extreme, and well, that was really messed up…"
Charlie suddenly interrupted her, a realization dawning on him. "Hang on. You've been living with Renée for the past several years. Does she know what you are?"
Bella smiled. "Of course she does. I told her everything when I returned to Phoenix, and she was fine with it. We actually get along much better now than we did when I was human. Our personalities and interests align more now. The truth is, I didn't even know for sure that I was a vampire for a long time. When this happened to me, I woke up alone with no idea what I had become. I assumed I was a vampire because of the whole blood-drinking thing, but I didn't get any sort of confirmation until six months ago when I met two vampires in Houston. They were very nice and taught me all about vampire society and everything I needed to know, which I had no clue about.
That leads me to something very important, Dad. You can't tell anyone about vampires, ever! The most critical vampire law is to keep the secret. I don't want to scare you, but the penalty for a human knowing about us is death. So please, please keep this to yourself."
Charlie nodded, his expression serious. "Of course, Bella. The people who told me about vampires warned me of the same thing."
Hearing this intrigued Bella; she had been waiting for the right time to ask Charlie how he had known about vampires. "Who was it that told you about us, Dad? This isn't information that should be out there for just anyone to learn."
Charlie hesitated, his gaze dropping to the table to avoid Bella's questioning eyes. "I can't tell you, Bella. I swore to keep their secrets just as I agreed to keep yours." He looked back up at her, his eyes filled with hope that she wouldn't press him on this. "All I can say is they were adamant about the importance of keeping the secret of vampires, just like you are."
Bella nodded slowly, not entirely satisfied with the answer, but she respected Charlie's commitment to keeping a promise. "I get it, Dad." She paused, sighing softly. "Honestly, I wasn't planning on telling you anything about vampires or what really happened to me." She let out a small, ironic laugh. "I had actually gone to a lot of work and preparation to make myself look human. I had just been about to put on a ton of makeup and my brown contacts to hide my eyes when I heard you call for help."
Charlie looked at Bella, puzzled by what she was saying. "What call? That's something I've been meaning to ask. How did you know to come and rescue me? Thank you, by the way. I really thought my time was up."
"I was at my hotel on the highway just outside of Forks," Bella explained. "But earlier, when I had been driving through Port Angeles, I had seen a lot of police and emergency vehicles rushing past me. Curious about what was going on, I had turned on my police scanner and heard about the shootings." She grinned, happy to reveal the rest. "And as luck would have it, I still had the scanner on when I got to my hotel room, and I was able to pick up your call for help."
Charlie, trying to piece together what Bella was saying, interrupted her. "Why would you have a police scanner?" he asked, confusion evident on his face.
"I enjoy helping out where I can, surreptitiously, of course," Bella said with a grin, recalling some of her past exploits. "I've actually saved quite a few lives over the years, including police officers in situations similar to yours—minus the explosive ending, of course. I know it's not exactly by the book, or how you enforce the law, but I want to do my part in making the world a better place. Being what I am now, taking out the scum and criminals that slip through the cracks is how I've been doing it. And I've also made it a point to help everyday people whenever my... unique skills can be of use. You, of all people, must know how good it feels to help others and make a positive impact with your actions."
Leaning forward with a conspiratorial grin, Bella added in a lowered voice, "Sometimes, when the bad guys slip through the fingers of lawmen like yourself, I might just take it upon myself to dispense a little justice of my own..." She playfully waggled her eyebrows. "...if I think they're deserving of meeting me." Charlie's eyes widened as he absorbed the implications of her words.
Stunned was an understatement for how Charlie felt. "Wow, that's really something, Bells. It's a noble calling to want to help others; not enough people do it, especially when it's not their job. I'd love to hear some of your stories." Charlie was both surprised and proud that his daughter was, in a way, following in his footsteps. He had never imagined, nor wanted, Bella to be involved in the kinds of things he had trained for, but he realized now that everything he had envisioned for her life didn't really apply anymore. As he had been listening to Bella speak, he began to see that many of his preconceived notions about vampires were wrong. He knew next to nothing about Bella's current life, but he was eager to change that. Looking beyond Bella's otherworldly appearance, he was seeing more and more of the kindness his daughter had always embodied, even if it was now expressed in some very unconventional and violent ways.
Bella smiled from ear to ear. Those were just the words she had been hoping to hear. "I'd love to share my life with you, Dad. The only other person I've really been able to talk to about these things is Mom, and it's such a relief to finally open up. The life of a vampire always entails hiding so much of who and what we are. It's truly a life living in the shadows... well, for most of us," she added with a smirk. From Charlie's words, it sounded like he was beginning to accept her, and she was thrilled.
"So, back to yesterday," Bella continued, feeling a renewed sense of positivity. "When I heard your call for help and those initial gunshots over the radio, I started running as fast as I could. Luckily, I remembered where Newton's was and got there just in the nick of time."
Charlie hesitated, clearly unsure if he wanted to delve deeper into the unsettling things he had witnessed, but he gathered his courage. "About that, Bella. How were you able to do all of... that?" He knew he was speaking to someone with seemingly supernatural abilities, but what he had seen defied all logic, and he was having a hard time accepting it. "The people who told me about vampires stated that they're fast and strong, but they never said anything about the kind of things I saw you do yesterday. I mean, how did you destroy that building? I hope no one questions it, but honestly, I can't think of any type of readily available explosives that would cause that level of destruction."
Bella grimaced. "Yeah, I kind of overdid it with that one. I've never intentionally caused an explosion on that scale before, and I wasn't sure how much power to release. As for what you saw, let's just say I'm not your typical vampire. I have abilities, Dad—things no other vampire can do. I'd be happy to show you everything in time, but I don't really want to overwhelm you with all my freaky vamp powers during our first real talk."
Charlie nodded in understanding, but then a memory flickered in his mind. "You know, not long after you disappeared, there was an incident in Massachusetts that law enforcement called a botched terrorist attack. It was out in the middle of a forest, and to my knowledge, it was never explained. Did you have anything to do with that?"
Bella laughed, "Yeah, that was me. I actually woke up smack dab in the middle of that explosion. Quite the bang to usher me into this new life, huh?" She giggled, shaking her head at the memory. "Back then, I had no idea how it had happened or why. At the time, I was really throwing out wild guesses, trying to figure out what had happened to me. I thought maybe the people who did this to me were aliens, and they had left, flying back up into space on their rocket ship." She paused, her expression growing more serious. "It wasn't until years later, when I discovered I could cause explosions with my mind, that I realized it had been me all along, and I'm almost certain I incinerated the two vampires who did this to me in the process. That's a good thing, Dad. You don't want to know what they had planned to do to me. The woman who bit me... she was pure evil."
Charlie's eyes widened in disbelief as he took in Bella's words. His little girl could cause explosions that the authorities had compared to the scale of a small nuke. Holy...
Charlie's thoughts were abruptly interrupted by the ringing of his work cell phone. Still shaken, he fumbled for it, flipping it open and pressing the talk button without even checking the caller ID. "Chief Swan," he answered in his usual official tone, masking the shock swirling inside him.
Bella could hear the frantic voice of a woman on the other end of the phone, barely controlled in her panic. "Charlie! Oh, thank God you're safe. Listen, don't go back to your house. I was just there, and there was a vampire. I don't know how, but somehow I managed to escape. Don't worry, I'm safe, and Leah's here with me. I was just able to speak with Sam, and everyone's already on their way to deal with it. I'll let you know as soon as it's safe to go home."
Bella recognized the voice—it was the woman who had been here earlier and left in such a rush. She furrowed her brow, trying to figure out what the woman was talking about.
"Sue, wait! Let me explain," Charlie spoke urgently, his eyes wide as he glanced up at Bella, his voice tinged with panic.
But the woman didn't seem to be listening. "Don't you worry, Charlie. We'll keep you safe. I have to go; Leah's calling me," she finished, her voice firm and insistent. Bella heard the call disconnect as the woman hung up, leaving a sudden silence in the air.
Charlie muttered a curse under his breath, snapping his phone shut. His expression was etched with concern and fear as he looked up at Bella. "You need to go, Bella, and quickly," he urged, his voice tense and serious. "It's not safe for you here. They're coming."
Bella looked at Charlie, her confusion deepening. How could it be unsafe for her? "What are you talking about, Dad? What's happening? And who's coming? Who was that on the phone?" she asked. "I forgot to tell you, but earlier a woman…"
Charlie seemed to think they didn't have time for Bella to get her questions answered. He stood up abruptly, urgency clear in his movements, and tried to help her up, though she had to assist him since he wouldn't have been able to move her otherwise. As Charlie hurried her to the back door and out into the backyard, Bella was still unsure about what was happening.
Standing in the backyard, Charlie felt a pressing need to get Bella moving. He almost wished he could physically pull her along to get her started. "Listen, you have to go, Bella. Quickly," he urged, his voice edged with fear as he glanced around anxiously. "It'd be best if you went far away, maybe as far as Seattle. Once you're there, call me, and I'll come meet you. Hurry, you're running out of time." He was getting desperate. He knew how fast the pack moved, and if Bella didn't leave soon, it would be too late.
Bella couldn't fathom what had Charlie so riled up, but she could hear his heartbeat racing like a drum. Whatever it was, it had to be serious; he hadn't been this anxious even when discussing vampires with her. Just as she was about to press him for answers, she heard it—a thunderous sound, like a stampede, coming from the direction of the forest. The sheer intensity of the noise was unlike anything she had ever encountered. As a precaution, she placed a large shield around Charlie and reinforced her own shield tightly around her body.
Bella turned her gaze towards the forest, and that's when it happened. A giant beast burst out of the tree cover, its massive form smashing through the underbrush with terrifying force. The ground trembled under the impact of its colossal paws, shaking the very earth. Her eyes widened as she took in the creature's enormity; it was like nothing she had ever seen. The beast's eyes, blazing with a fierce intensity, locked onto hers, and it let out a furious howl that echoed through the forest while also sending a chill down her spine.
Time seemed to slow as Bella stared at the creature in disbelief. It was a monstrous wolf, easily dwarfing a horse in size. Its fur was a mix of grays and browns, thick and bristling with an aura of raw power. The beast's mouth was open, revealing a set of gleaming, razor-sharp teeth that looked capable of tearing through anything. The sheer size of its jaws could easily engulf a human, and its claws were like daggers, each one a lethal weapon.
Bella felt a jolt as her awareness sharpened, processing the sight before her. This creature was no ordinary wolf; it was something out of a nightmare, larger than life and more terrifying than anything she had ever encountered. The beast's muscles rippled beneath its fur as it prepared to charge, its gaze locked onto her. What the fuck was that thing? She struggled to comprehend the reality of what was in front of her. That wasn't just a wolf—it was a monstrous, terrifying force of nature, and as time started moving again, it was now charging straight at her.
From behind her, Bella heard Charlie scream, "Run!" In that same instant, the giant beast lunged into the air, hurtling directly toward her. Its enormous mouth opened wide, revealing a terrifying array of razor-sharp fangs, all ready to rip and tear.
I hope you enjoyed Charlie's conversation with Bella. If only those pesky wolves hadn't interrupted them! I will endeavor to make the upcoming battle as epic as possible.
Comments are appreciated—I really enjoy hearing your feedback.
I know many of you are looking forward to some Bella and Edward time, and we're getting there. The story is already written, so a few more things have to happen before we reach that point, but it will all be worth it. So just sit back and enjoy the ride.