Edward's POV

The late afternoon sun dipped low over the horizon, casting long shadows across the baseball field at Forks High School. The crisp autumn air was filled with the sounds of cleats crunching on gravel, the thud of leather gloves catching baseballs, and the sharp crack of bats connecting with pitches. Edward Masen, Forks High's star center fielder, stood poised, his gaze fixed on the pitcher, but his mind was elsewhere.

The team was gearing up for a big game against their rivals from Silver Ridge High, a neighboring school known for their aggressive play. Coach McKinley's voice boomed across the field as he barked out instructions, urging the boys to focus, but Edward couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that had settled in his chest. His phone vibrated in his pocket, but when he quickly checked, it wasn't the message he had been hoping for.

It had been hours since he'd last heard from Bella. She'd gone to Port Angeles earlier in the day to pick up some books she needed for a school project. They'd texted briefly in the morning—her usual light-hearted banter brightening his mood before practice—but since then, there had been nothing. At first, he dismissed his concern. Bella was probably just busy, caught up in her shopping or maybe browsing through the shelves of her favorite bookstore. But as the hours ticked by, his unease grew.

The baseball diamond blurred into the background as Edward's mind raced. Bella wasn't the type to go silent, especially not for this long. He knew she hated it when he worried, but he couldn't help it. After two years of being together, he'd grown to understand her habits, her rhythms, and this… this silence wasn't normal.

Edward pulled out his phone again, the screen lighting up in his palm. He scrolled through their last conversation, her final text ending with a simple, "See you tonight! " He quickly typed out another message: *Hey, are you okay? Let me know when you get this.*

No response.

The anxiety gnawed at him, making it difficult to focus on the game. When Coach called for a break, Edward seized the opportunity, ducking away from his teammates and heading towards the bleachers. He dialed Bella's number, pressing the phone to his ear as the line rang and rang, each tone heightening his worry. Finally, her voicemail clicked on, her familiar voice saying, "Hi, this is Bella. I'm not available right now, but leave a message and I'll get back to you."

He hung up without leaving a message, his chest tightening. Something was wrong; he could feel it.

"Edward!" Coach McKinley's voice cut through his thoughts. "We need you out here. Let's go!"

Edward shoved his phone back into his pocket and jogged back onto the field, but his mind was no longer in the game. Every crack of the bat, every cheer from his teammates, felt distant, muted. His thoughts were consumed with Bella—where she could be, why she hadn't answered.

After another grueling hour of practice, the team finally wrapped up for the day. Edward barely waited for the coach's closing remarks before he sprinted to his car, his fingers flying over the screen of his phone as he texted Bella again: *Please call me when you see this. I'm worried.*

Still nothing.

His knuckles whitened as he gripped the steering wheel, the drive from the school to Charlie's house feeling longer than usual. When he pulled up in front of the familiar house, he saw Charlie's cruiser parked in the driveway. Edward hurried up the steps and knocked on the door, his heart pounding in his chest.

Charlie Swan, Bella's father and Forks' chief of police, answered the door, his usual stern expression softening slightly when he saw Edward. "Hey, Edward. What's up?"

"Hi, Chief Swan," Edward said, trying to keep the tension out of his voice. "Have you heard from Bella? She went to Port Angeles today, and I haven't been able to reach her since this morning."

Charlie frowned, his brow furrowing. "She hasn't contacted you? I haven't heard from her either, but I figured she was just taking her time. You know how she gets lost in those bookstores."

Edward nodded, though the knot in his stomach tightened. "I know, but it's been hours, and she's not answering her phone."

Charlie's eyes narrowed with concern, and he stepped back to grab his own phone from the kitchen counter. He dialed Bella's number, but after several rings, it too went to voicemail. "Bella, it's Dad. Give me a call as soon as you get this. Just want to make sure you're okay."

He hung up, his expression mirroring Edward's growing worry. "Let me make a few calls. Maybe she's still in town and just hasn't noticed the time."

Edward nodded, though his unease only deepened. He paced the living room as Charlie called around, checking with the local stores and even the police department in Port Angeles. But no one had seen Bella since the early afternoon.

Minutes felt like hours as they waited for any news. Then, just as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the town in deepening shadows, Charlie's phone buzzed with a call. He answered quickly, his expression grim as he listened to the voice on the other end. "Where?" he asked, his voice tight.

Edward's heart raced as he watched Charlie's face pale.

"Okay. I'm on my way," Charlie said, his tone urgent as he ended the call. He looked at Edward, the concern now replaced with something closer to fear. "They found Bella's truck on the side of the highway, just outside of Port Angeles. But… she's not there."

Edward's breath caught in his throat. "What do you mean she's not there?"

Charlie grabbed his keys, already moving towards the door. "I don't know, but we're going to find out."

The drive to the scene was a blur of flashing lights and speeding thoughts. Edward's mind raced with possibilities, each one more terrifying than the last. Bella was strong, determined, but the thought of her alone, her truck abandoned on the side of the road, sent a chill down his spine. Where could she be? And why hadn't she contacted him?

As they arrived at the scene, the sight of Bella's familiar red truck, empty and eerily still, brought a sickening sense of dread. Something was very, very wrong.

And for the first time, Edward felt a fear that he couldn't control, a fear that the love of his life was slipping away into the darkness.

There goes chapter one, hope you enjoyed it.