Hey Guys!
Now, Some of my older readers will notice that this story has undergone a revamp ;). Now after about a year of uninspiration, I've continued writing this story. For the past few days, I've been going back and editing, tweeking, adding and taking away. Hopefully this is for the better. I know some of you will worry that the story has changed seeing as the number of chapters has dyrastically gone down. On the contrary, the story has grown, it's just that the chapters have been made bigger. I'm hoping that this will make them easier to read. To my newer readers (Be there any of you), Hi! You're lucky enough to have missed on the craziness that was this past 1-2 years of promising updates! When you've finished reading I would appreciate a review. Older readers: if you could tell me what you like/don't like about the changes I've made, both to the story and to the Chapters that would be awesome!
To everyone: Enjoy!
Chapter One: Turn of Events
Point of Views: Bella, Carlisle and Jasper
Bella POV:
It didn't happen on a dark on stormy night, it was a one of those rare sunny days in forks. I still don't understand why it happened; everything seemed to finally be falling into place.
"Bella? Have you unpacked all your things yet?" I heard my mum yell from downstairs.
"Almost! I've got less than half a box left!" I yelled back.
"Well, hurry up! We're going to the store in 5 minutes!" yelled Renee "We won't wait for you!"
I snorted softly; they wouldn't leave me here by myself.
I sorted through the few remaining items in the cardboard box. There was this year's calendar, a few fluff bunnies – "How did they get in here?"- And an old photo album.
I placed the photo album in my desk draw and hung the calendar on the back of the door. Grinning at the image of five puppies playing together with the word June written in fancy writing, I turned to survey my room, making sure everything was put away. When I was satisfied I grabbed the empty boxes that were piled next to the door and climbed down the stairs.
"I'm ready! Just give me a minute to put these boxes in the bin!" I called from the stairs.
"Okay, we'll wait for you in the car!" came Renee's reply from the lounge room.
A moment later, I heard my dad's heavy footfalls, along with my mother lighter ones, headed towards the front door.
I hurriedly threw the boxes out, grabbed my jacket and made my way out to my dad's cruiser. I stumbled a few times, but managed to make it to the car without falling.
"You okay?" My dad Charlie asked worriedly when I managed to get into the back of the car. I knew he was worried, knowing perfectly well how clumsy I was, especially seeing as I didn't get it from mum's side.
"Yep, I didn't fall this time" I grinned.
"That's a first!" laughed Renee.
After a few more laughs at my expense, we headed out of the driveway. As usual with car rides, I drifted off into my own world, staring out the window and at the trees that flashed by.
The last few weeks had hectic. No, the last few months had been hectic. About half way through last year, my parents went on trail separation.
They'd not been getting along very well and were arguing a lot. They tried to keep me out of it, but I still knew. They weren't the same to each other, they hid it well, but I could see they were pretending. Sometimes, late at night when I was counting sheep, I could hear them arguing. At first they were short and quiet, but they gradually grew. Occasionally these arguments would lead me to wake up to an empty home (Charlie having gone to work early, and Renee having left a note apologising generously saying she'd had to go run an errand).
A month after the arguments started, mum and I moved out. I didn't want to leave my dad, but mum promised they'd work it out so I spent time with them equally.
Soon, mum started dating again, but it didn't work out. She explained to me that when she went out with a man, she'd see qualities in him that reminded her of Charlie, good qualities Charlie had.
With a few mild suggestions from me, mum arranged a date with dad, trying to start from scratch, you know?
Before I knew it mum and dad were back to their old selves. And a few days ago we moved back in. Now instead of spending a week with dad and a week with mum, I'll be spending everyday with both of them.
As I stared pensively out the window, I listened to my parents talk. Renee was trying to convince Charlie to come Skydiving with her. It wasn't working.
"Come on! It'll be fun! Just the two of us!" pleaded Renee.
"What about Bella?"
"I'll sleep over a friend's house" I piped up.
"There, see? She'll be fine!" squealed mum.
"Well, I don't know-" Charlie started, but he was interrupted by the sound of screeching tires.
The car in front of us had skidded out of control on a patch of frozen road and was headed right for us. Charlie tried to manoeuvre out of the way, but it was too late, the other car was coming too fast. It hit our car with the force of an atomic bomb and sent us spinning.
Charlie fought frantically with the wheel, but was unable to get even a smidgen of control. The cruiser hit several trees and flipped over.
I saw my parents airbags deploy, and hoped to god they were okay. Everything was just starting to get better. It wasn't fair. How could this happen? I gasped as my head hit the window, forcing all rational thought out of my mind as we slid along the road in a deadly dance.
The car finally came to a stop on its roof. Groaning, I carefully unbuckled my seatbelt and slid to the ground. I saw Charlie turn towards me.
"Are you okay?" he rasped.
"I-I think so…"I replied shakily."Are you?"
"I don't think so angel…I love you" he whispered.
"Don't say that, we'll be fine, you'll see. Things just started getting better…"
Charlie shook his head slightly.
"You have to promise me something-" he said quietly, cutting off in a bout of coughs. I noticed with terror that there was blood pooling at the edge of his lips.
"Anything." I promised.
"You have to go on with your life, no matter what. Okay? Always remember that your mother and I love you." He said weakly.
"You'll be fine, dad. Don't talk like that." I said.
"Promise me!" he said urgently.
For a moment I stared into his frantic eyes, noticing that they were dulling.
"I-I-I promise" I sobbed.
He smiled weakly and closed his eyes.
"Dad? Dad! Come on, Dad. Wake up. You have to... Please" I cried. "You can't leave me…"
It couldn't be. This kind of stuff doesn't really happen outside of movies.
"No."
It wasn't fair. I just got them back. This wasn't happening. I was dreaming. I could smell blood, both my own and that of my parents.
"No...Dad get up! Mum? Mum!"I yelled.
Someone was screaming. I looked over towards the other car and realized it was aflame. There was a man inside it, screaming. He was burning.
"Oh God, I have to help him, I have to…" the smell blood was making me dizzy, I couldn't breathe. Suddenly I found myself on the roof of the cruiser, looking into my mother's lifeless eyes…
Carlisle POV:
Jasper wasn't dealing well. My newest son was having trouble adjusting to our lifestyle. He tried, but changing a century old habit is difficult.
While at school, Jasper suffered. But there was nothing we could do; we had to keep up the charade. The little that we could do to help Jasper deal with the temptation was keep him well 'fed' at all times.
At the moment, Jasper and I were out hunting. Today had been especially hard for him, while dissecting a frog in science; a student had cut herself, spilling blood all over the table. Jasper had to leave the room without explanation.
I'd have to call up the school and make something up...
We went hunting as soon as he got home. My poor son, if only there was an easier, more effective way to help him.
Jasper, with his empathic abilities, could sense what I was thinking, but chose not to comment and continued stalking his bear.
I sighed, my family was complicated. I let my senses range out, trying to find the herd of Elk Alice had seen.
The mouth watering scent hit me at the same time it hit Jasper.
"Don't breathe!" I shouted at him, effective scaring off the Bear.
Jasper complied immediately, but it was too late, he was already being pulled forward by the delicious smell. He couldn't stop if he wanted to.
Without a backward glance at me, he raced off in the direction of the blood. I chased after him, hoping to God Alice had seen this and sent the boys.
Jasper ran at full speed, barely aware of me trying to catch up to him. Several times I caught up to him, but he snarled, threw me off and ran faster, putting more strength into his stride.
After a minute the scent got closer, in a few seconds it was upon us.
I stepped out of the forest and onto the scene of a terrible accident. Two cars were visible, one in flames, the other on its roof, its skyward facing tires still spinning slightly.
From the burning vehicle came the scent of burnt human flesh. I'd seen house fire victims who smelt the same way, they were beyond help.
I glanced at the other car; it looked as if no one could have possibly survived. But the tell tale sign of a beating heart told me otherwise.
Kneeling beside the wreckage was Jasper. I quickly ran over to him, expecting to find him draining the life from the only survivor of the crash.
"N-no"
I stopped and looked around, expecting to find some else lying amongst the debris.
"No, it's a dream" came the voice. I rushed over to Jasper, realizing the survivor must be begging him to stop.
"It's okay. It'll be okay." whispered Jasper.
I stared at him, his eyes in particular. They were still a golden, although they threatened to turn a consuming onyx, they held not even a fleck of crimson, for which I was glad. Jasper noticed my examination, shrugged and turned back to the human.
"What's your name?" he asked gently.
"B-Bella. Bella Swan…T-t-they're all gone aren't they?" she stuttered quietly. I gasped quietly as I noticed her eyes. They were a warm chocolate brown but at this time, their colour was not their most transfixing aspect. She was staring at Jasper determinedly, fear, pain and knowing reflected in those beautiful orbs.
"Yes, they're all gone. I'm sorry." Jasper whispered, knowing the hurt his words would inflict.
As Bella's face broke and revealed the pain she was feeling, my medical training kicking in, I gently pushed Jasper out of the way.
"Quickly, go home" I told him quietly.
"I can handle it, I'm fine!" he snarled at me.
"I need you to get my medical kit and tell the others, and then you can come back. I don't doubt to you." I told him calmly. I silently begged him with my eyes to understand.
"Sorry... I'll be back" He nodded in understanding and repentance.
He ran off in the direction of the house, his feet barely touching the ground. For a moment I stared at the place he disappeared.
It was strange, Jasper had been unaffected by all the blood here, yet with the accident in class he had barely avoided killing the human girl. Perhaps it was the situation we were in called for a different reaction, but I'd seen Edward tempted by humans on their death bed at the hospital. It could have been that he wasn't breathing, but then, how had he been able to talk without oxygen? It was extremely odd; I'd have to look into this.
I was brought back to earth by the whimpers of the young girl before me. She was perhaps 13 years old but at the moment she looked no older than 9. Curled in on herself in pain she looked incredibly vulnerable.
"Bella?" I called. She jumped slightly and lifted her head to look at me.
"Bella, I'm Dr. Cullen. I'm going to help you. Now, can you move?" I asked.
She blinked at me and nodded her head slightly in both understanding and in answer of my question.
"Okay, I'm going to try and get you out of there okay? I'll need you to help me a little okay?" I said to her. Like before she nodded her head.
I leaned through the broken window and stretched out my arms to her. I flexed my fingers in a "come here" gesture. Slowly she un-wrapped her arms from her knees and shifted a little so that I could reach her.
Although the movement was only small, she winced and her eyes fluttered. Quickly I leaned further into the car, scooped her into my arms and pulled her out of the ruined police cruiser.
I gently laid her on the road, slipping off my jacket and placing it under her head as a make-shift pillow. Considering the small movement that had caused her so much pain, I was led to the conclusion that she'd broken a few ribs and possibly had a concussion considering the wound on her head.
I stared at Bella's sleeping face and found myself questioning how God could do this to such an innocent child, but then I remembered my past. God did not favour humans.
I looked around, hoping to see Jasper and the others. Where were they?
Jasper POV:
I ran as fast as I could, never slowing, always pushing myself harder, getting closer and closer to the house. I had to hurry. Bella needed help. She needed my help.
"Almost there" I said to myself "Just a little more"
I knew Carlisle didn't understand how I was doing it, how I had stopping myself from killing her. But I did. When Bella's scent hit me, all rational thoughts went out the window. I didn't even care that I could seriously hurt her. I had one thing on my mind, and nothing was going to change it.
Not even Carlisle's attempts to stop me. For more than a century I had been a military man. I'd seen things others could hardly imagine. Had been a part of nightmares, things I could never atone for. Here was my chance.
Someone needed my help, and there wasn't time to explain to Carlisle; he wouldn't understand regardless.
When we finally reached the site of the crash, I was hit with pain, devastation, loss and fear. I immediately looked around for the survivors, letting my senses range outward. I was surprised that I could only hear one heart fluttering feebly; I hadn't really expected there to be any survivors.
I quickly ran over to the over turned vehicle, noticing that Carlisle stepped out of the trees moments later.
I kneeled down next to the wreckage and peered through the shattered window. From inside the car, the mouth-watering smell of blood was intense, but only minutely appealing.
It's hard to explain. The blood smelt deliciously human, but it had a slight undertone to it. Similar to that of the La Push Werewolves, but more faint, less easily detected if it hadn't been for the open wound.
It was very similar to that of a predatory animal; only a little more appealing than deer and elk. Yet still delectable.
I shook my head slightly and concentrated on the people in the cruiser. The two adults, the driver and passenger were both dead. The driver was covered in blood and seemed to be in a peaceful sleep, one that he would never awaken from. The woman in the passenger seat was slumped in her seat, unmoving; she must have died on impact. Her eyes were staring lifelessly at a small figure on the roof of the car. She was curled in a foetal position, hardly moving, if I hadn't known better I would have said she too, had died.
Her "I'm dead" act was betrayed by the slight movement in her shoulders and soft heartbeat. As well as her pain wracked sobs.
"N-no" she whispered. "No, it's a dream"
"Shh, it's okay. It'll be okay" I said, wondering if she would hear me.
She flinched visibly and slowly turned to face me, at that moment I remembered Carlisle. He was standing about a meter away from me looking stunned. I could feel the curiosity, wonder and downright awe coming off him in waves.
I noticed him examining my eyes specifically, obviously expecting to find them a bright red. I shrugged at him; there was no time to explain.
It seemed strange that he hadn't noticed that the blood smelt less appealing than that of an average human. But then again, Carlisle was unaffected by human blood these days.
I turned back to the girl, noticing she had shrunk into herself, wrapping her small, pale arms around her knees and drawing them closer to herself.
Careful not to upset her, I asked her name.
"B-Bella, Bella Swan" she stuttered quietly. She was staring at me urgently, a question obviously playing on her lips.
I smiled gently in response, urging her on.
"T-t-they're all gone aren't they?" she asked me softly, obviously already knowing the answer, but wishing it weren't true.
I grimaced, trying to repress the urge to cry out under the weight of her pain, I wondered how it was she kept herself in one piece.
"Yes… they're all gone." I whispered. I could see she was about to break. "I'm sorry"
Bella finally lost her composure and gave in to her grief, her delicate face breaking and uttering small, grief-stricken sobs. I sent her a few waves of serenity, hoping to get her to fall asleep, but she was unaffected, too consumed by her anguish. It was at that moment that I noticed the rising feeling of self hatred in my chest. I had intensified her pain, when I'd come here to lift it.
"Quickly, go home" Carlisle whispered as he pushed me out of the way and took my place beside the ruined car.
Already affected by Bella's emotions, I snarled at him. How dare he stop me from helping this girl? She needed me!
"I can handle it, I'm fine!" I growled, challenging him with my eyes to oppose me.
Carlisle didn't seem fazed by my sudden outburst; he'd lived with me long enough to understand why I was acting this way.
"I need you to get my medical kit and tell the others, and then you can come back." He explained gently. He was gazing at me calmly, trying to instil a sense of approval and urgency in that one look.
"I don't doubt to you" he added.
I could feel the shame building up in me, the remorse. Carlisle wasn't at fault; he had the best interests at heart. I didn't deserve the love and trust I could feel emanating from him.
"Sorry" I whispered "I'll be back" I ran off in the direction of the house. Our exchange had taken only a matter of seconds and had been too quiet for Bella to hear.
As I ran I felt Carlisle curiosity once more. He was wondering how it was possible. After all, I was the weak link. The one that had to be kept under constant scrutiny.
I was glad when he concentrated on Bella once more, trying to extract her from the car.
I continued to run in the direction of home, recalling the events of the last few minutes, wondering what would happen next. Would I be too late? Would something terrible happen before I returned with Carlisle's medical kit?
I was suddenly sure I'd be too late.
Bella POV:
I leaned toward Dr. Cullen, wanting to get out of the car, to go anywhere as long as it was away from the smell of my parent's blood as well as my father's meaningful silence and my mother's cold and unwavering gaze.
I shifted my weight slightly so that I could pull my leg out from under me and crawl out of the car. I had only moved a fraction of an inch when a blinding pain flashed through my right side, starting at my hip and ending at my shoulder.
The pain, it was terrible, I didn't want to feel it on top of everything else, and so I instinctively flinched away from it and into darkness.
I was vaguely aware of someone picking me up and placing me on the ground, the feel of the dirt on my back and cool, soft breeze on my cheeks…
Carlisle POV:
I glanced back at Bella; she seemed to be sleeping peacefully. I kneeled down next to her and checked her over, making sure she was just unconscious, not comatose.
Although her ribs would heal quickly enough, she must be in incredible pain at this time both physically and emotionally; which explained the fainting. There was also a deep gash on her forehead surrounded by a darkening flesh that would most likely become a hideous bruise; the gash it would need about 6 stitches. As with all head wounds, it was bleeding so heavily that it appeared life threatening, but actually wasn't.
I silently kicked myself for forgetting my phone. I'd need to report the incident but I wouldn't be able to leave Bella alone.
I stood up, happy with my brief examination, and gently scooped her up, careful of her head and sides. I ran off in the same direction Jasper had a few minutes ago.
I ran slower than normal, careful not to disturb Bella and wake her up. Waking her up would be the opposite of helpful right now, considering that I was running three times faster than any Olympic athlete.
I couldn't help wonder if something had gone wrong with Jasper…