Crimson Gold

Part 1: Chapter 5: Prototype

3rd Person POV

Mercer House

Stretching, Ryan rolled out of bed, landing on his feet. It had been five days since his meeting with the Cullens, and so far, things had been relatively normal between them. However, in addition to a few suspicious glances from Edward and occasionally Jasper, they seemed more cautious than they were before, confirming Ryan's suspicions that they suspected him just as much as he suspected them.

A few days ago, Ryan had stumbled upon a conversation that made things more... interesting.

Flashback Start

Ryan moved among the trees, swinging from branch to branch with inhuman ease. While he could practice parkour in the town, the forest provided less risk of him being discovered.

As he made his way toward town, he picked up multiple signatures at the Police Depot. Curious, he made his way toward the Depot, stopping 70 feet from the edge of the tree line. Balancing on the tree branch, Ryan watched curiously as Bella and Edward pulled in.

"That's my father's car at the end," Edward muttered as he and Bella pulled into the parking lot. "What is he doing here?"

Bella and Edward quickly exited the vehicle as Carlisle walked out of the police department.

"Carlisle, what's going on?" Edward asked.

Carlisle sighed. "Waylon Forge was found in a boat out near his place. I just examined the body."

"He died?" Bella asked in disbelief.

Carlisle nodded grimly.

"How?"

Carlisle hesitated. "Animal attack."

Ryan froze.

"Was it the same one that got that security guard down in Mason?" Bella asked.

"Most likely," Carlisle replied.

"Well, it's getting closer to town then," Bella said.

"Bella, you should go inside," Carlisle said. "Waylon was your father's friend."

Bella nodded. "Okay." She walked inside, but not before saying to Edward, "I'll see you later." Then she was gone.

Carlisle and Edward exchanged a knowing look before entering their respective vehicles, Carlisle casting a suspicious glance around.

By the time Carlisle had surveyed the area, Ryan was gone, jumping back through the trees as he thought about this new development.

Flashback End

After leaving the area, Ryan had quickly shifted into a doctor whom he had consumed and checked on the body. Needless to say, he was relieved when he detected no signs of Blacklight.

At least it's not Greene, Ryan thought as he drove to school. But what could have attacked Waylon? Something tells me that it wasn't an animal, despite what Carlisle told Bella.

Timeskip

These thoughts kept after him as Ryan leapt through the cool night air. Landing in a roll on a rooftop, he sprinted across the surface and flipped over the gap between two of the buildings. It was a full moon tonight, so Ryan had decided to go for a 'midnight stroll' across town. Of course, that meant a lot of parkour, but under the moonlight, it was eerily peaceful.