ON HOLD - Seeing the past (R. Hale)

Sharing Secrets

     The next morning I wake a bit early startled from my sleep by dreams of the dark damp ally that Rosalie spent the last moments of her life in. Springing up my chest heaves as heavy pants make it past my lips. My sheets, clothes, and body are drenched in sticky sweat. My clothes cling to me uncomfortably. Looking around my surroundings with wide wild eyes my anguish and fear slowly die out once realization of where I am dawns on me. I am home. I am safe. I am home. I am safe. Those words repeat in my mind like a personal mantra. When my body finally uncoils my muscles and my heart rate slows down. I stand from the bed stripping it of the sweat soaked linens feeling my anxiety peel away with each sheet. Going to the hall cupboard I grab a fresh set of linens and place them onto my bed. Looking at the clock on my bedside table 3:58am glares at me in angry red numbers. Sighing feeling agitated I know that there is no chance of receiving more sleep. I pickup the discarded sheets and walk to the bathroom. Dumping the sheets into the hamper I strip my clothes doing the same with them. I turn the shower on high heat and climb in. Standing under the scorching stream of water the muscles in my body finally relax completely. In this time I finally let my mind wander to the strange things that happened on my first day. Somehow after touching Jasper's hand I can feel the emotions of others much like him. I wonder if somehow I do not just see their past, but if I gain a part of them. How? How does any of this work? Not to mention why? Nothing like this has ever happened before so why now? Then there was the other oddity: hearing people's thoughts. Which one of them could do that? Sifting through their past I try to piece it together. Rosalie's beauty and the arrogance of men killed her. Maybe that is why her beauty is far more godly than her families. Emmett believed his strength could save him, but it ultimately killed him. Now he is one of the strongest in the family. Maggie died from the lies that others told, and Emmett says that is her pet peeve when people lie. Something tells me she can sense when someone lies to her. Jaspers power I already know. That leaves Alice and Edward. Maybe if I can find records of Mary Alice Brandon being put into an asylum it could help. What did Dr. Hamilton's badge say it had a place on it? I strain to figure out the location. All I can remember is Mississippi, some place that starts with a b. With a huff I realize nothing else is going to come to me so I quickly finish washing and go to change.

     The clock now reads 4:32am sighing I go over to my laptop on my desk and start it up. Opening a search engine I type in, Dr. Hamilton missing from Asylum in Mississippi early 1900's. After a couple of pages a black and white photo resembling the man appears. Clicking on the article I see Alice is mentioned as well. After that finding more articles seems easy, and before I know it the truth has unraveled. Mary Alice Brandon was institutionalized by her family because she was odd and it was a burden on their social standing. She claimed that she could see things that had not happened yet, but no one believed her. Does this mean that Alice can see what is to come? Is she clairvoyant? I chuckle to myself because even though all of this is strange that seems like too much even for me. Closing the laptop I decide that Edward must be the mind reader. Maybe during lunch I will try to weasel my way into his head to find out. The time is now 5:30am so I stand gathering my things for school, and go down to make breakfast for all of us. Bella and I have to drive separate today because I have soccer practice.

      Today was dry, but there was an overcast that kept the sun from beaming down. As I pull into the parking lot I wave to Bella as she stands with her friends, and make my way towards Emmett. Getting close to the group Emmett pulls me into a bear hug lifting me from the ground lightly before setting me back down when I remind him that I need to breathe. Once he releases me fully Maggie hugs me, and when she pulls away she has an all too knowing smile. Maybe I should try to read her thoughts. A mischievous smirk makes its way to my lips, but I decided that I have intruded on their personal lives enough as is. Unexpectedly, Alice pulls me into a quick hug as well. She giggles, "they hugged you so I figured it would be fine if I did as well." Her grin is bright as she lets go, and heads back to Jasper. All of their eyes are a warm topaz today. They must have fed. Huh I wonder where Edward and Rosalie are.