The Forgotten Child-Twilight

Chapter 14 - Part 2

"It doesn't take a mind reader to know how upset Carlisle is," Alice told Esme.

"That's because he's really hurting," Esme replied, "It's a pain that even I can't even begin to understand in order to help him."

It had been a week since Carlisle had come home an absolute wreck with his clothes in tatters. None of the family had experienced this before with calm, collected, kind-hearted Carlisle.

Carlisle had stayed home from work the next few days saying little until they were all sitting in the living room, listening to Edward play the piano one night. "Edward, could you come in here?" Carlisle suddenly asked.

Edward was there in an instant, all eyes upon Carlisle. "I recently heard from some of Christopher's family," Carlisle said as he noticed Rosalie taking Emmett's hand and biting her lower lip. "It appears that he's ill, and they're searching for him." He looked carefully at Rosalie and added, "I've already told them that we'd help them however we can."

"But Carlisle!" Rosalie began, "I've seen him! She rolled her eyes as she said, "Christopher's not sick! He can even talk. Heck! I wish you guys could have heard him! Sick my ashes!" Rosalie retorted.

"Stop Rosalie!" Carlisle commanded. Everyone took notice because Carlisle never spoke in this way. "You yourself said the boy had changed drastically! His people are telling the truth, there's no way he could have aged from seven to around thirteen in less than a year. Something's drastically wrong with the boy," Carlisle finished.

"So... what exactly are you wanting us to do?" Emmett asked.

"We mustn't let the boy get away if he reappears, at least not until his people can get him." Carlisle informed them.

Rosalie looked upset and glanced at Emmett, who took a deep breath, "Well...here's what I..." he began.

Carlisle cut him off cleanly, "Enough Emmett, these people have powers that we can't contend with.... you're evidence of that," Carlisle finished.

"Well hell...," Emmett grumbled, "if they're so damned powerful why can't they catch the kid themselves?"

Jasper intervened saying, "Look, it's like Carlisle's already said, the family needs to stick together through this. We need to stay together, united until all this is over."

The entire family agreed...although Emmett and Rosalie not too enthusiastically.

ooOoo

A few days later Esme noticed the sweet honeysuckle smell when Christopher first began his appearances more than a year ago. She and Alice walked throughout the house noticing the odor.

When Rosalie and Emmett entered after hunting, Rosalie's eyes grew huge as she looked at Esme. "Christopher's been here," whispered Rosalie, "his scent is all over the place!"

"Did you smell him outside?" Esme asked them.

"No," Emmett admitted, "we didn't smell a thing until we came inside."

The Cullen family was on "Christopher" alert and they were combing the woods carefully. Carlisle was the last of the family to get home that day. He tried to think of Christopher's favorite places... he usually had eaten in the kitchen... he often would find Carlisle in his lab... he sometimes played around the coy pond, near Renesmee's old play area.

Carlisle began to head back to the house, as he neared, he spied Rosalie sitting on the bench near the small fishpond.

"Are you okay?" Carlisle asked carefully as he sat down beside Rose.