We Three Witches (Twilight)

The Hunt for the Last of the McKinnons

Charlie's POV

March 19th, 2003

Timestamp – 2:43pm

"They'll be okay, Charlie." Billy patted Charlie's arm. "They're tough girls. They'll pick their sister up and be back here in no time."

Charlie grunted, but didn't take his eyes off the road. It didn't matter that Billy was probably right. None of it mattered. Not until he knew his girls were okay.

None of it made sense. Who were they running from? Who had them so terrified they'd gotten him to pack his bags and run? And to not call the station?

His fingers tightened around his phone. Alice had just messaged to say they were on their way back with Bella, so he wasn't expecting a call or to even see them for at least another twenty minutes—he wasn't a fool, he knew the Cullens drove at speeds that would make a racecar driver swoon—but he was on edge. He had been since Bella's call that morning, and he knew he would be until his daughters were in eyesight again.

Suddenly, the phone rang. The sound broke through the tense silence of the house, and Charlie almost dropped the phone in his haste to answer it.

It was Alice.

Why is she—?

His thumb pressed down on the button to answer, when the phone went silent. The screen was dark, and no matter how many times he jabbed the buttons, it didn't turn back on. He swore.

"Does anyone have a charger? A charger, I need a charger!" He spun around to look at the boys crowded in the kitchen behind him. They scattered into action, and Charlie swore again. "This goddamn crapshoot. It's older than the both of us combined—I should have gotten a damn new one."

Billy tapped his hip with his own phone. "Use mine. Call her back."

Snatching it up, he dialled in Alice's number. But all he got was a dial tone. Maybe she was leaving him a message.

Bella will answer.

But she didn't. And neither did Rosalie.

Panic clawed its way up his throat. No, no, no. Not again. He dialled their numbers again. Not again. Answer, answer. Come on, pick up the damn phone.

No one did.

Charlie distantly thought he heard Billy say something. Moments later he heard the distinct howl of a wolf, and it sounded awfully close. His head jerked up. "I didn't know there were wolves on the rez, is that safe?" he asked. He didn't want his girls to be attacked by wolves when they came back, and they had to come back...the alternative wasn't worth thinking about.

He gripped the phone, squeezing it tightly, even when he distantly heard it crack.

Billy rested his hand on Charlie's arm. "They never attack anyone on the rez. Your girls will be safe with them around. They protect our people."

At any other time Charlie might have questioned whatever the hell Billy was spouting, but right now his mind was entirely taken up with concerns for his family.

~~~

Timestamp – 6:04pm

No one answered. No one ever answered.

Suddenly his phone rang and Charlie jumped up and rushed to answer it. "Hello?" he asked worriedly.

"Charlie, it's Alex from Port Angeles PD."