Shooting the moon - Edward Cullen

chapter 7

"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT? HOW? ...JUST ...WHAT?" Ash was freaking out; I would be too if I was her. She'd just seen me walk out of a poster, and I was pretty sure that would be enough to make anyone a little shocked. Given that this was Ashleigh, who could be shocked merely by someone sneaking up to her, I was assuming she was fast approaching a state of hysteria.

It was obvious she had been doing her makeup when it happened because she now had a black streak of eyeliner down her face. That, even with her floundering arms and swishing hair, was still very visible.

"Ash, you have to be quiet. I can explain everything. Just be quiet." She seemed to relax a little but was still gawping at the Edward poster. Her eyes fixed on the spot I had come through, and her face was set in a state of horror.

I pulled her stiff body over to the bed and sat her down gently.

"Ashleigh, I need you to tell me what you saw," I spoke softly to try and get through to her, usually once Ashleigh got herself into a state it was me who was the only one to get her back out.

"I was standing right there." She pointed to my makeup and jewellery counter with the small vanity mirror.

"And I thought since you were out I would use your Dior eyeliner, you never let me use it usually." Her voice was just a daze, and I was starting to worry about just how deep she had withdrawn into herself. Then again, if she was still able to show some appreciation for expensive make up, there was still hope that I could stop her from locking up.

"I'm sorry I don't let you use it. Can you tell me what happened next?" I needed her to go through it in order for her to be responsive. She needed to acknowledge what had happened so that the shock would ease. Just enough for me to relax and know she wasn't going to be completely lost to the hysteria.

"I felt cold so I checked the window and then the door, but..." A gulp passed down her throat, and I rubbed her arm to reassure her everything was OK.

"But, what Ash? Tell me what happened next."

"That's when I saw you. You and the poster...walking through...you...the poster..not real." Her mouth clamped shut, her eyes widened marginally at the memory.

I knew her brain would be telling her what she saw was impossible, but there would be that little bit battling with her saying that her eyes couldn't make up such a convincing lie.

Her whole way of thinking would be conflicting, and I couldn't let it continue. If I did it would trigger the fits she sometimes suffered from.

It's very rare and only caused by this kind of meltdown in her brain. It was why we kept her away from scary movies, anything to stop her imagination from sending her brain into a mental anxiety attack. That was the only way the doctors could explain the fits. They said that although physically her body didn't suffer a normal anxiety attack, her mind became the focal point of the adrenaline build up. It causes her to become unresponsive, and finally ends in a fit whilst we stand by, unable to help her.

I couldn't risk putting Ashleigh through that, not just to keep a secret. I knew I had made a promise to the Cullens, but to me Ashleigh's welfare was far more important. I knew if she had an explanation it would ease the panic and prevent her from slipping too far.

"OK you're not supposed to know. No one can. I've just came out of a portal. It, kind of, goes to the Twilight world. I can't explain why, or how, but they're real, Ash, every single one of them. You literally step into Twilight." I could see in her eyes she thought this was all some joke. Although I was expecting it, it still hurt a little to have my own sister doubt me.

"Oh." It was all she said for the next ten minutes while I sat opposite, watching her intently. I had to find some way to stop her from cracking up. Just something to convince her that she hadn't been imagining the portal and that what I had said was the truth.