𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥 {𝐀 𝐓𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐅𝐚𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐜} - 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 [1] ✔️

14. JOSEPH

I STOOD UNWAVERING, ACCUSTOMED TO THE AGONY IN THAT cry. It was a sound that resonated deeply within me, a sound that would forever haunt me.

It was Bree's cry.

The cry of a broken soul, a cry that echoed through the empty halls of my heart. I could feel the weight of her pain, the heaviness of her sorrow, as if it were my own burden to bear. And yet, I stood there, unmoving, unable to offer any solace or comfort.

She was distant from me. And I had to locate her immediately.

I shut my eyes and relied on my hearing to guide me. The sound of her wail seemed to grow louder, more desperate, as if it were a beacon leading me towards her. I pursued the reverberations, maneuvering through the eerie forest with a heightened sense of purpose. Then, I discerned a noise. A voice.

"Who created you?" inquired a young girl's voice.

Bree's shrieks reverberated across the woods, evoking a complex blend of feelings within me. Regret, compassion, fury - a tumultuous whirlwind of emotions.

"Bree, I'm on my way," I whispered to myself, determination fueling my every step as I sprinted for her.

As I ran, the branches of the trees whipped against my face, leaving stinging marks that I couldn't register. The urgency in Bree's cries pushed me forward. Each breath I took was filled with a mix of fear and determination, propelling me deeper into the heart of the forest.

"I don't know," Bree's voice trembled, barely audible amidst her gasps of pain. "Riley wouldn't tell us. He said our thoughts weren't safe."

Another agonizing scream tore through the trees, a chilling reminder of the horrors that awaited her.

I pushed myself harder through the underbrush. My feet pounded against the forest floor, propelling me forward. Every instinct within me screamed to hurry, to reach Bree before it was too late.

Then, suddenly, her cries ceased, leaving a haunting silence in their wake...

How could I possibly erase that memory from my mind? How could anyone possibly let such a significant moment slip away? Bree's piercing screams continued to reverberate within the depths of my consciousness, haunting me even after her untimely demise.

With every glimpse of her face and every moment spent in her presence, the floodgates of remembrance would burst open, flooding my mind with vivid recollections. It was as if her essence intertwined with that of my half sister, Ayla, for they both possessed an uncanny resemblance in their sweet, innocent, and untainted personalities. It was as if Bree's untimely demise had somehow merged their souls, forever linking them in my memories. 

I yearned for a release, a way to let go of the pain that consumed me. But the more I fought against the memories, the more they clung to me, refusing to be forgotten. They became a part of me, an indelible mark on my psyche that I could not escape.

Why was it me who survived? This question plagued me relentlessly ever since I left Forks and found refuge with the Khotlers. I wasn't the most skilled, nor was I a seasoned warrior like Gabriel who had faced full-fledged battles. Yet, I remained among the living while countless others perished. The answer was clear, though I loathed to admit it. I survived because I chose to turn away. I abandoned the newborn army, Victoria, and Riley, opting for self-preservation. It was a bitter truth to swallow, but it was the reality I couldn't escape.