𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐑𝐘 | carlisle cullen

ch. 3 | the sweet smell of complications

news of the attack spread throughout the town overnight and everyone knows miss cherry lockheart has become another unfortunate victim of bear violence. the local deputies closed off all trails leading into the forest. they've warned the kids time and time again, don't party in that forest, especially at night. bear attacks have been a reoccurring issue, but it appears it's been too reoccurring for the public's safety.

carlisle stands idly with the sheriff and a deputy. "i was driving home from work and saw the bear hunched over. i didn't know what i was seeing, it was fairly dark, but as i drove closer i saw miss lockheart under the bear. i honked my horn and scared it off and when i got to miss lockheart, she was unconscious. she was minutes from bleeding to death and i brought her to the e.r immediately."

carlisle didn't hesitate to lie to the authorities. he didn't think he'd make so much noise so new to the community.

the sheriff scribbles some notes down looking at the doctor with hints of forlorn, "you saved that girl's life. on behalf of this community, we thank you. we got a search party setting up right now to look for that bear and any others. forest is on lockdown. those damn teenagers don't know the dangers that lurk in those thickets."

carlisle simply nods carrying a similar look. the sheriff and deputy leave the man alone with his own woes. he leans back into his chair staring at the blinding fluorescents playing and replaying the events of last night.

he glances at the clock, it's near midnight. he collects his paperwork in organized piles and packs his bag. it was nice getting situated in a new office with new people. the environment was much the same as his usual medical endeavors. he hopes him and his family will have a lovely time in miraculous. he locks his briefcase, wraps on his coat, and heads out the door.

"goodnight, dr. cullen," the clinic staff had bid, and he warmly bid back, "goodnight." the drive to home from work is only about seven minutes, but around three minutes in, he sees a large bear. it's not too strange to see bears roaming around, especially at night, but then he heard the screaming and growling growing in his ears. he breaks his car and his eyes dart to the roaring bear.

then, he smelt it.

human blood wafts to his senses like a rosalie punch to the face. he races out of his car leaving it on the road yanking the bear off the girl, snapping its neck. he looks down at the girl, scratched and tattered in every way, blood oozing everywhere.

instinctually he bends down to access her, but he flinches away. her scent overwhelms him. his fangs itched in ways that haven't itched in centuries. his face, troubled, looks at her, listening to her heartbeat. she doesn't have but minutes.

he can't handle this smell for another though and his dark eyes flicker to the bear.

his chair creaks. had he not left when he did, that girl would be dead. a minute longer and he'd have to make the ultimate decision whether to watch her die or watch her turn into a monster like him. the thought of turning more children to the side of immortality made him uneasy. the excruciating pain she endured, how scared and terrified she was- his nerves vibrate like static.

the sound of her screams has been ringing in his ear all night. even in the bustling emergency room it was deafening. the silence in his office brought little comfort. the walls were too white and the floors too clean for all the red he was seeing.

her scent- he's drenched in her. she's all over him. he can smell her in her room only a hundred feet away. she overpowered the smell of bleach, iodine, and anything else. her scent allured him in a way that was dangerous.

"cantante."

it's been a little less than a decade since edward and bella have been married, but those memories are all still fresh. he remembers vividly how tormented edward was. how powerful bella's scent controlled the boy in every aspect of his existence. the pain and grief he felt over a girl whom he loved and cherished and, yet, wanted nothing more than to drain.