Souls of Perdition

Chapter 2: Salvage

When the floor was clear and the dustpan emptied, Jake, Seth, and I collapsed onto the couch; our bodies heavy with exhaustion.

The air hung thick with the scent of dust and wood polish. The wardrobe sat nestled in the corner of the living room, its beaten form casting a long shadow that stretched across my body, but somehow left my arm around Jake untouched. It was as though the shadow spared Jake, but consumed Seth and me whole.

I listened to the rise and fall of our breathing as it mingled with the quiet hum of the night.

Our peace was short lived, as the crunch of tires over the gravel broke through the stillness. A beam of light shone through the hall window as the automatic porch light flicked on. It stretched itself over Seth's face, which drained under its glow.

Jake lay casually between use, casually stretching his legs over the coffee table. "Well," he said, "here they come."

Seth groaned softly, burying his face in his hands. "We're so dead."

The front door creaked open, Charlie's heavy boots echoing down the hallway. They were closely tailed by the patter of Sue's lighter footsteps. Charlie's unkempt curls blocked the doorway, obscuring the porch light from reaching Seth. It glowed behind him for a second, eerily bending off his silhouette against the darkness, until he reached his arm towards the light switch. He paused, his eyes sweeping the room, taking in the three of us slumped on the couch. Then his gaze shifted upward, locking on the gaping hole in the ceiling.

Sue nearly bumped into him from behind, peering over his shoulder. Her eyes widened as they traced the gateway above them.

Charlie's mouth worked soundlessly for a beat before he managed to collect his thoughts. I could see them spinning around in his head as he tried to catch them. Finally, he spoke, though it felt more like an exhale than a sentence. "Well, this is... new."

I cringed. "Hi, Dad."

"Bella." He blinked, shaking his head. "What the hell happened here?"

Jake spoke first, his voice ringing with authority. "Okay, look—before anyone gets mad—"

Sue's voice cut through, soft but firm. "Too late for that." Her arms were crossed as she leaned against the doorframe.

Jake glanced at Seth, who was wringing his hands together. "Look, it was my fault," Jake continued, his voice a little more careful now. "There was a... slight miscalculation."

Charlie let out a long sigh, rubbing the back of his neck. He glanced at the ceiling again, then down at Seth, his expression softening. "Jacob, you've given me a skylight."

A weak chuckle escaped Seth, though he still looked like he wanted to sink into the floor.

"Don't beat him up too hard, Charlie," Jake stepped in, shielding Seth. "I'll bring Quil and Embry by tomorrow. We'll patch it up, I swear." He flashed a smile, trying to lighten the mood. "Better than new."

Charlie shook his head, but the redness on his face dulled with each swing. Eventually, he let out a deep breath, his shoulders sagging as he exhaled. "You better, kid. Or you'll be up on the roof whenever the weather turns sour."

He turned to me then, his expression softening. "And how's my girl? Welcome home, Bells." He reached his arms out, and I stepped up from the couch, closing the distance between us as he wrapped himself around me. I sank into the warmth of his flannel shirt, pressing my cheek against his chest. For a moment, the weight of the past few hours melted away, replaced by the familiar comfort of my dad.

"Thanks, Dad. It's good to be home."

Charlie pulled back, tapping his hand on my shoulder.

"Well, that's good," Charlie said, raising an eyebrow. "But you're early. Kept to the speed limit, right?" His dual roles as police chief and father colored his concern.

A soft chuckle escaped me, though the familiar ache tugged at my stomach—reminding me of someone who had once been reckless behind the wheel. "Dad, you raised me—I don't speed. Besides, the truck doesn't go over seventy unless you push it down a hill."

His eyes crinkled around the corners as he smiled, the naked beams above us momentarily forgotten.

Sue's voice cut through from behind Charlie, gentle but attentive. "Have you eaten yet, Bella? There's some fish fry left in the car." She was already rustling through Charlie's jacket, looking for the key. ""Billy and Charlie were too caught up in the game to eat much."

Her face had softened over the months; it no longer clouded with pity, but a quiet understanding. However, I saw traces of it within her eyes as they lingered on me, just as they had that when we sat awkwardly around Charlie's overcooked pasta that first night.

"I'll heat some up for you," she added, giving me a soft smile

My throat suddenly thick, I just nodded and forced my lips into a smile.

Sue returned the smile, leaving the door open as she stepped outside, her footsteps softly padding over the gravel.

Charlie turned to Jake, still sprawled out on the couch. "You staying for dinner, Jake?" he asked.

Charlie turned to Jake, who still sprawled comfortably on the couch. "You staying for dinner?" he asked.

"Nah, not tonight. Sadie's cooking for me," he said. His voice subtly wrapped around her name, parting from his lips like silk. I gave him a small smile, knowing where his heart truly was now.

Before heading into the kitchen, Charlie gave me one last hug, his embrace lingering a little longer than usual. "Glad you're home, Bells."

"Me too, Dad."

Charlie nodded, and then headed to the fridge. "Seth, you're on cutlery duty," he called out over his shoulder.

Seth relaxed a bit, the corners of his lips slightly lifting up. He squeezed past me and followed Charlie through the doorway.

Jacob stirred from the couch, stretching his arms until they let out a quiet pop. He glanced at me, his warmth like a balm against the cold ache inside me. Standing up, he came over and rested his large hand on my shoulder, his fingers brushing lightly along my back.

I leaned into his chest, the familiar comfort of him momentarily soothing. "You head home—inform Sadie about your narrow escape."

He snickered, his grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. "She worries too much," he said, but there was a tenderness in his voice.

He pondered my words for a while, analyzing them against the tone of my voice and the creases in my face. Whatever he saw must have satisfied him, as he gave me a small smile before walking past me towards his muddy boots by the door. Sue reappeared as he bent down. She had a casserole dish tucked in her elbow, wrapped in aluminum foil reflecting the hall light. Her hand ruffled his hair as she walked past him, towards the sound of porcelain and glass being laid on the table.

Jake stood up and leaned into the kitchen. "I'll be back tomorrow afternoon, Charlie," he reassured. "Roof repairs don't scare me off that easily, so no need to put out a bounty or anything."

Charlie humphed, but Jake was off the hook.

Jake's smirk softened as he made his way toward the door. For a moment, his hand hovered over the doorknob, the weight of unspoken words thick between us. I caught his gaze, offering him a faint smile.

"It's good to have you back, Bella," he said, voice gentle. "Things haven't been the same without you."

I nodded, the words I wanted to say caught somewhere in my chest. As he stepped outside, the screen door clicked shut behind him, leaving the room quieter than it had been before.