transported into twilight with a system

chapter 6

Ethan’s eyes flicked back to the door, half-expecting Edward or Alice to burst in, demanding to know what he had just uncovered. But the mansion was silent. Too silent. He folded the note carefully, stuffing it into his pocket, as the implications of those four words sank in.

Trust no one. Not yet.

The fact that someone, somewhere, was watching him so closely—and anticipating his actions—sent a fresh wave of paranoia through him. Who had left the message? Was it one of the Cullens? Or someone else?

Ethan’s instincts screamed at him to be cautious. He couldn’t let anyone know what he’d found, not until he had more answers. For now, he’d have to play along, act like nothing had changed. But deep down, he knew this changed everything.

He took a breath, forcing himself to calm down. He needed to think. Observation had just revealed something critical—who knew what else it could show him? If he was going to uncover more secrets, he had to hone this skill. Use it strategically. Edward was right—knowledge was his only weapon.

A soft rustle outside the window caught his attention. The forest beyond was swaying gently, but the movement felt deliberate, almost like something was watching. Ethan narrowed his eyes and activated Observation again, focusing on the treeline. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, a faint outline—a shimmer—caught his eye. There was something, or someone, hiding just at the edge of the forest.

His pulse quickened. Could it be the Volturi? Another player in this deadly game? Ethan wasn’t sure, but if they were watching, they knew he’d spotted them now. He turned away from the window as if dismissing the sight, not wanting to alert whoever—or whatever—it was.

Ethan needed allies. Or at least the illusion of them. Despite the note, he couldn’t survive this alone. He had to walk the line between trust and suspicion, balancing his need for information with the reality that anyone around him could be a threat.

His mind raced back to Edward’s words: “Learn everything.” But where would he start? Alice's visions? Carlisle’s knowledge of the supernatural? Or perhaps Jasper, whose ability to manipulate emotions could either be a weapon or a potential key to understanding Ethan’s unreadable mind.

One thing was clear—he needed more than just observation. He needed strategy.

The door creaked open again, and this time it was Alice, her expression unreadable but her energy calm, almost curious. “You seem... tense,” she observed, leaning against the doorframe, her golden eyes piercing. “Did something happen?”

Ethan forced a smile, schooling his features into casual neutrality. "Just thinking about everything. Trying to wrap my head around all of this.”

Alice tilted her head slightly, eyes narrowing in a way that made Ethan wonder just how much she could already see. “You’re not the only one. We all are.”

She stepped inside, her gaze sweeping the room as if she, too, were gathering information. “Edward said you have questions. Maybe I can help with some of them.”

Ethan hesitated. He needed answers, but how much could he trust Alice? If she could see the future, she might already know about the hidden compartment, about the note.

But she hadn’t mentioned it.

After a pause, he nodded, keeping his tone light. “Alright. Where do we start?”