Lost in Forks

Chapter 8

(May 10, 2006) - continuation

Finn's sudden appearance startled them all. His tall figure emerged from the shadows, his face calm but serious.

Aurora's breath caught in her throat as his sharp blue eyes scanned the group. Gabriel and Vanessa both jumped back, eyes wide with surprise.

"Who the hell is this?" Gabriel demanded, standing in front of Aurora protectively.

Aurora's heart raced as she stepped forward. "He's... he's a friend." Her voice trembled slightly as she spoke, but there was a certainty in her words.

Vanessa narrowed her eyes at Finn, obviously confused but intrigued. "A friend? He looks like he's about to bite someone's head off."

Finn didn't seem to notice their unease. His gaze remained fixed on Aurora, calm and intense. "What are you doing here?" His voice was low and serious.

Aurora hesitated, unsure how to explain without revealing too much. "We were just... looking into some of the things around here. The legends. The wolves. The vampires..."

Finn's jaw tightened at the mention of vampires, his eyes flicking to the others for a brief moment. "You shouldn't be here," he said, his tone growing more urgent. "It's not safe."

Gabriel crossed his arms. "Not safe? You're seriously telling us it's dangerous to be out here?"

Vanessa tilted her head. "Who are you to tell us where we can and can't go?"

Finn's gaze flicked to them, sharp and unyielding. "I'm someone who knows what's out here." He turned his focus back to Aurora. "And you don't want to know what's waiting in these woods."

Aurora's stomach churned with curiosity. "What's waiting out there? What do you mean?"

Finn's voice softened slightly, but his warning remained clear. "You don't want to get involved in this. There are things in Forks that should stay hidden. You're putting yourself in danger."

Vanessa leaned closer to Aurora, whispering, "This guy's acting like he's in a spy movie or something. I'm not buying it."

"I get it," Finn said, his eyes narrowing. "You don't have to believe me. But just know, whatever you think you know, there's more."

Before anyone could say anything else, Finn turned on his heel and disappeared back into the shadows of the trees, his figure quickly swallowed by the forest.

The silence lingered for a long moment. Gabriel was the first to speak. "What the hell just happened? Who is that guy?"

Aurora shook her head, her thoughts racing. She wanted to follow him, demand answers, but she knew it wasn't that simple.

Finn had warned her. He didn't want her involved, but it was too late. She already was.

"We need to leave," Aurora said quietly, her voice firm, though her mind was in chaos. "Now."

-

The drive home was tense. Gabriel and Vanessa kept throwing glances at Aurora, but neither of them dared to ask about Finn.

They could sense that something was off, and the look on Aurora's face told them she was grappling with something she wasn't ready to share.

When she finally arrived home, she didn't even bother to greet Bella. She walked straight into the kitchen, her mind whirling.

Bella looked up, her expression softening when she saw her sister's troubled face. "Aurora, what's going on?"

Aurora didn't answer immediately. She took a deep breath, collecting her thoughts. She needed answers—needed the truth.

"Bella," she started, her voice trembling slightly, "I need you to tell me everything. Right now."

Bella raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"About Forks. About the wolves. About the vampires. I need you to tell me what's really going on here."

Bella's face fell, the mask of calm she'd worn slipping for a moment. She knew this was coming—knew Aurora was getting too close to the truth.

"I... I was hoping you wouldn't have to know. I wanted to protect you from all of this," Bella said softly, her voice laced with concern. "But I can't keep it from you anymore."

Aurora's heart pounded in her chest. "Tell me. Please, Bella. I can't... I can't live in this world without knowing."

Bella hesitated, then nodded. "Alright, but we can't do this here." She looked toward the living room where Charlie was watching TV. "Come with me to my room. We need privacy."

Aurora nodded quickly, following Bella up the stairs. She could feel the weight of the moment pressing down on her.

As soon as they were inside Bella's room, Bella closed the door softly behind them.

Bella sat down on the bed, motioning for Aurora to sit next to her. "Alright," she said, her voice serious, "listen carefully, because this is a lot to take in."

Aurora sat, her heart hammering in her chest. She felt like the room had gotten smaller, the air thicker.

"Forks... isn't what you think it is. There are supernatural creatures here—vampires and werewolves. And the Cullens... they're not human. They're vampires."

Aurora's world shifted beneath her feet. She felt a rush of disbelief, like the ground had been pulled out from under her.

Vampires? Werewolves? The things she had only read about in books? They were real?

"But why didn't you tell me?" Aurora whispered, her voice breaking. "Why didn't you warn me?"

Bella's eyes filled with regret. "I didn't want you to be a part of it. It's dangerous, Aurora. You don't understand what's at stake."

Aurora sat down at the table, her hands shaking. She had always known there was something off about Forks, something different about the people around her. But to hear Bella say it out loud—it was almost too much to grasp.

"I don't know if I can live in this world, Bella. It feels like everything I thought I knew is a lie."

Bella sat down next to her, her expression somber. "I know. It's a lot to take in. But you're here now, and there's no going back."

Aurora nodded slowly, her mind reeling with the impossible truth. Vampires, werewolves, and a world she had never imagined. Everything she had seen, everything she had felt, had been leading her to this moment.

But could she really accept it? Would she be able to face the dangers that came with it?

All she knew for certain was that her life would never be the same again.

——

What will happen next now that she knowss? 🤷‍♀️

So sorryy for not being able to publish a chapter yesterday, my whole body was aching 😭