Ruthless and Ivory (Twilight Fan Fiction)

Chapter 13: Key

Chapter 13 - Key

The red tendrils of the crimson carpet sink under my fingertips. I feel as though it swallows me up but i fight it. I get up off the floor. Shaky legs. My eyes are only on her. It's her. She called to me and pauses. Her smile falters and turns into a frown. Her eyes peel away from mine. I blink. The blur watering in my eyes clears as they fall.

The image is crystal as life. My legs move and a hand lifts to feel her. It looks so real. She sits at a table. Her forearms lean on the hard dark surface in front of her. Her powder blue shirt hugs her torso and delicate shoulders. Her dark hair sits in waves over them. My fingers instantly remembers the feel of it, the soft shiny strands. She looks so young. Not a year over what I looked like after college. Lab tables and cabinets, scattered papers and equipment surrounds her. The florescent lighting glows a blue hue around her...but doesn't show on her glowing skin and pink lips. She's beautiful. More so than I've ever remembered.

She swivels in her chair slightly from left to right making her seem younger. A familiar leather jacket hangs behind it. My pointing finger traces it. It's now my jacket. She looks casual. Comfortable. Carefree. And hesitant. Her hands fidget somewhat like I do at times. She still doesn't speak.

The static electricity flowing over my fingertips feels wrong. I run them over the illuminated monitor. She doesn't feel me. I can't feel her. My shin quivers.

"How are you sweetheart?" she smiles looking up. And just her voice alone pours new tears down my face. She sighs. "I don't know how old you are as you watch this. Right now, you just turned five," her smile widens. Her eyes brim with tears of her own. "In an case, It is in my plans to have you see this when you're old enough...so you'd understand.

"But I...have to begin by saying how very sorry i am." Her brows furrow, "If you're watching this, it means I'm long gone." She looks down in time to catch a tear. Her throat bobs and she takes a breath. She struggles to continue. "So sorry it had to be like this, but...like your grandmother told me once, 'Pain is temporary. Glory is forever'. I know your future will be greater. You will be greater. I just hope this finds you safe and well," she nods slightly.

"I know i have no right to ask you a favor right now, but I want you to be brave for me—for what you're about to hear."

My heart quickens as she pauses again. The churning in my stomach is warning me to brace myself. And I know. Something deep tells me that no matter what age, or how brave I am, I'll never be prepared for this.

"I should explain all of...this," her hands spread in indication. "I know this is confusing. I apologize for stirring up past pain and memories of me...and suddenly receiving this unexpectedly. But I just...need you. Danger has come and we won't be here long. You're our only hope.

"I'm asking of you something monumental. It's going to be big. It's going to take everything you've got." Her face changes. She grows serious and focused. Her hesitancy fades. Chills run through my spine as hers straightens.

"Isabella, In you lies the key to the future existence of mankind. You can change the world."

My breath hitches. Her exasperation lingers on her last word. Shock is like a bucket of cold water poured over me. I'm frozen.

"I don't have long to explain," she rushes to speak. "But forget everything you perceived of me. I'm not what you think I am or what Charlie told you. I had bigger plans for my life. After grad school I moved to Boston where I was accepted to MIT. I've met brilliant people. Geniuses who became colleagues. Charlie hated that I was so far away," she chuckles humorlessly, "But it was for the best. It was meant to be because never in my dreams did I think I'd discover something grand—that we'd discover something grand. Something that can change big decisions for our world—for life, death and even wars."