Lair, Lair (Male!Reader x Edward Cullen) COMPLETE

Chapter 4: Hot and Cold

As soon as the water hit his skin, he knew something was wrong. As it flowed, only small random patches felt it... and it was moving. The numbness. It moved through his body like a pile of rocks. His skin was burning hot in some areas and freezing cold in the numb areas. He tried to ignore it but a overwhelming urge to puke suddenly came out of nowhere and he stumbled out the shower and after his insides filled the pure sparkling white toilet he felt almost as if it didn't even happen. He flushed and got back in the shower. He washed away all the dried blood and the dark brown stains from under his fingers. He started to vividly recall crawling on the floor... blood was everywhere... he felt lightly nauseated again and cupped water into his face in order to get rid of it. And just like that. Everything was numb again.

Once he was fully cleaned up, he dried off and dressed himself. The clothes were... slightly tight on him. He looked at the tea Alice made him. It looked slightly red... maybe it was just how they made it. He took a small sip and to his immediate surprise it tasted like heaven! He hungrily gulped down the rest and was slightly irritated she made a small tea cup of it. He felt slightly warm after drinking it and examined his neck in the mirror. The marks were gone... smooth perfect skin. That would take at least 3 weeks! How long had he been out!?

He stepped back into Edwards room and looked around. Maybe something in here could hint towards whatever happened. He found a hospital wristband in the trash. The doctor that treated him was named Cullen? He briefly remembered Bella mentioning that Edward and Alice's father was a Doctor of some kind. A miracle worker perhaps! He guessed from logic that Bella brought him to the hospital after he blacked out and from there somehow ended up at the Cullen's. Maybe it just wasn't safe for him at Charlie's? That's the only thing he could think of.

After being thoroughly finished with his thoughts he decided to play it nice. The Cullen's took him in when he very well could have been fatally injured, not to mention the hospitality of washing his clothes and giving him something to drink. He did rather note that it was odd he didn't have the need to eat anything... maybe they feed him as well? He'd have to thank Dr. Cullen for tending to him. He opened the door lightly and looked out, Alice was sitting on the couch nearest to him. This entire house reminded him of glass... windows everywhere and the color white existed almost indefinitely... beautiful and cold at the same time.

Alice looked up with a bright smile, she like all her other family, was perfect to a point. "I see you've finally come out. Did you like the tea? I had to specially make it for your... current situation. Edward and Emmett should be home within a few minutes. And Rosalie will be home with Esme and Carlisle within a few hours. They had to take a trip to find out as much as they can on who... attacked your father..." Alice said with a bit of awkward pause at the end. "Is he dead...?" James manage to say as tears already tugged at his eyes. Alice very quickly got up and brought him a tissue that he didn't even know she had. He begrudgingly wipes his eyes and anger begins to arise. "No. Just missing. They found his... badge out in the forest outside of town. It spans for hundreds of miles so their best bet is to do a helicopter search. Edward offered to lead a group of us into the forest to try and find him. Just a heads up before he gets here. He wants you to say yes before he does anything."

"That's certainly kind of him but if I find whoever attacked my family..." he muttered and Alice gave him a hug, he almost melted into her as she tried to calm him down from near hysteria. "Even if you say no, the deputies have already started searching within a 2 mile radius outside the town. They won't find anything but they didn't listen to us..." He offhandedly felt a bit of suspicion from that last bit and looked at her. "Wait... where are we? I never really got to talk to Edward beside the awkward first encounter... and Bella! Someone else attacked her! Where's my sister?" He said in a alarmed voice and quickly wrestled free of her grip to go look outside. But a quick look out the window showed him everything he needed to know. They were very deep in the forest outside of Forks. "We live outside of town because our family values exclusivity. Your here because Carlisle was personally asked by Jacob Blacks grandfather to look after you. And Bella had taken up residence with Jacob and his tribe. She's very well looked after I assure you! There was no evidence of her being attacked! She dragged you outside and Jacob took you to the hospital and Bella rode along and-" Alice said rather quickly and at that exact moment, the front door downstairs opened...

"Edward and Emmett are home..."