𝐁𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐓 | 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐚𝐰𝐧

Twelve.

Chapter 12:
The Sun Also Rises

There's a breeze.

The curtains on the balcony whisk in the air and the smell of fresh soil flew in like a child sending dandelion seeds out for a wish. The sun is hiding on this day. The signature grey clouds cover the sky and not a pocket of blue shined through.

It had to have been noon already. Although the clock on the bedside table read two o'clock, she couldn't help but feel it was still early. The way the air felt and the way the warm linen sheets covered her bare skin, it felt like a Sunday morning.

With a long exhale, she could tell her brain was still adjusting. She had woken up from a much needed sleep but she doesn't really remember falling asleep. There are still traces of memories, turning in nonsensical ways, begging to remain.

But all she could remember is blood and wolves. She doesn't remember coming back in the guest room either. Someone must've found her in the woods and carried her back.

Pushing herself into a sitting position hurt more than it should've. Her arm wriggled in pain and she hissed. There was a fresh scar, right down the middle of her tattoo. It looked like a crack in a wall, an imperfection.

Then she started to remember everything of the previous day. Bella died, but she could hear a faint pulse growing stronger which only meant one thing; the venom had worked.

Without another thought, she climbed out of the bed and escaped into the hallway. She could hear distant chatter coming from the living room, smell a scented soap, and feel the anxiety that swam generously around the Cullen home.

Her bare feet padded against the soft hardwood floors the sound nearly mimicking her hard pulse. Describing the way she felt would be similar to the way it feels on the first drop of a roller coaster, except she wasn't feeling a rush of thrill, adrenaline, or excitement. It was all about fear.

"Hunter." Edward whispered. His hands come in contact with her forearms and she shivered. It wasn't even as cold as she thought but the contact scared her. She felt like a traumatized child, cowering away from any and everything.

Her eyes drift beyond his shimmering ones and she finds Bella layed out on a table. Her body was covered in a blue dress, scars evident on her skin, and her face still pale and dull. Hunter couldn't fathom how many times she had to endure the sight of her loved ones like that. Each time seemed to be worse than the last.

Edward noticed her lost state and he took a step in front of her, blocking her view from Bella. Her eyes had already began to water with overwhelming emotions. She sniffled and met his gaze once more, "Hi."

"Can we talk?" He asked, holding his hand out to the balcony beside them. Hunter sighed heavily and nodded. Suddenly, her legs felt like they weighed a thousand pounds, each step harder than the last. But she managed to hold herself up.