The Forgotten Child-Twilight

Chapter 13 - Part 1

Fear

Carlisle had had a busy day at the hospital today. He'd seen several patients with the stomach flu that had been going around, and he had treated a girl with a broken arm. Carlisle had told the township many years ago, that the monkey bars at the local playground were just too unsafe for small children.

Unfortunately, now it was time for his lunch break. Carlisle quickly went through the cafeteria line adding just a few portions to his tray. He no longer even paid attention to what type of food he added... he would just throw it out anyway. He ducked quickly into his office where he
knew he could easily dispose of the food. Carlisle ignored the smell coming from the disgusting human food and let his mind wonder. It had been over a year since Edward had discovered Christopher in the forest.

Although all of his family had eventually continued a "normal" pretence of reassembling their lives, Carlisle knew that all of them had the same questions. Who and what was Christopher? Why wouldn't he speak even though he could produce the most beautiful singing voice? Why was his body so alike, but yet, so vastly different from the human norm? Why couldn't Edward read his thoughts? Hell... He could ask the same questions about Bynjin and Arvil, the two strangers who came and left with Christopher. The two men apparently had abilities that even left the vampires stunned and powerless. His family had continued to resume their lives.

Edward had piqued Bella's interest in college. They were both attending a college about two hours from Forks. Esme had smitten Jasper with the designing bug and he was working as an architect in Forks and the surrounding area.

Alice was even starting her own online fashion line, and was glued to the computer.

Emmett... well he usually did whatever he damn well wanted, which was usually trying to please Rosalie. Emmett had tried to talk Rosalie into going on a luxurious pleasure trip, but she'd refused. She'd been quite solemn after Christopher had left, but her spirits were finally beginning to lift.

Carlisle's thoughts finally drifted to Esme. It had taken everything Calisle had to convince her that he was coping with the loss of Christopher. Of course Edward knew the despairing thoughts of his father... there was no way to hide that. But for Carlisle, he couldn't allow his beloved Emse to know the torture that he endured within himself. The darkness he attempted to slip by her every day.

ooOoo

Mysteries were forming in Forks that were beyond Carlisle's imaginings. Carlisle pondered the mysteries that formed around Christopher and he began to ask himself, 'Why had Christopher affected him the most?' 'Why did he feel such despair when one of his family members brought up the name?'

Carlisle had told no one of the brief visit that Bynjin gave him, forcing his thoughts to other places when Edward was near. Carlisle couldn't bring himself to repeat the words that Bynjin had spoken to him. It left him broken and confused, as if his head was bouncing off a brick wall.

ooOoo

Rosalie was sitting near the coy pond pondering what she'd do this particular day. Emmett, always the avid hunter, had tried to persuade her to go with him to Goat Canyon, on a bear-hunting trip. Although a vampire, Rosalie didn't particularly love hunting the way the rest of her family did. Yes, she felt hunger, and her throat burned at times, but she considered blood only sustenance. Rosalie could never get into the hunt and produce the "fun" that Emmett and even Jasper felt. She hadn't felt thirsty despite her husband's enthusiastic urgings and had sent him off to fend for himself.

Rose was about to go back inside and see what Esme was up to then suddenly she smelled the scent again! It had been over a year, but she recognized the sweet scent at once. She got up and surveyed the wooded area behind her... searching for a glimpse of Christopher.

Suddenly, a boy popped from behind a huge oak. Rosalie fought her disappointment, this was somebody older, a boy about thirteen to fifteen if she had to guess. Suddenly, she glared... What right did this kid have to come on their property?

Rosalie gave an evil glare and snarled, "Get out of here.. you have no right being on this land!"

Rose opened her mouth with more threats, when the boy just smiled at her, waved, and began running to her with his hands wide open. She stood there as the boy ran up to her and embraced her. "Rosalie!" he cried out.

Rose studied the boy... he was strangely beautiful, at the in-between age where boys weren't handsome or pretty. He possessed an almost androgynous beautiful appearance that belonged to neither sex. He had soft dark hair cropped just above his shoulders, eyes that were so dark blue, they almost appeared midnight. Despite the cloudy day, his pale skin seemed to radiate brilliance.

The boy looked her in the eyes and shook his head in dismay, "You don't remember me anymore, Rosalie?"

Rosalie studied him closer... he was wearing a plain white buttonless shirt and something that looked like black knickers. His feet were bare and covered with whips and lacerations from the forest outgrowth. Inhaling deeply she recalled the sweet smell... now accompanied with a delicious smell due to his cuts.

"Christopher?" Rose asked, but she knew that it was impossible, the boy was too old, he almost reached her shoulders.

"Of course!" the boy grinned at her and giving her another hug. "Did you think I wouldn't remember you?" he teased. "You used to swing me and you'd take me to the fish pond!"

Rosalie couldn't help but hug him back and enjoy his sweet scent. She kissed both his cheeks and his forehead as the boy giggled.

"I got away from them!" the boy rejoiced, "I knew if I had done it before, that I could do it again!" he said with an impish grin.

"I have so many questions!" Rosalie spluttered and continued to Christopher, "You can talk?"

Christopher froze and eyed the nearby forest while listening carefully. "I probably can't stay long," he said quickly. He then continued, "I've learned again so I could come back and visit."

Rosalie sat down on the bench and grasped his soft warm hands, "What did you learn?" she asked him as she dragged him to sit beside her.

Christopher rolled his eyes and laughed, "Well... how to talk silly! I sort of understood what all of you were saying when I was here before. I just didn't know how to make the sounds back."

Rosalie gaped openly at the boy before her; this was a lot for even for a vampire to take in. Suddenly they both heard a swallow sing high in the air. 'Hmm... animals don't usually make much noise around us,' thought Rosalie.

Before Rose could ask another question, the boy began to try to disengage her hold on him. Christopher suddenly stood and pulled at his trapped hands.

"Rosalie, you have to let me go!" Christopher pleaded.

"No!" she shouted back, "Have you any idea how much we love you?"

Christopher looked imploring at her saying, "Listen... don't you hear the difference out there?" as he gazed into the forest. "Can't you smell them? They're after me... let me go!"

Rosalie didn't want to injure the boy in the struggle, so she released him. Christopher ran to the huge oak tree, she could hear his heart beating like a loud drum.

"Tell Carlisle that I haven't forgotten him," and with those words Christopher seemed to all but disappear.

Rose used her vampire abilities to run after him and track him, but she couldn't locate him. Rosalie took a huge gulp of air... she could still smell Christopher's unique sweet smell, but... there were other foreign smells nearby that were somewhat similar to the boy's. Rose was never scared in the forest, as she was usually the strongest thing in it. But something felt horribly wrong as she hurriedly ran from the forest and back to the safety of the Cullen house.

- continued -