Ch 14 - Save You

Sometimes I wish I could save you,
And there's so many things that I want you to know.
I won't give up 'til it's over.
If it takes you forever, I want you to know..

“Save You” - Simple Plan

I groaned, closing the browser window. I’d spent the good part of the past hour on a computer in the library, googling the phone number belonging to my mysterious caller. When Google gave me nothing, I went to a few people searches and tried reverse lookup on the number. No luck with that either. I was out of options and no more closer to finding the owner of the phone than I had been.

I glanced at my watch… it was 6:30pm. It was Saturday and I volunteered to work the evening shift this weekend so the girl who usually did could go out of town. The library was deserted. I glanced to the front and saw that the guy working the desk had fallen asleep.

I considered my options. I still had at least 2 hours before I could head home and there wasn’t any work to be done. I could wake the guy at the desk up for some company, or I could explore the library to pass the time. I could even send a message to the number I’d just googled and hope for a response. They hadn’t called in a few days, since the night we had conversed over texts.

I finally sighed, resigned, and turned back to the computer. I opened the browser window and went to Google’s homepage. I hesitated briefly, doubting that it was a good idea, but eventually typed in the name in the search box: Lauren Mallory

There were numerous hits and settled for one from the Peninsula Daily News. I’d never read any of the news reports on the accident or Lauren’s death… I only knew what was told to me in passing, so I wasn’t exactly sure what was said or assumed. I clicked the link and took a deep breath before reading.

Teenager dies in single-vehicle accident
Another left in critical condition

FORKS—An accident claimed the life of a teenage girl Thursday night. Lauren Mallory was pronounced dead at the scene at 9:45pm. Mallory, 18, was the passenger in a 1953 Chevy Truck that was being driven by Isabella Swan, 18. Swan lost control of the vehicle as it traveled down US-101 just within the Forks town limits.

Clallam County Sheriff’s department was brought in to assist with the investigation of the accident, as Swan is the daughter of Forks Police Chief Charles Swan. Authorities are unsure of the cause of the accident but suspect alcohol or drugs may have been involved.

Swan was flown from the scene to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where she is listed in critical condition.

I sighed and hit the back button on the browser. I glanced through the other headlines Google had produced and was about to close the window when one caught my eye. I froze, unsure if I wanted to read it, but clicked on the link eventually.

Teenager Reported Missing

FORKS—The small community of Forks is once again grief-stricken, as a popular student has gone missing. Tyler Crowley, 18, was last seen leaving Harborview Medical Center in Seattle on Wednesday evening at approximately 7pm. His car was located the next afternoon, abandoned along US-101. Crowley’s girlfriend, Lauren Mallory, was killed in an accident along that same highway two weeks ago. The driver in that accident, Isabella Swan, is still hospitalized at Harborview Medical Center, where police believe Crowley had gone to visit her. Swan has been charged with Driving Under the Influence and vehicular manslaughter in the accident, as police say she was under the influence of drugs at the time of the crash. Authorities are unsure if Crowley’s disappearance is in any way related to the incident two weeks ago.

I sighed and closed the window, not wanting to read anymore. I had been the last one to see Tyler and I knew the people of Forks were suspicious because of it. It was illogical to blame me for his disappearance, considering I was in the hospital when it happened, but that didn’t stop them. Even if I may not have physically done it, they still felt as if I were the cause. It was like the domino effect…I started the chain of events that ultimately led to Tyler disappearing.

Forks was a united community, especially with the older generations. If you harm one person, you’re inevitably hurting all of them. And I’d inadvertedly shattered numerous lives—which didn’t bode well with my neighbors. I was no longer the loving teenage daughter of the beloved police chief, finally coming home after all of those years… I was now the despicable juvenile delinquent who caused devastation to everything she touched and destroyed the community. I was an outsider—the enemy.

Even Charlie didn’t look at me the same. In fact, he refused to even look at me at all. I may have physically survived the accident, but Charlie’s daughter had died. I had been comforted when I woke up in the hospital and saw him sitting in the corner of the room… but my dad Charlie wasn’t there—Police Chief Charles Swan was. He treated me like a stranger, like the average scum he deals with on a daily basis on the job. I told myself it was simply shock, and that he’d get over it. I was his only child after all—his little girl. But he didn’t get over it. In fact, he never came back. The last time I saw him was when I was being read my rights and placed under arrest that afternoon. I guess I deserved that, considering I’d hurt Charlie immensely. Not only did I steal from him, but also I’d embarrassed him and caused irrevocable damage to his reputation. His daughter--the degenerate. Regardless of if I deserved it or not, it didn’t change the fact that it hurt to have him turn his back on me. I became a firm believer in karma that day.

I, of course, have no idea what truly happened to Tyler. It’s just as much of a mystery to me as it was to everyone else. There was absolutely no trace of him after leaving the hospital, no clues as to where he had gone. Some people held firm in their belief that he ran away willingly, but I knew better. I had my suspicions, but obviously nothing that could ever be proven. I hoped I was wrong, because if I were right it was likely that I technically was to blame for what happened to him.

A loud bang rang out behind me, startling me. I jumped up quickly and swung around, scanning the room. A chair at one of the tables was toppled over and lying on its side on the ground. I didn’t see anyone and hadn’t heard anyone come in. I glanced over to the front desk to my fellow coworker, Jonathan. He was staring at the chair on the ground, confusion etched on his face. He turned to look at me.

“You heard that, right?” I asked. He nodded.

“I swear I saw someone standing there. But I must’ve been dreaming or something, seeing things.”

I nodded, turning back to the chair. I walked over to it slowly and picked it up, putting it back on its legs. I glanced around the room again, looking for anyone or anything to account for the chair getting knocked over, but there was nothing.

I shrugged and walked over to the computers and started shutting them down. It was nearly closing time and I was more than ready to get out of there at that point. I gathered up my stuff and quickly said goodbye while Jonathan locked up.

It was a clear evening… the moon shone brightly, illuminating everything and I could see thousands of stars twinkling above. The air was cool but comfortable. I headed in the direction of my building, slowly strolling and enjoying the night.

About five blocks from home, I caught a chill. Goosebumps coated my arms and a shiver ran down my spine. I wrapped my arms around myself, clutching my coat closed tightly but it did nothing to stop it. The little hairs on the back of my neck started standing up and panic crept in. My body was trying to alert me something, my instincts kicking in—someone was watching me.

I pulled my keys out, clutching them in my hand with the biggest one sticking up between my middle and pointer fingers. It was a defensive move I’d heard about but I couldn’t recall from where. It seemed like a smart thing to do… I could easily stab someone in the eye or something. I mentally kicked myself for not buying pepper spray or a stun gun, as those would be smart for a woman living alone in the city to have.

I glanced behind me briefly, picking up the pace some more. I turned back around but was a second too late… I hadn’t seen the hole in the sidewalk. My foot caught in it and I stumbled forward. I closed my eyes tightly and shot my arms out, bracing myself for impact with the ground… but it never happened. I felt arms around my waist, catching me mid-fall, and I was brought back onto my feet quickly. A tingling sensation shot through my body, outwards into my limbs.

I opened my eyes and was out of the embrace immediately. I swung around, frantically looking but didn’t see anyone nearby. I glanced down and saw the hole in the sidewalk… I also saw the major scuff on the toe of my shoe, indicating that I hadn’t imagined it all.

I froze, in shock. Someone had caught me, saved me from falling… and that someone had disappeared into the shadows just as quickly as they had appeared. There had been no one around me, but someone had been watching. It was evident they meant me no harm, considering they’d kept me from injuring myself.

There were only a few people that fit the bill… I’d sensed them occasionally for a while now but ignored it, believing it had all been in my head.

But I was sure now—sure that it had been real. And the prickly sensation that shot through my body upon their touch was a dead giveaway.

“Thank you, Edward.” The words were only a whisper but I knew he’d hear them, wherever he had gone.