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Disclaimer: I obviously don't own Edward or Bella... any of the characters, really... not even the dirt on the silver Volvo... but I like to play with them a little bit...
So, this is the beta-ed version... Thanks a million to MeteorOnAMoonlessNight for helping me with this story!
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Prologue
Christmas Eve was one of my family's favorite days ever. Maybe because we were children and Mom and Dad loved to go way over the top with the decorations, the caroling, and gifts. But I'm sure we all enjoyed it. However, fate is a cruel bitch, and it was actually on Christmas Eve when our lives changed forever. I have nightmares about that night every once in awhile. Today is one of those days…
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"Okay, it's time to go to sleep, my loves," our mother, Elizabeth, said while picking up our drained cocoa mugs from the coffee table, and Dad turned off the TV.
"But, Mommy!" we both said while pouting, trying to convince Mom to let us stay up a little bit more.
"But nothing. You can't butter me up with those little faces. Santa won't come if you all are still awake."
"Emmett says Santa is so fat that he can't move, so our gifts come from somewhere else," my twin tried to say, while our dad laughed and picked up his coffee cup in an effort to hide his amusement.
"Your cousin and I will have a talk tomorrow. Don't listen to everything Emmett says."
"That's what Aunt Esme said. That Emmett was a hormonal teenager and that's why we can't call him 'Emmy' anymore," I said, trying to defend my twin. Mom just laughed.
"Exactly. And don't try to distract me anymore, you two. Off you go." We both got up and after hugging Mom and Dad goodnight, we left to our rooms.
Even though I was willing to stay up a little longer, as soon as I got my jammies on and got in my bed, it didn't take long to fall asleep with a smile on my face.
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My eyes wouldn't stay open because I was so sleepy, but I thought I could hear faint sirens and screaming far away. I forced myself awake and put my slippers on so I could go to my twin's room.
It had always been a way for us to cope with the unknown. When we were scared or couldn't sleep, were confused or extremely happy, we sought the other's company at night. Mom always got so scared when we were little and she couldn't find one of us, until she found us cuddled together in the other's room.
I padded into Edward's room. He was still asleep, so I shook him a little. His green eyes opened quickly and a smile formed on his face.
"What's up, twin? I'm not gonna spy on Santa this year, I'm too sleepy."
"No, it's not that. Do you hear that?" We had rooms at the back of the house where we could see the ocean. The sirens were closer and closer outside.
"What is that?" Edward asked as he got his slippers. "We should go get Mom and Dad." He grabbed my hand and squeezed it tightly. He always gave me strength when I was scared.
Holding hands, we left Edward's room and got into the hallway. Smoke filled the air there and we couldn't help but cough when it got in our lungs. Fear filled my veins and I was stuck to my spot while Edward tugged at my arm while covering his nose.
"Alice, cover your nose. Like the teacher told us in class," my brother reminded me, all while dragging me to our parents' bedroom.
The smoke got thicker and our coughs got worse. Edward took off his shirt and tied it around my face like the teacher told us while giving the first aid lesson. He was coughing really badly but tried to smile every time I would whimper or jump. We passed by the living room and it was engulfed in flames all over. I couldn't even see our Christmas tree or any of the lights. The fire was consuming it all. My house was burning.
"Let's get Mom and Dad, Ali!" Edward shouted.
Our parents' bedroom was one door away. My mother always liked their bedroom close to the front door in case anything happened. I tried to open their door but the handle was so hot it burned my hand. I couldn't help it, I screamed loudly, and that made me cough even harder. Suddenly, there was a noise, and Edward looked up one second and the next he pushed me to the front door.
As soon as he did it, the ceiling fell apart, filling the room with more smoke and fire and leaving Edward trapped on the other side. I didn't want to leave him there. He saw my face and smiled.
"Go, Alice. Go get help!" He paused to cough some more. "I'll try to get Mom and Dad. Go!"
I ran to the front door. Away from the one person I had shared my whole life with—since I was a cell in our mother's womb—to get help. As soon as I got outside, I saw firemen and the neighbors all outside. I ran to the first man in uniform I saw.
"My twin is inside. You have to help me!" My lungs protested and closed up before I could speak again. I coughed to clear them. "My mom and dad… please!"
The guy was talking. I know he was because I saw his mouth moving, but I could no longer hear him.
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I woke up in a hospital room. A huge commotion was happening close to me. I opened my eyes and turned my head to the side. I saw a pale arm lying limp on the side of the bed. I didn't want to believe it was him until I saw the bracelet my mom helped me buy for our 10th birthday on the pale wrist.
I could hear someone screaming but it sounded far away, like I was inside a bubble. A nurse came to my side and readjusted the oxygen mask on my face.
That's when I realized it was me screaming…
"Sweetie. It's okay… everything will be fine. Don't panic. You need to relax. Everything will be okay," she said, while injecting something into the IV attached to my arm.
I could feel myself losing consciousness and the last thing I heard was terrifying…
"We're losing him!"
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I woke up sweating and shaking. I untangled my sheets and didn't even think twice before getting up and running to the one place I knew would help me calm down. I opened the door carefully and tiptoed to the bed. I didn't want to wake him up, since I knew how hard it was for him to fall asleep these days.
But as soon as my head hit his pillow, he opened his eyes and smiled at me. I tried to respond but could feel how it fell short…
"What's the matter?"
"Bad dreams again." I snuggled close to him and he hugged me without moving too much. "Sorry to wake you up."
"I'm here, twin," he whispered with a cough. "I'll always be here."
I could only hope it would stay that way…