Raindrops Chapter 1

Edward's POV

Rain pounded relentlessly on the house in Forks, Washington. With my head resting lightly against the window and my legs tucked casually into my chest, I pretended. I pretended I could sleep here, eyes closed and mind oblivious. I pretended I couldn't hear the thoughts of my siblings and my mother throughout the house. I pretended I wouldn't have to hunt my own food and I pretended I didn't long for the blood of innocents. I pretended I was human. I am content here, in my world of make believe, but good things never last forever. Even for vampires.

Edward. The thought was clear, as if she was standing next to me.

Edward, won't you come down here? Esme's worried about you. Alice again. She was the only sibling who dared talk to me when I was in one of my "black moods" as she referred to them.

Please Edward, it would really mean a lot, even Rosalie came down… The thought broke off, in favor of a vision that I was unwillingly dragged into.

A little girl with long brown hair and rich brown eyes crouched in a closet, a hand covering her mouth as she attempted to control her erratic breathing. There was screaming. A man and a woman. Begging, threatening, doing anything to save their lives… and the life of their daughter hidden upstairs. Gun shots and the screaming stopped. There were feet on the stairs. He searched the rooms recklessly until he found her shaking in fear.

"Well, what have we here, hmmm?" The man crouched and grabbed the girl painfully by her hair, holding a gun to her head. The one her father always left, unloaded, by the front door. The only one he kept in the house.

"Another Hale. You must be Bella." He smiled a cruel smile. "Do you know why I killed your parents?" He asked. "No? Well its simple really," he tilted her head so that he was whispering in her ear. "Your Daddy locked me up in a cell for five years before I broke out." He continued, "I couldn't risk that happening again." Sirens sounded getting closer to the house. The man fled.

Alice was in my room within seconds. We stared at each other dumbfounded. "Alice, what..?" I broke off, "Who was that? Why did you see her?"

That was terrible, "I don't know Edward," You saw as well as I did, I was thinking of Rosalie and then…" The implications were obvious. Bella Hale… "Rosalie," I whispered. What on Earth is happening? "It could have been anyone, a coincidence." She didn't believe that anymore than I did.

What can we do? We have no idea where she is. There is no information. "There is nothing we can do, Alice." I laid a hand on her shoulder, an attempt at comfort. The rest of the family was in my room now, curious, and worried. Should we tell them? I shrugged.

Why did you say my name, Edward? Rosalie demanded.

"I had a vision," Alice volunteered.

"A little girl and her family being attacked." Alice looked away pain in her eyes. A wave of calm settled in the room as Jasper wrapped his arms lovingly around her waist from behind and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. Alice rubbed his arm in thanks. "We have no information." She paused. "Except… except that we have her name …" He eyes flashed towards Rosalie.

"The girl's name was Bella Hale, she was the only survivor" I finished for her holding my impatience back.

No one spoke, but there was anything but silence.

What is going to happen to her? Could she be related to me? Hope was evident in Rosalie's mind.

Oh, the poor dear! How can we help? Is she related to Rosalie? We've sent anonymous packages to distant relatives before.

Carlisle's car pulled into the drive and I suddenly felt relief from the onslaught of questions.

"Oh!" Alice's eyes turned glossy as I witnessed another vision.

"How awful!" Alice exclaimed. "She has no other family! They are taking her to a foster home." Alice closed her eyes momentarily. Her future is not bright. From what I saw, I agreed.

Edward, my son, what is it that has everyone worked up?

"Esme," Carlisle greeted his wife with a kiss to the forehead. "What has happened?" It wasn't uncommon for Carlisle to address both me and Esme at the same time.

There has to be a reason I'm having these visions. I need to look deeper.

"Come on Jasper," they exited the room.

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Bella's POV

I closed my eyes, and pretended. I pretended that my parents were here. I pretended that I was going home and mom would cook me dinner and dad would tuck me in bed. I pretended that I didn't have painful bruises from where he held me. I was content here, but there was no room for this sort of make-believe here. What I ought to pretend is that I'm little orphan Annie and that someone will love me again. I can't pretend anymore. I suddenly decided. I was nine years old, but I had to grow up now. I tugged the seatbelt gently away from where it was digging into my neck, and laid my forehead against the window. I couldn't see. It was raining. I might have hoped that it did not rain here often in Seattle. But I decided that it was better this way, the less like Phoenix it was here, the better.

The car stopped. The very kind and slightly plump woman opened my door and put an umbrella over my head.

"There you are, dear," she let me hold it, opening a second. "I've got your suitcase. Are you ready?"

I nodded my head. I barely spoke since it happened. It had been 4 days. I doubt I would have eaten a thing if it weren't for this kind lady. I wished she would be with me longer. She never pushed me to talk like the others. She let me be, and comforted me how she could.