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Zechariah Armstrong
Nate sped through the snow-covered streets of Forks, his headlights cutting through the fog like white swords. Eric's call was still echoing in his head.
Accident.
Pretty.
Ambulance.
Single words, but each one had pierced his chest like a gunshot.
It's like that time... the call that told me my parents had died.
He gripped the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white.
Not again. Not someone close again.
The hospital finally appeared, emerging from the mist like a concrete beacon. He braked sharply and parked anywhere, ignoring yellow lines or signs. He jumped out of the car, his jacket unzipped and his heart pounding so hard he felt it was going to break his ribs.
He entered the hospital lobby with long, urgent strides. At the counter, a neutral-faced receptionist looked up at him as she watched him approach.
"Bella Swan?" he asked breathlessly. "They brought her in recently. I need to see her."
The woman typed slowly and read the screen. Her tone was flat, almost mechanical.
"Sorry, only immediate family members are allowed in while she´s under observation. Dr. Cullen is examining her."
"But I just...!" Nate raised his voice before he could stop himself, anxiety spilling over the seams of his self-control.
A deep, familiar voice interrupted him from the end of the corridor.
"Okay. Let him in ."
Nate spun around. Charlie Swan was striding forward, his brow furrowed slightly, but his eyes held a hint of relief. Seeing him there was like an emotional anchor for Nate, a face he associated with stability and family, especially since he'd invited him to fishing after his parents' death.
"Thank you... Mr. Swan."
Charlie patted him on the shoulder.
"No need for formalities with me, Nate. I already told you to call me Charlie."
Nate nodded with a grimace. The relief was warm but incomplete.
"How is Bella?"
Charlie watched him closely. His voice was softer than usual, almost paternal.
"She's fine. She had a slight blow to the head. Dr. Cullen is checking her out as per protocol, but there doesn't seem to be any serious damage."
Nate exhaled sharply. He hadn't even realized he'd been holding his breath for so long.
"And the other guy? Eric told me there was someone else involved."
"Tyler Crowley," Charlie answered, the name coming out with a certain stiffness. "His truck went out of control. He'll be wearing a neck brace for a while, but nothing serious."
Nate noticed the change in tone. It wasn't just professional. There was a hint of annoyance that didn't fit with Charlie's reserved nature.
Tyler just lost any chance he had with Bella… or of driving around Forks again without Charlie glaring at him.
"Can I see her?"
Charlie nodded.
"Sure. She's in room 206. They're almost done checking her out."
They walked down the hallway in silence. The sound of their muffled footsteps on the polished floor was louder than any words. As they turned a corner, Nate saw him.
Edward Cullen.
He was sitting on a metal chair, leaning forward, his elbows on his knees, his face buried in his hands. His leg was moving rapidly, in a constant, involuntary tremor. He didn't even raise his head as they passed.
But Nate did look at him. And he saw him.
Edward's eyes.
They were golden. A shimmering, almost metallic amber, like liquid honey in the sun. Nothing like the dark eyes I'd seen the day before. Nothing.
It can't be the light. Or an optical illusion. Yesterday they were black. Dark as ink.
And now...?
A chill ran down his spine. The memory of the words in that old Quillette story journal flashed across his mind.
"Bright eyes."
He shook his head.
No. I'm not here for absurd theories.
I'm here for Bella.
He moved on. Edward didn't move.
Charlie stopped in front of a door marked 206 and knocked softly. A female voice answered from inside: "Just a moment, we're almost there."
Charlie turned to Nate.
"Give me a minute. I'll see if you can come in."
Nate nodded as Charlie slipped into the room. He stood there, alone, facing the door, his heart pounding faster than ever.
Through the small window, He couldn't see anything.
She's okay. Charlie said She's okay.
But... I need to see her. I need to know.
I needed to see her confused expression when she didn't understand a joke, the way she narrowed her eyes when something bothered her, and that brief but genuine smile she only used when she truly liked something.
Until then, words were not enough.
The door opened. A man walked out calmly. He was tall, blond, impeccably dressed, with the face of someone who could have been 25 or 40, impossible to decipher. Nate instinctively took a step back, and the doctor pretended to almost trip over him.
"Oh! Excuse me, young man," the man said with a polite smile. "I'm Dr. Cullen. Have you come to see Bella?"
Nate studied him cautiously. Something was unsettling about him. Not just the inhuman beauty he shared with Edward and the other Cullens. It was... a feeling, a presence that felt out of place.
But it was his eyes that put him on alert.
They were just like Edward's. That shiny gold that no human had.
It can't be a coincidence. Not everyone can wear the same color contact lenses.
"Yes, I'm coming to see her," he replied, still not looking away.
"You can come in now. They're finishing getting her settled," the doctor said, giving him a friendly pat on the shoulder.
Nate nodded and took a deep breath. His hand trembled slightly as he placed his fingers on the doorknob. Without another word, he walked in.
Author's Notes: Don't forget the Powerstones! :) And stay tuned for the next chapter (which will be uploaded in two or three hours) Stay tuned