บท 4: Welcome to Forks

[A/N: Because of the wonderful feedback I've been receiving, I decided to publish this chapter earlier than I planned.]

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(General POV)

In a police vehicle driving toward the City of Forks, Charlie Swan, the Chief of Police, hummed a flat tune and listened to the weather report on the radio before switching it off wanting to bask in the peaceful silence.

He lowered the window of his car and stuck an elbow out keeping his left hand on the wheel.

All of a sudden, he spotted something just a couple of meters ahead on the side of the road. He pressed his foot on the break to slow down the vehicle and narrowed his eyes trying to get a better look.

His eyes soon widened in shock.

'A body?!'

There was someone lying on the grass.

He quickly stopped the car and flung open the door before running toward the body. As he neared it, he realized that the body did not belong to just any person but to a kid. A young one at that.

The child's eyes were closed shut and his skin was as pale as a corpse. This prompted Charlie to assume the worst but before he concluded anything, he quickly checked the child's pulse.

He felt a faint heartbeat which led him to sigh in relief.

Without a second thought, he gathered the child in his arms and placed him in the back of the police car before pressing on the accelerator.

Unknowingly, the child in the backseat had opened his eyes.

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(First Person POV)

Opening my eyes, I realized my plan had worked.

After escaping the forest, I noticed the police vehicle coming up in a distance and purposefully presented myself as unconscious. Thankfully, the driver of the vehicle noticed me and was probably taking me to the hospital.

I stayed lying in the backseat, only silently observing my surroundings. Out of the corner of my eye, I was able to see the driver's appearance reflected in the rearview mirror.

'Charlie Swan huh.'

The appearance was uncanny. It was exactly the same as the person in the movie - the actor; Billy Burke.

After confirming this, I glanced up at the window just in time to see the car passing the city's welcoming sign.

[The City of Forks Welcomes You]

'...Someone should really get that sign redone.'

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At the hospital, I lay comfortably on top of the soft mattress.

I was still feigning unconsciousness after Chief Swan dropped me off. He left me alone in the room allowing the nurses and doctors to take over. I thought the check up would be quickly done, but what I didn't expect was for the room to be cleared out and for a single doctor to remain.

"I know you're awake."

My lips twitched as I opened my eyes to meet the golden irises of a handsome pale-skinned man.

Carlisle Cullen.

"You've been awake this whole time haven't you kid?" he asked knowingly. A small smirk adorned his lips and he walked closer to the bed.

I could only release an embarrassed laugh.

"You caught me...heh."

Carlisle's inquisitive eyes scanned over my form for a second before he said, "You were brought in by our resident Chief of Police after you were discovered 'unconscious' on the side of the road. Tell me, how did you end up there?"

I tried to stay calm and not let my emotions show. Staring right back at him, I replied, "I don't know. When I woke up, I was inside the forest...I don't remember anything before that."

"Hmm," Carlisle pursed his lips and raised an eyebrow. It was understandable that he didn't quite fully believe me. Although, even if he didn't, he made no comment and instead changed the subject. "Well, your body is not in a terrible state. I didn't find any concerning injuries or ailments other than the obvious hunger you display and..."

He suddenly paused and looked at with suspicious eyes.

I suddenly felt nervous, "What is it?"

"Your body temperature is a little too high..." for a human; which was left unsaid.

I wanted to shrink back from his gaze and felt the urge to avert my eyes but I figured that would be even more suspicious. I held his gaze and put on a confident face as though I had nothing to hide.

Carlisle smirked and muttered, "Then again, it's probably just a fever. I'll prescribe some meds to you."

"Right. Thanks."

He nodded and turned around to walk out the door. However, before he left, he paused and said, "I hope you have to come to this city in peace. Otherwise, you will find living here to be quite difficult."

After he exited the door, a drop of sweat slid down the side of my head.

'Damn. He's good.'

****

(General POV)

Charlie sat inside his office with a frown covering his features. Glancing at the information, or rather, the lack of information on the computer monitor, he realized things were going to be a bit complicated.

That boy he found on the side of the road could not be identified in the database. Even after looking through the filing cabinets for any records of a missing kid, there was nothing.

It was like this boy didn't exist until now.

Charlie let out a tired sigh and rubbed his eyes before picking up the phone to make a call to a friend that worked in the Washington Police Department.

After a few rings, the call was picked up.

"Hey, Frankie? Yeah, it's me. I need you to look up something for me..."

On the other side of the line, his friend replied, "No problem Charlie. But I'll need a photo of this kid to match with the ones in our database using facial recognition."

Charlie massaged the bridge of his nose and said, "Alright. I get you a picture. Just let me know as soon as you have the results."

"Of course."

Hanging up the call, Charlie leaned back on his chair and contemplated the strangeness of the situation. Cases like this...it could easily be attributed to the child running away from home or being kidnapped.

There were no signs of trauma on his body so at least it could be confirmed that the boy was not abused in any way. However, Charlie would not be at ease until the kid's identity could be found.

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A/N: So I got a comment requesting me for an image of the MC and I just wanted to say that the reason I never gave an image was that I preferred if my readers could picture and imagine their own versions of my MC. As someone that reads a lot, I dislike it when authors give images of their MCs because I have my own image in my mind of what the MC looks like and the image that I have is catered toward myself meaning I prefer it. That's what I wanted for my readers.

However, if you guys really want an image set by me, then let me know. If not, you guys are welcome to paste your own images of what you think the MC looks like in the paragraph comment below:

POST HERE!!

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