EMERSON MANAGED ONE CLASS WITHOUT RUNNING INTO MYSTERY BOY. Well, it hadn't even been him who ran into her. It had been a boy who didn't even look human, with broad shoulders and feet taller than Emerson how had sat down next to her in her Algebra 2 class. Emerson had taken the class sophomore year on the reservation, but given how easy it was to pass, she had chosen it again for an easy A.

She had recognized the boy who didn't look remotely ordinary walking into the classroom after the bell. Broad-shouldered and impossibly tall, with the kind of build that could clear out an entire football team, he strode into the classroom as if he owned it. His golden-brown eyes scanned the room, sharp and purposeful, until they landed on her. His eyes seemed to sink into her soul, reminding her of mystery boy.

      Her stomach sank further. He smiled—wide, confident, and far too knowing—before making his way toward her row.

      When he reached her desk, he turned to the girl sitting next to her. "Hey, Sadie, right?" His voice was warm and friendly, completely disarming. "Do you mind switching seats? I've got a reason to be back here."

      Sadie blinked, caught off guard. "Uh, I guess?" she mumbled, gathering her things and moving to the front without protest.

      Emerson braced herself as the boy—no, the mountain of a person—dropped into the newly vacated seat beside her. The desk creaked under his weight, and she couldn't help but lean away slightly.

      "You're Emerson, right?" He asked, his tone casual, as though they'd met before.

      She stiffened. "Yeah. And you are?"

      "Emmett," he said, extending a hand.

      She hesitated before taking it, the chill of his skin surprising her. "What do you want?"

      Emmett leaned back, grinning like they were old friends. "Straight to the point. I like that."

      She glared, crossing her arms, "that doesn't answer my question."

      "Well, I'm here on behalf of my brother," he said, as though that clarified anything.

      Her heart stuttered. Brother?

      "Edward," Emmett clarified, watching her face carefully.

      Her stomach dropped. The name fit him of course, Edward. Classy, rich, just as his family seemed to be. The boy with the smoldering eyes and quiet intensity who had pulled her into something she couldn't explain. Edward. Now that she could pin a name to a face, it would be harder to ignore him.

      "What about him?" She asked sharply, her pulse quickening, though her body did nothing to betray the change.

      Emmett chuckled, clearly enjoying himself. "He's, uh, been talking about you. A lot."

      Emerson frowned, her head spinning. "Why?"

      "Beats me," Emmett said with a shrug that didn't feel remotely sincere. "Edward doesn't usually...notice people. You're the first one in, well, ever."

      She opened her mouth to respond, but nothing came out. Notice people? That night, it had felt like he noticed everything.

      "And you're telling me this because...?" She asked finally.

      "Because he's terrible at this kind of thing," Emmett said, leaning in conspiratorially. "So, I'm here to, you know, help things along."

      "Help what along?" Emerson demanded, heat rising to her face.

      Emmett grinned, a spark of mischief in his eyes. "You and him. I mean, clearly there's something there."

      "There is nothing there," she snapped, her voice a harsh whisper.

      "Uh-huh," Emmett said, his grin widening. "Tell that to Edward. He's been...let's just say, brooding more than usual since he ran into you."

      Her cheeks burned, and she turned forward, gripping the edge of her desk. "Look, I don't know what you think happened, but tell him to stay out of my way. I'm not interested. I told him that night, no strings, one time. That's why I didn't give him my name, and I didn't get his."

      Emmett laughed, a deep, warm sound that grated on her nerves. "Yeah, sure. I'll let him know. But, uh...just a heads-up—he's not great at taking no for an answer."

      "Well, I'm all too happy to be the first," Emerson shot him a glare, but he only chuckled again, looking entirely too pleased with himself. The teacher called for the class's attention, and Emmett turned forward, his expression relaxed, as though he hadn't just dropped a bombshell into her morning.

      Emerson tried to focus on the lesson, but her thoughts were racing. Edward Cullen. She didn't know his last name until now, and yet here she was, apparently the subject of his brooding. What game was he playing? And why did she have the sinking feeling that her one reckless mistake was about to become a lot more complicated?

     As her math class dragged on, she couldn't shake the lingering tension from her interaction with Emmett. The boy had left her rattled—too cheerful, too knowing, and far too confident for her liking. Worse, the mention of Edward brought back every memory she'd been trying to suppress for two weeks.That night had been a mistake, she reminded herself. A reckless, impulsive mistake with a stranger whose name she hadn't hadn't wanted to know. But now that stranger had a name—Edward Cullen—and apparently, a family determined to meddle in her life.

When the bell rang, Emerson bolted from the classroom before Emmett could say anything else. She needed space to breathe, to think. As she stepped into the hallway, she let out a shaky sigh and headed toward the library for her break in classes.

But as soon as she turned the corner, she nearly collided with someone. The others persons books slammed to the ground, drawing the attention to them as Emerson's cheeks flamed from embarrassment.

"Oh, sorry—" Emerson began, only to stop short when she looked up.

The girl in front of her was small and delicate, almost doll-like, with short, spiky black hair and the same strange golden eyes as Emmett. She was unnervingly graceful, standing as if she belonged in a world far more elegant than a high school hallway.

"You must be Emerson," the girl said, her voice light and musical, as if they were already friends.

Emerson blinked. "That seems to be the conclusion a lot of people are making today. And you are?"

The girl's lips curved into a bright smile. "Alice. Alice Cullen."

Emerson tensed at the name. "Of course you are," she muttered under her breath.

Alice tilted her head, her smile unwavering. "Emmett said you might be a little skeptical."

"Oh, did he?" Emerson asked dryly, crossing her arms. "What do you want?"

Alice laughed softly, the sound surprisingly disarming. "Nothing bad, I promise. I just wanted to meet you."

"Well, you've met me. Anything else?"

Alice's smile faltered slightly, but her tone remained cheerful. "I know this is a little...unusual. Emmett can be a bit much, but he means well. Edward, too."

Emerson's stomach twisted. There it was again—Edward's name, looming over her like a shadow she couldn't escape. "If Edward has something to say to me, he can say it himself," she snapped.

Alice's expression softened, her golden eyes almost pleading. "It's not that simple for him."

"Why not?" Emerson demanded, her frustration bubbling to the surface.

Alice hesitated, as if debating how much to reveal. "Edward...doesn't connect with people easily. And you've already made an impression on him."

"Great," Emerson said flatly, her chest tightening. "Tell him I'm flattered, but I'm not interested."

Alice studied her for a moment, her gaze unnervingly perceptive. "Are you sure about that?"

Emerson frowned, suddenly feeling exposed under Alice's scrutiny. "Yes, I'm sure. Why wouldn't I be?"

Alice's smile returned, this time with a hint of mischief. "No reason. Just a feeling." Before Emerson could respond, Alice reached out and gently touched her arm. "For what it's worth, I think you and Edward could be good for each other. But if you really want us to leave you alone, I'll tell him."

The sincerity in her voice caught Emerson off guard, and for a moment, she didn't know what to say. She wanted to tell Alice to do exactly that—to tell Edward to stay far away from her. But instead, she nodded mutely, unsure of her own feelings.

Alice's smile brightened. "Okay. Well, it was nice meeting you, Emerson. I'll see you around."

With that, Alice turned and glided down the hallway, her movements impossibly graceful. Emerson watched her go, a strange mix of emotions churning in her chest.

She leaned back against the wall, closing her eyes for a moment. First Emmett, now Alice. How many more Cullens were going to insert themselves into her life?

Lunch was chaos.

Emerson had barely made it through her morning classes without getting overwhelmed. Forks High School wasn't huge, but it was loud and full of curious eyes that seemed to follow her everywhere. Being the new girl had its downsides. After her weird interaction with Alice Cullen, she spent her off period texting with Kim—who conveniently had the same break in classes as Emerson—filling her in on everything that happened that morning. Kim Connweller was all too thrilled to finally have a name to the face Emerson described.

Now, clutching a tray of unappetizing cafeteria food, she scanned the room for a quiet spot to sit. Most of the tables were packed with groups of students deep in conversation, laughing or gossiping. She didn't recognize anyone, and that was fine. Emerson wasn't in the mood to make friends today.

But just as she spotted an empty corner table, a voice cut through the room. "Hey! New girl!"

She turned, startled, to see a brunette waving at her enthusiastically. Emerson blinked, unsure if the girl was talking to her.

"Yes, you!" The brunette clarified, motioning her over. "Come sit with us!"

Reluctantly, Emerson approached the table. The girl smiled brightly as she scooted over to make room. "I'm Jessica," she said, gesturing for Emerson to sit down. "And this is Lauren, Mike, Angela, and Eric."

"Uh, thanks," Emerson said, sliding into the seat. She wasn't sure why they'd invited her over, but she didn't want to be rude.

"You're Emerson, right?" Jessica asked, leaning in with a conspiratorial grin.

Emerson frowned. "Yeah, how do you—"

"Word travels fast," Jessica said with a shrug. "Small school, you know. Plus, you kind of made an impression already."

"I did?" Emerson asked, confused.

"Oh, totally," Jessica said, her voice dropping to an excited whisper. "You were talking to Emmett and Alice Cullen this morning."

Emerson froze, her stomach flipping. Of course, it always seemed to go back to the Cullens and by a fault—Edward. "What about it?"

"What about it?" Lauren echoed, raising her eyebrows. "No one talks to the Cullens. Like, ever."

"Why not?" Emerson asked, genuinely baffled.

"Because they're...weird," Mike said, leaning in like he was sharing a juicy secret. "I mean, they're gorgeous, obviously, but they keep to themselves. They've been here for over a year, and I don't think I've ever seen them talk to anyone outside their family. Until you."

Emerson shifted uncomfortably, suddenly wishing she hadn't been dragged into this. "It wasn't a big deal. Emmett sat next to me in class, and Alice just said hi. That's it."

"That's it?" Jessica repeated, her eyes wide. "No way. There's gotta be more to it. They don't just randomly talk to people."

"Maybe they're finally trying to be social," Emerson said, hoping to end the conversation. Jessica seemed like someone who wouldn't let go of anything until she knew everything, and Emerson didn't really want her knowing everything.

Angela, who had been quiet up until now, spoke softly. "I don't think that's it. They've always seemed...different. Like they don't want to get close to anyone."

Emerson frowned, a strange unease settling over her. "Well, whatever their reason, I don't know them. And I don't plan on getting to know them."

Jessica smirked. "Good luck with that. Once they notice you, they don't just forget about you."

Her words sent a chill down Emerson's spine. She looked around the cafeteria, her eyes catching on the one boy that seemed to have a hand in everything. Edward—the name felt foreign in her mind, and it felt wrong to even know it. Alice sat next to him, almost bouncing in her seat while a blonde boy sat next to her, looking like he was in pain. Emmett sat next to a blonde girl, her golden eyes catching Emerson as she narrowed them into a glare. Emerson looked back to the table she was sitting at, but she could feel the eyes on her back.

"Seriously," Jessica pressed, her tone turning curious again. "What did they say to you?"

Emerson hesitated, debating whether to tell them anything. She didn't want to stir up more rumors or attention. "Nothing important," she said finally. "Just...small talk."

Jessica didn't look convinced, but before she could press further, the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch. As the group scattered, Emerson grabbed her bag and headed to her next class. But Jessica's words lingered in her mind—once they notice you, they don't just forget about you.

God, she hopped Jessica was wrong.

      Emerson managed the rest of her classes without running into another Cullen. Lucas drove her back to his house, trying to pry into her day while Emerson just gave him simple one worded answers or motioned with her head. He had given up after a few minutes and Emerson settled into filling Kim in on her entire day, while hearing about how the Reservation was in shambles with Sam Uley and Davin Vale were both declared missing. A pit formed in Emerson stomach as she continued to reread the last text kim had sent her.

kimmy
mom is helping with the search party, no one's seen
davin or sam in days. we're starting at la push if you
want to help. doubt dickface will be there so you should
be in the clear

      Thoughts around Davin kept spinning. He hadn't been answering her calls or texts, but she just assumed Jefferson had broken his phone, it wouldn't be unusual. But her brother wasn't just gone—he was missing. The word felt foreign, impossible, like it belonged to someone else's tragedy. Davin had always been there, always strong enough to handle anything. But now, she wasn't sure if he needed her, or if it was already too late.

      "You okay over there?" Lucas asked, glancing at her.

      "Fine," Emerson said without looking up.

      Lucas didn't push, though she could feel his concern in the way he kept glancing her way. She was grateful when they finally pulled up in front of the house.

      Ella was already waiting at the door when they walked up. Her face lit up with a strained cheerfulness Emerson had grown used to over the weeks.

      "There you are!" Ella said brightly. "You're home a little earlier than I thought you would be. How was your first day of school, sweetheart?"

      "Fine," Emerson muttered, brushing past her into the house.

      "I made your favorite tonight—spaghetti and garlic bread," Ella said, following close behind. Ella didn't know that Emerson hated garlic bread, or that she much preferred Alfredo to the garlicky red sauce Ella had made twice a week since Emerson had moved in. "I thought we could all sit down together for dinner."

      "I'm not hungry," Emerson said flatly, kicking off her shoes.

      Ella hesitated, her forced smile faltering. "You've got to eat something, Emerson. You'll feel better with some food in your stomach."

      "Maybe later," Emerson said, heading for the stairs.

      Ella's voice softened, taking on that careful, guilt-ridden tone that grated on Emerson's nerves. "If there's anything else you need, just let me know, okay? Anything at all."

      "Okay," Emerson mumbled, already halfway up the stairs.

      She shut her bedroom door behind her and leaned against it, letting out a shaky breath. The house was too warm, the weight of Ella's forced kindness suffocating, Ella bending over backward to make her feel loved, safe, better. But all it did was remind Emerson of how much she had failed her when it mattered most.

The thought of Davin's face swam into her mind, unbidden. She could see his crooked smile, hear his voice telling her to keep her head up, to stay strong no matter what. Tears stung her eyes, and she blinked them away, pulling out her phone.

kimmy
we're heading into the woods now. no sign of them yet.

The woods. Emerson's stomach churned. She could picture the search party, flashlights cutting through the darkness, voices calling out. She should be there.

Her eyes darted to the window. She'd snuck out before—even if it was at Jefferson house, where he was too drunk to notice the back door unlocked before he went to bed—but Emerson assumed it would be easy enough. Quickly, she grabbed her jacket and phone. Her hands trembled as she eased the window open and swung one leg over the sill.

"Really?" William's voice made her freeze.

She looked over her shoulder to see him standing in the doorway, arms crossed. His face was calm, but his eyes held a sharpness that made her hesitate.

"What are you doing?" he asked, his tone neutral.

"Nothing," she muttered, climbing back inside.

"Doesn't look like nothing." He stepped into the room, closing the door behind him. "You want to try again?"

She hesitated, gripping the edge of the window. "It's Davin," she said finally, her voice trembling. "He's missing. I have to help."

William's expression softened slightly. "Your brother?"

She nodded, her throat tightening.

"You should've told us," he said after a moment.

"You would've said no," Emerson shot back, her voice rising.

William sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "After last night, yeah, maybe. But this..." He exhaled slowly. "Let me talk to Ella. If we're going, we're doing this the right way."

Her eyes widened. "We?"

"Yeah, we," he said, giving her a tired smile. "You think I'm letting you go into the woods alone?"

For a moment, Emerson just stared at him, unsure how to respond. Finally, she nodded, her chest tightening with a strange mix of relief and gratitude.

"Stay here," William said. "I'll handle Ella."

      "She's going to say no," Emerson muttered, feeling frustration bubble up. "You know she won't let me go. She's been keeping me on a leash since I got here. Especially after yesterday."

      William sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "She's scared, Emerson. But after this, you need to stop sneaking around. You can't just run off without telling anyone, especially not now."

      Emerson was about to argue, to insist on just going with William, but something in his eyes stopped her. There was no anger, no frustration—only a quiet understanding. He wasn't going to let her go alone, but he wasn't going to force her either. He was going to make sure she had a chance to explain herself first. So, Emerson only nodded, feeling a rush of guilt. She didn't want to fight, didn't want to cause more tension. She just wanted to find Davin, to bring him back home. She hadn't realized how much she'd missed him, how much she'd come to rely on him, until he was gone. And now... now she couldn't sit back and wait. She had to do something.

      William left the room, and Emerson stood there, glancing back at the window. She felt torn. She wanted to just leave, but she knew deep down that if she didn't go through this with Ella and William, she would never forgive herself. If she didn't try, they'd never understand.

      Minutes later, William returned, his face set in a serious expression. Emerson could tell he'd had a conversation with Ella, but he didn't say much.

      "Ella's not coming with us," he said, his voice quiet. "But she's not stopping us either."

      Emerson felt a tight knot in her stomach. She had expected this—Ella had never been one for big, risky decisions, especially when it came to her safety. But the way William said it didn't sound like Ella had agreed easily.

      "She's not happy about this," William continued, "but she understands why you need to do this. She told me to make sure you're safe."

      "I know the reservation better than her," Emerson muttered, feeling the weight of her mother's concern pressing down on her. "I grew up there, remember. Abandoned for eight years?"

      William paused for a moment before nodding. "I know. But you're not doing it alone. And you need to promise me something."

      Emerson looked at him, her eyes wide with a mix of concern and curiosity. "What?"

      "Promise me you'll be more receptive," William said, his voice soft but firm. "To both me and Ella. We're trying. We're here for you, even if it doesn't always feel like it. Don't shut us out completely, alright? We're not trying to control you. We want to help. Neither of us know what you went through with your father, not exactly, but we just want to talk to you."

      Emerson opened her mouth to protest, but something in his eyes made her stop. She had been so focused on doing everything herself, on proving that she could take care of everything, that she hadn't realized how much she had pushed them both away. She had been so focused on finding Davin, she hadn't noticed the way Ella and William had been trying to find their way back to her. They weren't perfect, but neither was she.

      "I'll try," she said finally, her voice tight. "I promise."

      William gave her a small nod. "Good. Let's go."

      Together, they made their way downstairs, where Ella stood in the kitchen, her back turned as she wiped down the counter. Emerson could feel the tension in the air, thick and unspoken. But when Ella turned around and saw them, she didn't say anything at first. She just looked at Emerson, her eyes searching her face.

      "I don't like this," Ella said softly, her voice almost pleading. "I know you're worried about Davin. But you need to be careful. You're not thinking clearly right now."

      Emerson's throat tightened, but she stood her ground. "I'm not asking for permission. I'm going. I have to find him."

      Ella sighed, a deep, exhausted sound, but there was something in her expression that softened. She stepped closer to Emerson, her hands trembling slightly as she touched her arm.

      "I know you do," Ella said quietly. "Just...promise me you'll be safe. And that you'll let us help you. I know we're not perfect, but we're here. Please, Emerson. Don't shut us out."

      Emerson nodded, her heart heavy. "I won't," she whispered, though she wasn't sure if she meant it for herself or for Ella. She didn't know what the future held, but for the first time, she felt like she wasn't completely alone.

      Ella hesitated for a moment, then stepped back, her expression softening. "Okay. But be careful. And come back to me in one piece, alright?"

      Emerson's chest tightened, but she smiled faintly. "I will."

      With that, she followed William out the door, into the cool night air. Her heart was pounding, but this time, it wasn't just fear. It was determination. She wasn't going to wait anymore. She was going to find Davin, and she wasn't going to do it alone.

The two didn't speak as William started his car and pulled out of the driveway. The car hummed quietly as William drove through the winding roads toward the reservation, the headlights cutting through the dense night. Emerson's thoughts churned, but she kept them to herself, the anxiety swirling like a storm in her chest.

As they pulled into the reservation, she saw the gathering near the community center, where people were organizing into search groups. Her heart pounded harder, a mix of urgency and dread knotting in her stomach. This wasn't just about finding Davin anymore—it was about finding him before it was too late. Sam Uley was missing too, and the thought of the two of them together in the woods, alone. But none of it felt right, the two boys had grown up in the woods surrounding them, them getting lost just never seemed in the right cards.

When the car stopped, Emerson quickly got out and spotted Kim standing by a group of people, looking around anxiously. Kim's face lit up when she saw her, and she hurried over, her voice shaking with relief.

"Emerson, thank god you're here," Kim said, hugging her tightly. "I was starting to think no one was gonna show up. We really need your help."

Emerson pulled back slightly, glancing at William as he stepped out of the car. She could see Kim's nervous glance at him, but Kim didn't comment. Her attention returned to Emerson. "Everyone's been out searching all night. We need to head into the woods, but we're getting spread thin. They're already searching by the creek, but there's no sign of either Sam or Davin."

Emerson swallowed, trying to suppress the fear clawing at her chest. "I needed to help. I couldn't just—" Her voice faltered, but she quickly pushed it down. "I have to find Davin."

Kim nodded. She had been Emerson's best friend for years, and she knew just how much this was tearing her apart. "I know. We're going to look in teams. We'll find him. We'll find both of them, Emmy."

William stepped closer to the two of them, his face unreadable, but there was a faint edge of concern in his eyes. "I'll be with you two," he said, his voice steady. "We'll stick together."

Kim nodded, then led them toward the organizing area, where people were being assigned to different search zones. It was clear that things were chaotic—there were too many people, all of them frantic and tired, and yet no one had come up with any new leads.

      Kim quickly filled them in on the details. "No one's heard from them in days, it's normal for them to go off grid, but Sam's fiancé hasn't heard from him which isn't normal. Same for Davin, according to you Em. It's like they just disappeared. We're starting near the north trail. It's dense, and the path is harder to follow. We think that's where they might have gone."

Emerson felt a chill at Kim's words, but the nerves in her chest weren't from worry about getting lost. The north trail was one they'd walked a thousand times. Davin and her had spent so many summers exploring these woods. No, she wasn't worried about him being lost. What she was worried about was something else—something she wasn't ready to face.

William gave her a steady look, his presence calming, but Emerson could see that he, too, was trying to hold it together. "Stay close," he said softly.

Kim led the way, her pace quick but hesitant, as if she, too, could feel the weight of the moment. Emerson followed closely behind, her heart pounding with each step. She wasn't worried about getting lost in the woods—they both knew them too well for that—but the growing sense of something being off, something wrong, made every step feel heavier.

The woods ahead were dark, the trees towering high above them, casting long shadows on the ground. The path was narrow, barely wide enough for two people to walk side by side, and the thick underbrush made it difficult to move. The air was cool, but there was an underlying tension in the silence, as if the woods themselves were holding their breath.

"Davin!" Emerson called out, her voice trembling, but there was no answer, just the whisper of wind through the trees. "Where are you? Please, if you're out here, let us know!" Her voice cracked on the last word, and she quickly turned away, her throat tightening. Kim placed a hand on her shoulder, her grip tight, and for a moment, Emerson felt like she wasn't alone.

"Em," Kim said softly, her voice barely a whisper. "We'll find him. He's out here. He has to be."

They continued on, their footsteps the only sound in the otherwise quiet woods. Emerson couldn't stop the thoughts running through her mind. What had happened to Davin? Had something happened to him and Sam together? Had they been hurt? Were they even still alive?

As they reached a small clearing near the creek, Kim motioned for them to stop. The others had already begun to fan out, searching the area, their flashlights flickering in the dark.

"Let's split up here," Kim suggested, turning to Emerson and William. "I'll take the northern edge of the creek, and you two take the southern end. If we don't find anything here, we'll head further down the path."

Emerson nodded, already moving in the direction Kim indicated, her eyes scanning the dark water as it flowed lazily by. Her thoughts were muddled, but her focus never wavered. If Davin was out here, he was close. She could feel it in her gut.

The sound of a twig snapping nearby made Emerson freeze. Her breath caught in her throat. She spun around, her heart racing, but it was just William, moving slowly behind her.

"You okay?" William asked quietly, his voice low.

Emerson nodded, though she wasn't sure if she believed it herself. "I just keep thinking about when we were kids, you know? The places we used to go...I'm not worried about getting lost. We know these woods. But what if something happened to him?"

William's expression softened. "You're not alone. We'll find him, Emerson. You don't have to do this alone."

Emerson's throat tightened at his words. It wasn't just about finding Davin. It was about everything she had to come to terms with—the fear of losing him, the fear of losing the only person who had always had her back.

"We're going to find him," she said, her voice steadier than it had been before, but she tried not to let the doubt she felt in her gut fill her voice. "We have to."

The search continued, each step deeper into the woods feeling like another step closer to the truth—whatever that truth was. The shadows grew longer, the night colder, but Emerson wasn't ready to stop. Not until she found him. Not until she brought her brother home. Hours passed, but despite the constant search, there was no sign of Davin or Sam. Emerson felt a pit in her stomach, the weight of uncertainty pressing down on her as the reality began to set in. They hadn't found a trace. No footprints. No signs of struggle. Just...nothing.

Finally, Kim motioned for them to regroup near the clearing. "We've covered the area," she said, her voice quiet and tired. "There's no sign of them. I don't understand. Where could they have gone?"

Emerson could see the frustration on Kim's face, but there was something else too—something that mirrored her own fear and helplessness. She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Kim in a tight hug.

"We'll keep looking. I won't stop until we find them," Emerson whispered.

William stood a few steps away, his hands in his pockets, watching the two of them. He hadn't said much during the search, but Emerson knew he was just as concerned. After a moment, he cleared his throat, stepping forward with a soft smile.

"Emerson," William motioned her to the side, and reluctantly she followed him. "It's past midnight, and you have school in the morning. We should be heading home."

Emerson furrowed her eyebrows, looking up at the man. Confusion and frustration filled her gaze, "but we haven't found them yet. I don't care about school Will, I care about finding my brother."

William raised his hands in surrender, trying to calm the girl down before her anger got the best of her. "I know that, but we're both tired, we need sleep and to regroup. We can going the search tomorrow, I promise."

Emerson's eyes flickered to the woods behind them, the hair on the back of her neck stood as the darkness seemed to expand around them. "There's something else, something you're not telling me. What is it?"

There was a brief pause before William's expression shifted, his gaze flicking toward the woods. "I don't want Jefferson to show up here, you shouldn't see him right now "

Emerson's stomach turned at the mention of her father, but she shook her head. "He's probably too drunk to even notice Davin's missing," she muttered. "I wouldn't be surprised if he's passed out by now."

William's brows furrowed with concern,"Emerson, let's go home, please. I promise, tomorrow, if they haven't found the two, we'll come straight here."

Emerson swallowed, her eyes watering as she looked around to Kim and the rest of the search party. They had just begun to spread out again, sleep weighing on all of them. "Fine," she turned to look at William again, "as soon as school gets out."

William nodded, "as soon as it does. I'll even pick you up."

"Deal," Emerson nodded, before walking over to Kim. "William wants us to go back to their house. Please, I don't care what time, just tell me if you find them, find anything."

Kim gave Emerson another hug before stepping back. "We'll find them. We have to."

"Anything," Emerson pressed, and Kim nodded, a tired smile breaking across her lips.

"Promise." Kim agreed, hug the girl once more before heading to going the search group once more.

Emerson watched them for as long as she could before William joined her side and led her back to the car. Helping her inside the car before rounding around to the front. The heat blasted out of the vents as soon as William turned the car on and they began to pull out of the parking lot.

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KENNEDY SPEAKS :

william is trying and that's what counts, but emerson
had officially met three of the cullens and she is clearly
NOT impressed. but oh no...davin and sam are missing!
what ever happened to them!? 😃
also really long ass fucking chapter!