»—— act four. breaking dawn, part one
☽⋅── FOURTEEN ──celeste and ciel ─⋅☾

Eve sat up, her eyes opening to the warmth of the sun. Yawning, she stretched her limbs, feeling the pleasant aftermath of a full stomach. She had been indulging in berries and freshly caught fish from the nearby river, and the satisfaction made her feel sleepy.

As her gaze fell onto her bare feet, she couldn't help but scrunch her nose at the sight of the dirt clinging to them. The thought of a refreshing wash appealed greatly to her.

She stretched once more, her small body relishing the action, before brushing off the back of her dress. The fabric was old and worn, but she pushed the thought aside, focusing her attention on getting her feet clean instead.

As she hummed a familiar tune, she found herself wondering where it came from. Despite her lack of memory, the melody brought her a sense of comfort and familiarity.

She began to walk along the river, her eyes taking in the tranquil surroundings. The sound of the water trickling over rocks and the gentle rustle of leaves in the breeze set an atmosphere of tranquillity. The trees provided ample shade, their dense foliage blocking out any direct sun while providing spots of bright light where sunlight filtered through the leaves.

As she approached the river, she could see the clear water rushing by, its surface glittering as the sun danced over it in shimmering waves. She placed her bag of dried fruits on the riverbank.

She took a deep breath and stepped into the cool water, immediately feeling the mud squishing between her toes. A small smile curled on her lips at the sensation. She moved further into the river, enjoying the feeling of the water lapping against her legs.

Then, she crouched down, scooping some water up with her hands and using it to gently scrub the dirt from her feet. The process was soothing, as she carefully scrubbed away any dirt and debris.

The cool water swirling around her feet provided a rejuvenating sensation, and she couldn't help but hum that familiar tune once more as she continued to clean herself. She splashed some water on her face, relishing the refreshing feeling as it washed away any tiredness or grime.

Eve was enjoying the peacefulness of the moment when the sound of giggles behind her caught her attention. She turned around to see two other kids about her age, maybe a bit older.

The girl spoke first, her smile soft and gentle, "Do you like the water?" Her question seemed innocent enough.

The boy then chimed in, his smile mirroring the girl's, "You should be careful, rivers can sometimes carry people away with them."

She observed the two children closely, her gaze taking in their features. They both possessed similar features, but their eyes were distinctly unique. The girl's eyes were a deep shade of blue, like the depths of the ocean, while the boy had eyes that appeared to shift between hazel and vibrant green as if they were reflecting the sunlight in a captivating way.

She studied their golden hair, and inexplicably the thought of "golden sunrise" crossed her mind, causing her to furrow her brow in bewilderment.

She waded out of the river and approached the two kids halfway, replying, "I know how to swim; I'll be fine if it tried."

The girl chuckled in response, shaking her head, "No, trust us. Even if you're the best swimmer, the river will carry you away."

The boy nodded in agreement, "Yeah, it's better to avoid testing that. Once the river pulls you, there's no returning."

Eve's brow furrowed as she glanced back at the river, her confident demeanour wavering slightly. The two kids' statements seemed to hold a weight she couldn't fully grasp, a hidden meaning that puzzled her. She couldn't help but wonder why their words struck a chord within her, stirring an inexplicable feeling.

The girl flashed a wide smile, extending her hand and beckoning Eve to follow. "Come, follow us," she said.

The boy concurred, adding, "It would be safer to stay away from the river's allure, as it would bring great sadness to be taken by it."

The boy nodded in agreement with his sister, and then the girl chimed in, "And many people will be sad."

Eve furrowed her brow, her gaze shifting between the outstretched hand and the children's enigmatic words. "What do you mean, people will be sad?" she inquired.

The girl and boy mirrored each other's expressions, their eyes shifting back to Eve again.

"Daddy will be sad," the girl stated, her tone soft.

The boy then chimed in, "And all our brothers and sisters."

Eve's eyes widened slightly as she studied the twins further, the feeling of something significant eluding her memory lingering on. Her tongue felt heavy. As if the answer was right there, but just out of reach.

The words echoed in her mind, the mention of 'Daddy' and their siblings catching her attention. Why did those words feel so familiar to her? The twins looked at her intently, their gazes fixed on her face as if studying her every reaction.

Eve was trying to recall something crucial, something that felt buried deep within her memory, but she couldn't grasp it. All she could do was look back at them, the confusion evident in her expression.

The boy turned to the girl, and exclaimed, "She's confused, Celeste."

Celeste let out an exasperated sigh. "Oh, come on, Ciel. I thought she would understand, I mentioned Daddy first."

As soon as Eve heard their names, her body froze, her mind racing. Of course, she knew those names, of course she did. They were the names she...

Eve's brow furrowed, her brain struggling to remember the person connected to those names. They were on the tip of her thought, but she just couldn't recall who it

She closed her eyes as she focused her thoughts, delving deep into her memory. Then, like a faint but brilliant light, the phrase "golden sunrise" emerged.

Her eyes fluttered open and she mumbled, "Golden sunrise." A wave of realisation washed over her. Celeste and Ciel, her children.

Suddenly, the name Carlisle came rushing back, like a dam bursting open. Memories of her husband and family flooded her mind.

Eve's body suddenly transformed back to her adult form, and she gasped as she looked down at the two children in front of her.

"Mommy, you finally remember," Ciel spoke, his eyes sparkling.

"I told you, Ciel," Celeste chimed in, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. "The third time is the charm. It took a while, though."

Eve stood there, her eyes drinking in her children's features, noticing the undeniable resemblance to both herself and Carlisle.

"Third time?" Eve repeated, her confusion evident in her voice.

Celeste and Ciel chuckled at her confusion, and Celeste explained, "We've been in a loop for two days straight. You wake up and go to the river, and then we meet you, but you don't remember."

Ciel chimed in, adding, "Well, it worked, so let's go, Mommy! Daddy and the others are waiting!"

Eve blinked, trying to process the words coming from her children. The mention of a loop and the fact that this was the third time they'd encountered each other made her feel even more bewildered.

"A loop?" she inquired, her eyes darting between the two kids who had her and Carlisle's features. "What do you mean, a loop?"

Celeste sighed and explained, "We just wanted to make sure the river didn't take you away."

Eve's confusion deepened as she repeated, "The river?"

Ciel chimed in, his voice solemn, "The river... well, if it took you, you would have died."

Eve's heart froze as the words registered in her mind. The idea of the river whisking her away and ending her life was too much to process. The thought of leaving her children, her loved ones, behind left her feeling a sharp pang of dread.

"But..." she started, her voice trembling slightly, "but how? How could the river... take me?"

"The river, it decides? If I should be ready to go or stay?" Eve's voice quivered as she tried to comprehend the weight of those words, her heart still heavy with the thought of being taken by the river.

Celeste held her hand out again, a soft and hopeful smile on her face. "Come, Mommy. Let's go meet properly, hug and kiss Daddy, tell him you love him, and be with the family."

Despite the lingering uneasiness, Eve couldn't help but long to see Carlisle and her family. Her hand gingerly reached out and took hold of Celeste's, a fragile gesture full of hope and uncertainty.

Then Ciel grabbed her other hand.

The journey through the forest and meadows passed in a haze as the twins led Eve forward. A subtle change soon caught her attention; the twins began to slowly fade away, being replaced by the warm, yellow light of the sun.

With a sudden snap, her eyes opened wide.

The world around her seemed to snap into sharp clarity, everything appearing defined and distinct. The brilliant, blinding light above seemed even brighter, almost too intense, and she could now see every thread of the glowing filaments inside the light bulb.

A strange sensation washed over her as she could suddenly discern every colour within the white light, including one she had never seen before - a hint of a new colour on the edge of the visible spectrum.

Eve recoiled from the brightness, her eyes pained by the intense light. Her heightened senses were in full effect, amplifying every detail around her. The distinct scent of blood filled her nostrils, making her nose wrinkle at the scent.

As her breath hitched in surprise, she noticed something odd. The air itself felt different; there was no relief as it passed through her throat. Her lungs didn't need the oxygen, responding indifferently to the inhalation.

Eve turned her focus to the sounds around her, filtering through the multitude of noises that filled the house. She zeroed in on the familiar voices she knew belonged to her family.

There was one question she sought an answer to: Where were Carlisle and the babies? She concentrated harder, her mind seeking out specific sounds. There, she heard two distinct heartbeats and the soft, gentle hum of Carlisle.

With a soft exhale, she closed her eyes, listening intently to the sound of her husband and children.

As the whisper escaped her lips, "Carlisle," her husband's head snapped up, his ears pricked. Could it be? He thought at first it was a hallucination, but no, he knew the sound of her voice all too well.

Realization dawned on him. She was awake. It had only been a day, yet somehow, she was conscious.

Carlisle looked down at the twins he was cradling in each arm, contemplating leaving them with someone. However, Celeste's small hand gently touched his cheek, her touch conveying reassurance.

Carlisle understood the silent message. It was safe for Eve to be near them. He remembered the time they had encountered Victoria, and how it was revealed that Eve would never intentionally harm family, as it went against her very nature.

Carlisle's thoughts were in turmoil. He recollected the incident with Eleanor when Eve had reacted to her injury. He was unsure; a newborn like her could potentially be uncontrollable, even if the family tried to restrain her.

Celeste, seeing her father's worry, reached out and touched his cheek again, trying to reassure him. She even warned that she would cry loudly if he dared doubt her.

Carlisle couldn't help but chuckle at the audacity of his newborn daughter, Celeste, who was already resorting to blackmail at barely a day old.

He sighed, looking down at her with soft eyes, before nodding reluctantly. "Alright, little miss," he said, his voice a mix of resignation and amusement. "I suppose I have to trust you. Just don't start crying if things go awry, okay?"

As Celeste flashed him a smile, almost as if she understood his concern, Carlisle turned his attention to Ciel, who was quietly observing the exchange. "And you, little man," he told his son, "Keep an eye on your sister. Let's hope she's right about this."

Ciel, the younger twin, responded with a quiet, curious nibble on his finger, seemingly lost in his own little world. Carlisle chuckled again, appreciating the innocence of the boy before looking back at Celeste, his expression still tinged with a hint of anxiousness.

"Well," he began, before taking a deep, unnecessary breath. "Here we go." With the twins securely in his arms, he began walking, his footsteps soft but deliberate, towards the room, Eve was in.