chapter five

Forks held many memories for the twins. Some good, some bad. Este could remember bits and pieces of her short childhood in the cloud-covered town, other than that? She didn't remember much until her teenage years.

When Este was a little girl, she remembered her mother taking her to the park with Newt. Always early in the morning, around seven or eight, and they'd stay and play for an hour or two on the monkey bars before returning to their residence. Este always remembered when her and Newt would get to play, or even when they'd get home and play hide and seek while using their abilities. It used to make Angelica Devereaux so nervous because she could never do anything to find or stop her children.

The day of their mother's funeral had been the one sunny day of the year in Forks, Washington. Chief Swan attended, as did his wife and young daughter at the time. A time that was tumultuous for the Swan's because it was soon that his wife would be leaving with their daughter and getting a divorce.

    Este remembered the way Niall Devereaux, her mother's brother, had attempted to hold her hand yet she refused. Her hand simply remained locked with her twin brother's. Her brown hair had been forced into curls with a few pieces braided. A black bow matching the black dress she had worn. Her gold bracelet with the lyre and skull charm rested on her tiny wrist, hidden to many by the pearls she wore.

    Este couldn't stand the sight of white roses after that. Finding the flowers pointless as they rested over the casket that held what was left of her mother's mangled body. She found it even more pointless when everyone urged the twin's to place flowers of their own on top of it - and to say one final thing to their mother.

    Death was a feeling that Este would never be able to forget. It was impossible. Death was inevitable, and being the daughter of the Underworld meant that death always surrounded you. There was a belief that a child of the Underworld would always bring death to those near them, and maybe that statement was true in some ways. Because everyone Este ever loved seemed to die, and no matter what, she would always feel the moment their string of life would be cut by the fates.

    Mrs. Batesman was a teacher who always talked through lectures while presenting images for the students to look at. As she paced around the classroom in her ballet flats talking constantly about the 1960's, she hung up various pictures from hippies, to the war with Vietnam, to the Kennedy's and the end of Camelot.

    Though, Este couldn't focus. The hairs on the back of her neck were standing up and she felt cold. Unnaturally cold. Her blue eyes focused on the details of the paper in front of her as she felt her heartbeat pat against the inside of her body. Her jaw tense as she bit down hard, hard enough that it could've cracked her teeth if she continued. Time felt slow, and suddenly the patting of Mrs. Batesman's shoes against the floor and the ticking of the clock and the scratching of the pencils against paper were the only sounds that Este's ears picked up.

    Her shoulders tensed as she adjusted her posture. She inhaled deeply as her eyes cast around the room with a confused gaze before the feeling settled deep within her. The feeling rooted her to her seat as she then sat back, swallowing thickly as she felt a cold wash of death ripple over her being. The feeling of her brother's hand tightening against her forearm barely made her budge.

Jasper Whitlock. July 3, 1863. El Paso, Texas. Este's breath suddenly felt weighed down in her chest as the feeling continued to sink her into that stupid plastic chair she was assigned to. Mary Alice Brandon. September 24, 1920. Biloxi, Mississippi. The feeling never let up, but the repetition of the information sunk into the back of her mind as she looked at the two people who had walked into class, who had passed behind the twins.

They were two of the Cullen's. As told to the people of Forks, Jasper Hale the twin brother of Rosalie Hale and Alice Cullen. The Hale twins the foster children that were Esme Cullen's niece and nephew. Alice Cullen was just one of the other adoptive kids they took in. I guess Dr. Cullen did not just want to keep adopting kids for a major tax write-off.

Death. The dead were in the room... but that couldn't be possible. Not even ghosts felt like this. Este had only ever felt this way when she was standing in front of someone that was in the process of dying. Not that someone had ever actually been dead around her, is there a freaking zombie here that I didn't know about? Are zombies even real? You know what - if I'm real then so can they, I guess. Odd.

"Excuse me," A bubbly voice placed her freezing hand on Este's sleeve-covered arm, before she retracted as she got past her. She's dead but it's not just her... so is he.

    Este's eyes were as wide as saucers as her eyes darted over to her brother at the touch of the female Cullen. Newt looked weirded out, but also like he was trying not to become amused with his sister's reaction. Yet, they both shared the same discomforting feeling.

Este looked at the man who now stood trying to get past her as well. As her lips parted and her breaths slowed she sunk into her seat, moving out of the way for the two to move and sit in the desks behind the three. Newt wore a similar expression to his sister, running a hand through his blonde hair while occasionally glancing back. Taking shallow breaths as well as his eyes held the same confused look as his sister's. Este rocked slightly in her seat, moving back and forth to ground herself. In all honesty, she looked like a restless teenager who couldn't sit still. When in reality, she was trying to gather her thoughts and figure out what exactly just happened.

There was only one minor difference in the twins. Yes, the two could both feel death and internally know dates, names, and places where people had passed. The difference between the two was that it did not linger on Newt as much as it did Este. Sure, Newt would internally know and feel a small sense of dread - but he wouldn't feel the emotional rollercoaster that made Este's stomach do flips if she felt it.

Este subtly would glance back at the Hale boy and Cullen girl through her peripheral vision. Alice Cullen was maybe 4 '10, had raven hair that was in a pixie cut, and clothes that looked like one of those maximalist fashionistas threw something together after going to a thrift shop. She was small but had a graceful sense to her. Then there was the boy to her left, Jasper Hale. He was around 6 '3, curly blonde hair, and the same pale white skin that Alice had. They also shared the commonality of vibrant amber eyes.

Maybe this is why they seem to keep finding all of these dead people in town. Maybe they really are part of that entire equation. Este's head felt like it was spinning. You could picture a professional NBA player just taking her head off of her neck and spinning it on their finger and that's how she felt. This now just got ten times weirder.

But then Este also realized something as she glanced over at Finn, he had known something was off with the Cullen's and always brought their name into the equation. Now I definitely do not trust him. Este found herself questioning Finn more and more. Piling up lies, excuses, and now comments he's made that led them to this very odd moment.

Este felt the eyes of the Cullen girl and Hale boy staring into her back. Jeez, can you make it any more obvious who you're looking at? Maybe blink. Este literally felt as though they were staring so hard that they were causing a burning sensation, one of a hot poker being repeatedly stabbed into the same area of her back, burning her skin. She let her hand fall from her pencil, playing with the charms on her bracelet, to keep herself rooted in her chair and to keep her mind as clear as she could possibly make it.

It seemed that Finn had been right all along. Even if he didn't share all of the details with them. There was a lot more than something wrong with the Cullen's. And they definitely weren't mortals.

Este looked down as she noticed the paper being slid onto her desk, looking at her brother who had passed it down to her as well as Finn who was looking at her from the side. She looked at the pen marks 'Now you understand what I mean.' She simply nodded in annoyance and passed the paper back down. She sunk into the plastic chair as she swallowed the lump in her throat. They definitely were not going to catch a break with this one.

    The brunette could not stand the feeling of their eyes on her back. She felt like a stick of dynamite who just got ignited. She slowly cast a glare at her brother.

"I can't do it," Este remarked quietly as she became irritable, "I can't do it."

"Este," Newt spoke firmly, yet quietly, "Don't you dare."

"I'm doing it," Este then turned around in her seat as she came face to face with the two amber-eyed teenagers, "Can you please look somewhere that isn't my back because I literally feel like I'm being turned into a human slice of swiss cheese."

    Newt put his head in his hands as he leaned forward into the desk, groaning as he heard his sister finally say something.

    Jasper simply looked at Este, his amber-eyes narrowing in confusion momentarily before he simply looked away from her as if he had never spared a look in her direction at all. Alice Cullen, though, did not look away.

"Sorry," Alice apologized as she flashed a bright smile to Este, "I just zoned out looking at your outfit. I love the layering of the Deftones t-shirt with the long-sleeve. It's very... artistic."

"You'd know about looking artistic, wouldn't you?" Este realized she let that slip past her lips as she pursed them awkwardly, "Sorry, that was out of line," She felt like she was chewing on nails having to apologize, "I have trouble focusing enough to actually think about what I say with issues around this school."

"Don't worry about it," Alice simply smiled again as she leaned back into her seat, "I understand the trouble of...focusing."

    Este then just turned back around in her seat, quickly kicking Newt's good leg as he kept his face in his hands. Trying to ignore how her cheeks definitely went a little red at her own embarrassment and annoyance towards the entire situation.

"I can't believe you just did that, Eurydice."

"I can't either, honestly."

    It was hard to get Este's focus to shift back on the actual classwork task. Maybe it was the lingering feeling of death that settled behind her. Or maybe it was the fact she genuinely couldn't believe she'd turned around and talked to the pair and said something as stupid as she had. Gods, maybe I'm the next body they'll discover. I mean jeez, what is wrong with me today?

    Halfway through the period, Mrs. Batesman handed out copies of The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien. A book about soldiers who served in Vietnam with some very interesting takes and chapter titles that Este was sure would pique some sort of interest in the novel.

"You will read the chapter titled 'In the Field' and annotate it. Tomorrow, when you arrive in this class I will give you forty minutes to write an analysis essay. I expect you to be able to write about techniques he uses and explain why he uses them and how this impacts your claim," Mrs. Batesman commented as she walked back up to her desk, "Welcome to AP English. What did you think this would be? A walk in the park?"

    The corner of Este's lip upturned at that comment. This was why she loved Mrs. Batesman, she was professional but knew how to have sass back with her students. It always kept the class interesting. It's where Este thrived, even academically. She may not be able to entirely read the greatest but she knew how to bullshit an essay to where she sounds sophisticated. Not to mention, she was an extremely fast writer. She could easily make anything sound smart when it came to putting words on a paper, Newt did not possess this ability. Este could see the annoyance already building up on his face over AP English Language.

    When it came to their academic gifts... they were on opposite ends of the spectrum. Newt was the Science and Math of the two. Este was the History and English.

The bell rang, the shrill sound causing students to easily toss their things into their bags before making their quick escape to the exits. Este was so happy for the moment the bell rang because she was in the hallway and away from the anchor of death that rooted her to her seat in English. Her eyes darted down to the crumpled up schedule in her hand, before over to the two others.

"I'm in AP U.S. History next," Este let her head fall from side to side as she popped her neck before averting her gaze from Finn, "So I guess this is a solo mission then. After that embarrassing English class."

"Put a whole new meaning to were you silent or silenced," Newt had to prod at his sister, "Seriously. I've never seen you shut up so fast. By your own words."

"I would like to counter that is not the point right now," Este retorted before mumbling, "Besides, I couldn't take the staring and the literal emotional anchor that was their presence was killing me. You know. You felt it too."

"Obviously not as bad as you did, jeez," Newt scrunched up his nose.

Finn simply listened to the two speaking before he budded in, "Well, I've got Trig. So I'm heading off."

    You couldn't head off any sooner, could you? You freaking dick.

"Have fun," Newt simply stated, giving him a confused look since he'd basically sat in his own silence the entire time. "I'll meet up with you during third, hopefully," Newt placed a hand on his sister's shoulder as he muttered, "You know what to do," to which she nodded as she looked over at him, "I'll see you later, dear sister."

"I'll catch you later," Este remarked to her brother as her blue eyes went to the blonde Devereaux, "I'm heading to the opposite end of the school now. Pray for me. I might not make it back."

Newt seemed amused as he adjusted the straps of his bag, pushing off the wall as he began walking, "I'll pray that I at least get to see a finger of my sister return," He saluted her before exiting through the opposite glass doors.

    Este let out a huff of air as she pushed through the glass doors, stepping out into the humid air of Forks, Washington. Her eyes cast around the other students as they looked in her direction. Her hands sliding into her pockets as she kept walking under the awnings of the sidewalks. Her feet moving towards C hall where her history class would be held.

    For some reason, the world felt so much quieter to Este. Like the voices of the other students were drowned out to become ambience. Maybe it was the exhaustion that was slowly eating away at her. Exhaustion from the plethora of emotions she was feeling sounded like a plausible explanation for the world feeling a little different. Right? I swear, I've never heard silence quite this loud.

    Este found her annoyance peaking when she saw Finn standing outside the door of her history class. She still had about ten minutes before class would begin.

"Did you know that statistically the silent treatment is what builds up to a breakup or inevitably a divorce in most couples," Finn retorted as he glanced sideways at the girl as she approached.

"And did you know that lack of communication and mistrust is what caused all of the Great Empires to fall? No? Maybe go back and review your knowledge," Este couldn't help but fire back as she slipped into the classroom, halting when she felt his hand wrap around her arm in an attempt to catch her, "We've got a lot to do. Don't start this now, Carnehan. I don't trust you."

A look of irritation flashed in Finn's eyes as he looked down at the girl before he sighed, roughly releasing his grip, "We're talking tonight because you and I both know we can't handle this tension and the others are becoming curious from the way we seem to suddenly act different towards each other. Would be a shame for one fight to-"

"There wasn't a fight. There isn't tension. Last time I checked, it seems that you don't understand the concept of I am not interested. It also seems that you've forgotten about this thing called honesty, I know you weren't with Kaz in my house last night. I also know you're guilty of knowing about something bigger than all of us and you've been dropping bread crumbs to the rest of us - so I'd watch who I was talking to," Este remarked harshly as she glared at him.

    Finn's jaw clenched as he looked down at her, but Este didn't give him another chance to speak.

"We can talk more about it later so that you can come clean, if you actually have the balls to say something this time and not just get like whatever the hell this is," Este shortly responded before adjusting her posture, "You've got five minutes to get to Trig, so I suggest you get the hell on walking. Now."

"I'm tired of this attitude, Devereaux. You don't get to treat people all pissy because your Mommy died."

    Este's eyes narrowed quickly and she felt the anger that flowed through her. If they were anywhere else, she would've stabbed him. Yet, here they were, in the middle of a classroom doorway.
"I don't get pissy at people because my Mommy died, and don't you dare talk about something you know nothing about," Este spoke dangerously calm, "And I suggest you scoop up that tiny dick of yours that is fueling this pride you've got going on and leaving before I make sure you leave for good."

"Go to hell."

"I'll see you on the shortbus there then."