It was freezing. I could hear the sound of my teeth chattering. I had my arms wrapped around myself and I was curled into a ball in the corner of what I assumed was a shed. I had no idea how long I had been out here, but the longer it seemed to be the colder I started to feel.
I knew I would catch my death if I were kept out here any longer. I felt the tears filling my eyes and threatening to fall, but I refused to let them do such a thing. I refused to cry.
My body was aching. I wasn't sure, but I believed Jared and whoever was with him had beaten on me. My sides hurt and my face hurt. I felt a wetness on my head. If I were able to see myself in here, I was sure I looked like a wreck.
But I didn't care how I looked. Or how I felt. The only thing I was able to think about was Emmett. I had left him alone in Homeroom. He must've been worried sick. I had noticed Emmett had a protective nature, and he seemed to be very protective of me.
If I didn't show up in Homeroom, I was sure he had already begun a search for me and if word got around that Jared was the one who was responsible for my disappearance, I was sure Emmett would be on his way to kill Jared.
I noticed differences in Emmett and his family. I had noticed it all. The way they were so cold, so pale, so beautiful, and the unusual color of their eyes. They were fast, strong, they didn't eat. I had noticed it all. I hadn't said anything because they cared about me. They welcomed me. So who was I to question them? I had hoped that whatever they were, they would be able to find me. Find me before I died...
I let out a sneeze and felt myself shake from the force behind it. It was getting colder, colder weather meant later time in the day. It must've been pretty late by now. I wondered if my uncle and cousin were worried. Were they searching for me as well? Maybe Nic and Amelia had noticed my absence as well, maybe they informed my cousin themselves. I know if word got around to Jonas, he would be looking for me in a heartbeat.
I knew my family and friends would spend days on end to search for me. I knew it. I just had to have hope. I leaned my head against the cold wall, clenching my jaw as I shivered. I kept my arms wrapped around myself. My throat was hurting now. Scratchy and sore. I needed Emmett. He could help me. He could make me feel better. Carlisle could check me over, then I could cuddle with Emmett until I fell asleep.
I perked up silently when I heard rustling outside the shed. Someone was out there. Wherever there was. Someone was going to be walking by the shed. I could alert them to my presence. Whoever it was, they could come to my aid.
"H-help!" I shouted tiredly, pounding against the wall of the shed weakly with my hand. I heard the rustling stop and I had feared that whoever was around had started to walk off. No no no no no.
"S-someone please! Help," I called again, pounding tiredly on the door, "Somone, p-please," my voice cracked at that. The tears were beginning to fall. I felt weak. I was weak. I couldn't stand it anymore. I just wanted to be home. With my family, my friends, with Emmett.
The rustling continued and this time I heard footsteps. I stopped pounding, my hand growing sore and I curled into a ball as I clutched my hand to my chest.
"P-please," I whispered softly. That was the door yanked open. It was a little dark outside, not night time but it was late in the day. A shadow of a man stood in the doorway. I could tell the man was shirtless, he wore only a pair of jean shorts and sneakers on his feet. He was tanned and he had cropped short hair. I could tell from his appearance that he was from La Push, the Native American Reservation in town.
He took a step towards me and I cowered away, keeping my arms wrapped around myself.
"No, hey. It's okay. I won't hurt you," the man said as he took another slow, cautious step towards me, "I'm here to help you. I promise," the man's voice was deep, but he spoke softly as if not wanting to scare me anymore. I didn't respond to him verbally, but he took his as consent and he stepped towards me again until he was that much closer to me. He knelt down in front of me and I had gotten a pretty good look at his face. He was pretty attractive I wasn't going to lie, "I'm Sam."
"E-Ezra," I stutterer as I shiver even more, my teeth were still chattering and I was almost unable to speak again.
"It's nice to meet you. I'm going to lift you. Alright, Ezra?" He spoke again, softly this time and I nodded my head silently. I felt strong arms go under my legs and around my back and I was soon lifted off the ground. Sam held me securely, and I suddenly felt warm. Woah, this guy was hot. Literally.
Sam carried me out of the shed and I noticed that it really was dark outside, not too dark but late afternoon really. I knew my family and friends were most definitely searching for me if it were this late in the day.
I found myself burying myself deeper into Sam's body, searching for his warmth. He may not have been Emmett, but he was comforting for me. Especially after all this time I has spent locked away in that cold shed.
I had no idea how long we had been walking, but I felt it was a while. I was dozing in and out of consciousness, but I was still slightly aware of my surroundings. That didn't stop me from being shocked though when Sam had spoken out of nowhere.
"We're almost there," Sam said and I found myself peeking out from my spot against his chest. I turned my head to try and see where we were heading. My heart filled with joy and my eyes with tears as Emmett and his family came into view. Sam stopped just two feet away from my favorite family and looked at them coldly, "I've found him. He's pretty roughed up. Tell me why I should put him in your care, leech?"
Leech?
I heard Emmett let out snarl as he stepped towards Sam, but before he could get far Marshall and Jasper grabbed his arms. Carlisle was the one to step forward and his eyes fell on me, then onto Sam.
"He is with us, Sam. We have taken quite a liking to him. We promise you the treaty has not been broken, nor do we plan on breaking it. As you can see, my son cares deeply for him. We have driven ourselves insane trying to search for him," Carlisle's tone was nothing but friendly. His eyes even held a sense of politeness in them.
"My elders say that he is safe with you and so, I will turn him over to you. But, if I sense one thing is amiss. I will handle it personally, Cullens."
"Nothing is amiss, Sam. He is apart of my family. Nothing will happen to the boy on our part," Carlisle said, "Please. Give him to his mate."
Mate? Leech? Treaty? What the hell is going on here? My heart swelled when Carlisle said I was apart of his family. I had a family in my cousin and my uncle and even Nic and Amelia, but I felt joy to know Carlisle and the other Cullens were in my family now as well.
Sam's jaw clenched, but he took a step forward with me in his arms. Marshall and Jasper quickly let Emmet go. Emmett met Sam halfway and Sam handed me over to Emmett with no further argument. Emmett took me quickly from Sam's arms and held me close to him. He instantly leaned down to press his lips against my hair.
"I'm so sorry," Emmett mumbled into my hair and I buried my face into his shoulder.
"It's not your fault," I said softly, knowing Emmett would hear me. His arms tightened ever so slightly around me.
"Thank you, Sam. For everything," Carlisle's voice rang out behind me.
"Just remember, we're always watching," was Sam's response. I turned my head just in time to see that Sam had disappeared. Carlisle walked over to Emmett and I, he looked me over silently.
"Looks like you'll need a warm bath and I am going to have to check you over. How are you feeling?" Carlisle asked me.
"Like shit," I smirked slightly. I heard Marshall chuckle behind Emmett and I peeked over Emmett's broad shoulders to see Marshall and Jasper wearing amused smirks. I looked back at Carlisle and he shook his head silently, a smile of amusement on his face.
"Let's get you out of this cold. We have a lot to talk about."
"You bet your vampy asses we do," I shivered. Emmett tensed up at my words, but I didn't bother to look at him.
"Seems we really have to talk," Carlisle chuckled in amusement, "Let us go then," Carlisle took off at an unbelievable speed, Jasper and Marshall following after him. I looked at Emmett, raising a single eyebrow silently.
"Are you that fast?" I questioned.
"Pretty fast," Emmett responded simply and I found myself smirking playfully.
"Prove it."
Emmett raised an eyebrow, but soon that grin returned to his face and he held onto my tightly before zooming off through the woods. It didn't matter to me how hurt I was. Being held in the arms by my vampire...boy that I occasionally kiss, not sure if I could call him my boyfriend or not, but it sure was an amazing feeling.