『 Six years before... 』
Nell's eyes had caught the bright red headline from the screen; it had already been engraved on her psyche. A collection of words that would alter life as everyone knew:
YOUNG WOMAN FROM ALTOONA DISAPPEARED.
She remembers thinking «Missing where? ».Nell thought she might have lost her way. It was the most rational thing, since most of the area was covered by swamps and forests. But it never appeared. And three weeks later another young woman disappeared.
By the end of summer, four girls had disappeared. Without a trace. And a city so small that it leaves a void too big to bear, it was a misfortune that weighed in the air, in a way that made it vibrate the bones.
Even with his gloves on, it was possible to feel it, taste it, see it in each person's eyes and wonder: «Who would be next?»
Curfews kept them safe. Nell couldn't help but wonder if she'd be next. The anticipation was always there, always present, always suffocating.
—You'll be fine. You have nothing to worry about—Luke reassured her, while she was paralyzed by fear. I did not want to go to school, to cross that dark and uninhabited path of the swamp of which many had ended up being news on television.
—She has to worry about, Luke—contradicted Steve by his side—. And you too.
—We're too small—he replied—We're only 13. The guy likes teenagers, remember?.
If Nell started to analyze it, the reality was that all were teenagers. Some were bigger than others, but teenagers after all. So each and every one of them was tied up.
But, what if evil really was in the house? In those strong arms that were not only good for cutting down trees, but also to surround them in the necks of children? Strangle them, bury them and wash their hands?
What was it then?
Although, she would have liked to say that all that was just conjecture, it wasn't, because night came. That night. The night he was arrested and that both Nell and his brothers would remember as the most traumatic of their lives.
Red and blue lights illuminated the entire living room. Nell was crying beside Luke, and her older brother's body was in front, ready to protect them, though shocked by the situation. Her mother was lying on the carpet; blood gushing out; her husband pressed the knife into her chest over, and over, and over again. With eyes as dark as if something was consuming him.
The armed men burst in and broke down the door. His father did not bother to raise his head and look at the men. But she remembered how they took him from both arms to drive him away, and it cost them a great effort because he could not stop.
And for a moment, his eyes focus on her, impatient. On Nell's and then his brothers . He didn't do anything, he didn't say anything. He was just there,watching, silent, and expressionless. But Nell noticed. His father was wrapped in an aura of pure evil.
And with that knowledge in his head, the police dragged him and put him in the patrol car while the three stood there alone, with the corpse of their mother in front of them.
『 Actuality... 』
NELL'S EYES BURST OPEN. A tribal drum vibrated the room. It was the sound of the alarm clock. She rolled on the floor to turn it off. When she had the courage to stand, a stabbing pain ran down her shoulder and neck. Everything hurt. She could not imagine sleeping without her bed another day.
Before leaving the room, Nell took a look in the mirror. The person on the other side was her, but at the same time she seemed not to be; as if she were another version of herself. One she still could not recognize.
She closed her eyes and suddenly revived everything: the grotesque sound that made the knife go out and enter the body of her mother; the anger of her father's face; the crying-his crying-choking him and preventing him from breathing; the cold, exagouging and impatient eyes of a cadaver.
She suddenly felt like throwing up.
When she opened her eyes and found her father's face on the other side of the room, just like that day, Nelly screamed with a force that caused Steve to rush upstairs and sneak in.
—What's up. What's up?— He came over worried. Inspected her from top to bottom, looking for signs of something, but her sight was nailed to the wall. He took his jaw and turned it in his direction. —Nell, what happened?
She blinked. Like she was trying to get out of a trance.
«He was not there. He never was.» thought, relaxing her breathing. Then looked at Steve-who seemed tremendously worried-and reassured him:
—Nothing. I am fine.
Of course. He didn't buy that story.
—Then why did you scream?.
—I saw a rat.
Steve raised an eyebrow.
—Mhmm—narrowed his eyes—You were looking at the wall. As far as I know, the rats don't climb.
Nell closed the closet and threw her purse on her shoulder.
—This one did.
—Come on, Nell...
She stretched out her arms, tired of it.
—Why do you want to know? You won't believe me anyway.
Steve didn't answer, and she gasped.
—I'm going to change. I'm late for school —Nell walked by and bumped his shoulder.
—Nell...
But Nell wouldn't let him continue. She locked herself tightly inside the bathroom
●●●
In the parking lot he recognized some of her partners. They were leaning on their cars as they laughed and chatted. Except for the Cullens. They were serious; quiet. And of them all, only Emmett stared at her and smiled.
Nell was about to turn her face away and enter the building to ignore him. However, she returned the gesture and raised her hand in greeting.
She was confused and everything was spinning. What had she just done? She shook her head; as if that would rearrange her thoughts each in its place, without going over the edge. However, there was no way that was going to happen.
At least Emmett was glad to see her. So was Mike:
—You came! —shouted in delight.
—Why wouldn't I? —she asked, not understanding.
—Because most of the excursions are in the woods. And many parents do not accept that their children go into dangerous areas.
That caught his attention.
—Is Forks a dangerous area?
—Not really. We're fine here. Although some areas of the forest are off-limits.
—Why is that?
—Bears—Mike faced forward—They killed many hikers or adventurers passing through.
Nell opened and closed her mouth. Shocked.
—That's... terrible.
—But they're taking care of it, so you have nothing to worry about. —he said confidently.
Nell said nothing. She doubted that were entirely true.
On the bus, she put on her headphones and looked out the window; hoping that everyone would understand the message she wanted to convey. His plan all along had been to sleep the entire trip. But she couldn't do that. Not when Emmett Cullen's gaze was drilling into the back of her head. And she was determined not to turn around. She wouldn't, no sir.
Luckily, the scenery stole her attention. From moment to moment she could see the rushing Quillayute River that divided La Push with Forks. And lush forests that surrounded it. The ride calmed her, but it didn't last long. It was less than fifteen minutes before the driver slowed down and parked on a gravel road. In the distance, a glass dome could be seen.
The professor lined them up to get inside. The task was to walk around, look at each of the plants, pick one and do a report on it.
Nell took her notebook out of her bag, and began to walk around incredibly interested. For her, gardening was a contemplative activity, because her hands touched the soil, the branches and the leaves, and she could feel it all. See it all. How it grew and bloomed and withered. That was the only thing she used her gift for. Because it was the only thing that she could control.
—Hello, partner.
She looked up and saw him smirk so rapturously that she could only stare at him like a fool for a few seconds.
—Hi.—she looked away toward the plants.
Emmett smiled again
—Did you find something you like?— he asked.
It seemed to Nell that he was making an effort to chat with her.
—Actually, yes.—answered him sincerely. She pointed to the other end of the place. The sinuous red lines on the white petals of a flower resembled the typical candy cane. —The Californica Versicolor.
He looked surprised.
—I thought it was called Candy Cane.
She frowned slightly before asking:
—Is that how they call it here?
—I guess it is. I've always known her by that name...until now—his gaze was intense.
She lowered her eyes and there was a moment of silence.
—Then why are you here if you already know which one you want?— insisted curiously.
She didn't understand his interest, but less understood why he didn't move away.
—I like plants—she confessed—Each one has a story to tell.—she pointed with her finger to a fuchsia-colored plant—For example, the Mimosa is very sensitive, it contracts when its leaves are touched—then she turned and pointed to other—.And the Orchid likes damp, low-light places to bloom.
Emmett's face showed immense curiosity. He hadn't expected that the girl might be into gardening. She didn't look the part. Rather, she seemed more like a city angel lost in the middle of the countryside.
—You see plants as living beings. —she said.
It wasn't a question.
Nell lifted her chin and laughed mirthlessly.
—But they are. They perform the three vital functions of nature: reproduction, nutrition, and communications with other plants.
Emmett nodded.
—What I mean is that you see them differently. As if they were something to protect, to take care of. —He pointed out.
—So? —she asked in a defiant voice.
He smirked.
—Nothing. I just think you're interesting.
Nell raised an eyebrow and told him:
—I'm sure you won't think that when the "New Girl in Town" charm wears off.
Emmett stepped a little closer and, for an instant, Nell froze.
—Believe me. That's not gonna happen.
She scowled. But before she could say anything, the professor called out to everyone to let them know they had five minutes left to get back to the bus.
—Any recommendations? —he pressed with a sly smile.
She looked at him in disbelief.
—Do you really want to know my opinion?
—Absolutely. —There was no vacillation. Nor did he hesitate.
Nell glanced around.
—Dracula plant—she indicated the black flower near them.
—Seriously? —he questioned in amusement.
—You asked me.
Emmett found himself fascinated. Every word she said only made him want to know more about her.
—Okay. Why that one?
—They grow in cold, wet climates just like this one, which makes them easier to analyze.
—That's the only thing?
—What else do you want to know?
Emmett didn't think too hard.
—Why is it called Dracula?
—Because it attracts insects and feeds on them.
—Like a vampire.
Once again, it was a statement, not a question. Nell saw an expression on his face that she couldn't guess.
—Don't be confused.—she put her notebook in her bag— Just because his name is Dracula and feeds from bugs doesn't mean that's his name refers to it. But rather to the mouth of a dragon.
—That doesn't make sense.
—It does to me—contradicted, and she gestured him to come closer. Nell reached out and touched the plant—The leaves are long and bite-shaped. If I do this...—she touched the inside and all the petals closed up—she'll think I'm an insect and want to eat me.
—So it's a carnivorous plant?
For the first time, he heard her laugh. It was soft and musical.
—Not with us— Nell glared at him—We're safe.
He held her gaze, noting that she was more pretty than he had thought. And smart, too, which was even better. But then he noticed something he hadn't brought up until now:
—Can I ask you a question?
—I'm not sure I can stop you, so go ahead.
—What are you hiding in there—he pointed to the gloves.
In the silence, she became visibly tense. No one had ever asked her that, not as directly and imperiously as he had.
—What do you mean?
—It's just that since you've been here, I've never seen you take them off.
Nell licked her lips and spoke in a low tone.
—I'm a germaphobe.
Emmett studied her. Her gestures told him she was lying and that she didn't want to talk about it either, so he changed the subject.
—Can I tell you something about orchids?
She frowned.
—What is it?
He flashed a quick smile.
—They are able to survive in any kind of weather, no matter what. It's not a seasonal flower, it's an everlasting flower.
Nell raised an eyebrow.
—What are you trying to say?
—That you look like her.
With his response, she got the feeling he was trying to flirt with her, but she didn't know why. It didn't make sense, Nell knew he wasn't her type, and, frankly, he wasn't hers either. She looked at him and again asked him without thinking:
—How so?
—You'll have to find that out for yourself. —He bared perfect, white teeth.
And with that, he turned around and left her alone as he wandered off among the students to get on the bus. Leaving her completely confused.