As the plane descended over the airport in Seattle, the attendant requested for a fourth time that all seatbelts were to be buckled. You sighed, and stared out the window. The ground, very green, and hazy through the fog that persisted to block anybody's vision, remained still, unmoving, as the plane flew closer.
The plane landed at the Seattle airport runway, and the bleak sky made you feel very grey yourself. Something didn't feel right, though. Weren't you supposed to be slowing down? The window showed that the plane was skidding to the left. Your mother grabbed your arm, and your father kissed her and you.
"Mom? Dad?" you asked, your heart rate speeding up.
"We're going to be okay," your father said, and leaned back in the seat. You glanced out of your window once more, and within a few hundred yards was the airport. The plane still hadn't slowed down! The building grew nearer with every second, and you squeezed your eyes shut tight. A crash and screaming was heard, and then everything went black.
* * *
You awoke in a bright room, you could tell, the light made the backs of your eyelids glow red. Beeps and whirrs could be heard, and you assumed that you must be in a hospital. Not surprisingly, you thought, as the memory flooded back. You were in pain, and didn't want to move. You fought for breath, and each was harder than the last.
"Carlisle, we have to, you have to," a musical voice said. You tried to open your eyes, but as soon as you did, everything spun, and you felt nauseous.
"Not now, Esme," a deeper but equally charming voice replied. "She's awake. We need more sedative."
A cold hand pressed lightly on your forehead.
"Poor girl, no family left," the musical voice murmered again, who you assumed was Esme. "We have to, you know. Everything's failing, and you know that, too."
No family left? Failing? What's going on here? you wondered, as drowsiness took you over once again.
"Yes, well, I suppose, but there's always the fact that..."
"No. We have to do it now," the musical voice said, angry this time.
"All right, fine. Close the windows and shades, bolt the door. Any sound will be expected, you know, being in a hospital. We won't need soundproofing."
You felt a gentle, cold hand take your head and upper body. The pain from the mere movement was excruciating, but you gasped and tried not to scream. A pair of cold lips found your throat, and you felt something sharp pierce your skin. Quite suddenly, it felt as if your blood was on fire. You didn't scream again, no matter how badly you needed to.
"Is she all right?" Esme asked. You had by now figured out the two names and voices. "She's not reacting."
"She is. She's just a brave one, this girl. I don't think we'll have to control her much." A cold hand yet again pressed on your forehead, and you shivered. Gasping, you tried to fight the pain. Despite the fact that it hurt even more, you grasped the wound on your neck. Your eyes flew open as you realized it was ice cold. You tried to speak through the pain, but you failed. Instead, the attempt made the pain in your throat unbearable, and you finally let out a scream. Instantly, sobs racked through your body. Tears ran down your face, and you heard someone else give a whimper.
"It's all right, it's all right," Esme whispered. She softly kissed your temple, feeling your pain. Even though the door was apparently bolted, it still opened.
"What happened, Carlisle? Esme?!" A rough voice exclaimed, when they must have seen Esme over you.
"We heard a scream-- oh no, no!" A bell-like voice also said.
"Jasper, Alice, Emmett, Edward, please," Carlisle pleaded. "You shouldn't be seeing this. Go, now, go."
You screamed again as the pain overtook you in a wave once more, and you began to speak.
"The fire, put out the fire, please, please," you wailed, and Esme resumed stroking your hair and trying to comfort you.
"Carlisle. You shouldn't have done it here, it's not safe," a new voice said. There was a hint of pleading underneath the stone cold of the velvet in the tone.
"No. It's done now, you can't do anything about that. I'm sorry, but you have to go."
"Come on, Jasper, let's go," the bell voice said.
The door opened again, and the quiet resumed, aside from the sobs from you and Esme's comforting murmurs.
"Can you give her some sedative?" Esme asked quietly. "It might do her good..." she trailed off.
"I wouldn't prefer to. She's going to have to face the pain sometime, it might as well be now."
"But three days, Carlisle. Three days."
"I know, Esme. On the second day we can test it, and on the third I'll definitely give her some. For now, it has to come."
You felt a sort of tingling along with the burning pain on your face. Your free hand (Esme was clutching the other one) ran along your features. You had regained what composure that could be had, considering your condition, and now let out a sob only every minute or so. Everything was hard, and felt like it was in perfect dimensions. Esme left your bedside, and walked over to the window looking out onto the bleak day. Carlisle joined her, and they talked in rushed whispers, barely audible. You could make out some of the words.
* * *
The next days passed slowly, but the sedative helped immensely. You soon became well enough to walk around on your own. You tried to open the window, but pulled the entire window out of the wall. Carlisle laughed quietly at your flabbergasted expression, and gently put the window back in the hole. He opened it for you, and you didn't even trust yourself to touch the wall.
"Sit down, Sandra," Carlisle said. He beckoned at the two chairs by the window. "I see I have explaining to do."
