The fire had gone out.
What was left of James was little more than scorched dirt and drifting ash. The Cullens stood in the shadows outside the ballet studio—smoke clinging to their clothes, their quiet composure unraveling at the edges.
Bella was unconscious but stable. Edward hadn't moved from her side.
Rosalie stood off to the side, arms crossed, fury barely masked behind her statuesque calm.
Her mind was already on edge, the past few days a storm of uncertainty.
But something inside her—some deep, uneasy instinct—told her to answer.
a
"Hello?" she said sharply.
"This is Deputy White. Aiden's guardian."
Rosalie froze. Her grip on the phone tightened.
"Is something wrong?"
"He hasn't come home in four days," Steve said, voice ragged with frustration. "No calls, no texts, nothing. Jessica said she hasn't seen him since Friday night. Neither has anyone else."
Rosalie's heart dropped.
"You… you talked to Connie?"
"She's missing too." Steve's voice grew lower. "Look, I don't know what's going on, but I know my gut, and it's screaming. If you know something—anything—you better say it now."
"I don't know where he is," Rosalie said quickly, panic rising. "But I'll find him. I swear I will."
"You better. I already lost too much in my life. I'm not losing that kid too."
The line went dead.
Rosalie's breath hitched. She stood frozen for a heartbeat—then bolted out of the room.
"Alice!" she yelled, sprinting toward the garage. Her panic echoed through the house like a siren.
Alice appeared at the top of the stairs in an instant, her eyes wide.
"What's happening?"
"He's gone. Steve just called. Four days—nobody's seen him. Not Jessica, not Connie. He's missing." Her voice cracked.
Alice's face went still, her eyes clouding over. Rosalie didn't wait. She shoved the door to the garage open, keys already in hand, her breath coming sharp and fast.
"Rosalie, wait!" Alice called, catching up as Rosalie jumped into the driver's seat of Emmett's Jeep.
"I have to find him!" Rosalie snapped. "He could be dying—he could be—"
"He's not dead," Alice said quickly, grabbing the door. Her eyes were shimmering with the start of a vision. "He's in Arizona. That's all I've got right now—blurry roads, run-down buildings, desert heat—but it's him. He's still alive."
Rosalie's fingers clenched around the wheel. "Then I'm going."
"Not alone," Edward's voice cut through as he appeared at the garage entrance, already having read Alice's thoughts. "Let me fill the others in. We're going together."
Inside the house
Edward relayed everything to Carlisle, Emmett, Jasper, and Elise in rapid, controlled bursts. Carlisle's expression darkened. Emmett cracked his knuckles. Elise's hands were already moving to grab her gear.
"If Connie's involved," Jasper muttered, "then this isn't just a disappearance. It's a trap."
"We don't care," Edward said flatly. "We're going to spring it anyway."
Outside, the engine of the Jeep roared to life as Rosalie leaned forward, trembling with emotion she rarely let anyone see.
"Hold on, Aiden," she whispered. "I'm coming.