Natasha’s mom’s first marriage was too tumultuous, and her second was safe but unfortunately dull. Her husband worked in the city, and she served as a sheriff in the surrounding towns. On holidays, the family of five would go traveling. Their lives weren’t extraordinary, but they weren’t bad either.
“Should we create more opportunities for them?” Natasha casually suggested, nodding towards the middle-aged couple chatting happily.
Bella was a bit shocked, as this clashed with her values. She was inclined to object but knew her words wouldn’t carry much weight.
“Love and marriage should be free. Don’t ask about it; it’s all about pursuing freedom!”
She sighed, “Do whatever you want. I don’t care.”
Natasha seemed melancholy, “Following my mom, I’ve changed schools four times already. By the way, how’s your school?”
Bella rolled her eyes, “I’m on my way to transfer schools right now. I’ll let you know how it is once I get there.”
Their whispering still caught the attention of the middle-aged couple.
The man with the goatee quickly stood up, looking like he wanted to hug Bella. Having not seen each other for many years, their relationship had grown distant, and with his reserved personality, all he could manage was, “Hi, Bella, you alright?”
“Hi, Charlie.”
Bella’s response was also very normal. They didn’t seem like father and daughter but like slightly familiar strangers. However, Charlie didn’t notice anything odd, as this had been their way of interacting.
There had been a mild dispute over how she should address him; her father had won, insisting she call him ‘Dad’ in public, but it didn’t matter what she called him privately.
Unaware of this, Bella used his first name, as she had learned from her predecessor’s diary. Charlie assumed the plane crash shook her and didn’t mind the formality.
Finding little to talk about, the Swans said goodbye to Natasha and her mother, as they had to sign some documents ensuring they wouldn’t leave the country or speak to the media without authorization.
“Goodbye, Charlie.”
“Mm, goodbye, Samantha.”
Natasha made a phone call gesture to Bella as they turned to leave.
After signing many affidavits, Bella didn’t forget about the survivors she had helped rescue.
Building a group wasn’t feasible, so she left her MSN contact for many survivors, urging them to stay in touch.
At Bella’s initiative, they formed a support group called “Flight 180 Survivors Association.” The primary purpose was to help the victims’ families and, using the association’s name, to hire lawyers to sue the airline for compensation.
Honestly, Bella wasn’t used to MSN, but it was only 2000, and Facebook didn’t exist yet, so she made do with what was available.
Traveling from Phoenix in the south to Seattle in the north takes about four hours by plane, followed by another hour on a smaller aircraft to Port Angeles, then a one-hour drive to Forks. However, that’s just the flight route.
Bella recalls a 40-day grace period, probably influenced by American notions of democracy and biblical studies, understanding the number to symbolize death.
This period is considered safe, but Bella refuses to fly, preferring to spend her time on trains instead of going to an airport.
Trains are considerably slower, but Charlie doesn’t complain. After such a horrific plane crash, it’s normal to avoid flying. He sighs as he goes to buy train tickets, opting to travel north by rail with his daughter.
After the Swans leave, Natasha’s family of five also departs.
They were never really involved; the FBI dragged them into this for political reasons.
They didn’t need to seek compensation from the airline. Instead, Stark Industries handed them a check for $100,000 as a thank-you and hush money. Even the husband, who seemed a bit gloomy, smiled upon seeing the check. The family was thrilled; it was like finding free money.
The other survivors also began to leave one by one. Claire Redfield, a brunette beauty, was picked up by her brother.
He was a tall, muscular young man with a piercing gaze, his formidable physique radiating intimidation.
“I’ll contact some friends for help continuing to investigate this matter. I suspect it was some kind of missile effect; there should be a clue in the passenger list.”
Chris Redfield is a tough soldier proficient in various modern weapons and skilled in most combat techniques. He believes some sort of advanced technology weapon caused the plane crash.
His views align with those of the FBI, though others think differently.
Professor John Grey walks away from the hotel alone, dragging his luggage.
Around the corner, he steps into a stretch of Lincoln.
“Charles, old friend, thank you for coming to pick me up.”
The bald, blue-suited, wheelchair-bound mutant leader, with his trademark gentle smile, looks at his old colleague and friend.
“The situation you described over the phone is quite strange. I had to come to see it for myself.”
Highly trusting his friend’s abilities, John Grey asks, “Have you found any clues? If so, please tell me. It involves the lives of hundreds.”
Professor Charles Xavier, bald and unsure how to explain, speaks slowly: “I’ve searched the site. It wasn’t Erik, and it wasn’t Jean, who’s still at school, nor any mutant I know. I only detected a chaotic psychic force, thoughts all jumbled, unlike anything I’ve seen before. I need to observe further.”
He pondered, “Perhaps Ororo’s abilities could uncover some clues. I’ll ask her to return to the U.S. soon.”
Those skilled with firearms tend to think from a weaponry perspective, while those with superpowers consider things from a supernatural angle.
The Flight 180 incident is not the end but the beginning.
Bella’s journey to Forks went smoothly.
Forks is located on the Olympic Peninsula in northwest Washington State. The reason the early settlers named this land after an Olympic event—whether due to a love of sports or ancient Greek culture—is now unknown.
The peninsula is perennially cloud-covered, with relentless rain, and there are hardly a few days a year when the sun is visible. The rainfall here is exceptionally plentiful.
Bella’s mom was driven away by the gloomy weather of the town, moving to the south with Bella when she was just a few months old. Afterward, every summer, Bella would return to the village for a month until she was fourteen.
It has been four years since her last visit to Forks, and now the thunderous drums of war sound again.
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