I ran fast; my eyes were half shut so I could only see the deep forest surrounding me as blurry, distorted shapes. My heart was pounding fast, the fastest it had ever had to beat before as I had never felt fear as agonizing as that and I'd never screamed or ran that much since kindergarten.
I clumsily lost my footing on some loose rocks and I hit the ground heavily, scraping my elbows and knees before my chin crashed to the forest floor. I wiped the salt tears from my eyes and after tasting the rusty taste of blood in my mouth I stood up and attempted to run. The pain from my knee was overwhelming and I collapsed in a heap, helpless at the side of the pine-cone covered path.
I didn't have much longer; I knew this much yet I had no idea how long I had or what I was running from. It felt like the most terrible decision I would ever have to make: try to run away and risk damaging my knee even more or waiting here for it to get me. 'It' could have been a pink, fluffy bunny for all I knew yet something gave me the idea that I was not being chased by a rabbit or any creature of the sort. I had a feeling that when that something caught me it wasn't going to give me a great big hug but savagely pull me to pieces.
I became aware, I was being watched. The creature was close. I kept my eyes half open; I didn't want to see my predator but I was curious too.
A deafening cry filled the forest and the birds took to the air in fright as a shape plunged through the sky. I heard a scream of terror as the creature scrambled away, alarmed and scared. A cool hand touched my face.
"Don't worry." The whisper filled my ear and I felt a tingle all over me, a mixture of relief and exhaustion.
"Who are you?" I whispered but I already recognised that sweet, velvet voice.
"You know, Bella," he whispered and I opened my eyes to see his dazzling smile. "I think you should get out of here."
"Yes. Please." I felt him lift me up with ease.
We walked for a while. I was content in his arms as I felt the safest and most happy I had done for a long time. He didn't speak much. In fact, he only asked me repeatedly if I was okay and if I was scared. Edward clung to me hard, not too hard so that he hurt but hard enough for me to feel that if anything tried to grab me, I would be protected. Being with Edward was like being in a bubble where no one could harm me or attack me and I didn't want to leave him.
"Bella, were you really scared?" he asked, his face full of concern. "You didn't think I would save you?"
I sighed. I hated admitting my feelings to others but one look at Edward's face and I couldn't help the words spilling out.
"Yes, I was afraid and scared and I thought I was going to die. I was also curious but that feeling was overpowered completely by fear and pain. I had no idea you were going to save me. In fact, that was just a slight glimmer of hope in the distance. It was not an experience I want to remember at all."
To my surprise he smirked and said with a laugh, "That's all I need from you, Bella!"
He disappeared and the whole forest started to melt into a swirling circle of greys, greens and browns and I felt my head spinning……
"Isabella! Were you sleeping in my class?" Mr Banner snapped, shattering my nightmare like pieces of sharp glass.
"Sorry, sir, but I have been very tired recently and have been stressing out over school and my mom and stuff," the words fell out my lips as if I really meant them.
I peered at Edward who grinned back and said with a tiny little smile, "Some of us do need some fear in our lives. Some of us need to feel fear." He paused. "To make decisions if what they are doing is very smart. Who they are making acquaintances with."
THE END