Bella stumbled away from him, her eyes wide with shock and hurt. She scrambled frantically, tripping over an unknown danger in her haste to get away. She fell back, expecting to meet the hard earth, only to be caught in a pair of strong arms. She whirled around, almost losing her balance again in the process, to find Alice behind her. Alice's arms were extended, holding Bella's wrists firmly, making sure she did not fall again. Her gentle eyes were filled with care for her friend, but Bella ignored her, turning back around sharply to face him. His face was contorted with agony and pain at what he had just done to her, at what he couldn't control. She took two unstable steps towards him, her arm outstretched weakly to him, begging him to come back to her, but he only stepped away, disgusted at himself. She took another weak, shaky step before her knees gave out and she tumbled to the ground, this time with no one to catch her. The pale skin on her elbow grazed a stone embedded in the ground and as she hit the dirt, the lattice of shallow scratches from the cut mixed with the disturbed dust, dirtying the open wound. She lifted her head to meet his dark honey-ochre eyes one more time before collapsing, her entire body heaving with sobs. Salty tears distorted her view of the dense forest around her. Bella opened her mouth to call out to him, but she couldn't form words, only gasps of breath that didn't seem to bring any oxygen to her lungs. But the words still swirled in her head, still hung unspoken right in front of her eyes. No, Edward, how could you leave me again?
Alice watched the scene unfold in horror, as the words least expected fluttered from his lips, hanging heavy in the wet air. She watched as Bella tripped away from him and she dashed forward, catching her friend just in time. She righted her, but held her arm steady, sure to catch her if she fell again. Bella pulled away, much to her surprise and stepped towards him. When Edward stepped away, her eyes narrowed in anger at her own brother. How could he do this to her? He knows how much she loves him, yet he chooses to tear her apart. Doesn't he understand love? She saw Bella fall forward and lunged to grab her, but she noticed too late and missed her. She looked up at Edward and glared at him before bending down and scooping Bella up, running off into deeper depths of the forest with her.
Edward stopped at the edge of the forest, and released Bella's hand, Alice following suspiciously close to Bella. Does she know already? He looked away from Bella, muttering the words softly. "Bella, I can't do this anymore. I can't put you in this kind of danger. I can't do this to you anymore." He heard her heart skip a beat, watched her stumble back in surprise, felt her shocked eyes on him. He looked away not bearing to watch, only hearing her footsteps on the earth, and a soft flutter of voice. She was calling his name. After what he just did she still wanted him! When will she understand I can only hurt her? He met her wide, innocent eyes one more time, before she collapsed, breaking into sobs. He looked away guiltily and his eyes met his sister's. He watched her glare at him until she picked Bella up and ran off. But her emotions did not affect him. Nothing affected him right now.