Echo

Edward

I thought seeing her bleeding and broken in that ballet studio would be the worst image ever ingrained in my mind. Worse than the imagined image of her, pale and bloated, after being pulled from the waters of First Beach. I was wrong.

The only worse pain was seeing the way she looked in Jacob's memory – how I'd hurt her when I'd left for all those months. But that pain had been filtered through someone else's eyes. This horror I saw myself...this horror Alice couldn't predict for me – couldn't assist me in preventing. Because Alice couldn't see the wolves. And she – Bella – was leaving Jacob Black's side, on her way to mine.

She was astride her antique motorcycle – every vehicle she owned had at least twenty years on her. I was surprised to see her riding it – she'd made it clear that riding was something she wished to share with Jacob. So I couldn't fathom why she was riding toward me through the field...until I saw her smile. She was showing off – showing me what she could do. Even in the fading light of the day I could see that brilliant smile clearly, see the love shining in her eyes as she threw her hair out of her face and headed in my direction.

Her hair – blowing in the breeze from the speed of the bike. It took me a fraction of a second to realize she wasn't wearing the helmet I'd given her. Which was a fraction too late, as Jacob Black came to the same realization and called out her name, waving the helmet in his hand.

She was too far away – I wasn't fast enough to reach her. I watched in horror as she turned toward his voice, the bike wobbling underneath her. I ran – knowing with a sick kind of terror that, fast as I was, I would still be a second too late to stop her from crashing. My peripheral vision caught Jacob Black's horrified expression as he reached her a few seconds after I did. The bike flipped over her, the front wheel grazing her head as it did so. I shoved the growling monstrosity away from her and gathered her in my arms.

"Bella!"

"Where are you taking her?" Jacob Black called out to me as I rushed from the field, heading toward my home.

"Wait!"

"No!" I growled, ignoring the figure rushing to keep up with me. The boy shifted – taking on his wolf form to better keep up with me as I sped through the forest. "I'm taking her to Carlisle."

"Bella, love, please open your eyes," I pleaded as I ran, my eyes sweeping over her unresponsive face. A deep bruise was developing at her temple, marring her silken skin. "Please, Bella! Please!"

"No! You have to take her to the hospital!" I heard the mongrel growl out his thoughts. "What about Charlie? He'll be suspicious if she doesn't come home."

I couldn't argue with that, much as I wished to. "If Carlisle agrees, we will take her to the hospital. Bella would not want to worry Charlie unnecessarily..." My voice trailed off, my excuse dying on my lips as Bella remained limp in my embrace.

"Bella, please," I begged in a strained whisper. "Please open your eyes. Please talk to me. Please." I felt Jacob slip further behind, as Sam – in his Alpha voice – told him to back down. I knew it was only temporary – Jacob Black would not stay away long; he would return at the earliest opportunity to check on Bella. And I couldn't deny him that, much as I wanted to.

"Carlisle!" I shouted as I raced up the front steps and into the house.