Disclaimer: I DO NOT own the characters in this story. They belong to
the wonderful Stephanie Meyer.
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"Eternal Love"
Chapter one: Letters

Dearest Edward,
You will be angry with me, I know. But I needed to leave Alice and Jasper; don't be angry with them, it wasn't their fault. He has Charlie. I refuse to sit and watch the people I care about to be hurt. Your family will not be hurt because of me anymore. I have to do this.
I'll love you forever. Forgive me.
Your Bella

EdwardPOV
I read her words over and over in my head. How could she be so absurd, our family was more than capable of dealing with this bastard, James? Always so selfless Bell, but this is one time I wish you had been a little selfish.

I couldn't just stand around here. I made a mental note to scold Alice later for

Letting Bella out of her sight, and proceeded to pick up her scent. It was difficult; of course her scent was all across Forks, and even stronger in her home.

I found a fresh trail leading to the forest. The forest. One place I made her promise to never go into alone. I called Carlisle to inform the family of what was happening. Apparently my sister Alice is a mess; she cannot understand how she missed Bella running away. The others wanted me to wait until they got there before I made any further moves, but I simply hung up and continued to follow her scent. How could they think I would sit around when she was in such peril? The trail was leading deep into the trees: this trail was very familiar. It was leading to our meadow. A gust of wind blew through the trail, and sent the most luring scent I had smelled in all my years. She was bleeding. I quickened my stride.

BellaPOV
(One hour earlier)
I was hurrying through the woods, fresh cuts all over my legs and the palms of my hands from when I had fallen. James sending me through the forest I must say wasn't his best idea considering my clumsiness, which was only intensified with my terror of what I was about to face.As I ran I thought of the events from the last few hours.

Alice and Jasper were babysitting me of course; Edward was on the road back from
Seattle, where he was following a false lead on James. Charlie wasn't home yet. It wasn't like him to be late; he must have gone to La Push to see Billy I thought. I was restless just sitting there on the couch waiting for whatever maybe coming. I needed to get free of Alice's always-confident tone and Jasper continually filling the room with his calm presence. I told them I was going to my room for a nap.
I lay on my bed for what seemed like hours but was only minutes. While
staring around the room I noticed a piece of paper pasted to my computer screen. I picked it up and read.

Dear Bella,
Your bodyguards have been making it very difficult for us to meet. I
suggest you find a way to leave them, undetected. I'm sure you've
noticed by now how late your father is and, if you'd like to see
him alive again you'll do what I say. If they follow, I will end his
life immediately.
In your desk drawer you will find a cell phone take it with you to the
edge of the forest, and await my call.
And Bella, don't keep me waiting.
You're Friend,
James

My heart sank. Charlie. No. This needs to stop. I refuse to be the reason for the pain and death of all of those that I love. My thoughts drifted to Edward. This will pain him, but as much as it hurts me to leave him, I know what I need to do. It ends tonight. I left Edward a letter; maybe in time he will forgive me.

Leaving without Alice and jasper noticing would be a challenge; especially with Alice's excellent gift of seeing the future. I needed to make sure that every decision I made was spur of the moment, so she wouldn't see it coming. A long time ago Charlie invested in a rope ladder to escape my room through my bedroom window in case of emergency, and this was obviously one of those times. I threw on a hooded sweatshirt, threw the ladder out the window, and descended. As soon as my feet hit the ground I sprinted towards the forest, tripping of course as I did.

When I reached the edge of the trees the phone rang. It was his voice; disturbingly charming and somewhat playful, as if he were enjoying every moment.

"Hello, Bella…you wasted no time, this pleases me. This trail should be familiar to you correct?"

Yes I replied. "Then start moving, you know where to go. And Bella, don't keep Charlie waiting, he's dying to see you." Click.

So here I am running through the trees towards my death. My death; at least I lived a life worth living. I died saving my father. I saved what would have been my family from possibly being hurt. And I had Edward; though our time together was short; the light he brought to my life and the love he has given me, is the strength I take with me to meet my doomed fate.

There is a break in the trees, and before I even step through the opening, a cold, white hand grasped my throat throwing me to the middle of our meadow.
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That's my first chapter…but I'm a newbie to writing fanfics, so be gentle in your R&R. But seriously, I'd love to hear what you think.