Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Twilight characters. Although I would not mind having Edward all to myself
Apologies. I know this is pretty short. I wrote it at work, which I definitely wasn't supposed to be doing. That whole being on the clock thing. Let me know what you think!
Chapter 1: Awakening
I felt his cold arms around me; holding me almost to the point of restraint. But I couldn't figure out why it was him holding onto me and not Edward. His arms were strong and I did feel safe; but I could tell I was shaking.
"Carlisle?" I asked as I looked up at him, trying to make sure that it was actually him.
"It's alright, Bella. Calm down. You need to try to relax. Everything's going to be fine." He said. His normally calm and stoic voice now had a slight tremble of terror behind it.
I didn't believe him.
I tried to turn my head. Tried to look for Edward. He had to be there somewhere. I didn't know what had happened to bring me to this point. Why I was laying here, wherever it was. Or how Carlisle had gotten there. All I knew was that I needed to find Edward.
Then it hit me. The excruciating pain throughout my entire chest that reverberated through my arms and rang in my ears. Someone was screaming. I could hear it. A bloodcurdling wail, muffled only by sobs. And then I realized it was me.
I was screaming.
When I woke up I couldn't hear anything but a constant ringing in my ears. My head ached as though it were in a giant vice grip which only became tighter and tighter, squeezing at my temples.
"How are you feeling?" I heard Carlisle whisper. The room was dark. Heavy blankets covered the windows, towels were lining the crack under the door, and the lights were off. Carlisle was sitting in a chair a few yards away from me, his legs crossed, left over right with his hands resting in his lap. He looked worn out, almost tired. As if he hadn't hunted in far too long.
"My head…it hurts. Everything hurts. I don't even know why. What happened?" I asked, my voice cracking.
"You don't remember?"
"No. All I know is that I was with Edward. I don't know where we were or what happened. One minute…" I paused, "I don't know. I was with him and then I was here with you, wishing I were dead."
He just stared at me, confused. I sat up quickly.
"Where is he, Carlisle? Where's Edward?" I pleaded with him, hoping he knew more than I evidently did.
"We don't know." He said, my heart dropping.
"Then how did I-"
"That's where it gets complicated." He cut me off. "Edward dropped you off. He showed up at the door with you, limp in his arms. He said he'd bitten you. Not how or why. But that he thought he had killed you. He was hysterical. He begged me to bring you back. Save you. I had him bring you in here, into my office. I promised to do what I could. I didn't have to do much, you were fine. Once he knew that you were alright, that you were technically alive, just changed, he said he had to leave. He couldn't face you. He was too ashamed. We-"
"Why didn't you stop him?" I whispered, furious but too shocked to let it out in my speech.
"Bella, we tried. You have to know that we tried. He's my son for all intents and purposes. Of course I'm not going to just let him run away."
"But he did didn't he? He's gone isn't he?" I kept asking, hoping he'd give me a different answer.
"Bella," he said slowly as he got up and walked over to me. "Everything will be fine. You'll stay with us, we'll teach you how to deal with your new life and it will all work out."
"I'm not worried about dealing with my new life, Carlisle!" I shouted, ignoring the pain it caused me. "Without Edward I don't want any life. Remember the last time? Without him…I crumble. Without him, my life is forfeit anyways." I started to cry. Heaving sobs that seemed to come from my soul. "How could he leave me again? After everything we've….he promised me he wouldn't ever…"
I buried my head in my hands and stood up. I opened my eyes and walked across the room to one of the windows covered by a thick black blanket. I grabbed it quicker than I had expected to and pulled it down along with the bolding it had been attached to.
"Oops."
"Nothing that can't be fixed." Carlisle said with a smile as he caught the falling pieces of shattered wood.
"Sorry. I didn't realize I was already that…different…I guess."
"It happens quickly." Esme's voice came from the doorway. "How are you doing, dear?" she asked, her face pained, her tone motherly.
"Completely lost." Honesty was best at this point.
She exchanged a knowing glance with Carlisle as she walked towards me. She put her hand on my shoulder and hugged me.
"Bella, I've always thought of you as my daughter. This changes nothing." She released me but kept her hands on my shoulders starring into my eyes. "It hurts now. But you'll be okay. We're all here for you honey." She kissed me lightly on the cheek and with that, she turned and left the room.
Carlisle stood up from where he had been crouching on the floor. He looked at me with a half hearted attempt at a smile.
"Alice, Emmett and Jasper want to take you out to hunt this afternoon. You'll need it. Esme and I can accompany you if you wish."
"No, that will be fine. Just the kids." I wanted a chance to speak to Alice alone. I knew that Emmett would probably be wanting to teach me the ins and outs of hunting and that Jasper was probably tagging along in order to keep my emotions in check. To manipulate me if I needed to be manipulated. But for some reason, I didn't care. I just didn't want to have to hurt anymore. If that were even a possibility.