Chapter 2 The Death of Bella Swan

January 13, 2006

Bella POV

"Jess...I wanted to know if you would…go out to the movies with me tonight? I really need a girls' night out." The words sounded stiff, like badly delivered lines, and she looked suspicious.

"Why are you asking me? She asked, still unfriendly.

"You're the first person I think of when I want girl time." I smiled, and I hoped the smile looked genuine. It was probably true. She was at least the first person I thought of when I wanted to avoid Charlie. It amounted to the same thing. He had only just this morning threatened to send me to my mother in Jacksonville since he'd not been able to break through the past four months of…What did he call it? Oh yeah…moping.

"Thanks for coming with me tonight," I told Jess.

"That was the scariest movie I think I've ever seen. I'll bet we're going to have nightmares tonight."

"No doubt about that," I said, trying to keep my voice normal.

I glanced around myself for the first time.

The street directly in front of us was bright from the marquee lights of the theater. All the surrounding shops were clearly closed, their doors and windows encased by metal security bars. As we walked away from the theater toward Jess' car, the shadows of the night blanketed us more with each step. The car was only two blocks away so it didn't take us long to reach the car. As we neared the car, there were two guys stopped a few feet before the car. The movie apparently had scared Jess quite a bit because as soon as she saw the guys she let out a small squeak, drawing their attention to us.

The guys must attend the local college. They were wearing fraternity sweatshirts and were each toting backpacks that were weighted slightly. The guys were twins or maybe brothers only a year apart. I peeked over to Jess and it seemed that she quickly overcame her initial startled reaction and was now analyzing each of the guys with a look I recognized as one several of the girls at Forks High had when eyeing the Forks High boys.

"Look what we have here." The slightly taller of the two said as he elbowed the other boy and flashed a smile in our direction.

"I'm Primo and this is my brother Maso. We were just heading off to a house party and were discussing how it sucked because we're the only two guys that aren't going to have dates. You two lovely ladies wouldn't mind being our dates and sparing us from the humiliation we would otherwise receive from our house brothers?"

Jess looked at me and I could see from the spark in her eyes that she was going to accept.

"Bella, stop this right now!"

My muscles locked into place, froze me where I stood….It was a furious voice, a familiar voice, a beautiful voice—soft like velvet even though it was irate.

It was his voice. In the instant that I heard his voice, everything was very clear. I was more aware of everything—sight, sound, the feel of the cold air that I hadn't noticed was blowing sharply against my face.

What choice did I have? Jessica was my ride home. I gave a small nod as Jess introduced us and told Primo and Maso that we would love to join them as their dates. Maso reached his hand out to Jess and hooked his arm in hers as he told us that their house was just a short walk away. Primo went to reach his hand out, but I wrapped my arms around myself and he instead shoved his hands in his pockets and walked alongside me. As we walked away from Jess' parked car, I wondered if I was going to survive this night. Why did I think that going out tonight would be a good idea? Oh yeah, avoid being sent to Jacksonville by Charlie. All I want right now is to go back to the numb oblivion that has eclipsed my consciousness since he left. Jess agreed to come out with me tonight, so I'll give her tonight and endure the ache in my chest that throbs with each beat of my broken heart.

I expected a grand tri-story house with huge Greek lettering on the face, the heavy beat of a remix blasting from a stereo and perhaps screaming couples in togas in the front yard. Instead, we approached Bella Italia? My breath escaped my lungs in a rush and my knees buckled. My vision blurred as I tried to look through eyes filled with tears that had yet to fall. I blinked rapidly and tried to remember to breathe. I looked again at the building and in relief, realized that it was not Bella Italia, but another Italian restaurant, Capuzzo's. My relief was short-lived when I also realized that we were still nowhere near a fraternity house.

"I thought we could have a private dinner before we get to the house," Primo said. "This place may look closed, but we've got some "family" connections, so we can come here anytime we want, right Maso?"

"Um…we just…um…ate not long ago. We really just wanted to join you guys at the house for some fun, you know?" Jess stammered out, wariness already beginning to creep in.

"Come on baby. We can have some fun here first." Maso said.

"Bella, turn around," he growled.

I began to suspect that I was having some kind of hallucination. Triggered, no doubt, by the memory—the déjà vu, the strange familiarity of the situation. It seemed too coincidental that I should be in Port Angeles with Jessica, on a dark street. My body remembered it better than my mind did; the tension in my legs as I tried to decide whether to run or to stand my ground.

Think of Jessica. How are we going to get away from these guys and out of here? Charlie still made me carry pepper spray with me and after what happened in…September…ouch…he started making me carry a cell phone. Not that I've used it at all since he got it for me.

"Um…do you have a bathroom that we could use first to...uh… freshen up?" I said hesitantly.

"Yeah, I need to freshen up," Jessica exclaimed a bit too enthusiastically.

Primo and Maso looked at us skeptically but pointed us in the direction of the bathroom. As soon as we were in there, I locked the door and pulled out my cell phone and started dialing Charlie.

"Bella, I'm so sorry. I thought those guys were ok. I didn't think they'd bring us here and…Oh my God, what are we going to do?" Jess rambled on hysterically while she glanced nervously at the door.

"Jess, I'm calling Ch..my dad. Here, you take the pepper spray. We just have to try to stick together and stay away from these guys long enough for my dad to come get us," I tried to reassure her. I didn't know how long we could put off Primo and Maso. Jessica gripped the pepper spray and timidly faced the door.

Ring…ring…"Forks Police Department…"

"Dad…"

"Bella? This is Bob, your dad's out right now…"

"Bob, you have to get my dad. Jessica and I are in trouble."

"Trouble, what kind of trouble honey?"

"Bob, we're at a place called Capuzzo's in Port Angeles. These two guys brought us here and I don't know how we're going to get away. We're in the bathroom, but I know those guys won't wait long."

"Bella, hang on tight. I'm going to call your dad and we'll get someone to you right away."

Thump, thump, thump, thump. "What's taking so long? You better get out here in five minutes or we're breaking the door down," Maso yelled.

"Bella," Bob said. "I've contacted the Port Angeles police department and they're sending someone there as soon as possible. You hang tight ok? Don't leave the bathroom until an officer comes ok? Stay on the line if you can."

"Yeah, ok Bob. Please tell them to hurry. Thank you." I said only slightly relieved.

"Little girls, little girls, let us in or we'll huff and we'll puff and we'll knock this door in." Primo sang in a voice not dissimilar in tone to Jack Nicholson in The Shining.

The next thing I knew, there was a loud crash and the door was open, askew on its frame and Primo and Maso were rushing in. I quickly hid my still connected cell phone behind my back as Jessica attempted to use the pepper spray. She managed to spray Maso, but her aim was off and the stream hit his chest instead of his face. Maso seemed to become frenzied and began beating her. When she tried to fight back Primo joined his twin, holding a frantic Jessica down so that she could only take whatever pounding Maso could dole out. It didn't take much thought on my part to drop my phone and jump at Maso, I knew that I would be no match for him, but I had to try.

My attack caused Maso to pause only long enough to swat me away like a fly. Being a zombie for four months left me weak, not that I would have been winning any prize fights before. When I was hit I was thrown back a few feet. Jessica had stopped struggling and was quietly limp on the bathroom floor. I looked at her bloodied body, hoping she was still alive as the brothers started to close in on me. We were both going to die.

The sound of Edward's furious roar echoed distantly in the back of my head….Edward, Edward, Edward. Edward, I love you.

"I don't believe it," Maso said, his voice so low that I barely heard it.

I had to look then. My eyes searching for the interruption that had extended my life by a few seconds. At first I saw nothing, and my gaze flickered between Maso and Primo. They were retreating, their eyes boring toward the door.

Then I heard it; a siren. From the sound, it would be here within a minute.

Primo took one final glance at me before he and his brother exited the restroom and offered a warning. "We weren't here. You say a word, you're dead. Remember, we've got "family" connections."

I quickly moved to Jessica, but the smell of her blood was making me dizzy. My last image before losing consciousness was Jessica, laying still and not breathing.

"Good morning Miss Swan, I am Deputy Marshal Noah Newman. I'm with the United States Marshal Service," greeted the man stoically as he sat down across from me, a sterile metal table separating us. "Let's get started, shall we?"

I nodded in affirmation, my eyes focused on my hands as they were folded tightly in my lap.

"Good. You are aware that Primo and Tommaso-Maso Capuzzo were both arrested and charged with the murder of Jessica Stanley?" stated Marshal Newman.

"Yes," I responded solemnly, still saddened by Jess' death.

"You have been informed Primo and Tommaso Capuzzo are, by relation, associated with one of the country's largest organized crime families?"

"Yes."

"You acknowledge that the threat made to you necessitates your placement into the FBI's witness protection program should you agree to testify against Primo and Tommaso Capuzzo?"

"Yes."

"You are also aware that in being placed into WITSEC, Isabella Marie Swan will be effectively terminated and you will be prohibited from contacting any family members or friends until such time the threat to your life from the Capuzzo family is eliminated?"

"Yes."

"Very well then, we will draw up your new identification information and brief you on the arrangements for your 'death.' Please accompany me to a more comfortable room while you wait. This should only take a couple hours. "

Four hours later

"Miss Swan, when you leave this office today, you will need to carry on your routine as normally as possible. In three days, an accident will be staged for your 'death'. After that time, you will be relocated by WITSEC and will be thereby known as Annabelle Swanson. Your complete background history and paperwork will be provided to you once you have been successfully extracted and placed under our full protection. Do you have any questions?"

"Anna," I responded.

"Excuse me?" Marshal Newman looked at me puzzled.

"I'd like to go by 'Anna', even though my name will be Annabelle," I clarified. I would have much rather gone by "Belle", but I knew that it was too identifiable.

"Certainly, Anna…any other questions?" he asked.

"No."

"Thank you, Miss Swan for agreeing to testify. It takes a strong person to give up their family and their lives as they know it for an unknown future."

I just nodded as I silently contemplated Marshal Newman's last statement. It wasn't that long ago that I would have eagerly made the conscious choice to turn my back on my family and human life; however my future would not have been unknown. I would have left my human life and everyone associated to that life for an eternity as a vampire with my mate. Marshal Newman was wrong. I am not strong enough. If I was, he wouldn't have left me. He was right about one thing. I am a danger magnet. Saying good-bye to Bella Swan is easy. Charlie, Renee and all my friends will no longer be in danger from my presence. It will be as if I no longer existed.