CHAPTER TWO

BELLA POV

It had felt like an eternity since Edward had brought me to this place, through the wild trees and uneven ground. I really had no idea where it was but I knew the general direction. I needed to get away from everything, from all of them. I needed to see the meadow, to know that somewhere in this world he exists. It wasn't something I wanted to think about but something I craved to know. I pushed past branch after branch, cut after cut and trip after too many falls to count. I was going to get there tonight. The wind had started picking up as the night was slowly pushing away the day. It was long after the end of the school day and I knew Charlie would be worried but I would deal with him after. There wasn't anything he could do to me that could cause me anymore pain. As the dark crept in, so did the rain beginning as a light misty covering that eventually soaked my clothes through to my skin. It was so cold, as the wind whistled I found myself shivering uncontrollably as the bumps stood high on my skin.

Maybe this wasn't the best idea.

I was enveloped by the darkness, barely able to see in front of my face but ahead of me, the last rays of moonlight illuminated the gap in the wild bush. That entrance had once seemed like a doorway to my own personal sanity and happiness but I wasn't exactly sure what I would find through it now.

As broke the meadows threshold, I felt the air instantly calm… as if mother nature herself wanted to scare me into running away. It was so different. It wasn't his meadow anymore, the wild bushes and tall grass had claimed the land back. I sank to my knees, the tears falling over the edge of what remained of my barrier and leaving cold shivering streams down my cheeks. If there was ever going to be a sign that he wasn't coming back it was this.

I sat still and allowed the rain to seep right through to my soul. Allowing every part of my being tare away from me. He may have left me, not wanted me but I would never want anyone else. He had told me I was his life once but it was the other way round. He was mine and I… I was alone.

I contemplated life, my plans. Maybe Charlie was right, moving back with my mom wouldn't be the worst thing - the only reason I wanted to stay here in Forks was for Edward - besides it was a new town, new people, new distraction. Maybe it's just what I need. A fresh start.

As I stood to leave, to say goodbye to this fantasy I felt the icy stare that was glued to my back. The low growl was cat like, an almost purr - I didn't need to look to know exactly who was standing behind me - "Victoria?" I whispered shutting my eyes. Without Edward here, here in the middle of the forest, there was no way I was going to survive this. Even if Alice saw this, I didn't expect it to make a difference - they wouldn't come, he has other distractions - at that moment I realised that I knew I wouldn't survive but I didn't care. I felt like there was nothing left for me here, I was an empty shell who's number was up along time ago. I heard my own words repeated in my mind as clear as the moment they were spoken.

"Why didn't you just let the van crush me and save yourself all this regret?"

"You think I regret saving you?"

"I can see that you do, I just don't know why!"

"You know nothing" he had throw straight back at me.

Why didn't he just let that stupid van crush me, it would have saved us both all this trouble, it would have been less painful if I had shattered every bone in my body instead of going through this. I heard another purring growl that dragged me back to the present.

"Oh poor Bella. Edwards just a meany for leaving you all alone like this" her taunting was the least of my concerns right now and so I just ignored her. If I was going to die right now, if this was the final moments of this pain then did it really matter if I allowed myself to see him? Allowed his voice and scent to over take my thoughts?

I let him in… every memory that I could find I replayed expect for our final moment, I never wanted to relive that if I didn't have to. I felt a shiver run up my spine from her closeness. I could feel the cold from her skin penetrating through my clothing and I focused on his crooked smile as I felt her get even closer.

"Pathetic really" she laughed an ear splitting squeal. "To think he left you to save you" my eyes flashed open at that remark automatically. She didn't miss that. "You didn't know?" the excitement in her voice was child-like. A five year old on Christmas morning who thinks she's after seeing Santa wouldn't even be this excited. She moved around to face me, her ruby stained eyes glaring into mine. "it's funny really… he didn't want to destroy your soul, so he left you" without my permission I gasped and it seemed to please her, but I still refused to talk, to play into her games. "Poor Edward! oh Bella… you think you look bad" another laugh but this one seemed to be filled with sympathy. "He's not doing too good without you, his little heart is broken" she couldn't be telling the truth, could she? Would she?

"Your lying!" speaking sternly and glaring straight back at her.

"Nope, sorry… do you want to know a secret Bella?" her cat like features twisted into one of pure amusement. "I was going to kill you, I was waiting patiently for the perfect moment and when he left it confused me just as much as it did you." she stroked my face, picking the few strands that were stuck across from the wind and rain. Playing absently she continued "I watched, waited, all I needed was some clue and then I got my wish… the Denali's think Laurent is interested in joining them" had Laurent overheard something? Is that where the Cullen's are?

"So your not going to kill me?" I asked sarcastically.

"Well in a way… you see Edwards biggest fear is you losing your soul, if I killed you… well you would get to keep it and Edward would win… cant have that" she tossed the hair and gripped my face pushing it to one side, exposing my neck. "there's no fun if I lose, but don't worry… if I trust Edwards theory then taking your soul is easy" I gasped as I took in what she meant. "Just one quick bite" I closed my eyes knowing the end was now and praying that Edward was wrong about my soul, I pictured his face - that perfect crooked smile - and waited.

I felt my skin tare and the heat dripping down my throat, powerless I fell to the ground. Watching the rain drop I started feeling the burning begin - the venom spreading - at first it wasn't too bad, uncomfortable but manageable but that didn't last long. Within a few moments I wasn't able to think of anything, just the burning.

EDWARDS POV

She couldn't be dead. No. Alice had been wrong before, she was wrong now. If Bella was dead I would know. At least I think I would. Wouldn't I? I needed to stop and think. I needed to go to Forks and prove Alice wrong. I grabbed my phone from my pocket and called the swans residence.

"Bells?" a worried voice filled the phone line, the last traces of hope seemed to be diminishing. It wasn't a voice I was overly familiar with but I recognised it as the voice that stole my precious moments with Bella at the prom. Jacob Black.

"No, its Dr Carlisle Cullen, is everything alright over there?" I lied.

"No… Bells is missing." if my heart was beating it would have surely stopped. "Edward hasn't heard…" I cut him off.

"No, not since we left. How long has she been gone for?" I needed details so I could make my own conclusions.

"She took off earlier from school after a fight with her teacher. We've searched everywhere we know but there's just no trace of her." his defeated tone only made my worst nightmares more real. I needed to get to Forks and I needed to do it now. If she was there I would find her and she would be alive when I did.

"I have to go, I'll call back soon." I hung up not wanting to drag out the conversation in case I messed up. I flashed into the living room, to where Alice and the others were still trying to figure out what she had seen. "I just spoke to Jacob Black" they all turned to look at me. To Bella, Jacob was just the boy she used to make mud pies with, the boy that built her truck but to us, he was the grandson of Ephram Black - the leader of the last pack of werewolves that knew our secret, we stayed off of their land and they promised not to try and kill us - it was a fair deal. Thank God that line had died out many years ago, that's all Bella would need, some young werewolf following her. With her bad luck and the wolfs instability… that was a thought I decided not to finish.

"What did he say?" Alice was instantly in front of me.

"Bella's missing. I have to go back. I know that area, the woods. I know Bella where she would go and her … scent."

"We're all going back!" Emmett was the first one to recover from the news and give me some kind of response. "If something has hurt my little sister… its gonna pay!"

It was only moments later we were running through the forests heading towards Forks. This run was going to take all night and a large part of tomorrow as well. I needed to be there now !