Chapter Four

Cold Showers

You're supposed to drink your school worries away on Spring Break. You're supposed to do stupid things you would never dream of doing and blame it on the alcohol. You're supposed to wake up next to random strangers and sneak out before you have to talk about what happened.

So with that in mind, I guess waking up with my leg draped across another chick wasn't so out of the ordinary. It would have been less awkward, however, had she not been awake and staring at the ceiling. "Bella, I think you misunderstood me when I suggested we try to be friends again."

I pulled my leg away. "Then you shouldn't have climbed into bed with me. You're sending me mixed signals." I rolled over to find the other side of the bed empty. "Where's Jacob?"

"He went to help those other idiots board up the windows." She sat up and stretched. "I'm going to take a cold shower." When I smirked, she rolled her eyes, "Not because of you conceited. The previous owners of this shack weren't intelligent enough to purchase a gas water heater instead of an electric. I don't understand how people can be so incompetent."

"Rose," I propped myself up on my elbows "You are not allowed to use big words like that on Spring Break." She flipped me off and went to take a shower.

Not ready to get up, I rolled over and buried my face in my pillow. "Are you fucking crazy Bella?" a severely angry voice questioned.

I groaned, "Why do people keep asking me that?"

"I told you to get out of these fucking mountains." My head snapped up. There stood Edward in my room in all his angry glory.

"How did you get in here?" Not that I minded.

He jerked his head towards my window. "They missed one."

"We're on the second floor," I said stupidly.

"Do you really think that will stop someone who wants in badly enough?" he asked. "You have no idea what you're up against. I told you to get out of here. Why didn't you just listen to me?" He said that last part more to himself as he ran a hand through his hair, gripping it with frustration.

"I tried to get them to leave. No one wants to go out there and face whatever monster that is," I argued.

He huffed, "You have no idea--"

"Then why don't you fucking tell me?" I snapped. "I'm so sick of this mysterious bullshit. Just tell me what's going on, so I can explain it to them. They won't leave just because you said so."

"You want to know?" he asked dangerously. "I'll show you."

I didn't have time to process what he was saying before I was on his back, hanging on for dear life as he leapt through the window. I wanted to scream, but I knew the others would hear me. I was torn between doing the smart thing and doing the exciting thing.

When we hit the ground, he dropped me to my feet and grabbed my wrist, pulling me along behind him. "I can walk without your assistance, you know."

"Don't get an attitude with me Bella," he warned, still pulling me.

"Don't tell me what to do," I shot back. He was incredibly hot, but that didn't mean he had to be a jerk.

He suddenly stopped walking and yanked me to him. "Listen to me carefully. You wanted to know what was out here, and I'm risking both of our lives to show you. The least you can do is shut the fuck up and not get us killed."

"I wanted you to tell me, not show me," I whispered angrily. I wasn't very thrilled about this whole possible death situation. "I am two months away from finishing college, and I'll be damned if I've worked this hard for nothing."

"Then you'll be quiet," he replied, dragging me again.

I kept my mouth shut despite the fact that I wanted to yell at him for putting me in danger. The fact was we were in danger and making a fuss would only increase it. Edward's grip on my wrist was bruising, but at the same time, it made me feel the tiniest bit safe.

"We're going up in the trees," said Edward after we made it a good distance from the cabin. "When I stop you, you can't move. You can't make a sound. They're very observant, but luckily they're also very arrogant. They don't expect us to be looking for them. If you don't think you can handle this, tell me now."

"I'm fine," I whispered. What the hell was I doing?

Edward grabbed a limb above us and pulled himself up. When he was steady, he reached back down for me. God he had strong arms. I followed him closely. Every step he took, I took. There was no room for error. I can't stress just how much I did not want to die.

When Edward stopped me, I swore he could hear my heart. It was about to beat right out of my chest. I was that terrified. He handed me a small ear piece and motioned for me to put it in while he did the same. Then he handed me a small set of binoculars and pointed off into the distance. My hands shook as I brought them to my eyes.

I didn't see anything at first. There was a large rock wall, but that was to be expected in the mountains. I looked back at Edward, but he just motioned for me to keep looking, so I did.

After a few minutes, I heard something through the earpiece. It sounded like something was coming. My breathing picked up a little as I tried to control my freak-out. Reading about these sort of things was much different than experiencing it. Movement caught my eye and I focused on the source. It wasn't the monster or the beast that I had been expecting. It was the bus driver. What the hell? She stood next to some type of bush and folded her arms impatiently.

Suddenly the bush moved and a man stepped out. He didn't appear to be anything out of the ordinary. He was just another blond headed white guy from the looks of it.

"What the fuck James?" the bus driver nearly shouted. "You've already let four of them escape!"

"Relax Heidi," he purred. "There's still eleven to choose from. Besides, the Indian girl was of no use anyway. Victoria got a little carried away with her. She has a little trouble controlling her jealousy sometimes."

"No shit," Heidi snapped. "You better do something about that. The others will no doubt be on the lookout now. She just made your job a whole lot harder."

He shook his head, smirking. "No, she just made it all the more exciting."

Heidi let out a long, frustrated breath. "Whatever. Did you find anything out from the rich boy?"

"Plenty," said James. "The little one thought that by telling us about the others, we would let him go. However, when they found out he damaged the blonde… well let's just say the punishment fit the crime."

"I hope they fucked him good. He was such a condescending bastard," Heidi replied. "I'm going back to town to keep a lookout incase you guys screw anything else up. I'll let you know if I hear anything."

When they were both out of sight, Edward took the earpiece and binoculars and put them back in the pocket of his cargo pants. Then he started walking back the way we came.

Once we were on the ground again, he took my wrist and began pulling me behind him again. I didn't say a word this time. When we got to the cabin, I got on his back and he climbed his way up to my window.

Edward climbed in with ease and set me down. "The others are so busy they probably didn't even notice you missing, but you should still make an appearance downstairs just to be safe. Tell that big guy you're going to take a shower. I'll meet you in there."

I practically ran down the steps to find Jake. I wanted to know what was going on, and Edward was the only one who could tell me.

"Hey Bells. It's about time you woke up," said Jake. "You hungry?"

I shook my head. "I'll get something in a minute. I think I'm just gonna take a shower."

"Alright, let me know if you need any help," he winked.

"Pig," I replied half-heartedly before rushing back upstairs. I grabbed my pack and went straight into the bathroom.

Edward shut the door and locked it. "Turn the water on," he whispered.

I anxiously moved the shower curtain aside and turned the nozzle. The sound of the falling water would make it easier for us to talk without anyone overhearing. He pulled me as far away from the door as we could get. "What the hell is going on Edward? Who were those people?"

"I trust you recognized Heidi," he replied. I nodded. "She's the girl I was looking for that day I accosted you in the bathroom. I was only told that she was attractive with dark hair and a tattoo on the back of her neck."

"Who--" I started, but he cut me off.

"I'll get to that in a minute," he snapped quietly. "From what I've gathered, Heidi made sure you and your friends made it to the cabin. It was set up to have enough food and supplies to make you feel safe enough to stay. Then the hunters would come. They're planning to take you all, some dead, some alive. I'm still trying to find out who they're working for, but to do that, I'll have to go through the hidden entrance in the rocks. I need to at least take out the hunters before I do, but I really need to get a hold of one for information."

"Why are you doing this? They don't know you're here. You could easily get away," I whispered.

His jaw clenched. "Two weeks ago my little sister came here with some friends. She called me the first night and told me about the girl with the 'cool tattoo' who was going to take them hiking. Three days later she finally called me again. I could barely hear her, but I knew she was in trouble. She told me that someone was killing her friends and that they were after her. Then she screamed and the phone went dead. I'm here to get my sister and to kill the fucking monsters who hurt her."

I let out a shaky breath. "They're coming for us. What do I say to the others? How can I get them out of here?" I didn't want what happened to his sister and her friends to happen to us.

"Tell them what you saw, but don't tell them about my sister. If she's…" He stopped and shook his head. "I don't want her in anymore danger than necessary. If they find out who I am, it will just be worse for her."

I nodded. If any of the others got caught, there was no doubt in my mind that they would question them like they had Royce. I didn't know who would crack and who wouldn't, so I couldn't take any chances. Jake wouldn't spill to save himself, but he would to save me, so I couldn't tell him either.

I didn't like thinking about it. I didn't know what I would do if they got Jacob. I may not have been in love with him, but I did love him. Pig or not, he'd always been there for me. Strangely enough he was probably my best friend.

"You need to take a shower," said Edward, bringing me out of my thought.

I shook my head. "I'll just heat some water later for a bath. That water's too cold."

"You already told the others you were taking a shower. Now quit being a baby and get in," he replied.

"I'm getting really sick of your attitude. You can't just--" I shrieked as he yanked my shirt over my head. "What the hell are you doing?"

"I shower naked," he said, taking off his own shirt. His glorious eight pack came into view and suddenly a cold shower didn't seem like such a bad idea. However, there was no way I was showering with this stranger… this hot, sexy stranger.

"I'm not getting in there," I said defiantly. His pants hit the floor along with his boxers. I was so focused on trying to keep my eyes up that I didn't even notice him going for my shorts until they were slipping off my hips with my panties. My eyes widened, "Excuse me!"

He clamped a hand over my mouth. "You don't want anyone to hear you talking to me." His other hand reached behind me and unclasped my bra. "Now get in the damn shower."

I didn't have a choice. He picked me up and stepped into the tub. The cold water sent a shock through my body, but it was nothing compared to the feel of his skin against mine. I started shivering, "You b-bastard. I'm f-f-freezing."

"You just need a distraction," he replied, his lips brushing my ear. He stood behind me with a bar of soap. He bent down and I missed the shield his body had provided against the cold water. I shuddered for a completely different reason when his rough hands ran across my skin. He was washing me, every inch of me starting with my feet.

"Edward," I stopped him when he reached my upper thighs. I didn't want to, but I did. I couldn't let him touch me there.

"I'm just going to wash you Bella," he said softly. "Now move your hands."

My hands fell to my sides without my consent. I felt my knees go weak when he touched me, but he wrapped an arm around my waist to hold me up. I closed my eyes as his fingers trailed over me without slipping inside like I desperately wanted, but would never ask for. The water didn't seem so cold anymore.

He moved on to my stomach, my back, and my arms. Then finally his hands came to my breasts. He caressed them firmly, rubbing in the clean smelling soap. He squeezed each mound and pulled me flush against him, letting me feel his erection poking just above my ass. He held onto me a little longer than necessary, before sadly letting go. I felt his hands go to my hair next, lathering in some shampoo. When he finished, he turned me around, his dark eyes boring into mine as he held my face in his hands. Whatever it was he needed to say never came.

"You need to get dried off," he huffed. "You need to get warmed up."

I stepped back from him as he washed himself off quickly, not letting me help. My hands were shaking too much to do it properly anyway. He left the water running as he stepped out, grabbing a couple of towels. He dried me off at a surprising speed before draping the large towel over my shoulders like a blanket while he got dressed.

"I'm going back out there," said Edward. "Tell your friends what you saw. Tell them that if they stay in these mountains, they're going to die." I nodded and he took my face in his hands again. "Be safe." And then he just left.

Once I snapped out of my lust induced haze, I was able to get dress and go back downstairs. Everyone reluctantly came into the den to hear what I had to tell them. I could tell most of them were just annoyed with the interruption.

"An animal didn't hurt Emily," I announced. "Hunters did. I don't how many there are, but they plan on taking all of us dead or alive. I snuck out earlier." Jake looked furious, but I kept going. "The bus driver who brought us here, who suggested we take the route that led us here, she's in on it. She made sure we got here. They wanted us in this cabin. They know about all of us."

Lauren interrupted, "And how the fuck would they know that?"

"Royce," I replied, chancing a glance at Rosalie. She appeared unaffected, but I knew she had practice at masking her feelings. "They got him, and he told them everything he knew. That didn't save him though." I looked over at Seth and Leah. "Sam and the others made it out. Heidi, the bus driver, was furious about it, but if they made it out, we can too. We just have to stick together."

"I'm not leaving," said Tyler. "Sam will send help. Now that we know it isn't some science fiction beast after us, I think we should just stay here until the cops get here. There's eleven of us. We can take of a few hunters, but they obviously know the woods better than we do. It would be suicide to go running through the forest."

"Fuck that. I'm out of here," said Mike. Everyone started arguing and going in their own directions.

"Guys! Stop we have to stay together!" I shouted, but no one listened. This was bad. "Guys!"

We heard the loud crash of wood breaking and falling to the floor followed by a high-pitched scream. I whipped around frantically to see who was missing, but with everyone running around in chaos it was impossible to tell.

"Bells!" Jake grabbed my arm, "Get upstairs."

"But--" I started.

"Now Bella!" he shouted. Rosalie grabbed my arm and pulled me towards the stairs.

"Rose, listen to me. They can get up here too." If Edward could, then surely the hunters could. She kept running, and I couldn't let her go up there alone. "Rosalie!"

Glass shattered nearby and I was thrown to the floor. "Don't struggle pet. He wants you alive," the man growled as I tried to get him off me. Rosalie kicked him hard in the face, making his head snap back. He grabbed a shard of glass and was about to go after her when Jacob came out of nowhere and lunged into him. They both hit the floor loudly and struggled against each other. Rosalie helped me get out of the way and held me back from interfering.

One of them, and I wasn't sure which, howled in pain. "Jake!" I screamed. They were both laying deathly still, and I felt like I couldn't breath.

Relief flooded through me when Jacob slowly pushed himself up. I ran over to him and threw my arm around his neck. He hugged me back, squeezing the life out of me, but I didn't care.

"He's dead," said Rosalie, looking at the other man. Jake's grip on me tightened.

"Thank you Jacob," I whispered. I didn't want him to feel guilty about killing someone when he did it to save me and Rose.

He let me go and bent down to pull his knife out of the hunter. "They got Tanya and Eric. They took them alive. Jessica ran out and Mike went after her. They haven't come back yet, so I don't know if they're alive or not. One tried to get Seth, broke the poor kid's arm, but Leah saved him. She gave the hunter a pretty good blow with a piece of wood, but he got away."

"What about Lauren and Tyler?" I asked.

Before he could answer, we heard a slightly familiar roar from outside. Jake gripped his knife. "Stay with me." Rosalie and I followed him downstairs to find out what was going on. Right when we made it to the bottom of the steps the front door swung open.

"Sam!" Leah shouted. He ignored the rest of us and ran to her, pulling her into his arms in a crushing embrace. "Sam, what are you doing here?"

"I came back for you Lee-Lee." He kissed her forehead sweetly before turning to the rest of us, keeping his arm around Leah. "I went to the police. They think we're just a bunch of crazy college kids making up stories. They're saying that Emily was attacked by a bear, so they'll send someone from wildlife management to take care of it. I've got enough fuel now to get back to town, but again I can only take so many."

"You need to take Seth," said Leah. "The hunters broke his arm."

"I'm not going without you sis," Seth replied.

"Neither am I," said Sam.

Tyler was pacing angrily. "I'm not going. I'm not leaving these mountains until I kill that bitch who got us here."

"I'm with Tyler," said Lauren. "No one ruins my Spring Break and gets away with it." Idiots.

"It's up to you three then," Sam told Jake, Rosalie, and I. "Who's coming?"

We looked at each other. I wasn't leaving without Jake. "Rose, why don't you go?"

"No way," she replied tightly. "I told you I would leave when you did. I may be a bitch, but I'm a loyal one."

Jake looked at me pleadingly, but I shook my head. Sam realized that neither of us were coming. "I'll do everything I can to send help. I won't stop until someone gets you guys out of here," he promised.

I nodded. "Good luck."

He smiled sadly, "You too." And then they were gone.

AN: If you have any questions about what's going on, feel free to ask them in your reviews; that way I won't forget to write the answers in future chapters. For those that log in and review, I'll send you a preview as soon as I get one written. Thanks for reading! (There may be more typos than usual. I didn't read over it because there are brownies coming out of the oven that require my immediate attention. I'm sure you can forgive me.)