Two updates in one day? Wow.

Disclaimer: (have I done one of these yet? ..) All characters yet far belong to Stephanie Meyer.

I must have fallen asleep – or passed out – during that run, because I didn't recognize my surroundings when I woke up.

Jake's POV

I felt so helpless.

I wished desperately that Bella would wake up. And yet, I didn't. The leech who had left me here said he would come for her when she was awake.

I hoped she was okay. I hugged her closer to me.

Yesterday morning had gone so wrong. I broke another promise to Bella, and I barely even got to talk to her. Those filthy bloodsuckers had interfered.

And now Bella was unconscious. Would I ever get to tell her?

Everything had been perfectly planned out in my mind. I would take Bella cliff diving, as I had promised. We'd go back to my place and I would tell her what had been eating at me these past few days. It was eating at my brothers too. I couldn't get it out of my head, and telling Bella I loved her was the only fix I could think of.

I leaned back against the cold stone wall and let my thoughts drift back to yesterday morning. It seemed like so long ago.

I remembered the panic that had filled me as one of the leeches had run off with Bella."We've got the girl..." he had said. Got the girl? For what? At least, I had the girl for the time being. And they weren't getting their reeking hands on her while I was around. "Over my dead body." I muttered to the empty silence.

I tried to follow, but the other vampire had gotten in my way. "Listen mutt," he had told me (I was surprised at the youthful tone of his voice) "If you know what's good for you, you'll stay here." He had threatened. Hadn't he just been trying to convince his friend that they should bring me – talking about me as if I were luggage? "But, if you come, you're our prisoner. We won't be letting you go. But, you get to keep an eye on your friend a little longer." he was implying that something bad was going to happen to Bella. Of course I had chosen to come.

Bella stirred, interrupting my recollection. Her eyes fluttered open. I sighed in relief.

Edward's POV

My phone rang in my pocket. It had been a long time since I had even bothered to look at who was calling me, let alone answer it. But I didn't need caller ID to tell me it would be Alice.

I flipped it open before the first ring had finished and put it to my ear. "Hello?" the lifelessness in my voice surprised me.

"Edward!" Alice cried, "Can I come? Please?" She begged, of course she would have seen my decision to return.

"No." I told her sternly. "I'm not going back for good; I'm not going to talk to her."

Alice sounded disappointed. "I can't even come see her? I miss Bella so much."

"I'm sorry, Alice." The line was silent for a moment.

"Will you come home afterward? Just for a little while? Emmett misses you, Esme isn't happy, and Carlisle doesn't laugh anymore. We all miss you Edward. Will you stop feeling sorry for yourself and consider your family for a bit?" I didn't answer. She sighed. "At least call me when you get there." She said, and hung up.

I flipped my phone shut and took off running again with no plans to call her back.

It took more than a day, but I finally made it. The already cloudy sky was turning darker with the oncoming night. Bella would be making Charlie dinner about now. I could wait a little longer, until she was asleep.

So I decided to hunt. I needed to anyway. My thirst was getting uncomfortable.

When I returned the sky was completely dark. Bella would be asleep by now. I jumped up to her window, the way I used to, and peered in. No Bella. Swiftly, I opened the window and crawled inside. Her room didn't smell like Bella had been in it recently. I was instently concerned. It wasn't like Bella to stay out of her room all day.

I listened downstairs. Only one human mind passed through my own, as it should be - but there was also only one human. Charlie was alone in the house. I glanced at the clock; the bright green numbers read 9:30 PM.

Something wasn't right.

I concentrated on Charlie's thoughts for a long time. He was worrying about Bella; she hadn't come home last night.

Someone knocked on the door and Charlie heaved himself from the couch to answer it. He was dragging his feet.

"'Evening Charlie." it was a man's voice that I didn't recognize.

"Hey Sam, come on in. Any news?" he sounded hopeful. Did you find Bella?! He thought.

Sam sighed. "We haven't found either of them." Them? Jacob Black, what have you done? Jacob Black? He was Bella's Quileute friend.

"Ah, Bella." Charlie sighed. I barely heard it. The couch groaned again as Charlie sat back down. "She's dead." he sobbed. His thoughts reflected his words.

"No Charlie," Sam was saying, "We don't know that yet..." But I wasn't listening.

I flipped my phone open again and dialed Alice's number. She answered right away.

"Is Bella-" I cut her off.

"Alice, can you find Bella? What is she doing?" I tried to stay calm.

The line was silent for too long. Dread washed over me.

Bella was gone. She was dead. My Bella was dead.

I shut my phone without waiting for Alice's answer and flew back out the window; I had to get away from there.

The reason for my existence was dead. I had no longer had a reason to continue existing.

Alice's POV

I searched the future frantically for Bella. But there was nothing to see. It was blank.

Edward read my silence and the phone line went dead. I didn't care. Bella's future was gone. Bella was dead. But I continued to search for it. I didn't want to accept that my friend had died.

Jasper came down the stairs and was instantly at my side. "Alice," he sounded concerned, "what's wrong?"

"She's gone." His brow furled. "Bella's future is gone." I spun and pressed my face into his chest.

Bella's POV

I moaned and tried to sit up. I opened my eyes, but everything was still dark – and warm.

"Bella?" Jake's voice sounded out of the darkness, right next to me.

"Jacob?" that explained the warmth. "Jake, where are we?"

"I don't know, Bells." He sounded angry. I looked around the small stone room as my eyes adjusted to the dark.

Jake stiffened. A moment later the wall opened. No, it was a door.

I squinted against the harsh light burning my eyes. The figure in the doorway was short. "Get the girl, Aro wants to see her." The voice was childlike, sounding innocent yet menacing.

Jakes arms tightened around me, as another dark figure came through the doorway. I clung to Jacob as hard as I could. It wasn't hard enough.

The figure tugged me away from Jacob effortlessly. Jacob snarled at the vampire. I struggled against the steely hold the vampire had on me, but I was dragged form the room anyway.

"Bella!" I heard Jake roar as the door was shut in his face.

---

I was half dragged half herded down the long – and cold – claustrophobic corridor. The female with the young voice was in the lead. And she really was just a child.

The vampire beside me was the same one who had captured me in the first place; but now he had his hood down and I could see his face. His hair was jet black and shoulder length. He glanced down at me and grinned. I looked forward again. His hand was on the small of my back; as if he were going to stop me from running off if I tried.

There were two other vampires in my escort, they were both behind me. It was unnerving, being followed by blood thirsty vampires. I could feel their pitch black eyes boring holes in the back of my head.

Finally, I was lead through a door. The room beyond was circular and full of more vampires. All of them turned to look as I entered the room. Dozens of dark red eyes started in my direction.

---

R&R?