Author's Note. Excuse the short chapter. I'm sorry. I tried to flesh it out as much as I could, but I promise, the next one will be longer, from Edward's POV. Until then, enjoy!

Reviews will be much appreciated.

(Bella's POV)

I had fallen into complete darkness now. I was scared. Where was Edward now? Why hadn't he saved me? How could Jacob possibly hurt me? Did this mean I was dead? What was this then? Hell?

Then, all of a sudden, the pain hit me like a wave. The burning sensation that was all too familiar to me. I couldn't focus on anything but the searing pain. Everything was still dark, but the pain was there, coursing through every inch of me. Pulsing through my veins, burning them. It felt like my whole body was encased in flames. I was being burned alive. My skin sizzled as my muscles tensed. I couldn't control my movements. I wanted to speak, but my lips were smoldering. My saliva was like liquid fire, coating my mouth, making it impossible to get a sound out besides screams and moans. I don't know how long it lasted before I became aware of my body again, I knew I was writhing.

I could think now, just barely, let my mind wander over the possibilities. Edward must have saved me…the only way he could. He had bitten me. Turned me. God, had Jake done that much damage? He must have…I must have been dying. I knew Edward would never do this to me, if I wasn't seconds from death. I felt another, more intense wave of burning pain course through me. I writhed around again, screaming in agony. This must be torture for Edward. I knew he was with me. Even if I couldn't see him, or sense him. He was with me. Time was passing, endless seconds, minutes, hours….I had no way of knowing how much of the pain I had already endured, and how much more was to come.

I slipped in and out of awareness. After what seemed like an eternity, the veil of my pain lifted just barely so that I could hear his voice. I still couldn't speak, I was in too much pain to be able to form coherent sentences, but I could hear him speaking to me. Soothing me. Telling me I would be alright. I tried to believe him. I wanted to, desperately. I cried out again, the pain taking on a new sensation…unbelievable pressure, crushing my body. I felt like I was a piece of coal being pressed into a diamond. A fitting analogy I thought. It was getting harder to breath. Like an enormous bolder had been placed on my chest.

"shhh….Bella, love…you'll be okay. There's not much left now…The pain will be over soon. I'm here. I'm with you, Bella." His voice would drift in and out. Sometimes I could hear him clearly, sometimes, it was a muffled echo. More time passed. With it, the pain ebbed, slowly, but surely. I began to feel hope. Like I would make it through this. It felt like my body was trying to force out the burning. It would subside for a moment, then come rushing back through me, but every time it returned less intense.

I began to hear other voices. A male voice…..Carlisle? A woman's….Esme, or Alice maybe? I couldn't be sure. All that I knew for sure was that I had Edward with me. He never left me. The burning was starting to subside, into a dull heat that coursed through my whole body, but the pressure remained, squeezing my body into an unfamiliar shape. I tried to consciously move some part of myself. To lift a finger, or wiggle a toe. I willed myself to do it, but I wasn't even sure if I had been able to. Then I heard his voice, clearly this time. It sounded like music, beautiful….like I'd never heard it before.

"Carlisle…she should be close now, shouldn't she?" Worry filled his voice and it made me ache. I wanted to say something to make him feel better. Tell him I would be alright. But the words eluded me. I could feel his fingers wrapped around mine. They didn't feel quite as cold now. How could that be? But I pushed my thoughts aside, and listened.

"Yes…she's calmed down quite a bit, and her heart is slowing…it will stop soon…." His words became mumbles.

My heart would stop? Was I dying? Had Edward not gotten to me in time? No, that couldn't be it. He wouldn't have sounded so comforting before if I was dying. Then I remembered. Vampire hearts didn't beat. They lay dormant in their chests. So I wasn't dying. Quite the opposite, I thought to myself. Had it been three days already? I had no sense of time anymore. For all I knew, It could have been seconds since the burning began. It could have been months. I was having a hard time remembering what had happened previously to the burning. I could only remember bits and pieces. Jacob. Edward. Pain. No coherent memories. I don't know why, but this bothered me. I wished I could remember.

I could feel them touching me lightly. Checking my pulse. I wanted to speak. To say that I was okay, but still no words came out. Then I felt him kiss me. My cheek, my forehead, my lips. My body couldn't stop it self from reacting. But instead of speeding up, pounding out of my chest…my heart jumped slightly and then stopped completely. Dead.

The burning was gone. So was the pain, the pressure. I lifted my eyelid slowly. His beautiful face was hovering above mine. Watching me intently. His sweet smell flooded my nose, tortured my senses. I could pick out each individual scent. His face was so clear. I felt as though I had never actually seen him before. Was this what I had been missing as a human? I felt cheated. Without thinking I sat up, looking around the room. I was in his room. On his couch. I had no time to wonder how I had gotten here. I turned my attention to Edward. He flashed a smile at me, but his face had a strange look on it.

It made me sad. He was sick with worry, that much was obvious. He hadn't been hunting. Deep, purple circles under his eyes marred the beauty of his face. I lifted a hand slowly up to his cheek and rested it there.

"Bella? Are you alright? Please say something, love…do you know who I am?" His voice…would I ever tire of hearing it?

No.

"Edward…yes…of course I know who you are! I love you!" I stopped myself and clutched my throat. What had happened to my voice? It was soft, like his. But it rang like a bell, like Alice's. I guess I'd have to get used to it. It wouldn't take me long.

"Edward…you look awful…." He smiled at that, chuckling softly.