Ello. :)

I hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving! As I had predicted, my cousins made me stay at their house and watch them so I never was able to get on and upload, but I come to the computer well prepared. xD The same goes for the weeks that passed afterward. -.-' The good news: I have Christmas vacation this weekend! Which means I'll be able to update a lot more! :D

I have, like, 6 chapters written in my notebook or some ridiculous amount. o.o My friend looked through it the other day and got all confused xDD So ya, enough of my boring life. :0

Chapter 5: Concurrence

BPOV ~

Edward tried to make his actions inconspicuous, but I could practically hear his eyes shifting restlessly on a hundred different spots in less than a second.

"Edward, no one's here It's just you and me." I turned my gaze to the side as I spoke to him and saw his face light up with faux confusion. A breeze picked up and whipped around us. I swore that I saw his nose flare, and that he was still trying to track Them while in my presence, but he covered himself so quickly that anyone else would have thought they had imagined the small action.

"Of course it's just us, love. Charlie left while you were sleeping." I sighed and looked forward again. I leaned myself into his side and savored the feeling of his frigid temperature despite the wind surrounding us.

"You know what I mean." I turned my head to him and smiled softly. His arm wound around my waist to steady me since I made the bold move of walking without looking where I was going. "It doesn't take a mind reader to know what we're both thinking about." He squeezed me lightly, but still said nothing.

I knew that I couldn't possibly help that much, but I joined in looking around; searching for anything that changed or that was out of the ordinary. I was used to how green Forks was now, but it still grabbed my attention when I really 'looked' at the scenery instead of just seeing it out of my peripheral vision. Moss and lichen in all shades of green covered the rocks and tree trunks in a veil-like sheen. Clovers and other such small buds grew in carpets around boulders and fauna. The few patches of soil that were visible in the forest was dark and damp, making sloshing noises as I treaded through the plants with Edward. He in all his grace barely made a sound; even in the shifting topsoil.

The air was cool and crisp; the breeze carrying the well-known scent of a close rain coming towards us. I could also smell the scents of the earth and foliage around us and the clean mountainous air. I couldn't help but wonder how much this would change? Would everything smell better to me, or simply different? Would it be the same, but somehow stronger?

Had Edward smelled anything out-of-the-ordinary yet?

"What can I do to help?" I asked quietly. Our silence made my voice seem awkward and out of place, and I couldn't help but murmuring my question softly to Edward. "Have you got anything yet?" He must have understood the meaning behind the meaning of the question, for I felt him tense. He knew I wasn't just talking about now, our current look-out; he knew I wanted in with finding Victoria.

"No, I haven't found anything yet," he mumbled, eyes narrowing as he did so.

"Edward, I want to he-"

"You can help by not being involved," he forced out. His anger was beginning to surface again. So was mine. We both stopped at the same moment and turned towards the other.

"Edward, I have to do something. I can't just sit here and wait for something inevitable to happen!" His eyes held confusion at what I had said, so I continued to elaborate. "If I don't do anything to help, none of us can be entirely sure of whether Victoria will be captured or not! And I don't want to walk around and act okay when it's not! It's my fault that your family is constantly on guard, and it's my fault that everyone's even in this situation! Let me do something about it!" I felt my body shaking from the numerous amounts of emotion coursing through my body: hate, anger, frustration, nervousness, and revulsion because of Victoria, and guilt and remorse for the torrent I had just released upon Edward.

"I just want to help," I whispered into Edward as I walked into his arms. "I feel like a bird with a broken wing. Something small is holding me back, and everyone thinks I'm delicate; even when my wing's healed. And if a bird can't fly, even with perfectly functional wings, what would it be then? A little ball of fluff that waddles around on the ground?" He chuckled softly and squeezed me gently. "Let me fly Edward, let me help."

"It's a good thing Emmett's not here, your little story would have brought tears to his eyes." I stomped on his foot, but it felt like a blunt object slammed into my sole. He laughed loudly, freely, and lifted me into his arms. I turned my face away from him and pouted. He chuckled again, then said, "Forgive me my love. What I meant was, 'are you done with your stirring speech madam?'" I joined him in his laughter and pecked his cheek before becoming serious again.

"But will you consider it? I certainly hope I didn't rant and not get results from it." He sighed heavily and looked me in the eyes. The gold was firm and strong, and were almost cold in the way he was gazing into me.

"I'm not going to argue about this Bella."

I looked at my index finger as it trailed over his collar bone, up to and over the muscles on his neck, then back over his collar bone in a circular route. "Then don't argue with me Edward," I whispered softly. I didn't want him to think that I was mad at him, but he did need to understand that I was going to be firm on my part. He sighed again and hung his head. My finger left his chest and cupped his cheek, thumb running over the smooth plane of his skin.

"You aren't going to let this go are you?" he mumbled in defeat. I smiled and kissed his cheek again. "I'll talk with Carlisle. But-" He turned toward me and looked at me sternly. I kept my smile planted firmly on my face, but I felt unnerved by his gaze. "You are not going to be in contact with Victoria or the other two in any way. Have we reached an agreement?" I huffed, but nodded. I knew that this was the best that I was going to get from him, so it was best that I didn't detain the advancement of the agreement.

He put me down and took my hand. "Shall we finish our walk, love?" I smiled at him and nodded. He lead the way, helping me over a few fallen stumps before gradually turning in the direction of my house. There was still silence between us, but it was frightening to me; daunting somehow. This silence was different before. My fright wasn't coming from Edward--no, it wasn't him at all. I felt like someone was watching me. Goosebumps began to rise on my skin, and I pressed my side into Edward's to disguise the cause. He would freak out if he knew I was scared, so it was better if he thought I was getting goosebumps from his cool temperature. Why was I even scared in the first place? Edward would sense danger long before I would, so what was I freaking out over?

"Probably because you're the only one who can sense my presence right now."

I felt my heart stutter in response to Her voice. She began laughing at my realization, and Edward stopped walking and looked at me concerningly.

"Are you okay Bella?" I nodded, not trusting my voice, but I felt my body quiver; going into 'fight or flight' mode. But this was a being I couldn't fight. Or run from. I felt my shaking increase, and tried to calm myself down before Edward caught on.

"I find him funny. He said, 'You are not going to be in contact with Victoria or the other two in any way,' and yet here we are; in contact with each other!" She began giggling delightedly, but I felt my stomach slowly twisting itself into a knot. "So here we are, the three of us. In the woods all alone. . . Well except for my brother. But I seriously doubt you can see him since he's with me."

I said nothing, but stood closer next to Edward as we continued our leisurely pace. We were still a half football field away from my house at least; no one would see if Edward and I were attacked.

"Let's walk faster Edward." He stopped completely and turned me to look at him. I looked around the forest behind him to make sure no one was following us before I looked at him directly.

"What is it Bella? I could feel you start to shake, and now you keep looking everywhere." I shook my head at him and grabbed his hand, tugging hurriedly. He grunted before allowing me to drag him away.

"You really don't understand the circumstances do you, Bella." I could practically hear her sneer my name before continuing, "Your little shield thing protects your mind from the full-out Hell I could unleash on you. All I could ever do to you is peek into your memories and tamper with them a bit. What I can do to little Edward is limitless! He has nothing to protect him from my abilities." It was me that stopped walking this time. The world around me looked like it was vibrating because I was shaking so violently. I wasn't going to hide it this time, because Edward needed to know. The female was wrong. He needed to run, because right now, I was the only one who could save him. Right now, I could and would save him from harm.

He appeared in front of me and grabbed my shoulders to steady my body. He held my eyes with his, and his own grew wide from the unedited fear and terror in them.

"What is it Bella?" he asked loudly, panic lacing his voice.

"Run," was all I could muster before my voice cracked painfully. I tried to swallow the lump in my throat, but I felt him squeeze my shoulders harder than usual.

"What?!" Disbelief was etched into his features as he scanned my face and our surroundings repeatedly. He probably thinks I'm crazy, I thought to myself bitterly.

"Edward, there's no time. Run, please." He shook his head so quickly he was almost a blur. He pulled me into his embrace and crouched protectivley over me.

"What is it Bella? Who is it?" he demanded, whispering into my ear.

"Her." That was all it took for Edward to understand. An animalistic growl echoed loudly off of the trees and area around us. I cringed, both from his growl and from the female's menacing laugh.

"I could have fun with him. No boundaries to bind me. . . I could control every little thing his mind has to offer. . ." I felt myself beginning to hyperventalate from this other realization. She could control an other person's mind! If that much about her was true, then I was happy more than ever about my mind being 'messed up.' My happiness came to a sickening hault not even a second after I realized that bliss however. Edward's mind wasn't 'messed up,' far from it in fact.

"Edward," I began shouting desperately, "Run! Please! She can't hurt me because of my mind-block! She can kill you Edward, maybe even worse! Get away from here!"

"Technically, Bella, I could kill you if I wanted. I have access to the part of your brain that controls nerves and cellular functions. How do you think I made your dream feel so real?" I could hear her smiling tone, and I turned away from Edward towards where I believed her voice to be coming from.

"GET OUT OF MY HEAD!" I screamed, frightened and frustrated tears escaping from my eyes. Edward was busying himself with fumbling in his pockets and trying to hold me to him at the same time. He was suddenly in front of me, cradling my face gently in his cool hands, and whispered comforting things as he laid kisses on my forehead. I sobbed against his chest as She continued to laugh, all the while putting images of pain and fear into my head.

"Fine, I'll 'get out of your head.' Perhaps it is time for me to finally pay Edward a visit, hm?" I opened my eyes and pulled away from Edward frantically. Confusion and pain flooded his eyes, but the situation soon became clear to him and he began scanning the area around him again. "'Till later, Bella." Then she was gone.

"EDWARD!" I screamed, louder then before, "RUN!" He rushed in front of me again and grasped my shoulders, looking me desperately in the eyes.

"Bella, I'm not going to leave you again!" More sobs came as I pressed my face into his shoulder. He held me tightly to him, ignoring me as I tried my hardest to push him away. When his arms fell from my shoulders limply, I thought I had finally succeeded in conveying my message to him. I stumbled backward and was about to tell him to run again when I felt my heart beginning to speed again uncontrollably.

His eyes were open, but staring into nothing. The color was fading from is eyes alarmingly quickly, as if he was becoming blind. Or if he was dieing. I screamed again when he toppled over onto the ground and began twitching. His eyes were rolling around in a horrifying manner, before finally focusing on something. I dropped onto my knees by his side and used all of my strength to push his heavy body onto his back.

"Bella, I can't see anything," he whispered quietly.

"Edward, why didn't you listen to me?! You should have ran!" A humorless chuckle escaped from his lips, and I cupped his cheek with my hand. "Can you feel me Edward? I'm right next to you."

"I already promised that I wouldn't leave you Bella. I wasn't going to leave you at that witch's mercy." He was quiet a few more moments before his head started rolling, as if he were looking for something. "Where's that voice coming from? It's so. . . hypnotic. . ." I stood up and looked around frantically before speaking to him.

"Edward, don't listen to the voice. Please, it's trying to take you away! Don't listen to her, come back to me!" I looked around at the surrounding forest again. "Let him go! Please!" I cool breeze hit me, and more goosebumps rose on my skin. Oh no. . .

"I already have him Bella," his velvet voice purred. "Edward's mind is completelyat my mercy now. Every action, every function, every thought, belongs to me." I closed my eyes and turned on my heel. I opened my eyes, and saw Edward standing in front of me, with his own eyes closed. "I must say," he continued, though I know it was really the female talking, "Edward really does have a thing for you Bella. Imagine how empty he would feel if I took those memories of love away. Or better yet. . ." He opened his eyes and gazed at me menacingly with his crooked smile. His eyes were a fierce red, and only looked on me with hatred and thirst. Tears brimmed on my eyes again at the memory of my dream, and how frightening he could be under her influence. "Or better yet," he continued, "Imagine the pain he would feel if he killed you with his own hands?" My heart beat furiously, and my breaths weren't coming quickly enough. I was slowly falling apart, and Edward was completely at her mercy.

His hands were on my shoulders again as he gazed into my eyes with his own crimson ones. He leaned slowly towards my neck and kissed my pulse point, before softly murmuring, "Run, Bella."

My knees buckled below me, and I fell into the depths of darkness.

FINALLY UPDATED! And a-hah, so now we know what the she-jerk does. And sorry for the small cliffie, but it's nessecary for the rest to fall into place. Please don't kill me. ILY. x'D

Reviews are love! :')