Name: ABSOLUTION

Author: Sdfreeze

Disclaimer: Characters belong to Stephenie Meyer

This story was last published on 6/20/10.

There are 24 chapters in this story.

This is the link for the TWILIGHTED forum for THE CUBE story.

http: / / www(dot)twilighted(dot)net/forum/viewtopic(dot)php?f=44&t=11931

All Sdfreeze story discussions should take place in THE CUBE discussion forum, to keep them together.


Chapter: 7

BELLA

I watched in horror as they beat Edward, unable to help him and heading to my own certain death. I grabbed Lulu from the arms of my captors and held her tightly to my chest. She looked up at me with a tear stained face and said, "You must die, Bella. You must run so they will shoot you. They will do bad things to you."

"God will help us," I told her but felt I was being punished for breaking my vows. I was being called home to stand guilty before my maker.

I looked around at the faces of the soldiers and realized many of them were simply young boys, around twelve years old. They held guns larger than their bodies should allow, and many wouldn't meet my gaze. Some of the older men laughed at Lulu, making fun of her one leg. I tightened my hold on her and moved into a corner of the truck bed.

"Edward will die for you," Lulu said and I shushed her harshly. I didn't want to hear those words and I didn't want to think about my last image of him.

I began praying with such fervor the noises around me faded into the background. The truck stopped two more times and more girls were added. They were all so young and I didn't understand why they wanted me. I would stick out and hopefully the embassy would look for me, maybe they hoped to trade me for weapons or money.

I grew nervous when the truck pulled off of a groomed road and into the jungle. Lulu looked at me and said, "We head north, the road will be to your south." It was in that moment I realize she did not plan to live through our ordeal. She couldn't run, but she wouldn't give in to becoming a sex slave. She would somehow force the men to kill her.

"Lulu, stay strong," I said against her ear. "I will save you; God will give me the strength to save you."

She shook her head back and forth and I said authoritatively, "Stop. Have faith, Lulu."

The truck came to a slow crawl and many of the boys began jumping from the back. When it came to a complete stop older men began grabbing the young girls to pull them from the truck. Someone reached for Lulu and I screamed at him, "No, don't touch her."

He ripped her from my arms and tossed her onto the ground as everyone laughed. I lunged at him beating on his chest before he easily pushed me away. I was left alone in the bed of the truck and again wondered why I was taken in the first place.

I scrambled down to join Lulu on the ground and helped her stand so she could lean on me to walk. We followed the other girls into a large tent and just before I entered Lulu was taken from me again and I was pushed to the ground and not allowed inside.

"Stay strong Lulu," I yelled to her. "I will save you, so stay strong."

EDWARD

I didn't fight them; I had no will to fight. I tucked into a ball and let them kick and punch at me as my soul slowly died. She came back, but God wouldn't let me have her, he was a jealous God after all.

I knew what would happen to her and I screamed out in anguish. I wanted her God to smite me dead, He was cruel to leave me alive. Lulu would be killed quickly, unable to keep up with the constant movement of the rebel camps. Bella would be kept alive until her will to live would be completely gone, and it was my fault.

I stumbled into the clinic and tried to treat my own wounds. I wouldn't be able to leave until the next day, when the slow bus would ramble into the city. I tried to come up with some way to save Bella and Lulu, but nothing sounded plausible. I would go home and demand my government take action, or maybe go to Rome and ask the Pope to save her.

I fell onto my bed and sobbed loudly as the realization I had lost her forever worked its way into my heart. She would be dead before the sun could rise the next day. Patients began to arrive, all telling the same story. Their girls were taken and the fathers beaten. I tried to show compassion, but every time I cleaned their wounds, it deepened my own.

I wanted my father, the man I had traveled halfway around the world to avoid, only realizing he was a better man than me. I needed him to care for my broken heart and help the people who needed me right now. I needed my mother to rock me like an infant and assure me of her love, although I didn't deserve it. My older brother, who was physically so strong, would be able to hold me together as my sister would fill her days trying to find happiness for me. I wanted my family for the first time in my life.

But my hands kept working, on reflex or some inner memory that didn't require my mind to be functioning. I stitched up cuts and cleaned out wounds, totally unaware of what I was doing. When night fell the people stopped coming, so I spent the time packing up my things. I didn't care about the medical supplies; I would be kind enough to leave them for the villagers to rummage through.

BELLA

I sat in the dirt of the jungle floor trying to find the courage to run. I was terrified I would be shot, but more terrified to leave Lulu alone. An older man, middle aged, but old compared to the age of most of the rebels, walked from another tent and motioned for me to come to him. My heart was beating wildly and I began to cry.

He called out angrily in Swahili and I rose to slowly walk to him. When I was within arm's reach he grabbed me harshly and threw me inside the tent. A table was in the middle of the enclosure and several older men sat around it.

I didn't move and let my eyes fall so I couldn't see their intentions. They were arguing among themselves and I let my hair fall to hide myself from their stares. Someone grabbed my arm and pushed me toward a cot. I looked down to see the same soldier Edward and I had tried to save in the city. He was flushed and sweating.

I rushed forward and checked his wounds. I needed someone to translate for me. I kept pointing to my mouth and saying, "American." I began asking for Lulu and had to do impressions of her to make them understand. A young boy was eventually sent for her.

When she hopped into the tent I held out my arms for her. I cried and held her tightly telling her I needed her to help me by talking to the men. She tensed and I promised her I had a plan, but I needed her help first.

I told her I needed clean water and I was handed a water bottle. I used the water to loosen the dried bandages and cleaned out the gunshot wound. I asked if they had a first aid kit and was handed a box with stolen medications. I used peroxide and antibiotic cream before adding new bandages. I told them he needed fluids for his fever and was brought bottles of juice.

When I finished nursing the man someone grabbed Lulu and I quickly stepped forward and pulled her back to me. I had her tell them I would not help the man any further if Lulu was taken from me. A gun was raised to my face, but I set my chin and stared the soldier right in the eyes until he lowered the gun.

Lulu and I moved to the corner of the tent and sat quietly. I was emotionally exhausted and when Lulu laid her head on my lap I ran my fingers through her hair until she fell asleep. I shut my eyes and was soon asleep myself.

EDWARD

I left the village the next day. My entire body was screaming in pain and I was covered in seeping cuts and bruises. I searched the jungle as the bus crawled down the dirt road for any signs of the truck that took my love away.

When I finally arrived into the city I went right to the hospital. I walked inside and demanded to see one of the rebel soldiers. I wasn't sure if one would still be there or if the government would even let them remain alive. I was taken to see a man who had lost a leg and it made me think of Lulu. I wanted to pull him out of the bed and cause him as much pain as possible, but I knew I needed information more than revenge.

I asked him to tell me where they took the women they kidnapped and what they would want with an American woman. He told me the rebels moved often and quickly so they couldn't be found. He assured me an American woman would be trouble and would be killed after servicing the leaders of the army. He was talking in specifics and I couldn't listen to him anymore. I walked away trying desperately not to get sick all over the hospital floor.

All my hope was gone. She was dead and I could do nothing about it. I took my duffle bag and waited for the bus going to Kampala. I was going home. I wanted to forget about Uganda, but knew it would remain the place where I found love and lost it to God.

I made the long bus ride and caught a flight to Germany. While waiting for my next leg of the trip I called my family. My hands were shaking and I hoped I could keep my composure. The phone rang three times, but felt like a hundred. My sister Alice answered.

"Cullen Residence," she said with her high voice.

"Allie," I said with a soft cry.

"Edward, is it you?" she gasped.

"I need…can I talk to dad," I said before leaning against the wall for support.

I could hear yelling and screaming throughout the house, and finally my father grabbed the phone.

"Edward," he said loudly, "Where are you?"

"I'm in Germany, I'm coming home, may I come home, dad?" I began to cry and put my fist in my mouth to bite down on.

"Absolutely," he said with concern. "Are you okay, son?"

"No, I'm not," I admitted.

"Is there anything we can do from here?" he asked.

"No, let me give you my flight information," I said and was able to calm down enough to give him all the times and numbers.

When I boarded my flight I put a blanket over my head and slept the entire way home.

BELLA

Over the next two days the man's fever began to rise. I needed ice, antibiotics, and aspirin to treat him properly. I told Lulu to tell the soldiers we had to take the man to the clinic. Edward would help him as he did in the city. I told her to tell them he would die if they didn't take him back to the village.

Suddenly there was talking and fighting going on around me. Men were pointing and yelling and when a consensus was formed the man was put inside the truck. I held on to Lulu tightly and refused to climb into the truck without her. As they stood discussing the situation I lifted her into the truck and climbed in myself. I pulled her to my side and sat against the cab of the truck. We began the dusty ride back to the village and my heart was pounding with hope that they would allow us to remain with Edward.

A couple of soldiers went into the village before the truck to make sure it was safe. We pulled up to the clinic and I kept Lulu in my arms as I opened the door and called out for Edward. The place was a mess and the exam tables were covered in blood.

I searched the house for Edward but everything was ransacked and most of the furniture was missing. It was going to be up to me to save the patient. I got ice packs to place under the man's arms to cool his core temperature and gave him some aspirin and a shot of antibiotic. I cleaned the wound again and flushed it with saline before putting on more ointment and clean bandages.

Within an hour his fever began coming down. He was finally coherent and able to talk to his men. I asked Lulu to inquire about the doctor. One of the soldiers who entered the village first was told the doctor was dead. I felt my body slide down the wall as my limbs went numb. Lulu covered her face with her hands and sobbed loudly.

I was tired and so hungry, but I no longer had the will to go on. I was going to refuse to return with the soldiers. They would have to shoot me right here in the clinic, but I wasn't afraid, I welcomed the peace death would bring.

I treated the man one more time and then handed him the aspirin bottle and told him to go. Lulu told the soldiers they could leave now and they simply walked away. One man looked at Lulu but I pulled her behind my body. The leader who I had treated said something to me and was then carried away.

"What did he say?" I asked Lulu.

"He say you are free, because you save him."

"Let's look for food," I said and helped her into the kitchen. I found a jar of peanut butter and some saltines. It tasted like a feast.

We finally made our way onto the street and Lulu asked some villagers about her family. She was told where they were buried and I spent the entire night holding her as she cried. The following morning we climbed aboard the bus and I traded my ring for our passage.

When we arrived at the city we headed straight for the church. I cried as I passed through the large wooden doors and when I saw Father Busara I ran right for his arms. He fed us, and clothed us, and gave us a soft bed to sleep in. I woke up and snuck out of the room so I wouldn't wake Lulu.

I found Father Busara in the kitchen and I joined him for a cup of coffee.

"I lost the sheep I wanted to save," I said with tears falling from my eyes.

"Maybe he was not meant for you to save," he said softly.

"I feel so lost, I don't have my love, and I don't even have my faith anymore," I admitted.

"You need to go home, child. Once you feel safe you will see how much faith remains."

"I'm not sure the order would even want me back," I said with shame.

"They would welcome you with open arms," he said and patted my hand.

"Is there anyway Lulu can come with me?" I asked.

"No, you would not be able to get her out of the country, but leave her with me. We will care for her and keep her safe."

I waited for her to wake up and tried to say goodbye. She was my last link to Edward and leaving her was like admitting he was truly dead. She took my face in her hands and said, "Ninakupenda."

"What does that mean?" I asked her.

"It is, I love you, in Swahili."

"Ninakupenda, Lulu," I said as my heart broke in two.

I spent the next few days at the embassy, getting documentation to go home. The Seattle Diocese paid for my ticket and I was soon on my way back home.


Surrogate a/n...would love to hear what you thought of this story. Reviews are love...and I'm sure that Sandi would like to see some!