Chapter Seven
Playing the Game
We were all going to die. I used to be an optimistic person, but that shit went out the window as soon as the hot mountain man decided we were going to hunt the hunters. Oh no, wait. Scratch that. He decided that they were going to hunt the hunters. I was supposed to hide in a closet somewhere, so I wouldn't get hurt. Well, there was no fucking way that was going to happen.
Rosalie was going to continue working on the jeep. It seemed like an impossible job, but she was determined to get it done. Emmett couldn't leave due to his leg, but I was almost positive he would have stayed with her regardless.
Mike and Jessica were going to stick together. I was fairly certain they had just participated in a good luck fuck before heading out, but I was past the point of judging people. I was actually kind of jealous; not that I wanted either of them, but you know.
Lauren was in bitch mode. Was it bad that I wanted the hunters to get her first? At least the rest of us would be able to die in peace. I contemplated just stabbing her myself, but I was trying to put off murdering someone as long as possible. I didn't think I would enjoy it very much. Damn conscience.
I was the most worried about Jacob. A couple of days ago we were still trying to get over the whole breaking up thing. Now, I didn't know what I would do if something happened to him. Breakup aside, he was probably my best friend. He wanted me to stay safe, but he knew me well enough to know I wasn't going to hide. Once I slipped past Edward, Jacob would be waiting for me. He promised.
If the hunters should be afraid of anyone, it would be Edward. He had already survived a few nights in the woods. He knew how to hide. He knew the most about them. He also had more reasons to fight. We were fighting for our lives. He was fighting for his, his sister's. and for some reason beyond me, mine.
"Bella." I ignored him. I was so pissed with the way he was treating me. He pushed me against the wall, trapping me there with his arms. "Stop being a brat. I'm trying to save your fucking life."
"You're forcing me to hide while everyone else fights. Why just me? Why not Jessica? Why not Lauren?" I asked forcefully.
"I don't give a damn about Jessica or Lauren. If they want to get themselves killed, that's their decision. The last thing I need to worry about while I'm trying to kill those bastards is you doing something stupid," he replied.
I glared at him. "If I want to get myself killed, it's my decision. You don't even know me, so you shouldn't give a damn about me either." I tried to push past him, but he pinned me to the wall.
"I don't care if you're angry. Just get in the damn closet, and don't come out for anyone but me," he demanded.
"What if you don't make it back?" I asked.
"I will," he replied just as coolly.
When he stepped back, I stormed up the stairs. I wasn't going to make it out of the cabin with him still there anyway. He would probably end up tying me up or something. I went into a closet and slammed the door behind me. Maybe I was acting like a brat, but he was still being a jackass. He had absolutely no right to tell me what to do. I got that he wanted to save my life for whatever reason. However, I didn't want to live as a coward while my friends went out fighting.
I waited until I knew they were gone before slipping out of the closet. I made my way carefully through the cabin, making sure to stay away from any windows. It would really suck to go out like Bree had. When I made it outside, Jacob wasn't there. He promised he would meet around back. Jake never broke a promise, so where the hell was he? He had to have been nearby, so I stayed low and crept around to the side.
"Oh my God," I breathed. Jacob was lying unconscious on the ground. I dropped down beside him and checked for a pulse. He was alive. "Jake," I shook him. "Jacob, please wake up."
I didn't know what to do. I couldn't scream for help. That would only attract hunters. I couldn't carry him inside. I wouldn't even be able to get him up the steps. Finally, I did the best I could and dragged him underneath the porch. I left him briefly to get rid of the tracks that his body left, but then crawled back under, lifting his head and placing it on my lap. I prayed that he would wake up soon.
Through the boards, I could see someone walking by. I was terrified that they would find us or Rose and Emmett, so I didn't make a sound as others joined them. There were at least five. "Please," a familiar voice begged. "Just let her go. She hasn't done anything to you." Mike. Shit. What could I do? There were too many of them. If I went out there, they would kill me and Jake. Jake wasn't able to fight back. I couldn't let him die like that.
"Now, now, let's be fair," Victoria purred. "You killed my pet, so I get to kill yours." I could see her through the cracks. Her hair was wild and fiery. She held a gagged and crying Jessica in front of her with a knife to her throat.
"I don't know what you're talking about," he pleaded. I hated this. I just wanted to go home.
"You were the one to kill Riley, were you not?" she replied. Her voice was deceivingly pleasant. "Do you know how hard it is to find someone willing to do whatever it is you ask?" She put her face next to Jessica's hair and breathed in deeply. "What a shame. Aro would have loved you." Who the fuck was Aro? "Stand him up." Two men grabbed Mike and brought him to his feet so he was standing face to face with Jessica. "Say goodbye."
"Jess, I'm so sorry," he cried.
"Aw," Victoria cooed. "How-" She jerked the knife across Jessica's throat; blood poured from the wound. "-sweet." Mike broke down then. I cried silently along with him, burying my face in Jacob's chest. "Kill him." I heard him gagging as they stabbed him, and I clinched my eyes shut. "We need to get the bodies back to the house. We'll tell Aro that little bitch Bree killed Stanley before we could get to her."
"He's not gonna be happy," one of the men replied.
Victoria snarled at him. "As long as we bring the others alive, he'll forgive us. Now stick with the story."
"They left the cabin," he argued. "If they get away--"
"They won't!" she growled. Then she composed herself. "Do you really think they would wander around out there for long? They'll be back."
I just wished they would leave. I was terrified that Jake might wake up and make some sort of noise.
"But what if they find her?" another one asked.
Again, I had no idea who they were talking about, but it seemed to piss Victoria off. She turned her knife on the other hunter. "They. Won't." She pressed the blade to his skin just enough to break through. "Stop questioning me, and let's go." They didn't argue anymore.
I don't how long it took me to stop crying. There wasn't anything I could have done to save them, was there? I may have been killed, but I could have taken at least one of them out first.
"Bells?" Jake rasped.
"Jacob," I whispered. "Are you okay? What the hell happened to you?"
"I don't know. I got hit from behind," he answered. He looked around. "Bells, where are we?"
"Under the porch." He looked confused, so I explained, "I couldn't drag you inside. Jake, Mike and Jessica are dead. Victoria killed them. I don't know about Edward and Lauren."
He winced as he sat up a little. He was too big to sit up all the way. He pulled me into his arms for a comforting hug. "Let's get out of here, Bells. I'll fucking carry Emmett if I have to, but we're leaving these mountains."
We crawled out from under the cabin and went back inside. I got him some ice to put on his head where he had been hit. What I didn't understand was why he was left there. I heard someone coming, so Jake and I got out of sight.
"Why did you save my life then?" Lauren's aggravating voice asked.
"I went out there to kill the hunters. You just happened to be there when I did," Edward snapped back.
Jake stepped into view. "They got Mike and Jessica. I was out cold, but Bella saw everything." He pulled me over beside him.
Edward glared at me. He had blood stains on the front of his shirt. "How did you manage that from upstairs?"
I didn't have time for his shit. "They're working for somebody named Aro. Does that ring any bells?"
"What else did they say?" he asked.
"One of them was freaking out because we left the cabin. He was afraid that we would get away. Another was scared that we would find someone, a woman," I explained.
He was suddenly in my face. "What woman?"
"I don't know. They didn't say. They just said 'her'. Victoria said that we wouldn't be able to find her." Something told me he knew more than he was letting on.
"Man, we need to get out of here," said Jacob.
Edward backed away from me and rubbed the back of his neck. "If we go, we can't go back the same way you came in. That's what they would expect."
"What about Rose and Emmett?" I wondered.
"Who cares?" Lauren asked. "Let's just get the fuck out of here."
"Who's stopping you, bitch?" I snapped.
Jacob caught me by the arm. "Let's go talk to them. We'll figure something out." He tugged me along as he headed for the garage. "Emmett, we're coming in." I guess he didn't want to get shot.
Rosalie was bent over the engine, doing who knows what. Emmett sat on the table behind her. I was pretty sure he had been checking out her ass. He smiled at us when we came in. "Long time, no see!"
"We're leaving. I'm gonna carry your ass," said Jacob.
"Shouldn't you buy me a drink first?" he asked.
Rosalie stood up straight and wiped her hands. "Where's everybody else?"
"We're all that's left," I told her.
"Shit," said Emmett. "I'm sorry."
"They don't want us to leave the cabin, so that's what we're doing. If you want to come, we'll figure out a way to get you out of here," Edward explained. It seemed a little out of character after the way he talked to Lauren, but she had that effect on people.
Emmett looked at Rose, "What do you say, Rosie?"
"I think I can fix this," she replied, motioning to the jeep. "I just need a little more time."
"We don't have time," said Jacob.
"I'll stay with her," said Emmett. "I would slow you guys down anyway. Just promise you won't come back, because I'll shoot anything that comes through that door."
Edward nodded. "We should probably try to rest a little before we go. We won't make it far if we're too tired to move."
"Bring some pillows in," Emmett suggested. "I'd rather you not be unconscious without somebody there as a lookout." He held up his gun to show that he would shoot for us too.
We loaded up our packs with everything we could find that we might need. Jacob pulled a couple of mattresses into the garage for us. I sat down, not able to sleep yet. Jake lay down on one side of me and passed out. I was surprised at quiet Rosalie was as she worked on the jeep. That made me feel the tiniest bit better about her staying. Maybe the hunters wouldn't hear her. With the four of us trying to leave, they would probably come for us first anyway.
Edward sat down on my other side. "You're not sleeping."
"You're observant," I replied sarcastically.
He frowned. "You need to go to sleep."
I huffed. "I can't just go to sleep, Edward. There are psychotic people after us, we're about to run for our lives again, I just saw two of my friends get murdered, I'm about to leave two of my friends behind, and I-" He touched my face and caught my lips in a quick, surprisingly gentle kiss. I stared at him in shock as he pulled back and took his hand away. "What was that f--" I shook my head. "Never mind." I already knew the answer. "You wanted to shut me up."
"Bella, go to sleep," he said quietly. "I'll wake you up when it's time to go. Please just get some rest."
"I'm so fucking scared," I whispered.
"You would be an idiot if you weren't," he replied honestly.
I smiled sadly. "Can't you just lie to me?" I wanted to hear that everything was going to be okay. "I want to feel safe."
"I'll lie with you," he replied, lying down on the mattress. He tugged me down to lie next to him, and I somehow managed to be quiet for only a moment.
"No offense, but you kinda freak me out sometimes. I'm not sure this makes me feel safe either," I admitted.
"Go to sleep, Bella," he groaned. I closed my eyes and eventually exhaustion took over.
My dreams were horrible. I kept seeing Mike and Jessica and even Tyler. Victoria kept smiling at me while she killed them. Then it changed. I saw Jacob and Rosalie and Edward. I watched them all die while I hid and did nothing.
"Bella, it's time to go." Edward's voice brought me out of my nightmare. He helped me stand up and handed me my backpack.
"Thanks," I mumbled before turning to Rosalie. I didn't want to say goodbye. I hated leaving her here. "If you die, I'll kill you."
She smirked, "That was so unbelievably stupid. I'd hug you, but… Oh what the hell." She pulled me to her, wrapping her arms around me. "I'll pass you guys on my way out. Stick out your thumb, and maybe I'll give you a lift."
I hugged her back. "You better. I'll see you soon."
We let go and I turned to Emmett. He grinned and held out his arms, so of course I hugged him too. "Don't worry, little Bella. I won't let anything happen to her. I think I might like her a little. She'd never give me a chance if I let her get killed."
"You're just an optimistic guy," I smiled, repeating his words from earlier.
"Exactly," he laughed. "If anything, you should be tickled that you came on this trip. Otherwise, you would have never met me." Rosalie snorted. He winked at her, "I'm wearing you down, woman." Then he turned his attention back to me. "It was nice to meet you. I'll be seeing you."
"Nice to meet you too, Em," I replied. I kissed him on the cheek before joining the others.
Jake smiled at me. "Ready to go, Bells?"
I nodded. "Hell yeah."
Lauren, Jacob, Edward, and I left the cabin and began our trek out of the damn mountains.
AN: Hey guys. I was actually kind of sad to kill Jessica and Mike, but I've already let too many people escape, so they just had to go. If you have questions about anything, feel free to ask in your reviews. I'll either tell you the answer or tell you around which chapter the answer will be. Also, I'm pretty stoked that someone nominated this story and Bella Swan: Kidnapper for The Cullen Awards. Whoever did that, I think you're pretty awesome. There's more info about that on my profile. Um... Oh, if you leave a review, I'll reply with a preview of the next chapter. It might be a couple of days since I haven't started the next one yet. The last time I made up the preview before I wrote the chapter, so it was really short. I want to be able to send you guys more than just a line, so bear with me. Ok, that's all. Thanks for reading!
