Chapter Eight

Peeing in the Woods with Lauren Mallory

Maybe I had read one too many books in my lifetime. I was always searching for the hidden agendas and the unexpected twists. Now that I was more rested, my mind was going crazy with the possibilities, and most of them centered around Edward. I needed to know why he was so protective of me and no one else. He couldn't know me. I was certain that I would have remembered meeting him before. Did I remind him of his sister? That question put me on a different train of thought. He hadn't found his sister, so why was he leaving?

I watched him as he walked ahead of me. He had a nice ass, but that was neither here nor there. I noticed that Lauren was looking too, and the desire to stab her grew just a little more. It wasn't fair that Mike and Jessica were dead when people like her still skipped merrily through the woods. I didn't really want anyone to die, but I could think of several ways I would enjoy not killing her.

A chill pill would do me nicely right about now.

Jake was walking next to me. He had a nasty bump on his head, but he didn't seemed to concerned about. I just wish I knew who the hell had hit him and just left him there. Maybe he was heavier than they thought.

"Stop thinking so hard, Bells," he said quietly.

"There's no need to whisper. We're all going to die anyway," Lauren half shouted.

Edward whipped around and stalked over to her. "If you don't want your tongue cut out, I suggest you keep your voice down."

She glared back at him but kept her mouth shut.

"Damn," Jacob whispered. "I was kinda hoping she'd give him a reason to do it." It seemed I wasn't the only one who needed that chill pill.

"Let's keep moving," Edward barked. He was so damn bossy.

I hated the mountains. They were pretty to look at, but hell to walk through. My feet were never going to recover, but my thighs would be in excellent shape. "If we make it out of here, I'm gonna go fishing with Charlie."

"He'll like that," Jake smiled. "We're making it out of here, Bells."

"Maybe he'll even let me drive the boat," I added.

"No way in hell," he chuckled.

I frowned at him. "Shut up. I bet I would be an excellent boat driver."

"Sure, sure," he replied. I could not believe how little faith he had in my boat driving skills. I could drive a truck. How much different could it be? "Make sure you write an article about it for the Forks Forum."

"Jerk," I grumbled. "I have you know I touched lives with my little newspaper column. How else would those people develop such good taste in books and music?"

"No one read that column," he teased.

"They must have. How do you think you got so much business in your garage? I recommended you," I replied smugly.

He rolled his eyes and draped his arm across my shoulders.

It felt like we had been walking for days when I wasn't even sure it had been hours. Looking at my watch would have been a good idea, but it was in my pack, and I didn't feel like stopping to dig it out.

We stopped for only a few minutes to eat and take care of any other business that would have been better done in a nice bathroom instead of the woods. Lauren grabbed me by the arm. "I have to pee." I must have missed the memo that I was supposed to care.

"You've never had any trouble dropping your panties without my help before," I replied.

"Just come on," she pulled me along with her.

"Seriously? Isn't life bad enough right now without you subjecting me to this?" Peeing in the woods with Lauren Mallory was not my idea of a good time. However, I sucked it up. I didn't really want to go with the guys either.

"Didn't you used to be nicer?" she asked rudely.

I glared at her. Was she for real with that shit? "Lauren, you've been a bitch to me and everybody else this entire trip, and you expect me to be nice to you? All this fresh air is making you delusional for some reason." I was usually a nice person, but a girl could only take so much.

She was inspecting the different trees and bushes. "But I've always been a bitch. You've never had a problem with it before."

"Before, I had the luxury of getting away from you," I replied truthfully. Hell, if were going to die, I might as well get it all out.

"Well get used to it already," she huffed. "I'm getting really tired of your whining."

I debated taking out my knife. I needed it in case the hunters came. I could not use it on Lauren. "Get used to it," I growled back.

Lauren finally found a place that was acceptable to her ridiculously high standards. We were in the fucking mountains. How is one tree better than another? It's a damn tree. "Could you make some type of noise? I don't want you to be able to hear me."

"Sure Lauren. I'll just sing us a merry little tune while you piss behind a tree," I replied sarcastically. "Do you have any requests?"

She didn't reply. I was surprised. I had been half expecting her to name a song. Hell, I probably would have even sang it. Maybe a round of "If You're Happy and You Know It" would lighten everyone's spirits.

Soon we were headed back to join the guys. I hadn't realized that we had gone so far away. I was even more surprised that they hadn't come looking for us yet. That couldn't be a good thing. Not a moment later, I heard a loud painful cry. It didn't sound like Edward or Jacob, but that just meant someone else was out there with them.

"We have to run," said Lauren.

"What? No, we have to help them," I argued, moving towards the sound.

"No!" she grabbed my arm. "Are you insane? They'll kill us just like they did the others. We have to get out of here. We stand a chance while they're distracted."

Even though I didn't like Lauren, I understood where she was coming from. "I don't want to die either, but chances are, we're going to. We need to at least try to help them." My words sounded brave, but I was scared shitless. It was a feeling I had become very familiar with on this trip.

"I'm not going. I'm leaving with or without you," she replied.

"Good luck." I pulled my arm away from her and continued on with my original path. I heard her footsteps going in the opposite direction behind me. I really wanted to go with her. I almost did, but then I heard another howl. Jacob's. I knew both he and Edward were going to be pissed at me for showing up, but they would just have to get over it.

I had only made it a few feet when someone stepped out in front of me. "Hello Miss Swan."

My fucking heart nearly stopped. I didn't see a weapon, but I was sure he had one.

"James," I replied.

He smirked back at me. "You've heard of me. I'm honored."

"Why are you doing this?" I asked,, trying not to panic.

"It's my job," he replied with a pleasant tone. "And I love my job."

"Haven't you done enough? Just let us go." I knew it wouldn't work, but it was worth a shot.

He chuckled softly. "I'm sorry, Bella." I hated my name on his lips. "I cannot do that." He took a small step towards me. I took one back. "Don't be afraid. You're needed alive."

"Why?" I asked on instinct.

"James, just knock the bitch out and let's go. Aro won't be happy if we're late." I turned to see Victoria with an unconscious Lauren over her shoulder. Shit. I quickly looked back to where James was standing. I didn't know who to keep my eye on. Since Victoria's arms were full, I chose James.

His eyes didn't leave me as he spoke to Victoria. "Take that one back. I'll be along shortly." She didn't leave. "You've had your fun. Now it's my turn," he growled softly. "Take that one back."

"He wants them alive," Victoria replied.

"She will be," he said simply.

I ran for it. It was stupid, but what the hell else could I do? I heard him coming behind me, and deep down I knew he wasn't running as fast as he could. The bastard was playing with me, wanting me to think I was getting away.

Suddenly, I was knocked to the ground. I landed on my stomach with his heavy weight on top of me, making it hard for me to breathe. "Where are you going, Bella? Why are you trying to get away from me?" he purred. I cringed when he brushed his fingers across my hair. "Don't you want to have fun with me? You should be happy I have you and not Victoria."

"Get off of me." I figured saying something too nasty wouldn't be a wise idea since he probably had no qualms against snapping my neck. I didn't want to be one of those people in scary movies that I was always screaming at to shut up.

"Of course," he replied. He stood up and even tried to help me to my feet, but I flinched away from him and got up on my own. "Now, now Bella. There's no reason to be rude. I'm giving you a chance to get away. You should be grateful."

I didn't budge. He knew just as well as I did that he had no intention of letting me get away.

"Why aren't you running, Bella?" I really wished he would stop saying my name.

"If you're going to hurt me, then do it. I'm not playing your sick game." Might as well go down with a little dignity.

James dropped his pleasant façade. He reached me in two long strides, grabbed me by the throat, and slammed me against a tree. "You will do what I tell you to do. Run or I will fucking kill you."

"It's either you or Aro." I would rather have the lackey than the boss.

For a minute, I seriously thought he was going to slit my throat. He tightened his grip, cutting off my air supply. I grabbed his hand, trying to get him to let go, but he was too strong. I should have paid more attention in those self defense classes. My vision was starting to get blurry when he released me. I sucked in some air and started to fall.

He held me up though. "Unfortunately for both of us, death is not in your near future." He grabbed my hands and tied them together while I was still fighting to catch my breath. He left enough rope that he could use it to pull me along like a damn animal on a leash.

"What do you mean?" I asked weakly. "What does he want from me?"

"He'll tell you," James replied, the faux pleasantness was back. "Come along."

I didn't have my pack, but I still had my knife. I would have to act carefully or I would lose that too. I only had one shot. My thoughts strayed to Edward and Jacob as James pulled me through the woods. I didn't know if they were still alive and that was freaking me out.

"I'm rather surprised that you were so easily caught. The others insisted that it would be a more difficult task," said James patronizingly. "I guess you were overestimated." The asshole was trying to get a reaction out of me. "You're just a weak, pathetic little girl like all the rest of them though, aren't you?"

I had to get closer to him to have enough slack in the rope to move my arms without him noticing. I slipped the knife out of my belt. James was arrogant enough to let me keep it, thinking I wouldn't be able to hurt him. He might be right. I was going to find out. I jammed the blade into his leg first. If I couldn't kill him, I needed it to be where he couldn't catch me. He howled and let go of the rope. I brought the knife out of him and went to stab him again, but he caught my arms.

We both hit the ground as we fought for dominance over the knife. I was hindered by the fucking rope around my wrists, and he was having trouble with the pain I proudly inflicted on his leg. Damn it. I should have ran, but I had been hoping to at least try and kill him first.

James got the upper hand and had me pinned to the ground. The bastard probably weighed a hundred pounds more than me, so it shouldn't have been that hard for him. "I said I would bring you alive," he growled. "I didn't say in what condition." He cut open my shirt with my knife.

Shit. Shit. Shit. I struggled to get him off of me, but I wasn't having any luck. I didn't know what the hell he was going to do, but he made it clear that my knife would be involved.

I heard a feral growl before James was knocked off of me.

"Bells." I could have cried with relief as Jacob helped me up and worked to free my wrists.

"Jake!" Thank God he was okay. "I didn't know what happened to you." I looked past him to where Edward was fighting James. I couldn't hear what they were saying, but Edward was having no trouble beating his ass. It was almost scary to see him like that.

Jacob turned me around so I couldn't see them. "Where's Lauren?" he asked.

"Victoria took her," I answered. "We heard yelling and she ran off by herself." That's when I noticed his blood stained shirt. "Shit. Jake, are you okay? What happened?"

"Just a little cut. It hurt like hell, but I'll live," he replied in typical Jake fashion. "We were attacked but we took care of it. I'm sorry we didn't get to you sooner." I tried to turn around when I heard a howl of pain, but Jake wouldn't let me move. "He's fine Bella. You don't want to see."

Correction. I shouldn't have wanted to see, but I needed to know that he was dead. Otherwise, I knew the doubts would haunt me for years if I didn't. There would always be that small worry that James would come for me. Everything went eerily quiet behind me. I didn't breathe again until I heard Edward's voice.

"We need to keep moving," he said. He didn't even look at me.

I tentatively reached out and touched his arm. "Thanks." It seemed kind of lame after he had just killed a man to save my life, but I didn't know what else to say.

He just stood there with his jaw clinched, but then he shocked the hell out of me by crushing me against him. Nobody said anything as he hugged me. I couldn't breathe, but seriously? Fuck breathing.

"Here." He pulled back and took off his shirt, revealing a plain white wife beater underneath. "Put this on." Damn, he was nice to look at.

"Thanks," I said again. Edward took the remainder of my ripped shirt from me and put it in his pack. I guess it would be good if we needed to make bandages or something later. I pulled his shirt over my head and tied it in a small knot so it would fit a little better. Before we started walking again, I looked over to where James's body would be. What I saw made me nauseous. At least now I had no reason for doubts.

"Let's go, Bella," Jake said softly.

I nodded and followed him away from that nightmare. We hadn't made it far when I felt Edward take my hand in his. I looked over at him, but he kept his eyes forward. He didn't say anything and neither did I. I was grateful to him for saving my life again, but I knew one thing. There was no way in hell he was getting his shirt back.


AN: I'm sorry for making Lauren such a bitch, but I was hoping that it would make it easier for me to kill her off when the time comes. I'm a wimp. I hated killing Mike and Jessica in the last chapter. Anyway, a new canon character will be in the next chapter. I'm thinking it's about time that Edward finds out what happened to his sister. Review for a preview. Thanks for reading.