Pinch me, is this real?
This feeling of release
I'm floating in your Heaven
In the corners of my dreams
Tasting life
Numb again
Close my eyes
It begins
I cannot stumble here
I am safe inside my head
When I wake up I'll forget
I'll come back to my mess
I will not leave
Stay asleep
Step further in
My ecstasy
Waking Dream - Natalie Walker.
Zafrina POV
I know Edward is watching. They told me he would be. I feel disgusted for myself, how had I let myself be bullied into this?
Oh right, Aro had Kachiri and Senna murdered and the only assurance I would live was if I betrayed Edward and his new bride.
If I hurt her with my illusions.. I knew I was being watched and I better start quick. Forgive me, Edward… Bella.
I conjured up the scene they had told me to.
As if the poor girl hadn't been through enough.
Bella POV
"Bella?" The voice brought me closer to consciousness.
Vaguely I felt someone shaking my arm gently. "Edward?" I cried, pushing myself that last step out of the darkness, towards Edward.
I opened my eyes confused as a man who was not Edward crouched near me. His hazel eyes concerned, curious. I noted his attire; a white lab coat, spectacles..
Startled, I backed into a corner as far away as I could from this stranger. I ran through the recent events I could remember. I groaned in pain at the memories.
But it still doesn't explain why or how I got here.
I bit my lip, terrifed. "Who are you?" I asked the floor, waiting for the man's reply. What I really meant was, where am I and where is Edward?
However I figured I could be patient, try for subtle. I took in my surroundings still waiting the man's answer.
He seemed to be writing something in his clipboard. The room seemed similar to the torture chamber I had been in earlier.. I pushed the memory away and continued to note
the room ignoring the biting edge to the attempt at nonchalance by mental voice made.
The walls are whiter than I remember. These walls are padded. There was a small bed and that was it. Where the hell am I? It looked like a stereotypical mental institution.
I laughed out loud, in gasps, becoming hysterical. This isn't funny and I'm panicking but it's just so.. ironic. The Volturi torture me for
hours to no end then dump me at the nearest mental institution!
Wait. I'm not hurting. I surveyed my body. Squeaky clean, no bruising.. no burn marks. Nothing hurt. How long have I been here?
Fear gripped at my heart. Can I leave? The man seemed to have forgotten I was there and continued to write furiously inside his clipboard. Great.
I cleared my voice and tried again.
"Excuse me. Who are you?" He looked up at me, his eyes grave. He took a step forward towards me, cautious as if I would attack or freak out.
"It's okay Bella. You're at the institution. My name is Dr. Osgood. You've been here for six years. Your parents, Renee and Charlie Swan
were concerned when you began hallucinating, conjuring up mythical friends. You shut the whole world out completely. We're here to help you.
Do you remember?"
I froze.
He took this as encouragement to step in and put his hand on my arm, still cautious. "This is a lot to take in .. why don't you rest on your bed and maybe it'll all come back to you.. okay?"
He helped me up and guided me to the bed.
This man is lying. He's been hired by the Volturi. Something inside me snapped. "Take your hand off me." I hissed, my voice dripping with venom.
He dropped his hand instantly. "Bella, we're here to help you. Don't you want to get better?" He spoke in a voice he thought was soothing.
It had the opposite effect.
I lost all pretences. I didn't care anymore. I just want my family. I want Edward.
"Where is Edward? This isn't real. I need Edward. I have to get back to him. Please.. whatever the Volturi has on you or is paying you. The Cullen's can triple it. They can help you. Please."
My voice came out rushed and frantic. Pleading.
He opened his phone, dialed quickly and spoke, "Ms. Swan is getting a little.. overwhelmed. Room 128. Thank you." He looked at me, concerned again. "Bella, please.
Edward isn't real. Neither are the Cullen's. You know that, don't you? Vampires don't exist."
Two burly men walked in through the white door I hadn't noticed. One holding a needle. He handed it to the good doctor and the other restrained me.
I fought with all my strength but I might as well be fighting a vampire. I squirmed but he held me still with some effort. Dr. Osgood who I dubbed Mr. Cheerio there and
then injected me with a needle, the fluid a murky white colour.
"This is for your own good." He muttered before the room swayed, drowsiness against my brain and won. Before it pulled me under I thought of Edward playing the piano.
My lullaby.
I hummed along in the hazy darkness. Where is my vampire? Is he real? Of course he is. He has to be. I thought of his ridiculously perfect voice, kind heart, his
face as if carved by the Gods themselves. It doesn't seem real..
Every second I'm away from him I feel as though he's slipping away. What if the Cullen's never existed? Then I don't exist. None of this does. I feel so confused. I listened to the lullaby, pierced into my mind.
Memorising the way his slender fingers would caress the keys, barely touching them. What hope is there for me if he's not real?
I floated in the darkness, pondering this.
If he's not real.. No. He's real. He must be. But something, someone so perfect, beautiful - it can't be real. Can't exist. No. I can't give up on Edward. I can't. He has to be real
. It all felt so real. The pain. The way he would gaze into my eyes, his gorgeous golden eyes. Am I insane? Probably. Is all of this a nightmare? Just a dream? Something I conjured up?
No. Edward is coming for me. I will be saved and this will all be stopped. I'm married.
I looked to my ring finger. Bare. Where was Edward's ring? I hadn't worn the ring long enough for it to leave a mark but surely.. something.
I need some kind of evidence he exists.. I wracked my mind.
Every memory, every touch seemed to disprove his existence.
It's all too perfect.
Needing a distraction I lost myself in the lullaby.
The tune sounded different, wrong.
it's still the same beautiful melody I remember however it seems bitter… mournful – an absolute alternate to the original Edward had composed
for me.
