AN: OK so it's short but I'm working on the next chapter...soon. I'd love to give a big wow and thanks to those of you who reviewed, alerted, favorited, and rec'd. You guys effing rock.
Another special hells yea to my fucktastic beta, ChangedbyEdward who added her magic touch to this chapter so ya'll should really thank her. Muah to Lola for being my partner in the corner. Nan, to being pervs behind (and sometimes in front) of people! I love you chicas H&R!
Reviews give me the kick to move my shiz faster so show me the love.
Now, on with the story...
EPOV
"She's screaming and thrashing, her heart is thundering in her chest. Jasper's been trying to calm her since the beginning but he's having no affect on her." I heard silence on the other end of the phone. Each second that ticked by felt like a millennia. Each moment that passed was another moment I couldn't help her.
"I really don't think I can give you any better advice than Jasper can. He has the best knowledge of newborns in the family, Edward. You need to put some faith and trust in him."
"Carlisle, she's in pain! She screams so loudly and each time it tears me apart! I can't hear her so I have no idea what's going through her mind! Surely there must be something I can do to ease her suffering."
"Edward, there isn't anything you can do but let the venom run its course. Tomorrow should signal the end of it. I'm sorry, son, but this just isn't something you can help along or improve. All you can do is wait 'till she wakes up." I felt my mouth pull into a frown while I mulled over Carlisle's words. He had said the same as Alice. All we can do is wait. I felt another fear rising in my chest.
"What if she doesn't want me anymore? What if I've ruined everything? I can't bear the thought of what my actions have done."
"Unfortunately, I don't have an answer for you, Edward. Bella's going to have to decide for herself and she's going to need some time. I have no doubt that she loves you, but when you left, it hurt you both deeply. Assuming she even remembers any of it when she wakes up, the only way to mend it is through time and regaining her trust. Torturing yourself about it right now isn't going to do either of you any good. You're not going to have an answer until she wakes up, and even then, who knows? So, Edward, all we can do right now is to…"
"I know, I know, all we can do is wait," I said, cutting him off.
I had been thinking back on my earlier conversation with Carlisle as I sat listening to the final beats of Bella's heart. It was pounding rapidly in her chest and I noted Alice's smile. Her thoughts told me that she knew it was almost over. Jasper started to relax just after I heard him thinking that the pain Bella was feeling was starting to subside. He was exhausted, but anxious for her to awaken. I became pensive and Jasper shot me a warning look. "Calm down or get out, Edward. It's going to be difficult enough as it is without your self-loathing fueling the fire."
It seemed that everyone was telling me how to react, how to behave, even in their thoughts. I was growing increasingly frustrated with it although I knew they were right. I made a conscious effort to calm myself and as I did so, Alice sat up and crossed her hands in her lap. Her topaz eyes glazed over as the vision overtook her consciousness. She saw Bella, frightened and growling, running out the door. Alice was chasing after her. She caught up to her, but then the vision turned into a blur. Alice wasn't able to see anything else.
When the vision stopped, I could hear the fear in her mind. "What the hell was that? What decision is she going to make that's making the vision…"
Jasper sensed her fear and went to her immediately. "What is it, Alice? Why are you afraid?"
Shivers went down my spine when Alice spoke, though I could hear the words forming in her brain before she spoke them. "She'll awaken in 56 seconds, but something isn't right…"
APOV
Bella's running. She's scared and growling as I chase after her. When I catch her, we're no longer in the woods behind the house… we're… I can't see where we are… everything's a blur. What the hell was that? What decision is she going to make that's making the vision do that? This doesn't even feel like my own vision anymore…
Jasper's arms around me asking me why I was afraid brought me out of it. I blinked at him and then Edward. Edward knew something was wrong, too. I could see his fear swirling in his eyes as surely as he could see mine. I tried to collect myself for a moment. I immediately made every effort to block him from reading my thoughts. If he sensed that there was much more than confusion and some fear in my mind, he would spiral into a panic that we didn't need to try to deal with along with having to manage Bella when she would awaken in less than a minute.
"She'll awaken in 56 seconds, but something isn't right. I saw her running, but when I caught her, everything changed. The vision didn't feel… like it was mine… anymore."
Jasper remained next to me as Bella's heart slowed and we listened to the final thumps. I looked up at him as he wrapped his arms around me. We sat in silence waiting for the moment when she would open her eyes after her heart finally stopped. I stole a glance at Edward whose face was stricken with anticipation and worry. I felt sorry for my poor brother, but I couldn't offer him any solace. My only concern was Bella and I focused all of my attention on her. The room came to an eerie silence after the final thud of her heart resounded.
I knew how it was going to play out, but seeing Bella awaken in a vision and actually witnessing it were two entirely different things. The vision could change at any moment depending on what decisions she made. The only thing I knew for sure was that she would be absolutely beautiful, for such was the curse for our kind, but I was worried about how she'd feel about being turned. I knew that at some point, it was what she wanted, but all I could think about was all the human things she was going to miss out on and the things she would never be able to do again. Knowing Bella, it would be something as simple as brushing her hair before she went to sleep that she would miss the most. We all stood and took a few steps back as she started to stir, not wanting to startle her.
Bella opened her eyes, which were no longer brown, but the crimson red of a newborn vampire. She looked around absorbing the room, but said nothing. Jasper, Edward and I stood in the far corner of the room, just watching as she took in her surroundings. Bella finally turned our way and took in a sharp breath. I smiled at her in reassurance, but she starting backing away, a low growl forming in her chest.
"Bella? It's ok. I mean, are you ok?" I started walking towards her and I could see that her eyes were growing large with fear and her growling got louder too.
"Bella? Who the hell is Bella? And who the hell are you? Where the fuck am I and where is that sound coming from?"
