Chapter 10

(Bella's POV)

The sound of soft humming jolted me awake. Usually, I had trained myself to wake up and listen before I opened my eyes. Inner dread filled me as I cursed myself. I knew someone was somewhere in the room. My body thought much faster than my mind did. Hearing the noise, I was sitting upright before I even knew what to make of the sounds.

My head swam and dizziness overcame me quickly. My whole body hurt. I moaned in pain and confusion.

"You should probably lie back down," a tiny voice sounded.

I looked around the room and spotted the reason of the suggestion. A girl around my age sat Indian style on an overstuffed chair placed in the corner of the room. I said nothing, did nothing just stared at her.

I was not sure what to make of her. Why was she here? Where was the other woman? Was she here to post guard on me? I expected her to say something, tell me something. Do something. She did nothing but stare back. Her stare was not menacing, was not forceful nor threatening. It was a curious stare mixed with an emotion I could not name. She had no smile on her lips, her entire body stayed neutral. I felt no need to be threatened by her. As the minutes ticked by the uneasiness of her presence I felt at first slowly slipped into awkwardness. Slowly but surely, I began to feel weird just staring at her. She must have felt it as well. As soon as my hands started fidgeting she slowly went back to looking at whatever was in her lap. Her humming returned the same song that had woken me.

I was still confused as to the reason of the girl's presence. Deciding to play it safe, I kept my head down and stared at the blanket. Every once in a while I would peek to look at her. I can't be positive but I was pretty sure I caught her staring at me too. This went for I don't know how long until my throat burned with thirst.

I looked around my blanket, remembering that I fell asleep with a cup in my hand, nothing. I was more disappointed what I thought I would be. Tears started to fill my eyes. I'm not sure why I wanted to cry but all I wanted was that cup.

From across the room, a throat cleared. I held back my tears, weakness was never to be shown and looked at her. She looked me in the eyes and again said nothing. After a few quiet moments, she nudged her head in my direction.

HUH? Was all I could think.

She looked as if she almost smirked and slowly raised her hand and pointed to my right. I turned my head in the direction. There on a table right next to my bed laid a food tray. Four unopened water bottles, two Apples and a bottle of Tylenol stared at me.

FOOD.

It was all my mind could think of. My mouth was no longer dry. It watered at the very sight of the bright shiny yellow apple, which was posted right next to another one. A deep, dark blood red that looked like it must be so juicy inside. My arm started to travel up to retrieve the red one when I thought twice about it. I glanced at the girl across the room. She had turned her attention back to the magazine she had.

I'm not stupid, the food was meant for me. It was obvious, if it wasn't, why, would the food be placed so close to me. Yet, I was still reluctant and decided to play it safe and wait.

My willpower failed, I could not wait. My stomach, mind, body would not allow it. I needed to eat and there was food. I grabbed the red apple and as soon as my hand touched it, I shoved it to my face as fast as I could. I devoured it entirely. I almost choked on a few apple core pieces but swallowed it down anyways. My mind was on the food in my hand as I subconsciously felt the girl watching me. I didn't care.

The first apple was gone within seconds it seemed. The bright yellow was now my next choice. I grabbed it, plucked the stem out and brought it to my mouth. It was a lot juicer than the red one, which was more crunchy. I tried to take my time with it but again, my body rejected the idea. After it was gone, I licked the juice off my fingers. The apples were gone and a twinge of regret hit me. I should have eaten them slower, I thought as I reached for a bottle of water.

Shit.

My mind said.

I remembered the girl and did the math in my head. Four waters and two apples. Did I just eat her food? Regret waved over me as I stared at the reading girl. I studied her just as I had the woman. She was thin but not skinny. She didn't look hungry…I'm sure if that wasn't the case she would have eaten her share already or at least keep it closer to her side. Still unsure I waited for her to acknowledge the missing apples.

I started to feel better when all she did was read. I had a feeling she had not gone hungry lately. I slowly opened one of the bottled waters and laid back. With my movements I saw her eyes flicker towards me and then back at her lap. She continued to hum. It was quiet in the room except for her humming, which I must admit was soothing. I liked that I was not alone granted, I did not know the girl but she did nothing to tell me I needed to fear her.

I started to look around the room. It was nice. It gave off a homey vibe as the light cream colored walls met with a nice wood border that went around the entire room. There were four windows but they all were hidden behind big black curtains. Four large skylights from the ceiling lit the room with natural light. I bet the skylights let off a beautiful sound when it rained. I took in the furniture, it all was a matching dark oak that looked expensive. The walls were bare of photos but there was a very large mirror placed on the farthest wall. I frowned as I thought how awful I must look right now. I hadn't showered since I was at the abandoned motel.

I shuddered as my memory brought it all back. My breathing increased and I started to panic.

The girl's head whipped up and her eyes widened. This scared me even more. I tried to control my breathing as Kaylee's dead face would not leave my mind. I stared at the black haired girl across the room as I pictured Kaylee's face, blood weeping from her forehead, eyes wide opened.

The girl dropped the magazine and looked at me, the door and then back to me. Biting her lip I knew she was torn from running from the room or staying seated. I did not know what was beyond that door and I did not want to find out.

Her head kept going from me to the door as my breathing labored. Pleading with my eyes I looked at her and shook my head no.

I knew I owed this girl nothing. I knew there was a high possibility she was bad. I knew she was sitting there because she was supposed to watch me, why else would she just stand there and let me stare at her? She watched me for a few moments, still torn between me and the door.

She seemed to be breathing heavy as she slowly nodded and placed herself back in her chair. This time she kept her eyes trained on me and not her magazine.

I closed my eyes and fought the image in my head while hoping the girl would not leave. Whimpers escaped my mouth as I thought of Kaylee and Abby and how much I wanted them now.

"There's a small pill sitting next to the tylenol , it is an Ambien, a sleeping pill. Please take it. You need your rest," the girl pleaded.

My breathing was still labored as I almost laughed. A sleeping pill? Yeah, okay! I had no reason to trust her, there was no way I was shoving random pills down my mouth. My tears grew as I thought of how much I wanted to be home.

"Please!" Cried the girl "If-if you don't…I'll be forced to call Carlisle! I know you're scared but please, I don't know what else to do,"

I opened my eyes and she was half way to the door ready to get the person she called Carlisle. I did not know who that was but I had heard the name before. She took a step closer to the door.

My gut twisted inside. I decided I was put between a rock and a hard spot. What did I have to lose? If the pill killed me, I thought it would be quick. It took me a second to find the pill even though it was right where she said it was. I picked it up and showed the girl I had it in my hand.

She took a loud breath and looked relieved. She stayed in the same place she was at as she watched me place the pill and drink several gulps of the lukewarm water.

I laid my head against the fluffy pillow and closed my eyes. After a few moments my breathing relaxed and my mind slowed. Then I heard it.

The hoof beats were back! I was sure it was the same sound I had heard last time. I smiled and I welcomed the noise. I opened my eyes to see the girl staring at me.

My smile got even bigger as I heard the whinny of a horse in the distance. Her eyes flickered with understanding and she smiled in return. I was so lost in the sound that I had not noticed she had moved to a covered window. She peeked behind the curtains and then then turned back to me. She was beaming. Her smile caught me off guard. I watched her and heard the sound of the horses changed directions.

My mouth dropped at her actions.

She quickly went to each window and pulled the curtains all the way back. The large windows stared at me.

A tear of gratitude and pure happiness escaped my eyes.

"Thank you," I whispered to the girl, it was low but I hope she heard me.

I couldn't stop the smile that came to me as I watched a herd of beautiful horses run in a large pasture. They ran along the fence line, when they would pass the first window, they then flew past the second all the way to the fourth window. Then, as if by magic, every single horse turned around and ran the opposite direction.

"You're welcome Bella, now try to sleep," she whispered.

I fell into the best sleep I have had in a long time. I thank the horses for that. The horses and the girl in the corner of the room.