Chapter Nine- The Hand
He continued to spin me, reminding me of the first journey running through the forest. Well, I guess I wasn't the one actually running. The memory of clinging to his back with all my strength, even though he'd never allow a twig to scratch my skin. My eyes closed, terrified; yet reassured against his stone-hard body. The way that my mind was racing at the same speed of his strengthened body. Like a Greek God rescuing his mortal from a war. My Greek God. I recall the warm feeling when he brought me to the meadow with his sparkling skin in the sun. The way that everything in the scenery was breathtaking. How he had to remind me to breathe. I wished that the weather were sunny so I could marvel at his pale skin.
I began to feel dizzy, an alarm bringing me back to the world from my thoughts, but I didn't want to tell him to stop. I wanted to freeze this moment. I hadn't been to the meadow in a while, and I very badly wanted to go there again. I felt my head spin as the outdoors looked like a blur of dark green and gray sky. It had only been a minute or so.
"Hey Edward, when can we go back to the meadow?" I asked, as he abruptly stopped spinning me.
"When you're feeling better, I assume. Do you miss it there?" Edward retaliated. I had trouble staring at his face, all of his features a mess of color.
"Uh, yeah, kinda," I said, stumbling on my words as I waited for the world to stop spinning.
"Bella, love, you're turning green…" Edward spoke loudly, and held me in his arms for a second, debating on what to do. I was shivering violently, and I realize we'd been outdoors for a quite a while.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have let you stay outside for so long. It's just so interesting staring at your thoughts," He said, swiftly carrying me inside. I closed by eyes in hope it would help the dizziness disipate, but no such luck.
"No, I, um, should've told you," I said, eyes closed tightly.
Edward just stared at me with his smoldering golden eyes, as he did when he was worried about me, always much more than he should ever have to be.
"Can you set me down? Like, on the ground? Something?" I questioned, feeling sicker as the seconds progressed.
"Edward, what did you do to her?" Alice questioned. I hadn't realized she was in the room, let alone that we were back into the house.
"She's going to throw up," Jasper announced. Thanks for sharing…
Calmness spread through my limbs. It didn't reach my core.
I felt a soft object under my face. I wasn't too sure about when I was. I tried to lift my head, but everything seemed to be spinning at one-hundred miles per hour. My mouth opened without warning, spilling the little substance that was still in my stomach. I coughed loudly, for I hadn't felt the urge to vomit coming. I tried to move my mouth away from the green substance.
Since when did I consume something green? I looked at my surroundings. I'm on the Cullen's couch…. Shoot.
My ears were ringing. I could hear Alice's distinctive voice in the background. I couldn't make out what she and a few other voices were saying.
Edward stared at me once again, with helpless eyes. I tried to smile.
"I'm fine, I was just dizzy," I spoke.
"Oh, sweetheart," Esme started to say, her eyes matching the expression Edward was giving me. It's not the first time I've ever fainted. No big deal.
"I'm incredibly sorry about your couch, I'll, um, buy you a new one, and clean up for you and everything, I promise," I was rushing for the the words to come out.
"Honey, please, do not worry about the sofa. It's not a problem at all. I'm just concerned about you. Would you like to stay here, until you're feeling better?" Esme asked, eyebrows crooked.
Esme was carelessly motherly. I knew she'd appreciate if I were to stay, so she could fill her heart's desire and take care of me. It wouldn't be so bad… She filled the void with my own mother so far away.
"I think that, is a very brilliant idea!" Alice danced around the room before taking her pink cell phone into her palm. Edward rolled his eyes and explained that Alice was planning all sorts of slumber party plans. I groaned.
I heard her dial Charlie and explain I wasn't feeling well. She offered for Esame and herself to take care of me until I was feeling better. Charlie has a thing for Alice. He agreed. Esme smiled at me before retiring to the kitchen, saying something too low for human ears to hear. Edward sat on the floor near my face. I knew I wasn't going to throw up anymore. I wanted to go home and sleep in my own room, where Edward could sneak in and hold me against his icy body. I wanted my dream catcher from Jacob hanging in my room. I still had a strong belief that someday it would start working; keeping the nightmares away. I looked down at my hands, right as Edward took them into his, and planted a kiss above my knuckles. The concerned expression had yet to diminish. I forced a smile.
"You know, Bella, if you keep smiling like that, your face could freeze?" Emmett said, booming.
I didn't notice him leaning over the couch. I jumped at the sound of his rough voice.
He blinked twice, before laughing and left the room. Edward's eyes bore into his back.
I wake up in an uncomfortable bed. My brown eyes flash open. I try to move, but I'm stuck. My arms are chained to the headboard, the sheets are dirty. I blink, thinking I'm dreaming.
"Hello?" I attempt to utter. It's silent, except for a quiet pacing. It sounds like the footsteps are coming closer. An orange light flashes from down the hall. There are bars against the room; floors are gray and stained, concrete and cold. It's dark in my room. Where's Edward? I stare at the chains bearing me to the bed, noticing they are bloody; filthy; cutting into my wrists.
I can feel my heart sink into my stomach as the epiphany occurs: I've been here before. It's the hospital room and they're coming for me, I'm sure of it. I try to use my feet to escape the chains. I use all my might, rising my back off the bed. I start to panic, frustrated with my predicament. The footsteps are closer. I hear a buzzing sound before the lights turn off. I hear a scream from down the hall; it's a blood curdling scream. I feel the blood in my own body drain from my face. I squirm once again. What am I thinking? Even if I escape their hold, where could I go? What would I do? What would happen? I decide I don't want to know. The acids in my stomach toss and turn. I'm not supposed to be here.
"No, no, no, no," I groan, my breathing out of control, my heart pausing with irregular beats. The cuffs dig deeper into my skin. I hear a laugh in the distance. Deep, dark. Powerful.
I start to scream before I feel a hand on my mouth. It's frigid and hard. There was no one in my room. I was sure of that. I jerked away from the hand and clenched my eyes closed.
"Shhh, they'll hear you. Stay quiet, and you'll be spared," The voice is gentle. I let out a breath I've been holding for a while.
I stare at the pale hand, searching for its face. I fail to find one in the darkness. I stare out the bars as I watch three cloaks walk effortlessly down the corridor. The orange light flashes on my face before I have time to close my eyes. Sudden. The hand is gone.
"Ah, Isabella Swan," One of the cloaks say in a musical tone, as all three stop to stare at me. I see a grin in the light, only iluminating the sharp masochistic teeth of a monster. I don't know what the smile means. I don't want to make sense of it. I want to close my eyes and leave this place. Wherever I am, I have a feeling the Cullens aren't near… and it's not safe for them to come here.
They continue to walk down the hall, just the click of footsteps remain. I feel the hand back on my face; it's colder than the moments before. I realize my face is burning on fire with fear. Its face comes closer to my ear, causing a shudder to errupt through my weakened body.
"They're coming back. Whatever you do, don't fight. Don't cry. Listen to whatever they say. I'll be back to get you," I hear the soft voice speak again. I do not hear fear or pain in its voice. I nod slowly.
"Good. You're going to be just fine, Bella." Bella? The voice knows more than I thought. I shiver before the hand is gone and I'm alone. I hear chuckles from the hall again. They're back.
I can't think as they unchain me. I'm in shock. I can't move. I feel like I'm dead. I might as well be… My feet drag on the ground as I'm pulled away from the hospital room. I hear cries from the surrounding rooms. I close my eyes so I don't have to see the horror. My mind creates it instead. I'm hoping my imagination is the worse of the two.
I open my eyes when I'm thrown to the ground with a crunch. Something's broken. I can't feel the pain. I decide I probably shouldn't move. I smell iron and salt- there's blood.
"We'll be back for you later, Ms. Swan. I expect you know by now not to make a peep." I hear a voice.
I scramble to look for the source. The black cloaks. I hear the door lock and realize I hadn't know it was closed to begin with. There's no windows. Just four black walls constricting the air. I crawl on the ground in search for an exit. I stand up to touch upwards as I'm surprised at how low the ceiling is. It's just above my head. I touch an unfamiliar object and jump backwards, only to realize it's a string to a light. I pull on the string… lightening up my chamber. The walls are covered in blood. I cringe, deciding to rather to curl into the corner of the back wall. I shut my eyes as tight as possible but it doesn't rid of the nightmare.
I miss my Greek God. I miss the hand telling me its coming back.
Is it coming back?
Author's Note: Did you like it? Review for another chapter! How was Eclipse, my lovely readers?