yet another one of my chapters that i'm not a fan of. blechhh. maybe it's just because i'm not used to the third person. -shrug-

i was thinking about something the other day. i have my new story started, the one i'm posting on my new penname. i already have a chapter done, and the preface. now, i won't be beginning to post it until mid-June, but if people say they want me to, i just might post the preface. you know, like a teaser. or maybe i'll just post a little piece of it, like Stephenie did for Eclipse, with a summary. i dunno, i just really want people to see that i'm not dead. what do you think?

i lost quite a few readers because i went on hiatus. but you know what? i don't care. if they're going to shun me because i have a life, that's their problem. thank you so much to those of you who understand and stick around. your feedback means a lot.

Edward buckled his seatbelt, just as the captain requested through the intercom, as the plane prepared for takeoff. He stared out the window, eventually watching the ground get further and further away. His eyes shifted to his sister, who was concentrating on the future.

She was no longer seeing any future involving Bella, or her enemies. Thanks to the convincing from Alice, Edward strongly believed in their new theory. Someone was blocking them. He would kill whoever was shielding Bella from his sister's eyes. How dare he make him believe his Bella was dead?

"It's later," Edward announced, anxious. "You said that you would explain what you saw about Bella on the flight."

Alice sighed. She had already decided that she wouldn't tell Edward the whole truth of what she saw. She didn't need him freaking out and giving up hope. He couldn't know that his Bella was being transformed into one of them as the seconds ticked by. He most definitely didn't need to know about the risk of Laurent losing control.

She was really glad that she had decided all of that when she was at home, where Edward couldn't hear her thoughts and ruin her plan.

"I saw her in a hotel room in New York," she whispered truthfully. "She was talking to Laurent, and Victoria and James were chattering on about how lucky they were that they chose the abandoned hotel that they did. Thanks to them, I know exactly where they are."

"Why do you think James or Laurent let us see them?" Edward asked. His voice reflected his sister's quiet tone, God forbid someone overheard their conversation. "Why would they want us to find them?"

"I don't think it was intentional," Alice admitted. "I think Laurent slipped up. He might have let down the barrier down by mistake," while he was too concentrated on not sucking Bella dry. She winced.

"What?" Edward whisper-yelled.

Oops. "He's used to drinking from humans, Edward," Alice quickly recovered herself. "All that I meant was that she might be a little tempting to him."

"If he hurts her . . . . ," Edward growled, much too loudly. Several people turned in his direction, shocked expressions adorning their plain faces. Edward snapped his head towards the onlookers, threatening them with his midnight eyes. The nosey humans immediately went back to their own business, and Edward cursed under his breath.

"Relax, Edward." Alice sighed, ignoring the attention her brother had awarded them. "From what I can see, Laurent has been nothing but good to our Bella. I doubt that will change."

"It better not," Edward hissed.

Alice put a hand on her brother's shoulder. "All will be fine, Edward," she promised. "Bella is not going to be harmed. I won't allow it."

"Four more hours," Edward sighed.

- - - - - - - - -

"It's almost over now," Laurent said, squeezing Bella's hand as another scream filled the room. "Only a few more hours and you'll only have one day left."

Bella only whimpered in response, the fire never ceasing.

"Try to sleep, Bella," Laurent told her. "Let yourself sleep. It will help."

Bella glared at him through the pain, "You expect me to," she gasped as the fire momentarily intensified, "sleep through this?"

"Yes," he replied. "It won't be as painful if you sleep. You won't be conscious of the pain."

"I can't," she breathed.

Laurent sighed. "Try."

Two hours passed with no success, but eventually, Bella found herself giving into unconsciousness.

- - - - - - - - -

"How long is this road?" Edward asked rhetorically. His voice was strained, as he was becoming more frustrated by the second.

"Just wait for the exit." Alice's voice was much calmer. Now, she was no less stressed then her brother, she was just better at hiding it. "We're almost there."

Edward pressed harder on the gas pedal, increasing the speed of the rental car to a hundred miles an hour. He longed to go faster but he wasn't sure if the car would be able to take the speed. His Volvo could only go at such high speeds because of Rosalie's handy work.

"She'll be okay," Alice said evenly. "We're going to save her, Edward."

"We better," was his quiet reply.

Alice's eyes widened. "Turn!" She shouted.

Edward complied and made the exit. He took a deep breath. They were almost to Bella. In anticipation, he pressed the gas a little further.

- - - - - - - - -

You shouldn't want to trust me,

While we're dancing on this ledge

For it would be because of me,

If we fell over the edge

She was standing on the ledge of a cliff, her toes dangling over the edge. Her eyes fearfully darted to the rocks below her. Cold hands grabbed her waist and pulled her away from the ledge, and her fear immediately subsided. Isabella could fear nothing as long as Edward was there.

His hands held hers as he spun her to face him, their eyes locking. He stepped forward, and she stepped back, and before Bella knew it, the two of them were dancing. His strong arms held her closely as they moved to the rhythm of her erratic heartbeat.

Edward's marble grip wouldn't loosen as he held her waist, and dipped her. She shrieked as her hair dangled over the edge, and she couldn't help the startling fear of plummeting off the cliff. Instantly, Edward pulled her back to his chest, and she held on to him for dear life.

"I will never let you fall," he whispered.

Of course, on their next step, Bella had to find a way to turn her beautiful dream into a horrid nightmare. Her heel went too far over the edge, and she felt herself falling backwards. Edward's movements were fast enough to catch her, but not quick enough to stop the two of them from falling to the rocks below.

Sharp pain erupted in Bella's chest, and she cried out in surprise. Her vision faded until all she could see was complete blackness. From then on she could no longer see, only hear.

Distantly, she heard voices calling out to her; two voices, to be specific. It was a shame that she couldn't make out either one of them. The only sounds she could distinguish were the sounds of her labored breathing and thundering heart.

She screamed again as her heart thumped in her chest, much faster than normal. She felt as if her chest was about to explode. A piercing scream filled the air, and she realized that it was her own, yet again.

Heat returned to her veins, as she felt herself burst into flames. A small piece of her knew that she was only dreaming, and the fire was the pain from Laurent's bite, but she was too busy screaming to rationalize. With the fire burning and her heart beating overtime, it was hard to think about anything but the pain.

Things took a sudden change then. Her heart slowed. Each beat felt as if it was taking every ounce of energy she had left. Moments later, her heart sputtered, and then suddenly, she felt it stop.

Bella's crimson eyes snapped open.