9. Disoriented

So. This was it. The end. How long had I been burning? Not nearly long enough, it seemed. I was so numb now. And it felt... nice. Comforting. Relieving.

Wow. So this was what it was like to die. It wasn't like I'd heard- no outdated sepia filmstrip playing my life right before my eyes like a movie in slow motion, no light at the end of a long tunnel. I couldn't see anything because my eyes were just so heavy they didn't want to open. But there was a gentle, smooth sound, like water. And a soft whimper.

"Lyn..."

"Edward?" I whispered breathlessly, the shock jerking at my eyelids furiously.

"Lyn, open your eyes."

I wanted to. I really did. But I didn't have any feeling in my body. No feeling. No control. All I could do was lay lazily. "I can't..."

"Yes you can. Try harder."

"Edward?"

"Yes, Lyn?"

"I think I'm dying." I guess some part of me worried about how nonchalantly I said that.

"Why do you think that?"

"Because I don't feel the fire anymore."

"The fire?"

"Yes. He was burning me alive."

"Who?"

There was another soft whimper. Was that me? "I think his name was David. You saved me from him once before."

"I did?"

"You don't remember, Edward?" I asked softly, a sharp pain in my chest. How could he have forgotten something that I held so close and dear to my heart? Then again, maybe it wasn't that big a deal for him.

"Lyn?"

"What?"

"Why do you keep calling me Edward?" he said.

"Because that's your name, you idiot."

"No," he whispered. His voice was different all of a sudden. "It's not."

Another whimper. My eyes willed themselves open. Above me the sky was swirled with silver and white. The heavens were crying.

"Thank God," said the new male voice. Eyes bluer than the sky peered down at me through soaked dirty blonde hair.

"Noah?" I said, groggily. For a second I didn't recognize my own voice. It was groggy and hoarse. Goodness, was I tired.

"Don't talk, Lyn."

"Why nawt," I said, and realized just how seriously disoriented I sounded.

My answer came with sirens and clanging of metal in the rain. Men in uniforms surrounded me and Noah in seconds.

"She's lost a lot of blood," Noah explained to them frantically.

I felt myself being lifted off the ground.

"Be careful with her!"

"Noah," a female voice chided, "don't tell them how to do their jobs. They'll take good care of her."

Josie. When had she showed up? And just how long had I been out of it?

I turned my head to one side, feeling a bearable stinging I hadn't noticed moments before. In a line beside the stretcher being carried away, I saw Kat, Geni, and Daisy. Good... they were okay. David and Meredith hadn't got to them. That was such a relief. And standing by them were a familiar group. Pale and beautiful... the Cullens.

"Edward," I called out.

He approached just as they lifted me into the ambulance, slowly and cautiously. His jaw was strained, his features pinched with effort. "Lyn," he whispered. "I told you not to go off into the woods by yourself."

"I didn't. Geni was with me."

He pressed a finger to my lips. "Save your strength. You're weak."

I tried to lift up my arm. It felt heavy and jointless, as if it had been turned into a limp noodle or something, but somehow I still managed to take Edward's hand in mine. "Edward," I said softly. I didn't want the others to hear. "I... I think we need to talk."

"Lyn..."

"This is important. Please?"

He sighed and squeezed my hand gently. "Have I ever mentioned how incredibly stubborn you are?"

"A few times," I grinned sheepishly.

"Alright, silly girl. Relax and rest. We'll talk when you're feeling a bit better. You have my word."

I nodded and gave in to the overzealous gravity weighing down my body. My eyes closed.

...

I want to apologize to everyone for how long it's taken me to update, and also for updating with such a short and anticlimactic chapter. Right now I find myself facing a hug brick wall of writer's block for this story. However, I do have some ideas for others that I am moving on to in the mean time, which should be up shortly. Sorry guys!

Also, I put in an author's note to send me a PM if you had an idea for the continuing plot-line of this story. I didn't realize when I had posted that author's note that my private messaging had been disabled. I apologize to anyone who sent me a message and never heard back from me. I have now enabled my inbox to receive private messages, so anyone who has an idea feel free to send it to me and if I decide to use it, I will credit you at the end of the chapter. It would be greatly appreciated and would help me out so much.

Thanks so much guys!