Chapter 9

"All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. That's his."

- Oscar Wilde (1854 - 1900)

Charlie's POV

I got home and was about to talk to Bella about her skipping school until I saw someone holding her in her own room. I didn't turn her light on but the moon's light was shining onto Bella's bed. I thought it was Edward but then noticed that this boy had short black hair and violet eyes. He pulled the blankets over her and touched her face. Who is he? What is he doing with my daughter?

"You look so much like your mother. I wish she was alive to see you." He said to her.

He knew Bella's real mother! This isn't good. Then, he started to hum a lullaby.

Hush now, my baby
be still, love, don't cry
Sleep as you're rocked by the stream
Sleep and remember my last lullaby
so I'll be with you when you dream

I remembered that lullaby that was what the woman sang to her baby before she died. The mystery man leaned in, kissed my daughter's forehead and jumped out of the open window. I didn't bother to go after him, I didn't have the strength. Without turning on the light, I walked to Bella's sleeping form and sat at the edge of her bed and watched her breathe in and out. What am I going to do now?

The next morning, I had no work today and decided to stay at home to watch the game. But when I noticed that Bella wasn't up to get ready for school, I called the school and told them that she wasn't feeling sick. Now, it was 11o'clock and Bella still hasn't gotten up. All of a sudden, I heard screaming from her room. I opened the door quickly and saw Bella turning to right to left on her bed screaming.

"Bella?"

I walked towards her and noticed that she was sweating so much, that even her hair was soaked. Her hands were gripping onto her sheets as if her life depends on it. I didn't like this one bit. It reminded me of her when she was younger because she said she would always have nightmares about monsters.

I sat at the edge of her bed, grabbed her shoulders, and shook her as hard as I could. She kept struggling against me, screaming and pushing me away as if I was the monster in her dreams. I shook her again and again but it wasn't working.

"NO!" She cried.

"Please no, take me, and kill me instead!"

Kill her? What the hell is she dreaming about?

"Have mercy." She whimpered.

"Mom…Rebecca run!"

I was definitely starting to get worried.

"Bella, wake up!" I cried at her.

Bella's eyes shot open and she looked confused for a moment as if she didn't recognize where she was. Her breathing finally started to calm down and she realized I was gripping her shoulders. She looked up at me and began to cry. She was now in my arms crying on my clean shirt.

"So many monsters," she whimpered. "So many horrible monsters."

"Everything is going to be okay." I hushed her like she was a baby again, "I'm here. No one is going to get you. Daddy's here."

I realized that I was repeating the same words I said to her when she was only a kid and that wasn't a pleasant thing.

Edwards' POV

I was surprised that Charlie dismissed me from the school today but I was also glad, because then I will know if Bella is at his house. For some reason, Alice couldn't see her; she has been able to see the werewolves at La Push since the war. But Bella wasn't with them. I was starting to get anxious because I wanted to apologize to her about my actions yesterday at school and at home. But Alexander isn't talking with either of us or his family either.

"Edward, how did you get here so fast?" Charlie asked me when he opened the door.

"Emmett picked me up and he drives too fast." I told him.

"I'll pretend I didn't hear that." Charlie said, "Come on in."

I came inside the living room and heard the shower running. Did Bella just wake up now? I sat across from Charlie and noticed that his face was pale, full of fear.

"Mr. Swan are you feeling alright?" I asked.

"I'm fine. I asked you here today about Bella." He told me.

"Is she okay?" I asked.

"I was wondering what happened yesterday at school." He folded his hands.

"Bella and I gotten into this fight and she ditched school with Alexander." I answered

"Alexander?" Charlie questioned.

"Transfer student." I answered him, "He and his family are staying with us for a while."

"What does he look like?" he asked me.

"He has short, black hair and violet eyes." I answered him.

Why did he want to know about Alexander? Did he spot Alexander last night in Bella's room?

"What did the two of you fight about?" He changed the subject.

"It was nothing, dad."

I turned around and saw my Bella standing on the stairs. Her hair was still wet, but she was wearing a black t-shirt and hole jeans. Charlie said that he would be outside fixing his car. I sat in my same spot on the coach and Bella sat in Charlie's spot. It was quiet for a while, so I decided to speak up first.

"I'm sorry about yesterday." I told her. "I shouldn't have yelled at you like that. It was childish and immature."

She said nothing but looked down at the floor.

"Ugh! It's harder for me not knowing what you're thinking." I confessed.

"Welcome to the human world." She whispered coldly.

I was shocked by her tone of voice. Bella really isn't attacking like herself.

"If you just came here to apologize, then your work here is done." She said standing up.

"Charlie asked me to come here." I told her, she stood still "And I have no idea why."

Bella walked outside the door. She went towards Charlie and I read his thoughts wondering what they are talking about. My eyes widen, when I saw something in his mind about Bella and it wasn't about their conservation. So, I walked towards them.

"I'm sorry but I have to go." I told them.

"Alright." Charlie nodded his head.

I looked at Bella and her eyes turned straight ahead, trying not to face me. I was hurt but tried not to show it. Until I knew that Charlie and Bella were back inside the house, I went to the backyard and stood on the tree branch across from Bella's room. She entered her room and I realized that her face was also pale but paler than Charlie's. She leaned against her door and slid down to the ground. And something unexpected happened, she began to cry.

I wanted to barged in there and let her cry in my shoulders and tell her everything was going to be okay and I was never ever going to hurt her again like I did last time. But I knew that I was lying to her but mostly to… myself. Whatever is going on with Bella, she won't tell me. But maybe, she told Alexander. And I'm going to find out the easy way or the hard way and both ways aren't going to be pretty.