CHAPTER 10
EVERYBODY'S FOOL
He ran like he had never ran before. It was as if he was riding on the wings of angels. He was determined to reach her before she disappeared again. He had had his chance so many times, he wasn't going to let this one get away.
Within an hour he was back on the scene. The totaled vehicles and broken glass were still being cleaned up. Anxiously he looked for any hint that could guide him. Thinking back on what he had seen of the crash, he remembered the ambulance driving away.
Scanning the minds of those around him, he found where the nearest hospital was and disappeared from sight.
Minutes later he reappeared at the entrance of the Cedar-Sinai Medical Center.
Rushing to the front desk, he didn't even bother with the pleasantries.
"I need to see Bella," he said.
The attendant at the desk looked at him impatiently.
"Rebecca Stone?" he said more calmly.
"Are you family?" the lady asked sternly.
He nodded.
"I'm her boyfriend."
The nurse threw her hands up in the air.
"You and the rest of the male population"
Edward stared at her blankly.
The lady was obviously getting fed up.
"I need to see her," Edward pressed on. "What have they done with her?"
The lady snorted.
"Look kid, I can't tell you anything," she gestured at the waiting area, "Wait with the rest of the world why don't you."
Edward huffed as he turned his back from the rude woman. Reading her mind, he saw that she had faced the same pleas from other star-crossed lover boys in addition to working the 24 hour shift since yesterday.
Curse them all, he thought.
Taking a seat he glanced up at the TV. A random reporter was talking. She was at the intersection where the accident had happened.
"Behind me is where actress Rebecca Stone lost her life just hours ago."
Edward sat up straight in his chair.
"Just after 3pm today, Stone collided with an oncoming SUV. The passengers in the SUV were uninjured, but Ms. Stone was not as lucky. She was declared dead on scene".
"What will happen next Ashley?"
"At this point that is unknown. Ms. Stone had no known relatives. However, a makeshift memorial is being built at the studio where she had been working on a film".
Edwards attention was averted as his phone began to vibrate.
"Edward Cullen?" the voice asked.
He responded in the affirmative.
The person at the other end of the phone seemed to take a deep breath.
"My name is Louis Patterson, I was Ms. Stone's attorney."
Edward stood up and walked down the hall, looking for some privacy.
"According to her will, you were to be contacted in the case of an emergency or…death."
Edward began pacing.
"It is her wish that you attend her funeral ceremony."
Sensing that a reply was necessary Edward spoke.
"Of course."
The service is to take place at the Hollywood Forever Funeral Home. It will start as soon as you arrive."
Edward nodded.
"When you get there, you are to speak with a Mr. Hoffington who will direct you according to Ms. Stone's wishes."
"Of course," Edward said.
"I'm sorry for your loss," the attorney said in a monotone voice.
Edward hung up the phone rather lifelessly. He had forgotten to ask where the funeral home was. On his way out, he asked another one of the emergency room attendants for directions.
It was a short walk. The sky was fading by the time he arrived at the funeral home. Palm trees lined the entrance. Without further ado, he walked into the luxurious building.
"How may I help you?" a kind woman asked him as soon as she caught sight of him.
"I need to see Mr. Hoffington," he said straightforwardly.
The woman sensing his grief, nodded understandingly.
"Of course" She motioned for him to take a seat off to the side.
Looking around, the place seemed kind of empty for what was about to happen. She was a famous actress; shouldn't there be more people here?
Edward was confused for other reasons as well. First Becca 'dies' and then 'Becca' becomes Bella and then here he was at her 'funeral' which couldn't actually be happening. He knew her flighty nature. Wasn't this just another cover up for her to go off and do something else now? Had she become tired of him and decided that a dramatic exit was in need this time?
His thoughts were interrupted as a distinguished looking older man with silver hair approached him.
"Mr. Cullen," he said with a nod of his head.
Edward nodded.
"I am very sorry for your loss," he said kindly, "If you would follow me, Ms. Stone's wishes were very clear."
He handed Edward a pamphlet.
Edward nodded again, taking the paper, slightly confused at the man's words.
As he followed the man through the opulent halls, he glanced at the pamphlet.
The Resting Place of Hollywood's Immortals…
He shook his head and looked up. The man was motioning for him to go through a door. On the other side was a completely different world. The floors were concrete and the smell of machinery hung in the air. It was also very warm.
"Ms. Stone wished for you to witness… the burning" he motioned to the furnace in the corner of the room.
Horrified, Edward rushed forward. It couldn't be?
"The process should be completed within 30 minutes," the man said, still in the room.
Edward looked to the man then back to the machine. He was helpless to stop what was happening. Fire was the one thing that could hurt him, that and venom. Was Bella really within this contraption of doom?
Why?
Why would Bella do this?
Was she that hurt about what had happened? He had only done what he had done to give her a normal human life. Couldn't she understand that now that she was a vampire?
His heart was breaking all over again.
All too soon the timer went off. A worker appeared and rushed to the furnace pulling out the remains within. Though he couldn't stand to look, morbid curiosity moved him to sneak a peek. The only remains left were a small pile of bones.
Edward watched as the worker gathered up the bones and put them in a grinder next to the furnace. Within minutes, a soft pile of ash was at the bottom. The worker then swept the remains into a small purple urn and handed it to Edward.
Edward could only stare at what was left of his Bella. Minutes passed.
The sound of a throat clearing brought Edward out of his revere.
"If you would follow me," the regal man said.
Edward sighed and followed.
The man led him outside to a small but beautiful rose garden. Then he turned to Edward and handed him an envelope. With a short nod, he then left Edward alone with the urn.
Curious, Edward set the small urn on the ground and then opened the envelope. The letter within gave off a strong scent of freesias. Edward closed his eyes taking as much of the delectable scent as he could.
Minutes later he found the presence of mind to open the letter.
Edward,
I hope you're enjoying the fact that I'm dead. Yes I know, how very cliché of me to write a letter for you to read after my tragic death to rub it in. Yes you read correctly, I'm rubbing it in. Before you ask, yes I've had this planned for a long time. Alice probably told you that I didn't remember everything today, but I've known all along. I've just been waiting for the perfect time to get the perfect revenge.
You've been a nice toy I'll admit. How does it feel to be toyed with? It's what you did to me all that time way back when. Then you tossed me to the side of road when I wasn't fun anymore. I hope you're happy. Actually I hope you rot in misery like the miserable excuse for a man you are.
That's why I made it so that you would watch as I burned. Do what you want with my ashes, I don't care. If you end up hating me for this, I hope that hate eats you up inside to the point of you wanting to go to the Volturi to beg for death cause that's what I wanted to do when you left. Minus the Volturi though. I didn't need them to end my miserable life. All it took was one spineless vampire and a hotheaded vengeful vampire to end my life.
So, in a nutshell, I hate you, get it?.
I HATE YOU!
Much love. NOT
Your sweet lover down below, Bella
Edwards breathing was heavy as he crumpled the letter in his hand. Viciously he kicked the small urn, breaking it, and revealing the ashes to the grass beneath. Furiously he left the area, the letter still crumpled in his hand.
If Bella wanted him to hate her, then hate her he would. He was nothing if but obedient.