Chapter Eleven: Nightmares are just around the corner
They all watched the patrol cruiser pull up and park outside the house, and Alice stood silently next to him, his arm wrapped around her shoulder. She shook her head when she saw the cop letting them know that he wasn't James.
It was late by the time they all went to bed, knowing that sleep wouldn't come easy for them, he walked Alice upstairs, watching as she checked on Ollie, who was bunking in with Jake and Violet in an adjoining room to Edward and Bella, the relief he saw on her face that he was safe was palatable.
He slowly walked her down the hall and into her own bedroom, quickly scanning the room for any disturbances and kissing her forehead before he walked to his own room.
APOV – Dream
The thunder rolled in, rain lashed against the window near her bed, she tried to ignore it but it was so loud.
A thump in the hall made her jump, she tried to calm her nerves but something about the sound just didn't play right.
Slowly, she got out of bed and quietly made her way over to the door and opened it, peering into the dark hallway.
Her only source of light was the lightening striking across the sky, and she saw a shadow cross the other end quickly, her breath caught in her throat, her heart started to pound as she didn't think any of the others would have cause to move like that, sweat broke across her skin.
Slowly she made her way into the hall being careful not to make a sound, she could hear someone moving about, but the thunder crashing made it difficult to pin point where they were.
She heard one of the stairs creak and prayed it was someone getting up for a glass of water, so she quickly made her way to Jasper's bedroom needing his reassurance, she pushed the door open feeling her way through the room in the dark "Jasper" she whispered, hoping to wake him up.
"Jasper" she whispered again, letting her hand fall onto the bed, and she pulled it away quickly, there was something warm and sticky on her hand, she quickly wiped it on her pyjama's looking around in the poor light for the source.
Her heart was pounding and her head was spinning with excuses as to what it was, so she didn't have to think about the likely choice.
They lighting split the sky illuminating the room briefly and dashing Alice's hope with a scream, Jasper's eyes stared wide and unseeing upwards, his throat slit with blood still oozing from the wound.
"Hello Alice" came the soft voice from behind and she screamed again.
"ALICE" came the shout again, she tried to hit the intruder, and she had to get away from James.
"Alice stop it" said the voice again, lower this time more reassuring. Her eyes snapped open and saw Jasper in front of her, alive and grasping her wrists.
"Jasper" she said, coughing a little at the dryness of her throat. "Oh Jasper" she threw herself into his arms. "I thought, you were dead and James was here, I'm sorry".
She felt Jasper stroking her hair, whispering nonsense in her ear, and she pulled back to look at the faces of his family all scared "I'm sorry everyone, I didn't mean to wake you all up" her breath still uneven from the fear still running through her veins. "I haven't had a dream about it or him for so long, it scared me" she whispered.
"Its fine Alice" said Esme coming forward "It must have been so frightening, but you're safe now".
She nodded looking down at her hands, where Jasper was tightly holding onto them, she wanted to ask them to stay, and to help reassure her but the words wouldn't leave her throat. "I'll stay with you, Alice" said Rosalie, walking forward smiling slightly at her.
She smiled gratefully at the blonde women; she sat back a little, taking a deep breath trying to calm her nerves. Jasper kissed her lightly on the head before following the others out and heading back to his room.
She looked to Rosalie who quietly crawled into the large bed with her and slowly fell asleep again, hopefully without any dreams she thought as sleep over took her.
Morning came too quickly for her the next day; she woke up late, her heart pounding when she found the other side empty of Rosalie. She quickly rushed to her feet throwing on her gown and made it downstairs, she could see Rosalie clearly in the kitchen and she gave a sigh of relief.
Rosalie saw her trying to make it upstairs without the other noticing her, "Alice are you OK?" she asked clearly worried.
"Uh yeah," she said trying to get upstairs "You weren't there when I woke up and I couldn't find Ollie, I was worried", she snuck up another couple of steps.
"I'm sorry, I didn't think about it, mom got the kids up and is in the kitchen making pancakes this morning with them" said Rosalie.
"No" she said "there's no need to be sorry I was just a little worried, but we're all fine, nothing to worry about".
She headed back to her room, quickly washing up and dressing, and she heard her phone ringing from her purse and she quickly picked it up, she smiled when she saw the name 'Emmett' flashing up.
"Emmett" she said relief evident in her voice.
"Hey Alice" he said also sounded relieved "Where are you?"
"At the Cullen's, I can give you directions".
"I am glad you took my advice" he replied, she quickly rattled off the address to him, listening closely as he read it back and confirmed it was right. "OK, I am not to far from there. I had started to head towards yours; I'll see you in about twenty minutes".
"OK" she said "and Emmett thank you".
"No thanks necessary, you're my baby sister I would do anything for you" he replied before hanging up.
She put her phone in her pocket and decided it was time to face the others.
JPOV
He slowly walked into the dining room, seeing everyone but Alice, already seated and almost silent, they looked tiered and he felt guilty for that, for bringing this upon them but he didn't have a choice.
He sat down next to Rosalie, still a little angry at Edward from the previous evening; he could tell that Bella was more than upset with how Edward had reacted, than he probably was and he had to admit if it where reversed he possibly wouldn't have shouted at Alice but still felt the terror like they all did.
He didn't say anything, just ate the breakfast in front of him, hoping that today would be better, that he would be able to keep her safe.
An hour passed before he heard the tell tale creak of the stairs, he looked up sharply for an instant worried that it was James, he saw it was Alice dressed in her robe, clearly worried but looking for Rosalie.
He looked back at his plate, not wanting to interrupt their conversation.
"Morning" came Alice's tired voice from the doorway; he stood up quickly pulling out the chair next to him, before he quickly got her some breakfast.
Alice noticed Esme serving the food, and quickly glanced around for Ollie "Where's Ollie?" she asked trying not to sound panicked.
"The children are up in Carlisle's study playing with some of his old doctor's equipment, they've had breakfast and they are fine" replied Esme taking a seat at the other end of the table.
Alice nodded and quietly began to eat slowly.
The phone ringing caused her to jump from her seat, eyes wide in fear, "shh Alice, it's OK just the phone" he said helping her sit back down and stroking her head trying to calm her.
He nodded to Edward, asking him to pick up the phone; Edward listened intently to the other end.
"Officer Carter, says he is detaining someone at the top of the drive, large man, dark curly hair about 6'2" said Edward looking at them.
"It's Emmett" said Alice getting up and heading over to Edward, taking the phone she spoke low to the officer letting him know that the person was OK to enter the house.
He watched her go wait by the door and the look of relief when Emmett walked up the steps, a stern look on his face. He quickly picked her up and hugged her tight, whispering something he couldn't and didn't want to hear.
His heart clenched a little as she wrapped her delicate arms around his neck and buried her head in his massive shoulder, small sobs shaking her frame, and he wanted to be the one to help her, to be her shoulder to cry on. He shook his head of such thoughts; she needed them all right now, and he slowly walked over to them, shaking Emmett's hand as they stood on either side of the crying women.
Alice regained her composure, letting Emmett put her down, "Alice, I know Ollie was looking for you a little while ago" he said, watching as she smiled in thanks before heading upstairs, able to escape the nightmare she was in for a little while with the children.
"How is she?" asked Emmett once she was out of sight.
"Not good" he sighed "she had a nightmare last night, a pretty bad one from the sound of her screaming, and she said she saw me dead. She was so freaked out that Rosalie had to sleep with her" he ran a hand through his hair. "I don't know how to keep her safe, how the hell did the bastard get out?" he asked anger colouring his words.
Emmett looked at him, taking a seat while the others disappeared around the house, "I don't know, the wardens said they will look into it, but they don't want to cop to fact they let him escape so we probably won't know" he replied. "Did she tell you the full story?" he asked looking down at his clenched hands
"Yes, well as much as we needed to know, I'm not sure if there is any more, and to be honest I don't think I can talk about it" he said.
Emmett nodded "He took me by surprise, I mean I didn't go down easy and I got him in the end, but I should have killed him though" he said.
"I know" he felt the same way. "She told us how she thought you hated her, blamed her for their deaths" he said quietly needing to know this detail, he needed to protect Alice even if it was from her brother's previous hatred.
Emmett let out a deep breath his eyes wide "No" he said "I never hated her, never blamed her I couldn't". "How can she think that?" he asked standing up "I felt guilty myself, I was supposed to protect her and them, and I couldn't. They died and Alice, god I thought he had killed her" he chocked out voice gruff with emotion.
"I think you should talk to her, when this is all said and done, when that bastard is back behind bars or buried in the ground. You need to tell her" he said, meeting the larger man's gaze.
Emmett nodded, heading off to the back window, probably wants space to deal with it he thought.
The rest of the day passed slowly and awkwardly, a couple of officers turned up in the afternoon, to take statements and the letter, they said they would double up the guard on the house, and keep some guys around Alice's home in case he turned up there. They also advised them not go out alone at any point and they should take time off of work until they had caught him.
He watched his mother and father walk the officers and detective out, while he wrapped an arm around Alice's shoulders.
She fell asleep an hour later, while they where watching mindless TV, his mother had contacted the school to let them know there was a family emergency, his father had done the same, Alice didn't need to call anyone she owned the shop, but she would need to put a note on the door at the shop Emmett had told her not to worry about it until after the weekend.
He felt her begin to shake in his arms, the small groan alerting him that something was wrong, "Alice" he called softly, she stirred a little but didn't wake up fully "Alice" he called again.
She woke with a jolt, her eyes wide in fear "Jasper" she said looking around, it was just them in the living room and for that he was grateful.
"I'm sorry I can't stop seeing it happen, can't stop seeing him killing you" she sobbed "I don't want to lose you".
"You won't lose me" he said kissing the top of her head, stroking her hand gently "I'm not going anywhere without you I promise".
Alice nodded before gently settling her head against his chest, he could feel the hot tears silently fall onto his shirt but he didn't acknowledge them, he just let her cry until there was nothing left and pressed a kiss against her head again, listening as her breath evened out and deepened. He could only hope she found a little rest before the nightmares began again.
He felt as if the weekend past in a blur of tension and fear, everyone felt stifled inside the house, they we're constantly on edge and high alert, the stress of it all wearing on everyone and becoming more visible on their features as the hours marched on.
"Jasper" said Alice, walking into the study where he was reading "I need to collect more clothes for me and Ollie, I didn't realise I would be staying in town for more than a couple of days, I thought we would be running and I thought I would be able to pick things on the way" she looked down as the plan she had made came to light.
He closed the book and placed it on the desk in front of him, standing slowly trying to organise his thoughts. If he hadn't have visited her that night she would be in the wind and he might never have found her again. "OK I'll get Emmett and we can go back to yours, I'll make sure an officer is there as well, the others can stay here" he said.
"Thanks" he watched her walk out of the room, no cheerful bounce or grace in her step, the haunted look never really leaving her eyes; he just wanted his Alice back and this horrible nightmare over.
"I just need to grab some stuff from my room, and Emmett can you grab Ollie's things as well as some toys I know he is missing them" said Alice walking into the hallway, stopping as she looked around.
"Its safe" he took her hand "the police have been watching the house since Saturday; no-one has been here".
APOV
She nodded and strode off to the bedroom, hoping that Emmett and Jasper didn't notice the shake to her voice and step.
Grabbing one of her suitcases, she opened her wardrobe, when nothing jumped out at she sighed in relief, a little laugh escaping her, Jasper was right, there wasn't anything to be scared off she was safe.
She placed new jeans and tops into the case along with her sketch pad and pencils as she might as well get work done; it would help take her mind off the nightmare that was slowly closing in on her.
She zipped the suitcase shut, looking out of the doorway, and she could see Jasper standing just outside, ever the gentleman she thought.
She caught sight of a piece of paper just under her pillow; she picked it up with shaking fingers, and opened it.
Dearest Alice,
Why have you flown away, I wanted to lay with you this evening.
Do you remember our night under the full moon and stars so bright, you looked so lovely laid out beneath me.
Was it the one with the golden hair, did he kidnap you from your tower? He shall be the first to feel my anger.
From one that truly loves you
She whimpered low in her throat, her eyes trying to scan the room her head running with crazy ideas.
She felt a strong hand on her arm, she instinctively tried to pull away scared that it was him.
"Alice it's me" said the soft voice of her protector, she went rigid before relaxing slightly at the feel of his hand on her.
She passed the note to him quickly, feeling the tears of fear beginning to pool in her eyes "he, was here, in my bedroom" she whispered clamping her mouth shut as her body began to shake.
"Emmett" called Jasper, the hand the note was in shook slightly next to her; in rage or fear she wasn't sure.
She heard her brother walk in, she couldn't move from the position she was in, fear kept her bolted to the floor, looking out the window.
"How the hell?" asked her brother, anger lacing his words, but she could hear the slight fear it brought with it, the reality sinking in slowly that if Jasper hadn't made her leave then and there she may never have left her house again.
"I don't know" replied Jasper, "Alice get your things quickly, we need to get out of here, the sooner the better" he said, brushing a kiss into her hair.
Just like that, she came alive, her body pushing the quaking fear back, she pulled out everything and stuffed it into her bag quickly, locking away the thoughts that where clawing at her to stop fighting this it was inevitable, walking swiftly back to Ollie's room, she helped Emmett pack up his things before they were walking outside the house, the sunshine warming her a little making the icy hand release her heart slowly.
Jasper put her in the passenger seat of his car as he wanted to talk with the officers on duty, and show them the note, she only watched numb again like she hadn't been since she pulled up at his parent's house.
Thank you to all who read this chapter I hope you enjoyed it
Disclaimer: all the adult Cullen's, Brandon's, Nessie and Jake belong to Stephanie Meyer; the other kids are all my own imagination