Chapter 12, here it is! Remember to review! If you like, tell me, if you don't, explain why! Thanks for keeping up with my slow updates! I promise I will get better at that :)
Disclaimer: I own nada. Once again.
As the wolf ran out of sight, something groaned. I thought it was my stomach, but then it happened again and I knew something wasn't right. Oh crap, oh crap, oh crap. I forced myself to glance over my shoulder and instantly regretted it. Though, maybe it would be worse not to.
I had forgotten that Dean was still here. Sure, he was lying motionless for the time being, but who knows when he'd wake up. It could be hours, it could be seconds. I felt a sharp pain inside me; almost hurt that Jake didn't stay, that he'd run off so fast.
Don't be stupid, I told myself. He has other priorities, much more important priorities than staying with a helpless baby. I was so dependent on him, allowing him way too much control over me. I could be independent—I had been most of my life. So why was I yearning for Jake's voice, his touch to comfort me? He was being selfless, trying to protect Bella. A tiny part of my screamed that he should be protecting me, but I stopped myself at that thought.
Another groan. Crap. What was I going to do, leave him here? He would find me, I knew it. It would never be over. It would never end until he found me and my mother.
I had to warn Ma, to tell her about Dean and his threats that he would surely carry out once he was awake. But I couldn't scare her, or have her come here. Then it'd be easier for him to track us down.
Track. Like stalk. He was stalking both of us, and we hadn't even known it. That in itself froze my blood yet again. Too much emotional damage had been done today. I needed a long nap and some hot chocolate to clear my head. Had Jake even been here in the first place, or had I been imagining it?
I saw a few cars passing by, drivers casting glances out their window to look at me. I probably looked like a homeless teen, a runaway, someone in trouble. It would be sensible to get myself out of plain view.
But what about Dean? I wanted to get as far away from him as possible, but I couldn't just leave him here. Someone might find him and report him, then he'd tell the police some bull about me attacking him or attempting murder, and next thing you know I'll be behind bars with only Ma and Jake to really know the truth. Just then, a screeching sound startled my eardrums, and I recognized tires squealing as the noise got closer. Oh my god, had someone been in a car accident?
I tried to target the source of the noise, when suddenly there was the most enormous Jeep I've ever seen in front of me. I almost fainted—it almost reamed right into me! Talk about crazy drivers. Some doors slammed, and I tried to get my body out of its state of shock when two strong arms lifted me into the backseat.
"Hey! Stop! HELP!" I cried, my arms uselessly flailing against a much stronger pair holding me. The pair of arms belonged to an incredibly burly guy with curly brown hair and a somewhat amused smile. I was being kidnapped right on the side of the highway, and no one was looking.
A hushed voice was at my ear then, whispering hastily as I was placed into the backseat. "Elise, Elise, it's okay. Calm down. It's me, Alice. Remember? Bella's boyfriend's sister? You sat with me at lunch?"
How did they know about Alice? I turned to look at her. It was Alice. What the hell was going on?
"Why are you and your boyfriend kidnapping me?" I screamed. Alice and the very large guy starting laughing and soon were in hysterics. I didn't know how in the world that was funny, but I kept my arms crossed firmly against my chest. Was this some cruel joke?
The big guy said, "We're not kidnapping you, silly," at the same time Alice said, "Emmet? My boyfriend?" And then doubled over in hysterics again.
"Hey, can I come out now? I'm stronger than that, have some faith," A softer voice said from the back, making me jump. I was in the backseat...what was in the back of that?
Someone hopped out of the trunk, flipping over the seat next to mine and plopping down. He was long and lean, much less bulky than the guy up front. I felt a wave of calm go through me, and that was enough.
"What do you want?! Is this some joke or something? The take-the-new-girl-out-for-a-joyride-thing? I demand to know what is going on!" I yelled, shaking off the calm feeling. The guy next to me scrunched his eyebrows in confusion.
"She's immune to me," he said in wonder. It sounded like a question.
"What? You're nice looking and all, but I'm not interested, if that's what you mean..." I trailed off awkwardly, embarrassment reddening my features. He laughed, all traces of worry gone.
"No, I didn't mean it like that," he said, but didn't bother to explain. I saw Alice give him a sharp look before she glanced at me and smiled.
"I'm Jasper, by the way. That's my brother Emmet up there," Jasper said, shaking my hand. I blushed. Alice obviously wasn't dating Emmet, then.
"Alice, will you please tell me where we're going?" I asked in a strangled voice, all the days' stress getting up to me. I didn't like the idea of them just bouncing up and whisking me away.
"Elise, we are in somewhat of a dilemma," Alice began, her smile for once vanishing, replaced by a hard frown. Seeing Alice unhappy was like seeing a bird being unable to fly—it was sad and I wanted to do anything in my power to make it better.
Even the big guy driving was now serious and unfriendly. I didn't like where this was going at all.
"First, you reek of a certain stench. No offense, it's not your fault. What were you doing right before we showed up?" Alice asked. It all flooded back to me. One part in particular held my attention. "Edward and the rest of his Cullen...family are all vampires." That's what Jake had said. I looked at the people surrounding me, resembling humans in every possible way, and shrunk into my seat. The details...if you looked closely, some details put them into Jake's theory.
They had dark, almost bruise-like shadows under their eyes. They all were fantastically beautiful, almost inhumanly. Jasper had just said I was immune to him. Alice had referred to Bella and Edward "running an errand" when she drove me home from school one day. It was all slowly connecting, like hard puzzles that are just starting to make sense.
I cowered in my seat, thinking to what else Jake had said. What if he'd been right, and I was wrong? If they had really turned Bella into a...a...into one of them? Were they after me next?
I couldn't help the waterworks escaping from my eyes. This day was too much for me, and so unrealistic I was almost positive I'd gone insane. Their stares all looked hungry to me, like they were ready to suck my blood at any given moment. I whimpered into my hand, more frightened than I'd been in my entire life. I shouldn't have gotten in the car. I shouldn't have left Dean there. What had I gotten myself into?
"Elise, Elise, what's wrong? I haven't even told you the dilemma yet...Elise? Calm down, sweetie," Alice soothed, attempting to pet my hair. I swatted her hand away. Another thing—they were all pale. Very pale. Very unusual for people in Forks, even if the sun isn't out a lot.
Alice looked hurt by my reaction. Vampires—I allowed myself to think the word, not say it—had emotions? They seemed like humans but...
"I bet that bastard told her something. That's why she stinks, after all," Emmet growled under his breath. He looked so big and scary, as if he could rip me into a million pieces. He probably could. His large muscles seemed way more intimidating.
"Shut up, Emmet! This is a lot for her to handle," Alice snapped at him. She turned back to me. "Elise, honey, what's wrong?"
They were trying to trick me, lure me, the innocent human, into a trap. Ignorance was truly bliss. I was probably shaking, but I couldn't stop the wracks of terror escaping my body.
"Please, please, if we could just talk this out..." I choked on my lack of oxygen. Breathe in, breathe out, I told myself. Oh, what was the use? They'd kill me soon enough. I might as well be prepared.
"Elise, what did he tell you?" Alice said, locking eyes with mine. I trembled and looked away.
"Why are you so scared, Elise? We won't bite," Emmet said. I let out a horrified shudder and started bawling, the tears threatening to drown me. Alice through him a look. I looked over to see how Jasper was reacting –
– and saw him in a state of sorrow and terror as well. I wondered why he'd gotten so scared when he excused himself and got into the trunk again.
"Your emotions are too strong for him right now," Alice tried explaining, but that only made my mind whirl faster. I realized we'd parked because the wind no longer blew in my hair, and, ignoring my fear, looked out. We were in front of a glorious mansion, surrounded by woods. I could just make out the sound of a bubbling stream somewhere ahead. It was serene, but not enough to get my rational side back.
"Elise, please tell me what's wrong," Alice said, her lip in a dramatic pout. She looked so sad and innocent I suddenly felt foolish. Was I overreacting and taking Jake's words too seriously? Alice didn't look like a terrifying monster at all. Now, her brothers might be another story. But Alice looked as normal and human as the next person, and seeing her sad was so heartbreaking.
"Nothing, nothing," I hastily wiped away my tears, shamefaced. I had just made an idiot out of myself in front of her family and boyfriend. And for what? Because I was certain that some mythical creatures were out to get me?
"We brought you to our house to explain some things that will be really hard for you to understand. But...I think it'll be a little easier because your cousin will be here," Alice said. I brightened up right away.
"Bella's
here?"
"Yes, she arrived just before us. Do you want to see
her?"
"Of course!"
Emmet and Jasper were already out of the car. Alice bounced out and waited for me. I attentively came out, wiping the last remains of water out of my eyes, and searched for Bella. She was standing next to a silver Volvo, holding hands with Edward and cradling her head in his neck. Bella was beautiful, as always, in a simple jean-and-T-shirt combo. I hadn't seen her in what seemed like years. She saw me step out and raced over to me, enveloping me in a hug. Surprise was plain across her face.
"Elise! Oh my god, Alice, thank you so much! And Jasper and Emmet and-" she turned to her boyfriend. "Did you, by chance, have anything to do with this?"
Edward smiled crookedly. "Why do you assume that, love?"
"Bella, I missed you so much! Where were you?" I held her tight, feeling right at home. My mind cleared as I saw she was safe, happy, and...human. I cringed at my thoughts of her being anything else.
"Edward, we have to explain to her about the Volt—"
"Not here, Bella," Edward interrupted, looking around as if searching for something in the shadows. "We should go inside. How long, Alice?"
"About fifteen minutes, tops." Alice chirped. Bella looked as confused as I was.
"We'll explain everything inside," Bella assured, misinterpreting my expression.
I nodded timidly and followed Bella and the strange family inside. People always say listening to your gut reaction will do you justice. I know I don't get straight A's all the time, but you'd think my gut would be smart enough to get out of there as soon as possible. Instead, I felt an odd sense of relief that I'd finally understand what all the madness was about. And that itself scared me silly.
Next chapter...Jake's or Elise's? Suggestions and critique are welcome! REVIEW TIME!!
