Empty Skies
New Moon from Alice's POV
Disclaimer: The story belongs to the brilliant Stephenie Meyer, not me.
A/N: Thanks to -autumnfierystar04-, CherryWolf713, Bexy2008, ImagineXD, mandja, Socialxxhazard, ZekeStar, Capricorn75, HeavenlyAngel14, CBRH, mrs edward cullenxxx, hula hips, edwardlover45 and Nikkirenzo59 for the lovely reviews! I am so fortunate to have such a supportive and vocal group of readers! I've been asked a few times how long this story will be; my answer is that—Alice willing—I fully intend to complete New Moon from Alice's point of view, ending at the roughly same place the real book leaves off. Hope you like this chapter; it's a return to the full-blown angst I've been (relatively) avoiding lately. I've had it written for ages and it's one of my favorites at this point. Tell me what you think, please!
Chapter 12: Free Fall
I sat curled up on the floor, gazing sightlessly out the window and leaning against Jasper's legs as he studied a philosophy text on the couch behind me. The raindrops trickled down the windowpanes, reminding me of home.
Jasper slid off the couch, wrapping me in his arms. I turned, nestling into his chest.
"I thought you were studying," I mumbled, smiling. "Not that I'm complaining."
"You're irresistible," he accused, pressing his face into my hair. I pushed him over so I was on top of him, and kissed him soundly, knotting my fingers in his hair.
We lay like that for a time. The wind howled outside, but within I was comfortable in my lover's embrace. Flashes came and went of the movements of the rest of the family: Carlisle and Esme on their hunting trip, Rosalie dressing upstairs, Emmett entering the living room to find…
I came back to the present, suppressing a giggle at the expression I'd seen on Emmett's face. Jasper cocked his head at my sudden spike of good humor, but I kissed him before he could ask. This was too good to resist.
Emmett rounded the corner, spotted us on the floor, choked, and walked out again.
Jasper chuckled after him, then raised an eyebrow at me. "Didn't you see that coming?"
"Mm-hmm," I confirmed, nuzzling his neck, "but the look on his face was so funny I wanted you to see it, too."
"How thoughtful," he managed before trapping my lips again.
I didn't tell him the real reason behind letting that vision play out. If I was being honest with myself, I knew I was lonely in my own reality; I missed having Edward here to share it. If he were here, he would have rolled his eyes across the room at me, unnoticed by the others. And then the possibilities of the future would have meaning for someone other than me.
Most people—even within our family—didn't know just how close Edward and I were, because most of our contact went unnoticed. Our gifts connected us; "freaks among freaks" was Edward's term, and maybe we were. But what counted was that we were both "freaks", understanding each other when no one else could…
Jasper's eyes closed, and a wave of contentment washed over me. I cursed myself for my painful thoughts; I knew how much he relied on my optimism in this house full of loneliness and pain. Edward's coming back, I told myself over and over, he can't last without Bella for long. He's coming back soon. Releasing my grip on the present, I skimmed ahead, searching for a vision.
I felt Jasper's arms tighten around me as my sight darkened, bracing me against the dizzying freefall of time travel. When my 'eyes' opened again, I realized I hadn't found Edward. I'd found Bella.
My heart cried out for my best friend and sister as I watched her hurry along a path. She was outdoors, and the rain lashed down, soaking her through. I drifted along behind, trying to make sense of where she was heading. It looked like a cliff face…
It was. She paused on the edge, her head tilting up toward the sky. I still didn't understand, until the wind whipped her hair from her face, exposing her expression.
Her face was thin and sallow even in the dim light. Her eyes were blank, just like Edward's in my visions. Yet as she rolled up on the balls of her feet, a smile spread over her face: a smile of desperation, absolution, and wish fulfillment.
I screamed in denial a moment before she hurled herself from the cliff, her own voice mingling with mine as she fell. Then she struck the water, her frail body disappearing from sight under the crashing waves.
Come up, Bella, I panicked, don't do this! Not now!
But she didn't come up, and the vision blurred, fading back into the present.
I lay limply in Jasper's arms, my eyes closed, breathing labored. He shook me gently. "Alice?" he whispered urgently. "Alice, what did you see?"
What could I say? I just lost my sister, and sooner or later, I would lose my brother, too. Forever.
My visions I'd had before were wrong. My family would never be whole again.