CHAPTER 21 – BROKEN
Superchick – Stand In The Rain
She won't make a sound
Alone in this fight with herself and the fears whispering if she stands she'll fall down
She wants to be found
The only way out is through everything she's running from wants to give up and lie down.
A/N: Thank you so much for the great reviews. So close to 200, I can almost taste it.
I knew he was there.
Standing behind me.
Even with the few feet of distance between us, his hot breath still crawled into my skin - creeping into my veins but I forced myself to remain still, trained myself to continue staring out the window as I usually did while keeping my gaze trained onto the silver dotted sky.
"Isabella" he drawled out my name in his Italian accent but the sound was like fingernails on a chalkboard to me and I winced – the bile rising to my throat but I fought it back as well as the threatening tears as I heard his footsteps close in on me."Look at me when I am speaking" his words were not shouted but low and soft as if he was pleading but they managed to strike a piercing fear into me.
With a defeated sigh, I slowly angled my body towards him but kept my eyes trained on the luxurious wine red carpet.
The silence grew heavy, weighing me down as the tension thickened with the ominous ticking of the clock. It was the only sound cracking through the quiet.
…Tick…Tock…Tick…Tock…
He remained still wanting to draw out the suspense – a mind game that he liked to play.
Eye contact wasn't acceptable unless he ordered it.
…Tick…Tock…Tick…
He stepped closer to me, rough fingers gripped my cheek, forcing me to look up at him as a test but after learning the hard way, I looked up but trained my eyes on his neck which seemed to muse him as he chuckled. "Look me in the eyes" he spoke again, still using his soft voice though it was beginning to sound like he was patronizing me as he spoke as if I was a child.
…Tick…Tock…
Following his orders, I stared at the scarlet eyes filled with amusement and I had to clench my jaw to stop myself from spitting in his face. He made me look in his eyes as a reminder – a reminder of who he was and what he'd done. He took pride in it – the way his eyes were now a shocking blood red and filled with power.
Those eyes trailed down my form and his tongue darted out to wetted his bottom lip in appreciation. I fought for control, careful to not make the mistake of wincing or cringing. "I love this color on you" he purred and I gulped making his smile wider.
He found this amusing as he'd forced me into the dress with Jane's help. It was another reminder that he controlled everything about me – where I went, who I saw, who I talked to what I did, what I wore.
Although it was yet another white dress, this one was lace and had a satin belt around my waist that seemed to constrain me. It almost looked like a wedding dress.
At first I never understood why I was the only one forced to wear white. I could never comprehend why he bought me white dresses and insisted on me remaining barefoot until I saw the deranged hungered look he'd get when he looked down at the blood stained white with a triumphant sneer.
He enjoyed killing me with the irony.
How could someone like me wear white after everything that I'd done – everything that he'd made me do? He knew exactly how to get to me because I had trusted him. I had fallen for his tricks – revealed myself to him and he'd used it against me.
Another one of his tricks played out as he trailed his ice cold fingers down my spine, "And the necklace really suits you" he cooed, still stroking my hair, "It's like it was made for you" he murmured against my ear and this time I couldn't help the shudder that ran through me.
He noticed.
"I am very pleased with your work" he spoke, showing off his razor-sharp teeth in a wide menacing grin while his fingers moved from my jaw and down my collarbone, past my shoulder and down my arm to take my wrist in his firm grip and hauling me up making me gasp as he spun me around so that he could press my back onto his chest so that I was now looking at the door he'd entered.
Another one of his tricks.
Locked.
Trapped.
Tick…
His fingers moved to my neck and contrasting with his gentle touch, he sharply pulled at my tresses exposing my neck and I felt his hot breath prickle my exposed skin but when I tried to squirm away, free from his hold, his death grip tightened and I stilled myself before feeling him finally close in….
Frantically, I clawed my way into consciousness – fighting away the memories that would inevitably follow me anywhere I go.
My eyes snapped open as I jolted up from the bed so quickly, that the sudden dizziness that hit me triggered the wave of nausea. Loud gasps broke the silence as the tremors racked through my body after the great exertion. Beads of sweat clung to my clammy forehead and my fingers gripped the drenched sheets as the striking fear cracked down my spine.
Frantic eyes searched for those burning scarlet ones but thankfully, I was met with the silent darkness but still that wasn't enough to tranquilize the hysterical beating of my heart. It felt like it was trying to escape from my chest that I had to reach up and clutch at my chest willing myself to calm down.
After leaving Edward behind, I had felt the blackness seep into my mind due to all the energy I was using at once and although it was probably a stupid idea, I went back to the cabin so I could sleep it off – hoping that yesterday's happenings would all dissipate into a forgotten dream.
My dampened pyjamas now clung to my now heated skin so I strode across the cold floor to open the window and watched as my trembling fingers fiddled with the lock before finally freeing it.
The night's rainfall had left the fresh smell of petrichor but once the cold air hit my flushed cheeks, I breathed out a sigh of relief and lay my head back in relaxation. Angling my head to the side, I stared at the reflection on the window's glass only to be taken back with the sheer terror that invaded my glassy eyes that were now threatened by the salty tears.
Tearing myself away from the reminder of the dream, I felt disgusted with the feeling of being weak so I blinked back the tears and looked up to the glowing silver moon. Its silver rays streamed through the glass window pane and the silver danced on the bare wooden floor - I was just happy that my eyes had not met the lavish, over priced afghan rug.
I hated this.
I hated that I couldn't have it back no matter how hard I tried.
I hated him.
I hated everything that he had done to me – to my family.
I hated the fact that my days of freedom were numbered.
I hated this – I hated feeling this way.
Angry at myself, I tore away from the window seat and paced the cool wooden floor, my thoughts continued to rage even as I tried to fight them back.
I wanted to – I-I just want –
I don't even know what I want.
My pacing was put on hold when I whipped my head around to glance at the clock, only to find that it was just nearing two O'clock. With my eyes trained on the taunting tick of the clock, I felt like I was growing insane as I watched the slow movements of the second hand.
Shaking my darkening thoughts away, I was free from all the thoughts. Apart from one.
I needed to get out of here – a distraction. I needed a distraction – any distraction.
I just needed something to take me away from the negative spiraling of thoughts that were creeping up as they slowly began to plague my mind.
Desperately, I scanned the room until my frenzied eyes caught the truck keys that were placed on the top of the bedside drawer. They that were glinting due to the silver moon rays that reflected on them - seeing them triggered the memory of what Jacob had said.
I knew what I could do.
-XXX-
Now as I stepped out of the truck in the wrinkled shirt and trousers that I had roughly put on in a rush, the breeze hit me and had me wishing that I had been smart enough to at least carry proper shoes…not the exposing slippers that I had worn.
Wrapping my bare arms around my torso, I gripped at my sides before taking slow, cautious steps towards the edge and looking out to the sea that seemed to stretch on endlessly. The moon's reflection cast luminous silver rays onto the surface of the gentle waves.
Bending down to the ground, I picked up a small jagged rock before standing up again. I placed it on my left outstretched palm and inspected it before I stretched out my hand before finally freeing it from my tightened grasp.
Quietly, I watched as gravity pulled it down until it cut through the surface of the peaceful ripples off the water before finally disappearing from my sight.
Judging by that drop, my best guess would be about 80-90 feet.
Perfect.
Taking a few steps back, I shook off the slippers from my feet before I looked up ahead and a smile played on my lips before finally jumping into a full sprint then finally launching myself into the air.
I straightened my legs and stretched my hands before closing my eyes as I felt the gust of the wind whip across my skin and the rush of adrenaline seemed to overwhelm me to the point that it had also gained the power to throw back the worries and fear that had been thumping in my mind.
I felt free.
The tips of my fingers finally cut through the ice cold water before I was completely engulfed under surface but instead of trying to find my way back up, I allowed my body to sink deeper and deeper into the blackness of the freezing water.
Still, I made no attempts to begin swimming back to the surface; instead I relaxed and continued to sink deeper.
Being in the core of this element brought on the burning ache in my chest and the fire to course through my veins before it burned the tips of my fingers. Every fiber of my being was on fire and I allowed the feeling to engulf me as the water now began to push me back up.
When I emerged, I gasped out the breath I'd been holding and I couldn't help the burst of giggles that erupted – side effects from the rush of adrenaline, I guess.
Even though I knew this, I still couldn't stop laughing.
With my mind was still temporarily blank, I fell back onto the rolling waves and floated on the surface, my fingers gently grazing the surface, creating multiples of ripples which unusually amused me. Few broken giggles fell from my lips as I continued to drift along the soothing waves not minding if they pushed me further away from the shore and into anywhere.
It was so peaceful here in the middle of the sea and a childhood memory of me and my parents at the beach. I could remember how I used to run towards the retreating waves but then run away when they approached me again and that always used to make me giggle.
When I felt the change in the wind as the cool breeze now warmed, I looked towards the horizon and caught how the dim sunrays broke through the cloudy sky so I was hesitant when deciding to begin my journey back to shore, not feeling to happy with the fact that I would be leaving the water.
My arms battled with the heavy current as I urged myself to push on further until I reached the shore but as I pulled away from the water, the warm current of the energy slowly faded and without warning, the icy cold air hit my skin which then broke out in shivers that quaked through my whole body.
The tremors became uncontrollable to the point that even my teeth were chattering so I resorted to using my natural speed as I raced back to the top of the cliff.
I considered going back home but decided against it.
I didn't want to go back.
Not yet.
With a sigh, I grabbed my jacket and wrapped it around myself then smiled with the warmth that it brought before making myself comfortable as I sat down on the edge of the cliff, my palms on the unsteady ground and I could feel the life humming underneath.
Another distraction.
With anticipation and desperation to get my mind off everything, I crossed my legs underneath me then bringing my palms up, I rubbed them together to ready myself for what I was going to do.
Sighing deeply, I hovered my palms about 3 inches from the ground and opened myself to it.
As I connected with the earth, I felt the cliff groan as earth began to rumble beneath me and I grinned as I remembered what I was taught and drew energy from the water element so that I wouldn't collapse as I caused the tremors to strengthen and vibrate through my whole body.
Being in this moment drew me back in to the memories that I had closed myself from but were now crashing back to me. Life that had been drained now filled me and I broke out in a wide smile as my body also shook with the ground and I laughed with childish excitement.
It was then that I heard it.
In the distance – about twenty miles from here.
Then I smelt them.
Three of them.
My mood immediately dropped as did the energy and the earth fell back in it's place hoping that I hadn't used so much that the tremors would have reached them.
Even though I knew that it was highly unlikely as I hadn't drawn out a lot of the energy, I still knew that I needed to leave before they found me.
Frantically, I pulled on the discarded slippers then stood up with the jacket still covering me as I opened the truck with trembling fingers but just as I was about to step inside and drive away, I caught Emmett's loud booming voice erupt through the forest.
"Maybe she's an alien"
My face scrunched up with the idea of me being an alien. While there was no proof of their existence, the stereotypical image of aliens wasn't exactly a positive one and I frowned, looking down at myself while wondering if I seemed alien-like.
"Emmett that's hardly likely"
Edward.
He sounded weary and slightly annoyed. I could imagine how a slight crease would form on his head or maybe he was pinching the bridge of his nose at his 'brother's' inaccurate observation.
It was nice to know that he didn't believe that I would be an alien.
Before I could stop myself, my feet moved on their own accord, gently whispering across the ground as I took slow steps towards them but still cautious as I kept the shield around me and hid within the shadows and refused to go any closer than ten miles.
"Well vampires exist" Emmett's voice was louder now and I knew now that it was not just his vampirism that scared away the wildlife in the forest.
This time it was another voice that sighed bitterly, "Still…aliens?", which I then recognized to be Rosalie's.
I fought to bite back the giggle that bubbled within me at the very idea although I could understand why Emmett would jump to such a drastic conclusion. I, myself had drawn up even wilder and crazier conclusions as to what I could be.
Emmett wasn't giving up as he argued, "What could she be then?"
Silence filled them and I could practically hear the clogs moving around as they tried to draw up different conclusions and part of me thought I was safe but I knew there was the danger of them finding out what I was which wouldn't work out well.
They would use me – use me like Aro did…until I was good and dead.
"Are you sure she isn't a werewolf?" Rosalie tried and I could hear the offending disdain in her voice. It was no secret that vampires and werewolves were almost sworn enemies. Vampires were seen as the dark monsters of the night while the werewolves were the protectors of the humans.
This should be what I believed and it was but… not anymore.
I heard their footsteps moving further to the east so I walked to my right as I continued to listen and was able to hear Edward's aggravated sigh as he retorted, "You saw what she did to the van"
"Seems more alien-like" Emmett muttered and I smiled at this.
This was then followed with a sharp slap, "Emmett!" both of Edward and Rosalie scolded him as if he was a misbehaving child and I found humor in their almost sibling banter which was why I had to bite down on my lip from laughing out loud and ruining it.
"Fine. Whatever" Emmett huffed and I could imagine how his expression must've looked like. "Don't say I didn't warn you" he warned tauntingly before their footsteps continued on further into the forest and I took a second to wonder what they were doing in the forest.
The next sentence surprised me "I still don't understand why we should be keeping this a secret?", it had been Rosalie this time.
Secret? Secret from whom?
I felt the hope spark that there was the chance they wouldn't expose me to the Volturi but quickly relinquished the thought.
They were vampires.
Simple as.
Edward sighed again and I wished I could see his face, "I-I just…" he trailed off but instead of adding the all too anticipated explanation, he said two words that I had not expected, "Let's hunt"
Were they going to find lost campers?
I needed to get out of here.
As I shuffled to begin my jog, my foot stepped on a twig and everything froze as I heard Edward speak again, "Did you hear that?" he asked in a soft voice.
I then thanked God for Emmett who simply said, "Probably a bird"
It was time I left.
Spinning around to kick start my sprint, I was stopped as my body hit something solid causing me to stumble back in my step as the fear gripped me.
"Where do you think you're going?"
A/N: Love for Emmett? Who do you think found her?
Reply Responds:
InLoveJA: I had an awesome holiday – thanks for asking. Thanks for still checking the chapter – I'm glad I'm getting better and it's thanks to you. Good luck this 2013. Glad you love the story and thank you for still reviewing.
Twilight Rocker: Happy you're loving the story and still reviewing. I'm happy that I was able to make your excited with each chapter. Here's another one for you - enjoy
Multi-Fandom-Lover123: Thank you for your review and I hope you loved this update as much as the last. Glad you had a great holiday and good luck in school :( It's awesome to know that you love this story.
cecilia4059: Bella can't tell Edward the truth because she's scared of what they'll do to her when the found out. She knows that the Volturi rule the vampires and if the Cullens found out, she's scared that they will take her back to Italy top please Aro. She would've moved on to another place but she's already settled but also she's feeling something for Edward – at the moment. Bella is very conflicted.
The event of Tyler's truck has had an impact on Bella and Cullens. Happy that you're excited for the rest of the story. Thank you for reading and reviewing.
BeyondSanity12: Thank you for reviewing and showing your love for the story. It would be easier for them to communicate but both of them have secrets which they need to keep. Thank you for the compliments and yes I want you to just wait and be patient and all will be revealed.
Valentine Rain: So excited that you love the story – makes me want to keep writing. Thank you for always reviewing my chapter and I'm so pumped that you're still reading.
Dizzy167: I hope this chapter is piquing your interest more. We are drawing nearer to the truth about Bella and her past life. Hope you enjoyed this update and happy 2013 to you to.
Gracegoddess: Don't hesitate to recommend some of your stories. I'll check some of them out. Don't feel so bad – there can be some jerks out there so don't let them get to you. Glad you're reading my story. So thanks for that.
IzzyPure: I don't think anyone could out-weird you but I am still going to try.
I have also pretended to be a hobbit too and instead of bacon, I think about cheese.
I am a harry potter fan and I memories all the lines in Prison of Azkabar and I may or may not have a stick that I use as my wand.
When no one is home, I pretend to be a superhero.
Sometimes, I wear tutus over jeans and love colorful beads and actually celebrate Random Hat Tuesday (made that up)
I pretend to be a fish in my bed and go under the covers and pretend to swim around.
I own a goldfish that I named Sushi.
I've lost my key 3 times - my USB 4 times and my buss pass over 10 times.
When my relatives come over, I'm the one to pinch their cheeks and call them cute.
I love to walk backwards
I love to say things backwards. Best The It's.
I like to pretend that I'm a secret agent.
When I'm doing my work, I make random noises.
I make up works practically everyday.
I wore a full on ninja costume to school one day.
When I talk to my parents,
The whole being really deep and really stupid applies to me too.
I can't keep still for over 2 minutes.
To stop biting my nails, I wrapped duct tape around my fingertips – DID NOT WORK. Ripped them off within 5 minutes.
I play the air guitar and I'm pretty good if I may say so.
I get my friends to put me in the trolley and push me around when we're shopping.
Can't get enough of roller-skating – I even do it in the house.
I mostly sing instead of taking.
When cooking I make the craziest concoctions.
For about 10 years I thought an ice cream sandwich was actually ice cream between two slices of bread
I pretend to be a dinosaur
I had an imaginary friend who was a cowgirl and spoke in an Irish accent named Jungwa for about 6 years
I still watch my childhood shows and still laugh at them
When people scream, I scream.
My laugh is more like a witchy cackle.
There is much more but moving on…
In relation to the story you're writing, I'm sure you could get published. Once you're done, if you're okay with it – I'd love to read it.
Nice save on the cursing and it's awesome that you're still reviewing and reading.