Burn

Disclaimer: all characters and copyright belong to Stephanie Meyer.

Bella used the crowbar she had taken from Charlie's sparse collection of tools and fitted the hooked end near the lock. Holding tightly onto the other end she leaned back, using all her bodyweight to add more leverage so she could jemmy the door open. She gritted her teeth and yanked hard until she heard a satisfying snap. The crowbar clanged to the floor as the door snapped open. Bella smiled triumphantly to herself as she hefted her backpack on her shoulder and slipped inside the side door into the Cullen's palatial mansion.

It was eerily quiet inside; like one of those haunted houses you saw in the movies. Huge white dust sheets had been used to cover the furniture that had been left behind. Bella strolled through the immaculate kitchen which had hardly ever been used. In fact it was only when she came to visit Edward, that the family would make her a small meal. She pictured Esme industriously throwing together a salad. Dear, sweet, kind Esme. Where was she now? Where were they all? Bella's brow furrowed as she left the kitchen and headed into the adjoining open plan lounge.

There it was, her target, covered in another huge white dust sheet; Edward's precious piano. Bella circumnavigated the covered furniture and headed over to the high platform where the piano took centre stage. She had spent a lot of time here listening to Edward play. She would sit beside him and watch his busy fingers press the keys, a dreamy expression in his tortured eyes. It was the only time he had ever seemed at peace with himself. If she closed her eyes she was certain she could hear the faint sound of the lullaby he had written especially for her. Bella shook herself and dropped her backpack to the floor. She hadn't come here to wallow in past memories.

She knelt down and emptied the backpack. She took out a bottle of white spirit and some long matches. Sighing she turned the bag upside down and emptied the last of the contents. A photo and some papers fell onto the wooden flooring. Bella grimaced as she stared down at the face of her beloved. The photo had been taken at her disastrous eighteenth birthday party which the family had thrown for her. It had heralded the beginning of the end of her relationship with Edward and his family.

Was it only last night she had found the picture hidden under her floorboards. She had no idea why Edward would hide something like this in her room. Was it a last sick twisted joke he had played on her? He had also left behind some tickets to Florida. They had both been planning to fly out and spend some time with her mother, Renee, who lived out there. What was the point of leaving those behind, stuffed under the floorboards. A lick of anger made Bella's eyes blaze fiercely. Finding these had finally been the catalyst for her to realise she was wasting time grieving for Edward fucking Cullen. He had cruelly left her behind in every way. She would burn these, along with his precious piano.

Gathering up the photo and tickets, Bella dumped them on top of the piano, which was still covered in the white dust sheet. Opening up the bottle of white spirit she chucked it all over the piano, wincing at the sharp smell. She held her breath as she finished emptying the whole bottle. Now for the last part. Bella held the matches in her trembling hands as she stared at the mess she had made. Here goes. Bella lit one of the matches and watched the tiny flame spark to life. With one flick of her wrist, she threw it onto the piano. It lit up immediately as the white spirit caught light. Bella was astonished at how fast the flames travelled. She needed to get out of there. She picked up her backpack and with one last glance at the fiery glow from the flames, she fled the house.

Jacob climbed wearily through Bella's window and sank gratefully onto the bed beside her. It had been a long night. He had just pulled a double duty shift. Bella was lying on her back, wide awake. She turned her head and looked at him.

"Are you okay?"

"Are you?" Jacob could sense that there was something different about her tonight. He couldn't put his finger on it, but she didn't seem so sad as she usually was. In fact her eyes were bright and had lost their wary look.

"I asked first." Bella smiled at him softly.

"Just tired. You?"

"The same." Bella reached out and took his hand, squeezing his fingers gently with hers. "In fact I feel a lot brighter as if a heavy weight has been lifted off of my shoulders."

Jacob studied her carefully. He didn't want to ruin her good mood, but she would find out eventually. Charlie would be bound to tell her when he came home from work. He was still up at the house talking with the fire crew who had put out the blaze. The Cullen mansion had been razed to the ground. Arson was suspected. The pack had been hidden within the tree watching the men battling the blaze.

"You look worried, Jake." Bella squeezed his hand again. "What is it?"

"The Cullen's house was burnt down." Jacob stated bluntly. He braced himself for Bella's tears.

"Oh I know." Bella shrugged nonchalantly as if it was no big deal.

"How do you know?" Jacob raised himself so he was leaning on his elbow, so he could look at her better. "How could you possibly know?"

A serene smile crossed Bella's lips as she gazed back up at him. "Because I was the one who did it." She confessed.

A/N-thanks for reading!