Chapter 25: Unleashed

"Dammit!" Jacob kicked his completely flat tire. It had already been a terrible morning. He was so hopeful when he woke up that morning. He couldn't wait to be with his wife again. It might not be the easiest week but at least they'd be together. Hell, if his parents finally knew the whole truth, he might as well move her into his room. She was his wife and carried his child. They should start living together finally. He planned on finding something for the three of them by summer.

He was all set to make the drive for the first time solo. He'd packed up his stuff and left plenty early, but there was a big pileup with a livestock truck on the 101. He pounded his fists on the steering wheel as he witnessed a parade of sheep being herded down the road to safety. There were three disabled vehicles along with the long trailer that had been transporting the sheep. He thought that ordeal was never going to end. It wasn't every day he watched a trail of lambs pass by like they were being led to slaughter.

Just an hour later, he was on the side of the road with a blowout. Could his luck get any worse that day? All he wanted was to get to Bella as soon as school was out and take her for a drive. It was a nice clear day, just a hint of springtime was in the air. They could park near the beach. It was even warm enough to walk a little. He was wanting to figure out how'd they go about the confession. It was important for them to be in agreement. He was hoping to give them a few days of peace and spring it on his parents towards the middle of the week.

Good thing, his father had taught him to change a tire out early on, before he even had a license. He changed it pretty quick and then loaded the busted one, to trade in for a new one when he got home. It wasn't long before he saw a service station up ahead. He was cutting it close, so he thought he should set up a back up plan in case he didn't make it. He managed to get his mother on the line. Of course, she wasted a bunch of time panicking about the troubles he'd had.

"Mom, I'm fine. I need a favor."

"Sure, son. How can I help?"

He asked if Embry had been around and she stated she'd seen him earlier, but the crew was working on the far northern border of the property that day. She said she expected them all back soon since no one had come in at lunchtime. She had a tray of sandwiches prepared, so they could grab and go to take advantage of the nice weather.

"Okay, well...I might be late, so tell Em to go to the school and wait with Bells just in case I'm not there when the bell rings. Tell them to wait for me, okay?"

She questioned him, further holding him up from getting back on the road. "Why wait? He can just bring her home and you'll see her later. Jacob, I thought you were finally trying to spread your wings a little."

"Are you serious? You know she'll always be my best friend. She and I had plans to hang out since it's a nice afternoon."

His mother seemed surprise. Jacob screwed up by saying that, because Embry was stealing all the mail. She asked how they made plans if they weren't writing all the time. He stuttered and stumbled through an explanation about them cooking up a beach day when she visited with Rachel. He really didn't know why it was necessary to keep up the farce. They were about to blow apart all the misconceptions his parents had about his special friendship with Bella. It was habit, he guessed. Finally, she stopped asking ridiculous questions and promised to tell Embry. Of course, she added that he'd been working so hard, that he should invite him. "Yes, I hope you and Bella will take Embry along. Oh, and Quil too. Your father said he's mowing today and the first time each year is usually the most challenging. I think that sounds like a plan."

He responded, "Sure, sure, Mom. I'll ask. I love you, gotta go."

He knew his buddies worked hard, but it was not the day to go for a group outing. He needed his girl all alone. He rushed to take a bathroom break and grabbed a grape soda out of the cooler since he was inside the station already to make the collect call.

That little excursion wasted another fifteen minutes. He was tempted to speed, but a ticket was the last thing he needed. His father wouldn't need extra excuses to be mad at him after the week was up.

Jacob wasn't sure of the time, since his watch had stopped recently. He checked it in the service station and he was definitely behind schedule. As he rounded the bend into Forks, he passed the bank. He was a good twenty minutes late. Poor Bells, she was probably worried sick about him. He only had a little ways to go to turn on the road for the school. Hopefully, Embry was already there. He didn't want her waiting around on Cullen's steps because that always brought her unwelcome attention from him. He almost hoped to run into that guy. He remembered his father's warning about steering clear of him, but the long trip had put him in a bad mood. He had about convinced himself, he had nothing to lose by putting him in his place. He was prepared to issue him a stern warning. He wasn't the least bit intimidated by the smarmy, little pipsqueak.

Jacob drove into the small parking lot and immediately felt some trepidation. All that remained there was Quil's old beater and Mr. Cullen's car. He knew the car well, since his father had helped him acquire it for getting around. He was pretty sure it was on loan since he claimed to only want to remain in America temporarily. He'd already worn out his welcome in his opinion. It was obvious Embry was not there. Either, he never got the message or he didn't listen and took her home.

Jacob passed by the janitor closet which was open but empty. He saw Quil off in the distance. He was dragging the small mower slowly across the campus. He looked worn out and filthy. He ran over to him. Quil raised his hand like he was going to pat him on the shoulder, but Jacob stepped back. "No thanks, I don't want your stench on me when I take Bells to the beach. Speaking of, where's my girl?"

"Heck, I don't know. I thought she'd already be with you. You're late, bro."

Jacob was overwhelmed with a dreadful feeling. He didn't like not knowing where Bella was. Chances were he was overreacting, but he couldn't help thinking about what had happened back in the fall. "Give me your keys."

Quil didn't hesitate. He handed over his set which opened every door at the school. No doubt, he understood what his buddy was worried about. "I'm sure he's gone by now, but it's the bright gold one."

Jacob took off towards the small building. He didn't have time to explain. He knew he hadn't taken off because he saw the car with his own eyes. He was up the steps in front of the door in a blink of an eye. He tried the door first...locked. Why was it locked if Cullen was still on the campus? Jacob hadn't seen another person around the school other than Quil. He prayed he was wrong. Bella had to be safe with her brother. That had to be what had happened. He wasn't sure why he proceeded with slow, silent intent as he inserted the key. Maybe, he secretly wished he'd catch Cullen by surprise and tear into him for being a damn creep. He kept telling himself, she wasn't in there, but he had to double check.

The door slowly parted. No amount of paranoia or overactive imagination, could've prepared him for what his eyes witnessed spread out on the classroom floor. Cullen was hovering over Bella's lifeless body as he struggled with his pants with one hand. Jacob went into full protective mode. It wasn't contemplated. He was quick and muted. Conscious actions were non-existent. He didn't even recall picking up the stone used to prop the door on nice days, because the hinges were sprung. Jacob hadn't even realized it was in his grasp until he lifted it high over his head. He brought the rock down exactly where it needed to go with all his might. Everything happened in less than a few seconds. Blood splattered outward from the force. He swore he heard the sound it made as it speckled the bottom of his pants. Cullen was no longer crushing his wife with his disgusting body. He fell to the side with a resounding thud. He paid no attention to him. He had to check on her.

For a split second, she was so still, that his worst possible fear overcame him. As soon as the weight was off of her, he saw her movements. Her hands were bound over her head and her sweet face was bruised. He jerked the gag from her and she started screaming and gasping like she'd just regained consciousness. Her legs started furiously kicking. Her skirt had ridden all the way up her legs and he noticed her underwear were still on. He felt slight relief even though her blouse was torn open which made his rage soar even more. Even though her eyes were tightly shut, she was fighting back.

His gentle hands lifted her, "Bells...Bells honey. It's me. It's Jake, I got you. I'm here."

Her eyes opened to gaze into his. "Jacob!" she cried. "You came, I knew you would." He reached down and pulled the cords off her wrists. As soon as they were free, she grabbed onto him and held on for dear life. Her face mashed into his chest and she sobbed, "We have to go. Ed...um he's crazy. It's worse than you ever imagined. He's ruthless and dangerous. We have to go to the sheriff."

He tried to calm her down. "Shush, baby. I got you. I'm never letting go. You're safe. Oh God, Bells. I'm so sorry I wasn't here. I love you...I love you." He kissed over the side of her swollen cheek. Then he looked over at the monster that had tried to steal what wasn't his. He hadn't moved an inch from the place he fell. The pool of blood was large. It was evident that he hadn't only knocked him unconscious, he'd actually split his skull wide open. Bella finally looked down at herself and she screeched. She started wiping furiously at the blood on her chest. He witnessed her panic. "It's not yours, you're not bleeding, honey." He turned back to source and she saw for the first time.

Her hand covered her mouth. "Is he?"

"I think so," Jacob stepped away from her to check. He hadn't started out intending to kill him or maybe he did. He couldn't remember. He just knew he wanted him away from her. The hit was deliberate and fueled with fury. He'd just killed him for what he was doing to her and he knew for certain, he wasn't sorry. He was glad he was dead, but he had no idea what to do next.

About that time, voices were heard through the door. Embry and Quil were cutting up as they walked closer. They had no idea when they crossed the threshold, all their lives would forever be changed. Quil swore, "Holy shit!" Embry focused in on his sister. She grabbed her blouse together to hide herself. He started shaking and then he ran towards Cullen probably thinking there was still damage to be inflicted on him.

"You son of a bitch!" Embry fell over Cullen's body. Jacob grabbed his shoulder.

"Stop, Em. It's too late, he's already dead."

Embry pulled himself up and walked over to Bella. He shouted to Quil to go find something for her to cover up with. Bella was shivering, but none of them had jackets on. He was back in a flash with a wool blanket. Embry and Jacob had helped her off the floor and to a desk. Quil covered her shoulders and asked the obvious question. "What the hell do we do now?"

Bella took part in the conversation even though she still looked completely shell shocked. She said one of them should go to the sheriff. It seemed like the reasonable thing to do, but Embry brought up one possible scenario. "What if they don't believe us?"

She really shouldn't be there, in that classroom where the assault took place and Cullen's dead body laid heavily on the floor like an elephant in the room. He was about to ask Embry to take her home, but she was the victim and he wanted to include her. Maybe having a voice was one step towards her healing.

Jacob weighed the options. His dad completely dismissed the suggestion Cullen was some sort of pervert. He'd heard more than he could stomach how respectable his family was. Cullen came with impeccable recommendations. Could he bring a dark cloud of speculation to his father's dream? The school, the vineyard, the orchard, but more importantly the respect were his father's greatest accomplishments. There was also Bella, she was pregnant. Most people knew her family history. Renee Swan was a bad word on most of the citizens that had encountered her. His parents seemed to judge her for being her offspring. What suspicions would total strangers conclude? Few people knew of their marriage. What would be said about her? Some people would imagine it was none other than a jealous love triangle. It might be hard to convince the public and the sheriff that a refined gentleman, like Edward Cullen was a would be rapist of a young woman. He silently prayed, would be was the correct description.

Quil gave them all a solution. "I can burn him."

They all stared wide-eyed as he explained. He told them about the incinerator where he burned all the garbage each week. "It reduces everything to ash. The fire burns extremely hot. I can clean the rest up. I have access to every cleaning solution that exists."

Jacob looked at Bella again. She was staring off into space, her shaking had gotten worse even though she had to be burning under that heavy wool blanket. He looked at Embry who still wiped at stray tears. He nodded. Quil was right, they were going to get rid of everything. No one but the four of them would ever know. The school was out the following week. The Monday when school resumed, Mr. Cullen would be absent. Sure, people would wonder what had happened to him for awhile, but no one would suspect the truth. He failed at destroying Bella, but paid the ultimate price for his sins. If they went through with Quil's solution, no one would know. It would be as if he never existed. That wasn't completely accurate because in the back's of all their minds, none of them would ever forget.

~Thanks so much for reading.