Here is the next chapter! I hope you guys enjoy it and merry Christmas!

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight.

Chapter 25: Connections

Bella's point of view:

I didn't let go of Edward nor did I look up. There was no need. I could tell who was behind me without even having to look up. "Sir, put down the gun," I said calmly as I finally raised my eyes from Edward's pale, bloody face.

"Give me a good reason little girl," he said and I turned completely to look at him. He boar a striking resemblance to Edward. However, Edward's eyes must have been his mother's. I didn't know why I was thinking of this at such a crucial time, but I was. "It was a real shame really," he continued, finally removing the gun from my temple. "I could have killed Edward here and just went on my merry way, but little miss curious had to come snooping around. Curiosity kills more then cats little girl."

"Well I don't plan on dying here," I said, standing, and laying my jacket over Edward's limp body. "And I don't plan on Edward dying here either."

Faster then I thought possible, he crossed the room to me and got up in my face. "Is that so?" he questioned. I noted that there was no alcohol on his breath. He was completely sober this time. Vaguely I wondered again why these trivial things kept popping into my mind.

"Yes," I said and took a giant leap backwards. Taking advantage of his surprise, I raised my foot and kicked his wrist, sending the gun flying across the room. We both lunged for it at the exact same time and collided, falling to the floor. He was much stronger than he looked and was soon on top of me, straddling me with both hands around my neck.

"Ready to die yet little girl?" his voice was malicious in my ear. "Or are you still going to try to fight me. I must admit it is rather amusing."

"I'll show you amusing," I hissed and sank my teeth into one of his hands.

He yelled in pain and punched me hard in the face. I winced as my head bounced off the hard floor. In that moment I was reminded of a wrestling match one of my friends back in Phoenix had talked me into going to.

"If the person on top of you isn't perpendicular to you," I remembered her boyfriend explaining to me. "Then you can arch your back and roll them over and then you'll win the match."

I frowned and weighed the possibilities of this idea even working. Edward's father outweighed me by at least fifty pounds, probably more, but I didn't see any other brilliant plans coming into my mind. Arching my back and bridging my body, I twisted using all my strength to throw him off me.

Too late, I realized that now he was in reach of the gun. Moving quickly, I ran hard but he got the gun first. "You fucking bitch!" he shouted, aiming the gun wildly in my general direction. And then an evil grin spread over his face and I saw his eyes flick to Edward.

"No!" I shouted, throwing me across the room to Edward just as the gunshot blast sounded. Something tingled near my shoulder. It felt like millions of little bugs were all over it, biting it. Suddenly I realized that it wasn't what I'd originally thought and my eyes slowly fell to my shoulder. There was blood everywhere and my stomach lurched.

"You shot me!" I shouted in rage. "You shot me you asshole!"

My entire right arm was becoming num with pain as I stood, slightly shaking in front of Edward. I was slightly comforted by the fact that the bullet had in fact missed its target. It was only when someone groaned that I looked down. Edward's green eyes were slightly clouded as he tried to focus on me. Then they widened in alarm. "Bella, watch out!"

I heard the gun unleash another deadly round and dove, throwing myself to the ground toward Edward. Glass in a window just behind where I had been standing shattered and let in an icy breeze. I heard his father's footsteps getting closer and felt the gun pressing against my temple again. It felt cold and refreshing against my hot skin. It would be so quick, such a simple death. I probably wouldn't even feel the bullet go through my head.

And honestly, who would care if I died? I would get to see James again. All of my pain, anger, and guilt would be gone with one simple movement of Edward's father's finger. But someone did care. I saw the pain and anguish in Edward's eyes as he stared at me.

"No!" he shouted and moved, tackling his father to the ground. I stumbled to my feet and watched in amazement as they fought for dominance.

"Get your fucking hands off me!" shouted his father, throwing him hard to the ground and standing. He aimed the gun down at Edward and fired. Edward rolled just in time and the floor splintered inches from his cheek. My eyes scanned wildly for my jacket, but I saw it nowhere. Suddenly, a small smile spread across Edward's face. Looking closer, I saw a square of black cloth sticking out from under him.

Slowly, Edward stood and turned to his father. "Edward be careful!" I shouted, running to his side. The two men faced each other, neither of them moving. Their eyes locked and slowly they both raised their guns. The pain in my right shoulder was forgotten as they stood there. I couldn't watch, yet at the same time my eyes were drawn to them.

Before I could even blink, Edward's thumb flicked off the safety. He raised the gun, aimed, and fired. The bullet slammed into his father's chest, knocking him backward onto the floor. He lay motionless there, eyes wide and staring. Edward turned to me and wrapped both arms around me, pulling me close to him.

"He hurt you," he said, burying his face in my hair. "I'm so sorry Bella."

I clung to him, not wanting to let go. "Edward why did you run?" I asked, looking into his eyes. "That was so stupid."

"I know and I'm sorry again," he said as he pulled away to look at my shoulder. "He hurt you."

"Edward it's just a surface wound," I insisted, pulling my arm away from him. "He could have killed you."

"I'm glad he didn't," Edward said as he turned toward the door. "Bella I owe you my life. Did you bring a phone with you so that I can call Carlisle?"

"No one will be calling anybody," came a hard voice from behind us. I spun around to come face to face with Edward's father again. "Night night Princess," he said and stabbed me in the left side.

I felt the pain of the steel as he twisted it before pulling it quickly out. My body fell backwards and I felt Edward's arms catch me. "Bella, god no! Look at me say something damn it!" he shouted. I couldn't bare the pain in his voice.

I sucked in a deep breath and tried to focus on his face. "Edward," I said, wincing at the sound of my own voice. I felt my own blood soaking through my shirt as he lowered me gently to the ground. His hand pressed lightly against my cheek for a moment before he straightened and turned.

"Why did you have to hurt her?" he asked. To this day I will never forget the pain in his voice as he stood there in front of me, my protector. "She didn't do anything!" I couldn't help but think then how much he looked like an avenging angel. That was the last thing I thought before everything went black.

Charlie's point of view:

Beep, beep, beep! I rolled over and closed my eyes, trying to shut out the sound of my alarm beeping. It was four in the morning and I really didn't feel like getting up, but it had to be done. I rolled over again and turned it off. Stumbling out of bed, I walked to the bathroom and turned on the shower. I hoped we would find Edward today. Bella, whether she was willing to admit it cared a lot for him and I didn't want her to get hurt. The possibility of him being dead hit me and I pushed it to the back of my mind. Edward had run. If he had been targeted and killed, I was sure his body would have turned up by now.

My phone buzzed as I got out of the shower and towel dried myself. Curious, I walked over and picked it up, flipping it open. "Chief Swan here," I said gruffly as I pulled on my uniform and walked down the stairs to make some coffee.

"Chief, this is Mr. Miller from the grocery store. There's, something I think you need to look at down here," he said, sounding slightly sick. "Please hurry sir, it's not pretty."

"I'll be right there," I said, my stomach knotting in anxiety. That didn't sound good at all. I flipped the phone shut and grabbed my keys, leaving a note for Victoria, and walked to my car.

"God please don't let it be what I fear it is," I prayed as I sped through the mostly silent streets of Forks. I came to a screeching stop in front of the grocery store. Mr. Miller stood there, his face white. Without a word, he pointed around to the back of the store. "Her body was dumped back there," he said, looking slightly green.

I nodded and pushed past him, calling for backup as I rounded the corner. My breath caught in my throat and I took a step back, leaning against the wall.

She lay on her back, sprawled out in a pool of her own blood. At first I couldn't figure out where the blood was coming from until I noticed her torn shirt. Stepping closer, I knelt down to see her more clearly. A bullet had penetrated the right side of her chest. Her wrist had also been cut at the artery. I stared closer and something clicked in my head. It looked almost as if the same pattern had been carved there that had been carved into Danny's wrist. My eyes raked the rest of her body, finally resting on her left side. I stood from the ground, turned, and was sick on the grass. This killer wasn't messing around when they wanted their victims dead. This time they'd gone as far as to cut out her heart.

I turned back just as the backup arrived and we called the ambulance. Her name was Julie Ryan, Brad's girlfriend.

"Comb the area," I instructed Colby, one of the officers who had come when I'd called. "See if you can find a murder weapon."

I doubted that anyone would find one though. This killer was also careful not to leave anything behind. The ambulance arrived and they loaded the remains of the girl onto it.

"It's a sad thing," Carlisle said to me as he turned to get into the back. "Who would want to kill all these teenagers?"

I shrugged and turned to my squad car. "A very very sick and demented person," I said as I slammed the door and hit the accelerator. "I just hope we can catch him/her before anything else can happen."

Carlisle nodded and sighed. "So do I chief, so do I."

I sped off down the street back toward my house. As I was pulling into the driveway, I swerved to avoid a speeding Victoria. Slamming on my breaks, I jumped out as she rolled down her window. Her make-up was smeared everywhere as the tears ran down her face. I ran up to the car as she looked at me. "Victoria, where the hell are you off to?" I asked, reaching in and grabbing her arm.

"Oh Charlie, it's Bella," she said, her voice shaking.

I ran over to the passenger side and got in. "What Victoria?" I asked in a panic. "What the hell happened to my daughter?"

She looked at me out of the corner of her eye as she sped off toward the Cullens' house. "You haven't heard yet? Bella's missing just like Edward."

Jasper's point of view:

I woke the following morning to the sound of Esme's scream. "What the hell?" I asked, rolling out of Alice's bed and sprinting for the door. Alice was on my heels and I could see Rosalie and Emmett running up the stairs ahead of us.

"What's the matter Esme?" I asked as I entered Edward's room and came to a stop. One of Edward's shirts lay crumpled on the ground. His bed was unmade and his computer was on. Esme stood in front of it in shock, her hands pressed to her mouth. I heard Rosalie let out a sob as we all crowded close to read what was typed there.

Alice's small hand gripped mine tightly as we read Edward's little message. "No," Esme's face twisted in pain as she stood there. "Oh god now they're both missing."

"That stupid asshole," Rosalie commented harshly. "If he hadn't gone off running like that none of this would have happened."

The entire room went deadly quiet as everyone turned to look at Rosalie. "What the hell did you just say about my brother?" I had never seen Alice so angry. "He saved us all by doing what he did!"

"For what?" Rosalie spat out in anger. "He went off to get himself killed because he's stupid! He accomplished nothing and now Bella's missing too! They're both probably dead now and it's all because the stupid jackass couldn't wait and call the police in the morning!"

"You don't know what the hell you're talking about!" Emmett shouted, his own face going red. "Maybe you should shut the fuck up about things you don't know about."

Pain flashed across Rosalie's pretty face before she could hide it. "I don't know what the fuck I'm talking about? Emmett people are dying! People are dying and the last thing we need right now is Edward and Bella playing the heroes!"

"That doesn't mean Edward's dead though!" Emmett shouted, pounding his fist into the desk.

"Will you both shut the hell up?" came Carlisle's calm voice from the doorway. "Brad's girlfriend's dead."

There was silence in the room again. "Do you believe me now?" Rosalie's voice rose in pitch as she turned and ran from the room. "And Emmett don't follow me."

We all stood still as Emmett stared after his girlfriend in complete and utter shock. "Well, that was eventful," Carlisle finally broke the silence as he turned to the computer and read Edward's message.

"What do we do now?" Alice asked in anguish, squeezing my hand so tightly that it hurt.

"We do the only thing we can do, we go to Mr. Mason's house and see if there's anything we can do," Carlisle took charge and stood up. "We'll have to use Charlie Swan's gun though, mine's missing."

Edward's point of view:

"No one will be calling anybody," my father spat from behind us as we both spun around. "Night night Princess."

I gasped in horror and surprise as his hand flashed out, the knife held there catching Bella in the side. She winced, and then fell backwards. Quickly I moved forward and caught her in my arms.

I stared horrified down at her pale face, willing her to look at me, to give me any sign that she was okay. "Bella, god no! Look at me say something damn it!" I shouted, feeling a pain constricting my chest. The dream I had the night before came flooding back into my mind and I held her tighter, praying to god that it wouldn't come true.

"Edward," her voice was strained, as she forced her eyes to meet mine. Relief washed over me for a moment as I lowered her body gently to the ground. If I had to die protecting her, I would willingly.

"Why did you have to hurt her?" I asked, assuming a protective stance in front of Bella. "She didn't do anything!"

He smiled at me as he stepped closer. I raised the gun, fury boiling inside of me. "Don't come any closer or I'll shoot!" I threatened angrily, the gun shaking in my hands.

"Oh don't give me that bullshit Eddy," he taunted, stepping closer. "You couldn't shoot me. You don't have it in you. And even if you did, you're all out of bullets. Doesn't that just suck ass? Oh and your little girlfriend is bleeding to death as we speak, poor Eddy. It looks like the pussy cat's running out of lives."

I stared at him for several seconds in shock. "How did you," he smiled and pulled up the hem of his shirt, revealing the bullet proof vest underneath.

"It was actually very simple," he smiled at me as he let the shirt fall. "All you have to do is know the right people and it's all good."

I had enough of the chit chat. He stepped even closer to me, raising the knife to my throat. "Are you ready to die Eddy?" he asked, laughing as he drew the blade slowly across my neck. It pressed lightly into my skin and I felt a small prick of pain there. A thin line of blood appeared and I stared down at it, fascinated by the dark color. I really needed more iron in my system. It took everything in me to not start laughing at the trivial thoughts running through my head. But there was no way in hell I was letting Bella die. There was no way in hell I was letting him kill another person.

"Mother fucker," I said, raising the gun and pressing it against his head. "I'm not out of bullets."

I pressed the gun to his temple and put the last bullet in the gun through my own father's skull.

I was going to make this twice as long, but it's one in the morning and I have to get up in like five hours, so that's all you're getting for now. I hope you enjoy and have a very happy new year!