Hi....

A/N at bottom.

Previously: I dreamt of dying.


I woke up sometime in the morning, not sure where I was or how long I had been sleeping. But it was dark outside and I didn't hear a lot of noise outside my bedroom: both outside in the family room or outside in the streets. I got out of bed, no longer able to sleep, and went into the kitchen to make some tea, hoping that it would make me tired and allow me to get a few more hours of much needed sleep.

I felt exhausted: emotionally, physically, and mentally. I pushed my fears, problems, and doubts out of my mind as I listened for the whistle of the tea kettle. I heard some movement and fear rose in my throat. I looked around for the sturdiest thing and grabbed the butcher knife.

I wasn't going down without a fight.

I tiptoed out to the family room, looking for any big shadows that I didn't recognize, what I found was the opposite of frightening. It was Edward, asleep on the couch, slightly snoring as one arm was under his head while the other rested on his stomach. He looked so peaceful and I sighed in the remarkable man before me. I wished with all my might that he and I could be together in the end, but I really wasn't sure what was going to happen.

Maybe I should jus t start preparing for the worst.

I bit my lip as I watched him sniff and settle back down as he fell back into a deep sleep, his crooked smile was making somewhat of an appearance and I smiled at how content, happy, and blissful he looked. Tears sprang to my eyes as I realized that this could be the end, this could be the end of it all.

I turned back to the kitchen, turned off the kettle and silently crept back to my room, putting on boots, a sweatshirt, and jacket, checking the mirror to get one last look at myself. I opened my window and climbed on to the fire escape, taking out my phone and dialing the only person I knew who might be awake at the moment.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Rose, it's me," I spoke softly.

"Bella! How are you?"

"Good, just needed a friend to talk to."

"What's going on? Miss me already?"

"More than you know. I couldn't sleep."

"How's Emmett?"

"Good, everyone is good. I was just wondering something."

"Shoot," she replied.

"Are you glad to be out of here?"

"You mean, away from all the drama?"

"Yeah," I said as I heard her pause.

"Well…yeah. I mean, I love you, Alice, Emmett, Jasper, and even Edward," my heart clenched at her words. "But am I glad to get away from the constant fear of something bad happening? Yeah. I don't even know how you did it for so long." I didn't say anything, just let her talk, telling me how happy she was and how she was glad to have this chance. "It's so good to be going somewhere new, no one wanting to threaten my life," she giggled. "I'm truly happy."

"I'm happy for you, Rose," I said sadly. I wanted that to be me.

"You sure you're okay, Bells?"

"Actually…I think I will be. I've got to go, I'll talk to you soon, okay?" We said our goodbyes and I placed my cell phone on the window ledge as I climbed down the ladder and started the walk to my destination.

Mike's house.

I wasn't sure why I was going, but I had an urge to just talk to him, let him know my true feelings, for the last time. If he didn't get it this time, then I wasn't sure what we were going to do. Yes, this was against all the plans that everyone had, but sometimes you just have to do things yourself.

Before I knew it, I was knocking on his door, biting my lip in anticipation. He opened the door wearing his normal clothing, a scotch in one hand, a cigar in the other.

"Isabella," he grinned.

"Michael," I replied. "Can I come in?" He opened the door wider and I took a breath as I stepped in. I took a glance around the room, it was too dark to see the details but I could see the light from his bedroom.

"What did I do to get this honor?" He whispered into my neck and I tried not to gag at the stench of his breath.

"I'm here to talk to you about our…previous conversation," I swallowed the lump in my throat.

"You mean the one I told you that I didn't want you seeing Edward again?" He smiled, baring all his teeth, eyeing me up and down.

"You see," I started as I put distant between us. "You never got to hear my opinion on that and well…I'm against it. I love Edward and I want to be with him. I don't love you; I never have and never will. Please…leave us alone."

Could it be that easy?

Mike started laughing and I knew the answer was no, he took a sip of his scotch and took a puff of his cigar, still giggling. His eyes found mine and the locked, my instincts telling me to turn and run, but I watched as he walked towards me.

"Mike," I protested and then his hand was gripping my neck faster than I could fathom and my oxygen supply was being cut short. "Mike," I pleaded again, not being able to say anything else as he lifted me up on to my toes, his fingers pressing harder and harder into my throat.

"Now listen to me, Isabella. Obviously you're not as smart as I gave you credit for since you can't seem to follow a certain set of instructions I give you. You and Cullen are finished, in fact, if you ever say his name again, I will personally make sure you are hit harder than you have ever been in your life.

"You. Love. Me." Black dots were starting to appear as I choked and gasped for air against his grip.

"Do I make myself clear?" He released me as I dropped to the floor, coughing and sputtering for air

"You're not winning this time, Mike," I spat as I sat myself up on my hands and knees. Before I even could see it coming, Mike had kicked me in the stomach and I went down again. I winced at the pain, grabbing my stomach, and hissing through my teeth.

"Don't be stupid, Isabella."

There was silence between us, he walked over to the bar, pouring himself a drink as I rubbed the pain away from my belly. I again, climbed up to my hands and knees, then used the wall to stand up fully. I looked around the room for possible artillery, only noticing a fireplace, the head of some animal from the deer-family, leather furniture, rugs, and whiskey. Mike turned around and walked over to me again, taking a sip from his glass. "Since you are here, I figured you and I could have some fun tonight…"

A sick feeling ran up my throat as my stomach started clenching; I backed away and started to tell Mike that I had to leave, hoping he would let me walk out of here.

"Aw, aw, aw," Mike said as I started walking to the door. He pinned me against the wall as he ripped my sweatshirt off of me, I scratched and pushed him off but his hand collided with my shoulder, causing me to crash into the wall, my whole body tumbling down, He grabbed my shoes and tore them off, excitement dancing in his eyes, I kicked and jerked my legs, hoping he'd back off, but it just upped the ante. He pulled my legs towards him, my nails scratching against the floor, hoping there was something I could hold on to.

Mike sat on top of me, pinning me down as he pressed his lips against mine. I felt sick and violated, knowing the worst was to come. I quickly kneed him in the groin causing him to fall off of me as I sprang up at the same time he did.

His hand came out of nowhere and felt like needles across my face, popping skin and blood pouring out from a small cut on my eyebrow. I pushed him away but another blow to the head came, this one making me see stars. My mouth felt puffy and my eyes were starting to swell, before I could register the pain another punch came to my body. I could feel the blood starting to seep out of my body, my skin red from the contact. He came at me once again and I knew I had to stop him.

I put both hands on his broad shoulders and shoved him away from me. I could feel his sickly breath on my neck and my whole body felt unclean. I turned my head in disgust. I started to slip on the wood floors.

I was falling fast.

In order to regain control, when he took another step towards me, I whipped my hand across his face. The way my body moved to slap him must have created a balance, for I was standing with two feet planted shoulder-length apart. I was panting at the force I exerted. My hand was tingling in pain, my eyes red from all the emotions that were circling in my abdomen, and my veins were bulging from my body. I was past anger; I was disgusted at the man. I felt like a mouse trying to escape her death. I knew that if he got my hands on me, I would surely die. Not just a quick shot in the head, no, he was not that kind. It would be the ultimate torture. My hunter wouldn't stop until I was in pieces and everyone I knew and loved were in pieces. I thought about all the people who would be killed for my unforgivable actions. Alice, Rosalie, Emmett, Jasper…My hunter stumbled a few feet backwards at the blow.

He smirked at my response. He grabbed his jaw and stretched it. I could see some blood at the corner of his mouth, I had wounded him. I had wounded him the way he had wounded me. I was still glaring at him when he started towards me again. I stepped back and dodged his hands. He was now breathing heavily and looking at me angrily. He turned towards me with his body and crossed his arms.

I started towards the door, leaving my belongings. I needed to get out. Before I let him have me. I could see the lust in his eyes and I'm sure he'd have his way with me and then finish me off. He clenched his teeth, trying not to snarl at my willingness to get away. He started after me again but I was too quick for him and he ended slamming into the wall that I was standing at. I made it to the door, I was just about to open it up when two hands were putting their weight on it and keeping it closed. Not listening to my instincts, I tried to open the door, not looking at the seething man next to me. I turned around and started heading for the window.

He saw my plan and sprinted for the window; jumping the couch and locking the bolt before I could reach it. I felt my heart clench in panic. If I didn't get out, he'd sure get his way.

And then things would start falling into the cracks.

I spun around and sprinted for the bedroom, I slammed the door and locked it right before I felt his weight trying to push the door open. I checked the locks again and breathed in confidence. I fell to knees and started panting harder. I had to find a way out; he surely would find a way in.

It was then I heard the simultaneously shoves on the door. He was running into the door. The door jiggled, jumbled, and started to unlatch itself from the hinges. My brain started working overload and I looked around for any weapons I could use for my protection.

I would need to be a survivor.

Surviving. What a word. I'd rather live than survive. But today, I was the prey; I needed to use all my strength, knowledge, and skill to get out safely. To warn others.

I saw the window and the fire escape. Perfect! I thought. I would need to be careful so he wouldn't cut me off at his exit to the fire escape. I crept quietly to the window and unlatched it. The air hit me like a semi-truck. I had no coat, no gloves, no covering. I was in pajamas for heaven's sakes! I put my barefoot on the ledge and carefully stepped out. I could hear the door continue to shake and be demolished with his strength. I had always doubted his strength and now it was to his advantage.

I put both feet on the walkway and started down the stairs. I put my hands on the frozen handrails. I looked up to see the door burst open and a fuming Mike hurdling in. He looked around and saw me. I gasped and started down even faster. Mike was on my tail, following me; I could hear his boots on the metal walkway. I continued to look down and go as fast as I could.

Mike was on the stairs, trailing after me, practically gliding down. The stairs began to groan in protest at the weight it was holding, Mike jumped down a flight of stairs and that hit the stair's last nerve. The fire escape started to shake and then the stairwell I was on unhinged on one side and fell unevenly in the air.

I screamed with fright. Mike was grunting as he was trying to find a way to me. I was lying on the stairs that were swaying back and forth. I looked up to see him stare at me how a killer looks at his victim. With complete power.

I had never been afraid of Mike like this. Sure, I had my worries, but I never knew I would feel this scared of him. He was backing up now, I could see that he was going to jump. If he got onto my stairwell, all hope would be lost.

I scattered around until I was standing up, unbalanced and not trying to make any sudden movements or I would plunge to my death. I glanced at the ground and noticed it was at least a ten, maybe fifteen, foot jump to the ground.

I could make it, it'd be like jumping off a high dive…only I could be breaking bones and other important limbs. I swallowed and looked back at Mike whose face was raging with anger, his face was red and his eyes were bloodshot, he wasn't Mike Newton anymore, he was all the years of killing and murdering he'd committed. I took one last look at the floor and noticed Mike start to hurl himself towards me, I flung myself down to the ground, remembering to bend my knees when I hit the ground.

The icy wind flew across me as I heard Mike swear and yell at me, I opened my eyes as soon as I hit the road, my knees bloody, my feet covered in raw skin, my shoulder aching from Mike's beating, and I could feel my lips and eyes start to swollen.

But I got up.

I pushed forward and started to run, barefoot, to the nearest sidewalk and then I sprinted for the one place I knew I was safe. I wasn't thinking about the people who I was trying to protect because in this instant I knew, I knew that I needed them to protect me just as much as I had to protect them. I was a hypocrite and a fool, but at least I was alive.

Barely.

I stumbled home, losing my footing every now and then as I coughed up blood and winced at the pain I was enduring. Come on, Bella. Come on. You can do this. Fight, fight, FIGHT! I gritted my teeth, I wasn't sure if Mike was following me, but I didn't see him the millions of times I kept looking behind me as I walked the mile back to my apartment. The snow began to fall and for once, the city was quiet.

I gasped for air as the tears flowed and ran down my hot cheeks, bruised and puffy. Just a short distance to go, I told myself. With my legs trembling, I could feel my body starting to stagger and give up, but I thought back to ballet: you push yourself—pain is weakness leaving the body. I thought of all the happy times: the dancing with my best friends, the secret rendezvous with Edward, the crowd-standing ovations, the kisses, the exhilarating highs of twirls, and the taste of his skin…

I could see my apartment now as my toes were frozen and my arms were stiff, I tried to swallow and wipe away the tears but all I could do was trudge along. One step. Another. Another. Time was moving so slowly, I was moving so slowly. I finally made it to the door and used all my strength to open it, letting the warmth hit me as I got to the elevator and pressed the button. It took the rest of my strength not to fall down in the elevator and stay there, I needed to get help.

Everything became fuzzy and out of focus and then I heard a ding, letting me know I was at my floor. Only a few more steps, I promised myself. I winced and hissed at the pain, climaxing to the worst thing I've ever felt. I cried out in sobs, I screamed out for help, but no one heard me. I leaned against the wall as I stumbled toward my door, only three doors down and my legs began to shake and tremble even harder.

"Anyone! Help!" I wailed. I couldn't go anymore, my body was giving up, my mind was giving up, everything was starting to collapse in my system. I heard a door open and as I looked up to see who it was, my breath caught.

Edward.

He looked startled as he saw me and before I could say anything, my eyes rolled to the back of my head and I fell to the floor. I heard him run from the door and turn me over, tears starting to fill his eyes. I heard him cuss, yell, and try to soothe me but the only thing I focused on was his eyes: they said everything I needed to hear right now.

He lifted me up and carried me to my bed, shouting at Emmett to get up as he ran to the kitchen and then to the bathroom, banging things as I tried to ignore the pain.

"Jesus Christ," Emmett shouted when he saw me: his friend, bloody and numb. Parts of me were on fire from the pain, other parts were frozen from the cold, my mind was swimming, and I felt dizzy.

"Make sure it's lukewarm water, we don't want her heating up too fast," Edward said as Emmett went out of sight. He sat beside me as he rubbed the hair out of my face.

"I'm so, so, so sorry, Bella." I started shaking my head, coughing and choking as he continued. "I don't know why you've been pushing me away, but I think I know now. I'm sorry I wasn't smart enough to stop it." Tears were running down his cheeks as he looked away and wiped them. He swallowed and bit his lip, something he learned from me I'm sure.

"Here we go," Emmett said as Edward sat me up and then shifted me into a sitting position. They lifted my feet and placed them in water and I screamed from the contact.

Edward started rubbing circles in my back as I cried out, shrieked in agony and body heaved in sobs.

"Let it all out," Edward said whispering into my hair. "Just let it all out."

"The ambulance is on their way," Emmett said quietly. Edward nodded but kept his arms around me, while the emotional fluids flowed from my face onto him. Soon enough, I heard the wail of sirens and then I was being asked to lie on a stretcher as I was carried down to the ambulance. Edward rode with me as Emmett said he would call Alice and Jasper and meet us there. It was silent on the ride to the hospital, Edward holding my hand and staring at me for the duration of the trip. I closed my eyes and wished that this nightmare was over, but I had a feeling it had just begun.

I was brought to a room as a doctor and nurses started searching for the injuries on my body. I could smell the iron of the blood on my skin, the chemicals used to clean up the wounds, I could taste the tears running down my throat, see the way Edward sat on the windowsill as they worked on me, watching me the whole time.

When they had done everything they needed to, I felt sleepy and tired due to the drugs in my system. Soon I was waking up in a dark room and looking around for the only source of light coming from a lamp in the corner, next to Edward who was reading a magazine. He must have been looking at me periodically because he looked over and saw that I was awake, a tight smile coming on his lips as he walked over to sit on the bed.

He opened his mouth but I stopped him, "Please don't say anything. I…I don't want to talk right now." He began to look concerned but I continued, "We will talk. Just not now. I need you to push all the questions and opinions away and just let me feel what I'm feeling." Instead of arguing, he nodded, brushing my hair out of my face.

"I want you to kiss me," I said. He looked at the wall and sighed and then peered into my eyes.

"Bella, I—"

"No. No you don't get to be scared. You don't get to be afraid. I'm here, I'm alive, and I'm fine—or will be. You don't get to run away. You're here and I'm sorry but I need you. I understand if you walk tomorrow, or the next day, or next week. But tonight, tonight I just need you to be with me."

He gave a crooked grin as he looked at my face and then spoke for the first time, "I was just going to say that I don't think I can just kiss you, I want more than to just kiss you."

I laughed for the first time in what seemed like days and Edward leaned down, his lips almost touching mine before he whispered, "I'm not going anywhere. Ever." And then he gently pushed his lips onto mine as my lips began to hungrily search for his. He released the pressure and pulled his head away, smiling wary at me and then kissing my nose.

"I love you, Bella Swan. And I won't ask questions tonight, but tomorrow begins in exactly seven minutes," he glanced at the clock motioning that it was 11:53 and I pouted. "So in seven minutes, I get to become the psycho that I am and ask you what the hell you were doing tonight."

"But I still have seven minutes," I whispered as I pulled his shirt toward me to kiss me again.

It literally was seven minutes in heaven.


So everyone must be expecting be to literally be dead. Well I've just been working. I'm sorry to disappoint, Real Life can suck some times. And I was working ten hour days and the last thing I wanted to was sit at my computer and write.

I feel like I want to beg all of you to stick with the story and to keep reading, keep sending me threatening emails, keep at it. But I'm going to let you decide for yourself.

so thank you.

Brooklynn10