"Oh my god what happened?" her voice cracked and she seemed paralyzed at the foot of the living room. Her eyes fixated on the sight before her, of her best friend, bruised, bloody and beaten. Who couldn't even make it past the door, instead her legs gave in and she sank to the floor. The white carpet that before had been so precious, now slowly soaked in blood and rain water.
The dog reached her and she collapsed with her arms around his neck, her body racked in sobs. That is when Alice finally moved and screamed Jasper's name.
"Bella talk to me what happened?" she begged near tears herself with her hands fluttering around like a bird, unsure of wear she could place them without causing any pain, "Please Bella what happened?" she turned to Jasper whose face had gone as pale as the once white carpet, "Call Caleb!"
Jasper rummaged through the kitchen frantically attempting to locate the phone and when succeeded proceeded to punch the familiar number. Alice now settled on placing her hand on Bella's drenched hair causing her to flinch and tighten her hold on the dog. For the first time, Alice heard a threating growl come from within the animal's throat, directed at her. The realization of the extent of what had happened slowly dawned on her and she looked at her friend in horror and once again begged her to talk to her.
"She needs to go to the hospital," Jasper's voice behind her made her jump but her eyes stayed on Bella, "Caleb said to take her straight to the hospital. Don't let her wash or change. We need to go now." The urgency in his tone was clear to Alice as well as the hidden message. Bella heard it too and her now small whimpers turned into a plea.
It was barely audible but Alice could just make out the desperate no's. Her heart hurt and she had to turn away from her to look at Jasper's clear eyes. Seeing the pain in his love's eyes he bent down and gently pushed her aside to get to Bella.
"Come on Bells," his drawl soothing and his motions slow, "We're going to help you ok." He touched her arm and she screamed a terrible gut wrenching scream and jerked her whole body away from his. The dog snarled and positioned his body awkwardly over Bella's, his neck still tight in her grasp. With his teeth glittering white and his eyes locked on Jasper the warning was clear: touch her again and you'll be the one in the hospital.
Alice felt like throwing up. For once, Miss Always Prepared Take on the World Alice was at a loss of what to do. Tears fell from her eyes at the sight of seeing Bella like this, huddled against the door crying and trembling and hanging on to the neck of that dog as if he was a life line. She had seen her fair share of panic attacks but it was nothing compared to the raw fear that she felt radiating off of Bella. She herself wanted to curl in a ball and cry, but no she needed to be strong for her. She had known Bella for years and she would not abandon her now.
She wiped her tears, took a deep breath and in the most stern tone she could muster said "Bella breath, you need to calm down and breath, ok?" she tried to touch her, putting her hand on her shoulder and when the dog growled she glared at him and all but growled back, "And you shut it I'm trying to help." He lolled his tongue out in response, but kept his lip raised over his teeth.
Turning away from him and encouraged by a lack of negative response from Bella to her touch, she gently rubbed her arm, "Are you listening to me Bella? You're safe now; we just need to take you to the hospital to make sure everything is ok."
Bella shook her head and again Alice could barely hear her protest over her ragged tears. "I know you're scared, but I'm here and I'll stay with you and nothing will happen to you." She peeled one of her hands away from the dog's fur and placed it on her stomach, "Follow my breathing."
It was a trick she learned to help Bella out of a panic attack; by feeling the steady rise and fall of Alice's stomach she was able to match the rhythm of her calm breathing. It took a few minutes of coaxing but soon Bella got the hang of it and aside from the few hiccups, Bella was somewhat calmer.
"Look at me Bella," Alice said, running her fingers through the tangled mess that was Bella's hair. She hesitated, sniffling a few times, before she raised her head from the dog's neck and looked at Alice. Her face was black with bruises and caked with dried blood, one eye was completely swollen shut while the other was red and blotchy from her crying and wouldn't quite focus. Alice tried not to cringe.
She swallowed before asking, "Are you ready to go?" Immediately fresh tears welled up in Bella's eye and she bit her cracked lips, "I promise it'll be ok," Alice met her stare and hoped Bella would see the sincerity in her eyes, she wouldn't leave her.
Bella's mouth opened and closed and she swallowed before repeating the motion, "Can-" her voice was hoarse and when she tried to clear it she winced and shut her good eye. She tried again, "Can L-Lucien come?"
"Yes of course he can come," Alice said hastily, relief flooding her. Bella's body sagged and she nodded releasing the dog. She helped Bella to her feet, catching her when she buckled with a cry, "Shhh it's alright," she cooed, "I know it hurts, it's alright." Bella leaned heavily on her and too weak with pain and exhaustion allowed Jasper to help as well.
They got her down the hall and to the elevator and finally into the car and out of the building. They drove the wet streets of Seattle in silence. Alice holding Bella in the back seat with Lucien curled beside them, quietly watching.
