Chapter 11
The Fast and the Furious


"Good bye, little sister."

There was no way I could move. There was no way I could escape the swift blade he threw from his deft fingers towards me. The blade was long and lethal, glinting a quicksilver with the reflection from the flickering lamps in the darkness. The aim was true.

And there was nowhere to run.

It was the trap that had caged me my entire life. I was born into this life of drugs, murder and violence. And there was no escape. I had deluded myself to think I could hope for freedom, but all along it had been a cruel joke. I couldn't run.

There was nowhere to run.


The knife went in deep, piercing my skin, which seemed so supple now. It was as easy as a knife going through soft melted butter. My skin, my muscle, my bones. They were nothing, nothing but the softest of butter.

A part of me was surprised, shocked. It was odd, to see the great knife protruding from my torso, buried in a growing circle of crimson blood. The other part of me was calm, almost numb. My blood was still screaming for the drug but my body, that had been shaking uncontrollably, stilled as soon as the knife carved its way through my tall lithe body. It hurt, a tearing pain that ripped through my blood, lighting it on fire. But I remained calm. The pain was almost too great, so great that it overpowered my entire system, numbing my mind.

Then, amiss the rain, the crashing thunder, and the inky blackness, I saw a great wolf, a bear almost, leap over me, crashing into Jason with the most horribly heart-wrenching growl of rage. There was a fight - that I could be sure of. I could hear the movements of the great animal, Jason's insane laughter fill the air. My eyes strained against the black, against the sheets of falling rain, but there was another darkness that was coming over me. Black spots before my eyes, a dull throbbing ache in my head.

I couldn't see. I couldn't move.

I fell slowly, my entire body crumpling. There was no sound, only a muted ringing. It was as if everything had slowed down, slowing with the beat of my heart. The raindrops splattered on my paling face, curving into my open mouth, mingling with the blood that was seeping out with my hacking cough.

There was so much noise, so much muted noise. The growling. The ripping. The laughing. The screaming. And then, a gunshot, a horrible cracking sound that shook the air, and silence.

Horrible silence. I couldn't even tell if it was my hearing that had failed, or if the world had really fallen quiet around me. But I couldn't move, my mind couldn't control my appendages, so I couldn't lift to see if the commotion was done.

There was something right above me.

I strained with my deteriorating eyesight to make it out in the pressing night. A head. It was an enormous head. What I had thought of as a bear before was definitely a wolf. A great and monstrous wolf, but a wolf all the same.

I must have been hallucinating, because right before me, the great wolf head began to shake. The snout shortened, the ears shifted. Everything was changing, right before my eyes. And just like that, the great wolf was gone, replaced by Embry.

My Embry.

He was crying, I could see that even though I couldn't hear it. His brown eyes were shaking with fear, anger and the most uncontrollable sadness I had ever seen. The rain mingled with his tears on his face so that it seemed almost as if the earth was crying with him as well.

He was yelling something, running his hands over me, ripping open my shirt to find the spot that was drowning the street in my blood. I didn't really understand why he was yelling, why he was holding his head as if he would burst into a thousand pieces at the sight of the great knife. Really, there was no pain. I couldn't feel anything. Only a light humming at the back of my brain, a dull ache that would soon be gone.

He was still crying, holding my face tightly between his great warm hands, a pleading in his eyes that had so enthralled me from the beginning.

My lips moved by themselves, forming a word through the blood that covered them, "Embry."

He started at the word, grasping me tighter, holding me to him as if that would make a difference. His lips were everywhere, on my forehead, on my cheek. He was whispering something into my ear, which I though was funny, because, really, I couldn't hear anything.

I tried to laugh, but the only thing that came out was a broken, violent cough which brought up more blood to my mouth, draining down my chin with the rain.

He was yelling again, yelling to the heavens above us, yelling so hard that his very soul seemed to break. I wanted to shake my head at his silly antics, but I found I couldn't. The nice numbing was covering my body, my eyelids were closing of their own accord and my only regret was that I could no longer see his beautiful face anymore.

"Embry," I choked the word out again.

I felt his trembling kiss on my forehead.

I smiled.

And then, I felt no more.

-

A steady beeping.

That was the first thing I heard.

It was an obnoxious sound in my ears, and I felt my muscles tense up. I gritted my teeth, thoroughly annoyed at the noise and wanting nothing more than for it to be silenced. And then I realized what the sound meant: I didn't know where I was, because at my house, there was no obnoxious beeping.

I opened my eyes, slowly and carefully. I never got caught unaware – I had to know where I was and do a quick analysis on my surroundings, outlining all possible escape routes before I could give away the element of surprise.

White. Ugly pasty white all around me. The lights right above me were strong, hurting my eyes in their intensity. It was as if I was drowning in a sea of white. I opened my eyes wider. And I saw him.

There was a couch to the left of where I was positioned, and draped over the couch was Embry. My Embry. Before I could help it, a small smile spread over my face. He looked adorable. His mouth was open, and I could hear his loud snores from where I sat. His hair was in a state of complete and utter disarray, and his one his hand was touching the floor. Clearly, the couch was a little too small for his large frame.

I frowned. Confused as to why we were both in this odd white room. I looked to my right, and immediately wished I hadn't. All the instruments clearly gave away where I was. There was the machine that beeped, a heart monitor. There was a IV, a bag full of blood delivering it straight into a small hole in the underside of my arm. There was a tray, fully of surgically clean items, along with a small glass of water and a few wildflowers.

I was in a hospital.

I instantly tried to get up, feeling the insurmountable need to escape. I couldn't go to a hospital. No one could know my name, no one could know what I did. I had to protect Lucy.

But as soon as I tried to get up, a splitting pain shot through me, causing me to cry out, for all that I tried to hold it in. My chest burned, a searing ache that drew all the strength from me and threw me back into the pillow behind my head, writhing in agony. My eyes were open as I wildly tried to find the source of the pain. I looked down, down at the many bandages wrapped around my torso.

My torso, wrapped tight in white bandages.

And all the events, all the last few days, came running back to me, almost knocking the wind out of me. I saw the knife. I saw the raining sky. I saw Embry, crying, yelling. I saw Jason, the gleam of insanity in his wild, murderous eyes.

Oh god.

Embry fell out of the couch when he heard my heart monitor speed up to an alarming rate, his bleary eyes shooting open. We met for a second, my eyes panicked, scared, stunned. He flew to his feet, yelling for someone to come quick. He stumbled over to me, trying avidly to help.

And then, my heart monitor reached a startling peak. Because I had remember what had happened last night. Embry.

Embry had turned into a wolf the size of a bear.

Embry reached over, trying to grab my hand as a means of comfort, his eyes flickering anxiously from my heart monitor to the door. He tried to smile, but the smile really didn't reach his worried and almost panicked eyes. His hand rested on mine.

"I thought I lost you," he whispered softly.

I threw him off with a vicious snarl, ignoring the burning pain that shot through me, "Don't touch me."

He was startled by my sudden change, but he looked resolute. He hushed me softly, speaking slowly, "Charlotte, you're okay. Everything is alright. It's me, Embry."

I almost laughed at his patronizing tone, "Don't fuck around with me, Embry. Where is Lucy?"

My heart monitor was still beeping at an alarming rate, and this caused Embry to glance worriedly at the door. His eyes were hesitant when he answered me, "She's safe. She and Rose are with Emily – that's Sam's fiancée."

"Who the fuck is Sam?" I thrashed, feeling myself building with anger, with absolute desperation that I was not in control.

Embry hesitated, and that was all I need to confirm my fears. "She's safe," he breathed, cool.

He reached out slowly, as if trying to calm me. I slapped his hand away viciously, gritting my teeth at the blinding pain, "I said: Don't fucking touch me!"

Embry looked hurt. He drew back his hand, his eyes locked with mine.

I kept on going, "You promised me you wouldn't lie, Embry. You promised me. So much for that, right, Embry? Everyone fucking lies," my voice sounded hysterical now, my heart monitor was almost a continuous single beep, "You turn into a goddamn WOLF! A huge, monstrous wolf! A WOLF! When do you think you were going to tell about that, Embry? WHEN?"

I fell silent, a shortness of breath causing me to choke slightly, a hacking cough making its way out of my throat. Embry rushed to me, but I held him off by lifting my hand.

"I trusted you, Embry."

He fell to his knees, his eyes now level with mine. His voice was hoarse. With his face so near, I noticed that he had dark circles under his eyes, and realized that he must have gotten no sleep in the past few days.

"Charlotte, I never lied to you. Never. I meant every word I ever said," he took in a deep breath, "I'm a werewolf, Charlotte. I can turn into a wolf. I should have told you, so many times. But I was afraid," he locked eyes with me, "I was afraid that you would run away and I would never be able to find you again. I'm sorry. I should have told you. I should have done so many things…" he looked pained now.

I sat, immobile. I could scarcely even breathe.

A werewolf. Embry was a werewolf.

My immediate first reaction would have been to laugh cruelly in his face; werewolves aren't real. But I had seen him. I had seen the wolf. I had seen him transform. The familiar numbness of denial swept through me.

"No. Don't lie, Embry. Don't lie," I hissed, holding the covers of my bed tightly in my fists.

I always prided myself in my ability to detect a lie, and Embry wasn't lying.

"I'm a werewolf, Charlotte. I'm so sorry," he whispered brokenly.

I turned my face away from him, still clutching at the covers like a little girl who is frightened at the dark because of what unknowns might be hidden in it. I heard Embry get up, though he had always been so quiet with his movements. Still, I kept my face from him, refusing to look at him. Refusing to acknowledge him. No. He was lying. He couldn't be a werewolf. Not my Embry, not the one person I had come to trust. He couldn't have kept that from me. He had promised to be there for me, always.

"I'll understand if you never want to see me again," his voice held no emotion, "I'll have someone bring Lucy to you by tonight."

He had promised to be there for me.

My mind flashed to the image of Embry, crying, yelling, whispering in the rain. I had almost died. I had almost died alone, in the rain, behind some storage compartments at the Seattle docks. But Embry hadn't let me die alone. He hadn't let me die.

He had promised to be there for me, always.

I turned my head quickly, and saw that Embry was already at the door, his large hand resting on the doorknob. He was crumpled over in utter defeat. I felt my soul constrict, the last thing I ever wanted was to cause Embry, beautiful Embry, any pain. Embry made me feel, Embry made me unafraid of who I could be. There was something about Embry that I couldn't describe. All I knew is that I couldn't live without him. And that I would die if that would make him happy.

"Wait. Wait!" I choked out, trying to lean forward.

Embry froze, his features carefully guarded as he gazed back at me. I must have been a sight, desperately trying to lean further towards him, fighting the restrains that held me back.

My voice was so very small, "Please don't go."

He rushed back to me faster than I would have thought humanly possible, enveloping me in a huge hug. I winced at the pressure on my wound, and tried to fight the black dots that started covering my vision. Embry immediately drew back at hearing my wince.

"Charlotte! I'm so sorry! Are you okay? Are you still with me? Charlotte?" he hovered over me worriedly, slightly panicking.

I laughed, a true genuine laugh, "I'm fine, Embry. I'm fine," I looked up at him, my features softening, "As long as you are with me, I'll be fine."

Where our first kiss had been raw passion bursting free, this kiss was gentle, reminiscent of the soft touch of butterfly wings. He was careful with me, brushing my lips ever so tenderly, his hands a warming feather touch on the back of my neck. I don't think we would have ever pulled apart, if not for the sudden bursting of the door.

"Mr. Call, I'm going to need to take a look at our patient now," a friendly voice spoke up, lilting with a light accent.

Embry released me, his eyes smiling with me as he moved back, giving me a full view of my doctor. My first thought on this doctor was that he was undeniably the most attractive person I had ever seen in my life. He couldn't have been over thirty. With his blonde hair, his statuesque body and his molten gold eyes, he certainly was a sight to behold. And yet, for all his beauty, there was something about him that, with my attuned instincts, flashed red with warning and danger. Embry had stiffened beside me, and though he was attempting a smile as best he could, I grew instantly weary of this strange doctor.

"Now," the doctor began with a calming smile, "How are we feeling, Ms. Johansson?"

My voice was cold, "It's Charlotte."

The doctor's smile didn't break, "Charlotte, then. I'm Dr. Cullen."

I said nothing, unable to shake off the feeling that told me to run, run fast and never look back.

Dr. Cullen was talking, his soothing voice cheerful while he checked all the appliances methodically, "You're a very strong young woman, Charlotte, everything seems to be in order and I imagine we'll have you out of here in no time."

"How soon?" I interrupted.

Dr. Cullen chuckled lightly, "Eager to get out of bed?"

I couldn't help but grin at this, "Yes. More than ever."

He flipped through the papers on his neat clipboard, "I'd say you'll be free to go in three days."

"Three days?!" I burst out.

Dr. Cullen just shook his head warmly, "We need to be able to check to make sure your condition is stable; we want to make sure everything is alright. You almost didn't make it, and if it hadn't been for Mr. Call's surprising speed in bringing you to us, I very much doubt you'd be here now. Therefore, I'm going to have to insist on three days, and physical therapy for your punctured lung."

I adopted the expressionless face of icy indifference that was so easy to Charlie, "I don't believe I will need any physical therapy, Dr. Cullen."

The blonde doctor smiled, "You're an unusual girl, Charlotte."

My curiosity won out, "What are the damages, Dr. Cullen?"

He didn't need to flip through his clipboard, "The wound punctured your lung and broke a few of your ribs." his compassionate golden eyes meet mine, "As much as I hate to say this, Charlotte, your body's addiction to methamphetamine did in fact save your life: if it hadn't been for the shaking of your body, the knife would have pierced your heart. Furthermore, the withdrawal symptoms you were experiencing at the moment of the accident shut down your systems quite effectively and reduced your blood loss. Count yourself a very lucky young woman."

With one final nod at Embry, Dr. Cullen proceeded out of the room, shutting the door quietly behind him. My eyes instantly sought out Embry, and I felt a smile quirk at my lips.

"You're falling asleep on your feet," I commented, grinning up at him.

Embry rolled his eyes and took a seat on the edge of my bed, brushing the long strands of blonde hair gently out of my face, "I'm fine."

The perpetual warmth of his body calmed my system. We fell into a comfortable silence, and I felt my mind drifting once more into sleep. "Embry, thank you for saving my life," I yawned, wishing I could be held in his strong arms.

His voice, when he answered, was strained, "Charlotte, there is something I need to tell you."

I opened one eye, peering at him from under my eyelashes, "Can it wait?"

Embry gave a great sigh that sounded surprisingly like a laugh. "No. It can't wait," he finished heavily, his brow creasing severely.

I looked up at him expectantly.

"Jason is dead."

The whiteness of the room was glaring. It was all absorbing. And just like it seemed too white to be true, Jason's death rang as an oddity, a feat that could not be accomplished. Jason, the child of my father's other relationship, the son of my mother's sister. Jason. Dead. He just couldn't be. Jason with his all-consuming bloodlust, with his merciless laugh, with his dark soul and mad gleam, could not possibly be dead.

Embry was pressing on, his eyes searching my face for any sign of what I could be thinking, "He had a gun with him. I couldn't stop him…hell, I don't know if I would have stopped him," he exclaimed, running a hand through his short black hair, "He tried to kill me…the shot rang off – it hit him through the head. There was no way he could have been saved; he died instantly."

My knuckles were white under the strength of my fists. My voice was a deep, heartless hiss, "Good."

And it was. I wasn't going to pretend that Jason's death had caused me even a twinge of pain. I had never cared for Jason. I had hated Jason, the brother I could have had, but never did. He had been a threat to my life from the very beginning. He had been a threat to Lucy. No. I wasn't sorry he was dead. The only sadness I felt was that he could not have been saved. I would have saved Jason, but he was too far gone. No one could have saved him. Perhaps now, in death, he had found some measure of peace for his insanity.

Embry murmured quietly, "No one deserves to die, Charlotte."

I turned to him, "No, no one deserves to die. But Jason didn't deserve to live."

He seemed to understand this, or at least understand enough to let it go. I smiled at him, and started to close my eyes once more when I heard his playful baritone voice break the lulling silence once more.

"There's something else before you go to sleep," he smiled, ruffling my hair.

I glared up at him, running a hand through my hair to smooth it back down, "Well, then, be quick about it. I'm tired."

He laughed, winking at me, "Alright, I'll be quick."

I'll always remember that moment. That perfect moment when he leaned forward, brushing my cheek with his warm lips, trailing a path to my ear. I closed my eyes, having trouble breathing with his lips so close, and yet so far. I could imagine his brown eyes flashing wickedly as he heard my heart's rate speed up, the sinful grin, complete with dimpled cheeks.

It was a mere whisper in my ear, "About werewolves: there is something called imprinting...when we meet our true love. And after we see her, we never let go. You see, werewolves have soul mates…"

He pulled back, locking his eyes with mine. The world seemed to stand still, holding its breath for his next words.

"…And you're mine."

As we closed the space between us, I felt a wild smile curve my lips. Embry Call. Embry. My Embry.

He promised to be there for me.

And I vowed to be there for him.

Always.


And there we have it. The Fast and the Furious, in all its controversy and darkness, has finally come to an end. All that's left is an epilogue in Embry's point of view, and we are off down a different path.

Oh, and I wanted to make a quick disclaimer: apparently, there was a line in chapter 7 that was actually part of song by Anna Nalick. So, all credit goes to her.

"Now, who wants a cookie?" Kudos to those of you who can tell me where that quote is from! :)

AneleTiger.