Chapter 29: Culprit
When I woke up I was in Jacob's arms.
I moved slightly and he looked down at me.
"Are you calm now?" he asked.
"Yeah... what happened? Is Charlie okay?" I asked as I pushed myself off Jacob.
"I don't know. They haven't let us in yet."
I walked up to the ER door and pushed it open.
"Hello Bella," one of the nurses greeted me.
I acknowledged her with a slight nod of my head then I turned to where Charlie had been last night.
The curtain was pulled back and there was no bed.
"Where's my dad?" I asked, slightly shaky.
"He's alright Bella. It was close but we were able to revive him. He's in one of the wards upstairs."
I sighed in relief and turned to Jacob.
"How did you not know that?"
"They obviously moved him while we were all asleep."
I took a few deep breaths and turned to face the nurse.
"Can I see him please?"
"Sure. Come with me."
I followed the nurse out of the ER and up to the wards.
"Where's Billy?" I asked Jacob.
"Probably with Charlie. He wasn't there when I woke up."
"Oh."
"He's in here," the nurse said as she pushed one of the doors open.
Charlie was still in the body cast although I hadn't expected him to be out of it, he still had a drip in his hand and he was awake.
"Dad," I said quietly.
"Hey Bells," he replied, just as quiet as me.
I walked over to him and sat down beside the bed.
"How long have you been up?"
"About fifteen minutes I think. Billy would probably be able to answer that better than me."
I turned to Billy.
"About fifteen minutes, like he said."
I nodded and turned back to Charlie.
I wanted to know who did this to him and why.
Whoever or whatever did it was not going to get away.
"Who or what did this to you?"
"I'm not sure. I can't remember it clearly."
"What do you remember?"
"Well, I know I was out in the forest trying to track a killer. There have been a few murders in Seattle and the police department up there said the killer was heading towards Forks so we were doing a scan of the forest to make sure everything was safe. We had just split up with the dogs because there were a few different trails. I remember seeing something blurry then everything went black."
"Can you remember anything about the blurry thing?" I had a feeling that vampires had something to do with this.
"I just remember it being white and moving really fast."
I could feel the tears in my eyes again.
I was fairly certain I knew who the culprit was.
I stayed with Charlie for the next hour.
"I think it's time for Charlie to get some rest. You can come back later," one of the doctors said when he walked in.
"Alright."
I slowly got to my feet and walked out the door.
"You're not going to fight this time?" Jacob asked.
"No, Charlie's in a stable condition. I have to do something anyway."
I walked outside and climbed into my truck.
"Bella, you really shouldn't be driving," Jacob said window.
"I know but I need to do this alone. You can understand that right?"
"Sure. Just don't kill yourself."
"I won't."
I drove out of the hospital parking lot and made my way towards the Cullen's house.
I had only been there once but I was sure I could find it.
I soon recognised the deserted forest road.
I slowed down as I drove.
I knew the Cullen's driveway was hard to find and if I drove normally it was possible that I would miss it.
After a few minutes I saw the dirt track that led to the Cullen's house.
I pulled up out the front and climbed out of my truck.
When I looked up I noticed all of the Cullen's standing outside.
Everyone was there except Edward.
"Where's Edward?" I asked; my voice cold and hard.
"Hiding," Emmett replied, a smile on his face.
"Why is he hiding?"
"He's scared."
"Of?" I prompted.
"You."
"Emmett!" Alice and Rosalie said at the same time.
He obviously wasn't meant to say anything.
"Why is he scared of me?"
"He uh..." Emmett trailed off as Rosalie hissed.
"Why do you want to know?" Carlisle asked.
"Are you serious? You haven't heard?"
"About what?"
"Charlie ended up in hospital yesterday. He is in a stable condition but is severely injured. I was able to talk to him today. I asked him about the accident and from what he's told me it sounds like he was attacked by a vampire. I have a feeling Edward was involved. If he wasn't I'm sure he could tell me who was."
Carlisle seemed shocked.
Alice, Rosalie and Emmett didn't seem to change their facial expressions or their stance.
"Do you three know something?" I asked as I walked up to them.
"Uh... no," Alice replied.
"You do. What happened?"
"Uh..."
"Alice." My voice was cold and hard again.
"Okay! I'll speak! Edward came home yesterday and Jasper said he was feeling guilty and scared. I didn't reply and Jasper felt how I was feeling. He asked me why I felt nervous but I didn't answer again. I told Rosalie and Emmett over heard our conversation so that's why they know."
"What do they know?" I asked. I was getting frustrated.
"Victoria came close to the area again yesterday and Edward was trying to fight her off. He threw her and she collided with Charlie. That's what caused most of his broken bones. It also caused him to get knocked out. Victoria tried to kill him and Edward tried to fight her off. In the process, he caused Charlie to get scratches and cuts. In a way, it is his fault Charlie is the way he is but it is also Victoria's fault."
"Edward made the first move though so he's the one I'm going to blame. Edward! I know you can hear me! Get out here now!" I shouted.
I waited a few minutes and he finally appeared behind the others.
"Don't hide. Get out here!"
He slowly pushed his way through the others and stood in front of me.
"This is all your fault! You knew Charlie was out in the forest! You should've thrown Victoria somewhere else! Not at my father! What the heck is your problem?!"
"I deserved that. In a way, I'm sorry I put Charlie in hospital but then again, I'm not."
"Why!?"
"Because I get to see you."
"YOU ARE SUCH A JERK! I NEVER EVER WANT TO SEE YOU AGAIN! GET AWAY FROM HERE! LEAVE THIS TOWN AND NEVER COME BACK!" I shouted as loud as I could.
He just wanted to see me.
"You know what, maybe I will."
"Good!"
His feature's turned hard and he turned to walk back into the house.
"If I ever see you again I will personally kill you," I warned.
"Like you could," he mumbled before turning to Carlisle.
"We're moving," he stated.
"We can't just leave Edward. We have to have a reason."
"We do. I have brought too much trouble to this town."
"I can't just give up work here Edward."
"You will all leave or I'll call the police and tell them you guys are the culprits and tried to murder Charlie."
"You wouldn't," Rosalie said, raising her eyebrows.
"Really? Watch me."
I pulled my phone out of my pocket and began dialling the number to the police station.
"Stop!" Alice shouted as she pulled my phone out of my hand.
"Then leave."
"I think it might be best. Our kind is too dangerous and this town will end up gone if we don't leave," Carlisle said.
"You better be gone in the next three days or else," I warned, taking my phone away from Alice and walking back to my truck.
A/N: Whoa, Bella just got the Cullen's to leave. What's going to happen next? Review Please!
