This is the last of Jacob's POVs. Hopefully you will come to understand why I sprinkled his voice around in my story.

Here's a fun fact: There is a direct reference to something in this chapter that will make sense of something that was placed in Chapter 1.

Countdown: 3 Chapters to go before the Epilogue. Loose ends will be tied. Answers revealed. And of course a few more surprises still in store.

36. DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE

JACOB BLACK

--

I didn't understand why, but I just had the urge to walk through the woods behind the Cullen's house. There was just something peaceful about walking down a trail through a snowy forest. I thought about changing into a wolf but decided I rather walk on two feet. The first thing I noticed as I stepped off the porch was for some strange reason, as if I've been doped up on medication, my vision seemed hazy. I wiped my eyes wondering if I was just tired. No success. Everything in my surrounding were blurred lines creating shapes recognizable but not yet defined.

I kept walking down a random dirt path, unaware of where I was actually heading towards. I thought by now I would feel dizzy since my vision was so distorted as though I had consumed a bottle of whiskey moments ago. However, for the most part, I was fine.

Suddenly, a white blob seemed to be heading towards my direction. "Hey, Jake!" Leah yelled with a big smile on her face. She became crystal clear in my vision as she grew closer. The only thing now that was not a blur. As she headed my way, I noticed she was changed out of the dress she wore to the wedding and wore instead a pair of jeans and a white t-shirt. Just as I quickly glanced down, I noticed I was still in my suit. There wasn't even a bent fold. Everything laid perfect. No mud covered my shoes. It was weird, especially, since I definitely remember coming to the wedding in a wrinkled shirt, because I really didn't care. Not to mention, the pants definitely had creases in them. Unless Alice grew a new power out of her obsession with clothes, this didn't seem right. I looked back up at Leah. "Glad to see you can still walk," She added, "I was afraid I'd have to start calling you, 'Wheels.'" Leah then paused for a moment to take a deep breath. After exhaling, she pointed out, "Not to mention, I wouldn't want to see Billy's son be stuck in the same position as him.... So, I guess we have Carlisle to thank."

"What are you talking about?" I couldn't think of any reason as to why I would be lucky enough to still be walking. I knew I wasn't the best dancer in the whole wide world, but I definitely didn't make a fool out of myself on the dance floor. While I contemplated on what I could have done, it was then I felt a sharp pain in my back. "Ow, jeez. It's like a hot poker just seared my lower back. I don't get it, what did I do?"

Leah tilted her head slighly. "Do you have amnesia or something?"

I shook my head. Although, come to think of it...I'm wasn't sure how I ended up here at the old Cullen house when the last thing I remember was dancing with Nessie during Charlie and Sue's wedding reception at the town hall.

I began to walk some more to try to clear my head as Leah followed beside me. Maybe I had one too many glasses of wine at the party? Although, that hardly causes someone like me to pass out. I racked my brains to try and remember. It was daytime now come to think of it. The sun was shinning bright. So it must have been mid-afternoon on the following day? "What the hell..."

"Jake, don't you...the Cullens..."

Suddenly, an image appeared in my head. The battle at the field had flashed before my eyes. The war with the Volturi and everything that led up to it. I didn't even know if it was over or not or who saved me from the talkative parasite or anything. It felt more like dream I had days ago. How was it that I was just remembering it now?

I stared back down at my suit. I now noticed it was tattered and discolored. There was a big hole in the middle of my shirt, stained blood around the rim. It wasn't the one I wore at the wedding. There were different buttons.

"Guess you have Edward and Bella to thank, too."

For the huge hole? Then, I realized they were the ones to stop whoever ruined the white-collared, button down shirt. I simply nodded in response. "So, did the war end?"

"Yes, sorta. Unfortunately, neither of us got to see how it ended. I was told Ben went off the deep end because he lost his mate and started torching everything in-sight. The Volturi fled. Ben, once he gained reason, sprinted after them. I'm not sure if he found them. I'm not sure if he will even be able to stop them on his own without reinforcements, but I doubt Esme is gonna let any of the Cullens go after him to help. I think they've done their part anyway."

"So, it was all for nothing..."

"No, those royal leeches are practically defeated. Just because the leaders got away doesn't mean anyone will follow. I say fighting was every bit worth it."

Yeah, right. Not for us, though. "For the Cullens. Where do were factor in?"

"They did want us as guard dogs. Since we would refuse, we might have just saved ourselves from them taxidermy-ing our heads onto their walls in Italy."

"True." Plus, I really did this all for Nessie. As we kept moving, walking towards somewhere yet to be determined, I noticed the sun got even brighter. As though the trees were clearing. I glanced swiftly to my side to where Leah stood. "So, what happened to you then?"

"Oh, not much. Can you do a favor for me, though?"

I felt my brow furrow. Although, in actuality, I didn't feel anything. I realized my whole body was numb. It seemed as though I had. "Sure...depends what it is."

She stared straight into my eyes and spoke soft and calmly. "Just tell Seth that I-that I love him."

"Why do I have to be the messenger? Couldn't you just tell him yourself?"

"Oh, I have a feeling he won't believe me."

"Why's that?"

"Because he's in denial. Well, not technically. Now, it's just pain and guilt."

What the heck kind of answer was that? My mind raced. Since when did she start talking in riddles? Denial. Anger. Guilt... "Are you talking about the stages of grief?"

It felt like ten minutes before she finally answered. "Yeah, Jacob...I, um, I died."

----

I could have sworn my heart stopped beating. If I was having a heart attack, I wouldn't have known since I couldn't feel a thing. "Whaaaa-t?"

"On the battlefield...Seth was too late. Look, lets not go into details. I've experienced it once already. I think one time is enough."

I nodded solemnly. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. It wasn't processing correctly. All I could manage was saying, "I'm so sorry."

"Oh, I'm totally over it. It's cool."

Then, without warning, another thought popped into my head. "Am-am-I dead?"

"You could be."

"What the hell does that mean?"

"Well, if you don't wake up." Leah took a deep breath and continued, "It's too late for me, but you. You, got some options left. But times ticking. Procrastination won't help except slow down the process."

"What do I have to do?"

"It's not what you do. It's where you go from here."

"Huh?" Confusion spread through me like a virus. I was, especially, frustrated because Leah was being too damn cryptic. Then, staring at her, I realized it looked like there were tears at the corners of her eyes.

Her lips parted and than closed before finally mouthing the two words, "Goodbye Jake." Just like magic, Leah vanished. If I wasn't tripping off of something I mistakenly ate at the reception then this was one screwed up dream.

I just kept walking forward, frustrated and bewildered as hell, as if this was the way I was suppose to go. A few more steps walking aimlessly around, miraculously I stumbled upon the cottage. Not really knowing what else to do, I turned to the knob on the front door. It was locked.

"Okay," I said out-loud to myself. "This is a dream." For all I knew Leah was still alive and I just have one sick imagination. "This is a dream," I repeated, "So, I want this door to unlock." Nothing happened. "Open Sesame." Again, I wasn't sure what I was expecting. I turned the knob but it still wouldn't turn. I stared one last time at the door. "Ummm, please open?"

What was I doing? I turned the knob once more but it was, indeed, still locked. Go figure. I contemplated my next course of action before creeping up to the window and peeking inside. Only one window didn't have the blinds closed and the curtains covered. Through the glass, I saw Nessie. My eyes bulged out the sockets in shock, and after losing my footing, I felt backwards landing straight on my back.

That couldn't have been Nessie as I regained my balance and stood up. I checked back one more time for closer inspection. No, it had to be her. The long, bronze curled hair ended right at her waist. Her sparkling, deep brown eyes were the same as I recalled. She was just as beautiful. This was Renesme Cullen and yet, she looked like she was sixteen. An adult. Matured. She was sitting in a rocking chair, reading a book. It was hard to make out the title and author, but I could see some words, Alice and her... maybe it was a book about Alice Cullen? However, the book wasn't what got me upset me; it was staring straight at Nessie and not being the little girl I remember. It appeared as though I had missed out on her growing up.

But, I would never let that happen.

My eyes were playing tricks on me... plain and simple. Of course they were, everything but the cottage and Nessie were fuzzy and if it weren't for the familiar shapes, I would've knocked into a branch or two by now.

I stared up at the sky, not knowing what time it was. The sun was still shining north of where I was standing. Part of me wanted to follow, but then another wanted me to burst down the door into Bella's cottage.

Instead, I did neither.

I did the only thing that seemed to make any sense. I turned back around.

A few moments later with my vision slowly getting worse, I walked into a tree, hitting my head hard against the bark. I fell backwards again, and instantly felt the sharp pain in my back.

I drifted, then, back into darkness.

---

A few seconds later, maybe longer.... as I had lost all sense of time, my eyes flickered opened to Carlisle hovering over me.

"Welcome back."

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