The responses about changing this story from "T" to "M" were split down the middle, so for now I'll keep the rating how it is at "T," and list trigger warnings before every installment from here on out.

TRIGGER WARNINGS

car crashes

death/dying

35. RAVAGE

I sat, huddled in the furthest corner of the darkened Jeep, and stared at Bella's house. Every now and then, I saw the silhouette of her through a lit window, with Charlie close behind. What would she say to him? What would she do to make him let her leave? He would try so hard to make her stay – she would have to do something terrible, say something even worse – to get out of that house.

It seemed like simply knowing these vampires were making monsters out of both of us.

Then I saw Bella sprint for her truck, a duffel bag slipping off her shoulder. I could see fat ugly tears pouring down her face from the porch light. "I'll call you tomorrow!" she yelled to the house before slamming herself into the truck. She peeled out of the driveway, away from her house.

My eyes misted over. I rubbed at my nose in an attempt to push the tears back.

Alice suddenly slipped into the driver's seat and started the car. "It's okay," she said before pulling away from the Swan house. "He won't go after Charlie. He's decided that much."

I folded my arms tight around myself and stared out the window. Air whistled through the car through its open door, chilling me. "I was scared about leaving before," I muttered, "but I think I'm relieved now. No one else will have to get hurt."

Alice followed right behind Bella's truck on the darkened rural highway, barely lit with sparsely placed streetlamps. I could see the intensity of her expression from the rearview mirror in those brief flashes of light. Gone was the bubbly carefree girl I first met, she'd been replaced by the second half of herself – a capable creature acting with a singular goal in mind.

"Do you still love him?" I blurted out. Alice glanced at me in the mirror. Maybe if I were less afraid, if I didn't need the distraction, I never would have said anything, but with Alice here helping Jasper – helping me – I had to know why.

She drummed her fingers along the steering wheel once. "Not in the way you're worried about," she said. I didn't bother denying I was worried. "Jazz… He was the first vampire – the first person – who saw who and what I was and loved me anyway. At the time, we didn't know there was a difference between loving someone and being in love with someone. We just took the emotions we felt for each other and ran with them. It was only later that we knew it wasn't going to work out... and why.

"He was my first vision," she continued, quickly. "Meeting him was one of the most defining moments of my life. The connection we have… it's beyond best friends, or siblings, but it's not the same as a mate."

"A mate?" I echoed.

"It's… It's our kind's way of finding the one," Alice explained. "It's not an unusual occurrence for us, but when vampires mate it's a permanent thing. It's a choice between two beings that creates an eternal bond. It's something that can't be undone."

"So if it's a choice, why didn't you and Jasper just make it?" I asked.

"Because it doesn't work like that," she said, sighing. "You feel a… a sort of pull. Jasper and I never had that."

I frowned and slouched in my seat. "I'm sorry," I said. "It's probably – more like definitely – rude to bring this up, I was just wondering –"

"It's okay, Blaire," Alice said. In the mirror, I could see a slight smile on her face. "Jasper and I are best friends the way you and Bella are. I just want him to be happy, just like he wants me to be happy. I'd do anything for him, just like you'd do anything for Bella, right?"

"Right," I said immediately. I would do anything for Bella, which meant I had to keep her safe from James at all costs.

"That also means the people who are most important to him are important to me too," she added, quietly.

"Wait, what –"

A heavy weight suddenly smacked into the Jeep, making it rattle. I straightened up –

"It's me," Jasper said as he sunk into the passenger seat, like he hadn't just leapt out of the forest and jumped into a car going forty miles an hour. "The tracker saw the tail end of Bella's act. He's only following us now."

I sagged in relief, but I knew it wouldn't last long. It seemed like anything good never lasted long lately.

The Cullens' house was lit brightly like it had been the first night I came here – a warm beacon in the cold dark woods. Emmett collected Bella from her truck and darted into the house, and Jasper came to my door like he would do the same –

I shook my head and slipped out of the car. I kept my head held high and strode into the house on my own. If James was out there watching me, I wouldn't show him how scared I was. The time for that was over. Jasper and Alice hovered just behind me, ready to shield me if I actually needed them.

The walk up to the house felt too long and too tense, and my shoulders drooped when we made it through the threshold of the door, but tensed again as soon as I stepped into the living room and saw Laurent standing in the middle of it. Jasper's hand rested between my shoulders. I felt the chill of his skin through my jacket.

"He's tracking us," Edward announced to him and everyone else in the house.

Laurent's forehead creased in concern. "I was afraid of that."

"Can you stop him?" Carlisle asked coolly.

The coven leader shook his head. "Nothing stops James when he gets started."

"Then we'll stop him," Emmett said.

"You can't bring him down," Laurent said. "I've never seen anything like him in my three hundred years. He's absolutely lethal. That's why I joined his coven."

His coven. It made more sense now, with how he could get away with stalking me for so long. He was the one actually calling the shots.

"Are you sure it's worth it?" Laurent asked. Edward answered with another inhuman snarl that made the other vampire flinch.

"I'm afraid you're going to have to make a choice," Carlisle said gravely.

Laurent glanced at everyone in the room, before his eyes finally landed on me. I straightened up and met his gaze. "He'll do anything to get what he wants. Don't underestimate him. He's got a brilliant mind and unparalleled senses. He's every bit as comfortable in the human world as you all seem to be, and he won't come at you head on… I'm sorry for what's been unleashed here. Truly sorry."

"Not as sorry as he'll be," Jasper assured him.

"Go in peace," Carlisle said.

Laurent flitted out of the house barely a second after.

"How close?" Carlisle asked Edward as Esme drifted to the side of the house, flipping open a keypad I hadn't noticed before. The house gave a low groan, and a curtain of metal closed over the house's exposed glass wall. Bella's jaw dropped. My eyes widened.

"About three miles out past the river," Edward answered. "He's circling around to meet up with the female."

"What's the plan?" Carlisle asked.

"We'll lead him off, and then Alice and Jasper will run Blaire and Bella south," Edward answered.

"And then?"

"As soon as they're clear, we hunt him."

"What?" I demanded. "James killed Waylon. He's supposed to be mine –"

"We're not going to handle this like some petty grudge match," Edward said sharply. "You'll get your life for a life, what does it matter how you got it?"

"It matters!" I exclaimed. "He stole my family from me, my life – I deserve this!"

Jasper rested a hand on my shoulder, stopping me short. I glared up at him. "But –"

"Let's focus on Bella's safety first," Jasper said. "Then we'll move from there."

My glare flattened into a frown when I understood. He had a point. Killing James was only half of my goal. Saving everyone I called my family was the other half – the most important half. I would have my moment. Jasper wouldn't deny me that.

Edward was already talking to Rosalie. "Get Bella upstairs and trade clothes."

Rosalie actually looked affronted. "Why should I? What is she to me, except a menace – a danger you've chosen to inflict on all of us."

"Hey, Rosalie," I snapped. "Fuck you."

She hissed at me. I almost wanted to bare my teeth and growl back at her, but Jasper beat me to it, the vibration of his answering snarl shooting down my spine.

"Esme?" Edward asked, his voice strained.

"Of course," the mother of the coven returned, quickly whisking Bella upstairs. I frowned after them.

"Your clothes should be all right, since they've mingled with Jasper's scent for so long," Alice said, suddenly in front of me, toting duffel bags and backpacks on her shoulders. I was amazed she could carry it all. She held something black in her arms and offered it to me. "But you should take this, just in case."

My fingers drifted over soft, well-loved leather. It was heavy, and cool to the touch. When I held it out in front of me, my heart skipped. Jasper's motorcycle jacket.

"Wear it," Jasper said as he took some of the bags from Alice. I shoved my arms through the sleeves and pulled it over my shoulders. It was too large, practically hanging off me, but I would make it work. I tried to grab my duffel bag and backpack from Alice, but Jasper deftly moved in front of me and intercepted both. I huffed at him. He finally looked down at me, eyes roving up and down, making my heart race as his assessment finally ended with a smirk. My face flushed.

"Esme and Rosalie will be taking your truck, Bella," Carlisle said, making me turn. Bella was already downstairs, wearing Esme's clothes. She nodded to him and cringed away from Rosalie who stood beside him. "Alice and Jasper will take the Mercedes. You'll need the dark tint in the south. We're taking the Jeep."

Behind me, Jasper lurched a step forward when Emmett bumped his shoulder roughly. "I'll get you back for what you did to my door," he said, only half-joking.

"Alice," Carlisle said, "will they take the bait?"

Everyone stilled, watching Alice. She opened her eyes. "He'll track you," she said. "The woman will follow the truck. We should be able to leave after that."

"Let's go then," Carlisle said, striding for the kitchen.

Edward stopped beside Bella and pulled her into him, sweeping her off her feet to give her a passionate kiss that startled me out of any rational thought. They were kissing? How – Wait – What?

Then he was gone, leaving Bella in the middle of the living room, crying. I immediately went to her and wrapped my arms around her. "It's going to be okay," I said. "I promise I'll get you through this."

Esme's cell phone vibrated. "Now," she said. She and Rosalie left through the front door, Esme brushing her hand along Bella's cheek as she passed. "Be safe," she said. "Both of you."

Then there was us.

One minute passed. Excitement rattled within me, kicking off a sudden restlessness to leave. To move. I was ready to leave Forks, to finally put everyone I loved out of danger. Things were lining up now. I wanted to see them through. It was strange, feeling the sudden optimism, the hope –

I looked at Jasper, who hung back near the entryway of the house. He leaned against the wall, hands tucked into the pockets of his joggers, blond curls falling across his forehead, the corner of his mouth quirked up. He shrugged, as if helpless. "Not me," he said.

I could almost smile at that.

Then Alice pulled her phone to her ear just before it vibrated. "Edward says the woman is on Esme's trail. I'll get the car." Then she darted off.

Jasper stayed where he was, watching Bella and I, his slight smile falling. "You're wrong, you know," he suddenly said.

"What?" I asked.

He nodded to Bella. "I can feel what she's feeling," he said, before he looked at her, "You are worth it."

"I – I don't –" Bella slumped against me. "If anything happens to them, it will be for nothing."

"Nothing's going to happen," I said, squeezing her. "We're all going to make it."

V

I'd never been in a Mercedes before, much less the backseat, but as soon as I settled behind the Alice in the passenger seat, I understood what the big deal was. Even though Carlisle's car was a coup, the backseat still felt spacious. The whole car felt bigger on the inside than it looked on the outside, and smelled like leather and new car. It practically glided along the road, and I wouldn't have known we were hitting the high nineties unless I was glancing at the speedometer. The car lurched into an even higher speed once we hit the highway.

Bella leaned into me, her head resting on my shoulder, as she cried and cried. I tried to comfort her as best I could, promised her that everything would be okay, that everyone was safe. Didn't she realize how lucky we were? We'd gotten away. James would still be running around in circles by the time he saw me coming to end him, with Jasper at my side. Everything would be right again soon.

Then I felt something in Bella's jacket buzz against my side, making me jump. She straightened up and dug into her pocket to pull out her phone. She flipped it open and frowned at the caller ID flashing on the screen. I frowned too.

B'S MOM

"I told Charlie I was leaving because I thought I knew where I could find you," Bella said. "It seemed like a better idea than trying to make it seem like I was running away too."

I could barely congratulate her on the much better alibi. Her phone kept pulsing with my mom's call.

Bella's thumb hovered over her keypad. "Should I…?"

"I will," I said, taking her phone. I clicked the answer button and held it to my ear, while Bella scooted to the other side of the backseat to try and create some semblance of privacy. Even Jasper and Alice seemed to stare pointedly at the road ahead of us now. I took a deep breath, "Um… Hey, Mom."

"Blaire?!" my mom cried. "Oh my God – Bella found you? Where are you? Your father and I were so scared! Why would you – How could you do this?"

I trembled. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you guys, but I'm okay. I'm better now. I just… I had to do something, but I'll be back soon. Everything will go back to normal –"

"You had to do something?" my mom demanded. "What the hell are you doing? No, Blaire, you need to come home now."

How could I even tell her what I was doing? What could I say instead of the truth?

Then, my mom made let out a shuddering breath on the other line. "Honey, please," she said, her voice wavering. She was crying. Oh God, I made her cry. Tears sprung to my own eyes. "I'm trying to understand, I really am. Don't you see how scary this is? I'm so afraid for you, and I don't even know what's going on!"

If she actually knew, it would be so much worse. I ground my teeth, forcing myself to keep the truth back. She didn't need to know it. Bella was already one person too many.

Then my mom sobbed. "Please come home, Blaire," she cried. "I'm begging you. I'll do anything – whatever you need – just please come home. We love you so much, we need you, please –"

My mom screamed.

Bella heard it from her seat and frowned at me.

The line crackled with deafening sound. Tires screeching, the phone clattering –

"Mom?"

CRASH!

"Mom?"

– more clattering, a car horn blaring –

"Mom?" I asked again. "Mom! Mom!"

I only heard the car horn, still blaring, distantly on the other line. My trembling increased to actually shaking. "Mom!"

Alice gasped sharply. "Oh God."

"What?" I asked her, my face slick with tears. "Is she okay? Did you see what happened? Mom, answer me! Mom!"

The phone made another clattering noise.

"Did you really think you could fool us?"

Oh God. Everything bottomed out beneath me. I was only grounded by the phone I gripped tight in my hand, and the raspy chuckle of the redheaded female vampire from the baseball field.

"Jasper, pull over," Alice commanded.

"What did you do?" I demanded. "Leave her alone! She doesn't have anything to do with this! Mom!"

The sound of the blaring horn became louder. "You're right. She didn't." Despite the background noise, I could hear her voice perfectly clear. "But then you decided to get cocky. That can't go unpunished."

"No," I uttered. "No, no, no! Please! Stop! Leave her alone!"

"This could have gone so much easier for you," the woman went on. "We had already decided to keep you. Then you had to pull this stunt. What did you think would happen?"

"Okay, okay, okay!" I screamed. "I'll stop, I'll stop! I'll do whatever you want! Just please leave her alone!"

"It's too late for that. Defiance like yours requires more than a promise. It requires consequence."

My mom screamed again. The sound shot straight through me. She was in Forks somewhere, trapped with a vampire, in danger, and I was stuck in this car, locked on the highway, unable to stop any of it.

I slammed my fist into the side of the car. "Goddammit stop it!" I screamed. "Leave her alone! Please! Please don't do this! I'll do whatever you want –"

Crack!

My blood turned to ice in my veins.

My breath caught.

"M – Mom?"

"Do not test us again."

The line went dead.

The entire world went dead.

I felt the car swerve sharply to the shoulder of the highway. Alice's door suddenly opened, her seat flew forward, and Jasper yanked me out of the backseat and into his arms, pressing my face into his shoulder where I felt the wetness of my tears, snot, and drool. My mouth was open, my throat was raw.

I was screaming.

I clung to him fiercely, grabbing at his shoulders, his neck, anything I could hold onto to keep myself from falling into oblivion. I could feel Jasper's arms around me, tight as vices, but it didn't stop me from slipping.

I was still screaming, but I could almost hear my voice now.

"Help me!" I screamed and raged and sobbed. "Help me!"

I screamed all the way down into the darkness, forced into a void and out of a world I would never see the same again.

V

I'm just... gonna be over here.

Yeah.