Chapter 72 – We All Fall Down
Bella
Thankfully, the memorial didn't last long. Given our less-than-welcoming greeting and the looks Laurant's family were still shooting towards me, Edward was eager to get me out of the building quickly and discretely, so we could avoid another run-in with them as well as the media. The very idea of the reporters attacking me like that again terrified me. Heaven only knew if the next bloodhound would back off so easily, and I feared Edward would do something that would get himself hurt or thrown in jail if they didn't stop. He was normally very protective of me, but right now, he was hypersensitive, and it wouldn't take much for him to snap and go off on anyone who went after me.
Edward went to Father Lebuteur and whispered something to him. Father Lebuteur nodded and motioned for Edward and me to follow him. We quietly exited the Sanctuary through a door behind the pulpit backdrop into a small hallway, walking a few feet, before Father Lebuteur had us entering a dimly lit stairwell. I panicked and immediately turned to run, but Edward wrapped his arm securely around my waist and pulled me forward with him, letting me know he was there and nothing would harm me in his presence. I shook the entire way down the staircase, looking around me as if something or someone was going to jump out at any moment and attack me. After a couple of flights, we exited into another hallway, and I said a silent prayer of thanks that we had made it safely. I had to wonder if I would have a have a phobia of stairwells for the rest of my life.
"This leads to the private corridor to my office. You'll be able to get out this way and into the parking garage without encountering the press or the family. I'm sorry for how they behaved when you arrived. Please, forgive them, especially my little sister, Jane. They're understandably distraught at this time," Father Lebuteur tried to comfort me, as we made our way out through a back hallway and into a private elevator.
"Thank you for helping us, Father," Edward smiled, as he shook hands with the priest. "You've been most supportive, and we owe you so much."
"It's my sacred duty to help those who come to me, Edward. But it's also been my pleasure to help friends," he said warmly, as hugged us both and saw us into the elevator. "Be careful leaving, my friends, and call me if I can be of further assistance. I'll see you next week, Bella."
I waved goodbye to him, as the elevator door closed. I was so ready for this horrible day to be over. Edward wrapped me into his warm arms and rested his cheek on my head, as we rode down in silence. Despite the assault by the reporter and the encounter with Laurant's family, I was glad I had come. It truly had provided me with the closure I had needed, and I felt more at peace than I had in days. Somehow, I felt that Laurant had been there, and that he held no malice towards me. If anything, I felt his love for me. My biggest regret was that he had never talked to me, so that maybe we could have worked things through and become friends again and avoided all of this.
The weather had stayed frigid, so Edward and I pulled our coats up around us and rushed out a side door, running for the parking garage. We were freezing, but we were also hurrying to avoid the attention of the throng of press camped outside the entrance of the hospital. The last thing I needed right then was them screaming more questions at me.
As we crossed the emergency entrance drive, the sound of squealing tires pierced the quiet. I was suddenly flying backwards in Edward's arms, as a small black car with heavily tinted windows flew past. We hit the ground with a bone-crunching thud, banging against a pylon, with me landing on top of Edward. It was over so fast, I didn't have time to look at the car more closely or know what was happening, much less scream. However, screaming was exactly what I did when I looked down to see a pool of blood forming around Edward's head.
"EDWARD!" I screamed again, afraid to move him or even touch him. The sound of my screams for help brought people running from all directions. Someone ran into the emergency entrance for a doctor, and we were quickly surrounded by hospital staff. Two of the nurses held me out of the way, while the doctors examined Edward to determine the extent of his injuries. An ambulance pulled up moments later, and Edward was loaded onto a stretcher and into the ambulance.
"They're taking him to Valley Medical. They'll be better equipped to care for him there as an adult," one of the doctors told me, as he helped me into the ambulance. I watched in tears, as the EMT's worked to get the bleeding staunched, forgetting to breathe most of the time myself. It only took a few minutes to get to Valley, but Emmett was waiting outside the emergency doors when we pulled up.
"Bella, what happened?" Emmett asked, pulling me into his arms and following behind the EMT's, as they quickly moved Edward inside.
"I don't know, Emmett. We were leaving Laurant's memorial service, and the next thing I knew, we were on the ground. I think someone tried to run us down with their car."
Emmett grabbed his cell phone and called Detective Miller, who had been working Dr. Stanley's case. I watched helplessly, as the doctors worked on Edward. He was deathly white and still unconscious, as they continued trying to stop the bleeding. I prayed hard as I stood there, my heart in my throat. Why would anyone try to run us down? The old familiar feelings came crashing down on me as I realized why. Because of me. Again…
