Bella

It was so cold. All I remembered after I'd closed my eyes was that it was dark and cold.

I only became aware of my consciousness when something warm and incredibly satiating was flooding into my mouth and dripping down my throat. It tasted of ambrosia, of an overwhelmingly satisfying sweetness that brought strength back to me, gave me life.

I swallowed the incredible liquid greedily as if it were a drug; my personal brand of heroin--I couldn't get enough. I gulped it down as fast as I could have it, clamping my hand around it and squeezing to ensure that not a single drop would escape me. I was feeling instantly recovered; starvation, pain, and every suffering escaped me. I felt as if I were on a high.

I woke to a soft voice crooning to me; I wondered if it was an angel. The words sounded far away, as if I were underwater.

I opened my eyes to find myself staring up at someone. My head was in his lap.

How strange.

The boy perched above me looked familiar, even with my red-tinged vision.

His symmetrical features were angular; he reminded me of Adonis, the sun god. His eyes were closed, his long lashes casted dark shadows across his pale face. He looked as if he were a wax doll, created to be gracefully asleep above me.

Wait a minute.

I knew this boy.

How had I overlooked his unusual copper hair?

Edward.

I sat up immediately and realized that his wrist was still in my mouth. I released my teeth from him and uttered a cry when I saw the angry purple and blue marks around his wrists. I looked down at my hands and with horror, realized the shape was in the exact shape and size of my fingers.

You did that to him.

I gagged when I was aware that the blood in my mouth belonged to him. I spat multiple times; hating the fact that it tasted so good to me.

"Edward...?" he was stark white, his usual tan complexion was jaundiced, and his lips were a pale color. I took the belt off of my skirt and created a tourniquet. "Edward?" I shook him. No response. He lay so still.

"Edward!" I pleaded, my voice choked out its way out. Not him. Not my only friend.

I shook his shoulder in my tight grip and shook him fiercely, his head rolled limply. No response.

I really am a monster.

I had done the one thing I'd sworn I wouldn't do.

I had killed.

And I hadn't merely killed an animal, or someone in self-defense like I had escaping the labs.

I had killed an innocent person; a young one, with so much hope, potential and optimism in his spirit. He had room for so much more in his life; and I had demolished it without a single regard for what was to come.

The agony crushed my being; if I had a soul, I would've traded it for his life, at any expense. The loathing I'd felt all my life for myself was multiplied by tenfold. No, a thousand fold.

How could you do this to him?

My eyes felt the familiar stinging sensation it had created in the restroom yesterday. My vision suddenly blurred as my eyes created a sea of their own. To my shock, this time, the wetness bubbled over, and spilled down my cheeks in small streams. My nose began to run, synchronized with the water running down with my cheeks. I sniffed it back, and I quickly dragged my arm across my wet face, so I could focus on Edward again. I couldn't hear his heartbeat from where I was. I pushed two fingers against his throat, finding gratitude for the first time in the strength of his blood and heart when I felt it.

A pulse. Not nearly as strong as it usually was, but all the same, it was still there. There was still hope.

He was still alive.

"Edward?" I sniffed back whatever was making my nose run. "If you can hear me, can you open your eyes?" He groaned weakly and stirred. He slowly lifted his head and then opened his eyes. The familiar green colored irises met mine with a disoriented haze and i'd never been more relived that he was alive.

"God... Edward!" I thought I had killed you and that you wouldn't come back.

"What have you done?!" I shrieked, my agony was replaced with hysteria now. "How did you know?" How exactly did you know to heal me? He drew in a labored breath, and spoke weakly.

"I can recognize... when someone has symptoms of anemia..." He seemed barely coherent, held up his bloodied wrist, as if to prove it to me. "O positive. Universal donor." His eyes closed again as his face relaxed back into sleep.

Anemia?

My mind whirled trying for once to uncover his mind.

He couldn't have been that naive. It would've been impossible to think I was a simple human naturally lacking red blood cells.

He had to know what I was.

He already knew the truth for a long time, didn't he?

I snapped out of it; came back to the present within a millisecond.

"Edward we need to get you to a hospital, get you a blood transfusion." He didn't respond.

Shit, he needs a doctor. Now.

I tried to pick him up, in the same way he did for me, with an arm around his shoulder and one under his legs. Here goes nothing.

I pulled hard on his body, with all of my strength to pick him up. His upper body lifted slightly, and my legs shook from the resistance; but his dead weight was too ultimately too heavy for me.

I couldn't do it. Not in the state I was in, now.

That only left one choice.

I had to change.

I summoned the other side faster than I ever had before, and I felt the ache in my teeth, in my jaws but forced myself to keep the tremors to a minimum. It felt as if I were balancing on a see-saw. One step to the wrong side and I would lose control entirely, and one step to the other side and I wouldn't have the strength to carry Edward. I didn't want to capsize this boat; the cargo was irreplaceable, it's value immeasurable.

Can't lose control... just stay on this side for long enough to get him into the car.

I growled when my incisors began extending more than I intended, the scent that already ravaged my throat became twice as potent. My throat was on fire but I was strong enough to easily pick Edward up. I held Edward as far away from me as I could, keeping my elbows locked out as if to somehow protect him from the savage within me with a half a foot of distance.

It was difficult to control the tremors to the bare minimum. I felt it strengthen too much at times, when excess venom dribbled down my chin, when my attention was focused solely on the taste of Edward.

Get Edward to the car. Edward to the car. Edward. I chanted my duty in a mantra; ensuring I wouldn't let the monster in me lose sight of the fact that he needed me to live.

Like a tide in the ocean, I could feel the other side pull at me and then push me away, strengthen and weaken unpredictably. Anytime my chant was distorted, dismantled by the potency of Edward's blood, I snapped out of it all together. But by doing so, I nearly dropped him a few times as my strength faded to an average human's. Edward felt like either a rag doll or as if he were two times my mass. I had trouble seeing, with my eyes shifting from dilated to constricted pupils; I was constantly blinded by the brightness with no time to adjust back to the dimly lit halls.

Find the exit. That's where the car is.

I could barely see two grey doors under an EXIT sign, but continued to move towards it with haste. I held Edward in my arms, I used my leg to open the door. I brought a knee up to my chest and let it recoil with all my strength as my heel kicked the center of the door. The impact of it was so hard that I broke the door off of it hinges entirely. The metal rectangle flew out and away from me.

I can see the car from here.

I gratefully continued my stride to the car. Out of the corner of my wide eyes, I noticed the metal door left its imprint in a sunken-in rectangle against the brick walls.

His blood made me so strong. Stronger than ever before.

His car was still parked askew, parallel to the end of the alleyway.

I forced myself to lose sight of the tremors, for my incissors to retract, so I could lower Edward gently into the car without distraction. Feeling myself return slowly back to myself, I buckled him into the seat. He would need it; I'd never been inside of a car in my life, let alone driven one.

I clambered into the driver's side and pressed the button to light the ignition. I tried not to hyperventilate near Edward's fragrance and opened the windows as I struggled to remember what little I'd seen about driving from movies. I shifted the car into drive, pushed down on the gas with my foot as hard as I could and gripped the steering wheel tightly in my hand.

The car propelled forward, slamming us back against the seat as the world began to fly past us. I'd never been in a car before; I focused on the numbers on the speedometer.

What does 100 mean? Kilometers? Miles? Seconds?

I pushed the car as fast as it would go as I recollected my sense of direction. The hospital was a few miles away from the school, and I chose to drive south towards its general direction.

I flashed multiple glances at Edward for just long enough to see his chest rise and fall. He was still unconscious, slumped over in his seat. He was propped up only by the seatbelt against his chest and was white as a sheet. A sheen of sweat glistened over his skin.

Hang in there, Edward.

Please don't die.

I turned back to the road; alarmed when a car was headed towards us in my lane when my eyes were away from the road. My instincts kicked in quickly, I turned the wheel sharply to the right as my other arm barricaded Edward from the harsh momentum.

We narrowly avoided a collision. The car shot past us, blaring its horn as it did. I inhaled and exhaled the untainted air from the window, trying to not let the adrenaline or his scent take over my focus.

To my right, we'd passed the high school. I knew we were close.

We're almost there Edward, keep breathing.

A few miles later, I followed signs into a hospital entrance and pulled over.

"Get out of my way!" I shouted to the pedestrians I was about to run over, as I let the car screech to a stop. I heard some screams, but I didn't have time to stop. Edward's life depended on this. I opened my door before the car slowed to a stop and mustered just enough of the other side to be able to pick Edward up in my arms, again.

I carried him through the doors of the hospital reception room. The eyes of everyone in the room instantly turned towards the noise of the car, towards us. I detected alarm and horror from every stare in the room.

A tall, blonde man wearing a white coat who was speaking with the receptionist turned pale when he saw the boy in my arms.

Even from across the room, I could see his name tag read, Dr. Carlisle Cullen.

This was his father.

I let the beast in me slip away as Dr. Cullen approached me with a urgent stride.

"Please, save him, he's been in an accident!" I didn't realize the agitated voice belonged to me.

Dr. Cullen took him easily in his arms as two nurses rolled a gurney in. He placed him onto the gurney, and strapped him in quickly, shouting instructions to the nurse as they pushed him through the two doors blocking the ER.

Edward was comatose as the gurney rammed through the doors. I wondered out of fear if this was the last time I'd see him as the doors swung closed.

Dr. Cullen had turned to me quickly.

"Are you injured?" I shook my head furiously.

"No, please, go help him!" I cried. He nodded once and quickly followed the nurses who were running him towards the E.R.

It was as if the world was closing in on me after Edward disappeared. I could finally breathe with comfort again, but my lungs seemed to shrivel in my chest, I couldn't breathe.

I clutched my chest; was I dying? I could barely make out someone speaking to me. This sudden feeling of the world closing in on me made it hard to breathe, it was an otherworldly experience.

I felt my hand being tugged on, and I was towed into a room with a hospital issued table. I screeched, I didn't want to be anywhere near this prison. Not again.

"No, no, no" I was barely aware of my own screeching, when a needle was pushed into my thigh.

I became unconscious and laid limply into the table that I feared most.

I opened my eyes to a concerned pair of eyes; they looked familiar though they didn't belong Edward's; his eyes were sky blue. Scenes flashed senselessly behind my isises. The men in black. The heat of changing. Being in Edwards arms.

Edward.

"Where..." I managed to croak out.

"You're in the hospital. Don't worry, You're safe here." Events of my last memories before it went dark flashed before my eyes. Edward on the gurney, his father sprinting beside him.

"You are--"

"My name is Carlisle Cullen. I am Edward's father."

My mind automatically ran the assessment test.

6 foot 200 pounds, mid forties. His face was angular and handsome, aged only around his familiar blue eyes and by the laugh lines around his mouth. His gloved hands, much like Edwards, were unusually long and graceful. He extended a hand for me to shake, and I took it awkwardly.

"Dr. Cullen—" I began.

"Please," He interrupted invitingly, with a warm voice that sounded like honey. "Call me Carlisle."

"Edward is he--" I choked out.

"Is okay, thanks to you bringing him in on time."

"His condition?"

"Stable. He has usual lasserarions around his wrist, a few broken ribs, and hypovooemia; blood loss, but other than that, he is fine."

I nodded stupidly, my mouth suddenly felt dry.

"I hope you don't mind. We took your vitals; your heart is healthy and blood pressure was spiked; likely due to the panic attack you had after we wheeled away Edward." My heart began racing as soon as he mentioned his name.

"I can tell my son must mean a lot to you," he said empathetically.

So this is where his mannerisms are from. His father's bedside manners.

"He saved my life." I said weakly. He nodded understandingly.

"My son always has been one to stand up for others. What is

"What do you like to go by?"

"Bella." I said for the first time."

"Irs nice to meet you Bella," he said so genuinely. "I noticed your body temperature is very low; you are in shock right now." He said, looking down at a clipboard. "Do you mind?" He pointed to a stethoscope. I shook my head. He placed it against my cheat, his eyebrows drew together; it reminded me instantly of Edward.

"Heathy heart." He commented as he removed the strethoscope. He pulled out another instrument. "This will go in your eyes." He flashed them before my eyes and I tried not to blink.

"Do you think you could tell me what happened?" He asked conversationally.

"Edward was in a fight," I said softly, trying to stay to the truth as much as possible. "He was protecting me." I said quietly, feeling the full guilt of it. Carlisle's eyes widened but he didn't comment.

"I see. Go on,"

"He was punched in the ribs once. And they stabbed his wrist."

"Stabbed?"

"A knife." I said lamely.

"Hmm. I see." He murmured kindly, he nodded most professionally, scratching down something on a notepad with a pen. "I'm proud of my son, for doing the right thing by protecting you."

He reached for a Manila folder. He pulled a plug on a screen in the wall, and a lamp illuminated the screen. He placed the images into the frame.

"We took your X-rays while you were unconscious, Bella." If he saw anything unusual, he didn't let it show on his face. "No injuries here, I'm glad to see you were able to come out of this without a single bruise." He squinted at my X-ray of the upper body carefully, then hummed.

"May I?" He gestured my arm, asking for permission to touch and I nodded, feeling strangely comfortable around this doctor. His gloved hand gently prodded the left side of my arm. "Do you happen to have a pacemaker Bella?"

"I don't know what that is." I said automatically.

"Ah, it's a device to help keep your heart pumping." He let go of my arm, and pointed to my X-ray, to the left side of my arm. "Do you see this black dot on your bicep?" I nodded. It was sizeable; in comparison to my arm it looked like a golf ball.

"It appears there's some sort of device in your arm. For a pacemaker, I've never seen one so small..." He mused. My blood froze.

That was how VOLT found me. Found every escapee.

A tracking device.

"Oh, that." I tried to say as casually as I could. "That was implanted when I was young." I said as nonchalantly as I could. I tried to add a pleasant smile.

He returned the smile. "As long as you know about it. No broken bones, no cuts or scrapes. You must be a tough fighter." He said with a smile.

Or a freakof nature.

"Something like it," I murmured, looking down.

"Atta girl." He said with an oddly familiar boyish grin. I changed the subject as soon as I could.

"Dr. Carlisle, may I please go see Edward?" He nodded. "He's in the ICU. Room 7. Just tell the ward you have my permission." I nodded gratefully.

"Thank you so much doctor." I said as sincerely as I could. He took my hand in a warm handshake and closed his other hand around mine.

"It's my pleasure. I'm sorry we had to meet under such unusual circumstances. I hope the next time we meet e'll be brought together for something more joyous." He said with a smile. He squeezed my hand and let go. I returned the smile, more naturally this time.

"I'd like that." I said softly, as I exited the room.

I walked at the fastest pace I could manage without running though the hospital wing, following the signs that pointed to ICU. The receptionist looked up at me. She drew back a little upon seeing me, as if she could sense I was a predator.

Maybe things are just getting into my head.

"Dr. Carlisle told me I could see Edward," I bluntly informed her, hoping that was enough detail for the woman. She nodded, looking a little less apprehensive of me upon realizing I was visiting a friend.

"You must be Edward's girlfriend. He's in room 7." She said, waving me through with a sympathetic look. I didn't bother correcting her; I was on a mission.

I counted the rooms as I went down until I reached 7. I opened the door.

Edward had an oxygen mask on him, and his arm had several needles on them. An IV slowly dripped blood into him, and for the first time, his scent was tolerable to me, as it was diluted with someone else's blood.

There was a chair to the right hand side of his bed, and I took it.

"Edward..." I whispered under my breath. The guilt of Edward's suffering, even if he appeared to be sleeping peacefully did not cease to weigh heavily on me. "There must be something I can do, for the pain."

For the trouble.

I had a sudden urge to touch his hand; I settled for the one without bandages.

I saw his eyes flicker open.

"Bella?" He said sleepily. "Am I dreaming?" I shook my head no.

"Edward... you're okay," I said, relief surged through me as he nodded drowsily, trying to fight the painkillers that swirled within him.

"Just a blood transfusion Bella. I'll be fine in an hour." he smiled weakly and my chest hurt, seeing his strength transcend even emotionally. He put a hand against the ground, and with a wince, tried to sit up.

"No, don't sit up just yet!" My warning came too late. He had straightened his back and doubled back over just as quickly.

"Fuck. Ribs." He closed his eyes tightly and hissed under his breath. The same prickling sensation I'd felt after seeing him hurt crept up on my eyes and I sucked in a breath, trying to hold it back. Edward took notice, turning his head.

"Bella? You okay?" I couldn't respond, simply stared at him like a fish out of water. I knew the tears would spill over if I did. "Bella, I'm okay, I promise. Just a little scratched up, that's all," he offered me a genuine smile, and that was all It took for me to begin sobbing. I'd never done this before, I was so confused as the hiccuping sensation wracked my body. I hid my hands behind my face, as if I could physically hide from Edward's gaze, I was so ashamed of myself for what I'd done to him, even if he didn't seem to think twice about it

"Hey. Bella?" He seemed surprised at first, then spoke more gently. "Bella, I'm fine, there's no need to cry." He gently pulled my wrists apart, to gain access to my face. His lips twitched into a smile and he had a more humorous expression.

"Don't get me wrong, this is much better than you hating on me, but you still don't have to cry for me. I'm not dead." he joked wryly and I couldn't help but sob harder at the thought.

I almost killed him.

"Bella. It's my turn to say it." He put his hand on my cheek, despite the bandages that were rough, his touch was so soft. "I'm fiiiine," he said playfully, mocking my words from earlier with a crooked smile. I choked out a single laugh between my tears. His lips twitched into a small smile when I laughed and he brushed away a tear from my face. I felt the indescribable tingle from his touch that left a warm streak on my cheek.

"Now that you've stopped crying, and I still have your pity," he continued playfully, but softly. "Do you think I could blackmail you into getting dinner with me tonight?" My eyebrows raised.

That was not what I was expecting him to say.

"What?" I asked incredulously.

"Well, I figured I'll be discharged in a couple hours. All I really need to replace the lost platelets is to consume more iron, which is easily replaceable with red meats." I didn't say anything, and he added, "You can't deny that we could both use some comfort food after today."

I looked down at my scuffed shoes, uncomfortable at not being able to deny him without a reason, and accepting his over-bearing charity simultaneously.

"I can't go... dressed like this." I tugged uncomfortably at the top of my blouse, which was still in two.

"You don't have to. You can wear my shirt and jacket. I have a change of clothes here." I froze in my steps. "We can go somewhere private." He reassured me immediately, as if he could read my mind. "You can pick the place. Anywhere you like. I'll keep you safe." He promised earnestly. I didn't say anything in response, and Edward grinned crookedly, showing dimples I'd never noticed before on one side.

"No objections? Perfect. It's a date then." I scowled at him just as two knocks sounded at the door. Edward didn't seem surprised at the sound, I whirled at it, ready to fight.

Carlisle was at the door, and I felt so foolish for my impulsive instincts.

"How are you doing, son?" He asked sympathetically.

"Much better. Thanks for your help, dad." He turned to me. "Oh yeah, this is Bella."

"We met," he said, with a warm look towards me. He turned to his son. "How's the pain?"

Edward lifted his open hand and tilted it side to side.

"Commé si, commé ça," he said casually. I looked to him sharply.

You speak French, too?

What don't you do, prodigal Edward?

"Unfortunately there's nothing even I can do for a pair of broken ribs." He took a yellow capped bottle from the pocket of his white coat and placed two pills into Edward's hand. Edward looked down at the small white pills for a moment, and nodded approvingly.

"Cool, Vicodin." He grinned. His father turned back to him.

"Don't get used to it." He warned him, immediately. He turned back to me.

"Edward didn't tell me if you were expected home at a certain time, but would you like to stay for dinner?" I was at a loss for words.

This entire family's generosity was so strange to me.

"I uh—" I awkwardly searched for the right words, suddenly wishing I was more eloquent like the members of this family.

How do I tell this stranger that his son asked me out on a date?

What are the protocols?

"I wouldn't want to impose." I said awkwardly, but Edward jumped in.

"We're going out tonight anyway, dad." Carlisle's eyebrows raised a bit but he didn't comment.

"In that case, Bella, come over another time. You're always welcome."

"Thank you," I murmured softly. The thought of warm food made my stomach growl and though I knew I couldn't take him up on the offer, I wanted to.

"Oh, it'd be our pleasure. Besides, it's a rare sight to see Edward bring home a friend." I saw him wink at his son and I felt the warmth of his face flushing beside me. Almost like the sun, so pleasant. "Well, I'll let myself out then," Carlisle said cheerfully. "After your dinner tonight, bed rest, Edward. I'll write you a note for your PE teacher as well."

"Thanks."

"Don't get into anymore fights," he said with a wink. Edward seemed confused by that, then his eyes widened.

Oh no. He remembers now.

Once his father was out of sight, and the door had closed quietly behind him, with a click, Edward turned back to me. Now that he was coherent, He looked distressed, all traces of his smile was gone.

Edward

Shit. How had I forgotten.

I'd been so taken by Bella, crying at my bedside for me that I'd forgotten what had brought me to the hospital in the first place.

Bella and I had been attacked by the men from the VOLTURI.

1906...

"Bella, we need to talk. Those men..."Her eyes widened like a deer in headlights, as if he was caught.

"I know," She breathed. "I'm so sorry. I never intended for you, for anyone to be hurt." I shook my head fiercely, intentionally displaying my lack of concern on that front.

"Bella, I'm not looking for an apology. But If we want to keep you safe, I need answers." I nearly pleaded in a whisper.

No more secrets Bella.

Bella

"Very well," I agreed with a sigh.

"Edward... the men after me are from the Volturi." They know what—uh, I'm capable of." I decided on saying.

Now is not the time... to tell him the truth.

The less he knows, the better.

"I ran away from them. And they want me back."

"What for?" Edward's eyes gazed darkly into mine. The green looked darkened now, like fallen pine needles.

"They want to..." I sucked in a breath before I continued in a whisper, "experiment."

"Experiment?" I nodded. I tried not to remember the days of my entire life as a lab rat, those cold metal beds, the strange cords constantly monitoring my body, how they forced me to change and forced my most dangerous side to consume me, despite the fact that my body was weak and shaking in resistance.

Edward must've noticed my eyes glaze over.

"We don't need to talk about it." He whispered reassuringly. "Could you tell me one thing though?" I nodded despite my will.

"Is there anyone who can claim you? That needs to know you're okay right now?"

Ah shit.

"Uhhh—" I started stupidly. "My parents and I, uh... aren't close." Edward must've sensed my lie and nodded.

"That's alright. I get it." I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.

Edward

When she'd answered my question, about her parents not being close, I knew instantly what she'd been hiding from me, from everyone she'd encountered.

She doesn't have anyone in this world.

Her beautiful face looked down, sadly, whether she'd realized it or not.

I took her hand gently, and struggled to find the right words for the name of the emotion that overwhelmed me.

"I will keep you safe." I finally decided to say.

Bella shook her head, her dark hair fell forward, casting ominous shadows toward her face. She looked to the ground defeatedly.

"I don't think you can." I whispered fearfully.

"I will." I tightened my grip on her hand. "I promise."

There was no way she could know this, but I'd never made a vow, a commitment to another person before, not like this.

I knew that for as long as she would let me, I would fight with all I had to ensure she'd never starve, never be taken, and would never look over her shoulder on fear again.

I looked at her doubtful, amber colored eyes once more.

I'd never let her suffer again.

Not if I could help it.