Good Morning, my dears! Welcome back to Lockdown! Let's jump right in it this morning!

Thank you to Fran S. Sunflower & DaniDarlingxx.

Day 7: March 19, 2020

Alice

12:25 PDT

Los Angeles, California

"Emmett, how many plants do we need to care about?" Rose asks as Emmett runs to another plant off the trail. He's the only one still into this hike. We're all wilting at this point.

"Last one, I swear," he says distractedly. I giggle as Rose rolls her eyes.

"He's like a toddler on a walk," Rose mumbles. It's true. We haven't gone very far, and Emmett has stopped every other minute to look at different plants. I guess I shouldn't expect anything less from a botany major, but still.

"Maybe this will at least tire him out," I suggest. Rose snorts, and I giggle again.

"Em, man, we're getting hungry!" Jasper calls out to him. Emmett turns to us and sighs.

"Fine," he pouts. He makes his way back to us. "Where's Bella?"

I snort. "Passed out under that tree a quarter of a mile back."

Emmett laughs so loud; I'm sure it scares all wildlife within a mile of us. We turn to head back toward the car, and Emmett starts talking about the plants we've seen today. Rose looks annoyed, but I know her well enough to see the amusement on her face. She's got this look of adoration that tells me Emmett has a big soft spot in her heart already. It makes me smile, and I reach out to Jasper, squeezing his hand with happiness for my friend. Jasper leans down to kiss the side of my head, squeezing my hand back.

We find Bella still under the tree we left her at. She's spread eagle in the dirt, with a…

"Is that a butcher knife?" Rose asks as we near Bella.

Bella's head lifts from the dirt as she squints at us. "Are we done?"

We all stare at her. "Bella, why do you have a cleaver?" Jasper asks.

Her eyes narrow. "You think I'm going to come out to the middle of nowhere and risk being eaten by a feral person?" She snaps.

We all stare at her.

"A what?"

Her eyes snap at me as she sits up. "Feral people. They're in national and state parks across the country," she explains, her voice hinting that this should be obvious. "They are cannibals that prey on lost hikers."

"Bella, that's not…"

She cuts me off. "You can all get eaten by them, but I'll cut a dick off before I let anyone take a bite out of me." She waves the cleaver in front of her, menacingly.

Rose snorts, and I glance at her. Bella has always had out-there ideas, but this is a new level of conspiracy, even for her.

"Where did you even get a cleaver?" Emmett asks, eyeing the blade. Bella huffs as she climbs to her feet.

"What woman wouldn't have one?" She snaps back.

Emmett looks at Rose and me, obviously looking for answers. We both shake our heads. We have none.

"Bella, maybe put the knife back in your bag, or wherever it was," Jasper suggests. Bella nods and pulls her backpack off her back, reaching in to pull out a leather sheath. What the hell?

When she's done putting the knife away, she looks at us. "So, are we getting the fuck out of here or what?"

…

After getting home, showering, and eating hearty lunches, we're lounging around the house. I'm on the sofa with Jasper, my head in his lap as he watches the news. I'm on my phone, checking updates when the TV makes me pause. I put my phone down, looking at the TV. They are talking about international border closing, and my heart squeezes in panic.

Edward.

Before I can think, I'm sitting up, dialing my brother.

Okay, so first things first; Bella is nuts, but I HAVE heard this conspiracy theory before (though I don't buy in personally). Thanks DaniDarlingxx for this particular theory.

Second, this last little bit was a very real moment in my own life last year... let's see how Edward handles it!

See you tomorrow, loves!