A/N:

Yes, it's true that this story has a lot of outrageous drama in it :-P A lot of you mentioned that the crazy never stops, and I'm gonna tell all of you this:

The drama will continue until the mystery of the island has been solved ;-) and you'll get some answers you've wanted concerning a few characters in this one!

I'm gonna continue putting the disclaimer here just be sure that everyone is aware of where this story originated.

This story isn't 100 % mine. I have transformed it into a story from an interactive story app called Choices (an app I am completely obsessed with atm) and the creators are Pixelberry Studios.

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

{Chapter 10}

I awoke in the Elysian Lodge, the morning sunshine filtered into the room through frost-covered windows.

Dazed and groggy, I opened my eyes and realized that I was on a couch. Looking down, I saw that I'd slept on Edward's chest. He was still asleep with one hand tucked behind his head and the other wrapped around my waist.

I started to remember the previous night and recalled how we all had pretty much passed out from exhaustion as soon as we'd entered the lodge.

All around me, the others were in deep sleep. Emmett was sprawled in a recliner and Peter was curled up on a rug, snoring loudly. Alistair slept on the hardwood floor next to a bed of pillows he'd made for Tanya.

I carefully detangled myself from Edward, not wanting to wake him, and walked to the window.

Outside, the blizzard had calmed down.

Memories of the previous day slowly came back to me … the mechanized soldier's pursuit … the blinding snowfall … the lodge hidden in the mountains.

"You're up."

I turned around, startled at the sound of the unexpected voice. Behind me, Rosalie lounged in an armchair and sipped a rich blend of coffee.

"That looks good," I said and eyed the cup in her hand.

"That's because it is good," she replied and took another sip. "I've been drinking coffee for so long that I mastered the craft when I was thirteen."

I chuckled. "That doesn't sound healthy."

"And it doesn't sound like I care, either. I saved some for you," she said and handed me a second cup. "You're welcome."

I took a sip and the rich and round fullness of the aroma filled me with energy. "I knew you were a no-cream-no-sugar girl," I said and drank from the steaming cup again.

She scoffed with a smile. "It would never enter my mind to taint beautiful mocha with disgusting sweetness."

"Did you get any rest?" I asked. By the light outside, it was still very early but Rosalie looked like she'd been awake for hours.

"Nah. I don't sleep much. And when I do, I don't sleep well," she answered casually. "But thanks for asking … or whatever."

I smiled at her, and she gave me a small nod.

"Anyway, being an insomniac does have its benefits." She pulled out a folder. "I poked around last night, looking for a guest list. I found one, but it was all Cullen International employee ID numbers."

"You think Cullen's people have been staying here?"

She shrugged. "Maybe temporary housing. Maybe a cover for the massive operation. Who knows with these people?"

I gazed outside again. The heavy blizzard had left smooth hills of virgin snow piled high. "Any sign of those soldiers chasing us?" I asked.

"Blizzard chased them off," Edward's husky voice said from the couch, and I turned to him. He sat up and rubbed his eyes, his hair tousled from sleep. "I think we're in the clear."

Rosalie looked slightly troubled as she twisted her cup in her hands. "I've heard whispers of those 'Arachnid' people on the web, man. They're serious. You were … one of them?" she asked warily.

Edward sighed and ran his hands through his hair agitatedly. "Yeah. One of their pilots. We were supposed to be helping people. I had no idea what McKenzie was doing behind the scenes."

"Edward…" He turned to look at me worriedly, and I just knew he was expecting me to break it off with him because of his association with those 'Arachnid' soldiers. I would never do such a thing, though, because he wasn't like those people. "How did they find you?"

He exhaled sharply. "No clue. Always figured it was a matter of time, but never would've guessed they'd find me in the middle of all of this lunacy."

I sat down on the couch next to him and grabbed one of his hands in mine, choosing my next words carefully. "Edward, they're out to hurt us. We have to know how they found you."

Rosalie nodded in agreement. "Yeah, man. We gotta know how they tracked you."

Edward squeezed my hand. "I wish I could tell you. Honest. But I've got no idea."

"Damn. And I thought I had enemies," Rosalie mumbled contemplatively.

"Look, I'm sorry they found us. I know this one is on me." He looked right at me. "But I ain't gonna let them hurt you. I swear it. I swear it on everything."

"Are we safe?" I asked him seriously.

"This lodge is in the shadow of a ridge. Hard as hell to spot from the air. We can lay low for a couple of days. No sweat," he reassured me.

"And what are we supposed to do for a couple of days?" Rosalie questioned.

"I think we should enjoy the peace while we can," I suggested, but Rosalie frowned at that.

"Are you sure about that? Peace never lasts long."

Edward, on the other hand, nodded. "I'm with Princess. Some R'n'R will do us a lot of good."

I smiled gratefully at him. "But first things first. Let's wake everybody up. I think we need to split into groups and explore our temporary home. Get our bearings."

A little while later, I was wandering through the lodge and stumbled onto a luxurious spa. "Whoa!" I exclaimed. "Fancy."

Kate leaned against a massage table at one end of the room, a huge assortment of lotions, ointments, and other products in front of her. "La Mer … La Prairie … Natura Bissé! I'm officially in heaven!"

Nearby, Benjamin and Jacorel hung outside the steam room, both of them glistening with sweat.

"That was remarkable!" Jacorel said in awe. "You humans must be true warriors to subject yourselves to grueling conditions for pleasure."

Benjamin chuckled. "I don't think I'll ever get tired of showing you new things."

I walked up to Kate. "Hey! You taking inventory?"

"Uh, yeah! If by taking inventory, you mean planning to steal all this amazing stuff," she replied, still looking at the expensive products. "I mean, look at it, Bella. Look! This is a collection of some of the most expensive and high-end skincare products in the world!" She held up a black and gold glass container with some fancy writing on it. "This is Orogold's 24K Nano Hydra Silk Mask! It costs twelve hundred dollars! Twelve hundred!"

I gaped. "For real? What's in it? Gold?"

"Onopordum Acanthium Flower Leaf Extract, Fruit extracts from, like, eight different berries … and also, yes, nanoparticles of gold."

"I had no idea you were so into lotions," I said, raising my brow at her.

She grinned. "Hey, everybody's got their vices, right? Some people like fancy wine or expensive dresses. I'm all about high-quality skincare." Kate selected an elegant-looking jar, dipped one delicate finger in, and then applied it to my cheek. "Tell me that doesn't feel amazing. You can't."

"Wow," I marveled at the silky feel. "I could get used to that."

Kate capped the jar and slipped it into my pocket with a wink. "There you go. On the house."

I continued to explore the lodge, wandering the grounds. I found Leah alone in a small office, angrily combing through stacks of paper.

"Come on … come on … it's gotta be here somewhere," she mumbled to herself, not having noticed that I was behind her yet.

I cleared my throat. "You, uh, looking for something?"

She startled. "Oh! Bella!"

"Whoa, did I actually manage to sneak up on you? You must be distracted!" I told her humorously.

"I'm just looking for … I…" She slumped in her chair, looking unusually vulnerable. "It's complicated."

I walked closer to her. "You can trust me, Leah."

"Can I?" she questioned.

I nodded. "Of course. We're in this together. All of us."

Leah let out a deep sigh, then handed me a piece of paper with a long list of names.

"What is this?" I asked.

"I was looking through the office to see if there was anything helpful, and I found this. Cullen International personnel records. All employees who stayed here."

"And?" I asked, not understanding what she was getting at.

Hesitantly, she tapped a name halfway down the list.

"'Susan Montoya'?" I read.

"My mother," Leah confessed quietly.

My eyes widened and I looked at the name again, not completely able to comprehend what she just told me. "Your … mother?"

Leah nodded. "She worked here, on this island, for Cullen. A senior researcher. Children weren't allowed, so I stayed with my uncle in Tobago and helped with … the family business."

"Which was?"

Leah frowned angrily. "Killing dictators." Her expression soon clouded back into sadness, though. "Anyway, my mother would send letters once a week. Telling me what she was doing. Telling me she loved me." She looked down at the floor. "Her last letter came six years ago. It was messy. Handwritten. She said she'd discovered something … something very dangerous. And a week later, she was dead! 'An accident'," she finished with air-quotes.

"You think Cullen did it," I said, finally understanding the mystery that had always surrounded the girl I saw as my friend.

"I know Cullen did it! I swore revenge. When I learned that Cullen had a son studying at Hartfeld under a false name, I enrolled to find him. And when I won the contest to come here and meet him, I couldn't believe my luck. But it wasn't luck after all." She nodded at the piece of paper still in my hand. "She was here, Bella. Somewhere in this lodge. If I can just figure out what room she was staying in."

"You're looking for something to remember her by?"

"In a way … yeah … I guess I am." She sighed. "I know there'll be nothing left of her there. I'm sure Cullen cleaned it up and threw out all of her possessions. I just thought, if I could find her room, I'd feel some trace of her. To be in the same room she'd been in … to feel some hint of her presence."

"I get it, Leah," I said sympathetically.

She shook her head. "Never mind. I'm being stupid."

"No, you're not. And I'm here to help."

She smiled sadly. "Thanks, Bella. But right now, I think I want to be alone."

"Yeah, sure. If that's what you want," I said and left her to pace through the lodge's hallways, but as I passed an ajar door, I heard two people laughing.

I peeked into the room and saw Peter and Rosalie hunkered around the TV, looking for something.

"The cable's gotta be here somewhere!"

Peter grinned. "Can't you just make our own cable with your badass tech skills?"

Rosalie rolled her eyes. "Dude, I'm a hacker, not a hardware store."

"What's going on here?" I asked to make myself known to the couple.

"Check out what we found!" Peter exclaimed excitedly. He reached under the TV and held up a blocky, gray video game console.

I frowned. "What am I looking at?"

"An original PS R3000!"

"Uuh…" I couldn't get anything more intelligent out because I really had no idea what Peter had just said.

Rosalie laughed at me. "Just the best game system of our youth!"

I thought back to my childhood but drew a blank. Not much of it had consisted of game systems. I had been more of a dance and gymnastics girl. I shrugged. "Huh, I must've missed it."

"Then you were the saddest kid on the planet," Rosalie told me with a wink.

"Rose brought hers to college, and we'd play it all the time our freshman year."

"If by 'play' you mean me kicking your ass constantly."

Peter let her have it and only smiled before turning to me. "We were thinking we could set it up, maybe relive some memories. Problem is we can't find the video cable."

"Yeah, and I don't think we're gonna," Rosalie said disappointedly. "Whatever. Standing around here is getting boring. I'm gonna go make some more coffee."

"Wait!" Peter stopped her. "We just need a fresh pair of eyes! Bella, maybe you could help us look?"

I winked at him. "Let's get you guys connected. Let's see." While Rosalie and Peter continued to look by the TV, I went down on my knees and looked underneath all the furniture. When I looked under the bed, I saw something shoved in furthest away by the wall. "I see something," I told the guys and stretched my arm and tried to reach it. I touched it with my fingertips and managed to get a good enough hold to pull out the gray, thin cable.

A faded scrap of paper came out from under the bed with it. As I looked closer at it, I realized it was a newspaper clipping.

May 8th, 1994

Tragedy struck the Queens neighborhood of Bayside early morning when a drunk driver sped through a red light, plunging head-on into a minivan.

The accident killed the driver of the minivan, Nicholas Callen, 35, along with his wife Keira and two children in the back.

The only survivor was their two-year-old daughter who is currently in critical—

The rest of the article was gone as the clipping was cut off there.

"Whoa, Bella, is that the cable?"

I turned to Peter and held it up. "Looks like it!"

Peter grabbed the cable and rushed over to the TV. He plugged it into the console and started it. "It works! It works!" he cheered.

"I can honestly say I've never been happier in my life," Rosalie said and sat down next to Peter.

With a peppy, chiptune beat, the game logo appeared on the screen, and I decided it was time for me to leave.

"You're welcome, guys! Have fun." I gave them a mock salute and left them alone with their game. As I closed the door, I heard their competitive banter and I shook my head with a smile.

I headed back down to the first floor and rounded a corner where I discovered the last thing I expected to find in the lodge; a casino.

At a table on the far end, Tanya, Alistair, Garrett, and Edward sat together playing a game of poker.

"Settling in, I see," I said as I approached them.

Tanya grinned at me. "It's not every day you stumble into a full-blown casino!"

"Wonder if Cullen wanted to finance his global domination by turning this place into Island Vegas," Garrett said without taking his hard stare off of Edward who was grinning widely.

Edward was completely relaxed as he turned his eyes to me. "What do you say, Princess? You in?"

I grinned right back at him. "Just tell me you're not playing strip poker."

"Naw. I'm saving that for you later tonight," he replied, and I felt myself get warm.

I inhaled deeply to calm down when I noticed out of the corner of my eye how the other three looked slightly uncomfortable with Edward's ease at talking about the physical part of our relationship.

Tanya cleared her throat. "Alistair was just walking through his strategy."

"Never had you pegged for the gambling-type, Alistair," I said and took a place by the table.

Alistair shrugged. "I'll admit, it's a bit of a vice, but I've always been drawn to games of probability."

"Little sneak's a card-counter," Edward said with a smirk.

"A really good one," Tanya complimented.

"Speaking of which, I'm out on this hand. I've got absolutely nothing." Alistair put his cards on the table and leaned back in his chair.

"Me too." Tanya copied him.

"That just leaves you and me, Heisman." Edward winked at Garrett. "Ready to tango?"

"I'm always ready," he replied.

Edward slid his chips into the middle. "I'm all in."

"Damn, big move," Garrett said and tried to read Edward's expression.

"Only kind of moves I make."

Garrett turned to me. "What do you think, Bella? Should I call?"

"Do you really trust me with that decision, Garrett?" I asked him. "Don't you think I'm kind of biased on who should win?"

Garrett shrugged. "Well, you don't know Edward's hand so you can't set me up for failure either," he said confidently.

I nodded. "Just because he hasn't shown me his cards, doesn't mean I don't know if his hand is good or bad."

Edward smirked at me. "You think you can read me that well, Princess?"

"Oh, I know I can."

"Challenge accepted. Next round's between you and me."

"Good lord, Garrett, just make your move already," Alistair said annoyed.

Garrett looked at me again.

"Alright, then I say you should fold," I said, but Garrett didn't like that.

"You sure? I think he's bluffing," he said, and I rolled my eyes, wondering why he even asked for my help.

"Yeah, but if you call now, and he wins, you'll never hear the end of it," I said.

Garrett huffed. "Damn … good point…"

Edward put his arm around my shoulders and nuzzled my temple. "I guess you do know me."

"Was there ever a question about that?" I asked him, which caused him to laugh.

"Fine, I fold," Garrett said and tossed his cards on the table.

Edward leaned over and brought the chips in the middle toward his end. "How does it feel to have to live your whole life with the question?" he asked, and Garrett frowned.

"What question?"

Edward grinned. "Was I bluffing?"

I bit my lip to keep from laughing when I heard Garrett mumble a few curses underneath his breath.

Just then, the doors to the casino swung open and Emmett rushed in.

"Everyone, stop everything! I've discovered something incredibly important!" he exclaimed.

"A way to get the hell outta here?" Edward asked seriously.

"How to find my father's facility?"

"The true nature of this island and possibly reality itself?"

Emmett pursed his lips. "Okay, I realize we may have different definitions of 'important'."

"This is about partying, isn't it?" I said as I knew that was the most important thing to Emmett. That and food.

He pointed at me and winked. "Dude. Dudettes. Dudelings. Doodlejumps. Do any of you realize what day it is?"

Garrett gaped. "Uh … sometime in December, right?"

Tanya started making calculations in her head. "If it was the morning of June 2nd when we landed … and we lost 204 days, plus four days since…" She gasped. "It's New Year's Eve!"

"Wow, seriously?"

"How strange … if we skipped six months, I guess I missed a birthday," Alistair said but didn't look too upset about it.

Tanya was the one who looked upset about it. "We missed your birthday? I forgot to give you a birthday hug?" She immediately rose from her seat and hugged him tightly, which caused him to blush. "I'm sorry I didn't get you a gift."

Alistair gave her a smile. "To be frank, I believe that was the best gift I've gotten in as long as I can remember."

"I bet a bunch of us missed our B-days! I know I didn't get to rage for mine!" Emmett said. "And that means there's only one thing to do…"

"Accept that time is largely a superficial construct?"

He shook his head at Alistair with a smile. "Nah, dude! We throw the mother of New Year's parties and celebrate every birthday we missed at once!"

Tanya agreed with him wholeheartedly. "Hooray! Let's do it!"

"I'm in," Garrett said.

"Tonight. Midnight. Champagne. Dancing. Food. Music. And a special surprise!"

I laughed. "You really live for this, don't you?"

"Every second of every day!"

As the sun sank behind the mountain range, we finished setting up the party in the lodge's lounge.

Peter walked in carrying a bucket full of champagne bottles. "Yo, I found all this bubbly! No ice to chill it, though. I'm going outside to get some—"

Furball blew a frigid wind at Peter and instantly, frost formed on the bottles.

"Aw, nice! High-five!" Peter crouched down and held up his hand to Furball who bumped it with his head.

"That'll come in handy."

"Okay, party-people, here's the rundown. We're celebrating missed birthdays for me, Alistair, Peter, Victoria, and Rosalie."

Kate cleared her throat. "Aren't you forgetting someone?"

I nodded. "Yeah, Emmett. You forgot about Kate! Her birthday is today! December 31st!"

"At least Bella remembers," Kate said and glared slightly at both Peter and Emmett. "And you guys have known me longer!"

"Hey, I was getting to that part!" Emmett defended himself. "Technically, we haven't missed yours yet." His grin returned. "And Bella's birthday starts at midnight!"

I smiled at him and looked around at the decorations. I also noticed a few people were missing. "Hey, where are the others? I don't see Edward—" I paused when I noticed that everyone was staring at the top of the staircase. I turned around, and that was when I saw him.

My jaw dropped to the ground.

"Awful quiet down here. Y'all knew the party couldn't start without me, huh?" he said as he jogged down the stairs with a grin and ran his hand through his hair. "So what'd I miss?"

I pulled my chin off the floor and smiled at him incredulously. "Did you see the really hot guy just come down the staircase?"

It was crazy how good he cleaned up. Gone were his combat boots and t-shirt, and the hair that always fell into his eyes. He had combed his hair back and put on a white shirt, striped tie, and black dress vest.

His eyes were glimmering as mischievously as always, though, and he smiled right back at me. "No. I was distracted by someone waiting at the bottom."

Upstairs, Victoria, Garrett, and Leah also appeared. Garrett was wearing a really nice suit and the girls were both in beautiful floor-length gowns.

"Happy New Year, everyone!" Victoria exclaimed.

"Anything we can do to help set up?" Garrett asked.

"Whoa, is that you, Leah?" Peter gaped.

She frowned in response. "Of course it's me. Who else would it be?"

"Where did you all find those clothes?" I asked, slightly jealous since I was still donning my Kaarii clothes.

"Me? I keep a spare New Year's Eve getup at all times you know, for emergencies," Edward replied, and I rolled my eyes at him. "Actually, they were in this suite Garrett was rummaging around in." He gestured toward some fabric that was hanging over his arm, which I had not noticed until he showed it to me now. "I saved something for you, too, if you wanna be my date tonight. You like it?"

The dress was floor-length, silvery with spaghetti straps and a low-cut v-neckline. It was both elegant and sexy.

I immediately took it from Edward and went upstairs to change and put up my hair before rejoining the party. I tapped Edward's shoulder and when he turned around, he looked in complete awe.

"Well? Don't leave me in suspense. How do I look?"

"You just had to go and one-up me, didn't ya?" he said and placed his hands on my waist.

"You know it," I said and wound my arms around his neck.

"Well played. Pretty sure I still win, though."

"How do you figure?"

"Because I get to look at you," he replied without hesitating.

"Sometimes, you're so cheesy, Top Gun."

He winked. "You like it, though." He leaned down and captured my mouth with his in a sweet, but determined kiss.

"Definitely."

The others started to notice my new clothes and began commenting on it.

"Impressive, Bella. You almost look like you have some dignity," Alistair said, but I ignored the second part.

Kate stared at me with wide eyes. "Wow. You look so good, I didn't even recognize you."

"That sounds like an insult," I pointed out to her.

Kate waved it away. "Everything out of my mouth sounds like an insult. Believe me, that wasn't one."

In the parlor, Emmett plugged his phone into the speaker system and hit play. Upbeat dance music started to pump out of the speakers.

"Let the festivities begin!"

"Man, time flies. Can't believe it's been a year already!" Peter bellowed out.

Rosalie rubbed her temple and shook her head at him. "Peter … it hasn't."

Edward defused the tension. "Who's up for a toast?"

"I will not be able to survive a party with these people sober, so … yeah, drink please!" Kate poured herself a glass to ready herself.

"What are we having?" Leah asked and joined her to get her own glass.

I looked at the arrangement of booze laid out on the counter, trying to decide what I wanted. I spotted a bottle of my favorite whiskey and poured a glass of it.

Edward came up to me from behind and leaned over my shoulder. "I like the way you're thinking," he said, nodding toward the whiskey.

He poured himself the same, and Leah wrinkled her nose from next to us.

"It smells like sawdust. Who drinks this?"

Kate rolled her eyes. "Only people who want to look tough."

Edward shook his head. "That ain't it. There's an art to whiskey. Now the key to appreciating it is—"

"Getting it over with. Cheers!" Leah downed her glass in one go and grimaced.

I shook my head at her and couldn't hold in my giggle. "You have to savor it," I told her. "You can't throw it back like a shot."

"It burns," she complained, but then she held her glass toward me. "Pour me another."

"Looks like we got a fan, y'all!" Edward happily poured her another.

We all clinked our glasses together and drank to the New Year.

Later that evening, I found myself standing with Emmett, Tanya, and Alice, trying to help Benjamin explain to Jacorel what New Year's was.

"So the Kaarii don't celebrate anything like this at all?" I asked.

"A new year?" Jacorel asked. "Of course not."

"You're missing out, my man. New Year's parties are the dopest parties," Emmett said.

"To mark the passage of time is a fruitless effort. It is time that marks the passing of us," Jacorel replied.

"Was that deep?" Benjamin asked. "I can't tell."

"What I mean is that time is infinite," Jacorel explained. "Counting it is like … is like…"

"Like counting the grains of sand on the beach," Tanya filled in.

Jacorel nodded. "Yes. You could do it. But to what end?"

"It's not really about counting the years for the world, Jacorel," Alice spoke up. "It's about what you as a person did with your year. And what you'll do with the next one."

"So what do you all see in the New Year?" he asked, and then turned to me. "Bella?"

"To me, the New Year is celebrating how much you've changed," I told him honestly. "I am definitely not the same person I was when we first landed on El Jardín. But really, everyone has their own reason to celebrate."

Jacorel nodded. "I think I understand now. And I now have my own reason."

"And what is that?" Benjamin asked.

"I celebrate to remind myself that every end is a beginning … except the last one."

We all blinked in shock at the kind of melancholy feel to Jacorel's reason, but Emmett shrugged.

"Hey, any reason's a good reason, dude. Now, lemme tell you all about the incredible invention of sunglasses that have the year on them…"

Even later, I was relaxing with Victoria, Peter, and Garrett.

"Huh. I never really made a resolution before. I guess I didn't see the point," Victoria said and shrugged.

I smiled at her. "Now you got your whole life ahead of you, Vicky. What do you wanna do with it?"

"I've got no idea. It's weird to think where we'll be a year from now. Like, if it's New Year's now and we all missed our first half of senior year … then we'll all be graduates in a year."

Garrett nodded. "Wow, I didn't think about that. All of us, out in the real world."

Peter looked slightly less excited about that. "Heh … yeah…"

Garrett didn't notice his solemn expression, though. "My resolution is to work hard to graduate and get drafted with my best friend here." He clapped Peter on the back.

"Mine's just to, uh … really just to have the best senior year ever," Peter said without meeting Garrett's eyes.

Victoria looked really indecisive. "Hmm. Then mine will be, um … oh, I know!" She smiled excitedly. "I'll resolve to get my parents back together! Should be a piece of cake, now that they won't have to fight over their sick daughter!"

Peter rubbed his neck. "Whoa. Uh … well, good luck with that, V. If anyone can do it, it's you."

"How about you, Bella?" Garrett asked me.

"My resolution is to appreciate how lucky I've been. Vicky really inspired me to be grateful."

Victoria smiled sweetly. "I'm honored. And yes, it's important to appreciate what we've been lucky enough to have, and who we've been lucky enough to meet."

"Absolutely," I agreed and glanced at Edward who was having a conversation with Leah.

The clock was closing in on midnight, and everyone gathered to listen to Kate sing as Alistair accompanied her on the piano.

She had a deeper voice than I would have suspected, but it was obvious she was a singer because her voice rang out evenly, tinged with the sadness of the song she was singing.

Alistair nodded with the rhythm, infusing each note with delicate feeling.

We applauded as they finished, and Alistair took Kate's hand and they bowed together.

Edward patted Alistair on the back. "Not bad, Schroeder. Didn't know you had it in you."

"That was so great, you guys!" Tanya gushed.

Next to me, Emmett sniffed back a tear. "Just … beautiful…" Then it looked like he remembered something. "Oh my god! I completely forgot! We haven't sung 'Happy Birthday!' Alistair! Back on the keys!"

Everyone did their best to sing the familiar song, but it was painfully obvious many of us weren't singers, and it didn't sound too good.

As we finished on the last 'Happy Birthday,' having said all the names of the missed birthdays in a row, Emmett clapped hard.

"Guys! That was flawless! Best birthday song ever!"

Everyone hugged each other, but I noticed Alice wandering outside onto the patio. A light snowfall danced around her. I frowned and followed.

When I stepped outside, she was gazing up at the night's sky with a glass of champagne in her hand. "Alice?"

"Oh! Hi, Bella," she said with a blue voice, but she quickly collected herself. "Sorry, I'm just … having a moment to myself. Did you need something?"

"I just wanted to say thank you," I told her.

She frowned. "For what?"

"For everything you've done. You're just here because it's your job. But you've risked your life to save us again and again. We'd never have made it if it wasn't for you." I held out my hand to her. "Thank you. Seriously."

She looked shocked. "Oh. I mean…" Her eyes glistened with tears, and I realized she was overcome with emotion. She reached out, and as her hand touched mine, I was suddenly pulled into a different time, just as when I touched idols.

I was still in the same spot outside the lodge, but it was obvious it was a different year. The music of a live string band washed over me.

Behind me, in the parlor, dozens of Cullen International employees mingled in expensive suits and gowns.

A familiar face, looking just a little younger, emerged from the building. She walked through the snow, toward an elegantly dressed man staring out at the horizon.

"Admiring the view, Mr. Cullen?" she asked softly. Her voice was different. Not as overly chipper as I was used to. More genuine.

"The stars, the snow, the dazzling lights. Truly, this island is unlike anything in this world," he answered.

"It's something special."

Cullen smirked. "If only you knew."

"You asked to see me, Mr. Cullen."

"I did indeed, Alice," he said and turned to her. "I've been reading your reports from the field. Remarkable work, especially on Expedition Zeta. Protecting my shipment from raiders in the Red Sea refusing to abandon ship? That takes dedication," he praised.

"Protecting the shipment was my job, sir. I take my job very seriously."

"Mmm, funny thing, that." He looked at her with a calculating look. "You're not the strongest security officer on the force. Or the brightest. Or the most resourceful."

Alice looked disheartened at his undermining of her intelligence.

"But you might just be the bravest, most loyal person I've ever employed," he finished. "Everywhere I go, rivals seek to undermine me. Sycophants seek to elevate themselves. But you … you're different. So tell me. Why? Why are you so faithful?"

Alice stammered. "I … that is—I mean—" She bit her lip. "I haven't had the easiest life, sir. I lost my whole family when I was little. The foster home was … it was bad. Really bad." She sighed. "Being a teen wasn't a lot better. I got mixed up with the wrong people. I hurt people. I stole things."

Cullen nodded. "Mm. I see."

"I ended up on the streets at eighteen. That's when your recruiter found me. Offered me the job of my dreams. I assumed it was too good to be true, but it didn't matter. I'd given up already. I figured I'd die somewhere along the way, and no one would know or care." She met Cullen's eyes steadily. "But then I met you, sir. I learned about the world you want to make." A single tear ran down her cheek. "I believe, sir. I believe in you. I believe what you're doing here, what you're creating, will make a better future. A better tomorrow. Your project, this island … you're fixing the world. Saving every little girl like me."

Cullen reached out and tenderly brushed away Alice's tear.

"All I ever wanted was to have something to live for. You've given me that."

"I'm moved. Truly. And that's not something I say often," Cullen said with a true sympathetic expression that looked out of place on him in my eyes. "I asked you this question because I might have a job for you."

Alice looked surprised. "Sir?"

"A man in my position sometimes requires … a special assistant. Someone unafraid of what needs to be done. Someone who doesn't blink. If you accept, you'll be sent dangerous places. You'll be given challenging assignments. You'll turn your body into a weapon. When necessary, you'll stain your hands with the blood of those who wish to ruin everything we've worked for. But I can only trust you if you trust me absolutely. Unquestioningly. So. Do you?"

"Yes, Mr. Cullen. I do. Without a doubt."

With a flash, I was yanked back into the present and I jerked my hand out of Alice's.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"Nothing … I, I just … Sorry. Just cold hands, that's all," I tried to excuse it because I knew I couldn't confront her about what I'd seen without revealing to her and everyone else about my strange psychic connection.

Alice smiled. "Well, I've always said that I'm cold-blooded."

Emmett poked out his head then. "Hey! There's just a few minutes 'til midnight."

"Does this mean it's time for your 'special surprise'?" I asked with a smile that I used to cover my discomfort with having seen Alice's past with Cullen.

"The one I'm sure is perfectly safe and have no reason at all to worry about, right?" Alice asked.

Emmett smiled. "Mmm … more or less. Come on, everyone's up on the roof! Bring your champagne." He led me and Alice up to the rooftop deck where the others awaited the new year. "Hurry! It's about to go down!"

"Ha, they ain't ready for the master plan!" Peter said and high-fived Emmett.

"Uh, guys? What is all this?" Kate asked and looked at the series of red chemical sticks lined up along the roof edge.

Edward stared at them as well. "Are these flares?"

"Yup!" Emmett replied proudly. "One of those Arachnid commando dudes dropped a bag full of 'em."

"Me and Emmett had the idea to use them as fireworks," Peter said and grinned.

Leah frowned at them, obviously questioning their sanity with her eyes. "So right now, we're hiding here from a death squad of highly trained, highly equipped mercenaries and your plan is to shoot off a bunch of flares over our location?"

Peter and Emmett gaped and exchanged a look. Then, they looked slightly sheepish.

"Okay, when you put it like that, I can see there's a flaw in the master plan."

"Aw, okay. Sorry, guys. No fireworks this year," Emmett said sadly. He put his hands in his pockets and trudged for the stairs.

"Wait! Look!" Tanya pointed.

In the distance, the mountain range was lighting up in shimmering colors, pulsing between a warm red glow and a brilliant blue.

"What is that?" Garrett asked.

"Edward! That's the same lights we've seen before!" I exclaimed.

He nodded. "Yeah. In the control tower, right after we landed."

Jacorel was the only one not shocked. He smiled. "Aah. The lights of Kaanu. They are very beautiful. My people believe they are a sign of good fortune to come."

Edward snorted. "Hell, we could use some of that."

"You know what … I think it's the Doppler effect!" Tanya said.

Peter frowned. "Huh? Doppler? Like the Weather Channel stuff?"

"When something, like a distant star, moves really fast toward you, it tints blue from the change in the light's wavelength," she explained.

Alistair nodded. "Ah, yes, and it tints red when it moves very fast away from you."

"But the mountains aren't exactly moving," Leah said, doubting the theory.

"No, but if time is dilating or contracting between us, then relativity could have the same effect."

"Huh. So that's what it was back at the airstrip," Edward mused. "I don't know about you, Bella, but I'm gonna stick with Blue's Clues over here. I want that good luck."

"Well, it's not fireworks, but it's close enough for me," Emmett said, once again back to his happy self. "Fifteen seconds to midnight!"

I moved toward Edward. "You want to ring in the New Year with me?" I asked him.

He smiled at me. "I was hoping you'd ask that."

Ten … nine …eight … seven … six … five … four … three…

I locked eyes with Edward. "Two … one."

As everyone cheered out their 'Happy New Year,' Edward pulled me close, cupped my face with his hands, and kissed me deeply.

"Happy New Year, Princess," he said softly when he leaned away, but he soon kissed me again, just as deeply as the first one. "And Happy Birthday."

I giggled happily. "Happy New Year, Top Gun."

Nearby, Jacorel and Benjamin watched the lights together. I looked at them, enveloped comfortably in Edward's arms, and while I didn't hear their conversation, I kind of understood what it had been about when Jacorel leaned in and kissed Benjamin tenderly.

I smiled at the sight, happier than I'd ever been that Benji had finally found that special someone in his life that I knew he deserved.

On the other side of the roof, Tanya was taking charge of a slightly hesitant kiss between her and Alistair, which I thought was adorable.

Rosalie and Peter were sitting side by side on the edge of the hot tub, their legs in the bubbling jets.

"Look at all these dorks making out," Rosalie groaned.

"Heh. Yeah. Who does that?" Peter agreed,

"Dumb people."

"So dumb."

They looked at each other, holding each other's gaze for a long moment…

"To hell with it," Rosalie said before leaning in and kissing Peter passionately.

Garrett started cheering. "I knew it! I freaking knew this would happen!"

I took Edward's hand in mine and started leading him away from the roof. "Come on."

"Where are we going?" he asked me with a smile.

"It's a surprise," I said.

"Hopefully not because I have very high hopes for something in particular," he replied, but I still didn't tell him.

Eventually, I led him into a room I'd found earlier. "When I was exploring before, I found this beautiful bedroom," I told him. "The bed looks rather amazing, don't you think?"

"Very amazing," he agreed and smiled wider. He glanced toward the fireplace. "Maybe we should light that."

Soon, a blazing fire warmed the room and its light mixed with the moon's coming in from the window.

Edward paused by the nightstand and opened the drawer. "There's a dusty old notepad in here."

"Does it say anything?" I asked him and walked closer. I wound my arms around his waist from behind and leaned my head between his shoulder blades.

"'Regarding the new junior researcher: I feel like I recognize her from somewhere. Do another background check and get me her history. –C.'"

"'C' for Cullen, I'd guess," I said. "I'd rather not talk about him now, though."

Edward immediately set the note aside, turned around and pulled me closer for a kiss.

My hands moved up his arms, feeling their hard muscles underneath his shirt. "You seem tense. Here." I sat down on the soft bed behind us and had him sit down on the floor in front of me so I could massage his shoulders.

He moaned and stretched his neck. "Hot damn, Princess, you're a miracle worker."

I kneaded a bit harder, focusing on a knot I could feel under my thumb. "Are you stressed out about your old team showing up?"

He snorted. "Not exactly a happy reunion. But like I said, I'll handle 'em. That's a promise."

I smiled. "An Edward Masen Guarantee?"

"At the very least, if I go down, I'm taking the lot of 'em with me."

I stopped massaging. "Not alone, you won't. Anybody who messes with you … messes with me."

He turned his head to look over his shoulder at me. "It's like that, huh? We're ride-or-die?"

I leaned down close to his ear. "Tonight, we're definitely the first part."

He turned around fully to face me, and the glow of the fire burned in his eyes. "You are wearing entirely too many clothes right now for that."

I smirked. "Someone should fix that. But you know, so are you."

We came together, kissing deeply, blindly reaching for each other's clothes to tear them off, and only catching a breath when we pulled them over each other's head.

Edward maneuvered to lie me down, but I pivoted and rolled so that I was on top instead.

"So this is how it's gonna go, huh?"

I leaned down to kiss him and reached up to the bedposts while he couldn't see.

"Hey, what?" he reacted and looked up over his head and realized I'd tied his wrists to them with his tie and belt.

"No touching … yet," I said and smiled.

He chuckled. "Oh, you're so bad."

I straddled him and rocked my hips as he stared up at me.

"Holy—" he gasped, and he looked torn between wanting to close his eyes in pleasure, and also not wanting to look away from me. He also involuntarily struggled lightly against his bonds, unable to resist the urge to feel me.

He moved with me, trying to speed up the pace, but I couldn't help my mischievous smile as I resisted his speed and instead moved agonizingly slow.

"Ohh, this is torture, babe," he said, but I only giggled in response.

"Good."

Edward gave in then, overwhelmed. His eyes closed as he focused on the feeling, pressing himself further into the mattress. "This is too intense. You're too good—"

"Don't hold back. We've got time to recharge," I told him and leaned down again. My hair fell forward and teased his bare chest.

I watched with satisfaction as he lost himself to the pleasure.

"I—Gotcha!"

Before I realized what was going on, Edward flipped me over, having somehow slipped out of his bonds.

"How did you—?"

"My secret." He held up his tie and grinned at me. "You want a turn?"

We entwined on the bed once more, completely giving in to our whims and desires as the fire crackled and smoldered in the background.

The next morning, I left the room intending to find some breakfast for Edward and myself when I ran straight into Leah who was holding a piece of paper in her hand.

"Leah?" I was shocked to see her there, and I was also wearing Edward's dress pants and shirt so it was more than obvious to her what I'd been doing during the night.

"I found it," she said, completely ignoring my attire. "My mother's room. It's listed right here. She was here on New Year's Eve six years ago. Room 278." She nodded down the hall. "Right there."

"Whoa…" I said, not able to get anything more intelligent out.

The two of us walked over to the door and looked at it. Leah reached into her pocket and took out a key card.

"Leah, let's do this."

"You're with me?"

"Of course. I wouldn't leave you to do this on your own. Edward can wait for his breakfast."

"Thank you." She swiped the key card and the door opened. We stepped inside cautiously, but it was only a regular, standard hotel room.

Leah looked sadly at the tidy room with the sheets folded. There was no sign of an inhabitant. "Huh," she said.

"What is it?"

"I thought I'd feel something. Anything. But…" She sat down on the bed. "Nothing."

"Leah, I…"

"Wait … what the hell?"

I followed her gaze off the bed to where a runic sigil of a dragon had been burned into the wall. The same symbol as the one on her dossier.

She reached out and touched it reverently. "When they cleaned up the room after my mother died, they would've painted over this."

"It must have been made long after. But what does it mean? Why is it here?"

"I think it's marking something." Leah pressed down against the wall and a secret panel clicked and sprung open, revealing a hidden camera.

"Did … did your mother…?" I couldn't get the entire question out, shell-shocked by seeing the camera, and also wondering if there was one in the room Edward and I had been in last night.

"I don't know. But I'm going to find out." She reached in behind the camera and unhooked the flash drive. Then she walked over to the TV and put it in a slot in the side.

"Hang one, Leah, maybe we should wait and—" Before I could finish, though, the TV was on and running.

On it, I could see a view of the same room as we were in but from the angle of the camera. The date on the bottom read 2011 Dec 31.

I could barely make out the bed and a woman sitting on it.

"So how'd it go?" she said, and the sound from the footage was really bad, but at least we heard words.

Next to me, Leah trembled.

"Mom?" she said to the screen and touched it where the woman was.

A second woman entered the frame and sat down next to Susan. What was shocking was that it was Alice.

"He did it, Sue! He offered me the job. I'm gonna be his special assistant!"

Susan's face split into a grainy smile. "Yes! Now you're free to come and go from El Jardín as you please. You can go out into the world and spread the truth! Maybe even smuggle me out of here."

Alice shifted. "About that … are you sure you want to do this?"

Susan looked at her sternly. "Alice, I told you what his plans are. What he's been doing. All the people he's hurt … killed." Susan reached into a hidden slot in her bag and took out a small, plastic thumb drive.

"This is everything?"

"All the evidence I've gathered so far, yes. Everything he's really doing here. Everything he plans to do."

Alice looked at the thumb drive. "Such a small thing…"

"But big enough. You just need to get to a journalist."

Alice put a hand on Susan's shoulder. "I'm scared for you, Sue. You ask me to do this, there's no turning back."

Susan pulled Alice into a hug. "Come on, Alice. We both know there was never any turning back."

"Yeah, I guess you're right."

A sudden bang nearly broke the TV's speakers.

Susan pulled back from the hug and looked down. Even on the fuzzy screen, I could see the red stain spreading on her stomach, as well as the pistol in Alice's hand.

"I'm sorry, Sue."

"Alice … how could you…?"

Alice stood up and aimed the gun at Susan's forehead. "I told you to stop. I begged you. Why did you have to betray him?" She looked away from Susan and pulled the trigger again.

Leah's mom crumbled on to the bed and remained unmoving.

Leah and I sat there, complete stunned, staring at the TV.

"Oh my god…" I gasped. "Alice … she … it was…"

Next to me, Leah's eyes hardened with pure hate and rage. Her hands balled into fists as her nostrils flared.

"Leah, I'm so—"

We heard footsteps, and we looked over to the room's open doorway only to see Alice arrive with a tray of eggs and pancakes.

"Good morning, you two!" she greeted as chirpily as ever. "I made everyone some breakfast." Her eyes traveled to the TV screen, which was freeze-framed on her standing over Susan's body.

Her expression went cold, and she just stood there with the tray at the door, perfectly still. Her eyes moved from the screen to Leah, quaking with rage.

A/N:

Holy macaroni!

So, Leah's mission from the start was to investigate her mom's death, and she's such a badass because she was raised by her uncle and killed dictators with him :-O

Emmett's just adorable, isn't he?

Peter and Rosalie finally kissed! How many have waited for that?

And Alice? Alice killed Leah's mom? On Cullen's orders? Not good. Not good.

Leah's furious and Alice is her target!

What do you hope will happen in the next chapter?

Until next time,

Stay Awesome!