Bella sprinted out of the hospital parking lot as fast as her scrawny legs could carry her. The cool air stung her face and arms, but she didn't even consider going back for her coat. She deserved to suffer after what she'd done to Edward. By morning, everyone would know what she had done. would ban her from the hospital. Jasper and Alice would make her life a living hell at school. Life as she knew it was over. Once again she'd chosen to allow her past to ruin her future.
Not wanting to go home, Bella turned towards the woods. Was it just three months ago that Edward had taken her hiking? He took her to his favorite place on earth. It was a meadow filled with blooming flowers and butterflies. They whiled away the hours talking, holding hands, and looking for shapes in the clouds. It was the most at peace Bella had felt in years. She wished more than anything that it was possible to go back to that idyllic summer afternoon.
The woods had changed a lot since school started. A storm had uprooted several trees and washed away the main hiking path. The leaves had gone from green to red to gone. All Bella could think about as she raced passed the bare trees was the bald spot on the back of Edward's head. Although the hair loss was shocking, Bella knew the worst was yet to come. She just hoped he would be strong enough to make it though. She couldn't bear to think about the alternative.
Bella stopped running when her bootlace came undone. She knelt to tie it and noticed a large wound on her leg. Something in the woods, probably a sharp branch or rock, had sliced deep into her calf. Her pants were soaked in blood. How had she not felt that? The cut had to be at least three centimeters deep. At least this time there wouldn't be anyone to hide it from. Alice, Edward, and Jasper probably didn't care if she lived or died.
Exhausted from the running and blood loss, Bella sat down on a log. The sun had gone down hours earlier causing the temperature to plummet. Though stylish, the Gucchi t-shirt she was wearing didn't offer much protection from the wind. It had been a stupid idea not to return for her jacket. Emotions had once again clouded her judgment. Now she was going to freeze to death in the woods. She'd never get the chance to make things right with Edward.
Bella stood up and looked around. All she saw was endless miles of trees and scraggly bushes. At over 40,000 acres, Fork's Forest Preserve was one of the largest wooded areas in the state. Tourists, unaware of the sheer cliffs and rapidly changing weather, went missing every year. There were search parties, but few were ever found. Bella knew there would be no search party for her. No one cared when foster kids went missing.
Eager to get home to her warm bed, Bella kept walking. The woods that had seemed so magical during the summer now seemed terrifying. According to local legend, the Forks Forest Preserve was home to a pack of bear sized wolves. The pack ate anyone who dared wander into the woods after dark. If the wolves got you there was nothing anyone could do to save you. The story was often repeated to keep curious children out of the woods. If only someone had come up with a story scary enough to keep Bella out of the woods.
Bella wasn't worried about wolves, but she was worried about bears. She'd once found a grizzly bear cub while hiking with her father. It would have been adorable had she not been so afraid. Her father, who wasn't frozen in place, grabbed Bella by the hand. They raced out of the woods before the mama bear noticed them standing next to her den. That was the last time she ever saw her father. Bella was on her own this time. Her father and Edward weren't around to save her. She would have to rely on her wits if she wanted to make it out alive.
After hours of walking, Bella was no closer to home than she had been at the start of the night. She still couldn't see the lights from town or any familiar landmarks. Edward had never taken her anywhere near that part of the woods. They always stuck to the southern edge of the woods. The paths were clearly marked and they got wifi if they were close enough to the Cullen's mansion. Nothing bad ever happened in that part of the woods. Bella knew that if she didn't find her way out soon something horrible would happen to her.
Bella looked up at the sky. As if being lost wasn't bad enough, storm clouds had drifted in from the south. The moon, a mere sliver in the sky, slipped behind a cloud leaving her in near-complete darkness. Lacking the strength to continue, Bella took shelter under a pine tree. The scrawny branches offered little protection from the ice-cold rain. For the second time that night, she saw a broken arrow cut into the trunk. Her suspicions were confirmed, she was going in circles.
Bella curled up under the tree and thought back to the last day of freshman year. Alice, fearing they would lose touch of the summer, offered to buy Bella a cell phone. Bella didn't think she needed a phone. She wasn't allowed on social media and had no money to pay for a plan. The landline was enough for her. Alice said argued that Bella would die without a phone. Bella never could have imagined a scenario where that would be true.
Bella leaned back against the tree and closed her eyes. Being lost was exhausting. Her muscles ached and her leg felt like it was being stabbed by a hot poker. All she needed was a few minutes of sleep. She'd wake up recharged and ready to find a way back home. Bella drifted off to sleep with the sound of racing water as her lullaby. For the first all-night she felt warm.
"Wake up!" Edward exclaimed.
Bella opened her eyes and sat straight up. Could it be possible? Had Edward come to save her?
"Edward?" She called. "Is that you?"
With her heart racing, Bella scanned the trees. Edward had once jumped in front of a speeding car to save his sister. Alice walked away without a scratch, but Edward ended up with a badly broken arm. He spent the entire summer in a cast. Bella understood saving Alice, but why would Edward risk his life to save her? Her life wasn't worth the price he was willing to pay.
"Go home!" Bella cried. " It isn't safe out here! There are wolves!"
Bella listened for a reply, but hear nothing except the bubbling of a nearby river. Figuring it was all just a dream, She laid down and went back to sleep.
"Wake up!" Edward shouted a second time."Please come back to me!"
Bella scrambled to her feet. Could Edward have somehow managed to follow her? It was far too cold for him out there. She had to get him back to the hospital before it was too late.
"Edward? Bella called. "Where are you?"
Bella saw Edward. He was standing on the other side of the river. Behind him, she could see a bright light. It had to be Forks. Edward was showing her the way home.
"I'm here," Edward said. "Come to me."
Edward opened his arms and gestured for Bella to come. All was forgiven. Ignoring the pain in her leg, Bella jogged towards him. She only made it a few steps before the bridge collapsed. Bella and the rotten wood of the bridge plunged into the icy water below.
Bella tried to fight her way towards shore, but the current was too strong. A night of rain had transformed the shallow creek into a raging river. Bella fought to keep her head above water while the river fought to drag her away. Her lungs filled with water and her limbs went numb. A blow to her head sapped away the last of her strength. Bella closed her eyes and stopped fighting. After 16 years of fighting tooth and nail, it was time to give up. At least she got to see Edward one last time.
