I don't own Twilight, the rest is all me.
9.
Alice's POV
My boots clomp loudly against the tile floor. As I turn another corner, I glance in the tiny windows on the patient's doors. Some of the people shake, sitting with their knees pulled to their chests in a corner. Others scream, sometimes jumping around the room. They call out to shadows and images that aren't there - a few look to the door when they catch a glimpse of me, running closer to get a better peek.
I stop abruptly and watch as a boy about the same age as Bella breaths across the glass, fogging it up. He puts his palm to it, causing an imprint. It seems so silly, like a school boy merely saying hello.
I walk over to the door and press my own hand back, my return greeting. He makes a silly face, laughing - his teeth show as he throws his head back. For once in a long time, I feel light. Some tinge of a forgotten emotion surfaces and I can practically taste my humanity. Though, there's no money or shopping, no makeovers, fancy cars or jewelry.
But the moment dwindles away as it always does for someone like me. When the laughter bubbles up in my throat I accidently reveal my sharp teeth and the boy scampers away as quickly as he came. I gather myself up, trying not to let it get to me. But it does...it does.
When I turn around, Edward stands beside me holding out a hand and I launch myself in his arms, hugging him, hoping that the ache of all this will fade away just as the moment did.
Edward, of course, knows what I'm thinking. "You're not the monster, I am."
"I have to do this, Edward."
"No, you don't."
I start to say something more but Carlisle and Charlie have caught up to us, and I turn back down the hall. Knocking on the office door, I hear a rough voice answer, "Come in."
Jasper's POV
It's sprinkling outside. Emmett, Rose, and I are waiting...watching. We have to make this John character think he's safe. The memories of hunting like this are distant, but as I crouch here in the trees I can't help but remember ambushing Yankee soldiers as they marched past us from the road.
There are other memories too. Newborns and Maria come to mind, and though they were much different fights, I smile a bit thinking about this one. How easy it will be. My gaze narrows in on John as he sighs in contentment, smoking his cigarette. One last pleasure for the bastard. One last moment of peace. That should be enough to appease God. I'm an undead confederate, not a saint.
"Now?" Emmett practically vibrates next to me.
John takes one last puff and I nod my head to Rose. "Now."
Rose swiftly glides out of the trees, her heels making a soft clicking noise against the pavement. Strolling over to the target, she stops, bending down to pick up the lipstick tube she dropped. When she slowly rises back up she flashes John a brilliant smile and he shudders, returning one.
"Nice night, isn't it?" She comments.
"Yeah it is. Hey, where'd your friends go?" John returns.
Take the bait...
I blow off some lust toward them - knowing it will be a blast to watch Emmett lose it. John smirks, leaning in just a little too close. Right as his hand reaches out, the moon comes out from behind the clouds and sends a beam directly down, splattering silver across Rose's pale skin. The human's eyes widen and he looks up into her face - her dull yellow eyes locking on his as she grins. The lust works quickly, and her pupils dilate, making the outer rims turn black. She crouches down suddenly, snarling.
Now I wonder: is this a runner, a freezer or a fighter?
The muscles in his legs clamp down and he takes a weird stance, my eyes zone in on the hairs standing at attention on the back of his neck. Emmett slaps me on the back and leaps softly out of the trees, making his way over to his wife. No one over there has moved and a drop of sweat travels down the side of John's face. This time, I send out some aggression.
Whatever gets the party started.
A fierce growl sounds from Emmett and he turns to John, sizing the meat up. I cross my fingers, hoping no random strangers come walking from the hospital right now.
John shudders yet again and his legs break free - letting him take off. Interesting.
Emmett glides after him effortlessly, taking a swipe down the guy's back and a howl resounds as my brother flings the detached skin from his fingers. The smell of blood hits me like a wrecking ball and I tilt my head, sinking my teeth into the tree next to me.
"Faster, Em," I muffle into the bark.
Emmett laughs as he pins the bastard beneath him with his arms, squeezing just enough that the bones in John's arm snap. Another piercing scream starts to come out but Emmett quickly silences him.
"Who...are you?" He gasps, Emmett tossing him lazily to the ground. Emmett smiles darkly as Rose comes up behind him. "Me? Just a ghost."
Rose sneers at John and takes a good stomp to his balls. Another scream starts over the popping sound and they both lean down, again covering his mouth. "You ready, Jazz?" He calls to me and I rip my teeth from the tree and sputter out bark. Yuck.
"You won't get away with this," John hisses, through his teeth. "People can get evidence, fingerprints-"
Walking up to them, I lean over the body. "It's a good thing we don't have fingerprints then." Emmett tears off a leg, as does Rose, and I take the arms. John's screeches fill the cool night air. I smile. "What a waste," Rose says and nods at me. Finally, I snap the human's neck.
"Better find a good spot for this," Emmett states, heading for the trees.
Like I said, I'm an undead confederate, not a saint.
Alice's POV
It takes everything in me not to swing the door so hard that it's knocked off its hinges and splintered against the back wall. Instead, I turn the knob delicately and practically hop into the room. The monster sits at his desk - pink faded in his cheeks.
Carlisle steps forward behind me along with Charlie, and Edward closes the door behind all of us.
"Chief Swan, you know visiting hours ended a while ago."
"Dr. Thompson, my name is Carlisle - Doctor Carlisle Cullen. I'm a friend of Chief Swan's. We were hoping to discuss Bella's release with you. She won't be staying here any longer."
Thompson's eyes narrow like a hawk in on Carlisle's outstretch palm and his eyes rake over all of us, landing back on Charlie. "This is a private hospital, I'm afraid only immediate family is allowed." Charlie swallows.
Edward starts to speak but I press my foot down on his hard and he glares at me. I step up in front of everyone and bat my eyelashes dramatically at the asshole. "Doctor, my name's Alice, I'm Carlisle's daughter - Bella is my best friend."
He smiles appreciatively.
Carlisle lowers his voice so no humans will hear, "Alice..."
"Just can it, take Charlie with you when you leave."
"There's another way, Alice," Edward pleads.
"I don't care."
As they try to reason with me, I spot a video camera in the corner.
"Alice's - he's still another life, we can't play God - what if-"
Letting their voices skip off my like skipping stones, I end the conversation and speak loudly to Thompson, "I was wondering if I could speak to you privately, I was in a facility once and I was told you came highly recommended."
The rat's face lights up like Christmas tree and Carlisle tries to protest again but I interrupt with a whisper, "You guys - if you truly care for Bella, you'll let me do this. Edward, I may already be a monster in your eyes but I'm not that kind of monster and I won't become one by letting this go."
"I can't support killing someone," Carlisle argues.
Stunned by my sweet breath, Thompson recovers and replies, "Gentleman would you mind stepping out for a minute?"
Charlie's started. "Alice, I really need to talk to the doctor about getting Bella released."
"Don't worry, this will only take a minute." My eyes even in on Thompson.
Carlisle finally nods, and they all leave the room. As they leave, I whisper, "I don't expect you to want me to kill anyone, you know."
"I know," he replies quietly as he shuts the door.
"As the door clicks, I whirl on Thompson. "Now, we're going to play a little game."
"What the-"
I yank his white jacket up so that his face is level with mine. "You have five minutes to sign the forms for Bella Swan. After, you're going to head home. Do I make myself clear?"
He stutters out a "yes, of course" as terrified as he is. Letting go of him, I watch as he fidgets anxiously in his chair and open the door.
As I come out, Edward eyes me warily and states, "Thank you, Alice."
"No need, I'm not doing it for you."
"I know," he says quietly. "Just...thank you for loving her that much - I...I can't be that kind of monster, either." I finally feel like he's letting me in, and I take a closer look - watching the curtain pull back to reveal just a small boy. And he is a young boy, in so many ways.
Five minutes later, I remember the video-camera. That bastard's time is up. Edward and I both look up as Carlisle and Charlie exit the office, Carlisle holding the key to Bella's room. "We're done here, you two get ready to go. It's time to get her things."
As I peep in the door, Thompson looks up at me. He's running around, gathering random papers, putting them in his bag. "I'm on my way out the door now."
"Good."
He practically scrambles out the door, locking it behind him. I almost scoff out loud, like that will stop me.
As soon as he rounds the corner, I'm turning the lock so hard that I hear it crush and snap under my fingers. Prancing over to the window, I turn off the security camera before ripping it out of the wall. Edward meets up with my pace as I leave. "I need Jasper to come with me," I tell him before he can argue.
Nodding, he tells me, "I'm going to help, Alice. I know what you did with the car."
"I can't ask you to leave Bella, Edward."
As we turn the corner to the lobby, I walk over to Esme - who has a hold of Bella. There's something bewitching about seeing someone sleep, the peace of it.
I think I understand your obsession, Edward.
Charlie comes over, glancing at Esme carefully. He runs a hand over the top of Bella's hair. "I'll take her." Esme carefully gathers her up and hands her over.
Edward walks up beside me again. "You're not asking me, I'm telling you - I'm going."
"Haven't you figured out that not everything is about you?"
He bows his head as though I've punched him in the gut, breathing out carefully. "If she's not going to be there to watch, then I will be. You understand?"
He waits for my answer and as I start to protest he interrupts.
"Look, I don't need permission. I just thought after the last extreme decision I made concerning her well-being that I would at least get your input this time."
"Funny, you're not listening to it..." I trail off sarcastically, studying my nails.
"Jasper would want to be there if you were in her position."
"Fine, come with us," I pause, thinking, and then add, "I would want Jasper to be there if I couldn't be."
Everyone moves to the door and I glance up when I hear the soft padding of feet on grass. Jasper, Rose and Emmett have just come from the trees in fresh clothes. My husband takes my hand in his and we head to the Volvo.
We run through the forest, Jasper pulling out his construction jacket and hardhat just before snapping his fingers at Edward, who tosses the stop sign to him. Before coming here, we had made a quick stop at a costume shop.
We make it to the edge of the highway; Thompson should be here any second. The sound of Don't Fear the Reaper can be heard down the road. I turn to Jazz, who waves a hand dismissively at me. "I know what to do, darlin'."
He darts out onto the highway and stands patiently in the middle, already flagging his arms and the stop-sign in the air for the car to slow. We're just lucky this guy doesn't live in the city.
Thompson rolls down his window and snaps at Jasper. "Kid, it's pouring out here! Just let me pass and it'll be between us." Jasper bends over, jerking the car door open violently.
"Easy, Jazz," I warn in a calm voice.
"Excuse me, " Jasper says, reaching one arm to the door and rolling up the window. He yanks the keys out of the ignition and slams the door so that it's jammed. For a second, I think of telling Jazz to do the same to the other two doors but Edward halts me.
"This one's not going anywhere - he's too frightened to do anything."
Jasper walks back to us now, ignoring the shouts and screams of the man caged inside his own car. "You better get the show on the road, Alice. He's pulling out the cell phone."
"The hell he is," I snarl, stalking out onto the road in front of the car.
"Open the door!"
I pull out the sleek remote from my pocket and dangle it hazardously in front of his face. The man's eyes widen in terror and he catches a glimpse of Jasper and Edward walking up beside me. My eyes fix on his, boring judgment into them.
"He's asking us to let him go," Edward murmurs. "After all this time, he still wants sympathy." Bitterness lingers in the air.
If I go through with this, I'll be crossing a line. If I go through with this, what will Carlisle say? Worse, what won't he say? My fingers circle the button. Just push it, it's not that hard.
But I can't push it, and shift away instead. "It's going to be okay, honey," Jazz tells me.
Edward takes my palm, prying the remote out of it. He grins widely through the windshield at Thompson and finally presses the button. We move away as the yellow flare lights up the sky.
My voice is lost on me as we reach the woods, tracking the way back to the Volvo on the other side. The peace finally gets the best of me, "You must think I'm a coward."
As Jasper wraps an arm around my waist, Edward looks to me - a reverence in his eyes. "No, I don't."
