-Bella-
I couldn't control it anymore, the sobs racked through my body, shaking me as I gasped for breath. I felt like I was drowning like the air was something that didn't exist anymore and the only thing that did was the water that was pulling me under. I had been swimming for so long that I forgot what it would be like to stop and when what I was running from caught up to me it pulled me under fast. I was scared to fight, I was scared to watch the people that I loved die. I was scared of the unknown. I didn't know how it had all come down to this simple moment, me sobbing on Jacob's chest, his arms wrapping around me as the only anchor that I had holding me here. I had tried, tried to be strong, tried to make sense of things, and tell myself that none of this was real. But, it was and as the realization set in I realized that I was holding so much, and as I pulled my eyes up to meet Jacob's I realized that I felt so much freer. He smiled his lopsided grin at me, his soil-brown eyes boring into mine. I was spent, and all of my energy was gone. I put my head back down on his chest and sleep pulled me down into the first dreamless night I had had in months.
-Alice-
I couldn't tell her, I didn't know if it was something that was just another thread in the knot. I couldn't bring myself to make sense of what it would mean for what I had seen. I stepped away from her door as I heard the sobs tear through her small body. I knew she needed this, she needed to let it out. She needed to be strong and ready mentally and emotionally. Jasper and I headed out to hunt. I wasn't sure how much bloodshed there would be, especially against my own brother, but I needed to be prepared for the people that were around us. I needed to be able to focus and keep Bella alive. Jasper and I run through the woods, pine tingling my nose until I smell the familiar grunge of a deer. Dirt-filled fur and hot coursing blood pumped the heart that I could hear the closer that we approached. As I pounced on the unsuspected prey I realized that this was what Bella must feel like, an innocent animal with no advantage going up against something so terrifying. Worse, somebody that she loved. Edward had always warned her how "bad" he was, how he was never the right fit for her, I loved her too much to agree. I was selfish, I wanted her to be a part of our family. I wanted her to be one of us, even though I knew that would destroy her. Most of all, I wanted her to be happy no matter what that would entail for her, and I was ecstatic when I found out that she was going to be living the human life that I had always envisioned her living, even if it was with a dog. Jasper and I head back just as the morning sun is glowing on the tops of the changing trees. October always was my favorite month, the time that we got to come out and witness the World's version of vampires, and the clouds were generally covering the sun while it rained. It has been unusually sunny the past couple of days. I breathe in the crisp air and walk back towards the house.
-Jacob-
I didn't remember falling asleep, and I woke up with Bella passed out on my side, her legs draped over me, head tucked in my arm. I kiss her forehead gently and ease myself out from under her and head outside to check in with the pack. Tomorrow is the day, yet none of us even know what to prepare for, I will have to check in with Alice more later today. I stalk into the woods and strip down, leaving my shorts against a tree trunk and phase-my mind immediately racked with voices.
"Jesus, Jake where have you been?"
"All of us have been worried, what is the plan?"
"What are we doing?"
"Where is this even happening?"
"ENOUGH!"
I jump a bit as Sam's voice booms in my head, a sudden silence ensues and I remember that I can think again, that my brain can make thoughts other than the voices that are ringing constantly in my mind. Everybody waits for either Sam or me to break the silence, one of us to say something other than the fact that we didn't know. Nothing was known, we were just as unsure as they were. We didn't know how many there were going to be, or what their plan was, all we had was ballpark numbers. A guesstimate of days, an unsure number of a vampire army. The silence stretched between us as we all wondered the same thing.