So this chapter was meant to be short...but what are you going to do? lol Once I started writing I just couldn't stop. Hope you like, everyone! I'm away for the weekend so no more updates til next week I'm afraid, but I will be on a train for long periods of time so plenty of opportunites for me to get the next chapter written.
Disclaimer:-Basic plot: Property of Disney. Words and waffle:Property of me!
The world seemed to part for Bella as she ran towards the stark grey building. All around her were people she knew and didn't know and wouldn't recognise even if she wanted to. She felt as if she was in a bubble—cut off from the noise and bustle of the villagers around her by an invisible aqueous skin. Tears of anxiety and guilt had left silvery trails of moisture down her cheeks. Her tired legs protested with every step as if she had been running forever. The brutal double doors that marked the entrance to the hospital were now within her sight and she ran to them, vaguely aware that her flustered form flying forwards was drawing strange looks and whispers from every direction. She laughed bitterly. What else was new?
She hardly felt the cool metal of the door handle beneath her fingertips as she yanked the door open. Standing in the reception area, her bubble burst. Noises—beeps, mutterings, shouts, moans—they all wrapped themselves around her head and she was reminded all too sharply why she was here.
"Morris Verte," she blurted to the receptionist who had just put down the phone and was now eyeing her up and down with raised eyebrows. Bella realised wearily that she was still wearing full make-up and a formal dress. Her hair, so elegantly pinned earlier on, was now hanging unevenly round her face.
"Morris Verte?" repeated the receptionist.
"Yes, where is he? Is he ok?"
"And are you a friend or relative?" the woman said in an irritatingly monotonous tone.
"I'm his daughter."
"Hmmm…….let's see…." She began typing and looking at the computer screen in front of her. Was it Bella's imagination or was she taking far too long? Everything had slowed down rather quickly after the sheer franticness of the last half hour and Bella suddenly felt woozy. She closed her eyes and swallowed hard.
"Are you alright, Miss? You look pale."
"I'm fine. Just, please, tell me where my father is."
"Recovery room six. Down the hall and to the left, then through two sets of double doors, take another left and its right in front of you."
"Thank-you."
Bella started to run again, but was abruptly halted by the no-nonsense tone of the receptionist.
"Miss? Miss! Could you not run please? This is a hospital, not a race-course."
"Oh! S…sorry…" flushed Bella and she slowed her pace just enough so that it couldn't be classified as running. The directions stamped themselves into her head as she walked down the corridors and through the doors. The hospital walls were too white-it hurt her swollen eyes to look at them. Teamed with the harsh glare of the overhead lights, the effect was stifling. She did her best to focus on her approaching goal—a nice tranquil wooden door with 'Recovery Room Six' emblazoned on it.
Recovery Room.
Recovery.
That had to be a positive thing, right?
Bella took a deep breath and finally escaped the bright glare of the corridor. She walked into the room.
"Bella? Is that you?" said a voice from a bed in the corner.
"Daddy!"
Bella ran to his bedside, almost tripping up on her heels. Her father was sitting up in bed, a thin smile on his wan face. It took all his effort to take her hand in his and let her cry on his shoulder. He felt her tears melt through his night gown. He also felt like crying but it would not be right for a daughter to witness her father's tears, so he willed them away and they obeyed.
"I thought I'd never see you again," he choked.
"Oh, Daddy, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
Morris was touched by her childlike whispers. More and more tears flowed from her eyes. Her mascara started to run. Morris gently moved her face from his shoulder and looked her in the eyes.
"What on earth have you got to be sorry about, my girl? None of this is your fault…Wait, that man…that thing…how did you get away?"
Bella froze as she suddenly remembered the last thing she had seen before leaving the house—Bastian's eyes, beautiful and full of pain.
"It's not important right now. I'm here, that's all that matters," she said, trying her best to stop her voice from shaking. Morris nodded in agreement.
"I was so worried about you, what would happen to you. I thought about calling the police so many times but…"
Bella silenced him with a gentle shhhhhhh and put a delicate finger to his lips.
"It doesn't matter now."
She didn't want to think of the hows and whys and the events that had led them up to this point. All that mattered was here and now.
"Are you going to be ok?"
"The doctors said I had a minor heart attack…."
A loud sob escaped from Bella's lips.
"…but I'm making good progress. They think I should be able to go home within the week."
"Oh, thank god! You're really going to be ok?"
"That's what they said. I got to the hospital really quickly, thanks to Tristan."
"Tristan?"
The mention of his name sent Bella's brain into weary panic mode.
"Yes. He was the one who found me. Of course, I don't remember much about it. I think I fell right into his arms. Must have scared the poor lad half to death."
"So…he rescued you?"
"Well…yes…I guess you could put it like that. He's a good kid, you know. Maybe you should reconsider…"
Morris' words were drowned out as the subject of their conversation flung the door open with a flourish. He marched in with a beaming smile and a small bouquet of flowers in his hand.
"How are you, old man?"
He stopped as he noticed Bella looking a complete mess at her father's side.
"Hi Tristan" she said weakly.
"Bella? My god! Where have you been? The whole town's talking about your mysterious disappearance."
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you" she smiled, and she was glad to see that he smiled back. Maybe this was one area of her life she could have some control over.
"Tristan, can I talk to you outside for a moment?"
"Sure." he said, placing the flowers on the bed beside Morris.
"I'll be right back, Father." She leant forwards and kissed his frail cheek, then she beckoned Tristan to follow her out of the room.
. Once they were in the relative security of the corridor outside, she studied his face. His strikingly blue eyes looked tired as if he hadn't been getting much sleep. She grimaced as she noticed a faded red hand mark on his cheek.
"Listen…I…I just wanted to thank you for finding him and bringing him here. I know you didn't have to, especially after the way I've been treating you lately. So…er…thanks, it means a lot to me that you were there for my father when…when I couldn't be."
"You're welcome" he said, and he moved forward to give her a hug. Gratefully, Bella accepted. It felt good to know that she might be able to count Tristan as a friend finally. His arms felt so safe that for a moment she didn't want to leave. They separated, and he leant in towards her, smelling her natural perfume before he placed his lips on hers. Her heart sank as she realised what he was up to and she gently but firmly pulled away.
"No…no.…."
"Yes, Bella, yes. Come on, you know you want to" and he leant in again. This time, her reaction was stronger.
"I said no, Tristan"
In an instant, his mood changed. He stared at her, a tempest starting to replace the calmness in his eyes. The red mark on his cheek seemed to glow a little. His breathing quickened.
"Is this the thanks I get for everything I've done? Your father might be dead now if it wasn't for me. Tell me Bella, how does it feel to know that you weren't there for your father when he truly needed you?", he snarled.
Tears started to well up in Bella's eyes once more, but this time they were full of anger. They scalded her cheeks with their heat.
"How dare you! You don't even know what I've been through."
"Let's face facts, Bella. Your fathers been in that house all alone and ill for god knows how long and meanwhile you've been dancing around with some guy in the woods. Not very daughter-like, was it?"
He revelled as her facial expression changed to one of shock.
"How did you…?"
"I know more than you think, Bella, and I'm sure that Social Services would love to hear all about it. Some people call it elder abuse.--the poor old man left all alone while his only daughter prefers to fuck some tramp."
Bella's palm flew swiftly towards Tristan's cheek but this time he caught her wrist inches from his face.
"Nice try. As if I'd let you do that to me again…come to think of it, I could probably get you done for assault too."
He released her arm, throwing it roughly back towards her. Bella's head was swimming with disbelief. Tristan had never been the nicest of guys but she would never have thought him capable of such spite.
"Why are you doing this?" she asked, choking on her tears. "What have I ever done to you?"
"Humiliated me, in front of everyone, time and time again. Repeatedly refused to have anything to do with me. I have feelings too, you know, Bella! And besides, I'm just being a good citizen."
The words coming out of his mouth worried Tristan slightly. He was rather diverting from the plan that he and his father had carefully concocted earlier. He didn't want to hurt her. Why did she have to be so stubborn? He found himself reaching out to comfort her, wanting to feel the warmth of her tears on his shoulder, but she flinched away.
"Bella…it doesn't have to be like this. I don't have to do anything. I really don't want to."
"Then why…?"
He shushed her as if shushing a baby.
"I'll tell you what. I won't say anything to the authorities if…."he trailed off.
"If what?"
"If you marry me."
"What?"
"Ok, fine! If you promise to be my girl. We'd be so good together, Bella. Why can't you see that?"
"You unimaginable asshole!" hissed Bella, unaware she was twisting an unseen dagger into his already scarred heart with every word. "I will never…NEVER…go out with you!"
Tristan fought his hardest against the tears in his eyes, instead allowing fury to rise up from within him.
"Have it your way!" he roared.
Bella laughed, her anger clearing her mind and allowing her to realise that Tristan's threats were empty.
"I never neglected my father and he'll say that as well. You've got nothing against me. Why can't you just leave me alone?"
Tristan had had a slight feeling that his pitiful attempts at blackmail wouldn't work. After all, that had been his idea and he was awful with planning. Time to move onto Plan B-the truth.
"It's because of him, isn't it?"
"What?" said Bella, rapidly tiring of the conversation and desperately craving something with caffeine in it.
"Your dirty little boyfriend whose company you prefer over your father."
Bella sighed.
"I'm not listening to this. Go home, Tristan."
She didn't know where he'd got his information and she didn't care. It seemed clear to her that he was merely clutching at straws now. She started to walk down the corridor.
"He'll hurt you, Bella. He's not who you think he is."
She tried not to listen, but he bounded up behind her and whispered poison in her ear.
"I know him. He's a murderer."
That word stopped Bella dead in her tracks for it was at the very root of all her fears and doubts about Bastian. It scared her far more that Tristan or the woods. It froze her to her very core. Tristan was in front of her now, his hands on her shoulders, his eyes looking straight into hers.
"I didn't want to tell you but you've left me no choice. He killed his parents, Bella!"
…They looked so peaceful that I thought they were asleep. As I got closer, I noticed identical gunshot wounds in their foreheads…
"Why…why should I believe anything you tell me?" gasped Bella, struggling to force air into her lungs.
"Because it's the truth, I swear. My dad used to take me and Camilla round there when we were little to play with him whilst he sorted out business deals. He was always weird. And then about then years ago, his parents were found dead. The killer was never found. They said it was a hit man, and do you know why? Because it was him. It was all a cover-up. Why do you think I won't go anywhere near those woods?"
Bella looked into his startlingly blue eyes, searching for lies but she saw none. He truly believed in every word he was saying. Memories of the past few days flew through her head in a montage.
Bastian's inability to come to terms with his parents death. His social exclusionShe shuddered as she remembered how he'd told her that Mrs. Potter did not call the police. The anger and cruelty that had been in his eyes when she'd first met him. The ease at which he'd fought off those youths who had attacked her in the forest. It was all making too much sense for her to bear.
"But…he wouldn't. He couldn't…"
"How long have you known him, Bella? A few days? A week at the most? How could you possible know what he's really capable of?"
"No…No…" was all Bella could say. She was now sitting on the floor, hugging her knees tightly to her chest with Tristan holding her gently.
"I don't believe it."
"Jesus, Bella! Have you really let yourself fall for his tricks? His lies? Just thinking of you spending a few hours with that creep makes my blood boil. You could have ended up in the same place as his parents."
He groaned.
"Why did I let you go into those woods? If he had killed you, it would have been all my fault. Thank god, you're alive."
Bella looked across at him. He was shaking with emotion. She'd never seen him so vulnerable.
"And the police…letting him get away with it all these years. It's sickening."
His face was red. His eyes blackened before her. Suddenly he leapt to his feet; a frightening grin plastered onto his face. Bella sensed all too well what he was thinking of doing. She scrambled to her feet beside him.
"Tristan, no!"
She tried to turn his face towards her but he shrugged it off.
"Tristan…TRISTAN!" her heart screamed after him. He stopped and faced her one last time.
"He's dangerous, Bella. He's a monster. He's finally going to get what's been coming to him," he said, steely determination locked in his eyes, and with that he marched down the corridor.
Bella sunk to the ground, a quivering wreck. What on earth should she do now?
Duh-dun!
My thanks once again to Trudi for being my beta on this chapter and also for helping me out with a bit that didn't quite work before. Hope it does now!
Ok, another group review cos I've got to get off this computer before my eyes go all square. Hope this chapter makes up for the incredible shortness of the previous one. Got a feeling the next one will be long too! Thanks for all of your enthusiasm and kind words. It means loads to me that you all enjoy my writing and take the time to review-especially all the new reviewers that seemed to have popped up recently! Thanks, you guys rock! So, Damian, Faith, Trudi, Nuintincowen, Rosakara, RoxyFoxyChick and Isabella-this chapter is dedicated to you. Enjoy!
