"Damn," Bella cried into the air. She had been so close to escape. Now she couldn't leave. She owed Jessica. If she were any less human she would run away and leave Jess to her own fate.
Bella stood still in the threshold of the room, and breathed deeply. She couldn't smell her.
She listened, discarding the crickets outside, the scratches from inside the wall…
The scratches! Bella threw her fist through the wood, hearing it splinter. She shuddered as several mice ran out of the ruin, scolding her in their little piping voices.
"Jess," Bella called. "Jess?"
"Bella, stop."
The man was back. He smiled sardonically at her. "I see you were freed. I hate being thwarted. But," he shrugged, "It is still a good game."
"A game?" Bella whispered, her features twisting. "A game? A fucking game is Monopoly or Go Fish. This isn't a game. My best friend is somewhere, somewhere you know, and I have to save her! Let her go. Keep me. Please."
If this guy had an ego, Bella would play to it. She spilled onto her knees, and clasped her hands as though in prayer. "Please."
The man stared coldly at her. "Get up. Groveling doesn't help. It hasn't helped any of the others."
"Others?" Bella said, looking down the hall, where more doors led to rooms. "You… you have others here?"
He cackled. "Yes indeed. You didn't think you were the only one, did you?"
All Bella could think was, oh Edward. Are you one of them?
I don't know where to go from here. Any suggestions would be much loved! Thank you!