When I awoke I wasn't expecting Edward to be there, and he wasn't. I had fallen asleep in my clothes from the night before, and I felt extra dirty. So, grabbing a clean change of clothes and my bathroom necessities, I made my way towards the small bathroom, preparing for a cold shower.
I discarded my clothes on the floor and shivered a little as the icy water hit my skin. I tried to make it as quick as possible, but get clean all at the same time. I wrapped myself in a fluffy towel and stepped out, attempting to bring the warmth back to my body.
Today was the hunting day. I knew they were bound to do this at one point in another. There had to be more than one reason for coming out here. I sighed and changed back into my clean clothes. I ran a brush through my hair and slowly made my way down to the kitchen.
"Edward said to tell you he'd be back as soon as he could." Alice called, as I walked past the living room.
"He's probably having too much fun devouring mountain lions." I grumbled. She gave me a look before returning to the book she was no doubt not paying attention to. Sulking, I pulled out a box of cereal and began munching on it.
I could sneak out and go find him. Spy. No doubt I'd get caught, but I was too curious, and I wasn't about to sit around here for who knows how long. I set the opened box on the counter and made my way to the door. I shoved my feet into my shoes and threw the door open.
"I'm going for a walk." I called.
"Want me to come?" Alice asked, peering at me from the living room doorway. I shook my head.
"No. I'll be back in a little bit, I promise." Without waiting for an answer, I was out the door and running towards the woods.
All right. I was out of the house. Now where should I look for him at? This mountain was huge, and I doubt they'd be anywhere close by, which meant that I would be doing a lot of walking.
I figured I wasn't missing much, so it would be all right for me to walk slow and take my time. I liked to think of it as taking a little nature walk. Only I hoped to be seeing more than just birds and bugs. I was anxious, and I was terrified. What if he was right? What if he did lose all control? How did I know I could stop him?
I shuddered and pulled my jacket closer around me, as if it would help protect me. As I walked, I heard the snarling, but I didn't pay attention to it. I simply told myself that it was my imagination trying to get to me. When I heard it again, followed by heavy footsteps, I had to stop and turn around.
A scream caught in my throat as the large animal stared me down. Teeth bared, it was crouching low in a pounce. I knew I couldn't run, but I couldn't just stand there either. I felt my heart accelerate, but it wasn't a good kind of accelerate. I was scared to death.
"Edward?" I knew he couldn't hear me, but I tried anyway. I was desperate. I needed saved from this thing before it attacked me. Not knowing what else to do, I backed myself up against a tree, never taking my eyes off of it.
It shifted its weight, and before I could blink it leapt at me. I put my arm up, hoping to shield myself. Even though I knew it was a wasted attempt. Surprisingly, the claws never came, and I slowly opened my eyes.
The scene unfolding before me was worse than anything I could ever imagine. It seemed to take less than ten seconds for the lion to stop clawing and scratching at nothing. How he did it, I had no idea. I didn't want to know, actually.
Like a wild savage Edward went for its neck. I felt my stomach churning as I watched in horror. Did he know I was there? Did I want him to know I was there? He'd see me eventually, cowering by the tree. I didn't want to watch, but I yet again I couldn't take my eyes off of it.
How long I sat there, I wasn't sure. But as soon as he was finished, he stood up and his eyes found me. He looked completely foreign to me. I knew I was as white as a ghost, and probably shaking, but I couldn't help it. He tilted his head slightly to the side, and fixed me with a hungry gaze.
Slowly and deliberately, he made his way towards me. He reached for me, and I slapped his hand away.
"No!" I cried, pushing past him. I ran. I didn't care where I went, just as long as I could get away from him. Away from all of them.
"Bella?" I heard him call. I wasn't going to stop, and I wasn't going to answer. But I looked back at him anyway. He hadn't moved, and he looked more confused than anything.
Of course as I ran I stumbled, and I even fell. The knees of my jeans were stained with grass and mud, and my hands were all scratched up. It had to be mid afternoon, which gave me time to wonder where I was going and not have to panic.
Why did they have to live like that? Sure, it was better than feeding off of people, but… He had been right. It wasn't for my eyes and I regret ever wanting to see it. I still felt sick to my stomach, and I knew I'd never be able to get that image out of my mind.
I finally stopped, unable to run anymore. I sunk down onto my knees. I couldn't even stand. He was going to be furious with me later, and I didn't want to have to face him. I just wanted to go home and forgot all of this.
I was close to the house now. But I wanted to try to calm down at least a little bit before going inside. They'd find out, I know they would. But I wasn't going to say anything.
I forced myself to my feet, and my legs felt like rubber. Trying my best not to collapse, I made my way back inside. Alice looked up from her book at the sound of my approach. She knew something was wrong.
"You look worse than I do. Bella, what happened?" I was silent as I sunk down into one of the chairs and stared at my hands. I looked up as Esme stood in the doorway, staring at me.
"Bella." She said softly. I just bit my lip and shook my head. Alice slammed her book shut and stared at me.
"You didn't!" She gasped. I hesitated, but nodded.
"Where's Edward?" Esme asked, sitting next to me and grabbing my hand. I flinched away. I couldn't hold anything against all of them. They really had no choice.
"I don't know." I stammered. "I want to go home. I wish he never brought me here." I sobbed. I felt silly, but I just couldn't hold it in anymore.
"Bella, you should go lay down for a while." Alice said quietly, heaving me to my feet and guiding my upstairs. As soon as she closed the door behind her, I lunged for my bag. I didn't have to pack much, because I hadn't taken much out. But what I did have out, I made sure I put it in my bag. I was going home. I needed to go home.
NOTE: I'm not an expert, and I don't exactly know how the whole "feeding" process would go, so I based it off of what I knew.