They call her Human Torch! Chapter 3

It's funny how your body reacts to things while you are unconscious, I'm sure I shifted all over this bed last night as I slept but it isn't until now that I am awake, that I feel the pain shoot through my joints and muscles. Last night had been night 4 of training and it had started just like all the other nights, I raced against the guys and the result was the same as the other 3 times, they were faster by a couple of seconds. We tested my reflexes and had seen that they were as good as theirs, my balance had not been tested but it didn't need to be, I still had not fallen since I had gotten here, not even when I was running and jumping through the forest and all its uneven, root covered ground. My sight was the first test since all the training had been done at night, it was not as good as theirs but instead of seeing a pitch black void, I actually saw through the shadows, like someone turning a lamp to the lowest and dimmest setting, but hey, at least I wasn't bumping into trees as I ran, that's all that really mattered.

Last night was different however, it wasn't the taunting or the pushing me around to make me lose control, after the first night that they brought up Charlie.. well I had started a bonfire, but letting it all out helped me grieve and gave me great control. It seemed I only lost it when I was pushed far enough to verbally lash out. They also learned to bring 5 fire extinguishers with them every night, just in case. Last night Sam decided I was ready to be pushed even farther, the farthest that they could possibly push me. I was not aware of what they said in the pack mind but I had learned to understand the general mood of the conversation by their nods and eyes. We had just finished setting up some targets to see if I could aim the fire or separate it from my body when I noticed all the wolves tense, they all sniffed at the air coming from the west, my sense of smell had not improved to their level as far as we could tell so I wasn't sure what was happening until they all growled in union.

I felt a burning heat settle in my spine and spread through my veins at the implication of that growl, it could only be a vampire and the only vampire that had been making rounds lately had been Victoria. Just thinking about her had me moving faster than before in that direction. This wasn't racing, this was an objective, a motivation. I felt the fire in my legs burn hotter than it ever had, helping me run faster, the wolves were far behind me now. They weren't expecting me to run and if I did, the speed caught them completely off guard. I could barely feel my bare feet hitting the soil at every stride, never staying long enough to start to sink in, I had burned my shoes off a mile or two back. I was running with no direction, waiting for any sign of her but finding none, not until 3 minutes later when I heard a crack, a simple sound that meant the world to me. I felt my whole body flame up, conjuring every image I had of Charlie, burning to go faster, to surround her in heat and avenge my dad. Every emotion seemed to rise up to the surface guilt, grief, anger, desperation, I wanted that bitch dead more than I have ever wanted anything in my entire life, and I was so close to her that I left flames in my tracks, I swore I wasn't even touching the ground anymore, I couldn't feel it, I couldn't feel or really focus on anything other than my instinct to get to her. I wasn't sure what would happen when I did get there, we hadn't tested my strength yet but I knew fire was a surely on my side, I felt myself start to slip away, pure instinct was guiding me, I couldn't even see what was right in front of me anymore.

I was close, I could hear panting and the sound of feet hitting the ground, the rustle of leaves and her frantic movement, in a split second I caught up to the shadow and leaped on it, letting go of any hold I had I pushed it all out of me and onto her, I faintly heard a strangled cry and growls as she tried bucking me off her. I started gaining more control as I heard the pack finally catching up, I saw them out of the corner of my eye one second before I felt a blow from my right side, pain shot through my body as I was thrown off of Victoria, flying across the clearing, stopping only when the left side of my body hit a tree.

Fury was my first reaction, betrayal my second. I looked up ready to fight them all to get back to her but when I looked to her she was not there. A giant black bear had taken her place. I stilled as I looked at the lifeless body of the animal, deformed with ash and bloody flesh hanging off bones. The sight made me gag, I had been so driven and determined to the point that I lost rational sense and it became a fantasy, an apparition. Soon after seeing everything with clear eyes, shame pooled in the pit of my stomach, I felt the now familiar sting of tears while I looked up to see the surprised faces of the wolves, all in disbelief of the destruction I was capable of. One by one they looked towards me and their surprise turned to sadness. They all phased back then and there but before they could move towards me or say anything, the unbearable pain from the blows I received left and right took over and I felt my eyes roll back as all went dark.

I felt the shame last night and I felt it again now. I wanted to feel it for the mess I surely left in my wake, I wanted to feel it for the poor bear who paid for my recklessness, but I didn't. I felt shame because I was not sorry, I was positive that the growls last night had been fake and that there was no scent of anything out of place, I was sure it was a test that I had miserably failed but I couldn't be sorry. If I could do it all over I wouldn't change a thing. If I ever saw Victoria I would pursue her just as I though I had last night. I hated her more than even Edward and I would get my revenge for Charlie. My thoughts only confirmed what I had been thinking the past few day's, I wasn't the same anymore. I knew now more than ever that I couldn't stay here, no matter how much they accepted me, I didn't fit in, this is not my home, I don't have one but I would make one somewhere far away. They are my family and I loved them but I didn't truly fit in, I never did. More than anything I just wanted to go back to New York, I felt like I could truly blend in and be unique at the same time there, like the possibilities and the roads to a new life were endless. I made a decision then, I would finish any training they wanted until they were satisfied and I would wait until the lawyer called, after that I would go start a life, I would take whatever opportunity came my way to start fresh.

A knock on the door interrupted my thoughts, Paul was poking his head in and came to lay next to me when he saw I was awake.

"Hey." I laughed at such a simple thing to say but quickly regretted it when I felt the pain.

"Hello."

"I'm never going to complain about sharing a bed with you, but why are you still up here? You're not avoiding us are you? You should know that won't work."

"Honestly? It just hurts too much to move."

He grimaced in thought before breaking out in laughter.

"Well I think you just want to be in my arms! You just have to say so you know, nothing wrong with being a little dominant, especially in the bedroom."

He got up and peeled the sheets back, exposing my body in just a bra and underwear, he turned serious as we looked down and saw both sides of my body covered in nasty black and blue puffy looking bruises. He sighed and closed his eyes.

"You really do have the worst luck, all the amazing things you can do and advanced healing isn't one of 'em. Well not at our level at least. Sam and Emily said you developed the marks a lot faster so they expect they will go away faster than a normal human."

More gentle than I thought Paul was capable of, he lifted me before going to the dresser in the room and grabbing a huge t-shirt and slipping it over my head. He lifted me higher as we went down the stairs and straight to the kitchen where he sat me down and served me a big plate of food. Soon after I started eating the whole pack seemed to congregate in the doorway. I sighed and put down my fork.

"Just come in guy's. Say what you need to say."

Sam was the first one that came in and sat across from me while Paul sat right next to me and put his arm along the back of my chair. The rest of the pack came in then and sat or stood where they could.

"Bella, last night was my idea, I thought it would push you to control the fire and ask us to lead you to her but I just didn't anticipate you going haywire. I should have considered all possibilities and I'm sorry I didn't. It was also me who shoved you off the bear, I wanted to snap you out of it but I only hurt you. I didn't think about my strength."

"Sam it's okay. Once I realized the situation I had put you in, I can't blame you for trying to snap me out of it. How much damage did I do?"

The pack all laughed at the thought

"You gotta see it to believe it. We can do the target practice with you tonight-"

Paul interrupted Sam with a growl in his voice.

"Are you crazy?! Don't you see the pain she is in? You have to give her time to heal."

I wanted to protest and tell him I was fine after seeing the guilt in Sam's face but the truth was that I was thankful, I couldn't even imagine the pain I would be in if I attempted to stand on my own 2 feet right now, let alone walking all through the forest.

"You've seen the bruises, it will take days-"

"Paul that's enough! He apologized already. Just drop it."

The next night we sat around the dining table again while the other half of the pack sat in the living room to eat. I shifted to find a more comforting position but it was useless with the sore feeling all through my body. Though the night's rest had helped a lot with the pain, I was still recovering. Paul stood up to get a 3rd serving but was interrupted by Emily walking in from the living room with Kim, both gave me nervous glances as they talked hurriedly to the room.

"You guys need to come see the news, quick!"

As Paul scooped me up to get me to the couch faster, I became pale with what I was seeing. The channel was on view of Von Doom Ind. Mr. Von Doom and 2 other men were being escorted out in handcuffs being followed by his group of lawyers and who the news said were his investors. I only recognized 4 or 5 of the men and I knew his assistant was one of the men being arrested, the other had a lab coat on so I could only assume him to be one of the researchers for the company. There was a van full of officers that entered the building next. The footage kept going on replay for over an hour until a man in his late 40's came out with some papers to talk with the press and release a statement.

"Good evening, I am Johnathan Evert, until recently I was an investor for this company along with many colleagues. In light of recent events all the investors here at Von Doom Industries decided to pull their money out and continue on to other ventures, however our lead colleague Stanley Lent was found murdered Thursday night, Victor Von Doom had become the lead suspect. While searching his office some footage was found of both the space station incident and the death of Stanley Lent that gives reason for further investigation, we are not allowed to answer any further questions until a court hearing but I was allowed to release a statement on behalf of the company to say that until further notice, all business exchanges and research has been put on hold and the building is being put on lock down. We have no further information that we can share but will release another statement along with the New York City police department as soon as we can. Thank you all for your understanding and cooperation, rest assured that we will fix this as soon as possible."

I felt unsure of how to feel at the moment. I was happy that he was being apprehended and that he would be in the public light as the real Victor Von Doom, not the front he puts for the paper, yet at the same time I was upset that another person had to die at his hands. Footage of the space station, I hadn't though about that, I never imagined there was cameras in the labs, if there were then it could prove he was guilty and that was all that mattered. But if the footage became public then everyone would see it and my identity wouldn't be private anymore. Sam had told me before if I was ready to go public in order to get justice for Ms. Storm, the answer was yes then and it still is now. I'm going back to New York earlier than anticipated.

"I'm coming with you."

I turned to Paul, as confused as everyone else seemed to be.

"I know that look, and I'm coming with you. You can hardly stand on your own Bells."

Paul and I were on a plane to New York, we had to wait overnight to get a flight but I was finally on my way, to my surprise Paul had never been on a plane before so while I gripped his hand in fear that I may somehow lose control and also fear of turbulence making my body ache more than it already did, he gripped mine in just fear I guess.

"Paul you know these things are designed by professionals right?"

"I'm not scared, shut up Bella! You are going to jinx it! God why did I even think to fly with you? You have the worst luck in the world, if this plane crashes there is no doubt in my mind that you will be to blame."

I couldn't hold in my laughter and got some snide looks until I settled down again. Paul just glared at me but I could see the humor in his eyes.

"If the plane goes down then I can try flying us away."

"Really Bella? Plane goes down and you are counting on some miraculous flying powers to kick in and save you? Kid.. there is something wrong in your head."

"Idiot! I'm serious, the night when I lost it, the flames where so strong they were coming out of everywhere and I swear for a moment I couldn't feel the ground under my feat."

"Well then I guess it would be something to look into when we get back home. That would be fucking amazing though!"

We kept quiet for the rest of the flight but I couldn't stop shifting around. The bruises had gone down a great bit and Sam said it looked like my healing was faster than normal humans but nothing like the wolves, they were still blue and some of them still had a purple ring but I could at least move without tearing up. Paul kept looking at me every time I shifted around, I knew he felt bad for me and he didn't really understand why I felt compelled to come back now that Von Doom had been arrested, I didn't know what I could do or how I could help but I knew that if anything I could at least go to the hearing and also be able to finally tell Darcy in person what was going on. I had debated whether I should tell Jane as well, I didn't know her too well but her and Darcy had clicked instantly, so had we but unlike Darcy I hadn't spent much time with her, she was very kind and smart. I knew she could help me in the scientific side of things the one way the wolves couldn't. I had gotten permission from Sam and Billy last night to tell Darcy about the Cullen's secret and in telling her that then obviously their secret would come out too. They agreed but only after an hour of debating. I knew the real reason I wanted to tell Darcy about the wolves and vampires was because if Jane helped me figure out what caused this change then she would need to know about the residual venom and how it might have affected the exposure to the cosmic energy.

"The pilot just came out of the front room! What the fuck is he thinking? I know they have auto pilot but he can't leave it unattended like that! What if it turns off?"

I couldn't control the snort that came out. My whole body painfully shook from trying to hold in the laughter.

"Paul! First of all there are 2 pilots in the cockpit! Second of all, you have to ask permission to put the plane on auto pilot and they give you until a certain time to keep it on."

"Who is 'they'?"

"I don't know! I'm not a pilot! I read it in a book once."

"Oh you read it in a book, it must be true then right? Let me guess one of your teen romance books?"

"Lose the sarcasm, it's not cute on you. Look he is back in the cockpit, everything is right as rain again!"

"twat."

I smirked at our playful conversation, it was times like this that almost made me wish he had imprinted on me but then again.. I was nowhere near ready for a relationship. I loved Paul, it wasn't romantic but now with this whole fire issue, well who knows if I could ever even be with someone intimately without burning them. It made me wish I had taken his sex without strings offer, then I would have at least gotten to experience it once. Maybe one day, when I felt I had perfect control then maybe I could ask him for one night at least. He turned and gave me a soft smile before wrapping his arms around me and letting me lay my head comfortably on his chest.

"Rest up Swan, it's gonna be hell when we land."

He laid his head on top of mine and we both drifted for a while until the speaker ping went off.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we will be landing soon, if you could secure your seat belts and lift your trays please. The time in New York is 2:43 pm it is in the low 70's. In a few minutes we will be asking you to turn all electronics back off so if you need to save something please begin to do so at this time. Thank you for choosing united airlines and we hope you had a great flight."

"That sucks."

"What?"

"Having to do that speech and putting a smile on your face for all the assholes that bug you flight after flight. I could never do it."

"Well you never could any way, you are way too tall and wide to walk up and down the aisle, oh! I almost forgot, you would also turn into a giant dog every time someone talked down to you."

"...twat."

I smirked as he shifted away from me, which on a plane was 2 or 3 inches. 30 minutes later we finally were able to go take a cab to my apartment after looking for Paul's luggage for 15 minutes, I told him not to bring a black bag but of course he didn't listen. You always need something that stands out in an airport, black fits in with the other 50 black ones.

"BELLA!

As soon as I got through the door I was tackled to the floor and as normal as it was for Darcy to tackle me…. I was completely covered in bruises so when I yelled out in pain she pulled back horrified and moved my arms to lift up my shirt.

"SHIT! What did those assholes do to you? Bella I went crazy before you called I didn't know if you had died and they wouldn't tell me anything!"

She started tearing up and she gently wrapped her arms around me trying not to hurt me.

"I love you Bella, you're my best friend. I'm really happy you are OK babe! But you have to tell me what happened. Why did you go to Washington? You could have come to me with whatever they did to you."

She looked so sad and hurt, it was so rare to ever see Darcy cry that I couldn't help but to shed my own tears.

"Oh Darcy I have so much to tell you."