Chapter 6

Bella POV

There is no question in my mind that this is a dream, because it is not unlike ones I've had before; however, it is considerably more dangerous. I've finally given into it only because I've decided that this is so much better than the hell I was living in in reality. There, I was alone and unwanted. Here, my imagination had conjured up a situation far better than anything that could ever occur in actuality.

This may be better than reality, but it is still terribly painful. The people I'd grown so attached to were just so tangible in this dream. Carlisle and Esme: the parents I never had, but somehow, though I'd never realized until I met them, needed desperately. Alice: the sister I'd never known I wanted and my true best friend that was there for me through thick and thin, one of the people that had hurt me most to lose. Emmett: the strong, dependable big brother, and Rosalie: the sister that I've always thought I would potentially get along with if only we could spend more time together. Jasper: he was always there for the support that my insecurities and doubts required. And, finally… Edward: my other half, the person I loved more than humanly possible, the person I would die if I lost. And I had.

I was wrong, I decided. This is significantly worse than reality. And I need to wake up.

I allowed my emotions to leave me as I slipped back into my numb, thoughtless state of protection. I glanced around the room. Each face was still staring at me intently, and each look brought a stab of pain through the hole in my chest. I couldn't escape into nothingness when my hallucinations were so vivid around me. I closed my eyes. Ah, here is the place where I see nothing, feel nothing.

"Jasper!" I heard Edward whisper frantically. "Jasper, what's happening?"

"She's… going away. Emotionally. She's slowly feeling a certain… detachment that I can't explain." His voice was drenched with concern. But, along with my visual surroundings, I was making the voices fade away.

As if from a distance, I heard Edwards panicked voice say, "Do something!"

I suddenly felt an onslaught of emotions. First joy, then sadness, anger, frustration, impatience, disgust, trust, anticipation, and surprise. I recognized them, but I didn't feel them as any normal person would. It was as if they simply bounced off the shield that had formed around my heart. Considering that I hadn't felt any of them except for sadness in a long time, it was almost painful to be put through this analysis.

I carefully opened my eyes. As I had hoped, I saw nothing.

Felt nothing.

Was nothing.

Carlisle POV

I rushed over to my daughter where she was, stoic and nearly lifeless in my son's arms. I took her from him and sat on the couch with her cradled in my arms. "Jasper, we need to get her back!"

"There's nothing I can do!"

"There has to be something! Just try!"

He glanced at Alice. "Alice, if I try again, are my efforts in vain?"

Her face went blank as she searched the future. "No. You can bring her back, but she won't appreciate it." She turned away from us so as not to show how sad she truly was.

I handed Bella to Jasper, where he took my place, holding Bella in the same position. With one hand on her back and the other on the side of her face, he looked into her eyes and used the maximum force of his gift to bring his sister back. After a few minutes, she stirred but did not come out of her trance.

"She's fighting me," Jasper said softly.

"Just don't stop," I said encouragingly.

It wasn't long before the entire room heard her heartbeat quicken and saw her frightened eyes open. Looking up at Jasper, her expressionless look changed to one of confusion.

"You brought me back, didn't you?" she said hoarsely.

"I did, darlin'," he answered softly, his expression pained. She must feel incredibly hurt for him to show signs of feeling an emotion. Usually, he just puts on a brave face and endures it.

"But then… but if your power worked… then… I'm not dreaming." Her eyes filled with tears.

"We've been trying to tell you that all along," he said soothingly to her. I could tell that he was trying to calm her with more than words.

She glanced around the room and her eyes fell on me. "Can I leave?" she asked. She knew our family well if she remembered that I was the decision-maker of the household.

I shook my head sadly. "No."

"But," she began, her voice rising steadily. "Please. I don't want to be here. You can't make me stay—"

"Actually, I can. Bella, while you were in the asylum, I got custody of you. I am legally your father."

She looked at me with horror. "Carlisle! I'm eighteen!"

I had thought of this. However, because she was in an insane asylum, she was under custody of the state and required a guardian to be checked out by. Also, to me, she was absolutely still a child. "Bella, this is not up for discussion. You are a child!"

She blushed deeply and weakly climbed out of Jasper's arms. "I'm leaving."

Emmett was already standing in the doorway, blocking her path. "I'm sorry, baby sister," he said sincerely.

"I'm not your sister!" she said harshly. She turned on me. "Carlisle. You can't do this. It's not fair. And it's not legal!"

"What is fair and what is legal are two completely different things in this household," I said softly. "Jasper."

"Oh, no no no," she said, glancing at him, her eyes already drooping from the nostalgia that he was employing on her.

"It's going to be alright, sweetheart," Edward whispered to her kindly. She fell into his waiting arms, unconscious.

I glanced at Jasper. "We need to have a family meeting. Jasper, continue to keep her in this condition until we decide what to do. Everyone in the dining room. Now."