AN: As always, thank you to my loyal reviews, you're honestly the reason I keep updating, so a massive thank you to Guest, CaliNative76, Guest (again), Wolf Born Woman, And y, and TheOnyxSnake. You are so amazing to take the time to make my day, I really appreciate it!
On other Twilight Saga news, has anyone else seen that Stephenie Meyer has published a gender-swapped version of Twilight, 'Life and Death', definitely got to see what that's about when I go to a bookstore next!
Read and Review Please!
Song Suggestion: Never Be Alone, Shawn Mendes.
Chapter Twenty Two: Cracks.
Standing transfixed, as the exhaust fumes settled around me, I watched Edward's car disappear into the dim streetlights. Once we'd realised it was an hour past closing time, Edward had been quick to help me lock up and leave. He'd reminded me of Sam waiting for me in La Push before slipping into his car, rather hurriedly.
A strange longing circled my stomach and I brushed it off as I realised I'd missed the last bus. Knowing Sam would be panicking soon if I didn't get home, I pulled out the cheap cell phone Sam had bought me and held it up for signal. One bar. Crossing my fingers, I dialled Sam's number and held my breath.
"Bella?" Sam answered in two rings, "Where are you?"
"Sorry, I had to sort some things out at work and lock up because Mike's friend had car trouble." I apologises, lying uneasily, but something told me not to tell Sam about Edward. Normally, Sam and I had no secrets, but my gut screamed at me to not say anything, making me feel guilty and sick, while my face highlighted my lie, "I missed the bus, can you come pick me up, please?"
"Of course." He chuckled, "They need to pay you more for your hours."
"Yeah…" Nodding to myself, I zipped my coat higher, "Can you hurry, I'm really cold and I don't want to open the store up again."
"Sure, I'll be there soon, hold tight Bells."
"Like I have a choice. See you soon."
"Bye." Laughing quietly, I ended the call. Sliding my cell phone back into my pocket, I observed the snow and ice clinging to the toes of my shoes. Usually, I regarded this weather was a glittering irritation, a menace to clumsy individuals like myself, but now the jewel-like shine reminded me of topaz eyes and a crooked, white smile.
Sam's truck eased up beside me and I grinned, revealing chattering teeth. Uncurling my frozen fingers from my backpack strap, while Sam hopped out and wrapped me in the blanket he kept under the truck's bench seat.
"Thank goodness, I'm freezing." I complained before looking at Sam's pained expression, "Sam?" He stumbled a step away from me and I lunged to grab his arm, "Watch the road!" My hand slipped off his wrist as he jumped away from me, "Sam? You're-you're…" Staring at my hand, the numbing ice on my fingertips tingled painfully with heat. Sam's skin felt one hundred degrees, sizzling my frozen flesh. Stunned, I stared at him, my hand left up in confusion and fear.
His body was shaking; shuddering; trembling, his breathing fast and deep, and the air around him seemed to steam as Forks' cold winds hit his feverish skin. He glared at me, something he'd never done, before his eyes locked on the woods in the distance behind me. A lone wolf's howl echoed eerily.
"Bells…" He growled before he looked like he was going to be sick. His nostrils flared when I tried to move closer and a spasm through his whole body caused him to nearly double over.
Panting, he took one last angry and confused look at me, before running off into the trees. I spun around to watch him stumbled through the treeline, and I called after him. But he didn't reply. Fear and worry gripped my heart. His peculiar behaviour frightened me but I hurried after him anyway, leaving the truck idling on the roadside.
"Sam!" I yelled as I reached the woods, "Sam! Where are you? Sam!" Glancing around tree trunks and inching through the trees, I carefully kept the close to the treeline, knowing that my luck would have me lost in moments if I left the dim glow of streetlights, "Sam, please! What's going on?" Turning in panicked circles, the blanket flapped in the induced wind and slipped off one shoulder.
A vicious snarl snapped behind me and I tightened the blanket around me, before daring a glance behind me. I could see nothing but darkness and icy foliage. Forcing myself to swallow my fear, I shakily hissed Sam's name, scared to incite an attack with sudden movements and shouts.
The black shadows seemed to shift and the wind caught my blanket, causing my scent to drift to the hidden beast. Two spots of glimmer appeared, reminding me of eyes, too high up to be a wolf or bear, and I began to hyperventilate. A rumbling growl made my heart beat faster than I thought humanly possible and I ran without thinking. Tears ran down my face as I screamed for Sam, my feet pounding through the fallen branches and ice.
No one answered and nothing moved but the wind as I crashed through the treeline and sprinted to the car, thanking my luck for not falling in my terrified retreat. Crossing to the truck, I launched myself into the driver's side and slammed the door shut. The heaters sputtered hot air to warm my cold extremities but it could not calm my shivering.
Images of nightmare monsters and dreaded beasts filled my mind and I sobbed. I could only think of Sam and how I had left him in the woods. Whatever that creature was, it sounded horrifying and menacing, and Sam was in those woods with it now. Spattered blood crossing my vision and I scrambled to find my cell phone.
Dialling the only number I knew could help now; I wiped at my chilled cheeks with quivering fingers, and tried to swallow my guilty sickness. I could only hope they would be able to come quickly, and perhaps save Sam's body being completely mauled by the creature in the woods.
They picked up after the third ring, sounding cheerful, not knowing of the horrific news I was about to deliver.
"I-It's Bella. I-I think a-a-a…thing has just at-tacked Sam. I think…I think he's dead…" I cried sorrowfully into the phone and Billy began telling me instructions that wouldn't process in my head as I thought of Sam's corpse rotting in the roots of the trees.