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Chapter Fifty Two: Broken Mind.
I was woken by a low, tuneful humming noise close to my ear, similar to a lullaby. It was soft and sweet and soothing. The person seemed to be lulling me to sleep again and my heavy thoughts welcomed the idea. My mind had been a dark, desolate place since I left Sam in the woods. Snippets of torture rippled agony through the wound in my chest, as painful as if someone was sharpening knifes along my ribs. But this calming melody almost promised rest from the nightmare repeating through my mind.
"You can come in." The tune stopped as Emily spoke to someone, "There's no need to hover in the doorway."
"Is she okay?" Sam's deep baritone asked quietly as he came closer to us. I couldn't hear him stepping nearer, but he had become creepily silent since becoming a werewolf, despite his lumbering frame.
"She's just got a few scrapes and bruises." There was a loaded pause before Emily murmured, "I found this though." She tugged at my sleeve to reveal the bandage that would be my only reminder of them.
"When did that happen?" A growl entered his tone and I could hear him struggling to take calming breaths.
"I'm not sure what's happened, you'd have to ask Bella that when she wakes up." Emily pulled my sleeve back down to cover the bandage and the bed shifted as she stood to comfort him, "She's going to be okay, Sam."
"I want to know what's happened to her. Why was she in the woods? Why was she left alone? What happened in the forest tonight? She knows they're dangerous. I've told her time and again how dangerous they are. We may not have had any vampires pass through since last spring, but she wouldn't be so stupid as to risk the woods alone. She should know far better than to walk around in the forest alone." I could feel the angry heat pulsing from his body, radiating in an aura of worry and barely contained anger, even from the distance between us. I wanted to reassure him, but my mind was drowning in self-pity and anguish.
"Sam?" Jared called from the doorway, "I've just run past the Cullen's house, but they're not there." Tendrils of pain lashed at my chest at their name, and I moaned pitifully, as my body curled in on itself.
"Bella?" A soft, feminine hand touched my shoulder. Everyone seemed to hold their breath, awaiting my response, but I tugged at my mind numbing blanket until I couldn't feel the urge to cooperate any more. When it was evident I wasn't going to reply, Emily stepped away again, "What do you mean they're not there?"
"They've gone. The house is empty and there's no trace of them. Paul and I have tried tracking them, but there's nothing new to track. It's like they've vanished or flown off like bats." He chuckled at his own joke.
"He left her." Emily whispered, summarising everything up in three gut wrenching words that ripped my mind apart every time I was reminded of what happened. How everything had ended only hours ago.
"How could they leave her in the woods? She could have died!" Sam thundered, "I'll kill him. I'll kill them all!"
"No!" The scream tore through my throat, surprising even me. My rage awoke my body and mind in frenzy. I threw myself off the bed and at Sam, my fists raised and hammering against his strong chest, "No! Don't you dare! Don't you dare, Sam! No! I've not been bitten! You have no right! Don't you dare do that, Sam, you can't!"
Jared yanked me away and imprisoned me in his muscular arms, but I couldn't be placated. I battered my hands and feet against his body, screeching obscenities and threats at Sam. He just stood there in a state of shock. The bruises on his chest from my fists were none existent and there was no reciprocal anger in his eyes. It was as if I were a naughty toddler throwing a tantrum in his eyes. But I couldn't stop my flailing and shrieking. I couldn't let Sam hurt them, even if he had hurt me. I had to protect them.
"Bella! Stop! Please!" Emily tried to calm me, but I just fought harder, unable to see reason through the dark mist clouding my vision.
Jared held me off the ground easily and tried to contain my thrashing limbs, but I couldn't care for his discomfort. My vocal chords threatened to splinter as I continued to yell at Sam, but I couldn't feel the strain. True fear ate at my stomach and tears rain like two rivers down my hot cheeks, scolding me with the pain abusing my insides. I couldn't stop; I wouldn't stop, not until he stopped. But Sam stood absurdly calm before me, watching me with horrified concern. Minutes passed as my body used every ounce of energy to propel me meltdown, until I was finally spent of any emotion or thought.
"He's gone." I sobbed, "He's gone." My body sagged in Jared's arms and Sam stepped forward to take me into his, "He's gone."
As I was transferred over, I heard Sam murmuring in my ear, soothing me with promises of peace and Treaties. Relief flooded my system, before the white noise began in my ears again and the numbness returned. Allowing Sam to take my weight, I wept into his shoulder, as he smoothed my hair down my back and held me close.
"I've got you, Bella; you're going to get through this." Sam whispered in my ear and rocked me gently, "Just breathe, it's okay, you're going to be fine. It's all going to be alright." But my mind rejected his words as I continued to cry, mourning the loss of my future and my love. Yet, Sam stood with me for hours, one of few reassurances in my world, until I finally collapsed from exhaustion and disappeared into the hellish depths of my mind once more.