Not So Cinderella Chapter 44: 44 - Last Day of Camp, a twilight fanfic

Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight, I take no credit for that.

AN: Only 1 more chapter until we come to 'Book 3'. FYI, it's going to get worse before it gets better :) ~ Hannah

Reviews for Chapter Forty-Three:

Arkytior's Song - Generally thought the last chapter had annoyed you somehow :) Glad you found it though & yes, he's coming back...he's so close can almost taste him, haha.

Emz Fan - Well, thanks for being my hundredth reviewer! Thanks, that means a lot. I've planned up to chapter 60 but then I'll have to plan the final book, so who knows how long it will end up being!

Chapter Forty-Four – Last Day of Camp

The dawn of a new day did not start with the singing of birds or the warm feel of sun. It started with a groan and a worry and a long yawn that clicked my jaw. Stretching once before burying myself further into the bed I willed myself back to sleep so I didn't have to face the day. Unfortunately, nothing can be hidden when you sleep in a house of Vampires. From the first stirrings, I made, Rose had made her way upstairs to the room I slept in and was waiting with a tray of pancakes and a no-nonsense attitude for me to wake up and get ready for the day. I was very content to stay within the snugness of my bed until she threatened to let Emmett into my room. I scoffed at that thought till she mentioned he'd pour a bucket of ice cold water on me if I refused to get up.

No one wanted ice cold water poured over them, least of all by Emmett who would make sure that no part of me remain dry. I exited my warm cocoon enough for Rose to place the breakfast tray down upon my lap. I did love pancakes and knew Rose made especially good ones. I quickly dug into them before she had a chance to confiscate them. She eyed me with amusement but I made no acknowledgement of her look. These pancakes were too delicious to take note of anything else.

Was I going to be fine today? Was I going to make it through the day? Somehow camp didn't seem all that important anymore. I regretted signing up for it. I regretted getting accepted for it. I wish I had more of a backbone. I wished I had insisted on knowing the plan. When had I become so meek and weak? Could I overcome what I was feeling in time to make a difference?

"Are you ready for today?"

"No."

"Everything will be fine."

"Easy for you to say, you know the plan."

"It's better if you don't know. Remember, we've been through everything and everyone knows every part of the plan. All you have to do is look gorgeous and kill your live performance."

Suddenly the pancakes tasted like dirt as the nausea and fear climbed up my throat.

I knew Rose sensed something was wrong from the way she tried to distract me while she showed me the outfit she had picked out and left me to change. She chatted to me through the closed bathroom door and never once left me to the thoughts of my head.

I did not know if I could do this but as I was shepherded into the car I realised I didn't have a choice, not really and certainly not now. I was at a turning point but I already knew which way I was going to turn. I was a fighter after all.

Sometimes I felt more adult than child, yet other times I felt more child than adult. At my age, I wasn't supposed to have all the answers but then again, I wasn't supposed to be fighting for my life. Now entering my late teens, I knew no other person would want to be in danger like I was. Other teens strived to be popular, to be admired, have a boyfriend/girlfriend, go to prom and get into a good college. I wanted all that as well but I was coming to understand that I wasn't a normal teenager. Being a normal teenager wasn't the be all and end all of life.

My life may have been filled with more obstacles than most and it might not have gone the typical teenager way I'd expected but that didn't mean I wasn't happy and it didn't mean I wanted to change things.

Edward, if you can hear me, I need you.

"You alright back there? You've been awfully quiet," said Emmett.

"Fine really, just day dreaming."

"Everything will be fine Ella, you'll see."

"I wish I had your optimism Emmett."

"Maybe I could beat it into you."

That earnt Emmett a head slap from Rose but they were both smiling so I knew she wasn't mad at him.

The car came to a stop and for a second I wanted the doors to jam and not let us out. Fate had never been someone who answered my prayers and now was no expectation. Emmett helped me out of the car while Rose grabbed my crutches. I was so looking forward to the moment my foot healed and the plaster/crutches would be gone because they were both a pain in my ass!

"This is where we leave you kiddo," said Emmett.

I scowled up at him.

"Emmett, be nice. Ella, you got this. I'm not talking about the other stuff, forget about that. I'm talking about the performance. You're amazingly talented and everyone loves you, so go kill it. I'm sure your guitar is waiting backstage, perfectly tuned for you. Give it your all and then afterwards you and your guitar can come home for a celebration party."

I nodded in thanks and accepted the hugs given before we parted ways. Them to the audience gallery and me backstage to find the rest of my group and learn the order schedule.

I found Sophie first.

"Urgh Ella, it's so annoying, we're going last!"

"Why is that so bad?"

"It means we have to close the show."

"So?"

"So, don't you understand? We have to be perfect, we have to be remembered for being good or we'll go down in camp history as the losers who failed to close the live camp performances."

"Relax Sophie, I know everything will be perfect. We've practised the song; our video is killer and I know you've been planning the special effects for ages."

"You're right of course, it'll be spectacular. I hope the effects team don't screw up the glitter and smoke settings though, I'll be livid if they go off at the wrong time."

"I'm sure it will be fine."

"I wish Marco was here, he's probably off skiving again."

"Honestly, if he's here by the time we perform, I don't think it really matters where he is now."

"Hmm, I guess so. He's a pain in the ass, right? Why did he have to get picked for our team?"

"Beats me but Sophie we could have been stuck in the blue team or even the green."

"Oh God, you're right. That would have been terrible. Have you heard some of their songs?"

"Yeah, I don't think we need to be worried."

We sat on stools provided and quietly chatted while we listened to others perform. There was a mix of good songs and disaster songs. I was feeling confident about our performance now. If all else failed, it wouldn't matter too much about Marco because Sophie and I would kill things. I kept feeling like someone was watching me but I couldn't see anyone. It was unnerving and caused my stomach to churn painfully. It could have been a friend watching over me but it could have also been the gaze of something sinister. I didn't know what to think.

When Marco came strolling up to us ten minutes before we were due to play, I was annoyed by his lazy attitude and bored state of mind. I think I would have preferred it if he'd been here with us waiting for the duration rather than appearing when he did. It worried me, for what had he been doing the entire time Sophie and I had waited? His happy-go-lucky smile did nothing to assure me that he was trustworthy, and though his grovelling won Sophie over, it left me feeling concerned.

As I was pushed towards the stage with my guitar in hand, I took sight of the large audience. Larger than any audience I'd performed in before, I could clearly pick out my family and friend's which was my saving grace. I think without the sight of them, I would have buckled under my anxiety and not managed to get myself onto the stage at all.

Sophie had planned every part of our performance, from the way we stood to the special effects and the way we'd disappear at the end. All I had to do was sing the song we'd composed and hope that whatever plan had been thought up worked the way it was supposed to.

I took a deep breath.

From the first word sung I felt my nerves dissolve as the music flowed over me. I loved the ability music had to take all your worries and fears away and just let you live the music as it played. It calmed me, it was a part of my soul. I sang my way through the bridge before the chorus and rejoiced in the way our three voices melded together.

Shout out to my ex, you're really quite the man |You made my heart break and that made me who I am | Here's to my ex, hey, look at me now, well, I |I'm all the way up, I swear you'll never bring me down

The next verse was Sophie's to sing, so I concentrated on playing my guitar, smiling and looking out into the audience. So far, the effects Sophie had wanted had gone off without a hitch. I could tell she was pleased and for that I was eternally grateful. I couldn't imagine how angry she'd have been otherwise. Furthermore, no other group had used special effects for their performance, so we were sure to win points for that.

The bridge before the final repeat of the chorus had been given to Marco. We hadn't wanted him to feel too put out by the song being as he called it 'overly girly'. However, both Sophie and I had been worried about how he'd pull it off, heaven forbid if he'd sung it in a high pitched girly voice. We both knew if someone was going to screw up this performance then it was going to be Marco. Yet, both myself and Sophie were pleasantly surprised when he sung with such emotion and manliness. I could feel myself breath a sign of relief as his solo part came to an end.

I knew no other group, of which there were a fair few, had had such a well-rounded performance.

Shout out to my ex, you're really quite the man | You made my heart break and that made me who I am | Here's to my ex, hey, look at me now, well, I | I'm all the way up, I swear you'll never, you'll never bring me down | You'll never bring me down.

As the final note was sung, our chance to disappear arrived as smoke and glitter filled the stage. We were supposed to just duck out backstage and wait but things didn't happen that way. They should have told me the plan.

[x]

A voice was calling me. My head ached. I remembered the smoke and the glitter but as I opened my eyes I remembered not where I was or how I got there. I was in uncharted waters now.

"You're awake good, we need to move."

"Marco?"

"Get up!"

"Where are we?"

Everything around me was so vibrant in colour it was almost too painful to look at but it was also blurry and like a mirage I didn't know if it was real or not. I felt sick as I realised the extent of my danger. Whatever plan the others had had obviously hadn't worked. As evidence by my current predicament, Marco had taken me somewhere and I felt a fear so deep and so strong that I didn't know what to do with it.

"Get up Ella. We mustn't dawdle."

"Marco, where are we? What have you done?"

"Ella, sweet Ella, you'll soon be mine."

"Take me home Marco, please, it's not too late."

The physical attack came out of nowhere. The blow to the side of my head sent me flying backwards onto the ground. The impact of his fist to my head coming so fast and heavy that I was knocked for six. I didn't know a punch could hurt so much. I stayed on the ground, afraid to move till I was hauled up by the arms of Marco.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to do that. You just angered me is all. We're in the 'in-between plains'. It's the land that lies in-between plains of existence, like the human world and the fey world. We need to move or I'll be forced to hand you over and I don't think I could do that."

"Hand me over to who?"

"The Master of course."

"Who's the Master?"

"My boss. You know you can never escape the Master, he has a network of spies and they're always watching which is why we have to move now."

"Where are we going?"

"Somewhere where no one can find us, where we can be alone forever."

"Marco, what does the Master want? I thought the war was in the fey world."

"This is much bigger than just the fey Ella. He wants total control over all supernatural creatures. Imagine the harmony. Imagine the rules. Imagine a world where all creatures are equal."

"That would never happen, all creatures are different."

"It will happen, there is no room for failure. If The Master fails, we all die."

"Marco, you have to take me back, please, I've got family."

He turned around, grabbed me with both arms, squeezed and shook me till my eyes couldn't focus.

"No, no, no Ella. It's you and I remember? Forever? Why aren't you in love with me anymore? Don't worry, I'll make you love me again."

"You love me?"

"Of course, Ella. Don't doubt me now. I had to befriend you, had to be near you on orders from The Master but don't you see? I've defied him now. I befriended you for him but I fell in love with you for me. You're my forever after. For eternity."

"I don't love you Marco."

He shoved me away from him, I stumbled but managed to remain standing.

"Why would you say something like that Ella? How could you be so cruel? I know you love me."

"I don't Marco."

"No, no, this is wrong. Someone messed with your mind, tell me."

I remained silent. A part of my brain wondered why I continued to egg him on, why I was putting myself in more danger. Yet, the other part of me knew I had to keep him talking, I had to hold onto the hope that someone would find me and that I'd be safe from Marco and whoever this Master was.

"WHO MESSED WITH YOUR MIND," he screamed at me.

"No one, I promise. My mind is my own."

"No! Your mind is mine."

"I'm not in love with you Marco but I could be your friend if you stopped all this now."

"No one will love you like I do."

"I have Edward."

"YOU HAVE NO ONE."

"Just think about things Marco. What life is there for us? If you must force me to love you? If we should keep running from danger? If we hide forever? Does that sound like a forever destiny?"

"We could have the best lift, just you and me forever Ella. We could be a family, have children of our own. I will not force you to love me, I don't have to because I know you secretly love me, and if you don't it will come with time. My love for you will never fade. You will come to see in time that you love me as much as I love you. Can you not see what a charmed life we'd have together?"

"Marco, can you not see how much damage you'd cause me? Can you not see how you'd break me? If I stay with you I'll die Marco, do you want me to die?"

"I could kill you with a knife," he said.

I gulped when he produced said knife and wielded it in his hand in a way I'd only seen professionals do in the movies.

"A knife like this…but I wouldn't do that to you Ella. I wouldn't hurt you."

Without thought I touched my throbbing eye.

"No, not like that Ella. That wasn't hurting you. That was just reminding you where you belonged, with me, where everything is warm and loving. I'd never really hurt you, you understand, that, right?"

No I didn't understand that, I didn't understand any of this. I just wanted to be saved. I wanted Edward. I needed to fight to survive.

"No I don't understand."

He was before me in a flash, I flinched but couldn't move from the grip he had on me.

"You have such a pretty face Ella but if I must ensure you of my love by marring it I will."

He talked as he traced a line with the knife from the top of my right eyebrow down to the side of my chin. It hurt like hell and I could feel blood rushing to the surface. It wasn't deep enough to be dangerous but it would most likely leave a scar.

"See how quickly you bleed? Your blood cannot wait to great me, I call to it and it comes. It loves me."

"Marco, it hurts, you've hurt me."

"No, you hurt yourself Ella by not believing in me. If you'd just believe in me then you'll never be hurt again. Don't you see? It's you that is stopping us from being together. You could end all of this. Just give into me. Give up your old life and live happily with me."

All the time we'd been wandering this plain, I hadn't been able to make sense of anything around us. It was like walking through a storm, I couldn't get a clear picture of anything. I was feeling hopeless and losing any positivity of being rescued. My face was in so much pain it was a wonder than I hadn't crumbled on the floor. I didn't know how to deal with the situation I was in. There wasn't exactly a guide on how to survive being kidnapped by a crazed lunatic. I worried about the blood I was losing, I knew it wasn't enough to die from but I knew I needed to get to a hospital. There was no thought in my head that I could focus on. Everything was chaotically jumbled with no end or beginning and the drive I had to survive was lost within it all.

"We should marry Ella,"

"No."

"You don't mean that, marriage is forever and we are forever."

"Marco, please."

"Yes, that's what you can say at the altar, then everyone will hear the love in your voice."

"I'm not marrying you."

"You'll do as you're told."

"Marco, do you hear yourself? You're crazy. Nothing about this is normal. This infatuation you have with me must stop. Nothing good will come from this and if continued you'll only set us on a road to heartbreak and destruction. What were you doing before you met me? I'm sure you had a purpose, I'm sure you had someone special in your life? Why don't you go back to that Marco? Why don't you go back to before and live a happy life? Let me go and you'll get all the happiness you desire, I'm not important Marco, the Master tricked you, he doesn't need me."

He stood, his eyes downcast, his posture relaxed and his grip on the knife loosened and it fell to the ground. For a moment, I thought I had won. I thought I had talked him away from the ledge and I thought things were over. I was wrong.

"There is no other life for me Ella, you're wrong and your twisted words won't change my mind. If I can't have you then no one can. Say goodbye to life."

He pulled out a gun, a gun I had no idea he was hiding. I stared down the barrel of the gun barely breathing. I felt eerily calm. I did not want to die but it seemed I had no one to run, so I would greet death head on and I would not back down from Marco during my last few moments.

Remember me.