DISCLAIMER: All characters and story world belong to SM. All lyrical references and quotes are property of their original artist. No copyright infringement intended.
[Beta'd by: BlahBlahBlah, Bikechick3]
Special thanks to: Ocdmess
Last chapter I asked you all to share an important song, that displayed raw or romantic emotions.
My answer: Nine Inch Nails – Something I Can Never Have.
No words can even describe why, so I'll leave it at that.
Chapter Playlist:
Garbage – Stroke of Luck
Rascal Flatts – What Hurts the Most
Blue October – Black Orchid
http:/ /www[dot]youtube[dot]com/user/BeautifullySacred
* This chapter contains self-harm, violence, and some gore. *
Chapter 7
BPOV
Friday January 6th, 2006
The New Year had come and gone, mostly unnoticed by myself and Charlie. He brought home a bottle of that sparkling cider from the grocery store and popped the cork at midnight, but we didn't say anything. It was the last weekend before I had to go back to school, and it also happened to be Jessica's 18th birthday. Lauren, Angela, Jessica and I made plans to go into Port Angeles to go shopping. After the fourth store, and more bags than we could fit in the trunk, Lauren chimed in with a great idea.
"We are all 18 now, how about we go get something sexy and shiny to go back to school with?" Lauren suggested, trying to sound seductive as she tossed her hair over her shoulder.
"What did you have in mind, exactly?" Jessica asked as she climbed into the driver seat of her car.
"Piercings, of course. We could get our belly buttons pierced, or our tongues!" she exclaimed while sliding into the front seat of the car.
Besides my ears, I'd never thought of getting any piercings. Renee had my lobes pierced when I was two years old, so I couldn't even remember what it felt like. The idea of a tongue piercing gave me chills, and a bellybutton piercing was just way over done. I admit, the idea of a piercing did appeal to me on some level, but mostly because of my morbid curiosity of the pain and the healing process. My cuts could hold the internal ache at bay for a good day or two, depending on the severity, so I wondered how long a piercing would take to heal. I tugged on the hems of my long sleeves and sighed.
"That sounds like an awesome idea!" Jessica said excitedly.
Angela shifted in her seat beside me. I glanced at her grimacing and shrugged my shoulders.
"I don't know," Angela hesitated. "I don't think my parents would be very happy with any crazy piercings."
"Oh come on Angela, you're an adult, who cares what they think!" Lauren said.
I looked in the mirror at her expression just as she rolled her eyes and shot a look at Jessica. Lauren was always so vicious and cruel. I sighed softly and turned to look back at Angela who was chewing on her lip as she stared at her lap. I leaned over to Angela and got her attention by tapping on her elbow.
"Let's just wait until we get there. Maybe you'll find something cute," I whispered to her, trying to smile as believably as I could.
"Thanks," Angela mumbled under her breath, and shot me a smile in return.
It only took us ten minutes to find a piercing and tattoo shop. The sign said 360 Ink and Steel. As the four of us walked into the store, I could hear a faint buzzing coming from the back. The entry-way was filled with glass displays holding all sorts of jewelry and small rubber body part sculptures with piercings. Jessica and Lauren were greeted by a tall, large man and wandered toward the barbell displays, looking at jewel studs and other dangling assortments. I tapped Angela on the shoulder and nodded toward the ear piercing displays. Angela looked toward the case, then back at me with a warm smile.
After five minutes of browsing, she pointed to a cute diamond stud. The piercing showed the jewelry going through the little piece of cartilage in front of the ear canal. The sculpture display said it was called a Tragus and the little information card below the fake ear said it took 8-16 weeks to heal.
"It looks really cute, and subtle," I said to Angela, who smiled wider at me.
"Yeah, I don't think my parents will mind it, and it looks really feminine. What are you going to get?" she asked, looking up at me curiously.
"I don't know. I don't want a bellybutton piercing or tongue piercing," I mumbled as I bit on my lower lip and eyed the jewelry.
"What about a lip ring? Or a nose ring?" she asked, pointing at the face sculpture with various piercings in the cheek, lip, eyebrow, and nose.
My eyes glided over the different piercings but I didn't see anything that really looked like me. I shrugged my shoulders and turned away from the glass to browse the other counters. Just as I turned to take a step, my body pressed against something firm and stationary. A sudden rush of air left my lungs as I stumbled backwards. I flinched as I felt large hands grip onto my forearms and noticed I was still standing on my own two feet. I looked up, shocked.
"Oh! I'm sorry, I wasn't paying — oh…" I stopped suddenly as I noticed a very attractive and very tattooed man smiling down at me. He was biting on his lower lip as he toyed with the hoop at the side of his mouth.
The ring was very small and fit his lip perfectly. It was offset to the right side and didn't have a bead on it like most of the rings in the displays. It was black and subtle. I felt my lips turn upward, betraying me. The man released my arms gently and nodded down at me.
"No worries, just glad I was here to catch you," he said through a smile. He stretched his hand back out, letting it hang in the air expectantly. "My name is Todd." He glanced down at his own hand, then at mine.
"Oh! I'm Bella," I said as I thrust my hand into his and shook it. "Thank you. Oh, this is my friend, Angela."
He looked over at Angela briefly, then back at me and cleared his throat.
"So, anything I can help you ladies with this afternoon?"
I looked over at Angela who had a big grin plastered across her face and was staring at me incredulously. I sighed and rolled my eyes as I turned to look over my shoulder for Jessica and Lauren. I spied them flirting with two guys near the main case of jewelry and rolled my eyes a second time before looking back at Todd.
"Yeah, my friends and I were looking to get pierced," I said as I hitched my thumb over my shoulder, motioning at Jessica and Lauren behind me. His gaze followed the direction I had pointed and he nodded slowly, his lips forming a crooked grin.
"Alright, I would be happy to help. What were you looking to get done?" His eyes were on Angela this time.
"Oh, I think it's called a Tragus, but with a diamond stud, not a ring. Is that okay?" she asked.
"Sure, sure. Should be no problem. The healing will be a little more tricky though, since you won't be able to spin the hoop," he said. He turned to look at me again, and his smile reached his eyes. "And for you?"
"What's that called?" I asked, pointing at his lip ring.
"It's a side labret with a seamless ring."
"I want that," I said, grinning.
He almost seemed to blush as he nodded in agreement and waved his hand for us to follow him. He explained to us the responsibility and aftercare involved in a piercing, how much the procedure would cost, and how much the jewelry would be once it had been sterilized.
I sat down and let my mind wander as we waited for Todd to set everything up. I noticed the shop was playing Garbage's A Stroke of Luck, and swayed back and forth in my seat to the rhythm of the music.
"I lose what I love most. Did you know I was lost until you found me?"
I sang the chorus very quietly under my breath and Angela turned to me. I blushed and quit singing, but fidgeted with my fingers in my lap. Angela simply smiled and looked down at her own lap as well. Feeling the awkward silence, I turned and asked the first thing I could think of.
"Are you scared?" I asked her.
"Maybe a little, but only because of what my parents' reaction might be. I think it will look cute, and I'm not worried about the pain. What about you?"
"No. I can deal with the pain, that bit won't bother me. A little concerned about Charlie's reaction, honestly, but I don't think it will be a big deal."
"Yeah, I hear you. I wonder what Jessica and Lauren are getting," she said, turning in her seat to look for them.
A few moments later Todd reappeared and took us into an enclosed room, shutting the door. Angela said she didn't want to go first, so I hopped up. The cold steel of the table reminded me of the blade at home. I shut my eyes and took a deep breath in through my nose. Todd gave me instructions, and I followed them as I began to grow more anxious. I wanted to feel that pinch, as the pain swelled throughout my body, numbing the ache so deep inside my heart. Suddenly, I felt a quick pressure and heard a 'pop'. The feeling was quick, and the pain was minimal, especially compared to what I was secretly used to.
I switched places with Angela, and gave her a smile that must have looked silly because she chuckled at me. The noise quickly turned into giggles and she was struggling to catch her breath. Maybe the giggle-fit was nerves, but I was certain that my lip hindered my normal smile. Todd hadn't seen the reason for Angela's hysterics, but her giggling did cause him to grin at me as he shook his head.
"You need to take a deep breath. I can't pierce you if you pass out," he said to her calmly.
I squeezed Angela's hand and took in a deep breath as she struggled to mimic my actions. As she let the breath out, an odd laugh escaped her lips and I snickered. She took another deep breath and let it out smoothly.
"You sure you want to do this? No one can force you. It's not too late to say forget it, and no one will think less of you," Todd said calmly.
"No! I'm alright, I promise." She nodded once and smiled.
Todd smiled back at her and began talking to her calmly about what he was doing. She pulled her hair back, and took off her glasses, handing them to me. When the needle slid in, I almost had to turn away. Even though I was used to cutting, I still couldn't stand the sight of someone else's blood, especially when a needle was involved. It was Angela's short scream and choked-back sob that kept my eyes glued to my only true friend in this world. I felt so bad that she was hurting, and regretted talking her into going along with Lauren's plan.
"Shh, it's okay. It's over, and it looks so cute, Ang." I tried smiling again, but the foreign object hindered my ability.
A single tear rolled down her cheek as she swallowed and nodded. Todd had stepped back and was staring at her. He seemed to be looking for something, but I wasn't certain of what.
"You okay? Remember, steady breaths." He tossed the needle in a plastic container and pulled off the gloves. He reached his hand out to her, and lifted her chin to look in her eyes. "Hey, steady breaths. You did amazingly; perfect even." His lips curled into a crooked, heart-stopping grin. He had us sit in the room and drink water from little paper cups for five minutes before we could leave. Offering his hand, he helped Angela off the table and gave her a warm smile.
He opened the door for us and followed us out as he explained the aftercare again. We stopped at a glass counter as he handed us a small piece of paper with written, detailed instructions and general questions and answers. I heard familiar laughter from behind us and turned around. Jessica was giggling as Lauren pointed in our direction. They quickly strolled over, stopping a few feet in front of us.
"Look what we got!" Jessica said loudly, lifting her shirt to show her stomach and its new accessory.
Both of them had gotten a bellybutton piercing. They had thin pink hoops with a pink capture bead. Angela and I looked at each other and shook her heads, chuckling.
"Oh my God, Bella, you got a lip ring!" Jessica exclaimed. "Wow…"
Angela turned her head to the side, and pointed to her ear with a wide grin. "I got a Tragus."
"That's so cute, Angela!" Jessica said.
"Yeah Angela, it's cute, if you like the ordinary and painless types of piercings." Lauren added.
"Actually," Todd interjected, "the Tragus is one of the most painful ear piercings, since it has to pierce through such thick cartilage. It's much more painful than the belly button, lip or lobe piercing." Todd grinned. He looked at Angela and winked quickly before looking at me.
I tried to smile widely, but winced at the tenderness. Todd turned to look back at Lauren and Jessica. Lauren's face was bright red with a dark glare. Jessica's mouth was open wide in shock. I cleared my throat, trying not to laugh at their expressions. Jessica just looked back and forth from me to Lauren to Angela, uncertain of what to say.
"Come on Jessica, let's go." Lauren said as she grabbed Jessica's arm, and pulled her out of the store.
I turned back to Todd and held my hand out to shake his. "Thank you, for everything. How much do we owe you?"
He cut us both a deal, claiming it was a Special they had going. Angela and I both exchanged curious looks before we shrugged and paid the man. As we were heading out of the store, Todd stopped us and held his hand out to me with a business card.
"In case you guys have any questions or concerns, or want to make an appointment for something bigger," he said with a grin. "My number is written on the back as well, in case you can't get a hold of me here."
"Oh, um…" I choked out as I blushed. I pulled my lower lip into my mouth to chew on it out of habit, but a quick pain shot through my tender lip and I released it quickly. That is going to take some getting used to.
"That was a really good choice for a piercing, by the way," he chuckled, grinning wide. "It suits you." He said, and headed back towards the counter.
The drive home was filled with music from Jessica's new CD's, and Lauren casually talking about what outfits she planned on wearing to show off her new piercing. Angela and I remained quiet in the back of the car for most of the ride home.
./.
When we finally arrived in Forks, I was the first one to be dropped off. As I slowly walked up the path to the house, I took deep breaths. Charlie was home, school started Monday, and I had a lip ring. Please stay calm Charlie.
"Bells, you're home! How was the trip?" he called from the living room.
"It was good. We all had a good time," I replied. Maybe if I was quick enough I could slip upstairs and he wouldn't even notice. Stupid, Bella, he will notice sooner or later. I sighed, knowing it was pointless to avoid Charlie, and walked into the living room. "Did you already eat, Dad?"
"Yeah, Bells. I called for a pizza an hour ago. There's some still on the table if you want any." He glanced over at me with a smile and looked back at the TV.
One, Two, Thr—
"What the hell is that?" Charlie said rather loudly as he looked back at me. I sighed and tried to smile. It had stopped bleeding during the trip home and the swelling had gone down, but it was still extremely tender.
"The girls all thought that now that we are all adults we should do something to celebrate."
"So you got a hole in your lip? How is that celebrating? Don't you get hurt enough as it is? Why would you go looking to put yourself through more pain?" Charlie's questions lingered in the air as I contemplated the multiple meanings his words held, most of which he probably wasn't aware of.
"Would you have preferred a tattoo or a strip club?" I asked, only half joking.
"Well, I, um, uh…" Charlie stuttered, looking for an answer. "You girls couldn't get into a strip joint, that's for people twenty-one and older. Wait, you didn't get a tattoo, did you?"
"Dad, calm down. One, we can't get into a club if they serve alcohol. Two, no, I didn't, but that's beside the point, Dad." I crossed my arms and leaned onto my other foot. "I'm eighteen, and while I know I still live in your house, and abide by your rules, I still have full say over what I do with my body." My words didn't hold the seriousness I was trying to convey through the mumble of my new speech impediment.
Charlie sighed and looked back at his TV while he fidgeted with the remote. "I know that, Bells, I just feel like I didn't get much time with you growing up, and I forget you're almost a grown woman already." He turned and looked back up at me with sadness in his eyes. He turned off the T.V and got to his feet, striding over to me in four meaningful steps. His gaze made me feel uneasy, as though he was piercing through my façade revealing the pain and torment hidden beneath my skin, and inside my heart. I looked down at my feet and sighed.
"Listen, Bells…I know I'm not always around much, and I'm sure I've made plenty of mistakes that you are too kind-hearted to tell me about, but I want you to know I'm here." He stopped again and shuffled his feet. The uncomfortable feeling was like a charge of electricity passing between us, causing us to shift our weight. His index finger lifted my chin, willing me to look at him. I met his gaze and felt ashamed.
I'm so sorry, Daddy.
"I love you, Bells. I just wanted you to know that," he said quietly with honesty in his voice. Charlie stared down at me as he choked back his tears.
"I know. I love you too, Daddy." The moment the word left my lips, my father had me wrapped in a tight embrace. The sobs were rising from my throat and I held back the noise with a deep breath.
When Charlie let me go, we awkwardly smiled at each other for a few moments. He was nervous and uncomfortable once again, and neither one of us knew what to say or do next. He turned to walk into the kitchen and offered me a slice of pizza. I cleared my throat and turned towards the kitchen.
"Um, actually, I think I'm going to head to my room. School starts in two days, and I still have some reading to do for a book report," I lied. He nodded and grabbed a beer from the fridge. As I walked up the stairs I could hear his footsteps in the kitchen. By the time I opened my bedroom door, the T.V had already clicked back on.
I closed my door behind me, and threw my limp body on my bed. The shame running through my body caused the sobs, and the sobs that shook my body caused the pain to run through my veins like liquid fire. My father could never know my secrets. I could feel myself losing control slowly, and it scared me more than anything else. What happens when I just snap, and can't take the emptiness anymore? How much longer can I hold on?
I had two more days of solitude before I would be forced to return to socializing at school, two days to find the courage and strength to rebuild the façade that was quickly crumbling around me, forty-eight hours left that didn't require a mask of fake smiles, and casual laughter. The trip to Port Angeles had drained me and left me feeling exposed, and raw. While spending an entire day keeping up the appearance of a normal teenager wasn't what I had in mind, it was necessary to keep Charlie, and my so called 'friends', from hounding me with questions or their general concerns. It was a small price to pay for a few more days of isolation.
I tried to let sleep take over my body, but when four hours had passed and the night had only grown darker, I knew it was a futile hope. After another two hours of writing, crying, and staring at the ceiling, and I finally felt my lids grow heavy. I curled around myself, trying to hold the last few seams closed as I rocked myself to sleep with dry sobs.
I can't keep living this way.
It was the first Saturday since school started, and like it was part of his religion, Charlie was at the lake. My lip was no longer tender, and I could drink from cups much easier, though it had taken some getting used to. I would tug on the ring with my teeth instead of biting my lip; one bad habit, replaced by another. The people at school looked at me like I was the new freak-show, but I was used to the stares and whispers by now. Charlie had let it go and didn't seem to want to talk about it, but his disapproving expression when he thought I wasn't paying attention didn't go unnoticed.
I went about my day cleaning, doing laundry, and straightening the house. I had decided against going to see Garrett because I didn't feel like the company today. I felt bad I hadn't visited him in almost a week, but I just couldn't bring myself to socialize today. He had survived without me for over two centuries, surely he would be fine. He probably didn't even notice how long it had been.
By noon I had finished with most of the house chores, and decided to sit out on the lawn with a notebook. Within twenty minutes of being outside, it had started to rain. Half-soaked and clutching my notebook, I ran back inside and stomped upstairs. I changed out of my wet shirt, pulled on a sweater, put my hair up, and sat down in the rocking chair at my window. I stared out my window at the forest's edge and sighed.
I tapped on my knee, making a thudding noise to a slow beat as I creaked forward and backward in the chair. The floorboards beneath me echoed a repetitive melody with each push forward and roll back of the chair. The pounding of the rain on the roof got louder as the storm picked up. A sudden crack of thunder startled me, and I stopped my rhythm. I closed my eyes and tried to slow my breathing, but a barrage of images flooded my mind.
His crooked grin as he slides the baseball cap onto my head. His hands touching my skin as he tucks my hair behind my ear, whispering against my neck. His laughter shaking my whole body as he sits behind me, pressing me against his chest. Holding my hand as he walks me into the forest. The feel of his cold breath on my skin as he kissed me goodbye one last time.
I let out a deafening scream as the tears ran down my cheeks. My hands clutched at my temples as I sobbed. I pulled my knees up to my chest and tried to calm my breathing, but the expansion of my lungs stung with every inhalation. How is it he can still cause me so much pain? It had been almost four months, and it still hurt just as bad, if not worse than the day he left.
I pulled my focus to the noises of the house, trying to distract myself from the memories. I found my rhythm once again as the rain echoed through the house. I stared out my window and took a deep breath, crying out the words in my head.
"I can take the rain on the roof of this empty house; that doesn't bother me. I can take a few tears now and then and just let them out. I'm not afraid to cry every once in a while, even though going on with you gone still upsets me. There are days every now and again I pretend I'm okay, but that's not what gets me." I took a deep breath as I trembled violently. The pain inside my chest flared up, burning at the back of my throat.
"What hurts the most was being so close and having so much to say and watching you walk away. Never knowing what could have been; and not seeing that loving you is what I was trying to do." I pulled my knees tighter to my chest as I let out a sigh and stared out my window as the rain poured.
My hands began to beat a rhythm against the wood of the rocking chair as I sang my words to myself. As I neared the end of the melody I let the last few notes ring with emphasis, pushing all of my emotions out through my words. I cried out as I tried to ignore the hole where my heart belonged.
The sudden silence became eerie. The only noise that could be heard was the beating of rain against the house. I took a shallow breath to avoid the stinging sensation in my lungs and I shut my eyes. I let out another short scream and it muffled the thud of the water droplets as they collided with the top of the house. My scream turned into choking sobs as I ran out of breath.
I could feel the deep burn inside my hollow chest again. Can I really live like this? I had been playing with fate for years. My time was up the day I decided to come to Forks, possibly even before then. I stood slowly, checking my balance before I took a step forward, and headed to my music collection. After I searched for a few brief moments I found the CD I wanted and loaded it into the player. I clicked play, pressed 'loop' twice and headed for my dresser where I kept my scalpel.
The crowd cheered on the intro to the live acoustic song as I climbed onto my window's ledge. I felt the release immediately as the cold steel pressed into my flesh. Silent tears fell down my cheeks, the warmth from the salty emotional display splashed onto my collar.
"Have you ever been so lonely, there's no one there to hold?"
My eyes scanned the forest across the street from my window. I used to look out with longing and excitement, but it was just loneliness and longing that filled me now. My eyes blinked as the wetness coated my lashes. I could barely see the shapes of the trees in the distance anymore as the tears flooded my eyes.
Twice more, the numbing feeling took over my body, lulling the burn in my heart to sleep temporarily. My breath left me and I shook as I wished the loneliness would leave with it. The blood was already pooling at my wrist as I looked back outside.
"Just hold my hand to show some concern if I live or die."
Thoughts of Esme and Carlisle filled my mind; their bright smiles – their happiness and joy. Their love for one another was an amazing sight to see, and I would never experience what they have. Their unmistakable dedication to one another was always awe-inspiring. Simply being in their presence was proof that true love is indubitable.
Then there was Alice, and Jasper. Never had I seen two people more fitted for one another. The look in his eyes when they fell upon her; it was like he was in a constant state of worship. She was a goddess and he was her church, priest, saint, and follower-explicitly. She was his religion.
"My eyes are open wide, help me look inside."
I was once granted the chance to see how love could be such an enormous entity. Once again, however, fate knew how to give and how to take away. I'd always known deep inside that I would never be good enough for him, but a small part of me wished that I would be granted more time than I surely deserved.
Once more, I etched a line across my skin, and I knew it wouldn't be enough to bury this pain. A shaky hand and blurred vision were all I was graced with as the blood trailed faster down my pale flesh. The room started to spin and I leaned against the window pane in an attempt to steady myself.
"The thought of ending it soon, just let me sleep in my room."
I leaned away from the window and fell to the floor. The blood smeared as I brought my palm forward to pick myself up. Maybe if I just laid down for awhile the pain would go away while I slept. To sleep forever would be a wish easily granted, and the thought lingered for a moment. I could do it. I've been causing myself and everyone around me so much pain for so long, one more step was all it would take.
I glanced at the clock and calculated that I had at least three more hours before Charlie would be home. The thought of hurting my father pained me, and I wished it wasn't necessary, but I knew he would move on. I knew his love for me would make it hard, but he had lived for so long without me around, I knew he would readjust. He didn't know of the world I knew. He didn't feel the pain I felt.
"I hear a knock at the front door, don't come in."
I pulled my knees together and pushed up on my bed with my wrist. Just as I got to my feet and steadied myself, I heard a thudding from downstairs. I gasped and jumped, surprised. My eyes widened with panic as I looked down at my bloody arm and then glanced at the window.
Who would be knocking? Billy knew Charlie was out fishing, and Garrett promised he would never visit me in Forks in order to avoid any trouble from the tribe. The sound rapped once again on the door and my heart beat faster in my chest. I tucked my arm into my side and reached for the handle.
Just as I pulled my bedroom door open, I gasped loudly. I stumbled backwards and tripped over my shoes beside the bed. I reached out for my comforter out of reflex but it did nothing to break my fall. I crashed to the floor, my eyes wide with shock at the flaming red and pale white in front of me.
Victoria.
A smile crept up at the corner of her lips and I wondered briefly if I had said her name out loud, or if she was smiling for some other, unknown reason. When I blinked and refocused my eyes, I noticed the taller figure that stood beside her in my door frame. His blood-red eyes and grin chilled me to the bone.
I slowly lifted myself off the ground with my bleeding arm. I couldn't tell if it had been seconds since I had fallen, or minutes. As I flexed my arm, Victoria's gaze shifted from my face to my arm. Her grin faded and I heard a gasp just before her eyes found mine again. The boy standing beside her tried to lunge for me but she held him back, barely, as a hiss escaped her lips.
"No," she commanded him, her eyes not leaving mine. "I knew you were bleeding, Dear Bella, that is only expected with how clumsy you are, but I never would have thought it was intentional. Tsk, tsk. Such a waste of pure bliss." He words were smooth and coy as the grin crept back across her lips.
The music was still playing, and a chill ran through my body as the words struck me.
"Mother I'm so scared, I'm so scared."
My mind seemed to shift and I realized why she must be here. I quickly looked to my bed, then to my window before I looked back at her garnet eyes. She is here to kill me. She thinks he still loves me. She thinks this will be revenge. Then another wave of realization struck me and I gasped at the pain it elicited. He doesn't want me. He won't be bothered by her revenge. She won't kill me if it doesn't hurt him.
If I can manage to call out his name, maybe she will think he is nearby and leave. I didn't want to die this way. Charlie would find me, and the image of me lying here would be ingrained in his mind forever. I had to get out of the house, or scare her into leaving. I took a deep breath and opened my mouth, my eyes wide with fear.
"Edward!" I called out, my voice breaking in the second syllable.
Victoria's eyes widened with what could possibly be panic as she glanced at the window.
"Edward!" I called louder, panicked. I closed my eyes and his face filled my mind once again. I mentally pulled at all of my memories of his crooked smile. I prayed she would make haste with her purpose of being here. I was completely distracted and my mind was running faster with every 'what-if' and 'maybe' when suddenly, a voice filled my mind— a familiar voice — his voice.
Just as the voice faded, I shook my head. Wait, what did it say? I pleaded in silence for my delusions to repeat the words just as Victoria lunged, baring her perfect white teeth. The music continued to play as everything went black.
"But maybe life's not for everyone."
All I could hear were snarls and a snap. I opened my mouth to scream, but nothing came out, at least I didn't hear anything. There was a familiar thudding in my chest, and an intense burning on my neck. I could feel the pulling sensation as she drank; her nails digging into my skin as she held me still. I opened my mouth once more but all that came out was a quiet gasp. I whispered his name a third time. An image of his golden yellow eyes filled my mind, and he smiled.
"I love you…"
Song question for the chapter: In the darkest moment of your life so far, what song did you connect with, listen to on repeat, or identify with? Even if it was after the fact. I know this is a personal question, so you can be vague as to the meaning behind it, if you wish.