Chapter 3 – Shattered

BPOV

I was a little energetic while making dinner. Edward would be here soon, though I tried to not think about it. Time went by slower when I watched on the clock. It was after 6pm; Charlie should have been home by now. Why was everyone running late tonight? While setting the table, the doorbell rang. I half ran to answer it; thinking it was Edward. The bell rang again and I felt like an anxious puppy running to the door. I practically ripped the door handle off. Calm, I told myself, don't seem too anxious.

I didn't let the disappointment show; it was Jacob and Billy. "Hey Jake. Hi Billy." Disappointment was in my voice. Jacob beamed at me, "Hey Bella. We came by to see Charlie." I smiled, "He's not home yet. But you must be psychic, because I just finished making dinner. Come on in." I stepped aside as Jacob wheeled his dad into the house. Billy settled next to the table, "How have you been?" Where was Edward already? He didn't say what time he'd be here. Billy's question was almost lost to me. "Oh, fine. Just aced my history exam. How have you been?"

I served them some of the chicken fajitas. Jacob almost finished all of them. I thought Edward had an appetite. Billy watched the game, while Jacob and I played cards on the floor. I sat up, trying to stretch out the stiffness in my legs, "Wow, it's after 8. Where's my dad already? I'm really getting worried." Jacob looked up at the clock, "Don't worry, Bells. He'll be home soon." I grimaced, "Maybe." Where was my dad? And where was Edward? If he weren't coming, he would have called. I was really getting nervous. Neither of them would have gone this long without calling.

Jacob, Billy and I began to watch a movie after the game. It was after 9, when I heard a car pulling up in front of the house. Whether it was Edward or Charlie; I was just relieved that one of them was here. Keys turned in the lock; Charlie. Ok, Edward, you better have a good excuse. "Dad, how come you're so late? Jake and Billy are here…."

I trailed off when I noticed my dad looked at me with concern. I knew this look; he was trying to keep something from me. "Bells, you'd better sit down. There's something I need to tell you." Charlie had me sit in the living room. Jacob stood; his head higher than Charlie's and sat beside me. Charlie barely smiled at Billy, before turning to me. "Bella, I really don't know how to tell you this." He hesitated, "But, umm." I looked to Jacob, then to Charlie, "What is it?" He sighed deeply, "It's part of the reason why I'm late. There was a car accident." My heart stopped as he spoke.

"Elizabeth's car was found on the side of the road, smashed into a tree. The windshield was gone and the passenger door was detached." In my chest, my heart shattered. The small bits clattered down in my body. "Dad…. was Edward in the car?" Tears filled my eyes, afraid to hear the answer. Charlie came over and crouched down in front of me. Jacob put his arm over my shoulders, ready to support me. "Not when the car was found. There was blood found on the scene. We found Elizabeth's body on the river bank a few miles away."

He squeezed my trembling hand, "But we can't find Edward. From what it looked like, he was driving and their car was knocked off the road. It looks like someone took Edward's body."

Edward's body. My entire body began to tremble and my breath came out in short huffs. I took my hands from Charlie and covered my face, to let out an ear-splitting scream. This wasn't happening. Edward wasn't gone. He wasn't missing. My head was shaking wildly. This wasn't true. It was a bad dream. I'll wake up and see Edward at school. "No, no, NO!" I screamed, hitting my fists again the sides of my head. My dad stopped me and wrapped his arms around me. This couldn't be happening. I cried uncontrollably into his chest. I felt Jacob's hand on my shoulder and Charlie released me, "Come on."

I went to him and cried into Jacob's chest. I couldn't stop, no matter how hard I tried. No, this wasn't real. This is only a nightmare. This wasn't fair. I finally met someone and fall in love with him, now he was taken away. Jacob was trying to calm me. He had us sit on the couch. I cried a river with my face pressed into his neck. Charlie was giving Billy more information about the accident.

I stood quickly, Jacob standing with me. "No, no. This isn't true. I… I….," my words were garbled by my cries. "I can't hear this right now," I said between sobs. Jacob put his arm around my back and walked me into the kitchen. I sat woodenly at the table, my hands still trembling. "Bella, can I get you anything?" he asked. I shook my head, then broke out into another uncontrollable cry, letting my head fall onto my arm that rested on the table. This couldn't be real. Edward and his mother couldn't be gone.

It was confirmed that Ms. Elizabeth was dead. But what about Edward? Maybe whoever took Edward was taking care of him or getting him to a hospital. Maybe he was in a hospital bed right now, recovering from the crash. They just didn't know who he was. He didn't drive with his wallet in this pocket. It must still be in the car. That thought, as weak as it was, was able to help stop my cries long enough for me to calm down. My head began to pound from a terrible headache. I didn't have to say anything. Jacob set a glass of water on the table, with two aspirin. After drinking the water and aspirin, I staggered to my feet.

Jacob held my shoulders and walked with me up to my room. He sat me on the edge of my bed while I just stared at the floor. More of my tears came down my face. Jacob kneeled down in front of me, "Bella..." I shook my head, not wanting to talk. Jacob stood then, ready to leave. "Jake, could you just sit with me? Please?" My voice broke on the last word.

He sat with me and put his arm over my shoulders. His weight sank into the mattress and I fell against him, almost feeling lifeless. I leaned into his chest and cried. Jacob just let me cry. This wasn't real. It couldn't be real. Edward couldn't be gone. He has to be out there somewhere; waiting for me to find him. It was another weak comfort, but it was there. Edward was alive somewhere and we were going to find each other.

EPOV

I writhed in pain for three days. Through the pain, all I did was think about Bella. What was she doing? What did people tell her? While I thought of her, the burning was leaving my body, but it was increasing at my heart. The heat and pain increased at my heart, making it beat faster. My eyes shut, feeling the pain grow. Then with a final thump, my heart stopped. I opened my eyes and everything was so defined. Breathing deeply and I caught the scent of baked bread, ocean water and chocolate.

Part of my mind was fixed on Bella. I was alive, so I could see her. My body sat up rapidly, before my mind could give the command. I was in an office. The last thing I remembered was Dr. Carlisle Cullen sitting with me while I was in pain. Dr. Cullen stood with Emmett and Jasper by the office door. What was going on? "Where am I?" I finally asked. My voice sounded different. Dr. Cullen stepped towards me, "Do you remember anything I told you in the last few days?"

I thought back through my pain and remembered Dr. Cullen speaking to me. He told me he and his family were vampires. Dr. Cullen explained that my mother and I were attack by nomadic vampires and they killed my mother. Most importantly, as vampires, they did not hunt people. The Cullens drank the blood of animals.

"Yes, I remember." In my mind, I remembered the ones who attack the car; two men and one red haired woman. Their faces were like shimmers in a pond. The fiery red hair wasn't clear, but I still remembered. My lip twitched as I tried not to sneer, "Where are the ones who did this?" Jasper stepped forward, "Alice sees them in Seattle." My eyes narrowed a bit. Alice sees them? I'll ask later. I nodded, "And they killed my mother?"

"Yes, they did. Emmett and I were hunting when we heard the car crash. Normally, we wouldn't have gone near an accident, in the risk of smelling human blood, but we caught the scent of the trio and we went to investigate. We don't allow others to hunt in our area. When we arrived, they ran off, leaving you alive." I remember when they found me. I felt an urge to run out and find the ones who did this to me.

Jasper looked at me, "You must be thirsty." I thought about that, was I really a vampire? There was a burning in my throat. But, another feeling came over me; I wanted to see Bella. "Yea, but that can wait. I have to go see Bella." Emmett, Jasper and Dr. Cullen looked between each other. "What?" I asked. They were looking at each other.

I felt the urge to attack them. "Edward," Dr. Cullen came closer to me and I stepped back, "You can't see her." I exhaled sharply and the flow of air was awkward, "Fine. After I hunt, or whatever it is I need to do." Dr. Cullen looked down, then back to me, "No, Edward. You can't see her again. The town believes you're dead. Well, missing, but soon, they will call off the search and pronounce you dead. Bella already knows this."

My eyes widened and my lips curled back from my teeth; an odd, yet necessary reaction, "But I'm not. I'll just explain that I was in the forest and I just woke up. That'll show I'm still alive." Dr. Cullen shook his head, "No, Edward. You are a newborn vampire. You will need time to control your impulses. Besides, Bella's human. The scent of her blood may be too tempting to you. You may kill her." I stepped back, "I would never do that to her."

How could he say that? Think that? I would never do anything to hurt Bella. Dr. Cullen patted my shoulder, "Edward, it may take you years to get yourself under control. As far as Bella is concerned, I'm sorry to say, you are dead. You must try to forget her."

I looked away from Dr. Cullen, out the glass wall. I was a vampire. In the glass, there was my reflection looking back at me. My skin was snow white, my hair was brighter and my eyes were a vivid red. I would terrify Bella is she saw me like this; a living corpse. From my basic knowledge of vampires, I was immortal. That I could deal with; I had no other choice. I would cope to this, but I could never cope with the fact that I could never see Bella again. This was a fate worse than death. I remembered her, but the memory was murky. I remembered her smile, her touch and above all, her eyes.

While I was burning, Dr. Cullen told me that my human memories would fade away. I would hold Bella in my mind for the rest of my life. I swore to myself, when I get control and I will see her again. Who cares what this doctor thinks? I cannot live like he does and not see the one I love.

Even if she cannot see me, I would not live this life without being able to see her again. I won't be able to hold her, won't be able to touch her, but I will see her. I will hear her. And, no matter what, I will not kill her. I love Bella and I will never hurt her. I knew she was already in pain because she believes I'm dead. I left everything to her. I just pray that will bring her some comfort. This was unbearable. I was in love with Bella, but to her, I had to remain dead. How was I going to live with that?