WRITTEN FOR — JM Shaw (AKA WitchyVampireGirl)
PROMPT USED — Don't You Wanna Stay by Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson
Thank you for all the reviews! I will get to the replies once I complete posting the story, I promise :) Witchy, I'm soooo glad (and equally relieved) that you're enjoying this.
CHAPTER 5: FEAR
It was several hours later when Bella roused from her sleep. She awoke slowly, bringing a hand to her aching head. She recognized the pain, which meant she hadn't gotten enough sleep. A quick glance at the early hour in the clock confirmed it for her. She turned on her side, extending a hand toward her husband's side of the bed . . .
. . . only to encounter cool, empty sheets.
The realization jarred her, bringing back memories of what'd happened a few hours ago. She sat up so quickly that a wave of dizziness rocked through her.
But she had no time for it.
She pushed through, wobbling onto her feet, and threw on her robe.
He wouldn't have left. He must be outside, she chanted frantically as she threw open the door and made her way through the apartment.
"Edward!" she called out over and over, checking in each room.
Agitation mounted inside her when her search turned up empty. She sank down to her knees, cupping her hands over her mouth when she realized he was gone.
"No," she whispered through a sob. "No, baby. Please come back! Come back to me!"
Her body trembled as fear shot through her veins, nearly choking her with its icy claws.
"No," she cried out, this time with resolve. "No."
She pushed herself up to her feet and nearly ran back to her room to grab her phone. Her fingers shook as she pulled up Emmett McCarty's number. Putting the call on speaker, she threw the phone onto her bed and changed into a pair of jeans.
The ringing tone went on and on, until it clicked off with Emmett's voicemail message. Bella groaned, but didn't give up. She threw on a sweatshirt and then called him back, over and over.
But he never answered.
She refused to give up . . . to think of the what-ifs.
She had to go to Edward. That was the sole thought on her mind.
She wasn't stupid enough to not realize that it might be too late, already. But she needed something to hold on to . . . something to keep her heart beating in her chest until she saw with her own eyes that he was alright.
If he wasn't . . . that just wasn't an alternative she was prepared to even consider.
Pushing her feet into a pair of sneakers, she locked the door behind her and left. Finding a cab at the ungodly hour took her what felt like ages. When she finally managed to get into one, she quickly rattled off the address that Felix's note had contained, praying to every higher power that existed that she'd find Edward there, unharmed.
On arriving at the hotel, she threw the money on the seat and jumped out of the car. A huge crowd of people surrounded the entrance, many of them carrying microphones and cameras. Bella's heart lunged into her throat as she pushed through the throng until she was right in the front.
Horror ripped through her when she saw the police cars lined up at the entrance.
"At the moment, we don't have complete clarification on what has happened, but the dead body of a tall, young man with brown hair was brought out to the ambulance. There has been no official statement from the police rep yet, but we're hopeful . . ." The words were being spoken by a journalist standing near Bella, and her gut twisted when their meaning registered in her mind.
Dead body.
Understanding dawned on her. A wave of nausea curled her stomach, and she clutched herself tight, fearing that she would fall apart if she let go. She stumbled away from the crowd, whimpering as she struggled to process the fact that her husband was gone.
"No," she groaned, placing her hands over her ears, as if it'd drown out the realization spreading along her nerves. "Edward . . . Edward . . ."
Her breaths came out in shallow gasps, and she felt light-headed. She tried to grasp the bark of the tree in front of her. But her entire frame trembled, and she couldn't hold herself upright anymore. She swayed on her feet, her eyes starting to roll upward.
Unconsciousness beckoned, and she struggled against it, but her body wasn't strong enough.
A pair of arms caught her just before she could hit the ground.
A/N: Just one more chapter remaining. I'll try to have it up in an hour or so.
Pics for each chapter can be found in my FB group – Fanfiction by ForeverRobsessed