S.M. own all characters.
All mistakes are my own.
Running Up That Hill - Placebo
You don't want to hurt me,
But see how deep the bullet lies.
Unaware that I'm tearing you asunder.
There is thunder in our hearts, baby.
So much hate for the ones we love?
Tell me, we both matter, don't we?
It's hot.
So hot.
The heat swirls around my body, the smells of rot and excrement burrowing into my skin.
My lungs burn and my throat throbs as my stomach heaves bile against my tongue.
Gnarled branches groan above me as I weave through the thick foliage, the ground sucking at the soles of my feet as I wrench my limbs from the sodden forest floor.
Behind me, I can hear them.
Him.
Hear the sounds of metal shifting and cocking.
Hear the way the iron rubs and moves as the bullet is forced into the barrel.
So close, I can feel them.
Feel the roaring crack of a shot ignited from steel.
Feel the sharp whistle as it burns across my cheek and the crunch of impact against the heavy tree next to me.
The wood blooms in a splintered flower around the invading metal as the trunk shudders with the force.
My feet jerk against the sucking woodland, clutching at my skin as solid ground disappears.
A sick sludge wraps around my legs as my body meets the water. Drowning my screams, my face smacks the bog, filling my nostrils with decay and choking on the swamp filling my throat.
Emptiness stuffs my ears, filling my brain with the ringing of white noise.
Mud swirls around my head as I wrench my face from the sucking water.
Gasping, I pull my arms from the mud, my body stiff with the fear that weighs my bones.
I want to look behind me, want to see their faces as they come.
But I can't.
Won't.
Spitting against the mud that dyes my teeth, I drag my body into deeper everglade, the thick water gripping at my clothes.
The buzz of insects fills my ears as I pull myself through the heavy foliage. Their sharp bites stinging against the burns that scorch my skin.
I heave air as I move, my knees shaking as the heat presses down on me.
"Run, run, run" the words follow me as I dig my fingers in, hitting solid ground.
Pulling myself up, my arms buckle under my weight and my shoulders collide heavily with the creeping vines. Biting back my screams, I press my cheek into the greenery and drag my body from the sucking water, collapsing against the heavy heated air.
"Get up" I mumble as I lay immobile, my body shuddering with each breath.
I can hear their shouts, their thundering feet.
Someone gives a sharp whistle and the sound of gurgling barks wrap around my throat.
"Now," I grit.
Shoving my shaking arms under me, I press my elbows up, grunting as I push my knees up.
My legs wobble as I take another step and my head swims with the movement.
The sounds of splashes sends my heart stuttering as I push my body to move.
The crack of another shot whips through the air and I twist my body deeper into the sweeping trees.
Weaved branched bring the relief from the sun as the thick twisted woods block out the heat.
My retinas ache against the sudden change and light flashes behind my lids with each blink of my abused eyes.
The ground tilts with a slope and I can feel the mud, slick with humidity and rain, making my legs vibrates with the effort to stay upright.
My feet stumble and I bite back the screams that fill my throat as my legs slip out from underneath me.
The world tilts around me as I slip down the hill. My body smacks the ground with a wet slap and my bones thrum with the impact.
The flap of wings beat with my thundering heart as they give off sharp squawks of protest.
Wheezing past the pain that builds along my spine, I blink past the fading sunlight, my eyes water as I watch the rays shimmer against the rustling branches above me.
Trying to draw in air, my body retches against the smell of rot. Decay and putrid acidity lace my tongue and my stomach twists into itself.
My shoulders shift against the sharp rocks under me and I twist my head.
Empty sockets meet mine as I open my mouth the match the lipless scream of the body before me.
Slapping a hand against my teeth I scream into my palm.
Bones crunch under me and I choke on my tongue.
Black wings bring shadows over me as it lands next the freshest dump.
The stomach has expanded and bloated twice its normal size under the sun, the sharp white skin lined in pale blue lines.
The birds beak pecks at the lose skin of her cheek and I can feel the burn as tears blur her faceless skull.
The grave expands around me, enclosing me in decomposed flesh and liquefied human.
"The dogs got her!" someone shouts and I don't want to move anymore.
I just it to be over.
Done.
I'm done.
I turn my head and watch the birds feast on what's left of a young Darkie woman.
Me next?
Will I feed their hunger next?
Will they kill me here or bring me back for all to watch?
I close my eyes and press my body deeper into the thick sludge around my skin. Bone shards scrape my arms as I dig under the remnants of long decomposed skeletons.
The sun has heated the bodies, rushing the breakdown and warming the grave.
Liquid wraps around my throat.
Around my chin.
Lips.
I squeeze my eyes against my tears and let the body next to me fall over my face.
Insects tumble from the open cavity in the chest and begin their slow crawl across my face, I fight the twitches in my fingers as their legs prick my skin.
I try to slow my breathing; try to press against the terror that chokes my body as I listen for the heavy footsteps that trample down the incline.
Dogs pant and heave, their nose pressed against the ground and their heavy jowls salivating.
The birds scatter as they near, their angry shrieks echoing through the grave.
"Damn birds" one of them mutters "Spread out" they call. "She's here somewhere."
Curses follow the orders as feet move around the each of the pool.
"Holy fuck" someone swear, their voice muffled as they cough.
The dogs' noses stay planted as they move around the bodies, their snuffling all I can hear.
"This is fucking ridiculous" someone says from my left, the toes of their boots brushing the edge of the pool. "She ain't fucking here." He leans over me and twists the tip of a stick into the empty socket of the skull. "Someone call Edward, let him know the dogs were a bust."
The men around me mumble their agreements before hauling the dogs back up the hill.
My body, drawn so tightly, sags and the sobs I held in shake my body.
I try to keep quiet, my tears running silently from eyes, listening to the emptiness of the now still forest.
When my body simply won't give up any more liquid to tears, I know I should move.
But I don't.
xxx
It's hot.
So hot.
I pry eyes open to stare into the small fire that burns at my side, making my skin stick together.
"You're awake" he mutters from beyond the flames.
"I'm still alive" I observe and twist the cracks from my bones.
He presses his lips together and turns back to the small stone arrowhead in his hands. "I'm not going to hurt you."
I snort and push to my feet, not bothering to answer him.
"I should get going; need to cover more ground before morning."
Edward nods and swings his bow over his chest, bending he grabs a torch from the fire before stubbing out the rest with the toe of his boot.
"So you're still set on coming then?" I raise a brow when he nods.
Grinding my teeth, I turn and move ahead of the small glow the fire casts and sweeping aside the hanging branches and step into the darkness of the forest.
As my eyes adjust to the welcome darkness I watch the small lives that live in night scurry along the twisting roots.
Small rodents' dash through the shadows that moon is bleeding through the trees. Their small tails swishing against the tall grass and thick moss before diving into holes at the base of sagging trees.
Insects twang sharp harmonic sounds as the nocturnal birds sweep through the trees.
Edward's steps follow mine, bringing the light of his flame and the quietness of the now still night.
I sigh and move forward, my body aching and head thumping with my feet.
"You have any idea where you're going?" he asks behind me.
I grit my teeth and I stare ahead. "Yes."
"You sure?"
"Yes."
"Seems to me you're making it up as you go," I can hear a smile in his voice
"Good thing no one asked you," I mutter.
I can hear him as he sighs behind me. "Come one, Bella, I can help you, I know this forest."
"Like you helped me before, hm?"
"I saved your life" he grits and I stop to look at him.
"Some life" I mutter and step over the decaying body of an old fall tree.
"You should be more thankful," he mutters and I freeze. "You're alive because of me."
The laugh that escapes my chest doesn't sound human.
"So that makes you saintly now? You saved my life so I'm forever in your debt, is that it?" I turn to meet his eyes. "If it wasn't for you I wouldn't have needed saving" I spit at him.
His shoulder sag and his eyes flick from mine.
"What do you want me to say, Bella? That I'm sorry?"
I scoff "I don't want your pathetic apologies. Save them for someone who cares."
He shakes his head at the ground and I nod "I'd rather you not speak to me anymore" I say and turn forward to start walking again.
We don't speak again until the sun begins its struggle to come up from behind the trees.
"We should camp here" he mutters and I look around the small open area between the two walls of dense forest. "Here".
I look down at the small loaf of bread in his outstretched hand.
"Take it, Bella. You need to eat."
Tentatively I take it in my hands and hold it to my chest, mumbling my thanks.
He nods and takes one out for himself and sits with his back against a fallen log.
I lean my back against the tree farthest from where he drops to the ground and watch the dawn fade to an angry sun.
The sharp shout of voices brings my foggy brain from sleep with a jolt. My head jerks upwards the painful cramps of sleeping slumped to the side pull at my nerves.
I turn to look at the empty spot across from me and my heart invades my throat.
I push my body up and away from the tree and turn in a circle.
They cock their guns.
They laugh at their jokes.
They move closer.
I shake my head.
Should have known.
Stupid.
I look towards the voices.
Run.
xxx
My ears are filled, I can't hear anything.
Silence fills my head and I lay still, the twitches in my muscles vibrating in my limbs.
The pool around me has gone cold with the setting sun and my toes have gone numb.
When someone wraps their hand around my shoulder and under my arm I can't jerk away.
Fingers dig into my skin and pull my body from underneath the dead one.
The cold air of the night wraps around my wet body, the tunic hang limply and heavy around my numb frame.
"Well, well" rumbles a heavy voice as my legs dangle helplessly above the ground. "What we got here?"
Crooked yellow teeth shine at me in the growing moonlight, the hair growing on his face wild and filed with small crawling bugs.
The scream builds in my throat is tampered before it can even work its way across my tongue when a large hand clamps down over the lower half of my face and the man clicks his tongue.
"None of that screeching, girl. We don't want none of those dogs hearin' ya."
I try to jerk my body from his grasp, my useless arms flopping at my sides as I dangle in the mountain man's hand.
His chuckle vibrates through his grasp and he sets me on the ground, his hand on my shoulder when my feet refuse to carry me.
The man holds me away from him and looks me up and down. "Not much of ya there is there? Ya got a name?"
My head lulls to the side and my mouth feels full of cotton. My tongue is heavy against my teeth as I try to swallow past the bile that layers my taste buds.
"We need to dunk ya in the river, girl, you smell worse than death," he chuckles and hauls me away from the bodies of my people.
I think I protest, my lips move, but I'm not sure if sound leaves them.
"I ain't gonna kill ya, girl," he mutters ahead of me, his long braid of black hair swing down the expanse of his wide back.
I watch as we move deeper into the woods, my feet kicking and stumbling behind me as he pulls ahead. Grunting, he sweeps me up and over his shoulder, coughing off to the side and keeping his face from my dripping clothes.
"Sue ain't gonna let me any-damn-where near her smellin' like this," he grumbles and hikes me higher up on his shoulder.
I don't stay conscious for long.
xxx
I inhale water through my nose.
I bolt upright, coughing and gagging against the frigid temperate.
"Rise and shine, girl!" the man hollers as he laughs and ducks my head under the water again.
I push against his massive palm and sit up, my body shaking and my hair dripping in my eyes.
"We gotta get that smell off ya or you'll be spending a night with the hogs." He chuckles at his jokes before gripping the ends of my tunic and tugging it over my head and dropping it on the bank of the river with a look of disgust.
Wrapping my arms around my chest, I use my legs to push my body away from the man and deeper into the swift moving water.
Looking at me scuttling away he scoffs and shakes his head.
"Don't flatter ya-self girl, you got nothing on my wife."
Frowning, I look down the bones of my ribs as they protrude from the skin of my chest. My hips are pointy and my knees knobby.
Looking away, I look back at the large man who's pants, a dark brown, are handmade and his off white shirt that laces up the front bares the marks of having carried my deadweight from the mass grave.
"Who are you?" I croak and he smiles.
"She speaks!" He throws his hands in the air and sets his large body on the bank. "I was beginning to think ya were mute or something."
I shrug and look around us, the trees lean heavily on the weakening sandy banks, their heavy branches brushing the water as it speeds by.
"Where are we?" my voice is hoarse, my throat dry and cracking.
"Take a drink" he nods to the water. "It's safe."
I eye him as he watches me before he sighs and cups his hand in the water and brings it to his mouth and drinks. "See? I ain't keeling over. Geez, girl, if I wanted to girl ya, I wouldn't use damn water," he scoffs and whips his wet hands on his knees.
I look down at my stained hands and scrub at the crusted filth that lives under my nails before bringing my hands up to my mouth and drinking, the cool liquid settling the fire in my throat.
"Better?"
I nod and take another.
We sit in silence for a while, me drinking and scrubbing at my skin, him with his head tilted to the sun overhead.
"How long you been out there, you look bout fired to a crisp?"
I shrug and lean the length of my hair into the water and scrub at the end.
"A while."
"You running from something?"
My back straightens and I meet his eyes.
"Or is it someone?" His eyes rack over the scars that line the flayed skin of my body and he nods and stands.
I eye him as he moves, my fingers combing out the knots that fill my hair.
"Come on, girl" he motions me with his hand. "We better get going before your friends come back." He stands and slips on his boots over sandy feet. "Come meet my wife. She'll get something on ya and get some food in ya, don't look like you had neither in a while."
I stay where I am in the middle of the water and watch as his hands tuck in the pockets of his pants, he rocks back and forth on his heels..
"Look, thanks for everything you've done for me," I mutter. "But it's probably best if we part ways now."
Mountain Man laughs and shakes his head. "What's wrong wit that head of yours, girl? You ain't much more than a leaf, how you supposed to survive when you can barely lift your own head?" He shakes his own head, muttering about something. "Get on out of the water and walk with me, or I'll carry you, either way, you're comin' and you can thank me later."
When I don't move he come to me. His long legs bringing him to me before I can pull myself through the water.
Strong hands scoop under my stomach and haul my up and over his shoulder again. I pull at his hold, my hands slapping at his back.
"Put me down" my voice echoes as he walks us out of the water and back into the woods. The night's coolness raising bumps on my skin.
"Quit your hollering, you wanna wake the whole dang forest?" he shakes his head, ignoring my protests and jerks of my body as I try and dislodge myself from his grip.
Walking with ease, even with my added weight, Mountain Man hums to himself, skipping over pulled roots and fallen logs.
Weaving through the dense foliage, we break through a thick wall and face the back side of a small wooden house.
Light flickers through the thin curtains that cover the one window that faces the forest and we move silently around the side.
The door swings open as we around the corner, the wooden frame vibrating with the smack of the handle.
"Where the hell have you been?" the voice snaps out and the shoulder beneath my stomach stiffens. "You think I like waiting around here like some sad little house wife, while you're out gallivanting in the woods?"
Mountain Man takes a step forwards and stretches out his empty hand. "No" she grunts and smacks it away. "Not only are you late for dinner but you brought home a stray?" she growls and walks around him and eyes me.
Small and curved, the woman has her long hair braided around her head in a golden halo. Scars run the length of both cheeks. "We can't afford to keep feeding all these sad cases you keep bringing home, Billy." She moves closer to me and grabs and my chin.
Bringing her whited eyes down to meet my own and pressing her lips tightly together. "Shit" she snaps and whirls back in front of him.
Mountain Man lowers me to the ground, his hand dropping down on my shoulder and keeping me steady and put. "I couldn't just leave her, Sue, they were chasing her with dogs."
"Damn it, Billy." She folds her arms in front of her chest, a scowl pulling at tips of her red mouth,
"She needed my help" he says and moves both of us closer to the house. "She needs our help."
Sue glares at the both of us before sighing again and drops her arms. "Get her inside."
Wrapping his free hand around the back of her neck he pulls her up to capture her still frowning mouth in a sloppy kiss. He hums and shakes his head making her laugh and pull away, slapping his chest and rolling her eyes.
"I still don't forgive you" she huffs and moves over the threshold.
Billy follows behind her with his goofy smile pasted on his bushy face, tugging me with him.
The house is small with no actual rooms. The kitchen takes up the most room, with a large wooden table and chairs around it to the right of the door. A small wood burning stove sits farthest away from the door with a large pot sitting on top of it, its lid askew and steam pouring over the lip. Candles stand at the table in a small cluster of uneven stubs of wax.
A large double bed sits off to the side in the far left corner with a matching couch and chair set near the door.
I stand at the door and watch as Billy moves around me and sits in the chair at the head of the table and tips his head back.
Sue grabs a spoon and pulls the lid from the pot, stirring its contents she grabs two bowls and fills them both.
The smell of meat and vegetables fills the small cabin and makes my stomach quiver.
"Sit" she instruct, turning away from the table and moves toward the small set of drawers at the end of the bed. "I'm sure there's something here" she pulls out a small grey tunic and nods to herself before turning to me and dropping it in my lap. "Put that on."
I rub my fingers over the worn fabric and pull it over my head. It hangs around my boney frame and I hug my stomach.
Dropping to sit on his lap, Sue nods to the bowl in front of me. "Eat."
I eye the hand craved wooden spoon that sits in the steaming liquid and look up at them.
Billy nods, smiling as he spoons his own food into his mouth.
I bring it to my mouth and close my lips around it, humming as the taste of rabbit and carrots explodes on my tongue. I shovel more in until I look down and find I emptied the bowl with my stomach still growling.
Shaking her head Sue stands and refills it, setting it in front of me again. "Eat slowly or you'll get sick."
I nod and try to slow my chewing.
This time when the bowl is empty, my stomach stays quiet.
The couple at the end of the table stare at me and I wait for the questions I know they have.
Billy clears his throat and pushes his own bowl away from him.
"So, you got a name, girl?"
I shrug my shoulders and fiddle with the frayed edges of my tunic.
"A name ain't important, Billy" Sue smacks the back of his and shakes her head. "Where they take you from?"
I chew on my lips "Dark City."
Sue nods and blows out a breath.
"How'd you escape?" she asks.
"Doc's" I mutter and look down at the worn table.
"Smart" she comments and I shrug. "How many times did you fight?"
My shoulders tense and the nail I had been scratching at the table with breaks.
"I don't know" I mumble and look down into my lap.
"I think my numbers only around ten," she says and taps her lips. "Was it more than that?"
I push my chair back and stand, my shoulders shaking under the strain.
"Thank you for all your help, but I think it's time I go."
Billy shakes his head and stands, pulling Sue with him. "We didn't mean any offense," he protests and cuts his eyes to his wives "We won't speak of the arena, will we, Sue?" she presses her lips together before nodding and sitting in her own chair. "Just sit and rest, ya can't have gotten a full night in god knows how long."
"Billy" Sue warns and he holds his hand up.
I know I should leave.
Not only for my own safety but for theirs.
I'm bringing danger just being here.
"What about it, girl?"
I shake my head. "People are looking for me" I mutter. "I don't know where they are but they're out there. It's dangerous for me to be here."
I make to move to door when a heavy hand falls on my shoulder, rooting me.
"Let her go, Billy" says Sue. "She's right."
Billy looks at his wife and shakes his head "Ya can't be serious."
Sue shrugs and looks at me. "It's no offense to you, I'm sure you're a real nice girl, but I can't have you here bringing the DayWalkers knocking on my door," she looks at her husband. "I've done my dues, I've paid the price. You can't ask me to risk myself anymore." Sue rubs the scars that line her arms and looks up at me. "Please go. I'll give you what we can spare, but I can't have you stay here."
I nod my head even as her husband shakes his head. "What is the matter with you?"
Sue opens her mouth but I cut her off. "She's right Billy," he looks at me. "Thank you both for what you've done, honestly. But I can't stay here."
"You can't go now" he protests and looks between me and his wife. "It's nearly dawn, ya'd be a sitting duck in the sun."
I open my mouth but he shakes his head. "You're staying, you need sleep and there's no way you can travel in the sunlight anyways," folds his arms over his chest "end of discussion." His eyes meet mine before his wives then turns and leaves, slamming the door behind him.
Sue sighs behind me and pushes her chair out. "I'll make up the couch."
xxx
Thunder fills the room as the door bangs against the outside of the cabin.
My body jolts upwards as hands grab the front of my tunic and pull me off the couch.
Whited eyes look down as me as Sue wipes at the blood that stains her face. Her fingers shake as she clenches fists of fabric.
I try to jerk away but she holds tight.
"This is all your fault" she whispers as she pulls her fist back, the sharp bones of her knuckles colliding with my healing face.
My head whips back, stars blooming in front of my eyes.
The next burst of pain brings the crack of her hand as it breaks the skin of my cheek.
She curses and shakes it out beside her, my head lulling in her grip.
"You killed him!" she shrieks and shakes my body, my neck snapping with the force. "He's dead because of you!"
She drops my shirt and grabs the length of my hair, standing she pulls me across his hardwood floor to the door. My scalp screams as I try to make my legs keep up with her heavy stride.
Dropping me next to the threshold she falls to her knees beside me and grabs the white hand that lays broken and still.
Bringing her body next to the broken and bloody mess before us she wails. Her screams ripping through the night and shattering the silence.
I can't meet his eyes.
Can't look at him.
My stomach twists and my heart thumps in my chest.
Closing my eyes I turn away.
"No!" she screams and grabs the back of my head, thrusting me down and grinding my face into the gaping cavity where his heart was. "You look at what you did!"
I shake my head, fighting her hold as his cooling blood paints my skin.
Her sobs shake against my back as she drops her head on my back.
"No, no, no" her whispers reach my ears, grinding into my skull as we lay with the Billy.
She cries on my for a long time before she realizes and pushes me away from her husband.
Looking at me, her face so twisted she doesn't look human.
"Get the fuck away from here" she hisses. "I told you to leave, why didn't you just leave?" she cries her shoulder vibrating as she leans over his mutilated body.
Both his legs had been broken, whether he was alive for it, I don't know. I can barely tell it's him, his face had been beaten so far you can barely make of the shape of his nose.
Someone tore his ribs open, like wings of a bird they lay spread to take off.
They took his heart.
I shake my head as I stumble out the door.
Around me the only sound that can be heard are the cries of the woman behind me.
"Sue" I whisper, my head falling forwards.
"Get away!" she screams and I turn, running from the sounds of her pain.
My fault.
I shake as the tears blur my vision.
My feet stumble as I run.
I run until I can't breathe.
I run until I can't hear her screams.
I run a long time.
xxx
"Don't scream," he whispers as his hand covers my mouth. "They'll hear you."
My eyes meet his and my fists clench at my sides, my bones aching with the anger that thrums through me.
I shift my head and dig my teeth into the fleshy part of his palm. The blunt edges cutting until I taste blood.
He hisses, his face contorting but he doesn't remove his hand.
The metallic tang paints my teeth as I jerk against his hold.
"You need to be quiet" he hisses against my ear before he looks over his shoulder and curses. "I don't have time to explain. We have to move."
Edward grabs my elbow and hauls me against him, his hand firmly attached to my face.
I fight against him, my legs kicking out at him and my free elbow jabbing into his stomach.
He oafs but doesn't make any more sound. Looking behind him again he grabs my body tightly and runs in the opposite direction.
My legs stumble and try to dig my feet into the ground beneath me.
I won't go back quietly. I won't behave.
I scream against his palm and he glares down at me.
Grunting when my foot collides with his calf he shakes off the pain and continues to pull me forward.
"I know you hate me, Bella" he huffs as we run. "But you have to trust me."
I throw my elbow again and he moves out of the way, and pulls me closer trapping my arm between our bodies.
We make a sharp turn and break through the wall of vegetation. Sunlight smacks me and I stumble against the onslaught.
Lifting me upright again, Edward pulls me forward into the rushing water of the river.
It's moving faster here, the water turning white as it smacks at the rocks.
I try to shake his hold as he moves us.
"Trust" he says and I'm hauled into the water.
My feet are swept out from under me and my head dunks under water.
Tightening his grip, Edward pulls me above the river line and brings my body against his.
Moving slowly, I can feel the pressure as the water beats at our skin.
Rushing water beats at my skull muffling the sound of a sharp whistle that gives behind us.
I turn to look at him and he grits his teeth, pulling me faster through the water.
I can feel his body shake with the strain of both our bodies and when his feet stumble beneath us, we go under, the water filling my nose and rushing my body dislodged body downstream.
My throat opens and I swallow water, my brain frantic.
I don't know which way is up and I'm tossed along the rocky bottom.
I can feel a hand grip my tunic and I'm pulled up. My body hacking at the water in my lungs.
"Fuck" he mutters as I'm pulled back against his body.
Dragging me behind him, Edward pushes me onto the bank first before hauling himself up and dropping beside me, his chest heaving with every breath.
The growl of angry canines sounds behind us and I turn to see the line of armed DayWalkers staring at their commander.
Emmett pushes to the front and cocks his gun, lifting the barrel towards us.
Edward's hand grips mine and I look at him as he thrusts us through the tree line and drops to our stomach as the bullet cracks and splinters a tree behind us.
"Find me away around!" I hear the new commander shout. "Now!"
I listen over the rushing water as the whistle shrills again and the sounds of the dog's retreats.
I lay my head against the ground and heave at the air, trying to slow my ragging heart.
"They'll be over here in no time" Edward mutters and flips onto his back. "We'll have to get moving."
"What the fuck was that?"
"Father seems to really want you back" he shakes his head. "They'd have given up by now if he didn't"
"Not that" I grit. "This" I wave between us. "That" I hook my thumb to the river behind us.
"I saved you" he says as he pushes himself up. "Again."
"You tried to kill me!"
He frowns and holds his hand out to help me up. "Pretty sure I just saved you."
I bat his hand away. "You sent them after me, Edward, I heard them. They killed a good man!" I stand and move away from him. "Stay away from me."
"Bella" he says as he moves towards me as I step back.
"I didn't send them anywhere," he shakes his head. "They found me right after you took off and I lied." He sighs and looks at me again, his face drawn tightly. "I lied, told them I was looking for you too." He steps towards me again. "I didn't have anything to do with the man, Bella" he says and I look at him. "You have to believe me; I was gone by then, looking for you." He shakes his head, dropping it and rubbing his face.
"Fuck" he mutters.
I press my lips together and turn away from him, my body shaking with the wind that whips through the trees.
"We better go."
a/n: the biggest thank you to all of you who stuck it and waited for me. I don't know if this was worth the wait, but hopefully it won't be nearly as long next time!
Massive hugs to you all.