A/N: My thanks, again, to everyone who has read, reviewed, followed, and/or fav'ed Surviving! You rock my socks off!
Surviving is mine, Twilight is not.
BPOV
"Go pull the car around." The guy standing next to Edward gives a small nod and heads for the stairs.
"You want me to tie him up first?" He questions.
"Nah…Princess is going to help me do that. Here." He tosses me a small bag as the second guy disappears down the stairs. "Take out the cable ties and secure his hands behind his back."
Tears blur my vision and I walk slowly towards Edward; afraid any sudden movement will cause the man to pull the trigger. "I'm so sorry Edward…I never wanted you to get hurt…I'm so sorry." I sob when I reach him.
"I love you Bella! I love you!" He pulls me into his arms, crushing me to his chest. "We're going to be okay baby. I promise."
"Enough of this bullshit. Either you tie him or I do." The guy takes a step towards us and Edward turns so his body is blocking mine. "And I promise if I do it blood will flow."
"It's okay Bella." Edward puts his hand back and I pull the ties around his wrists.
The blare of a car horn outside makes me jump. "Let's go kiddos."
Thirty minutes later and the car comes to a stop outside of the motel. "Listen up cause I'm only gonna say this once. You try to run, you die. You scream, you die. Now slowly get out and follow my pal here to the room. And don't get any funny ideas…I'll be right behind you."
I step out of the car and turn to help Edward out. I loop my arm through his and we make our way towards the building. My body begins to tremble more and more with every step we take.
"Stay as close to me as you can." Edward whispers. All I can do is nod and grip his arm tighter.
The guy in front stops at the door to room seven and knocks. "In you go." He says as the door swings opens. Edward and I step in, followed closely by both of the guys.
"Didn't I say to ONLY bring the girl?" A tall man with long blonde hair rushes forward and slams one of the men against the wall. "Are you fucking stupid or something?" He slams him again.
"Do you even know who his fucking parents are?" he knocks him to the floor and kicks him several times. "Fucking useless piece of shit." He pulls out a gun and aims it at his head. "Sam, you have exactly sixty seconds to explain before I put a bullet in your skull."
"I'm sorry Caius. Paul was in the girl's room waiting for her and she screamed. The boy came dashing out of his room…what the fuck was I supposed to do? You said not to kill anyone tonight." He rushes out.
"Paul?" Caius asks.
"Yes sir?" he shuffles from foot to foot.
"You were in the girl's room and she managed to scream before you could stop her?" He quirks an eyebrow up, in an amused sort of way.
"Caius I…" His explanation is cut off as a bullet rips through his neck. Blood splatters the wall and he drops to the ground. He lies there twitching and gasping for air. After a few moments he stills.
I turn and shield my face in Edward's chest, fear running rampant through me. He just killed him! Pulled the trigger before I could even blink.
"Gotta love the off season. Don't have to worry about any guests hearing." Caius lets out a hollow laugh. "My parents won't be happy about the mess."
"Your parents know about all this?" Edward angrily asks. I shake my head back and forth, silently begging him not to talk to Caius.
"You want to know if my parents know that I'm a cold blooded killer? Is that what you want to know Cullen?" I hear him stalk towards us and I turn around, using myself as a human barrier between him and Edward.
He stops and quirks his eyebrow again. "Do you see this shit Sam? She's willing to die for him." He sneers. "This might work in my favor." He pulls out a cell phone, hits a button, and brings it to his ear.
"Sam get the fuck up." He barks out. "Go find my parents. I need to apologize for the mess and explain some shit to them." Sam stumbles to his feet and hobbles out the door.
"It's Caius. Look man things didn't go as planned." He begins to pace the length of the room. "Paul fucked up…we have a boy too…Yeah…I know what you said…No I haven't killed him yet…Paul's been taken care of…It doesn't seem like they're just friends" he looks at us. "This could actually work to your benefit…Looks like she'll do anything to keep him alive…Yes…I know it's very interesting…Okay…I understand…Yes sir…Yes sir…We'll see you soon. Goodbye Felix."
I shouldn't have been shocked that he was behind all this, but the moment I hear his name my world spins and the blackness takes over.
EPOV
"Bella!" I cry out as she falls to the ground. I kneel down and lean over her. "Wake up baby. Please wake up."
"Wake up baby!" Caius mocks me, laughing. "So Cullen how's the family?"
"Fuck you Caius" I spit out, sitting back on my heels.
"Where are your manners Edward?" Caius sits down at the desk and leans back, aiming his gun at me. "I know mama Cullen taught you better than that." He laughs again.
"Caius! I thought you said no one would be hurt this time." Mr. and Mrs. Cope walk into the room and close the door. They take in the Paul's body and then glance over to Bella and I.
"Why is Edward here?!" Mrs. Cope asks. "You said he only wanted the girl! You never said anything about Edward."
"Relax ma. My boss wasn't happy at first, hence Paul." He nods towards the body. "But he now sees the advantage of getting both of them." He stands up and pulls his mother into a hug. "Of course this means you and pop can't stay in Forks anymore."
"I really liked it here." Mr. Cope sits on the bed and looks at me. "Sorry Edward."
"Mr. Cope how can you let him do this?!" I shout. "You've known me for years! You know my parents! Why? Why are you doing this?"
"Look Edward…I don't agree with the things my son has done but he owes Felix a lot of money and there are only two ways to pay it off. Cash and favors or his life. We help because he's our son and I would trade a homeless girl's life for his any day. You'll understand when you have kids someday."
"If he lives that long." Caius snickers. "Alright dad, you need to put the motel up for sale as soon as possible. Tell everyone that this cold weather just doesn't agree with your joints anymore. Tell them it's time you retired to a warmer climate."
Mr. Cope lets out a breath and stands, heading for the door. "Alright Caius. I'll go put up the signs now and start boxing stuff up. I really am sorry Edward." He steps out and closes the door behind him.
"Caius?" Mrs. Cope calls to her son. "Why does he want this girl so bad? She really is a sweetheart." She looks down at Bella, frowning.
"I take orders ma, I don't question them."
"What about Edward?" She glances at me and looks away quickly when our eyes meet. "His parents aren't going to rest until they find him! Why not leave him tied up in the woods? We can leave tonight and they will find him in a day or so. We'll be long gone by then. They won't need to look for us once they find him safe and sound."
"If you think for one second that I won't look for Bella every day until my last, you're out of your fucking mind!" I seethe, anger rolling off me.
"And there's your answer. Besides, the boss wants him now as well." Caius pulls his cell out. "Sam get back in here and bring the shit."
"Don't worry ma." Caius throws his phone onto the bed and walks over to her. "Esme and Carlisle won't even know Edwards missing until late Monday. We have about 40 hours, give or take, before all hell breaks loose in Forks. I'll be on the road with them and you and dad will be here selling the motel and helping with the 'search'."
"The car is ready to go." Sam limps into the room.
"Good. Go on ma. Sam will take care of the mess." He kisses her forehead. "I'll check in soon."
"Okay. Love you Caius." She hugs him and leaves without a backward glance.
"So Edward…you gonna make this easy or hard?" Caius grabs a needle and walks over to us. "Believe me when I say I hope you pick hard."
I try to think of a way to get us out of this but come up short. My hands are tied behind my back, Bella is still out cold, and Caius won't hesitate to put a bullet through me if I so much as blink wrong.
"Well?" Caius asks bending down to look me in the eyes.
"Easy." I hang my head, defeated.
"That's what I thought you'd pick." And with that he plunges the needle into my arm and the last thing I hear is his laughter.
APOV
I sit up and grab my phone. Something is definitely wrong… I can feel it.
"Alice?" Jasper's sleepy voice comes through the phone.
"Jazz something is wrong." I glance at my clock and see it's just after five in the morning.
"What's the matter? Are you okay?" His voice sounds calm, but I can hear the slight panic behind his words.
"I'm fine, but do you remember what I told you yesterday?" I ask, pulling my knees to my chest. "Remember how I told you all day that something felt off?"
"Yes."
"Well now it's so much stronger…I…I don't know what's wrong, I just know that something is. Jazz something is going on." I cry out.
"Alice, darlin', take a deep breath for me." He soothes into the phone and I comply. "That's it sweetheart. Would you like me to come over now? We can grab breakfast at the diner before school. How do strawberry-banana pancakes sound to you?"
"Mmmm! Yes please!" I giggle. "I love you Jasper." He knows exactly how to calm me down.
"I love you too Alice." He laughs softly. "I'll see you soon."
"Has anyone seen Edward today?" Emmett asks as he sets his lunch tray on the table. "He didn't show up for first period and I haven't seen him in the halls at all today."
My knee bounces up and down and I look down at my phone again. What the fuck Edward?! Text me back you ass! Jasper puts a hand on my knee and I immediately stop. I look over and smile at him.
"Now that you mention it I haven't either." Rose looks around the lunch room. "Maybe he's out sick. We did make him and Bella jump into the pool Saturday night. I'll just send him a quick message."
"I'll text him too." Jazz gives my leg a quick squeeze before he pulls out his cell. "Coach is going to be pissed if he misses practice today."
"So fucking true! Sickness is not a valid excuse for that man. Remember when I had food poisoning last year and he still made me do laps?" Emmett laughs. "I had to stop and barf every two minutes!"
"Em, seriously? I'm eating!" I shoot a disgusted look at him. "Besides I don't think Edward's sick. He would have texted or called me back by now."
Edward knows how much I freak out when he's sick. It always takes me back to when we were kids and I thought he wasn't going to make it. He always tells me…even if all he has is a cough.
"Sorry Pix. You think Bella's sick? It's the only way I can see him blowing off school and practice. He would do anything for her."
"I don't know…" I trail off, lost in my uneasy feeling again. "Did he respond to anyone yet?" They all shake their heads as the bell rings.
"Well, keep trying and let me know as soon as you hear from him." I stand and throw away my half eaten lunch. If he's okay and ignoring us on purpose, I'm going to kick his ass! If he's sick and didn't text me, I'm going to kick his ass!
I spend the rest of the school day on the edge of my seat. I've sent him forty-five messages in the last three hours. Forty-five! And he hasn't responded to a single one.
By the time I find myself at cheerleading practice after school I feel like I'm going to be sick. Something bad has happened. He wouldn't just blow me off like this. Something really bad has happened.
I'm distracted the whole time and mess up every routine, even the ones I choreographed. "Alright girls, great job by most." Mrs. Meyer looks directly at me. "I expect everyone to be on their A game come Wednesday's practice." She dismisses us and I jog over to Rose.
"Come on lets go get the guys and get to Edward's. I have a really bad feeling."
Twenty minutes later and we pull up to the house followed by Carlisle's black Mercedes.
"Kids it's so great to see you!" Esme says as she steps out of the car. "Did everyone have a good weekend?"
"Aunt Esme has Edward texted or called you at all today?" I ask franticly.
She freezes at the sound of my voice. "No. Why? Is he okay?"
"I don't know. He wasn't in school today and he won't answer the phone for anyone." I bounce from foot to foot, my nerves getting to me.
"Everyone calm down. Let's go inside and find him. Maybe his phone broke or he isn't feeling well." Carlisle takes Esme's hand and leads us to the house.
"Edward?" He calls out opening the front door. "Bella?"
"Kids! We're home!" Esme yells up the stairs. When no one responds she looks over to us.
"I'll check the backyard. Emmett grab the basement." Jasper turns and heads for the back door, while Emmett dashes down to the basement.
"I'll just go check their rooms." She makes her way up the stairs.
"Basement is empty." Emmett calls on his way back up.
"So is the backyard." Jasper walks over to me and pulls me into his arms. "Deep breath Alice."
"Maybe they left a note in the kit…" Carlisle's sentence is cut off by the sound of Esme's bloodcurdling screams.
"Oh god!" He takes off up the stairs, the rest of us hot on his heels.
When we reach the third floor Esme is standing in front of Edward's room crying.
"Esme what is it?"Carlisle asks sprinting over to her.
"Please tell me I'm seeing things…Please Carlisle! "She turns and grabs the front of his shirt. "Tell me that isn't what I think it is!" she begs.
He looks down and his eyes go wide. "Someone call 911."
Jasper pulls out his cell and I creep forward. I need to see what they've seen.
"Alice…no." Carlisle says but I don't listen. I have to see. I get closer to his room and look down.
There is a trail of blood down the left side of the door frame, some on the base of the door, and big drops of it just inside his room.
My hand flies to my mouth as a sob erupts from my chest. "Edward!"