I screamed.
Chapter Sixteen - Waking Up
Instantly I regretted screaming; not only did my throat clench up in agonising pain but I had no idea where I was and who may of heard me. I heard the frantic scrapping of chairs from above me and a thunder like sound as someone, or something, ran down the stairs. I tensed up in anticipation as the door flew open.
"Josh?" I gasped and my whole body relaxed as I immediately felt safe. He stood in the doorway, his black hair more ruffled than I had ever seen it. His dark golden eyes looked pained, excited and confused all at the same time. He nodded slowly and a took a step closer to me.
"I thought you were dead" he breathed never taking his eyes off me. I smiled, wincing at the pain as a drop of blood fell from the corner of my mouth. He frowned deeply as he took in my dishevelled bloody appearance. "Your hurt" he moaned and I whimpered; having momentarily forgotten the pain, it all came flooding back when he reminded me. "Carlisle" he shouted urgently.
There was another scurrying of footsteps and soon the door was filled with the rest of the Cullen's. They all looked shocked, to say the least - their mouths were hung open stupidly and there eyes wide with confusion. Carlisle's eyes scanned my body warily.
"Get Jasper out" he said lowly, extending an arm to shield me from my family. Or to shield them from me.
"I'm fine" said Jasper, "her blood isn't even slightly appetising." I frowned, unsure whether that was a good thing or not.
"Just in case" commanded Carlisle as he held his family back. Despite his attempt at separating us his arm was pushed out of the way by a very emotional Bella who flew at me with speed only a vampire can possess and hugged me tightly regardless of the blood and bruises. I whimpered as her arms squeezed my tender body too tight causing it to start a burning like sensation.
"Less tight mum, your hurting" I sobbed into her shoulder. She loosened her grip and leaned back so she could see my face. She started laughing and sobbing at the same time,
"You called me mum" she smiled. I nodded happily until my neck gave way and I cried out in pain. "Carlisle quick" screamed Bella, "save her."
The next part was all a blur, I was passed between many vampires and sped up staircases and through different doors until finally they rested me on a hospital bed. Something stabbed my arm and I winced as I saw Carlisle draw out a long needle. He furrowed his brow and Edward kept running around madly passing him things I guessed that Carlisle was barking instructions to Edward in his head, but I still didn't have the strength to check. I kept concentrating on breathing and getting oxygen to my lungs, to stay alive.
I felt whatever Carlisle had injected into me race through my veins like ice, cooling my burning limbs. I sighed with relief,
"Am I alive?" I asked.
"Somehow, yes" laughed Edward running a hand thorough his hair, "you will be fine in a few days but until then you should stay in bed and rest."
"I thought you said I was clinically dead?"
"Yes well you we-" started Edward before turning quizzically to me, "how do you know that? We never told you." I bit my lip as I thought back to how I knew. I remembered Carlisle telling Edward I was clinically dead and how they were going to bury me. I gasped,
"You were going to bury me!" I accused.
"What? How do you know?" whispered Edward nervously.
"You had an argument with Carlisle about it. Then Josh said I wasn't dead yet, and then Bella said I was and everyone was arguing."
"How?" gasped Carlisle.
"I don't know" I whimpered, and I honestly didn't. I had no recollection of being in the room and yet I could remember it vividly, like I had been watching it through a screen. "I just remember it all."
"What else do you remember?"
"Errm, Josh?" I breathed shyly; a lot of my 'memories' from my 'death' seemed to be of him talking to me .
"What?" yelled Josh from the hall.
"Come here please Josh" asked Carlisle politely yet firmly. Josh came in with a stupid grin on his face,
"How are you feeling?" he asked me.
"You were there" I smiled, "you saved me." His face crinkled in confusion,
"No 'Lexis you saved us remember? You nearly killed yourself so Ivy and Victoria were getting burnt with us."
"Not that" I sighed, "when I was dead, but not dead, you told me to keep fighting and that you knew I wasn't dead yet!" I started to get excited, "you saved me." I smiled widely at him, wincing only slightly at the pain. Josh broke out into a grin,
"You heard me? Wow. I told them all not to give up one you. Wow. I can't believe you heard me. I didn't save you though, you saved us." I shook my head,
"I nearly killed you" I whispered, lowering my eyes to my hands and blinking to keep at bay the tears. I felt him take my hand and rub soothing circles on the back of it,
"What do you mean?" he asked gently.
"If I hadn't been so stupid and made you all come after Victoria with me then you wouldn't have nearly died." Josh scoffed and Edward chuckled,
"You're just like your mother" he smiled proudly, "blaming yourself." I frowned,
"But it is my fault, you all nearly died, because of me."
"No" scowled Edward, "do you think we wouldn't have gone after her anyway? Even if you hadn't wanted to we all still would have. She's caused us all pain, we all wanted revenge. You saved us."
I smiled dubiously and then a thought hit me. Did they kill Victoria? Was she dead?
"Did you kill Victoria?" I asked nervously.
"Yes" said Edward and I sighed a sigh of relief; finally she was dead, "it was easy because she was almost dead already thanks to you. Ivy was even easier because her power really wore her out." Suddenly I felt sick; they had killed Ivy. Her power was dangerous, I had known that, but she herself was innocent. She had had a bad human life with abusive parents and then had accepted Victoria's selfish offer for a mother. Just like I had almost accepted. That could have very easily been me being manipulated into fighting.
"H how - how could you?" I stuttered a single tear falling down my cheek, I felt awful that she had been killed.
"Alexis she was trying to kill you. Why are you upset?" asked a baffled Edward. I shot him a dirty look,
"Have you no heart? It wasn't her fault, Victoria was making her do it. I was very nearly a 'daughter' to Victoria - that could have been me." I started crying,
"Still as hormonal as ever" muttered Josh very quietly, that I almost didn't hear. I snarled at him causing him to jump.
"Have some tact please Josh" chuckled Carlisle.
Josh rushed forward and kissed my forehead,
"Sorry 'Lexis but she was too dangerous. She was a weapon and would be far worse in the hands of the Volturi. We had to kill her. I'm sorry." I stopped crying; it made sense what he said. From what I had gathered if the Volturi got hold of Ivy they would have ultimate power.
"Ok" I said, forcing a small smile, "I understand." His face filled with relief,
"Good your pretty crazy when angry."
"Thanks."
"Can I go get something to eat?" I asked Carlisle hopefully.
"We can bring you something up."
"No" I objected, "I'll be fine."
"Don't be stupid. Now what do you want?"
"Pizza would be nice" I smiled shyly.
"Right" said Edward "I'll go and get it"
"Meat feast please - with extra meat" I called after him. Josh chuckled causing me to blush slightly. I leaned back into my pillow, completely at ease and flashed a smile at Josh.
Twenty minutes later Edward came back with my pizza. I quickly propped myself up; I was starving. He past me over the pizza and an extra plastic bag.
"Enjoy" smiled Edward before leaving me to eat my pizza with Josh. I opened it up greedily and sighed happily at the aroma. I hastily ate four slices, licking my lips and how good it tasted.
"You like that?" Josh laughed. I nodded happily,
"It's lush. It's got loads of different meats and chickens on, hence the name meat feast," I smirked.
"You call that a meat feast?"
"Well obviously it's no grizzly bear but it's good stuff. Do you want a slice?" Josh crinkled his nose in disgust,
"No thanks."
"Well bully for you. Now pass me that bag." He passed me the white plastic bag and I opened it curiously, my face lit up at the wrapped chips, bar of chocolate and a bottle of coke inside.
"What's in there?"
"Chips, chocolate and coke" I grinned, immediately digging in. The chips were just how I liked them: with plenty of salt and drowned in vinegar.
"You really are disgusting when you're hungry" sniggered Josh. I hit him on the arm; what did he expect? I've literally not eaten in days. "Sorry." I finished my chips and opened up the chocolate.
"Mmmm" I sighed as I stuffed it in my mouth, not really caring that Josh was watching and that I most likely had chocolate around my mouth.
"You have chocolate everywhere" he laughed. I shrugged; I had guessed as much.
Five minutes later I had finished all my food and felt thoroughly stuffed.
"That was tasty" I smiled, passing him the rubbish. Josh laughed,
"I can't believe you're really here" he breathed, "I thought I had lost you."
"Sorry."
"What for?" he laughed.
"For scaring everyone with my near death. It was pretty stupid of me."
"You're pretty weird you know Alexis."
"Thanks" I yawned as I adjusted the pillows and rested my head.
"Are you going to sleep now?" asked Josh. I nodded as my eyes drooped with sleep. "Ok, I'll go now."
"No, stay" I slurred stretching blindly out to stop him. He chuckled and brushed my hair back off my face.
"Ok I will stay" he breathed in my ear. I grinned as I fell into sleep; I was, for the first time, truly happy.
A/N Sorry for being forever. Life kind of took over (big time). Anyway I hope you liked it, I think that it is coming to it's natural end and I don't want to try and drag it out or anything so I think there will only be one, maybe two more chapters. I just want to bring everything to an end - there are some different plots that I could do but I think it would be confusing and get a bit too twisty. If there is anything that you still need answered please ask me. Thank you. :)
Review your thoughts on this chapter then guys …
Susie xx