Chapter 7: Phenomenon

Chapter 7: Phenomenon

I went to the new truck that Uncle Charlie had bought me. I drove out of the garage as carefully as possible, getting to school in a few minutes. The time gap in between was unusual, because I didn't even notice it. But time was relative. I parked my truck and clutched onto the door for balance. It was as if the parking lot was an ice-skating rink.

For some reason, today seemed… empty. I mean, more empty than usual. There was the feeling of apprehension again in the pit of my stomach. It felt like butterflies, but I knew that wasn't it, because my heart was still inactive… Just as it had been for the last four years. Suddenly…

I heard a loud gasp. I looked around wildly to see where the fire was. I saw Edward standing by his car, a horrified expression on his face. Then I saw it… no fire, but a van that was swerving towards… me. I froze, my muscles locked into place.

It wasn't fair. After everything I've been through and everything I have yet to experience... I finally lost my desire to take my own life, and now I was at the mercy of death. I chuckled darkly in my mind. I never thought I would go like this.

My eyes closed in the midst of my insanity, waiting for the van to crush me to death. It was pointless, anyway. Because, even if I wanted to, I couldn't move out of the way. The fear paralyzed me. I just stood there waiting, wishing that it would be over with as soon as possible. My legs felt hollow and numb.

Then I felt something cold wrap around my waist, and my feet were off the ground. My head hit the ground, and I heard a cracking sound. Suddenly, the cold around my waist disappeared. And I was on the icy ground. I was wondering if I was unconscious, because I conformed limply to whatever was happening. Then the cold object was around my waist again, sliding me across the ice and then holding me tight against another cold object.

I heard glass shattering and crashing. I heard screams and shrieks of fear. But my eyes refused to open. I was half-conscious, I guessed.

"Bella? Bella, can you hear me?" an urgency in the velvety tone of his voice, as he shook me gently. I knew who it was, of course. It was Edward. But still, my eyes wouldn't open. Maybe it was in shock, maybe it was in pain.

The blow to my head against the ice finally had its effect on me. It was painful, but it was nothing compared to what I had been through. In those four years, I had experienced every single type of pain in every degree. But even so, I still couldn't move.

"Bella? Bella?" he shook me harder. Then I realized what had happened.

When I saw the van about to crush me, I wasn't having a moment of insanity, but I was fainting. And the whole time, I had fainted. The blow to my head made me unconscious. But strangely, I could hear everything that was going on around me.

Maybe I was dead.

"Bella!" he shook me more violently. But I didn't respond. Then, I lost it. Everything became silent, and I knew I was truly unconscious now.

* * *

"Carlisle, what's happened? Is she alright?"

"She's absolutely fine. Well done, Edward." Well done? What happened? I felt like hell.

"Mm…" I mumbled. My eyes fluttered open.

"Bella," Edward sighed in relief.

"Edward?" I was confused. My voice was hoarse. How long had I been unconscious?

"Bella? Are you alright?" Carlisle asked.

"Where…?" I was scrambling to remember what had happened.

"You're in the hospital," Carlisle answered, "You were in a car accident. Edward pulled you out of the way, do you remember?"

"I'm not sure…" I sat up too abruptly, my head throbbed.

"Careful," Edward said.

"Edward…" it all came back to me.

"Yes?" he replied anxiously.

"I fainted… and you saved me…" it wasn't a question.

"Yes," he said.

"But how did you get to me so fast?" I asked.

"What do you mean? I was standing right beside you, Bella," there was skepticism in his voice.

I shook my head, "You were by your car. I remember that."

"Carlisle," Edward turned his attention to him, worried.

"Does your head hurt? Edward said you hit it pretty hard," he asked.

"I'm fine," I insisted. Carlisle stepped closer and gently ran his fingers over my scalp. I winced when he touched the bump under my hair.

"Tender?" he asked.

"Not really," I replied.

"Well, your father is in the waiting room. You can go home with him now. But come back if you feel dizzy or have trouble with your eyesight at all," Carlisle smiled.

"Can't I go back to school?" I asked.

"Umm, Bella," Edward pointed out the window. The sky was a dark orangey-pink.

"How long…?" I was extremely confused.

"Just a few hours," Carlisle replied calmly.

"A few hours?" I groaned, "Oh no… Wait, you took the x-rays while I was unconscious, right?"

"Yes," Carlisle said.

"Oh no…" my face fell into my hands. He must have seen all the healed contusions…

"Do you want to stay?" Carlisle offered.

"No, no!" I swung my legs over the side of the mattress, sliding down until my feet were on the floor. I lost my balance, stumbling forward into Carlisle's arms. "Sorry," I blushed. He set me back on my feet, instructing,

"Take some Tylenol for the pain." Then he signed my chart, saying, "It sounds like you were lucky."

"Yeah," I looked at Edward, "Thank you… For saving me."

"You're welcome," he smiled.

"Umm… can I talk to you?" I asked.

"Of course," Edward said. I glanced at Carlisle, who was watching us intently.

"I'd like to speak to you alone, if you don't mind," I insisted in a low voice. He said nothing, just following me to the hallway.

"What is it, Bella?" he asked.

"You weren't anywhere near me when you saved me, and I didn't hit my head too hard. I mean, the fact that I'm standing here right now proves that," I said.

"Look where you're standing," he countered, "You're in a hospital right now."

"But even Carlisle said that it wasn't too serious," I argued.

"What do you think happened, then?" he asked.

"OK, I know I was unconscious," I began, "But I heard and felt everything that was happening. You were holding me, and then you put me down on the ground to hold the van up. I know because I heard the metal sounds. I bet if we look, the dents will match the size of your hands."

"What are you talking about?" he raised his eyebrow.

"In any case," I tried a more logical approach, "Even if you were standing right beside me, which you weren't, you couldn't have been fast enough to get out of the way. That van should've crushed us both, but here you are, not hurt at all, while I have a bump on my head. You would've at least slid on the ice or something."

"You think I lifted a van off of you?" he asked sarcastically, "Nobody will believe that, you know."

"I won't tell anybody," I said.

"Then why does it matter?" his voice became severe.

"OK, look," I tried a different approach, "I know I sound utterly insane right now-"

"Yes, you do," he commented coldly.

"Let me finish!" I demanded, "But just answer one question."

"What?" he glared. There the eyes were again. It made me rethink my question, and I was scrambling for another one. "Well?"

"Are… Are you even human?" the moment the words came out of my mouth, I regretted asking them.

"Nice," he whispered, "You're asking me if I'm human… Do I look otherwise?"

"Just answer the question," I insisted, "I… I'll believe anything you say right now because… I don't think I can trust my own thoughts."

"Well, you shouldn't," his tone was callous.

"Why did you even bother?" I asked quietly, hurt now. His expression changed,

"I don't know." Then he left, glancing back at me once, as if I was a crazy person. But… was I?

I felt the suppressed tears flow from the corners of my eyes. When I approached, Uncle Charlie asked. I just told him it was a late reaction of fear. I hated lying. But I had to.