Chapter 18: Trick
I woke up. The sunlight penetrated through the glass and burned through my eyelids, smoldering my eyeballs. I forced my eyes open to find a white ceiling. I was in a bed. I sat up too abruptly, my head whirling.
I was in a hotel room. Alice and Jasper were sitting on couches; their unfocused eyes were on the TV.
"Alice? Jasper?" my throat was hoarse.
"Good morning, Bella," Alice greeted. Both faced me.
"Where are we?" I asked.
"We're in Phoenix."
"But… why?"
"We decided to split you and Edward up, to leave a false trail for James."
Edward was gone? I wasn't in Forks? … What about Uncle Charlie!? And Aunt Cathy!?
"What about my uncle? And my aunt?" panic was obvious in my tone.
"Calm down, Bella," Jasper said. And I did. This annoyed me.
"Jasper, you really don't have to do that," I said.
"Esme and Rosalie are watching your uncle," Alice explained, "As for your aunt…"
"Alice!" I grew frightened. The feeling died away immediately. "Jasper!" I scolded, glaring. Once again, the negative emotions in me vanished.
"I can't help it, Bella," he sighed, "Your emotions are way too high right now."
"Then why can't you let them?"
"Because I'll feel it."
"Oh, right… Sorry."
"Anyway," Alice interrupted, "Edward will call if anything new happens. In the meantime…"
"I'm sorry you guys are the ones who have to put up with me," I looked down. Wait… These aren't my clothes. "Why am I…?" my voice trailed off.
"Oh, you and Esme exchanged clothes to confuse the scent."
"OK," I got up. The pants were a bit too long. I rolled them up. "So, what time is it?"
"Afternoon," Alice answered, "Are you hungry?"
"Not really…"
"Are you sure?"
"Positive."
"Time to order room service then," she went over to the telephone. It didn't make sense to me until… Edward must've given her specific instructions… I sighed.
* * *
Time went by passively. I went into the state where time seemed frozen. Or at least, where my body remained still and unmoving as the passage continued mercilessly without my consciousness present. I lost my sense of time.
I couldn't trust my calm emotions. Not while Jasper was around. I felt like screaming and shouting aloud and breaking into hysterics. But no, he wouldn't have that now, would he? He must've received specific instructions from Edward, too.
Several times did these vampires' special abilities get on my nerves. Like when Alice foresaw things that didn't make sense, such as: James with a video camera in a ballet studio, or James standing near a payphone. What relevance did these have with my current situation? Like I would go anywhere with the eagle eyes of two vampires on me.
Also, when Jasper finally decided to release his powers on me for a few minutes. I took that moment to my advantage.
"This will never work! What if James and Victoria actually find out where I am? What if they decide to take my uncle? What if they decide to take my aunt? You can't protect them forever!" I had shouted at Alice. Even after I called Aunt Cathy to tell her to call me back, I still felt uneasy. No, uneasy didn't even begin to describe my feelings.
And then Jasper placed his hand on my shoulder, and I felt a wave of lethargy wash over me. Then my eyes closed without my permission as I realized what was happening. Even though I was completely aware, I gave in.
Stupid special abilities.
Then the phone rang. Alice answered. It was Edward. As soon as she held out the phone, I took it from her.
"Edward?"
"Bella," he sighed in relief.
"Edward, I miss you so much."
"I do, too. I'm coming over tomorrow. And then we'll be together again."
"That's great…" I began to tear up.
"I have to go now. See you tomorrow."
"Bye."
Then the line went dead.
I felt hopeful. Edward and I would be reunited soon. I wouldn't mind being in a hotel room with him. It would be heaven. But that hope was shattered…
A few hours later, Jasper left to check us out of the hotel. The phone rang, and Alice said it was for me... Aunt Cathy…
"Hello?"
"Bella?"
"Uncle Charlie…?"
"Bella, wha…"
"Hello?" I asked again. Maybe the line went dead.
"Did you really think you could get away from me so easily?" My mouth fell open… James… he got to Uncle Charlie… "I know everything: where you are, Edward's schedule; everything."
"Bella, what's wrong?" Alice asked me.
"If you tell her anything, your uncle pays for it," he threatened.
"It's nothing," I lied, facing her. Then I left the room.
"Now, Bella," James began, "Do you think you can get away from your friends tomorrow? Just answer yes or no."
"No," I told him. It seemed impossible.
"Do you think you could do it for your uncle?" he asked again.
"BELLA!" I heard Uncle Charlie scream.
"Please don't…" I began to beg. He cut me off,
"No talking. Just answer me."
"… Yes…" I gave up. Uncle Charlie shouldn't have to die for me. No one should.
No one.
"Good. Now, meet me in the ballet studio at this address."
James gave me the directions, and I memorized them immediately. I was already resigned to die.
"Repeat after me. Uncle Charlie, I'm fine. Everything's alright."
"Uncle Charlie, I'm fine. Everything's alright," I began to release suppressed tears. This didn't seem fair.
"Please don't worry about me. I need some time to be alone right now."
"Please… don't worry about me. I need some time to be alone right now…" The tears streamed miserably down my face.
"Goodbye, Bella. I'll see you tomorrow," his malicious tone had a smile in it as he hung up.
"Bye… I'll call you when I'm ready to come home…" I closed the phone shut. I went back into the room to face Alice.
"Bella, what's wrong?" she asked.
"I hate having to lie…" I cried. This was truth, just not all of it.
"It's okay, Bella," she hugged me, "Everything will be fine."
I hoped so. I hoped that when James got what he wanted, he would let Uncle Charlie go. I hoped that Edward would not avenge me, and just live on as if I'd never existed. I hoped that…
What was the point in hoping anymore?
My spirit was broken long before this. I had every reason to believe that any hope was shattered by the cruel truths of reality.
I hugged Alice, for the first and last time.
"Thank you…" I whispered.
* * *
Alice had another vision. And because of that, they were watching me more carefully. She probably saw me dying in that ballet studio. This was backed up by my constant feelings of surrender. I had given up. Jasper could sense that.
We were at the airport. Only ten minutes before Edward would walk through the halls and come back to me. The object of my affection… was the unyielding obstacle that stood in the way. I knew that the moment I would see him, all chances of escape would be gone. Vanished.
So why wasn't I moving? Why wasn't I taking action?
I remembered my letter…
Dear Edward,
I'm sorry. By the time you've read this, it would probably be too late. James… he had my uncle. I couldn't just do nothing. I had to save him. He's my only uncle; surely, you must understand that. I just want you to know that… I love you. I will always love you, even when I'm dead. Please, continue to exist as if I didn't. Hadn't. I could imagine how easy that would be for you, and that's all I ask. Move on without me.
Forgive me,
Bella
"Bella," Alice shook me, breaking my concentration; "He's here." And she said that as if it was a good thing. It was too late. I wasted too much time.
I turned and my heart stopped.
There he was, standing in front of me in his angelic perfection. That angelic face gave me relief, but tortured me all the same. How selfish could I be? Exchanging my happiness for someone's life… It wasn't right at all.
I changed my plan… It would break my heart to do it.
"Edward!" I screamed, flinging myself into his arms.
"Bella," he sighed, wrapping his stone cold arms around me.
"Oh, Edward…" I snuggle into his chest. I couldn't help but cry. But hey, how would you react if you knew that this would be the last time you would see your true love?
"It's okay, Bella," he held me tighter, "Everything's fine. You're safe."
His lips found mine. His sweet, unrushed kiss threw me off. I nearly forgot my plan.
No. I couldn't afford any mistakes. I began at the top of my mental script,
"Can we go and get breakfast now?" I asked.
"Sure," he smiled.
Never releasing my hand, Edward and I headed to the stream of cafés. It made it more difficult for me to carry out my plan. I had to lie.
"I need to go to the bathroom, first," I said suddenly, never looking directly into his eyes. I knew that once I looked into those deep, honey-colored eyes, I wouldn't be able to do it.
We got to the bathroom.
"Wait here," I told him. With one last look, I memorized his face, finally glancing up at his eyes. After one second, I immediately looked away. I headed into the bathroom.
I remembered when I had gone to this airport. I had gotten lost because of this bathroom; it had two doors, directly opposite each other. It would serve as my escape.
I just wished that Edward wouldn't notice the scent.
I ran, pushing through the crowds of people. I didn't even bother looking back. Would they really chase me down in such a public area? I doubted it.
I ran through the doors, out into the street.
"TAXI!" I screamed, waving my hand in the air. It stopped right in front of me, and I rushed in.
I told him the directions, paying him extra to go the fastest that he could. In the meantime, I imagined, dreamed. What would have happened if I had just stayed with Edward?
Easy, I would feel guilty the whole time. Uncle Charlie would have died. I would try to kill myself, and probably be successful. I'd know how to do it, too. I'd cut myself, and once Edward or Jasper got a whiff, they would do the rest.
The car stopped. I nervously ran out. The driver drove off quickly, and I was alone. Too late to turn back. I ran to the door, tripping over first.
"Dammit, Bella!" I screamed at myself, my voice muffled by the concrete. I began to cry again, sobbing aloud.
I was heading towards my death. Why shouldn't I cry? My leg began to hurt. It took all the strength I had for me to get up.
I limped the rest of the way, finding that the door was open. I guess I wasn't surprised. But the lobby was empty.
"Bella?"
"Uncle Charlie?" I asked.
"BELLA!"
"NO!" I screamed. I ignored the increasing pain on my leg and ran up the stairs. I needed to find him. Save him. But as I neared the top of the stairs, I realized something…
I was tricked.