Bella
"What are you great oafs on?!" Rachel shrieks as they start to drag her over towards one of the cruisers. "Get off of me!"
"Stop struggling, you're just going to hurt yourself."
"Maybe if you'd let go, I would need to!" it's clear that Rachel is becoming hysterical at this point. "Get off!"
They've covered the short distance to the cruiser and I can only stare dumbfounded as the lady places her hand on Rachel's head and guides her into the back seat, Rachel still shouting.
When I've finally got my senses back to me, I turn to the cop from earlier who has been overseeing everything. "What on earth?"
"I can't tell you much, not until Jacob shows up again, but the arrest is evidence based."
Frustrated at the lack of information, I dig around in Rachel's purse to find her phone. Pulling out the small device, I dial the number for my phone and wait.
"Bells?" Charlie answers after only two rings. "You alright?"
"No, you need to get back here. Where are you?"
"I'll be right there," his voice has become raspier and the thumping down the phone suggests he's started running. "I'll be a few minutes, stay safe."
He hangs up the phone. I look over towards the cop and state, "Charlie is on his way." Not waiting for a response, I let myself back into the house and collapse onto the couch.
Having seen Carlisle has brought the issue with Edward back to the front of my mind and my mind starts wondering what it's going to be like when I see him again.
If I ever see him again…
The hole in my chest suddenly expands, drawing me down into it. My breathing becomes rapid and I grasp at my chest trying to ease the pain.
Through the ringing in my ears, I briefly recognise the sound of footsteps approaching. Not wanting to be seen like this, I blindly stumble up the stairs towards where I know the bathroom is. Reaching the door, I slam it closed behind me, click the lock and let myself slide down the door to huddle on the floor.
The panic keeps rising as the hole gets bigger. The walls are closing in on me.
My hands go to my arms and I grasp them tightly, trying to protect myself from the world.
It doesn't work.
Feeling the black lump growing in my chest even further, I unknowingly start to scratch at my skin.
As my fingers continue to rip at the skin on my chest, I feel the itching sensation overcome my entire body. It's like I've fallen into a bush of ivy.
Someone knocks on the door, I feel the vibrations down my back.
I can't move, I can't think. The pain is so intense.
The handle wobbles, hitting me on the side of the face and I still don't move to let them in.
No one can see me like this, I'm supposed to be better. Pull it together Bella. But I can't. There's no way.
The door thumps against my back as someone tries to open it.
Still, I can't respond.
My head is starting to feel woozy again, a lack of oxygen. My vision starts to dip in and out.
I'm sure I must be dying, no one can survive something like this.
More vibrant than anything else in the room, Edward's face appears. "Breathe."
My body follows his instruction automatically.
The shaking continues as I follow Edward's voice, slowly breathing in and out until the noise from outside the bathroom door comes back to me. "Bella!" someone is shouting hammering on the door. "Bella!"
Reaching up, I turn the lock and quickly crawl out of the way as Charlie comes barrelling into the room. "Bella!" he shouts, coming closer to me. "What happened?"
I still can't speak, my hands shaking and shock starting to set in.
"Bella, did someone hurt you?" No, why would he think that? Then the pain comes into my awareness. It's just a dull ache all over, but it's obvious that I'd done something to myself.
"Give her some space," someone, Emily I realise from the scars, says behind Charlie. "You're ok aren't you, Bella?"
I manage to nod my head. Charlie's face sets in resolution as he stands up and exits the small bathroom. The lines of worry and stress are becoming clearer on his face and I can't help feeling guilty for putting them there.
Emily sits on the floor just outside the door.
"Don't worry, we know what's happened now. There's nothing to worry about." She must think that the anxiety was caused by what happened with Billy and Rachel, and I don't bother to correct her, not knowing how I could possibly explain that a hungry black hole is trying to eat me from the inside.
The silence doesn't feel uncomfortable as she closes her eyes and starts humming, but I appreciate her attempts anyway as she gives me time to come back to myself.
Several minutes later, my cheeks flaming bright red, I speak through her gentle noises. "I'm alright."
"Great, clean up and come on down, we'll explain what's happened."
She stands up and wanders down the stairs.
Waiting until I hear the final steps on the stairs, I stand up and look at myself in the mirror.
All over my face and neck I can see angry red marks. Looking down my top, I can see the marks spread across my chest too. No wonder Charlie looked so haggard, I look like I've been mauled by Frankenstein's monster.
Splashing some water on my face to remove the tear streaks and hopefully reduce some of the redness, I take a steadying breath and turn to face the music.
Downstairs, Charlie, Emily, Sam, Jacob and the cop are all sitting around. I suspect that there are more people outside waiting for news.
They all turn to look at me as I step off the bottom of the stairs and my face flushes even more that they are all there staring at me. Do they all know what happened?
"Bella, are you okay?" Charlie asks, standing up so I can take his seat. I can only nod in response and he squeezes my shoulder gently. "Well, there has been an unexpected turn of events." He looks over towards the cop who's looking rather sheepish, just like he's had a dressing down.
"I shouldn't really be saying this outside of the family, but given the effort you've all taken to help try and find Billy and Jacob has given permission… Well." Charlie clears his throat, hurrying him along. "CCTV footage from Forks shows a vehicle carrying Billy Black in the passenger seat, with Rachel Black driving. We've been able to follow the vehicle south down the 101. We've not yet been able to relocate the vehicle in any of the major cities, but we are trying."
There's stunned silence in the room, no one quite believing the revelation.
Out of nowhere, Jacob starts laughing. "Good one, Rachel hasn't lived here for months and she certainly hasn't been to visit recently. It must all be some big misunderstanding on the cameras."
"I'm sorry Mr Black, there is no misunderstanding. The images are very clear and without an alibi or any other sign of Billy, we must assume the worst."
"This is stupid! You think Rachel would have driven here and kidnapped her own father. The council was right to keep our distance from your cops, you're all nuts."
Charlie interrupts his tyrant. "What were the results of the plates?"
"Inconclusive; they appear to be faked, given that they don't match the registered vehicle and that vehicle is also currently on the other side of the country."
Being unable to stand the tension in the room any more, I slip into the kitchen and leave through the back door. No one follows me.
While I don't believe that Rachel had kidnapped him, I also trust dad's team to have looked into it properly before making arrests.
Needing a break from thinking, I walk down towards the beach.
The village is nearly empty, everyone either out searching, sleeping or waiting for the update at the Black's house. I hope that they'll call everyone back soon, if they've seen Billy, then there's no point keeping looking locally.
I remember what Jacob said, we followed his scent trail down the road, but then it suddenly disappeared. Disappeared, or got into a car.
If it had been Rachel greeting him, he wouldn't have considered not getting in.
So, if Rachel is innocent, which I'm sure she must be, she's being framed by someone. But why would Billy have left the house in the first place? None of this makes any sense.
I reach the sand and slip off my shoes, letting my toes bury down into the cooling sand.
The beach is wide and empty.
I look over towards the cliff that had caused all of the problems, but also been the trigger to bring Edward home.
Even after everything that has happened, I can't help feeling disappointed that the jump hadn't been successful. No matter how much everyone assures me that this is temporary, it doesn't feel temporary and I just want it over, in whatever form that takes.
Letting the emotions roll over me like the waves, I sit on the sand. After a while, I've run out of things to feel and just let the numbness take hold.
Out here in the vast openness, I feel so small and insignificant, like nothing in the world really matters.
The waves rise and fall, often crashing on the beach with a loud rumble. Each time it lands, the water doesn't disappear quite so far, gradually getting closer.
"Bella," Charlie calls from up at the land. "Time to go."
Heaving myself to my feet takes more effort than it should have done. Sitting out here has caused my muscles to seize and I take several strange steps before I finally settle into my stride.
"Is there any news?" I ask as I reach Charlie.
He shakes his head, "Nothing new, but they're calling the search off. No point looking here anymore."
My head falls, frustrated and worried for Billy. No one has said it, but I can tell that the search has changed. It's now searching for a body, no one expecting Billy to still be alive.
The walk back through the village is sombre. We pass many people in hiking boots who have clearly been out searching, they too sharing the grief stricken looks.
Back at the house, I see Jacob packing a small bag.
"What's going on?" I ask, confused.
"Now we know which direction he went in, we're going to go searching. Can't hurt. I'm not going to give up, unlike certain people." Jacob spits towards Charlie.
Knowing I won't be able to talk him out of it, I give him a quick hug and move back over to my truck.
"Stay safe," I say, imploring him to listen to Sam and work together.
Jacob is gone into the woods before I've put the keys in the ignition. The other pack members have bundled into cars and I'm glad that everyone has dispersed enough to have not noticed Jacob's strange behaviour.
I pull out Carlisle's phone and contemplate my options. It's been so long today, I need to speak to Edward. This is my mess, so it's my responsibility to fix.
With a deep, steadying breath, I press the contact and listen to the phone ring.
"Carlisle?" Edward answers, clearly confused.
"No, it's me."
"Bella. Why have you got Carlisle's phone? Have you been to the hospital? What's going on?"
"I'll explain everything, can you meet me back at my house later on? I need to get Charlie something to eat, but he looks exhausted so he should be asleep early. Then, maybe we can talk a while?"
"Of course, do you need me to bring anything?"
"No thanks, just, I'm sorry."
"I love you Bella," he says, the smile in his voice. "I'll see you soon. Drive safe."
For several long minutes I just sit there, trying to build the motivation to drive back.
"Fake it till you make it," I mutter, and pull off into the darkness.
Thank you all for the reviews, I'm loving hearing your thoughts on this story. Next update coming on Saturday.