A.N. Everything Belongs to Stephenie Meyer
From now on, things are going to move quicker.
I promise.
Oh and this chapter is going to be a little different to other chapters. Be warned!
Read and review! Any ideas or comments, feel free to pass them on. If I like them, I might include them!
Chapter Six
For the past couple of weeks I'd spent most of time hanging out with Alice and the Cullens. I'd talk with Alice, Rosalie would give me mechanical tips for my truck, Emmett would always try and get me to wrestle with him, Edward remained distant and Jasper...well Jasper and I would talk about military history. He used to be a Confederate soldier and had an avid interest in military history. I would get wrapped up in discussion with him that hours would go by and I wouldn't notice. Other than Alice, Jasper was my favourite of the younger Cullens.
Carlisle had taken on the roll as my personal physician. Charlie was always chatting with him and Esme. I overheard him one day, speaking with Esme, she was giving him recipes for easy meals and tips on how to handle a teenage girl. It melted my heart. Charlie it seemed, was worried about any side-effects I might experience from my genetics or the drugs they pumped into me. So Carlisle and I had, had several sessions. He'd ignored the drugs up until now, he said he wanted to try and get a base-line. Figure out who I was without the drugs and then see how they affected me. He was astonished to find I was basically on a par with his children in the speed department. They were slightly stronger than I was and they had better eyesight and hearing. They had rock-solid skin that didn't cut, it cracked. I had regular human skin, just with quicker healing. What was strange, he said, was that my blood didn't smell like blood. Carlisle had explained that although he and his family didn't feed on humans, humans still smelt like food to them. They experienced a constant internal struggle to remain in control of their 'thirst'. But they were fine around me. I just smelled like Bella, not like food. However Charlie had to be careful not to cut himself around the Cullens.
I felt happy. I didn't have to hide any more. I could be myself. I could laugh and joke and not worry about what I was saying. It was freedom. Since that kiss a couple of weeks ago, nothing else had happened. We just hadn't mentioned it. We'd just been getting along, as friends. We'd go on long walks, sit in tall trees and talk about everything. I was ready to talk about my past and she didn't ask so it worked out great. We just talked about movies, music, plays, books, art. She knew so much! It was like talking to a walking encyclopedia. She was funny too, and so beautiful. I could be myself around Alice. We'd spend hours just running through the forest. Chasing each other through the trees and tackling each other to the ground, then rolling over and over and over until we couldn't move for laughter. I felt so normal, so human.
We were just coming back from a run. I was staying at the Cullens tonight and for the rest of the weekend.. Charlie had to go into Seattle for a conference about investigative techniques or something and Esme has insisted that I spend the weekend at their house instead of being on my own at home. I didn't protest and Charlie was more than happy to leave me in their care. Alice and I were walking towards her house. The grass was damp with mist and the whole are was quiet. Carlisle was at the hospital. Edward was somewhere in Alaska and Emmett and Rosalie had gone off somewhere for 'alone' time. There was just Jasper and Rosalie inside.
"Come on Bella, I'll make you something to eat." Alice had really gotten into cook for me, it was kind of cute. I smiled in appreciation and followed her lead up the path towards her house. Then I stopped. Something wasn't right. I looked around. Nothing looked out of the ordinary but something definitely wasn't right. I strained my ears, trying to hear anything. There was nothing. That was the problem. All of the animals had been silenced. The usual faint hum of traffic from the roads a few miles away had disappeared. Something wasn't right.
I crouched slightly, preparing my body for anything that might happen. I scanned the tree line. There was nothing there. The mist was swirling around the tree trunks in waves. It wasn't breaking abruptly against any hidden obstacle. Giving up, I realised I was over-reacting. There was nothing there. Alice had noticed my paranoia.
"Bella? What's wrong?" She looked worried and started walking back to my side. I motioned with my hand that she shouldn't worry. I started walking back to her but then noticed something. High up in a tree to my left something glistened. I focused on it. What was that? Then it moved. My heart exploded in my chest. I grabbed Alice by the arm and dragged her towards the house. I had to get her safe. The door was just there. I heard a buzz of a radio behind me. I grabbed the kitchen door and threw Alice inside.
"Stay here, don't come out until I get you!"
"Bella, what the hell is happening?" She scrambled forward but I pushed her back and slammed the door in her face, making sure to lock it from the outside with the key before throwing the key as hard as I could...not that, that would make much difference but it made me feel better.
I ran towards the trees, making sure not to run in a straight line. They'd found me. The glint in the trees, I'd recognised it straight away. It was the sights on a sniper rifle. I'd guess a six man team. Two in sniper support roles with four for close quarters. I'd worry about the snipers in a moment. As I ran for the trees I saw the other appearing from their positions. Hidden behind trees, under bushes, covered in various forms of camouflage. All four of them were headed right at me. The first was a big guy with biceps as big as my head. He swung the butt of his assault rifle at my head. I rolled under his swing and ended up behind him before he'd finished the swing. I jumped to my feet and drove my knee into the small of his back. His arms flew up in pain and his knees buckled slightly, bringing him down to my height. I grabbed a hold of his assault rifle over his shoulders, pulling it violently against his throat, disabling his voice box. He dropped the gun and started clutching his damaged throat. I took this moment to crash my elbow into the side of his head and he crumpled to the ground unconscious. I'd spent too long on the first guy. Another member of his team was on me now. He had his arms wrapped around my chest. I slammed my head back as hard as I could and heard a satisfying crunch. I'd broken his nose. He released me, I spun on my left leg and brought my right leg swinging round. It crashed against his side and I heard another crack. I'd broken his ribs. He crumpled to the floor in a spluttering pile of blood.
"Bella!" I spun around and saw Alice running towards me, followed by Jasper and Esme. Two more soldiers were headed straight for them. I pushed myself forward. Sprinting towards them. I tackled the guy at the back, driving him deep into the ground. He didn't move. Knocked out straight away. I leapt up to see Alice and Jasper had reached the final guy. Alice had jumped straight over his head, as he turned around to find her, Jasper had smashed his fist into the back of his skull. The four ground troops were now down and incapacitated. None of them had taken a shot or even attempted to use their weapons. They must have orders to take me in alive. I heard the sound of metal scraping on metal. The snipers. One of them was loading. I saw the knife attached the belt of the soldier at my feet. Kneeling and spinning in a single move, I slid the knife out of it's sheath, raised to my ear, found the snipe, raising himself up on the branch he was resting on. I aimed for his chest and let the knife fly. I heard the sniper scream as the knife pierced his chest. He dropped his weapon and fell off his branch to the floor below. Was that it? Was that all of them? I didn't move. I stayed in that position, watching, waiting, listening. There was nothing, no movement or sound. It was over.
As I surveyed the surrounding, Esme and Jasper had gathered the soldiers in front of the house. One was dead, four unconscious. Jaspers eyes were dark. I saw him glancing at the blood. He looked towards Esme who nodded back at him then he sped off into the trees. Alice was by my side now. She was gripping my arm, saying my name over and over again. The adrenaline was pumping so hard through my veins that everything sounded muffled.
"Bella?" I stared blankly at Alice. I barely recognised her.
"Bella?" She started to shake me. Why was this beautiful girl shaking me?
"Bella?" Now she was screaming. The sharp sounds brought me back to reality.
"Alice! Are you OK?" I was gripping her arms now. My legs were shaking.
"Am I...Jesus Christ Bella! What the hell were you thinking?" She looked angry now. I was confused. What did I do wrong. I felt tears pricking at my eyes. I wasn't upset or angry, it was just a side effect from all of the adrenaline. Alice saw the tears and, she softened and grabbed me, pulling me to her in a fierce hug.
"Don't you ever do anything like that to me again!" She was squeezing me tightly now. I wrapped my arms around her and gently stroked her hair.
"I'm sorry Alice. I'm OK. Everything's OK." I just held her for a moment. Esme was busying herself with checking the soldiers wounds. After a short moment I released Alice and made my way over to Esme.
"How are they Esme?"
"They'll have pretty bad headaches when they wake up and this guy here won't be able to speak for a while but they'll be OK. This one didn't make it though I'm afraid." She pointed towards the man with a knife in his chest. I nodded solemnly. His wasn't the first life I'd taken but it never got easier.
I knelt down next to the soldier I'd knocked out with the tackle. I pulled his combat mask down and removed his tactical helmet. I recognised him. He was one of the security guards from the Institute. He was Eriks, I think. He had close-cropped blonde hair and a pale patch of stubble on his chin. His boots and combat trousers were dirty and scuffed. Much more than they would have been from just maintaining his hiding position. He must have been out of the Institute for a while, hunting me down. I slapped his cheek a few times to wake him up. He came to with a start.
"Hello Eriks." He glared at me. He instantly felt around his belt for his knife but it wasn't there.
"Sorry, I had to use that." He glanced around and saw his combat knife sticking out of the chest of one of his squad mates.
"Eriks, what are you doing here?" He looked around and kept his mouth shut. I grabbed hold of his chin and forced him to look at me,
"Bella..." Alice stepped forward but I waved her off.
"Answer me Eriks." He didn't answer me, instead he spat in my face. I wiped the spit away and stood up. I turned around and faced Alice.
"They're from the Institute. They found me Alice." Esme was standing behind Alice with a sad look in her eyes. I heard laughter behind me and turned round to see Eriks with an evil grin on his face. I angrily returned to my previous position, clamping my hand around his throat.
"What's so funny." He chocked slightly and I loosened my grip. I could barely make out his words so I shook him, letting him know to speak louder. He cleared his throat and tried again.
"We're not here for you!" I heard a click then. My heart stopped. I recognised that click. I looked down and in Eriks hands were two grenades with their pins pulled. He was smiling and laughing evilly.
"Run!" I turned and screamed at Esme and Alice. Rising to my feet I ran as fast as I could with Alice and Esme ahead of me. A second later the explosion knocked me off my feat. I was flying through the air towards the ground. I tucked my body into a ball to cushion my impact. It still knocked the air out of my lungs though. The explosion died down. I chunks of mud and soldier were raining down around me. My ears were ringing. The side of my face was burnt from the explosion and I had blood blood dripping from a cut just above my eye. I rolled onto my back. Gulping down huge mouthfuls of air. Alice and Esme were by my side in seconds. My ears were ringing so loudly I couldn't make out what they were saying. I waved them off and pulled myself into a sitting position.
"I'm OK, I'm Fine!" I was shouting. I couldn't moderate my vocal volume. Alice took hold of my hand and helped me to my feet. I was a little dazed and unsteady on my feet. Alice wrapped her arms around my waist to steady me.
"I need to call Carlisle." My hearing was coming back. Esme dashed back into the house. A lot of the windows had been destroyed but the general structure seemed fine...other than the ten foot crater just outside the back door and he blood splatter along the walls. I groaned at the damage that had been done.
"Alice I'm so sorry."
"Bella don't apologise. This wasn't y..." Alice's face went blank and she froze.
"Alice?" She snapped out of it and looked panicked. At that second I heard a faint crack in the distance behind Alice and felt a slight twinge in my stomach. I stumbled back. Something wasn't right.
"Alice?" I could hear the panic in my voice. Alice's eyes were wide. She was staring at my stomach.
"Esme!" Alice screamed her mothers name. There was so much fear in her voice. My legs were becoming weak. I could feel them giving way.
"Alice?" She rushed over to me and pressed her hand against my stomach as I fell to the ground. Why was she doing that? I dropped my gaze, looking to where her hand was. That's when I saw it. Seeing it invited all the pain.
I'd been shot. There was so much. It was pooling over Alice's fingers. As she applied pressure I screamed out in pain! It was unbelievable. I thought I was going to black out. I could actually feel the blood leaving my body. My fingers and toes were starting to tingle. My body was starting to spasm. My back was arching off the ground sending waves of pain crashing around my body.
"Alice what...oh my god!" Esme was there now, she placed her hands on top of Alice's. They were both applying pressure.
"Alice?" I was coughing now...why was I coughing? I was scared. Alice looked worried. I didn't want her to worry.
"Shush Bella, it's going to be OK, just try and stay still." Her voice was shaky. I was starting to feel sick. I felt the world disappear beneath me. Alice had lifted me in her arms. She was running towards her house. We were inside and upstairs before I could blink. She kicked open a door and laid me down on an ornate desk.
"Don't talk Bella. I'm here. Esme's called Carlisle, he'll be here soon. She called Charlie and he's on his way too." I spluttered at her words and tried to lift myself into a sitting position. Alice gently pushed me back down onto the desk.
"Don't move. I need to get your top off you now Bella." I nodded. She ripped my top off and threw it on the floor. She darted over to a large cabinet and withdrew bottles of, syringes and pads of gauze. Esme was in the room now. She had a cloth and water. She was mopping the blood off my stomach.
"How...how bad is it?" I was spluttering now. Every word I spoke sent pain shooting through my body.
"Shush sweetie, you're going to be OK." I could tell she was lying. I heard the front door downstairs crashing open. Carlisle was beside Esme now. He was rolling his sleeves up, examining my injury.
"Esme I need you to go to the garage and fetch the oxygen and anaesthetic." She nodded her head at his words but I grabbed her wrist before she disappeared downstairs.
"It doesn't...doesn't work..." It was true. All of the medical procedures I'd had in my life had been done without anaesthetic. I burned off the local anaesthetic quicker than they could administer it. General anaesthetic just did not work at all and morphine barely made a difference. This was going to hurt. Carlisle frowned.
"OK...Bella this is going to hurt I'm afraid. Bite down on this." Carlisle placed a chunk of leather in my mouth and I bit down furiously on it.
"Alice." Carlisle nodded at his smallest daughter. She moved to my side and held my arms down whilst Esme took hold of my legs. Carlisle placed a hand on my chest, effectively pinning me to the desk. He had a scalpel in his hands. This was not going to be pleasant.
I tensed my body. Carlisle poured some iodine over the wound and then slowly lowered the scalpel to my skin. I couldn't watch any longer. I turned my head to the side.
"Bella look at me, come on, don't watch that." Alice was pleading with me. I locked my eyes onto hers. Carlisle started to cut. I bit down harder on the leather trying my hardest not to scream. Tears were pouring down my face. My entire body was on fire and I'd stopped breathing. The room was spinning now. The only things I was aware of was the pain and Alice. She looked so lost!
Cut, after cut...and then something new. Something cold sliding inside. It burnt so much. My body was convulsing violently now Everything was turning black.
"She's lost too much blood." I could barely hear Carlisle. There was a deafening roar in my ears. The pain was subsiding. In fact I could barely feel anything right now.. My body was numb. I was so tired. My eyes started to close.
"No Bella! Look at me, come on, open your eyes!" I forced my eyes open, Alice's pace was close to mine. Esme wasn't holding my feet any more now. I didn't know where she was. Carlisle was rummaging through the same cabinet Alice had been looking in earlier. I could barely move. The leather dropped from lips and clattered to the floor. I only noticed then that it was actually a belt.
"Al...Alice..." My voice was barely a whisper. The tears were still pouring down my cheeks. Alice leant in closer. Her face was plastered with worry.
"Don't...don't speak Bella. Save your strength. Everything's going to be OK." She was stroking the strands of hair away from my sweat-drenched forehead. Smiled weakly at her. I shakily lifted my hand to her face. She was so beautiful. She covered my hand with her own, leaning into my palm.
"Come on Bella, hold on. You can fight this." I smiled weakly at her. I gently pulled her face closer. I brush my lips against hers. I could taste my tears as I pressed my lips against Alice's. It was a short kiss. Alice pulled away and looked me deep in my eyes.
"Come on Bella. Fight!"
I summoned all my strength to whisper a couple of more words.
"Thank you." Then I was spent. I couldn't hold my hand up any more. My arm dropped to the desk and the went black. As I fell deeper into the darkness, the last thing I remembered was Alice screaming my name.
She was slipping away! Her eyes had lost their sparkle, her hand had dropped from my face. If I could cry I would have.
"No! Bella? Bella? Carlisle hurry!" I started pounding on her chest, trying to keep her heart beating! Carlisle hurried over. He'd dug the bullet out and was now quickly stitching the wound back up. Esme re-entered the Carlisle's office and handed him an armful of blood packs. Carlisle quickly hooked them up and the blood started flowing into Bella's broken body. I never stopped pumping her chest.
Carlisle quickly sorted out a saline drip as well and hooked Bella up to a load of monitors. It had only taken a few seconds but that seemed like a lifetime. When she was hooked up to the machines, Carlisle lifted a large needle up. He checked it for air bubbles and then politely asked me to move. I was reluctant to stop and move away from Bella but I trusted Carlisle. I stopped and stepped back. Carlisle lifted the syringe above Bella's body. I had to look away but I could hear as he plunged the syringe deep into Bella's chest. Adrenaline, straight into her heart. I turned around as I heard the syringe clatter against the desk. Carlisle was placing an oxygen mask over Bella's face. At that moment she started to convulse violently. Her entire body arched upwards. Her back went stiff, her arms and legs locked and her heard and neck thrashed violently in all directions. We all jumped towards her and pinned her body to the desk. After about a minute she stopped. I listened...and there it was! Her heart was beating! She was alive. I collapsed into Carlisle's arms, thanking him furiously for what he'd just done.
Hours passed. I just sat there watching Bella's chest rise and fall. Charlie arrived about an hour after everything happened. He'd cried over Bella. Then he went outside to try and figure out what happened. I hadn't seen him since. Esme hadn't been able to get in contact with Jasper or Edward. Rosalie and Emmett had burst into the house about five minutes after Carlisle had stabbed Bella with the adrenaline. Carlisle was checking on Bella every fifteen minutes. When he wasn't checking her vitals he had his face pressed into one of his microscopes. He was examining Bella's blood and the drugs she used to take to see if they could help her.
I couldn't lose her. I'd spent so long waiting for her and now she was here, she was real. I wasn't going to let anyone take her away from me. I was going to figure out a way to keep her safe. She was healing quickly. Carlisle had already removed her stitches. There was an angry red line stretching about four inches along the left side of her stomach and stopping just above her navel. I kept glancing at it. I wanted to grab some hot water and wipe it away. Mostly I just wanted Bella to wake up.
"Interesting." Carlisle was muttering to himself. I looked up in his direction.
"Pardon Carlisle?" He looked up from the microscope. His eyes were narrowed. He was concerned.
"The drugs that the Institute pumped into Bella all those years..."
"What about them Carlisle?"
"It's modified venom." Right at that second Bella shot straight up, her eyes wide and screaming.