Chapter IV: The Attack

"You've reached the Swans. We can't come to the phone right now, so leave a message at the tone."

I ran to get the phone, but when I got into the kitchen, I could hear Charlie's voice on the answering machine. I almost picked the phone up, until I heard a beep! and the voice that followed. Edward's voice.

"Hey Bella. It's me. Again. Please, please, just talk to me . . . " There was a pause before he sighed and continued. "Well, call me back as soon as you get this. I love you. I'm sorry. Bye."

I sighed as I deleted the message. He'd made a habit out of calling me once a day, every day, since the incident between him and Ruby two weeks ago. I'd picked up once, then hung up when I knew whom it was, and he'd left three messages with Charlie, which I'd immediately thrown away. I wanted nothing to do with him.

The hole in my chest had returned, and worse than before. He'd broken my heart; ripped it to shreds and shoved it back in my face. I sighed and headed back to my room.

After a dinner of fish and chips with Charlie, I decided I would go to bed early. I showered and got into my pajama's. I lay down on my bed and stared off into space. I sighed loudly, rolled onto my side, and closed my eyes. I thought I was dreaming when I felt a cold hand on my arm. Once I realized I wasn't, I gasped and turned toward him, sitting up in the process.

"What the heck do you think you're doing here?!" I tried to make my whisper as harsh as possible - Charlie was just downstairs and I didn't need him coming up to check on me.

"I wanted to apologize . . . " he said to me. I waited, arms folded across my chest. "I..." he sighed. "What I did hurt you."

"You've got that right," I murmured under my breath, and I wondered if he'd heard me.

He sighed again, looking away. "You . . . you're the only one I've ever loved . . . "

"Uhuh. That's why I caught you lip-locked with another woman." I said sarcastically.

"I had no control over my actions!" He shot back. "Ruby —"

"You're blaming Ruby for this?!" I said a little too loud. I bit my lip as I waited for Charlie to march up the stairs. There was nothing.

"You're blaming Ruby for this?!" I repeated in a whisper this time.

"Bella, do you honestly believe I would hurt you like that?"

"You've done it before," I reminded him. Painful memories rushed back - Edward and Ruby lying on the couch, kissing each other, Edward's little speech before he left me, what it felt like to think I'd never see him again - the hole in my chest along with them. I clutched my stomach in pain. The hole was ripping me apart again, just like it had two years ago when Edward left me, claiming I was safer that way.

"Bella?"

I groaned loudly. Tears were pouring down my face, dripping off my cheeks onto the faded quilt under me as I bent over in pain, trying to stop the hole from tearing me apart like it had so many times before.

"Bella?" His voice was frightened. I felt his cold hand on my shoulder. "Are you all right?"

"Go away."

He didn't need to see me like this. Nobody did. And as angry as I was at him, I still loved him, making the hole hurt that much more.

"Bella, I —"

"Please," I insisted, "Just leave me alone."

He sighed quietly and his hand fell from my shoulder. The hole suddenly seemed less painful, and my grip loosened.

"Okay . . . I won't bother you again." I turned around to tell him I still loved him and not to run off on me again, but he was already gone, and the hole with him. Despite this, I cried myself to sleep, and had nightmares of Ruby and Edward . . . again.

I woke up in the morning feeling ridiculous. I was overreacting. I decided I would head over to the Cullens' and talk to Edward this morning, after breakfast. But as I pulled up to the house, I suddenly felt nervous. And, to my surprise, Ruby answered the door.

"Oh, hey Bella! Come on in." She said, opening the door wide.

"Thanks." I said, walking into the familiar home. "Is, uh . . . is Edward here?"

"No, he just went out to get something. And the others are on a hunting trip. Edward should be back any minute, though."

"Okay." I didn't know why Ruby was here, but something told me I didn't want to know.

"Yeah. Anyway, I'm sorry about what happened."

"No, it's okay. It's not your fault." I paused. "It was Edward that kissed you right?"

"Yeah . . . " she replied dreamily. "He's a great kisser." I noticed the ring - the one Edward gave me - on her finger. All of a sudden, there was a huge lump in my throat, and tears at my eyes, threatening to come rushing out. Ruby noticed.

"What's wrong? Are you upset that Edward likes someone else more than you?" she said bitterly.

"I'd better go." I choked out. But when I turned to the door, she was already there, blocking my path.

"You're not going anywhere." She said firmly.

She pushed me into one of the columns, which cracked under the force of the thrust. She rushed at me, and suddenly her forearm was at my throat, holding my head in place, and a knife was in her other hand. "I'm not letting you take my Edward away from me," she said, twisting it. The light reflected off of it into my eyes, making them shut tight. Before I had time to open them again, the knife was at my wrist, cutting me open each time she slid it across my skin. After doing the same to my other wrist, she removed her forearm from my throat, and instead stabbed through my shoulder to the column with the knife, and I called out in pained. My shaky hand reached up and tried to remove the weapon, but Ruby beat me to it, and I fell to the ground. I had no strength left, not that I would have a chance against her in any case. Then, Ruby was at my side, running the knife from the top of my shoulder down to right above my knee. There she carved open my leg, making me scream. She quickly removed it and brought it up to my racing heart. She drew a small 'X', barely piercing the skin, where my heart was.

"I'm lucky humans don't appeal to me." She said in disgust. "This wouldn't have been nearly as fun." She laughed, getting ready to stab my heart, ending my life. I closed my eyes and held my breath, bracing myself for the pain that was about to come.

But there was nothing. I opened my eyes, releasing the breath I'd held in. Ruby's head was lifted, as if she'd heard something I didn't. She muttered something angrily under her breath before she stabbed the knife into my arm and disappeared.

I faintly realized that the front door had opened before everything went black.

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A/N: Dum dum dumm!! What'd ya think? Let me know! (Also if there are any mistakes, please point them out...Thanks! ) Any feedback will make me want to post chapters faster! So review!! :D