A/N: Hope everyone had a fantabulous christmas! Sorry I haven't updated for so long, my father dearest has been forcing me to join in with many a family activity. Still could be worst, at least I'm not in Scotland like my poor friend Amy. :D

Chapter 7 - Help

Jasper was under house arrest. He never left Carlisle sight and even when he was occasionally allowed out to hunt, we all followed, like an entourage of body guards.

Much to Leah's revulsion, Sam's pack arrived in Prudhoe Bay the following week. Jacob had called him and explained what was going on and Sam was only too happy to help.

Alice wasn't talking to anyone. Not even Jasper. It was as if the life had been drawn out of her and she was empty. She wouldn't tell anyone anything more about the vision and this upset Carlisle. He wanted to know as much as possible.

Then there was the unsolved mystery. Who were the unknown figures in the apparition? Why were they there? When were they coming? It was unbelievably frustrating not having the answers to these questions. The answers we so desperately needed.

One gloomy afternoon, as I was lounging on the floor of mine and Edward's bedroom, re-reading Wuthering Heights, I heard a faint knock at the door. I recognised the rhythmic footsteps and honey and ginger scent. It was Alice.

"Bella?" she poked her head around the doorframe, her wide onyx eyes on me. "Can I talk to you?"

I was in shock. This was the first time Alice had spoken to any of us since I'd brought her home from the woods.

"Of course Alice! Come here!" She dropped down beside me like a rag doll. I draped my arm over her thin shoulders. I tried to sound casual.

"So, what do you want to talk about?"

"I need you to tell me something. You're the only one who will understand." Alice wasn't herself; she seemed so serious.

"Sure, what's up?" I asked, slightly hesitant.

"Just promise me you'll tell the truth." Her pitch black eyes bore into me.

"I promise."

"When Edward left you, when you were human, what was it like? Did it hurt really badly?"

I was too stunned to speak. Her words brought back the pain, the memories of the worst period of my life. I could almost feel the hole in my chest opening up again. My face screwed up in pain.

"Oh, Bella! I'm so sorry. I didn't want to upset you!"

I opened my eyes. "Alice, don't worry. I'm over reacting. I'm fine. But I don't understand. Why do you want to know this?" I had to admit, I was a little confused.

"I, I want to be prepared. If Jasper..." She stuttered. "I need to know if I'm strong enough to live without him."

"Alice, I don't know if I should be telling you this." I didn't particularly want to tell her this.

"Please, Bella. Please."

"Okay, Alice. If you're sure this will help you, then I'll tell you. The months where Edward left me were the worst of my life. It was like someone had cut me in half or had ripped a chunk out of me. It was like I was drowning and my oxygen supply had run out. I was a different person, I was crazy. I even ended up cliff jumping just to hear his voice. I was alive, - just – but I wasn't living. Not really."

Alice sat completely still. I grabbed her slim hands.

"Alice, I beg you, if something does happen to Jasper, just please, please don't do anything stupid. I don't want to lose a brother and a sister."

She was suddenly on her feet, glaring at me. She was mad.

"I can't make any promises Bella! If you were in my place and you'd just had a vision of Edward popping his clogs, what would you do?!?"

I shuddered at the thought of it.

"Exactly! Look, I'm sorry Bella. But you especially should understand what I'm going through right now! I can't, I won't live without him!"

Alice ran from the room, hysterical. I didn't attempt to stop her. As always, she was right. I knew exactly what she was going through. And what was yet to come.