A/N: Here's chapter eight!

Chapter 8 – Missing

I couldn't stop worrying. For once, Edward wasn't the only thing on my mind. My conversation with Alice still lingered there and then of course, Jasper. I'd become so close to him and I didn't like the thought of losing him. I tried to stay positive, mostly for Edward's sake. It would hurt him even more than it hurt me to lose his brother.

Everything had changed. I barely ever saw Carlisle nowadays; he usually just locked himself up in his study, only appearing now and again to hunt. Emmett had completely lost his sense of humour; he hadn't cracked a joke in days. And Esme was the most miserable I'd ever seen her.

Edward, Nessie and I had just returned from a hunting trip. It was late evening by now. I wandered into the kitchen, looking for something to do. There was a note on the counter. Gone shopping. Be back by ten! A x. Predictable Alice. Only something like shopping would be sure to keep her mind busy.

I heard familiar footsteps behind me. I turned around. It was Jasper.

"Hey." My voice was shaky. I found it hard to talk to him now. He was a marked man.

"Hello Bella. You haven't seen Alice, have you?"

"She's shopping." I passed him the note. He rolled his eyes.

"Oh. Okay. Well –" He started to turn away, but I grabbed his arm.

"Jasper, wait. How are you holding up? Are you afraid?"

"No." I looked deeply into his pitch black eyes. "I'm not afraid of death itself. But, leaving Alice behind...I don't want her to be in danger."

"Oh, Jasper," I squeezed his scarred hand. "Don't worry. Alice will be fine. I won't let her hurt herself."

"How can you say that Bella? I overheard your conversation last night! How can I trust you?"

"Jasper, please! You know I would do anything, anything to stop Alice from harming herself!"

"There's only so much you can do Bella."

"What do you mean?"

"I saw how you were when Edward left you. Okay, so Alice might be alright physically, but what if she's mentally broken, the way you were? You won't be able to help her then. No one will."

Jasper pulled his hand away from form mine and silently left the room.

I sat with Edward, Seth and Leah for the remainder of the evening. I went along with their stupid card game and tried to put on a brave face. Leah was in a bad mood, as always, but was more crabby than usual, most probably due to the presence of Sam.

Night fell and the silver moon illuminated everything in its path. It was just Edward and I sitting around the table now. The werewolves were sleeping and the house was completely silent except for Seth's loud snores. I was suddenly conscious of the time. I peeked at the clock on the far wall. It was two in the morning. Alice was late. I grabbed her note again and re-read. Be back by ten! She had written. Something was wrong. Alice was never late. She would have a least phoned us to tell us she was held up.

I stared across the room to Edward, who was running his hands through his bronze hair. His head suddenly snapped up. Shock was seeping its way across his immaculate face.

"Edward?"

"She's gone," he whispered.

"What?"

"Alice's thoughts have disappeared. She's gone so out of range I can't hear her anymore. She must be at least 300 miles away from Prudhoe Bay."

"But, there was a note saying she'd gone shopping. She was meant to be back by ten."

The shock on his face quickly turned to pain. "Oh, no! Carlisle, I need to talk to you!" Edward called. Carlisle, Esme, Rosalie, Emmett and Jasper were immediately by our sides.

"What Edward? What's wrong?"

"Alice is missing. She's four hours late."

My family sprung into action.

"Emmett, Rosalie, keep hold of Jasper. Edward, you're coming with me! We're going to find Alice."

"No, Edward! Please don't go!" I hated being separated from him, no matter how short the time scale.

"I'll be back with Alice before you know it. I love you." He kissed my forehead and left with Carlisle. Emmett, Rosalie and Seth had Jasper pinned to the couch.

"Let me go!" Jasper struggled against their grip. "I need to find her! I'm coming, Alice!"

"Sorry, bro, but you're not going anywhere. I'm under strict orders from Carlisle. And if I have to, I will knock some sense into you." Emmett looked apologetic.

"Don't worry everyone," I tried to sound soothing. "Alice will be home soon. She probably just got distracted by a pair of shoes or something!"

Carlisle and Edward returned just as dawn was breaking. Alice wasn't with them.

"Where is she? Where's Alice?" Jasper was in hysterics by this point.

"I don't know," Carlisle answered. "We went to the shopping mall and found her Porsche. She wasn't there. This was on the front seat."

Carlisle held up a thin envelope. It was addressed to Jasper Whitlock.

A/N: oooo, talk about a cliffhanger! If you'd like to find out who the letter is from, then I'm afraid I'm gonna need a few more reviews! :D

Jaliceforever xxxxxxx