Chapter 5

Edward and Bella enjoyed a quiet day together after Alice and Jasper headed off to…well, wherever they were headed. Bella wasn't quite sure and didn't really think she wanted to know. They'd meet in Rio in a week. Until then, Bella supposed the two of them deserved some personal time away from the rest of the family, like Emmett and Rose and Carlisle and Esme were enjoying. And like she and Edward would be enjoying for the same week too.

'All alone,' she whispered to him that night.

'Yes.'

Bella just grinned.

Their next and last day in Cusco was spent relaxing as much as possible, which wasn't particularly hard since the sun was out most of the day. Bella spent a bit of time by the pool, but mostly sat inside the suite with Edward watching poorly dubbed Spanish movies.

The bus, when they caught it bright and early the next morning, was exactly what Edward had feared and Bella had hoped. Cramped, somewhat smelly, and very, very human. Half of the people on board seemed to be backpackers in their late teens and early twenties, so the couple fit in quite well. Bella struck up a conversation with the two girls in the seat in front of her and seemed to enjoy the experience. Despite the fact that the press of humans wasn't bothering Edward – he had spent the night out in the forest hunting just to be safe – it was obviously not what he was used to. Still, Bella seemed happy, so Edward just played along and decided to covertly plan a charter a plane from La Paz to Santa Cruz; their last stop before they headed to Rio.

It was late and dark by the time they reached La Paz, but at least they had a very nice hotel suite waiting for them. Bella went right to sleep and Edward, despite being a vampire and therefore not able to get tired, was quite happy to curl up next to her and rest until dawn.

In the morning she seemed refreshed and ready and willing to see the city. It was quite a bit cooler, being winter on this side of the equator, but Alice had made certain Bella would be prepared. And it did make for great sightseeing weather. The clouds Alice had promised were still there, hanging low enough to just brush the tops of the rocky peaks surrounding the Bolivian city. They had today and tomorrow and then the sun would appear again. Bella intended to see as much as possible before they were stranded inside for a day.

'We could always leave for Santa Cruz early.'

'Alice said it'd be sunny there too, though,' Bella reminded him.

'It's a smaller city, however, and we have a nice villa. Very private. The sun wouldn't matter as much.'

'Oh. Well, that sounds very nice. Very, very nice,' she decided, leaning back against him.

'I was thinking we could take a small jet there. It's another all day through the mountains by bus on some…less than safe roads.'

'But you can call Alice and ask if things are going to be alright, can't you? I really liked the bus. I got to see so many things. I was really surprised by how close to the road some of the animals got.'

They had seen rather a lot of wildlife on the long bus ride, it was true. And Bella had obviously enjoyed herself.

'As long as the sun won't be a problem for us the day after tomorrow.'

He capitulated, because of course he would. 'I'll text Alice and ask.'

Of course, he didn't need to. Merely thinking about it was enough. Bella was just finishing up breakfast in the posh restaurant with a stunning view across the city from the thirtieth floor when Alice texted them.

'She says it will be cloudy on the roads between here and the east side of Bolivia. And she doesn't see the bus tumbling off a cliff at any time.' Edward frowned deeply.

'Stop. You asked. She responded. It's fine; stop worrying. Enjoy, right?'

Sighing an apology, Edward put his cell away. 'Right. Bus it is and I promise to enjoy it this time. It's probably safer than being up in a plane above the cloud line in the sun, too.'

'See? Things always work out for the best. Didn't you tell me that?'

'And you listened. Smart.' He winked.

'I try. Come on, we've got two days and, by the looks of it, ia lot/i to see.' This time she was the one to grab his hand and tug him away.

They didn't, of course, see everything the mountain city had to offer, but they gave it a good go. Each night Bella was so tired she fell asleep as soon as she hit the bed.

Their third morning did dawn sunny, but thankfully the bus to the east left just as the sun came up and Edward situated himself in the shadiest part he could find, content that a hat and sunglasses would be enough. Bella sat by the window looking out at the cold, clear morning as the crowded bus set off. The roads weren't as nice this side of La Paz, since it was less often travelled by tourists. Still, there were a few other backpackers on the route as they wended their way through already bad traffic and out of the city, climbing further up into the rocky promontories that characterized Bolivia.

By mid-morning Bella was flagging. The further up they got elevation wise, the cloudier it had gotten and now the visibility was barely a few hundred feet ahead. There wasn't much stunning scenery to see. She was learning against Edward with her headphones in, bobbing along to her music. Most of the other passengers were being quiet as well.

The clouds drew down even further and the bus driver slowed – a bit. The sharp drops to valleys below were weighing heavily on Edward's mind, but he reminded himself that Alice hadn't foreseen a problem. Of course, even Alice couldn't see everything. He was ready to make a move if the bus started to slip sideways. If he moved quickly enough he could have Bella to safety before the vehicle fell off the highway to the rushing waters below.

Edward was so busy concentrating on the potential for disaster that it took him a moment to realise the bus had come to a stop. At first, he wasn't certain why. Visibility was down to less than a hundred feet, and from his position near the centre of the bus it was hard to see if there was anyone in front. There were no other vehicles out the back window, however. His ears listened for the slightest sound, but it was unnecessary; a beat later loud angry shouting erupted from in front and to the left, on the side away from the cliffs.

Bella sat up quickly, ripping her headphones out of her ears. 'What's happening?'

'Shush!' He silenced her with a sharp look. His mind was racing. Why hadn't Alice seen this? Had they decided last minute? His fingers closed around the phone in his pocket and he drew it out to see there was no signal. Great. No warning either, even if Alice had seen something.

'Stay here,' he cautioned Bella, hoping that for once she might listen. Keeping low, he crept up towards the front of the bus. Outside, five men with rifles were standing guard while a sixth had a heated argument in rapid-fire Spanish with the driver. Edward's Spanish was perfect, but he only understood half of what they were talking about. The context made little sense, but it didn't need to. He could guess what was going on. Angry despite knowing it was no one's fault, he crept back to Bella.

'What's happening?' she whispered.

He gazed at her tightly for a moment, long enough for Bella to know something was very wrong. 'I'm not completely certain, but I would say we're about to be kidnapped and likely held for ransom.'

Sure enough, as soon as he finished speaking and before Bella could utter a word, an armed man appeared at the front of the bus. He started shouting in Spanish.

Bella looked at Edward for help; her Spanish wasn't good enough to follow along.

'All foreigners are to get off the bus,' he translated. Barely containing his rage, Edward looked for a way out. He was just starting to contemplate attacking – he could take all six before anyone was likely to get injured – when the gun-toting kidnapper on the bus levelled his rifle at the two German backpackers nearest him. Edward rethought his plan. The man's finger was on the trigger.

The two Germans took the hint. They rose slowly and stumbled down the steps. Immediately, two other gunmen knocked them to their knees and pointed their own rifles at their heads. Edward had no chance now. It was too much of a risk that someone would be injured or even killed. He would do anything to protect Bella, but now was not the moment. Once they were off the bus and into the jungle it would be a better time to act. Safer, he told himself.

The lead gunman started shouting again and now the other passengers – three more foreigners besides Edward and Bella – got off. Edward was just getting Bella up to lead her out as well when a shot rang out. Outside, one of the German men was on the ground moaning in pain, clutching his arm. The gunman standing above him looked livid. He raised his rifle towards the bus and opened fire. But he wasn't aiming for people, just shooting out the windows to make a point. Glass rained down around them as Edward tried to shield Bella's frail skin.

She was shaking in his arms, trying desperately to keep it together. 'Come on,' he whispered to her once the glass stopped flying. Slowly they made their way out of the bus, only to be pushed immediately to the ground. Bella cried out as she landed hard on her knees, but it was the sharp rush of her scent, noticeable to Edward even over the blood of the German man, that alerted him that she had landed on a piece of glass. The ground slowly stained red around her right knee.

It took all of Edward's control not to attack the men at that moment.

The leader began to speak again, gesturing wildly into the mountains. The injured German was thrust to his feet and pushed forward into the fog-shrouded trees. Each of the other prisoners was treated similarly. Edward made a show of helping Bella to her feet. Her right knee was a mass of blood and dirt and Edward could see the piece of glass that had cut her. It was long and sharp and had obviously been pointing upwards, slicing a wide and deep cup right below her kneecap. Unsurprisingly, Bella faltered when she tried to stand.

'Lean on me,' he whispered to her, just before he was shoved forward by the butt of a gun in his back. He clutched Bella to him and began to walk. The six men surrounded them, one in front, one behind and two on each side.

Edward kept alert for any opportunity to move. He could get Bella out of there in a second and he wanted to, but that would leave five other innocent people behind. He knew he could live with that, but Bella wouldn't be able to. She'd probably never forgive him. He had to save everyone.