Disclaimer: All characters belong to Stephenie Meyer.
In Six Months I Lost My Mind But Found My Heart
Chapter Twenty-Eight: Terror
May 16th
1 Month 2 Weeks & 6 Days Left
Edward's POV
Breakfast always became my morning nightmare after a turbulent night of no sleeping. Every day I had to sit across from Bella at the breakfast table and it was getting exceedingly difficult to stand the icy atmosphere between us.
Bella wasn't exactly being mean or hostile to me, just ignoring my every move and word. Unfortunately I cannot stop noticing her, when I walk into a room she's the first person I spot out. I am struggling with this and will no doubt struggle for the rest of this exchange. I don't want it to be over but I'm tired of this unfriendliness that seems to surround our 'friendship'.
"Your father and I need to use the driver this morning so we shall allow you to use your cars; the keys are in the hall." Esme told us, disrupting me from my thoughts. Alice's eyes shone brightly at the prospect of driving; no doubt we would be speeding before we even got out of the estate.
As soon as we could leave the table Alice raced out got ready in record time then came down the stairs with Bella being dragged behind her. Alice grabbed her new car keys and sprinted out the door. Before I had even picked the keys to the Volvo I could hear Alice rev out the grounds.
When I arrived at school Alice was leaning on the hood of her car waiting on me, Bella was nowhere in sight. I parked my car and approached my sister apprehensively, she had that peculiar look again, the one similar to when she told me she signed us up for this exchange.
"Edward, we need to talk." Alice entwined her arm in mine and led me through the grounds towards my first class. "I tried to help you and Bella but I can only do so much, you need to do more." I sighed and ran a hand through my hair.
"Alice I tried, she just doesn't want to know. I haven't got a clue how to convince her that I'm crazy about her."
"That's why I'm here. I can help. I am a little disappointed that the two of you didn't get closer after I locked you in the conservatory-"
"Yeah thanks for that, I've never been more embarrassed in my life."
"What? Why?" She shot me a peculiar look.
"I had to…you know what it doesn't matter." That was one thing I really didn't want to share with my sister.
"Anyway I was thinking that you should just tell her."
"Tell her what?"
"Tell Bella that you love her." I opened my mouth to speak but she shushed me before I had a chance. "I know that you've tried but you need to try harder. She may want to cut you off but we are going to try extra hard to let her know."
"Why Alice? Why should I when she doesn't want to know?" I protested.
"Look this isn't how it's meant to be."
"It may not be but this is how it is. Bella clearly doesn't want to be with me so I'll leave it like that. She's rejected me so that's what I'll be, a reject." I untwined our arms and walked away, into my first class.
Although Alice thinks that Bella and I are perfect for each other, I'm not so sure. If she's already given up on us and we haven't even started then what type of relationship would we have anyway?
Alice's POV
I have no idea what to do about these two. They are far too stubborn for their own damn good. My next class was with Bella and the teacher was so laid back it would be a brilliant time for me to pump information from her.
Bella was sitting near the back of the room when I arrived so I made my way back and seated myself next to her. As soon as I had an opportunity I tried to bring up the topic of Edward.
"So you and my brother, what's going on there?" I was attempting to be subtle but it was not really possible, Bella saw straight through it.
"I really don't know." She sighed softly.
"Do you like him?" She nodded but gave me a pitiful look. "Then what's wrong?"
"I don't know if I can handle this, your life. I don't belong here and Edward certainly doesn't where I live. I really doubt that we could make it."
"You'll never know unless you try." I said softly, not wanting to push the topic too much.
"I'm also scared of the heartbreak. I love your brother but he could destroy that with one word."
"He wouldn't. I've never seen Edward like this before; you really need to talk to him. Can you at least do that for me, please?"
"Okay. Yeah I'll talk to him."
We left it like that but it was a start. Edward would talk to Bella if she was willing to listen so it's a step in the right direction.
Bella's POV
The day passed in its usual mundane fashion. The only different thing that occurred was that I received a note in eighth period. It read:
To Bella,
I would really like the opportunity to talk to you after school. Meet me in the dance studio at half five.
From Edward
Since I did promise Alice that I would talk to Edward this seemed like the most convenient situation. I briefly told her I was going to meet Edward after school and that he would take me home so she didn't have to wait around for me then I headed off to the library to wait until half five.
At five twenty I made my way through the school to the gym department where the dance studio was situated. Surprisingly the school grounds were relatively quiet for this time of night, most stay until about seven to get extra work done.
The gym department was deserted and a little eerie as I made my way up the steps to the dance studio on the top floor. The door was unlocked so I pushed it open and entered. Surprisingly the lights were off and it was pitch black in there.
The door shut behind me and I turned to hit the lights against the wall. Instead my hand thumped against something hard, but not as hard as the wall I was expecting. My heart rate shot through the roof when I light rumble could be felt under my hand from someone chuckling.
This definitely wasn't Edward; he would never do this to me.
My hand fell from the person's chest as I tried not to faint from the fear. The lock of the door shocked me and I turned towards the noise gasping, my breathing getting heavier each second. Slowly I walked backwards; I was going on the notion that if I couldn't see them then they couldn't see me.
I heard movements to my left and turned sharply, trying to catch just a glimpse of who it was. Something brushed my back and I whirled round again. But all I could see was the abyss of black before me.
My heart was pumping at a million miles an hour and the adrenaline from the fear was gushing through my veins. It was made all that worse by the fact I couldn't see who was in here with me or where about they were.
I calmed my breathing down, trying to make as little noise as possible and gently walked towards the place I thought the door was located. I put my hands out in front of me and was met with the mirrors covering the back wall. I didn't think I had travelled that far down the hall so I must have been more disorientated than I thought.
A hand brushed my neck then glided away into the dark. Chills were running up and down my spine and it felt like I was being toyed with before they went in for the 'kill'. Obviously no one would do that, I hope, but then again I have no idea what psycho would do this.
Ever so slowly something rolled across the floor and stopped near me. I was apprehensive to pick it up but did so anyway. It was a fifty pence coin from what I could feel. That's when it all fell into place. I was in here with James.
My body froze and I felt as though I was putting up defences for what was no doubt about to be a struggle ahead. There was no way for me to see where the door was and the only way I would be able to find it was if I felt my way along the walls.
I hadn't heard James move and nothing touched me as I ran my hands over the mirrors. I was completely unnerved by the stillness in the pitch black room as I probably could have coped better if I had a small clue as to where he was.
It was the not knowing that was driving me mad, the not knowing and the suspense of knowing what was sure to come.
I had to get out of here; I kept chanting in my head, I had to get out of here fast. Who knows when James would grow bored with scaring and decided enough was enough. I was sure I could put up a good fight but I wasn't sure how brilliant it would be if I couldn't see him.
On the wall opposite the door was a poster explaining various dance techniques; it was the only poster in the room. The second my hand ran across the laminated sheet I worked out where I was standing. I had had enough abysmal lessons in here to know the layout like the back of my hand. Turning round and looking into the black void ahead I knew that if I walked straight across the floor I would eventually get to the door.
Very slowly, trying to make as little noise as possible I walked across the floor, praying that I wouldn't stand on a floorboard that squeaked and give the game away. Since James hadn't made his presence known in the last few minutes I could only conclude that he didn't know where I was, or that he was watching and waiting for the perfect moment. The second thought chilled me to the bone so I concluded that he must not know where I am.
I must have been in the middle of the floor when it happened. As I was moving further away from the wall with the poster a blinding light shone in my eyes. Instinctively I clamped my eyes shut and put my hand over them. It hurt like hell; I felt as though I had looked into the intense light of the sun and burnt my corneas.
Before I had time to recover I was hit with another blow, literally. Something exceedingly hard and firm slammed into my body and knocked me to the floor. It could only be his body, which meant he knew exactly where I was the whole time and that this was the moment I was dreading for.
I could hear his low chuckling as I tried to move away from him, still partially blinded, not like seeing helped since it was so dark in here. His body was away from me and but his fist connected with my ribs. I don't know if he meant to hit me there but it certainly winded me.
I lay on the floor clutching my ribcage and struggling to breathe as he walked around my helpless figure. His footsteps surrounded me and I felt lost, as though this was the end. He stopped and I braced myself for the next blow, to the leg this time, causing me release a blood-curdling scream of pain. It wasn't a punch or a kick; he had used something to break my bone, making it impossible to go anywhere.
The tears were running down my face and making my hair and neck wet but I refused to give up just yet. The worse was not over. I was the baby seal and he was the orca, this was his game of immobilising me before he finished this off.
"Relax Bella; it'll be so much easier this way." James said. "If you resist you only hurt yourself more." I swallowed hard, thinking of any way I could fight him if he came near me, which he would eventually.
I figured I didn't have much time left so tried with all my might to crawl to the door, dragging my aching leg behind me. Blocking out the pain was nearly impossible but I couldn't even begin to think of what was going to happen to me if I didn't try to get out of here.
"Not so fast." James grabbed my leg and pulled me bag across the floor. "I'm not done with you yet. In fact I haven't even started." I screamed in agony at the convulsing pain taking over my body. I've had accidents before but none this bad.
James walked away, into the abyss, and then the lights were turned on. I could see him fully. His pupils were dilated and I could barely see any of his irises. His eyes were basically pitch black and frightening to the bone. Taking in the rest of the room I could see that if I hadn't been knocked to the floor I was about five steps from the door and that he hit me with what looks like a metal bar that was lying a few feet away, inconveniently out of my reach.
"I want him to remember this like Emmett will remember what happened to Rose." James moved and brought out a camcorder he had from a rucksack in the corner of the room. He placed it on a tripod that had been set up, angled at the floor where I was laying. Oh god he was going to film this.
The tears were streaming down my face but I didn't make a noise, that's what he would want, the sick bastard.
He set the camera up and hit the record button, a red light came on to show it was working correctly before James smiled at me and walked round to my legs. I tried to kick with my good leg but he caught it effortlessly and grabbed my now swollen leg, it looked ghastly in the light. I cried out in pain as he turned me round, so I was no longer facing the camera. Instead it had a view of my whole body from my head to my feet.
He smiled cheekily at me then began to undo his belt as he spoke to the camera. I wasn't taking in what he was saying. I was trying not to break down and realise how helpless I was. That there was no one here to protect me and no matter what I could do it was over. James was going to get what he wanted then leave me here. My innocence would be stolen by a sadistic bastard who got off by fear and pain.
Edward's POV
I had just gotten out of detention when I looked at my watch and saw it was ten to six. God my parents won't be pleased that I got a detention. My perfect record has been marred, all because that bastard was being a loud mouthed git.
Normally I don't let people get to me but James just has a knack for it. He was talking about what he and Bella would be getting up to and I lost it. I shoved him into a wall, much to his pleasure as it was an official declaration that we were now going to have this out. But we never got the chance, a teacher broke it up before it became anything and we both got landed with detention.
But I was the only one who turned up for it.
James didn't attend, not like that hasn't happened before but no member of staff went looking for him and I still had to serve my detention. When I walked out into the parking lot I noticed Alice's car still there which was weird as she and Bella should have gone home already.
Much like this morning Alice was perched on the hood of her car but this time she had a magazine in her lap. "Hey, where's Bella?" She asked me. I frowned and looked around. Was I meant to know where she was?
"I don't know, I thought she was with you. What are you still doing here anyway?" Alice looked confused but answered anyway.
"I figured that if the talk between you two didn't go well then she might want a lift home with me instead. How did it go?"
"What?" Now I was really confused.
"The talk?" Alice narrowed her eyes and I could see that this wasn't adding up to her either.
"I don't know what talk you going on about. I've been at detention and haven't spoken to Bella all day."
"What? No you sent her a note saying you wanted to speak to her?" Alice protested, suddenly sitting up sharply.
"No I didn't. She's made it perfectly clear she doesn't want to talk or listen to me so I'm giving up, letting her move on."
"No! She specifically said you sent her a note wanting to speak to her!" Her voice was nervous and a little shaky.
"I promise you I didn't. When was I apparently meant to speak to her anyway?" I asked feeling suddenly very anxious.
"At half five in the dance studio." I shook my head.
"I didn't send that note." I thought a few things through. "Wait when did she get the note?" Please tell me it was before lunch.
"Last period. Why?" I got my detention at lunch so James knew I would be staying late. He had the perfect set up to lure Bella to him.
"I'm going to kill the bastard!" I bellowed before taking off for the gym department. Alice must have caught on because she began racing after me, dialling on her cell phone as she ran.
I glanced as my watch whilst running. If she was meant to meet him at half five that meant she'd been alone with him for half an hour, more than enough time to traumatise her.
Bella's POV
James prowled before me, moving his belt out of the way. I glanced around me quickly hoping for one last chance to slow him down. To my luck, as James had turned me he had accidently brought me closer to the metal bar.
Suddenly James was above me, leaning on his hands with his knee trying to move my legs. I was shaking my head and pushing at his chest with one hand. The other one was snaking above me to get the bar before he noticed.
My finger tips were just touching the end of it, not enough to get grip. Before I risked being caught or wasting time I pushed my body with as much might as I could, ignoring the pain in my leg. I got a hold of the bar and shut my eyes as I swung it towards James.
I felt and heard it collide with him, he grunted and fell away from me. Still holding the bar I moved closer to the door as fast as possible. James would no doubt be up and heading towards me as soon as he could so I had to be quick.
All my attempts seemed to be in vain though as my foot was grabbed, luckily on the good leg. I don't know if I could have dealt with that pain much longer. Deciding I had no option I turned as best as I could and threw the bar at him. Usually my aim sucks but God must have been on my side as it hit him on the forehead. He cursed like a sailor at me as I scrambled for the door.
"There's no point fighting this Bella. No one's coming for you except me. Just let me get this over with. Rose will tell you that it's better if you just let me have my way. There is no need for all this pain you're causing yourself." Yeah because I'm really the one who broke my own leg, I thought sarcastically as I continued to move away.
The handle was so close and I was instantly relieved the second my clammy hand grasped the cool metal. I tried to the open the door but the lock was being stubborn. The lock was easily undone but I found it exceedingly hard to pull the door open.
Of course that wasn't my only problem. Once I opened the door I had to travel along the hall, down the stairs then out of the building and find someplace to hide. It was going to be hell but I needed to do it.
The door barely opened but I manoeuvred through it, gasping as my bad leg got caught on the door. James was still in the dance studio as the door shut behind me. I pulled myself along the ground and instead of heading down the stairs moved into a storage room off to the side of the main corridor. The door shut behind me and I was consumed in darkness once again.
I tried with all my might to be quiet and not let my sobs of fear make any sound. The tears were still pouring down my face and I begged for some type of intervention to save me from this terror.
A door slammed somewhere in the building which had me holding my breath, James must have gotten up and was on his search. A thundering of feet raced past the door, maybe James called for backup. I was as still as a mouse and could vaguely hear yelling and then a smash.
I didn't want to know what was going on. I just needed to block it out. Some more people raced along the corridor and headed in the same direction James last was. The yelling picked up and the smashing increased. It sounded like a brawl was taking place, this could have been my chance to get away but I wasn't going to risk it. If I was caught the consequences could be worse than the fear of staying hidden.
There was mumbling and the yelling had stopped. Slowly people walked up and down the hall outside the door that would give me away when opened. I could make out someone standing on the other side of the door, no doubt looking for me.
The door opened and arms wrapped round me. I cried out and shoved this person away, I was not going back to James, this couldn't happen. This person was persistent and kept their strong arms round me, taking every hit I was giving them.
"Bella it's me Edward…shh…you're safe now. I promise." He held me tight against his chest and I took in his scent before my body relaxed slightly. He was here, I was safe.
I sobbed into his chest and probably soaked his shirt but this was the shock taking over. I just needed him to now, to enclose me in his arms and never let go. As much as I tried to fight it this was when I realised how much I loved him, how much I needed him and not just because some crazy psycho was after me.
"I…ve…uo…ward." I sobbed out between tears. Hopefully he could detect what I was trying to say. I loved him and he needed to know before I lost him for good. I had pushed him away and maybe I had pushed him too far that he wouldn't come back to me.
Edward's POV
I held her in my arms as she cried and spoke incoherent sentences. The shock had taken her over and she needed to be seen by a doctor. Her leg looked pretty bust and she seemed to be protecting her ribcage as I was holding her.
Even so softly I lifted her up into my arms and kissed her forehead. Alice nodded from the end of the hall where Jasper and Emmett were restraining James until I could get back. I didn't want to leave Bella's side but I had this overwhelming desire to beat him to a pulp.
I placed Bella into the backseat of the Volvo and raced to get in the front. I'd take her straight to my father Carlisle. He would understand and could do this with a great deal of discretion. He would ask what happened so he could heal Bella but wouldn't dig around for answers if I resisted his questions. Taking Bella to a hospital would set alarm bells off, her parents would be called, they police would want to deal with James, they'd want to interview Bella to get her side of the story, I wouldn't put her through that unless she made it 100 percent clear that's what she wanted.
On arrival at home I carried Bella into the house, she had fallen asleep on the there, and located my mother walking to the living room. She gasped at the sight of Bella and asked what happened. I said that she was hurt and I suspected her leg was broken. Esme raced off and got my father to attend to Bella. To make her more comfortable I placed her on my bed then sat down watching her intently. Carlisle came in and started checking her for injuries. He agreed with my diagnosis and suspected that her leg was broken but that she would need to get x-rays in case the bone was shattered.
Bella woke up and explain what was sore, her ribs and leg, apart from that she was fine. My mother forced sugary drinks and water down her throat to keep her blood sugar levels up and to keep her hydrated. Bella did not want her parents knowing what really happened but she did fill in my parents.
From this we concocted a plan that Bella simply fell down our stairs and collided with furniture at the bottom, this could explain her injuries. So my parents took her to the hospital. I wanted to go with them but my mother told me not to, that it would be easier if I stayed away. Apparently I looked too worked up, angry and worried for her just to have fallen down the stairs.
The only upside was that I could go back to James.
I'm surprised the steering wheel didn't crack under the pressure of my fists as I glided through the traffic and neck breaking speeds. Emmett's jeep was still there along with Alice's car so they were all still here. Alice had called and said Jasper went home to comfort Rose as she heard what happened and was upset. The only reason Emmett stayed was the same reason I was here.
Revenge.
James was at one end of the dance studio, practically baring his teeth and growling at us when I entered. Alice was standing guard on the door; she was going to warn us if a teacher or janitor happened to come by.
Just from looking at him I could tell he was high on drugs, no one's pupils do that normally. He also had taken a few strikes to the head, with blood seeping into his white shirt, but was ignoring the pain or he genuinely couldn't feel it. Emmett had taken a few shots at him with the bar lying on the ground but he still seemed unfazed.
"How is your whore?!" He was basically spitting venom at us when he asked me. My blood was boiling inside of me and I was getting to the point where I wouldn't be held responsible for my actions.
I picked up the metal bar and watched Emmett glare at James, if looks could kill. From the mirrors smashed around the wall I could gather that Emmett had probably missed a few times and that James tried his best to fight back.
Emmett advanced on James from the left and me from the right. He was getting backed against a wall and was going to have no way out. He was in range when he tried to shove passed us so I swung the bar and smashed it into his ribs; he hurt Bella's ribs so I'm going to hurt his. Emmett wrestled him to the floor and started punching his face, that was one of the things he did to Rose when she wouldn't stop screaming. After it she thought herself ugly because of the injuries but Emmett still thought she was as beautiful as the day he met her.
James was trying to kick his way free but I wasn't having it. I rounded on him and brought the bar down on his leg. He screeched in pain and although I'm not sadistic it felt exceedingly good to hear this son of a bitch in agony.
Emmett and I spent about ten minutes roughing him about then decided to leave him. Although we both wanted to kill him that was completely out of the equation. Alice looked us over before we headed out to our cars. Alice was heading off home to get things nice and ready for Bella arriving back from the hospital where I was going to go and check on Bella. Emmett was desperate to see Rose.
Their two cars drove off as I turned on the engine. The school grounds were deserted and the only sound heard was Debussy filling the car. I needed to calm down before I turned the car around and killed the git. Just as I was about to pull out of the grounds something smashed into my windscreen. At first I thought I hit an animal but then it came down and hit again, shattering the glass in on me.
My face stung like hell and I put my foot on the pedal, not caring who I hit in the process. Speeding down the street I looked behind me and noticed a figure with flaming red hair with a pipe in their hand. Obviously it was somebody who associated with James but I didn't have time to think about that.
Taking in my appearance, as much as I could, I was bleeding from my face and had cuts up my arms from the glass shards. Good thing I was going to the hospital because I now needed to.
Walking into the accident and emergency unit I scanned the plastic chairs for my family and Bella, they weren't there so she must be getting seen to. I filled in the forms at the desk and was giving a bandage to dab on my cuts to stop the blood from going everywhere. Since I still had open wounds they took me exceedingly quickly.
After all the glass was removed and the cuts cleaned and bandaged in some places I was sent on my way. Eventually I located Bella's room and she was lying in a hospital gown asleep. My parents were sitting close by watching her with care.
"Oh god Edward, what happened?" Esme asked alarmed by my appearance. She pulled me into my arms and checked me over for anymore injuries than the obvious ones.
"Some thug smashed in my windscreen as I was driving, this is just cuts from the glass. I'm fine. How's she?" My eyes travelled over to my sleeping beauty.
"The doctors are just keeping her here for observation, her ribs aren't broken but as she was struggling to breath they thought it wise she stay for a few more hours. At the moment she's sleeping everything off. Her leg is broken but from what they said it was a clean break and should heal quickly, they cast it and she will be able to leave, at the latest, tomorrow morning."
"Have her parents been called?" I asked, Charlie was going to kill me no doubt.
"Yes we spoke to both of them and they are on their way here."
"Does that mean she'll leave before finishing the exchange?" My voice was thick with worry.
"We'll have to wait and see, that's for her parents to decide." Esme brought me over and sat me next to Bella's bed.
I held her hand and sat there watching her the whole night. My parents left and offered to take me home but I refused, I couldn't leave her, not like this, not when this was my fault. I just needed a chance to love her without her protesting and by sitting by her bedside I felt like I was able to do just that.