Chapter 6: Ill

Nessie's POV

Jacob took it upon himself to push my wheelchair for me. Normally I would've been dead set against it as I was pretty independent and used to doing things for myself. This time was different though. I felt a lot more fatigued then usual despite all of the sleep that I had gotten. I would never admit this out loud but I was sure that I didn't have the strength to push myself at the moment. So I happily let Jacob help me.

"Nessie can I ask you something?"

"You kind of just did Jacob," I let out a weak sounding laugh.

"Really Nessie?"

I smiled. "What I couldn't help myself," I chuckled. "But go ahead ask me anything,"

"How did you become paralyzed?"

I was completely caught off guard by his question and I think he could tell for he quickly said "If it's too personal I understand. You don't have to answer,"

"No its okay Jacob. It's just that no one has ever asked me that question before. The truth is that I don't know. I woke up one day in a hospital all alone. With no memory and no use of my legs. I had been found in Portland, Oregon by some strangers I guess. They say I was badly injured when I was found so they called 911 and I was taken to the hospital. The doctors weren't sure what caused it but I had spinal damage and well I guess the rest is history," I explained. Both Bella and Jacob listened with rapt attention to my story which I found odd because no one had ever cared enough to ask me my story.

"So if you're from Oregon how did you end up in California?" Bella asked me curiously.

"Well not long after I was adopted my mom wanted to move to Los Angeles and so we did," I explained. Jacob looked at me in confusion. "Bella asked me how I ended up in California if I'm from Oregon," I informed him hoping that would clear up some of his confusion.

Jacob looked frustrated for reasons that I could not even begin to understand. "Something wrong Jacob?" I asked him.

"It's nothing Nessie," he said although it was abundantly clear to me that whatever it was that was bothering him was clearly not 'nothing'.

I was about to ask him what was bothering him when I suddenly got hit by another violent round of cough attacks. This time I even coughed up a few specks of blood on my hand which I quickly cleaned up before either one of them could notice. My chest felt full and heavy. I think congested is probably the word that I am looking for here.

"Nessie are you sick?" Jacob asked me.

"What? No I'm fine," I stated.

"Nessie this isn't the first cough attack that you've had and this sounded like the worst one yet. I think something is wrong," Jacob sounded firm in his belief. Of course, he was right, but I was not about to admit that to him. I had one mission and that was to help Bella find her family so that she could help me find mine as promised and I was not about to let some stupid cold get in the way of that.

"Nothing a little rest and some medicine can't cure," I hoped that would reassure them both that I was fine and they wouldn't question my health again.

"I think we should find a warm place for you to stay," Bella said. "Some rest and warmth should help. Finding the Denalis can wait,"

"Yeah maybe you're right. We should find a place to rest," No need to add that I'd actually woken up feeling worse this morning than I had last night. Or that I'd still felt just as bad after waking up from napping on the airplane.

It didn't take us to long to find a hotel. I hoped that I would be able to shake off this stupid cold fast.

We checked into a room and Jacob took it upon himself to carry me upstairs. Saying it was the 'gentlemanly' thing to do. Was I going to protest? No.

"Jacob if you don't mind my asking how long were you a wolf?" I asked him when he set me down on the bed.

He shrugged. "To be honest I don't really know. I lost track of time,"

"Wow so you could've been a wolf for like a hundred years and you wouldn't have even known it,"

"I knew it wasn't that long Nessie,"

"So why did you do it? Abandon the whole idea of being human for a time?"

He sighed. "Ness some secrets are better off remaining a secret,"

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to pry. I understand," I had secrets of my own. Well secret so who was I to judge?

"You've got secrets Nessie?" he seemed to catch on without me even saying anything.

"Everyone has secrets Jacob. You've got yours and I've got mine,"

My secret was one that I'd never told anyone. Not even my own mother knew not that she'd care anyway. Two years ago something happened and I've been scared to death of dark alleys ever since.

I remember it like it was still yesterday. It was 9pm and my mom sent me out to buy donuts for her. I was on my way back home when I decided to take a faster route through an alley that was normally well lit. I guess there'd been some sort of power outage that I didn't know about at the time.

I was crossing through when I was attacked by two other boys. My classmates actually. They took advantage of the fact that I was paralyzed and therefore much weaker than they were. They both raped me and robbed me. Took the little money I had left, my phone, and the donuts is just purchased. They laughed as they walked away from me while I lay bruised up and batters on the street.

Eventually I recovered from the shock enough to get myself up and back in my chair. How I made it home in one piece I had no idea. I ended up getting pregnant but I miscarried two months later. I remembered feeling shocked that at first that I could even get pregnant since I only got my period once every three months unlike normal girls that got theirs every month.

The boys never saw justice but I suppose that's because I never once said anything and they were the popular kids that everyone would believe anyway.

"Nessie what are you thinking about?" Jacob asked me.

"What?"

"You're obviously thinking about something. You looked deep in thought a few seconds ago,"

"Nothing important,"

"Okay well I think you should get some rest now,"

I tried to fall asleep but I couldn't. Getting comfortable was proving to be nearly impossible. I swear I don't think I've ever felt my chest so congested before. Not to mention that whenever I would cough a few specks of blood would come up that I'd quickly have to hide.

Both Bella and Jacob's concern for my well-being was growing but somehow I was able to keep them calm. I just wasn't sure how much longer I'd be able to keep them calm.

Eventually I was able to fall asleep. When I woke up though I'd felt like I hadn't slept at all. Jacob was gone to God only knows where and even ghost Bella wasn't around.

To make matters worse when I went to take some of my medicine I realized that I didn't have any at all. Great. Security must've confiscated it for whatever reason.

I remembered seeing a drug store on our way here so I decided to go by myself to get more. Hopefully I'd be back before anyone noticed I was missing.

Just the action of getting into my chair left me feeling exhausted, dizzy and out of breath. I got out of the hotel on my own okay. However I never made it to the drug store.

Dizziness and fever hit me at full force at the same time. I couldn't breathe. Black spots danced before my eyes and I knew I was going to pass out. I would pass out and there would be no around to help me.

That was the last thought I had before the lack of oxygen became to much and I remembered no more.

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