Bella closed the door behind her giving no clear explanations to her mother. She was desperate – she just had to find Edward. What if they didn't know…? What if she was with them in the same house, gathering information about… her? A terrifying thought crossed her mind. Victoria was after her. So she would use any method to lure her away from the Cullens, so as to not to face dangers. How could she do that? Easy, the nasty voice in her head answered for her, the same way James did.
'Holy crap,' Bella whispered, halting in the middle of the street. 'Mum!'
She was not safe in Jacksonville – she was there, in Forks. She could be easily captured, just like the old man and the little child had been.
There was no time to loose, then. She had to get to the white house and tell the Cullens about Sophie and Victoria. The running started again, faster, faster, faster. Tears rolled down her cheecks. How could she have been so stupid? How couldn't she notice what was going on – the unexpected arrival, the suspicious way in which she acted – everything so Victoria could get to her. She had no interest in Edward, after all.
The big house appeared from amongst the trees, and a feeling of relief swelled through her – Edward. Look for him. She opened the entrance door quietly.
'I'm sorry for how my sister treats you. She can get… a bit carried away sometimes.'
That was Edward's voice coming from upstairs. She slowly walked towards the staircase and peered at the floor above – she could see nothing.
'A bit?'
'Okay, a bit too, too much.'
First step. Silence.
'Is it me?'
'Of course it isn't. You're a most beautiful person.'
What – no. Had she really heard what she had heard? Her heart seemed to have abandoned her body, and the feeling of numbness was again spreading all through her… Unsure, she gave another silent step.
'Did you… find Bella?'
Her foot stopped on the third step. There was a pause before she could hear her Edward answer once again.
'I guess she's at her house.'
Had she heard alright? Edward's voice sounded sad, melancholic, pained.
'I'm… sorry for what's going on.'
Oh, you are? But she sounded so tender, so warm, even Bella herself believed it – for a moment. What was going on? You lied to Edward. You made him think you don't love him. You rejected him. That is what is going on. Now guess who will go comfort him.
'It's not you, Sophie, it isn't.'
Pause. Silence. Pain.
'I think it's me.'
Oh, please no. Edward. How could he possibly believe –? It is me, Edward, it is me, she wanted to say, to shout into the air, but her mouth was dry, cold, closed shut. It is me, Edward.
'It isn't you either, Edward, I'm sure of that. Edward, you are – you are just marvellous. Perfect. You're sweet… gentle…'
No, please tell me this isn't happening. Sophie. Edward. Edward. She was now high enough to catch a glimpse of Sophie standing right in front of Edward – too, too close. They were just an inch away. She was touching his hand… Edward, back away, Edward, please…Don't do this to me. Don't.
'You're the most wonderful man I've ever met, Edward.'
She was getting closer – he stared into her eyes... No. No. Bella tried to look away, stop the pain, make it vanish – but she couldn't turn her eyes from the scene, attracting her like a magnet…
'I – I think I love you, Edward.'
And as Sophie's mouth pressed her lips against his, it was as if an invisible, iron hand had punched Bella in the middle of the stomach, just like a human would have felt – and an involuntary gasp left her throat. Edward separated Sophie from him gently at the same moment in which Bella fell to the ground, and turned his head, alarmed, to her.
'Bella!' he exclaimed in fear and ran to help her up. 'Are you hurt?'
She couldn't speak. She couldn't look at his face. She couldn't… nothing. Blackness started to surround her, pressing her from outside, and it felt like she had been alive again, human, but a human in the precise moment of his death. The pressure didn't let her breathe, she was gasping for air…
'Bella?' Alice's voice sounded from a faraway place, concerned… 'What happened here?'
For a moment that lasted years, nobody spoke, and Alice guessed herself.
'Bella, was it – the vision?'
Slowly, her gaze lost in space, she turned her head slightly to the one who would have been her sister.
'Oh… My...'
'Bella, can you listen to me?' Edward's voice sounded in her ear – his velvety, beautiful voice, asking for a sign of her consciousness… The voice that didn't belong to her. The voice that had broken her heart. The voice that she wanted to forget – forever.
She didn't feel her body as she stood up as fast as a lightning and rushed outside the house, ignoring the distant voices calling for her… She just wanted to run, run away, run away from everything she knew, into a new place where she would be safe from pain, safe from broken hearts…
Safe from Edward.