'Jacob, are you with us?'
Jake focused his gaze again. All Sam, Embry, Quil, Jared and Paul were staring at him with concern. He shook his head quickly.
'I'm right with you.'
'Great,' Sam said, 'because we need you now more than ever. We're not only dealing with a war, but with an avenging vampire as well.'
'That's not our problem,' Paul said quickly, scowling, 'The leach is going for the girl – that will make us all a favour.'
A groan started to build up in Jacob's chest, but with a glare from Sam he quieted.
'It is our problem,' Sam said, turning to Paul, 'That vampire is killing humans – our people.'
'Yeah, but she's avoiding us,' Paul retorted rolling his eyes, 'That means we don't need to kill that one. And she'll kill one of our enemies for us. Perhaps more than one.'
'Stop it, Paul,' Sam snapped before Jacob could jump out of his seat, 'We will try to stop her from killing anymore – humans and vampires.'
Paul groaned but said nothing.
'But Sam, she's not in our grounds,' Embry said, gesturing towards the forest, 'She's in Forks.'
'The vampires have already broken the treaty, so we can roam anywhere we want.'
'Yeah, but –'
'Sam!' Quil suddenly shouted, staring through the window, 'I smell –'
'Vampire,' Jared finished for him, standing up and staring through the window just like his friend.
'Go! Go!' Sam ordered and the six boys precipitated out of the cabin and, with a hairy flash, turned to the big wolves they were in their insides.
It's kind of far away.
Kind of? I've got the second best nose and I still can't smell a thing.
Oh, excuse me, Miss I've Got The Second Best Nose.
I don't excuse you.
Shut it, guys.
We've got a red alert here and you're fighting for a NOSE.
Actually, we're fighting for our ego's sake.
Ego – I'll make yours drop drastically if you don't shut up.
Oh, but I'm not saying a thing.
Okay, you saw it coming –
GUYS!
No, Sam, more to the North – and East.
Northeast.
Whatever.
Your mum.
If you don't shut your minds –
What? You gonna bite me?
I'll –
Oh, mummy, mummy, I'm so scared! Ickle bitsy Embry's gonna bite me!
No one is biting anyone and no one is calling any mum. We're heading towards a vampire, and this could get messy and dangerous. So just shut up and run!
…
…
Ha, they shut up – OW!
Paul! Don't bit Jared again!
I can't, I'm really pissed off here!
Then piss ON because I'm about to tell your parents your conduct during missions.
You – wouldn't.
I would, so run and shut up! Concentrate on your mission!
Sam, I can smell it now. But – it's like last time. Sam, I don't think this is Victoria.
Oh, no. Jake's gonna go all pussy again.
PAUL!
Sam, there's a figure right ahead!
Jake, can you see –?
Sam! It's –
Bella.
The girl was walking slowly towards them, her gaze lost, soulless.
Um, Sam – what do we do?
She looks like shit.
She SMELLS like shit.
It's our chance to attack – isn't SHE the target?
No. Jacob, you can talk to her.
Sam, I –
Maybe it's something to do with the war, Jacob. Talk to her.
Uneasily, Jacob resumed his human form again – but didn't dare get near Bella. What if he lost control, her being a vampire and all? But Bella didn't even notice he was there, watching her.
'Bella?' Jacob asked cautiously. The vampire looked up, as if she had just realised where and with whom she was.
'Jacob,' she limited to say. She had stopped walking and was staring into Jake's eyes.
'Are you alright?' he asked tenderly, watching how she moved without grace, clumsily, numbly…
'I – I've come to do me in.'
Silence.
'What do you mean, Bells?'
'It's me who you guys wanted,' Bella explained in a monotonous voice, 'I don't want a war. I don't want anyone hurt. I don't want – I don't want to live. Not anymore.'
Jacob's mouth opened slightly. What was she asking from him –?'
'I made the biggest mistake of my life, Jacob,' the girl started sobbing before he could speak, 'I made a huge mistake. And there's nothing I can do now. Please, Jacob – I don't want a war to break out as well. I don't want to hurt more people. Just kill me and get done with it. Please, Jacob.'
'Bella –'
With sadness and love filling his heart, he ran towards her, just as if they were humans again – and hugged her. He pressed her against his body, as the sobbing girl wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her head in him.
'Bella, don't cry, please…'
'Kill me, Jacob, end my life…' Bella kept on whispered as he shushed her quietly, stroking her hair.
'You don't deserve death, Bella. You don't.'
'I don't want to live any longer, Jake, I don't –'
'What happened, Bells?'
'I destroyed my life, Jake, I did, I did…'
'Shh. Don't cry.'
Bella sniffed loudly and pressed her lips together.
'Don't cry. You're with me now.'