ImPORTANT NOTE: Not so great mentions of violence in this chapter. Be prepared for that.
Chapter Fifteen
I did wake up, though, when I rolled over much later.
Opening my eyes when I rolled over, I noticed my room was dark. The fear made an appearance, and it was enough to wake me up even more. I never thought to turn on the nightlight earlier in the day, and I guess no one else thought to either. They probably figured I'd sleep through the night.
Once the initial happiness was gone, I realized why the family thought it would be good to take me away from this town and this place. From all the rain. The sound of the rain against the window that I'd missed so much seemed to hold a warning now.
How many times had I laid awake at night, listening to the rain? In the dark, scared to death, just like this? I could just see it. Remember it so perfectly, the memory so strong that even in the darkness, I could still see my old room.
I wasn't stupid, or dreaming. I knew where I was. I was in my room. The bedroom that was safe from anything like that, but I could still see it. Wide awake, I could still feel what that room felt like.
I wasn't crying this time, though. I wasn't desperately scrambling to turn on the lamp, but laying still. Looking toward the one source of very dim light I had in here, and that was the window. Was I just getting used to the dark? I was afraid, but I wasn't paralyzed like I used to be.
Maybe it was just from an old memory. Maybe it was my own imagination, but I heard that warning. Loud and clear. If it was so easy to find where I was in New York, I knew Jack would have no problems finding me here, and considering I was on a lower floor again, very accessible.
Rolling out of bed, I crossed the room to the window. Kneeling on the wide, padded seat beneath it, I reached up. Making sure it was locked. Looking out over the yard, the trails of raindrops down the glass blurring the view slightly.
With a sigh, I turned away from the window and decided to change into my pajamas. Jeans were really uncomfortable to sleep in, no matter how baggy they were. Maybe I was just uncomfortable. Maybe that was the problem.
I knew my dresser drawers like the back of my hand, so I didn't really need to turn on the light. Oddly enough, I didn't really want anyone to know I was awake in here, but the fact that I hadn't woken up in sobs was probably the reason why nobody had come in yet.
Hesitantly returning to my bed. I kicked my feet, crawling back under the blanket. Cuddling into it.
It was stupid to be afraid, because I knew he couldn't get within three miles of the house without everyone knowing immediately that he was coming. None of them having met him, though, would they recognize his scent if it showed up? They knew what he looked like, though, so that was a plus.
I comforted myself with the thought that Carlisle and Alice would recognize at least a small bit of Jack's scent, because they'd been where I lived before, but that had two other scents mixed with it. That could be why they couldn't find him in New York, despite knowing what he looked like.
Edward, being the only one to ever have seen him face to face, was never there in New York.
As a distraction, I briefly wondered how bad that house had smelled of blood to them. It had been everywhere. Just thinking about that house, though, sent a wave of unease through me. Intensifying the fear to near sobbing levels, but I held it back.
Laying awake in the dark, I hadn't done this before. Just laid here. Not insisting on turning on the lamp, but leaving it off. Leaving myself in the dark. Forcing myself to wait. To wait for me to calm down.
It took work. A whole lot of patience I didn't know I had with myself, and even a few minutes of hiding underneath the blanket, but slowly, the fearful anticipation started to fade, and I did start to calm down. Under the blanket, it was supposed to be dark, so that didn't freak me out as much. Under the blanket, I also had a chance to scream if something moved that had no business moving, or if I heard a sound that I shouldn't have heard. Under the blanket might not have been one hundred percent safe, but it bought me time I probably wouldn't have if I wasn't under here.
After awhile, the sound of the rain became just that. Just rain. I was safe here, I told myself. I was safe here. I was safe.
I fell back to sleep with those thoughts, but even repeating those words to myself, I couldn't help feeling like I was lying to myself. That was the scariest thing about that night. The icy sensation of nervousness stayed, keeping my heart beating faster.
Carlisle was at work by the next day, so I couldn't tell him. The happiness from the day before was gone. The fear from the night before overwhelming it.
"What's wrong, shorty?" Emmett had noticed. I forced a smile.
"Nothing." I knew it was stupid to say that.
"I don't buy that." He replied, narrowing his eyes a little.
It was probably my light trembling that gave me away. Or the fact that I'd jump at every little unexpected sound around me. I should have listened to the fact that this nervousness bordered terror. I was scared, but I kept telling myself that I had no reason to be. I tried to ignore it, but I just couldn't for very long.
"Alice?" I muttered that evening, and she looked over, "Is anything going to happen?"
"Not that I know of." She replied, "Why?"
"I think it is." I admitted.
"Because she's been freaked out all day." Emmett explained.
"That could just be you recovering from the move." She suggested.
"It doesn't feel like that." I said, "It feels like the dream. The one I can't remember, but I'm awake now."
"Are you sure?" She asked, but I knew it was only to confirm. It wasn't that she didn't believe me, but more like she wanted me to be sure of what I was saying.
"I'm sure." I replied, "I first felt it last night, and at first, I thought it could have been what you said. About trying to get used to being here again, but it's still here. It's only gotten worse. Something's going to happen."
"I thought you said you handled everything in Italy?" Emmett muttered, confused.
"Italy?" I frowned. Was that where they went? That was a really long ways away.
"We did." She replied, ignoring me, "No, they're okay for now. I know that much, because I've been watching." She fell quiet quickly, almost like she had more to say that she wouldn't say. This obviously concerned her, "I'll talk to Carlisle when he gets home."
"It's bad, isn't it?" I whimpered.
"Now, we don't know that." She assured me, "No use panicking about something that could be anything, but it's best to give Carlisle a chance to think it over, too. It's probably nothing." Though it really didn't feel like nothing, I took a breath, and nodded a little. She knew what she was talking about when it came to stuff like this.
"Just let me know if anything changes." She said, "And above all, remember that you're safe right here, okay?"
"Yeah." I sighed, nodding again, "Yeah."
Three more days passed, and Alice asked about it a few times a day. Every day, it got a little more intense. I wondered to myself. Could anyone predict the day of their own death? That's how it felt to me, and I did what I could to ignore it.
As happy as I was to be home, it didn't feel safe anymore. That's what it was. For no reason at all, that sense of safety was gone now. Of course, it always could have been the fact that when we lived here before, I was just scooped up and taken away from it, but that didn't make any sense to me.
For three more days, I waited. Waiting for something to happen. It was the same sense of terrifying anticipation I usually felt in the dark. Like at any second, something was going to grab onto me, and though I couldn't understand it, I couldn't ignore it either. I'd never felt like this around my family before.
I couldn't stop thinking about it. It felt like something was missing, something they weren't getting. Like a door left open, a window unlocked. A way through.
It was getting bad. I sat in my room that afternoon, knowing I had to talk to Carlisle myself soon. As soon as he got home, I was going to say something. Until then, I'd hide. I wouldn't come out. I needed to know what he was thinking about this, because I couldn't stand it much longer.
"Leandra, can you please come outside?" Esme's tone of voice bothered me instantly. She was upset. Not angry, not sad, but upset. It reminded me a little of the day Alyssa came by to tell me Mikah was gone, but a little more upset than that. It also struck me as odd, because normally, they didn't really try to bother me when I was hiding away.
I worried. What would upset her? Once again, I couldn't think of anything I'd done wrong to get into trouble. I hesitantly left my room, almost fearful of moving. I almost didn't want to go to her. Something telling me to stay put, or find the closest hiding spot. I was a nervous wreck these days, so this didn't strike me as something new.
I slowly came outside, half expecting to see Jack, but he was nowhere to be found. Looking at Esme curiously as I slowly descended the steps, standing right in front of the porch.
Given the way everyone else was outside as well, it only made me more worried, as whatever this was obviously involved everyone else. I stood between Esme and Emmett to my left. My bare feet cold in the gravel. I hadn't put on shoes before coming out here.
Esme attempted a calm tone, but I could hear her emotion in each word, "Honey, this woman is here to see you."
I looked over, meeting the eyes of a woman with long brown hair, and lighter brown eyes. Her appearance, the way she dressed made me immediately recognize her as someone important. A folder in one arm, clasping her hands in front of her, and a smile I didn't trust on her face.
"Hello, Leandra." She smiled at me, "My name is Ms. Parker."
I looked up nervously at Esme, looking for her comforting smile, but it never came. Esme gently stroked my hair, though, but that wasn't enough for once. That only made me more nervous. There was a tension in the action that I could pick up on. I eyed this new woman with distrust.
"What's going on?" I mumbled, very confused. I didn't know this woman. I'd never met her in my life, so why was she here to see me?
The woman reached out and gently took my hand. I yanked it from her hand, but she took it again, and she held on, despite my attempts to yank it free. I managed to, but she just took my other hand. I shook that one free, and stepped back. Out of her reach. I wasn't afraid enough to really be pissed yet, but that was coming.
"Stop." I told her, my tone quiet. I didn't like this. I didn't like getting grabbed at all, much less by someone I'd never met before thirty seconds ago.
She smiled at me, "Just come on over here a moment, if you wouldn't mind."
I did mind. I minded a lot. I couldn't have minded any more than I minded right then.
"It's okay, honey." Esme told me, and for the first time, I didn't believe her. I looked up at Esme, confused. I couldn't figure out why she'd lie to me. Why was she lying?
I didn't know this bitch.
"Please?" Ms. Parker asked, the friendliness in her voice so sickening, I very nearly threw up, "I promise I'm not going to hurt you. I'd just like to talk to you over here for a moment." I narrowed my eyes as she offered her hand to me. Like hell.
I wasn't moving yet. She wanted to pull me away, to separate from my family. Like she had every right to. That fact took my attention immediately.
"Why can't you talk to me right here?" I asked, my tone clearly announcing my distrust, "What's wrong with right here?"
"It's a sensitive matter." Was her answer, which didn't help her cause.
Behind the woman, further in the drive, sat a running car with someone in the driver's seat. The gold colored car wasn't one I recognized, and I recognized the driver even less. He just sat there, watching. Using my distraction, she managed to gently but firmly capture my wrist again.
"What's going on?" I finally demanded again, not liking the cornered feeling I got from her hand clasped around my wrist. She slowly managed to tug me a few steps away. My deep confusion only helping her. She waited until I was away from my family before she spoke again.
"It's okay, honey." She told me. I hated the way she called me that.
"Good to know." I muttered, "What do you want?"
Was she someone from the school? Maybe I was still in trouble for what I'd done at the beginning of the school year. The running car just told me she didn't plan on staying very long, as did the fact that she chose to talk with me outside.
"I'm here to take you home." My eyes narrowed again at her response, "Where you belong." I was deeply confused now. Both confused, and cautious. Home? I was home.
"But I am home." I muttered, confusion in my quiet voice. She just smiled, and waited. Not replying to that, obviously waiting for me to understand what she wasn't saying. I gave a confused look behind me, and nobody returned my look.
Home? What the hell was she talking about?
"Not here, honey." She finally corrected me, and it even took a few seconds longer to understand what she was getting at.
With a rush of sudden fear and panic that stole my breath, I caught on. I felt it rush through me, sudden understanding, from the top of my head to my toes, I was instantly terrified. I swear, my heart stopped for a second.
This woman was from the state, and she wanted to take me away. She wanted to take me 'home', and the only way that made sense was with my mom. She wanted to take me back to my mom.
There was no way. No way this was happening. The sadness in my family's eyes as I looked sharply to them once more, with widened eyes this time told me I wasn't wrong. There was nothing they were able to do to stop this from happening, and I knew that. That's why they just let her pull me away.
Heavy sobs immediately started, and I tried to run, but Ms. Parker held me easily, nearly tugging me off my feet on the gravel of the drive. Her hand moved from my wrist, to my arm. Restraining me now. Lightly, but it was enough to make me panic even more. I couldn't pull away like I needed to.
"No!" I finally managed to gasp out, "No, no, no, no!"
She struggled with me, "Listen, honey-"
"Please!" I couldn't breathe anymore, fear squeezing my heart painfully and closing my throat. She tugged me back. Headed for the car.
She eventually had to physically move me, as I resisted her so much. She held my arm, and I dropped back. Despite the way my feet slid, I dug in. I wasn't being moved. Until she lifted me in one arm, holding me tightly despite how I writhed.
"I don't want to!" I cried, sobbing making my words nearly unintelligible.
Desperately kicking and fighting as she carried me further from my family. From the glance I had, I could see their emotions perfectly. Alice was deeply upset, as was Esme, that they couldn't help me like I repeatedly begged them. Emmett easily looked like he wanted to punch this woman unconscious.
She nearly wrestled me, practically tossing me into the back seat of their car. Closing the door before I could crawl back out, turning back to them. Thinking that was enough, but she had another thing coming. I was not going willingly.
I threw open the door and ran passed her.
"Wha-" She sighed deeply, "Leandra, please."
Dodging her attempt to catch me, I made it right back to my family, clinging desperately to Emmett, practically clawing my way up his side until he held me. This had to be the biggest fit I'd ever thrown around them, but I didn't care. My fear was too deep to ignore. Jasper moved closer, unable to help it given the look in his eyes. They wanted to help me, but they really couldn't.
"I'm so sorry, shorty." Emmett muttered to me, supporting me easily. That didn't help me. That didn't make me feel any better.
"Honey." Ms. Parker was back.
"Don't call me that!" Loud, bawling sobs left me. My hold on Emmett's neck, my arms wrapped around it, wouldn't budge. I could tell by the way she didn't immediately try to pull me from him that Emmett's glare alone made her keep her distance. Just daring her to try.
"Leandra, you're only going to your mother-"
"No!" I cried, bawling as I tightened my hold, "You can't do that! You can't! Please!"
"She's waiting for you."
"He's there!" I bawled, "You're sending me back to him!"
"Honey, your stepfather isn't anywhere around." She assured me, "I promise you. We did a very thorough search of her home, and there was nothing to suggest anyone lives there with-"
"You're lying!" I accused, glancing back at her, "You're a goddamn liar!"
"I promise." She said again, "You'll be safe."
"Please!" I cried, "Don't make me go back to her. Please don't make me go back. I'll do anything. I'll do whatever you want, but please don't make me go back. Please! Please, please, please.." My breath choked off, and I had to take another to sob again, "I don't want to! I don't want to!"
"We're positive that you're going to be safe there." She stressed, "I understand why you're so scared, but I can tell you that you don't have to be." I knew. I was sure that there was no way my mom had left his side. Alice would have known that.
"Tell her." I begged, looking to Alice, "Please tell her! She's with him!" She couldn't, given the expression in her eyes. She couldn't say a word about it.
Ms. Parker must have gotten up the courage, because I soon felt her hands pulling me from Emmett. Hesitantly at first, as she couldn't break my hold without having to use more force.
"No!" I clung tighter, "Let me go!" I couldn't breathe, and I couldn't make myself let go, "No! Please! I don't want to! I don't want to! I don't want to!" My voice broke with how hard I cried now, the panic stealing every rational thought.
I kicked at her, but that was only a mistake as that only made it easier for her. She caught a hold of my ankle, securing it and making it safe for her to move forward, toward my arms. My cries only intensified as she tried again, and succeeded this time. Prying my arms apart, pulling me from Emmett when I wasn't strong enough to keep my hold. My arm ached where I'd dug my own fingers in, in an attempt to hold on.
"No!" I cried again, blindly kicking harder back at her. Emmett wasn't allowed to pull me away from her, and I knew that.
Literally pulling me away from my family, to send me straight back to hell. The feel of this woman's hands restraining me was the most terrifying thing in the world to me. I couldn't get away from her. Fighting as hard as I could, straining, resisting as hard as I could. Nothing worked. She held me, her arm around my stomach as I fought.
"Emmett." Alice's firm voice told me he was three seconds from snapping. Before she could get me back into the car, though, Carlisle showed up.
I struggled harder, tears creating a river down my cheeks. Choking on my cries, crying too hard to breathe. She held my forearm tight in one hand, my other wrist in her other hand, letting me down on my feet as his car came to a stop beside theirs in the drive.
He climbed out of his car in a hurry, immediately striding around the front to our side. I fought to get to him, but she held me. Tight against her side. With a sobbing grunt, I leaned down and bit her.
Surprised, she released me with both hands in her pain, making it easy for me. I ran the two steps forward and climbed into Carlisle's arms this time. Just the way I'd done with Emmett. Clinging to him desperately, my arms tight around his neck. He held me tight in return, probably trying to calm me down. He had to hear how fast my heart was beating.
Glancing back, over my shoulder at Ms. Parker, I could see easily that she was getting irritated, and I didn't know how far she was willing to be pushed. I whimpered, but my cries continued. I was so scared, so upset and so confused, I had no idea what to do.
"What's going on?" Carlisle asked over the sound of my cries, "I was told recently that her mother had no intentions of reclaiming custody."
"She's changed her mind." The woman explained.
"She can do that?" Emmett demanded, "What about Leandra?"
"I understand that," Carlisle spoke again to the woman as he adjusted how I sat in his arms, "But I specifically asked if there was any chance this could happen, and I was told that there were many procedures she'd need to go through before you'd attempt taking her."
"And she's gone through them all."
"I only spoke with your office last week." Carlisle replied, clear disbelief in his voice. Considering it was just before noon on Monday, that was a big deal.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Cullen, there's nothing I can do. I'm just doing my job-"
"And your job's going to get her killed." Emmett told her bluntly, "How do you sleep at night?" That only scared me more, announced by my louder cries.
"You're not helping the situation any." She told him sharply, "If you would just-"
"My only intention is helping her." Emmett countered, "Not the situation, and right now, I'm not liking what I'm seeing."
"I'm sorry." Carlisle muttered, speaking to Ms. Parker again, "I'm afraid I don't understand. This just doesn't make any sense."
"You don't need to understand." She replied, "The point is, we've conducted a very thorough search-"
"Your search isn't good enough." Emmett countered, "Is that a child that looks like she feels safe to you? Do you think she trusts your search?"
"I understand your concern, but I assure you we've done everything we can to ensure her safety and well-being-"
"Liar!" I sobbed, knowing she heard me.
She sighed, gesturing to me but looking to Emmett, "See how much harder you're making this?"
"I'm not doing anything." Emmett argued, "She wouldn't even be this scared if it weren't for you. That, right there, bothers me. To see her crying that way, but you being so insistent on taking her-"
"Any further questions will have to be directed to the proper offices on Wednesday." She continued as if he hadn't said anything, her tone sharp, "That's the soonest they can answer you, but right now, I have to take her. That's just how it is."
"What about her?" Emmett demanded again, "Look at her!"
"I see her." She barked in reply, "Now if you'll please take a few steps back, I can do my job-"
"Again with your job!"
"Emmett." Esme spoke up now, "Please."
"I can't believe this!" Emmett was pissed. I'd never heard him so pissed, but not at Esme. He was mad at this woman. It was a little scary, but he was buying me time. I wasn't about to waste it.
To my surprise, however, Edward showed up as well. His car quickly coming to a stop behind Carlisle's. He climbed out just as quickly as Carlisle had, coming to his side. I was too worked up to bother saying anything to him, and he understood how completely terrified I was, given his expression. He turned his gaze to the woman standing across the drive while Emmett argued with her. No doubt instantly paying attention.
"Don't let her take me." I begged Carlisle repeatedly, "Please don't let her take me back to her." I couldn't stop pleading, but even a small part of me knew they had no choice. They had about as much choice as I had. Without physically hurting these people, their hands were tied. From the corner of my eye, I noticed Edward glance over at me.
"Don't let them, Carlisle. I don't want to die." I sobbed hard, "Remember the dream? Remember it, Carlisle? I don't want to." That was vague enough for Ms. Parker not to understand, but Carlisle obviously did. He took a breath, glancing over as Edward stepped closer.
"Something isn't right here." Edward muttered, almost too low for even me to hear.
"I agree." Carlisle murmured in reply.
I coughed through more sobs, "I don't want to. I don't want to." I was half a step away from hyperventilating, nearly suffocating in my panic. I couldn't breathe.
"Stop it." Ms. Parker told me, "You're only making this harder than it has to be."
"Don't you tell her that." Emmett barked from the porch, "I think she should be allowed to cry if she wants to."
Carlisle moved, actually carrying me back toward the house and the safety of everyone there. Much to Ms. Parker's displeasure, announced by her irritated sigh, but much to my relief. This was where I wanted to be, even if it was only for a moment. Edward followed us closely, and from what I could see, his eyes never left the woman standing there.
"Please." Carlisle spoke quietly to Esme, "Take her for a moment. Do what you can to calm her down." Esme wasted no time in gently pulling me from Carlisle, into her own arms. Alice moved closer this time, tossing a rather deep glare at the woman across the yard. Resentment in her eyes.
I struggled to breathe before I passed out, and surrounded like I was, I could work on that easier. At least for right that second, I wasn't going with Ms. Parker. A few seconds right where I was was what I needed.
Alice reached up, loosening the hold my hand had on one of my arms. Probably to keep me from digging my nails harder into my own skin in my effort to hold on. In return, she held onto that hand, which gave me something more to hold onto. As tight as I could, I squeezed onto her hand, much to her concern.
"I don't want to." I gasped in a whimper, shaking my head.
"Breathe." Alice reminded me quietly, "Try to breathe."
"I can't." I sobbed again.
I wasn't about to let that woman pull me away again without turning on her. It was up to her when I turned really violent, and the next time she tried, I was going to snap.
My head ached in the worst way, dizziness from lack of breath only making that worse. I shook, trembling roughly in Esme's arms. Each time I almost had it, another couple of sobs would steal what breath I did manage to get. Calming down was impossible.
"I have to take her." Ms. Parker tried again, only restarting my cries briefly. I was exhausted already, and this wasn't helping. It wasn't just my head that hurt. How hard I'd fought, though unsuccessful, was taking its toll as well. I could still feel that bitch's hands restraining me and the effort she used to do so.
"Can you honestly tell me that this is okay to you?" Emmett demanded, "Doesn't she matter? Do you even know what that woman put her through?"
"Her mother wasn't the one to inflict the abuse, and hasn't been charged with anything." Was her firm reply.
"How about neglect?" Emmett countered sharply, "Are you kidding me?"
"She got the treatment she needed."
"That's impossible." Alice spoke up, "There's absolutely no way she got what she needed in such a short amount of time."
"She was released-"
"She walked out on her own." Alice argued, "There's a difference."
"Regardless-"
"It doesn't matter!" Emmett replied, "Look at her! She-"
"She, sir, is ten years old." Ms. Parker countered sharply, "It isn't her job to decide where she is placed. It isn't my job to decide where she is placed, and it isn't your job to decide where she is placed. It's my job to see that she gets to where she's been placed, and it's your job to step back, before I have to call the authorities. You have no rights to her anymore. Plain and simple."
She was trying to intimidate them, and it was working on me. I was right back to the breathless sobbing, holding on even tighter to Esme. Shaking with the effort.
"Call them!" Emmett insisted, "Call them, because I can't let you-"
"Emmett." Esme's firmer voice only seemed to piss him off anymore. Emmett spun, pacing away with both hands knotting into his hair. I held on tighter to Esme, my breathing still tight and panicked. He wasn't done, however.
"She's not going." Emmett argued, "I don't care what I have to do."
"Is that a threat?" Ms. Parker demanded.
"That's a fucking promise." Emmett replied sharply, "You try to take her, come within ten feet of this kid, we will have a problem."
"She's coming with me." Ms. Parker replied evenly, "I'm not leaving here without her."
"No." Edward spoke up, and his icy tone made even me sit back and look at him as everything sort of stopped. Falling silent in the yard for several, incredibly tense moments. The only sound being my attempts at breathing and the running car.
"Call them." Edward told her, "In fact, if you wouldn't mind, I'd like to call them myself."
"Edward?" Esme seemed confused now.
"I really don't want to have to do that." Ms. Parker laughed a little and that was enough to surprise me. Her tone had changed drastically, "I'd like to resolve this without-"
"I must insist." Edward growled. That really seemed to shut her up for a moment. His tone intimidating her right back. My cries had finally quieted as I watched him, whimpering now and then as I tried to figure out what was going on and catch my breath at the same time.
"You won't, because you know." Edward told her, "I suggest you get back in your car, and get as far away from this property as you can before I lose my patience. For your own safety, of course. She isn't going anywhere with you." He was pissed. His quiet tone was even scarier than Emmett's shouting and angry one.
"Excuse-"
"Not another word." Edward cut her off, "Just leave." She didn't seem to know what to say, "And no. I'm sure you won't be getting your money. You disgust me. You're the prime example of everything wrong with humanity." The only way I could describe the way he looked at her now was with deep, fiery hatred. His gaze even intimidated me, and he wasn't even looking at me. If I were her, I'd listen to him.
She was silent for a few more seconds, looking a lot like a deer caught in a set of headlights. Like she didn't know what to say, thoroughly freaked out, until she finally stuttered.
"I-I haven't a clue what you're-"
Edward taking a step forward immediately made her shut up and turn around. To my surprise, she actually did as he told her. Nearly tripping over her own feet as she scurried back around her car. Climbing back in, and slamming the door behind her.
In silence, everyone watched them leave. In a rather big hurry. I almost couldn't believe it. Did that just happen? I coughed, choking through left over sobs. I couldn't help it. I was still pretty damn worked up.
"What was that all about?" Esme asked, surprised.
"Jack hired her." Edward answered, "Leandra was right."
I just hugged Esme's neck again, feeling her tense. No doubt angry. I wasn't exactly surprised that I had been right. I knew I was right. That was the only thing that could possibly make sense. This had been what I was warning myself of.
That news had Esme turning, ascending the porch steps with me. I took the chance for a few more left over sobs, trembling where I rested. I wasn't going anywhere. I was still safe. Thanks to Edward, I wasn't going anywhere and I was still safe.
"Unfortunately, I didn't get an exact location from her thoughts." Edward continued, following us, "Otherwise, I'd be headed there myself. He hired her to come here, give you false information and to take her to him in exchange for a large amount of cash. She won't be calling the police, because she knew exactly what she was doing. If I would have followed her, I would have killed her."
I appreciated the warmth of the house, but I refused to release my hold on Esme. I wasn't done clinging, but she didn't seem to be any closer to letting me go either.
"Then we need to follow her." Emmett growled, "Maybe-"
"She's too afraid to go to him directly." Edward cut him off, "She won't be going to him with bad news." He sighed, "If Leandra hadn't put up a fight until I got here, I hate to think about what might have happened. That woman was obviously trying to get away as quickly as possible."
"Good job, shorty." Emmett murmured back by the door. I didn't say anything to that. I could finally partially breathe again, the panicked sound trembling along with me. I didn't want to risk making that worse by trying to speak.
"You're positive that woman was hired by him?" Carlisle asked.
"One hundred percent." Edward replied instantly.
"She had identification." Esme frowned, sitting down on the couch with me. I adjusted how I sat, to find a more comfortable spot, but that was about it for my movement.
"It was fake." Edward shook his head, "She probably used to work there, or more concerning, might still."
"Carlisle." Esme murmured.
"I'm on it." He immediately said, turning and striding from the room, his phone already out.
I was starting to calm down. Of course, Esme sitting, holding me on the couch helped immensely. I was never more appreciative of her arms around me as I was right then. Not once did I ever feel as comforted by the embrace as I did now.
"Give them hell for me, Carlisle." Emmett muttered after him.
"For all of us." Esme corrected quietly.
"I intend to." Was the response I heard. I was finally calmed down enough to look over.
"Thank you." I whimpered, looking to Edward.
"You're quite welcome." He replied easily.
"Eddy's a regular hero." Emmett chuckled, "Chased that bitch right on out of here, didn't he?" I couldn't help the small, teary smile, but that didn't last longer than a second or two.
"Emmett." Esme corrected him.
"He's going to be mad." I mumbled, "But he's not going to stop trying."
"Well, we'll just have to keep outsmarting him, won't we?" Emmett asked in return, "Now we see the lengths he's willing to go to. He's not getting a hold of you, shorty."
"It was close." I whimpered, looking up at him, "If Edward hadn't been here.." I trailed off, shaking my head a little. I couldn't even imagine what had waited for me.
"Yeah, it was close." Emmett sighed, "I wouldn't have even thought she was full of crap, but you held out just long enough." He frowned a little, looking over at Edward, "How did you know to come back?"
"Carlisle called me right before he got here." He answered, "It didn't sit right with him, the way they'd just show up unexpectedly. Something wasn't right."
"Thank you, Edward." Esme told him as well, and he gave her a nod.
That was about it for the conversation, surprisingly. Probably to give me more of a chance to calm down. My breathing was still quick, closed off, but it wasn't near as bad as it had been just moments before. I rested my eyes, indescribably worn out.
As it turned out, there were questions that needed answered by the police.
Two officers showed up not very long after Carlisle returned to the living room. A man and a woman. I never even bothered to remember their names. I hated the thought of having to talk to them, truly not knowing if they could be trusted either, but I didn't have to answer their questions alone. They didn't try taking me anywhere.
They talked to everyone, so it wasn't just me. Everyone else, because they had more to say than I did. Having had more of a chance to talk to her than I did, as I had been too busy freaking the hell out.
A description of the woman was given, as well as her name. That was probably fake, as nobody would be stupid enough to give their real one. Another description of the man in the car, as well as an exact description of the car he was driving. Right down to the license plate number, and an identifying dent on the rear bumper. The woman went outside immediately to pass that information on, while the man stayed to talk to me.
The fact that I could stay seated with Esme was the only thing that made talking to him at all tolerable. Instead of sitting across Esme's lap, though, I had to sit beside her. That was just so he could look at me, and hear my quiet responses. Since that was the only way I had to move, I could accept that.
The man kneeled beside the couch, offering a gentle smile at me, and I knew it was my turn. I was tense, but I couldn't help that. I'd already dealt with too much already.
"I just have a few questions for you, darling." He told me, and I looked down, "Just a few. I promise."
Nervously, I looked up at Esme.
"It's okay." She assured me, and I took a breath. Looking back down, I nodded a little, letting him know that I was as prepared as I was ever going to be.
"This woman." The man started, "Had you ever seen her before?" Knowing why he'd need to know that from me, I hesitated, thinking hard about it. Searching my memories for anyone that might have looked like her.
"No." I finally answered nearly silently, "I've never seen her before in my life." He nodded, writing that down.
"And you're convinced that your stepdad is behind this?" He asked, looking back up.
"Stop calling him my stepdad." I grumbled, "I don't want to be related to him anymore." I was fully aware that I wasn't actually related to him, but I still carried his last name, due to Jack adopting me when I was young. I hated that fact. I didn't need reminded of it every time I turned around. Least of all right then.
"Of course." He nodded a little, "I'm sorry. You believe that.. Mr. Wallace was to blame for this?"
"Yes." I replied quietly, "Him and his dad are the only two people who hate me enough to try something like that."
"I see." He nodded again, writing that down next before looking to me again, "Just one more question. Do you have any idea why they'd do this?"
"Because I told." I answered, keeping as much attitude from my tone as I could, "They hate me because I told on Jack. They knew they couldn't come here to get me themselves, so they must have sent her instead." Apparently, that was enough of an answer as he wrote that down as well.
"You've been very cooperative, Leandra." He murmured after a minute of writing, "Thank you." I nodded this time. It relieved me to see him stand up. That hadn't been so hard. Not nearly as hard as it was to talk to them a year prior.
"Good job, sweetie." Esme murmured to me, smoothing my hair down my back. I scooted closer to her, closing my eyes. I was so grateful he'd kept his word. Keeping his questions few, and very easy to answer.
With a promise to call Carlisle as soon as they caught them, Carlisle walked him out.
"Didn't I tell you?" Emmett asked, and I opened my eyes again, "I knew you'd give that bitch one hell of a fight." He was referencing the discussion we'd had months before about strangers. That suddenly seemed like impossibly long ago, though.
"No matter how important they say they are." I sniffled a little.
"Emmett." Esme sighed, "Please stop with the language."
"I'm sorry," He said, "But I'm not calling that.. Thing a woman. Anyone who would try to trade in a kid for money, no matter how much he offered her, really doesn't deserve to be considered human, much less a woman."
"I second that." Edward murmured from where he stood to the side. I agreed with him, but I didn't feel like saying that. I still felt sick, shaken up. Edward looked to me.
"They take these things very seriously, Leandra." He told me, "It won't take long for them to catch those two."
I was told the same thing about Jack, and he had yet to be caught. Needless to say, I didn't believe him in the slightest. I didn't like what I had just gone through had done to me. I could feel a change, a difference.
Edward didn't reply to that. He didn't have to, as Carlisle returned.
I looked up at him, watching as he sat directly to my other side on the couch. Sort of boxing me in, but I didn't mind that. He seemed distracted, but this time, I knew why. I couldn't blame him in the slightest, because I felt the same way. I just wasn't as good at hiding it.
"Leandra?" Esme asked, and I looked up at her, "Are you hungry?" Was she kidding?
"No." I replied quietly. It shouldn't have taken me so long to figure out that she was either trying to distract me from being distracted, or wanting to get me out of the way so they could talk about me.
"If I make something, will you at least try to eat?" She asked, and I sighed.
"I'll try." I replied, and she nodded. Giving me a reassuring but brief side hug, she stood. Alice followed her, Jasper following Alice. Maybe they were worried about how out of it I still seemed. I was still very out of it.
"Edward." Carlisle spoke up, "Would you please go have a talk with Charlie about the situation? I want to be sure he's aware of what's going on, and I feel it'd be better to gauge his response in person." Meaning, read his thoughts.
"I'm not exactly his favorite person right now, but I'll make an attempt."
"I'm sure if you mention that it's about Leandra, he'll be far more interested in hearing what you have to say." Carlisle suggested.
Edward gave a nod, "Keep an eye on her, Carlisle." I knew he meant me. Carlisle nodded as well before Edward turned, leaving.
Everything felt oddly surreal, like once everything had started to slow down, it slowed down a lot more than it should have. My thoughts sluggish, and hard to focus on. I was tired, very tired, and the only option I had now was just staring at nothing.
I would have been stuck there, staring at nothing probably for the rest of the day without a complaint, but Carlisle's phone suddenly rang beside me. That made me jump a little, shaking me out of it and having me glance over at him briefly before looking back down at my hands.
The only move he made was to answer it, but unfortunately, I was sitting close enough to him for me to hear the voice on the other end of the line.
"Carlisle." His voice was very clear, "Well, well. Finally we talk." I tensed, looking up at him again. That was the only movement I made.
"Who is this?" Carlisle asked, but I had a feeling my reaction might have given him idea. My heart had started to race again so quick, it hurt.
"Who do you think this is?" I knew exactly who it was.
"Jack." I whimpered. I wanted to move away, but I couldn't. Completely stuck in my fear. Paralyzed. I heard his laugh, probably in response to my voice so close.
"What do you want?" Carlisle asked, his confusion solved as he looked down at me.
"If I'm right, you're probably looking right at it." Jack replied, "You know what I want. See, I'm a pretty patient guy, Carlisle, but even I have my limits. Give that little bitch the phone. I want to talk to her."
"Absolutely not." Carlisle told him easily.
Emmett had moved forward, lifting me away with a glare at the phone. I wasn't close enough to hear anymore, for which I was grateful. Clinging to Emmett's neck now, which seemed more than acceptable to him. Trembling lightly as I looked to Carlisle again, and he returned my gaze. Given his silence, Jack was still talking. I could only imagine the things he was hearing.
Esme came in from the kitchen, the other two following her, and their expression said it all. They could hear everything Jack was saying, obviously horrified as Carlisle had heard enough. Hanging up the phone sharply.
"I'm sorry." I whimpered quietly. I'd never expected Jack to actually call. For the oddest reasons, I never expected Carlisle to ever have to talk to Jack. It was just something I never thought about.
"Don't be." Carlisle replied instantly, "Leandra, it's not your fault."
"What did he say?" I wasn't even sure I wanted to know. Taking a breath in, Carlisle shook his head. He wouldn't tell me, and I didn't blame him. I also couldn't help feeling grateful that he wouldn't tell me. I had a very vague idea of what they probably heard. The phone rang in his hand again, but Carlisle quickly silenced it. Not bothering to answer it this time.
"I want to trace that number." Emmett muttered, setting me on my feet, "Maybe it can tell us where he is." Thankfully, I was close enough to the couch to keep myself from falling. My legs were less than cooperative, threatening to give out even with my grip on the couch.
Carlisle sighed, handing him the phone as I sat back down beside him, curling into a ball. Jack's phone call had only made everything real again. Alice came back forward, probably worried about my renewed trembles. Any other time, I'd have been crying or at least wanting to, but as it stood right now, I wasn't and I knew that Jasper wasn't the entire reason.
"Leandra?" Alice spoke, and I looked to her, "Are you okay?" Even I could tell that I was so far from okay, it was worrying.
"No." I whimpered, "I didn't want this."
"I know." She replied, "It's okay. He can't get to you."
"Do you remember?" I asked, looking up, "Remember what I said when you first brought me here? You don't know what he can do." She looked down, "You didn't know then, but you do now, don't you? You're starting to get it."
"It makes no difference." She told me, "Leandra, we're just as determined to keep you safe now as we were then. Despite all the attempts he's made, you're still here. Doesn't that count for anything?"
I didn't bother replying to that. It wasn't just that that I was worried about. She glanced to Carlisle, but he was already watching me.
She spoke again, "Do you want some water or anything?" Water did sound nice.
I nodded a little, "Please." Eager to help, she nodded and stood up. Passing Emmett on his way back into the room. Irritated as I'd ever seen him.
"We have a problem." He said, and Carlisle looked to him. Emmett set a laptop on the coffee table, sitting to Carlisle's other side on the couch, "The only way he'll stay on the phone long enough is if he can talk to her. He knows we want to trace the number."
"I can do it." I mumbled, and they looked to me, surprised.
"Are you sure?" Carlisle asked me.
"I'm sure." I replied, "How long do I have to talk to him?"
"As long as you can, shorty." Emmett replied, "I need the phone to be in use, or it just doesn't work." I nodded a little, taking a breath. I had to prepare myself for whatever he might say, because I knew they'd hear every word.
I reached for the phone, and hesitantly, he handed it to me. I tried to hide how bad I was trembling, but I knew it was obvious. The unknown number was already up, so all I had to do was press the little green button.
"Are you sure about letting her do this?" Esme and Alice both came further into the room, Jasper in tow.
"If it helps find him." Emmett replied, "It's worth a shot, isn't it?"
"But at her expense?" Esme asked.
"I can do it." I repeated, looking up at her as she came to my side, "Or I can try."
"You're awesome, shorty." Emmett told me, and I took a breath. Continuing to hesitate, staring at the phone.
"Is it bad to say I'm afraid?" I whimpered.
"We know." Alice replied, "It's understandable." She held out the glass of water to me. I took it gratefully. She sighed, "You don't have to do this."
"If it helps." I muttered, "I know what he's probably going to say. I just wish everyone else didn't have to hear it."
"Trust me, we can handle it." Emmett offered, "It's you we're worried about."
"Would you like my help?" Jasper asked me, and I took another breath.
"Just a little bit." I replied, and he nodded. It would be nice to have every bit of fear taken, but for the oddest reasons, I wanted to do this as much on my own as I could. I just didn't know how long that would last until I'd be begging him to make me numb.
The stabbing fear eased to an ache, and I sighed deeply. Nodding. Jasper nodded again, understanding.
"Thanks." I mumbled.
"If you can't handle it, just let us know." Esme murmured, sitting to my other side again. I glanced to her. I was scared. It'd be stupid not to be.
What would he have to say to me after so long? I knew the answer to that, but they probably had no idea what they were about to hear. Even with the sample they got earlier. The fact that Emmett thought they could handle it told me it really hadn't been that bad, but Jack couldn't help himself. He wanted to scare me, and to do that, it would get bad.
I took the opportunity for another sip of water. It helped a little bit, if only to help me speak when I really didn't want to. Closing my eyes, I pressed the little green button. The ringing tone scared me at first, making me jump a little.
"Make it fast, Emmett." Jasper told him quietly. It took three rings before Jack finally answered.
"Did you think about what I said?" He asked in greeting.
"Jack." I muttered, knowing he needed to know it was me.
"Ah." I heard the grin in his tone, "There you are." He was thrilled he was getting his way. As he always was.
"Here I am." I made my trembling voice as strong as I could, "What do you want?"
"What?" He asked, "No 'hi'? No 'how are you'? Where the fuck did your manners go?" I didn't bother replying to that, glancing over at Esme's sad expression while Jack continued, "I haven't talked to you in over a year, bitch. Is it a crime to want to talk to you?"
"Yes." I murmured, "It actually is, I think."
"Well, tough shit." He countered, "This way, I get what I want, and they get what they want. It's a win-win. Just watch that smart mouth of yours."
"Just say what you want to say."
"I've waited a year for this." Jack barked, "Hold your goddamn horses. First things first. Put the phone on speaker."
"No."
"Do it." Obviously a command, I stupidly flinched, closing my eyes, "And that fucking word is gonna get you skinned, little girl. I own your ass. You don't tell me 'no'."
Honestly, I hadn't prepared myself to feel like this. I'd almost forgotten, it seemed, just what actually hearing his voice could do to me. I didn't know what to do. Frozen in place. Nervously, I looked over at Carlisle. He reached over, taking the phone from me slowly and pressing a button on the side of it.
"I'm listening." Carlisle set the phone lightly on the table. I was selfishly glad I wasn't the only one that had to talk to him. I took the few seconds before Jack spoke to close my eyes, steeling myself with the little bit of Jasper's help I allowed. Esme offered her support with a smooth of my back, which I accepted gratefully.
"Good." Jack said, "At least someone knows what's good for them." He paused, and I looked to Carlisle again. He didn't seem bothered yet, and I hoped he could hold out, because I sure wasn't, despite the way this really wasn't that bad yet. A few curse words, but he wasn't angry yet. He didn't have that tone that scared me so badly, and half my fear now was waiting for that to happen.
"How the fuck did you figure out that bitch was fake?" Jack asked, moving along.
"It was obvious." Carlisle replied, "I make it a habit to keep in touch with them, and a random visit like that isn't something they usually do."
"Damn." Jack chuckled, "I underestimated you, Carlisle, but it won't happen again. I promise."
"I must admit the same." Carlisle muttered.
"Keep that in mind." He replied, "I always keep my promises. It's just sometimes, that little slut refuses to cooperate." I kept my whimper as quiet as I could. Glancing over at Emmett, he seemed tense. Concentrating on what he was doing. Jasper standing beside him, frowning at the screen of the laptop. I couldn't really see anything from where I was sitting. I had no idea what I'd even be looking at if I could.
"Please." Carlisle said, "Refrain from using language like that."
"Why?" Jack asked, laughing, "Does it bother you? Or is it too much on that little bitch's sensitive little ears?"
"What the fuck do you want, Jack?" I snapped, unable to keep the light tremble from my voice.
"Whoa." He was deeply amused by that, "Listen to you. So tough. So big and bad now? Tell me. How long did it take you to grow a fucking backbone?"
"You don't scare me anymore."
"Yes I do." He replied confidently, not a hint of doubt in his voice, "I did my job, and I know I did it well. You're fucking terrified, because you know what's coming for you." I squeezed my eyes shut again briefly. This was torture on me, "Should I remind you?"
"No." I answered him immediately, and he chuckled again, "I remember."
"What'd I always tell you?" He asked, "Come on." I drew my knees up, curling into a ball.
"Anything?" Esme asked, her eyes on Emmett. He didn't reply either way, though. He needed to hurry.
"Yeah." Jack sighed, "You know what's coming for you, so don't you fucking tell me you're not afraid. As it stands right now, I have access to acres, and acres of long unused farmland." He murmured, "Miles between there and the nearest person. I could bury you alive, and let you suffocate. I could-"
I covered my ears with my hands. Clenching my teeth. Biting back sobs as hard as I could. Esme wrapped her arms around me, letting me know she was there. Jasper even looked up, his crossed arms tensing visibly. I hated hearing these things from him. He was talking normally right then, but every other time I'd hear those things, it was in the dark.
"Talk to me, Jack." Carlisle spoke up before he could say any more, "Isn't that what you wanted in the first place?" He was trying to take his focus off of me. As miserable as I was, I appreciated Carlisle's effort.
"Don't listen to him." Esme murmured quietly to me, "I know it's hard, but I promise he'll never get to you." I nodded a little, my eyes still shut tight. I couldn't help it.
"I almost had you today, bitch." Jack continued, not having heard Esme or paid any attention to Carlisle, "I was this fucking close. Just remember this. I'm about done playing around with you, and you're starting to piss me off. The longer you put it off, the worse it'll get for you, and for that family you're hiding behind."
Once again, I looked over at Carlisle.
"Trust me." Jack continued, "It's not hard to hire someone to get close enough. How do you think I knew when you were in school? Yet, somehow you always knew when I'd call ahead, and were never there. How did you do that, by the way?"
"Who was it?" Carlisle asked.
"Was I fucking talking to you?" Jack asked in reply, "You wait your goddamn turn." I winced, looking apologetically to Carlisle. He didn't seem phased in the slightest, though.
"Who was it?" I asked instead, my voice trembling audibly.
"Well, you're not there anymore, so I guess I could come clean." He relented, "That counselor you hated? Yeah, there's probably a reason you didn't like her." I knew it.
"You were in contact with her?" Carlisle asked, and that seemed acceptable this time.
"Closely." Jack confirmed, "And that principal."
I felt sick again.
"But anyway." Jack added, "As I was saying, it's not hard to get someone close enough to do my work for me from miles away. I just proved that, I think. Just don't be surprised when shit starts going wrong for you, Carlisle. Until you hand over my property, I can make your life a living hell."
"Don't." I muttered, unable to help it, and his following quiet chuckle was a dark one.
"Remember the phone call, Carlisle?" Jack went on, ignoring me now, "The concerned phone call back in New York? You know that anywhere she ends up when she's taken from you, I'll know exactly where she is. You can't guard her forever."
"I have ways around that." Carlisle replied simply before I could get too afraid, "That shouldn't be an issue much longer."
"Good." Jack was smiling, "That's great. I'm all for making this a real challenge for me. Fight back, for fuck's sake."
"I plan on continuing to."
"Good." He repeated, "I have to admit. You're not making it easy on me, Carlisle."
"I know." Carlisle replied, "I don't intend to make it easy on you. She deserves a whole lot better."
Jack laughed, "What? Where the hell did you get that idea from? She loves what I've always done to her." I shook my head immediately.
"Are you really that stupid?" Alice asked, "Or just insane?"
"Neither, bitch." He replied easily, "I'm determined. I'm a very ambitious person, and honestly, I don't really feel like explaining myself to some stupid bitch with a big mouth. Don't you have a boyfriend that can smack you back into your place? He really needs to get on that." Jasper's eyes darkened.
"Don't talk to her like that." I spoke up.
"You shut the fuck up." Jack told me, "You're in enough fucking trouble." Alice gave me a look, silently telling me not to worry about it.
"Now," Jack went on, "I'm sure by now you've realized that this phone is impossible to trace. Sure, you've got a general location based on the three closest cell towers, but Seattle is a big place. I could be anywhere within that five square mile radius. No SIM card, no GPS. Without those things, you can't narrow it down, and by the time you even get here, I could be halfway to Canada. I know my shit."
Emmett's hand hit the table beside the laptop, obviously irritated, telling me Jack was right. I looked over at him. It wasn't a win-win. Just a win for him. Emmett went to reach for the phone, probably to end the call, but Carlisle held up a hand. Stopping him. Puzzled, he looked to Carlisle at the same time I did.
"Just think about it, Carlisle." Jack sighed, "You seem like a smart guy. I'll be honest. I don't want to fuck with you. I really don't, but the longer you keep me from what I want, the less I care about what happens to you, or that hot little wife of yours." I cringed, hugging my knees tighter as Esme's arms tightened around me. More in a way to comfort me.
"How much of your stuff needs to burn to the ground?" Jack asked, "How much of your reputation needs to go up in smoke? I'll destroy anyone's life if they get in my way, Carlisle. I'd burn things down for her. I'd kill for her. You have what I want. All I want is her. That's it. That filthy little piece of garbage sitting next to you. That's what I want."
"You're not getting her." Emmett decided to chime in.
"Oh, I'll get her." Jack replied, "Don't you worry about that. It's just a matter of how I'll get her that will make the fucking difference for you. Make this easy, and nothing will happen. You have my word on that. Make it difficult, though.." He trailed off for a moment, "Well, that's a whole different fucking story. I don't want to fuck with you, Carlisle, but you really don't want to fuck with me either. You work with my sister again, don't you?" I bit my lip, "I wouldn't do anything that could risk her, but I'd really watch my back if I were you."
"I'm really not that concerned." Carlisle admitted easily. How was he so calm? I really wanted to be as tough as he was.
"You want her so damn bad?" Emmett asked, "Come here and get her."
"I'm not that fucking stupid." Jack replied, "That slut has got you all ready to stand in front of her. Willing to take the fall for her selfish actions. How fair is that?"
"Coward." I whimpered at Emmett's retort, "Come on. I just want a friendly chat. Face-to-face. Let's just talk it over." What the hell was he doing? He was only going to piss him off.
"I'm anything but a coward." But Jack was having fun, "Now, I put the work into that little slut, and I want it back. I don't give a shit what I have to do, who I have to go through to get it. With that said, are you going to give her up?"
Emmett laughed, "No."
"Absolutely not." Carlisle answered firmly. Not a hint of doubt in his tone.
Jack sighed, "Okay, your choice. Just remember that I could be anywhere, Carlisle, and I don't even have to be there. Don't you dare fucking say you weren't warned."
I looked over at Esme nervously.
"Are you sure you don't want to stop in for a visit?" Emmett asked, "Come on.."
"I'm good, actually." He replied, "I think I prefer the stealthier approach. You know, the whole you-won't-even-see-me-coming sort of thing is a whole lot more fun for me. It'd be a whole lot more fun for me to let her be there one day, and the next.. Poof. I like to play with her a little bit, if you hadn't noticed, but I really should have tied that bitch to a goddamn tree the first chance I got. By her fucking neck." I looked down.
"I still say you're a coward." Emmett replied, "She's, what? Half your size?"
"Size doesn't matter." He pointed out simply, "I've always kind of admired the way she'd scamper away like a scared little rabbit the second she had the chance." At that reference, I looked up at Esme again. She understood it. He chuckled, "I like the hunt. The chase."
"I'd be a whole lot more fun to play with." Emmett told him, "I guarantee it. I'd have a whole lot of fun."
"Stop it." I muttered, looking to Emmett.
"I'm not afraid of this fucker." Emmett scoffed, "He can threaten us until the cows come home, but I think he's just pissed because nothing he tries ever works. He's pathetic." I gave him an incredulous look, but Jack only chuckled.
"We'll see." Jack replied.
"Hurry it up, Jack." I clearly heard the command from Ken somewhere in the background, and whimpered. Hiding my face against my knees again.
"Ken." I explained nearly silently at their slight confusion. Thankfully, too low for Jack to hear. It was Ken that had finally pushed me enough to run that day. That mattered, and that made a difference.
"By the way," Jack spoke again, "My dad says hi. He's got his own punishment planned for you, and I can't say that I'm too against it at this point, but he's really looking forward to it. Especially after what you did to him."
I clenched my teeth again, barely keeping myself from throwing up. Why weren't they ending the call yet? They couldn't trace his location, so what was the point of this? I stayed silent, but I hated this. Esme held me tighter, probably knowing exactly what he meant. I shuddered, whimpering almost silently but miserably.
"You're revolting." Alice growled, glaring at the phone.
"Speaking of dads.." Jack spoke again, ignoring her, "How's your dad doing, you little bitch?"
My heart dropped, and I looked to the phone again, as if he could see that. I knew what he was getting at.
"Or that little black haired cutie in New York?" Jack added when I never replied, "She sure is something, isn't she? I've kept my distance from her so far, but I can feel that control slipping. It'd be so easy-"
"Leave her out of this." I mumbled breathlessly, "And my dad. They have nothing-"
"But they do." He replied, laughing, "Everyone you ever knew, everyone you've ever spoken to, are all fair game to me. And I do mean that literally. One by one, they'll know what you did to them just by existing, and I'll be sure to let them know that it is your fault. Because it is. It is your fault, you selfish bitch, and you can't tell anyone otherwise."
I squeezed my eyes shut, hiding my eyes again.
"Oh, and Leandra.." Jack chuckled, the sound straight from my nightmares, "Sleep tight at least one more night, my little whore, but I'll be seeing you again soon enough. I'll have you again. Count on that." I shivered roughly, "You don't know when, and you don't know how, but I'm coming for you.
"Next time, you won't have the chance to run away, like you did in that store. And Christ, you sure have grown, haven't you? Has it really only been a year? It feels like just yesterday, my hand was around your fucking neck, pinning you against the goddamn wall-"
"Please." I whispered, looking up at Esme, "I can't take anymore."
"Are you quite finished?" Carlisle asked, his tone bored. His indifference was only in his tone, however. His expression told a different story. He looked to me, and I knew he knew exactly what this was doing to me. I was as far away from the phone as my current seating position would allow. Esme holding me tight against her side, but I was curled into the smallest ball I could manage.
All of this was with Jasper's help, but he was getting pissed himself. Losing his focus on me.
"I'm far from finished, Carlisle." Jack replied, "This isn't nearly over. See, I consider what you did theft. You and that bitch wife of yours stole that little fucking slut from me, when you really had no right to do that." I didn't miss Emmett's growl as he stood up, "So no. I'm not fucking finished. I won't be fucking finished until I have that slut in my hands again, and I can really show her where her fucking place is. Just like her mama."
He was getting pissed. It was this tone I always knew to be wary of. It clicked something in my mind, making me feel just as cornered as I always felt when I heard it. I lowered my head, hiding once more, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't stop listening.
Jack spoke sharply this time, "Don't call again unless you're ready to play by the rules."
Thankfully, Jack hung up before I really started to cry. I felt like I'd been punched in the stomach, and he wasn't even anywhere near me. Shaking with silent, breathless sobs. Having gone a year to hear those kinds of words from him didn't do anything to lessen how harshly they affected me now. Like the wounds he'd caused had never closed. Reminding me just what he could do with only words.
"And you grew up with that psychopath?" Emmett was the first to speak, but I didn't hear him. My silent sobs finally broke, and he knew he wasn't getting a response. I felt so torn again, and I ached inside. It hurt so bad.
Not only that, but I didn't want this for them. He was forcing me into a very difficult situation, and I was suddenly faced with two options. Let him hurt everyone I ever cared about in one way or another, or go to him.
"Don't listen to him, shorty." Emmett told me, "He's just trying to scare you."
"It's working." I cried. Even with Jasper's help, I was shaking like a leaf, "I'm sorry."
"Leandra, this isn't your fault." Carlisle murmured, "We'll figure this out."
"I didn't want this." I sobbed, shaking my head against my knees, "I didn't want this for you. This is what I didn't want to happen. I didn't want him going after you. I have to go to him."
"Like hell." Emmett muttered, surprised.
"No." Esme agreed with him.
Emmett continued, "Whether you like it or not, you're going to be protected, dammit. There's no way you're going anywhere near him."
"I agree." Carlisle replied, "I honestly couldn't care less about objects, Leandra. You're more important than any possession."
"But my dad?" I asked, tears flooding from my eyes as I finally looked up, "Alyssa?"
"This is a good thing, Leandra." He told me, and for a moment, I actually wondered if he had lost his mind. He decided to explain, "We know where his focus is now. It's maybe a twenty minute run for us from here to New York. Even less, depending on the time of day. Emmett can go back, and keep watch over her there."
"Sure thing." Emmett agreed.
"I can do that." Rose actually offered from her silent spot by the stairs, "Or we can take turns. Em can stay here during the day, in case she needs him." That shocked me. She was willing to do that?
"Thank you, Rosalie." Carlisle told her, deeply appreciative, and she nodded a little.
"I can keep an eye on your dad." Alice offered, and I looked to her, "He's really close, so it wouldn't be a problem."
"If Jack gets anywhere near them, we'll know." Carlisle assured me, and though that did help a little, I still felt bad. This was a pretty decent inconvenience to them. Still seeing my hesitancy, Emmett chuckled.
"It's not for good, shorty." He said, "Just until Jack-ass makes his move. Then, it's game over."
"And we'll let them know." Esme spoke, "They'll know to be careful."
I just sobbed quietly now, resting my forehead on my drawn up knees once more. I wouldn't even know the first place to start looking anyway. He never gave me any sort of way to find him, or any instructions on how I was supposed to get to him.
They seemed pretty confident that this could be over soon. I felt very vulnerable, though. Scared, and very insecure. I didn't doubt that that had everything to do with having to talk to him again, but I couldn't help that. My job now was to hold on. Just hold on a little longer.
Oddly enough, I wasn't sure if I could do that. I was crumbling again, and I knew it.
END
A/N: My, that was a busy little chapter, wasn't it? If it's a little mixed up, I apologize.
THANK YOU to those AMAZING reviewers! Not only for last chapter, but throughout the story! I probably wouldn't be posting this if it weren't for you guys. :) It's you guys that keep these stories going! :):)
So. As for next story.
As you can probably tell, a lot is going to change. I'm just going to say right now that I haven't the slightest clue yet just how much this change is going to change the coming stories, so please bear with me.
That said, it's going to take me a little bit of time to get the next few chapters rolling, as they need to be written from scratch. I'll be working on those probably over the next week or so, depending on my focus.
Until next story, my friends! :D