You know what would happen if everyone who'd set this story to Alert actually reviewed? I'd write more, and update more often. Also, I wouldn't ask for reviews so much. This is an honest-to-goodness cliffie, so if you want the next part, REVIEW! I would like to watch the review counter climb, please.

For the first time in my life, I had the urge to break the law - and the speed limit. I flashed a maniac grin at Alice, then slammed my foot down on the accelerator. We shot forward, running a stop sign. I stomped on the brake, skidding us to a stop, burning rubber.

I panted, staring at the blacktop, waiting for a cop - my dad, more specifically - to come and knock on the glass. Alice looked at me like I'd lost my mind.

"Where's the real Bella?" She demanded. I just gawked at her. A knock on my window startled me. Great, I had to deal with my dad.

But I looked up into the face of a nightmare.

Remember Victoria? Yeah, the vampire with catlike grace, lithe, with a head of brilliant red hair, and James' mate. Yup, that's the one. Well, she was tapping her long, sharp fingernails on the glass of my new car.

Alice had whipped out her cell phone and was punching buttons so fast that her fingers were blurry. She wasn't even bothering to call. Alice was texting, fingers flying.

I reached with trembling fingers toward the handle of the car door. Alice's cold hand flashed out and gripped my wrist in a very firm grip.

"Don't you dare," she whispered. I could tell she was scared, because her hand tightened.

I winced. "Alice, you're hurting me."

Her eyes darted to her hand, and she let go like I'd burned her. "Sorry."

I didn't pay attention. I reached out and pressed the 'down' button on my window controls. It slid down with a gentle whir. I decided to feign innocence. Sure, it was stupid, but it was a plan. Better than sitting here and letting her kill me and Alice.

"May I help you?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

Irritation flashed across her face. She opened her mouth to talk, then, there was the strangest sound.

Like boulders crashing against each other, the loud noise jarred my eardrums and made my teeth hurt. A deep growling made me look up.

Edward stood there, about three feet from Victoria. A snarl ripped from his chest, his teeth bared menacingly. He was slouched forward into a protective crouch. I unclasped my seatbelt and opened the door. Edward's head snapped around.

"Bella! Get back in the car and go!" he barked, fear roughening his voice and turning his eyes black.

I froze, undecided. I couldn't just leave him! I took another step forward.

"Isabella, please, just go!" His tone was frantic as he stared at me. Victoria wore a feral grin as she slunk forward, toward Edward.

I rushed forward. "No!" I planted myself between the two. My head was chanting one word over and over: stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid.

Edward put his hands on my shoulders, but I stepped forward, arms spread. "Leave him be, Victoria. I thought it was me you wanted."

Her eyes darted from me to Edward, who looked like he was frozen in place from sheer horror. He wasn't the only one scared.

I heard Edward muttering darkly. I caught "stupid" and "utter, life-threatening idiocy".

Victoria suddenly looked up, something akin to fear in her eyes as she took several steps backwards.

A large pair of hands wrenched me from between them and tucked me close. I could feel Emmett running smoothly, then tucking me into the passenger seat of his Wrangler several blocks from Edward and Victoria.

"Emmett, wait!" I fought him as he fastened the harness. I struggled against the straps, even as my protector climbed in the driver's side and gunned the engine. "Emmett! We have to go back! We can't just leave them!" I shrieked in horror, pivoting in my seat to stare out the back windshield.

"They'll be fine, Bella. There's only one Victoria, and they've got Jasper and Rose now." His voice snagged on the last name. "My job is to keep you safe."

"That's going to be much harder than you first thought."

The quiet, silky voice from the backseat startled us both. Emmett stomped on the brakes, throwing me forward into the harness.

I felt a cold grip on where my neck muscles joined my shoulder. Slowly, I turned my head to meet Laurent's gaze.

He sighed. "I must apologize, Isabella. I have nothing against you personally, you must know that." I could hear him grind his teeth; his expression was frustrated. "But Victoria wasn't very happy that I ran out on her and James before.

"Now, if you please, turn around and go back." His grip tightened, and his dark crimson eyes flashed dangerously.

A growl was building in Emmett's throat.

"That would not be wise. Now, turn back, or I might cause an unfortunate accident."

I could see Emmett struggling with indecision.

Laurent's smooth voice cut into the silence like a razor blade to skin. "Emmett, aren't you supposed to be protecting her? This is in her best - immediate - interest." His grip was cutting off my circulation, causing me to see spots and making it more difficult to breathe than my ribs already made it.

"Emmett," I choked out.

His large hands clenched around the steering wheel as he made a u-turn.

"That's better," the vampire behind me whispered. His grip slackened slightly, and I strained forward, desperate.

He squeezed, possibly tighter than he meant to. Everything went black for a moment, then faded back into view as I coughed.

The Wrangler skidded to a stop beside Edward, who motioned for Emmett to roll down the window. I heard Laurent hiss.

Edward opened his mouth to talk, but then his face transformed into furiously protective rage. A snarl rose from his chest as he flashed around to the passenger side and wrenched the door open, pulling it from its hinges. It crashed to the forest floor thirty feet behind him.

Laurent wrapped his entire arm around my neck. "Hello, Edward."

"Let go of her!" he bit out, his face still beautiful even contorted in anger.

"I can't do that, unfortunately." Laurent replied calmly. "If it were just me, I wouldn't be here."

Emmett interrupted, "Edward, where's everyone else?" It was blatantly obvious he was worried about Rosalie.

Edward's chest was heaving. "Jasper and Alice went after Victoria, Rose went to get Carlisle and Esme from the house. So you know, bad time."

Suddenly, he spun around to face the demon behind him. Victoria grabbed his shoulder and wrenched him away, then reached in and snapped each of the harness straps. Then, she gripped my arm in a painful grip and dragged me from the car. My ribs were screaming

I stumbled, and she yanked me back to my feet. I let out a gasp, it felt like she'd just wrenched my shoulder from its socket.

"Insignificant wretch," she spat. "I can't see why he'd choose you, a weak human, when he could honestly have any other female on this planet!"

I flinched. Victoria had just put words to my exact feelings ever since this had begun.

Edward came running back over and made to snatch me away from the hostile female, but Laurent calmly stepped beside her. Emmett stood on Edward's left, looking menacing.

But then, a third vampire stepped from the trees and joined the side of the blacktop with Victoria.

Have I mentioned I loathe odds?

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