Thank you so much to Cat(Rhodes11) aka Kitty and October Skies aka Shamika for beta-ing this chapter! You gals rock my world! Thanks so much to don'tcallmeleelee aka Stella for my banner and graphics! The chapter title comes from 'Sooner or Later' - Breaking Benjamin and the story title comes from 'Fallout' - Marianas Trench

I don't own anything, it all belongs to the rightful owners, I just play around and bend the characters to my will...

*I Know You See Me*

*Bella's POV – Your Scream Is Burning Through My Veins*

I ran as fast as I could, my legs carrying me down the stairs, out the front door and to Angela's car faster than I had ever moved before. My lungs were burning, now matching the tell-tale burn behind my eyes as tears threatened to start back up. I was walking out on him; I was doing exactly what I had promised I would never do... I was hurting him all over again.

I didn't want to leave, not when Jacob was finally making an effort to speak to me, but I had to carry out my plan – regardless of what I wanted. I had actually forced myself into believing that this was the right thing to do. I wanted so badly to be the one to save the ones I loved, to be the hero of the story for once – and I was going to get myself killed in the process.

I started the car, putting it in gear and I looked ahead of me, ready to drive off. As I turned on the headlights I let out a loud scream, my eyes meeting with the seething stare of the last wolf I wanted to have a confrontation with right now – a very fucking pissed off Paul Lahote.

He stood there in front of the car shaking, his fists clenched tightly against his sides. He looked like the scariest predator I had ever seen. I couldn't move; I don't think I was even breathing anymore as I watched him walk to the open driver's side window.

"Where exactly do you think you're going, Bella?" he growled loudly, the sound reverberating around me in the enclosed space of the car. "You're not supposed to leave the Rez, Alpha's orders."

"I-I have to l-leave," I stuttered, my fists tightening around the steering wheel as I readied myself. I was going to leave whether they wanted me to or not. I focused back on the road in front of me and without thinking about what I was doing, I slammed my foot down on the gas pedal. Rocks flew up behind me as I tore down the driveway and toward the main road that would take me away from everyone I loved. I watched as Paul shrank in the distance in the rear-view mirror.

My body didn't stop shaking, even as I pulled up in front of Charlie's. I had to grab my cell phone; it was the only stop I would be making before heading out to Port Angeles. I ran into the house, my eyes adjusting to the darkness quickly as I made my way up the stairs and toward my bedroom. The quiet stillness of the house was unsettling and as I reached the top of the landing – my hand reaching out for the knob of my door – the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. I couldn't quite place why I was so scared, but it was almost like I could feel a cold breath work its way down my neck and settle just under my skin.

I had to do this, though. I had to get away from here as quickly as possible, and then the danger would never find its way back to the pack.

Funny how after you lie to yourself enough, you can believe almost anything, isn't it? I'd convinced myself that after the vampire took what they wanted from me, that they would leave my friends and family alone. Stupid.

I turned the knob, and it was then that I heard it. It was so quiet – almost too quiet – the sound of music drifting from my room. I pushed the door open and focused my ears and my eyes as much as I could. The moonlight flooding through the window illuminated bits of the room, and I could see that the window was opened – wide and ominous. The haunting tune of my lullaby drifted from somewhere in the small room and I whipped around trying to find where it was coming from, but I was shaking too hard to focus on much of anything. I walked toward the bed, my head swimming and my palms sweating - the overwhelmed feeling hit me all at once. I was so close to passing out, then I stopped cold.

There, spread all over the top of my bedspread, were pictures. All of the pictures that Edward had taken from my room when he had left. They were all there, covering my bed like another blanket, but they didn't bring comfort or a sense of nostalgia, instead my heart began pounding a frighteningly fast rhythm and my throat grew uncomfortably dry.

All of the pictures were torn in half – Edward looking as beautiful as he always had – and the sides that held the frozen images of me were covered in – Was that blood? Oh, God… I had to get out!

I didn't hesitate; I turned on my heel and snatched up my cell phone off the dresser. Shoving it in my pocket I sprinted from my room and started down the stairs. I had reached the fourth step from the bottom when that inexplicable cold seeped down my spine once again and I lost my footing. My right foot went out from under me and I went down – hard.

The air whooshed from my lungs as I landed, my leg throbbed as well as my wrist from where I'd tried to catch myself and my vision swam. As I tried to breathe through the pain and steady my pulse I saw a flash of white at the top of the stairs. I didn't have time to think about what I was doing or what was going to happen to me. I got up, trying my best to ignore the pain in my leg and my wrist, and ran out of the house. I reached Angela's car; with a whole lot of effort I was able to open the door and get in. I started the car, punched it into gear and sped away from the house as fast as I dared. I couldn't bring myself to look back, because I already knew… someone was following me…

*Jacob's POV*

I sat in my room, wringing my hands and staring at the doorway like a fucking loser. I lost all track of time and forgot about the guests that were outside. I forgot about Charlie and the fun that I had been having while being surrounded by everyone that I cared about.

I forgot, because none of that mattered, nothing mattered anymore. Bella had left me… again. When was I ever going to learn that the girl just didn't know what was good for her? I knew she wanted me, she'd admitted as much to me just moments before she'd walked away. So what the fuck was going on?

"She left!" Paul's voice boomed. "She fucking left!"

"I'm aware, thanks for pointing out the obvious, Lahote," I sighed heavily as I finally snapped out of my funk. I looked at my pack brother and became acutely aware of just how close he was to phasing. Not in my fucking house! "Get out of here if you're going to lose your shit."

I heard footfalls coming from the stairs and watched as Leah appeared behind Paul. She calmly patted his shoulder, told him to take it outside and we both watched as he turned on his heel and made his way down the stairs. I listened for the ever-present temper tantrum door slam, but it never came.

Leah cleared her throat, bringing my attention back to her as she sat on the edge of my bed. She was extremely calm and composed considering everything that was happening right now. I didn't even know where to start at the moment, but apparently that was all right because Leah started speaking.

"You're just going to sit here and let her get away from you again? She's on a fucking suicide mission, Jacob – being the martyr is what that girl does best. So what are you going to do about this shit?"

"Leah, I don't need you to bitch me out right now, okay? Bella was quite plain tonight – she told me good-bye. I won't be the one that caves and runs after her – she's made her choice."

"Enough with the cry-baby routine, Black, seriously!" she hissed. "When has Bella Swan ever done what's best for her? She's gone to fucking sacrifice herself. I heard her talking to Emily earlier, and I thought she was just spewing random bullshit – talking about taking the danger away from the Rez – but I was wrong; she was serious. Now get the fuck up, pull on your big boy pants and go set that girl straight before she gets herself killed!"

Wait – what? I knew Bella could be stupid at times, but she couldn't be serious. Even Bella couldn't think that she could take on a vampire by herself… could she?

"What the hell are you talking about? What did Bella say?" I was seething now; how fucking dare she take herself out of my life and set out on some stupid mission that could get her killed? Was she really convinced that everything would stop if the leech got her? Did she ever think about how the people that cared about her would feel if something did ever happen to her?

Did she for even one second think about Charlie, Renee… me?

"Spill it, Leah – I need to know everything you know, now!"

"She was talking to Emily about how Edward wasn't going to give her up – something about her blood singing to him or some shit – and she just knew it was him that's after her. Then she slipped up and said if she left the Rez that the danger would follow her. So, what are you going to do about it?"

I thought about it; was I going to run away from my people to save Bella when she was the one that decided all this shit on her own after all we'd done to try and keep her safe? My blood was boiling – Bella Swan; martyr and the bane of my existence. How fucking dare she do this… how dare she?!

"You know what; if that's what she wants to do, I'm not going to stop her. I'm done fighting. To think I was actually going to put myself back out there for her!" Leah didn't even flinch as I started screaming. I jumped to my feet and started pacing the length of my room. This pissed me off more than anything ever had – even her little trip to Italy. I couldn't do this anymore; I wasn't strong enough to have my heart and soul ripped away from me again.

"If she wants to get herself killed then that's what's going to happen. How dare she come back into my life just to rip herself back out of it! Fuck! Fucking fuck! Selfish! Unbelievable!" I wasn't even talking in complete sentences by the end of it; I was simply screaming out words and continued pacing.

I was in love with the stupidest, most selfish girl in the world. She didn't think before she did things, and now she was going to get herself killed because she thought that she was protecting me? Didn't she realize that this was exactly what I was born to do? I was born to kill vampires – happily! And I was also in love with Bella Swan – vampire bait extraordinaire. I was born to love her – made just for her in every way. She couldn't face this on her own… and I couldn't let her, no matter how angry I was with her.

"I love her, damn it," I whispered. Leah sat quietly, not even smiling now. My eyes met hers and I whispered again. "I need her; I can't fight against it anymore. I can't let her sacrifice herself, and the pull is killing me, Lee."

"How have you fought it this long, Jacob?" she asked softly.

"I don't know," I admitted. It had nearly killed me – literally – when Bella had walked away from me, and staying away from her was even harder after that. Five long years denying myself the one thing I knew to be right – because I was as stubborn as Bella fucking Swan! All because I was angry that she had left to save that bloodsucker. She had broken me, nearly killed me – but damn it if I didn't still love her more than anything. I lived and breathed for that girl.

"As much as it hurt me, Sam gave in and Jared didn't fight it either," Leah said quietly, not a bit of malice in her voice. "You can't fight the pull of your imprint – so go to her, tell her everything and shake her until she wakes up from her delusional bullshit. You're the strongest person I know, but even you can't fight fate, Jacob."

Leah was right – except maybe about the shaking part – I had to get Bella back. No matter how mad I was at her for pulling this stunt, I had to go and get my imprint and never let her go again. And the vampire that was hunting her was as good as dead! I had to fight for her, even if that meant fighting Bella herself to get her to see that she was mine.

"I have to go," I said quickly. I stripped as fast as I could, tying my clothes to my leg as I turned toward the open window of my bedroom. Without waiting to hear if Leah answered, I flung myself over the sill, phasing in mid-air and ran as quickly as possible toward Port Angeles and to my imprint – my Bella.

*Bella's POV*

I couldn't stop shaking the whole drive, and as I pulled up in front of my apartment and shut off the engine my hands were vibrating to the point that I dropped the keys on the floor of the car.

"Shit!" I hissed nastily as I got on my knees on the pavement and rooted around under the seat. My fingers wrapped around the key ring, but as I pulled it forward I saw something else under the seat. My hands began to shake harder as I pulled the tangled mass into the light and I could feel the blood in my veins run cold.

The dream catcher Jacob had given me for my eighteenth birthday was snapped into pieces and had tangled with the car keys. It had been in my room back at Charlie's and now it was here…

"What the fuck?"

"Such language," a voice tsked from behind me. My blood ran even colder as I registered that voice, but the familiarity did nothing to comfort me. The voice that had once brought me happiness and made me feel warm inside, now only brought emptiness, cold and the knowledge that I was about to die.

"You know, I do believe the short amount of time you've spent with those dogs has rubbed off on you," he hissed. "They will never come near you again, my sweet, not after you have become like me."

I fought against the cold that continued to seep into my bones and shakily got to my feet, the broken pieces of the dream catcher still clutched tightly in my fists. I turned toward him, and I could feel my heart double its pace as I took in the sight of him.

"Hello, Edward," I said quietly, my voice sounding much stronger than I had anticipated. "Fallen off the wagon with your diet; I bet Carlisle is so very disappointed with you."

"I am sure he would be most disappointed with me, yes," he whispered as he closed in on me. My back hit the car, and Edward's breath fanned across my face, causing goose bumps of fear to break out all over my skin.

"But I must admit, I care little for what my family may think about my diet. I now live with others of my kind – where I don't have to hide what I am. I am free to do as I please, I am a king and I get everything I want. And what I want..." his breath once more fanning across my skin as he leaned toward me, running his nose in the crook of my neck and inhaling deeply, "...is you, Bella."

"You're not the one I want, Edward," I said softly, my voice still strong and unwavering. His eyes turned colder, lifeless as he glared down at me.

"Do you really think I care what you want, Bella? You're mine, end of discussion," he said as he grabbed my arms tightly. I could feel the bitter cold of his marble-like skin seeping into me, and the emptiness inside of me spread deeper into my bones. The tips of his fingers were digging into the soft flesh of my arms, and I whimpered as he tightened his grip even more.

"You are quite delusional if you think that your precious mutt would take you back after all the times you've hurt him. Though I applaud your efforts, you played your part well. I did not expect it to be so easy," he laughed, a dark and hollow sound that I had never heard from Edward before. "Much to my dismay, my beloved family found out about my... intentions toward you, and they were less than happy about my behavior. When I found out about the imprint between yourself and him, I knew I had to get you away from him for good."

"What are you talking about? Jacob didn't imprint on me." I was totally confused, Edward had officially lost his fucking mind. Jacob would have told me… right?

"Oh, Bella," Edward laughed again, his grip tightening even more on my arms, "he never told you? This is just too perfect. He did imprint on you, I can assure you of that. I have read it in his mind. He probably never told you because you hurt him so much – so many times."

I deserved to be alone – even Jacob fought against his imprint on me because I was so selfish. I had been so stupid; Edward had played me perfectly. I had hurt my soul mate, and now I was going to die when I should have stayed on the Rez where I was safe – in the arms of the man I loved more than anything.

"Jacob was so shattered when you came to Italy to save me, Bella," Edward continued, his voice still empty and his eyes still boring into mine as if he were trying to see inside of me. "That was the straw that broke the proverbial camel's back. You were so concerned for me; it broke him to see that you still cared for me after all I had done to hurt you. And poor Alice, she honestly thought I had gone to the Volturi to kill myself."

"You're a part of their coven now? That's why you went there?" It made sense; Edward was a prized vampire with a gift. Aro had wanted him and Alice, but Alice had declined their offer. Little did we know that Edward had already joined them. He had even played his family…

"How could you do such a thing to your own family?"

"They were all trying to hold me back. After I first met you, I just knew I had to have you," he growled and gripped my arms a bit tighter, I felt his nails digging into my skin now and the scent of copper hit my nostrils. "I wanted so badly to drain you that first day in Biology; I was going to kill the entire class just to get to you. You are mine, and I will have what belongs to me. No one will keep you away from me – not even my own family, and especially not Jacob Black."

His eyes fell to my hands then and he snarled as he let go of one of my arms and grabbed the remains of the dream catcher. He untangled the keys from it and I watched as he closed his fist around the wood and string, the sound of crunching and cracking as the wood splintered. He opened his hand; a smirk plastered across his lips as the dust of the wood floated into the night air. The strings that were left drifted to the ground. My heart dropped as I watched, wishing I hadn't left the reservation and Jacob's side.

"Let's take this conversation inside, shall we?" he grinned again as he whipped me around, slammed the car door and he pushed me ahead of him toward the door that lead to my apartment. He knew everything, where my apartment was, what door was mine, what key to use… how long had he been watching me? I didn't say anything; I just marched ahead of him into the apartment as he closed the door and switched on a light.

"Angela will be home very soon," I lied, breaking the silence. My arms were throbbing from where Edward had grabbed me and the sting behind my eyes alerted me to the tears that were very close to the surface. I was scared – terrified really – about what Edward was going to do now. We were alone and closed up inside my apartment. He was so close to me now, too close. The feel of his body near mine made bile rise into my throat. He was too cold, too hollow – not the Edward I had once loved – and he definitely wasn't my Jacob.

"Hmm, you always were a very bad liar, Bella," he whispered as he wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled my back against his chest. "I know Angela is in La Push with her dog. It's just you and me, and I plan to show you all the pleasure you have been missing out on since you sent me away."

"Please, don't do this," I choked out as he used one of his hands to move my hair to the side and he tucked his face into my neck. "I don't want you to touch me like this, Edward."

"Isabella," he cooed as he turned me toward him, his eyes searching mine and the familiar smirk pulling across his lips. He looked like the Edward I had once loved – except the crimson irises that were even more unsettling now that I was this close to him. "You and I, we are destined to be together. You're my singer, my La Tua Cantante – it's fate."

"N-no, please," I sobbed, the tears making their escape as he leaned closer to me. I could taste his breath as he brought his lips toward mine. I could only think of one thing, and so I whispered the only word that mattered to me at that very moment. "Jacob."

That stopped him in his tracks and his eyes snapped to mine once more. The crimson of his irises faded away to black as my pulse picked up speed. This was it…

"What did you just say?" he hissed, his lips brushing against mine as he said each word.

"Jacob," I answered. I pulled back away from him as much as I could. The tears continued to fall as I thought about Jake. I had left him, left the safety of his arms to come here and do what? I left him to sacrifice myself, but I now knew Edward wouldn't stop at just me. He would kill everyone I loved even after I was gone. He wasn't the man I thought I knew; he was cold, evil and soulless. He was a monster, and I'd walked straight into his tangled web of lies, deceit and anger. There was no escape, so I looked straight at him and said:

"I love Jacob, and I'm prepared to die for him."

Edward then threw his head back and laughed – that empty, hollow sound. "You think that because you are ready to die for him that I won't just kill him, too – and his whole pack of mutts?"

"I know you'll do whatever you want, even after I'm gone. You'll kill and suck away every bit of happiness and joy – because that's what you do. You're a leech, and you really are the monster you always warned me you were. I just never saw it until it was too late."

Edward didn't even blink; he just leaned toward me and grinned again. "And to think, I was prepared to show you undeniable amounts of pleasure, but now I think it's just going to be a painful death for you."

Before I could blink, he had me pinned against the wall of my living room, plaster raining down around me as he hissed and brought his mouth to my neck. I felt the nip of his teeth, but he didn't break my skin. He inhaled deeply once, I closed my eyes, preparing for the pain and the burn, but it didn't come.

"Don't touch her, Edward." I knew that voice, but it couldn't be. "You don't want to do this."

My eyes snapped open and I met the last sight I had ever expected over Edward's shoulder.

"Ja…"

But before I could finish, I felt a sudden pain and my body crumpled to the floor as Edward released me. A crash sounded and I could just make out my big picture window shattering as Edward escaped and three bodies hovered over me as my world faded to black.