N/A: Ok, so here's the next chapter, and pay attention, because it's very important!
Chapter 13: Finding Edward
"Edward's disappeared…"
The words played over and over again in my mind. He couldn't have left. He couldn't. He promised. For ever and ever. That's what he said. He wouldn't break his promise. He just wouldn't.
"….and then he left. We're really sorry Bella, but we had to go after him. Bella? Did you hear me Bella?" The sound of Alice's voice brought me back to the present.
"What?" I was still a little dazed. "I'm sorry. I thought you just said Edward was gone. I must have misheard." Alice and Esme gave me an uneasy look.
"Bella, honey, you didn't mishear. Edward's gone. Alice was just explaining everything. Didn't you listen?" It was Esme's soothing voice that calmed my thoughts.
"Yeah, Bella, I was just saying how Edward has, literally, disappeared. He's not in my visions, and Jasper and Emmet can't pick up his scent. He's just…gone." She looked somewhat distraught. I felt….strange. It was like when Edward first left me. I felt numb. But I felt a strange sort of calm, like it was meant to happen. Karma. At least he wasn't off chasing some werewolf, or stray vampire.
"We have a theory that he went after Jake though." Why, why, WHY do I ALWAYS think too soon? I mentally hit myself. I felt awful. He'd gone after Jake. He was going to kill himself. God damn it! If I hadn't gone to La Push, none of this would ever have happened. My whole family wouldn't be endangered right now. Alice looked concerned. My face must have been betraying my emotions.
"Are you okay?" Alice peered over my face, anxiety etched onto her marble features. I slapped myself a little, trying to snap out of it.
"I'm fine. Have they searched La Push?" Even to me, my voice sounded strangely numb. There was absolutely no emotion in it.
"We can't, remember? It would break the treaty, although I' not sure the treaty has great standing to the werewolves anymore…" She said, wryly. "Billy called earlier, though. He asked Carlisle what he had done with Jacob. Jacob's gone too Bella. We think they've gone to fight, but we can't be sure. Their disappearances may be pure co-incidence, though I doubt it." Alice was already reaching into her pocket. She pulled out a slim silver phone, and quickly dialled a number I recognised as Carlisle's. She spoke quickly, and when she put the phone down, her expression was worried.
"That was Carlisle. He said there's no sign of Edward. However, they did pick up Jacob's scent….near some bodies. Dead bodies." Something suddenly clicked- the news report I had heard earlier! That must have been Jacob! It wouldn't surprise me after what he did to me. I quickly explained my theory to Alice and Esme.
"Yes, that would make sense. Where did it say the man went missing?" Esme was taking diligent notes, while I told her everything I could remember. "Hmmm. I'll call Carlisle. This could be what we need." Esme flipped the silver phone open, and spoke quickly and franticly into it.
"They're going to search the area." The phone call took less than a minute, but it seemed like hours before Esme told us the news.
"Do you think Edward followed him?" It was Alice now, asking Esme.
"I can't be certain, but it looks like our best bet. We'd better go and help. Are you up for it Bella?" There was only concern for my well fare in her motherly face, but I needed to go after Edward.
"I've had bigger scrapes than this before." I pointed out lightly. "Besides, I need to go after Edward. I lost him once; I'm not going to do it again." I winced at the memory of the time he left me…back when I was human. But I was determined to fight for him this time. The werewolves may not care about their own, but the Cullen's sure as hell do.
N/A: Ok, so I'd like tot take a vote. I don't have time to do a poll, so if you could write in your reviews what memories you would like in the next chapter- any ideas are very welcome.