Chapter 6
BPOV
Alice glanced at me; alarm written clearly across her face. I stared back soundlessly. "Don't answer," I mouthed to her.. She nodded, shifting on the bed nervously. I felt her hand grasp my hand tightly in hers.
"I know you're in there; both of you." The velvet voice murmured, "I was planning on killing you, Bella, but your brother was in the way. Luckily, he's in the hospital wing, and Alice Cullen is with you. I can kill two birds with one stone…perfect." The voice behind the door purred, stirring in the horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach. The worst was that the voice was completely neutral, neither female nor male could be identified.
"Take me, leave Alice alone." I declared, ignoring the furious, frantic looks that Alice threw at me.
"Bella, you idiot, I will not live when my best friend is going to die right in front of me!" She whispered harshly, but I gritted my teeth, refusing to back down from my offer.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk," The serial killer clicked its tongue, "I'm sorry Bella, but I can't do that. Both Dr. Cullen and Chief Swan must be hurt. And what better way to do this when I can hurt their children?" I could detect the sinister smile in the monotone voice as it got excited.
I hesitated, "Why are you making small talk with us?" I decided to ask, hoping to stall time before the men were here.
"I don't know; I think it's because I like to get to know my prey well before I kill them." I saw the doorknob turn as the electronic device was being hacked.
"Well, wait a little bit longer because Edward and Jasper are coming soon." Alice warned. The voice snorted.
"I don't give a damn." Just then, a spark lit the small room, electing a shout of pain and surprise from the voice. "Ow! Damn, I'll come back for you later!" With the sound of fading footsteps, the serial killer was gone. I breathed a sigh of relief, collapsing on the bed beside Alice.
She released my hand. I felt blood rush back to the limb as I felt a sharp pain stab my cheek I realized that she had slapped me...
"Isabella Swan…" Her small voice quivered, "Don't ever do that again, promise me that." The sheet vibrated, and I guessed Alice was trembling from relief beside me in the dark.
"I'm sorry Alice, but I can't do that." It felt like a scene from a cheesy drama I saw once. A soft knock sounded once again at the door. I felt my breathing quicken, adrenaline pumped in my veins..
"Alice? It's Jasper…and Edward." A loud grunt was heard from outside, "God Damnit, Edward, you're going to talk to her, and I swear I'm not going to leave your side until you do!" Edward's masculine voice grumbled something. "I'm saying this as someone who knows how you feel! Bella, open the friggin door NOW!"
Alice pushed me to the door, I grasped the surface skeptically. I pulled away as I felt a small shock numb my fingers. "Open the door Bella." Alice told me quietly.
A deep breath later, I cracked the door open to see Jasper wrestling with Edward. So far, Jasper had Edward pinned to the wall to my left. Edward's hand was up against Jasper's chin as his other was on his chest, attempting to shove him off. Jasper had his leg implanted firmly between Edward's, and one of his hands were on Edward's shoulder. The other was on his forehead, keeping Edward's skull glued to the wall. I stood frozen on the spot; Alice cleared her throat quite loudly. Immediately, they broke apart.
"Come in," I choked out; my eyes only focused on Edward's emerald ones. He moved stiffly into the space, switching on the lights. Alice leaped happily into Jasper's arms.
"We'll just leave you alone…" Alice sneakily moved them to the door.
"Hold it!" I was still entranced in Edward's gaze, "You two, in the bathroom, so if I need you, I wont need to find you." I pointed to the bathroom. I could tell Alice was pouting, but I shunned it. "Go, now. On the way, why not tell Jasper the near death experience we just endured."
"Near death experience?" Jasper repeated; Edward's head swiveled to Jasper's figure, unlocking me from his piercing eyes. "What does Bella mean by that?" Alice's boyfriend's voice was tight, restrained. I switched my eyes onto the couple.
"I'll tell you in the bathroom," Alice said gently, "But please, don't overreact." She ran her hand through Jasper's lion mane comfortingly. "Let's go." She paused, turning to Edward and I. "I swear if you two don't work this out by tonight, it won't be the serial killer who you're going to be afraid of anymore," she threatened, then sending us a quick wink before shutting the bathroom door softly behind them.
Edward's face looked quizzically at me. "Near death experience?"
"You aren't going to hear it from me," I said, sitting on the bed. I peeked at him, patting the space where I wanted him to sit at. Edward flopped down, crinkling the sheets under him.
"I don't understand." He started; I waited for him to continue, "I don't understand how you would leave me for something so stupid." I blinked.
"Stupid?" I repeated indignantly. "I didn't want to see you get hurt because of me!" I retorted, already feeling the heated discussion raging upon us.
"I was already going to come after you either way," He said under his breath. I smacked his arm.
"What? Could you not comprehend the message that was presented on the wall?"
"Oh, I saw it perfectly well, trust me. Besides, I only left you alone for about an hour." I crossed my arms over my chest. "It felt like an eternity," He murmured.
I heard a smash in the bathroom, and I cringed. When Jasper got mad, you should always take cover.
"That BASTARD!" Jasper roared, storming out of the door with Alice trying to hold him back. He roughly shook her off, the news disturbing him so horribly that he couldn't control himself.
"Bella, Edward, help please; Jasper's going for the killer." She tried to push him back, but he kept his pace, dragging Alice with him. Edward grabbed Jasper's shoulders, guiding him to the bed. Jasper's cerulean eyes were a sea of harsh icicles, ready to stab at someone. He blindly punched a pillow. Alice rubbed soothing circles on his back. "I told him," She confessed quietly.
"Clearly," I said, my back planted against the door in case Jasper was going to charge at the door like a sightless bull.
"Jasper, what happened?" Edward kept him pinned down. Jasper took a deep breath, slowing his heart rate. His hands remained shaking and clenched as he began to calmly speak.
"Come with me Edward," Jasper stood up, pulling him into the bathroom with him, "We won't leave your sides anymore, not when this…barbaric person is still out there." He fumed on the way.
A gentle tap alerted us of another presence.
"Bella? Is it alright if I come in?" It was Rose. I let her in; her face was red like her eyes only less puffy. "I'm sorry," She sniffed, "but is it okay if I stay here with you guys? My room is really lonely without Emmett…" her voice cracked at the end.
"Sure, sure," Alice welcomed Rose warmly, giving her a tight hug. I squeezed Rose's hand in comfort.
"Carlisle, Esme, and Captain Swan are with Emmett, and they told me to tell you guys to stay in groups of three or four in case if anything else happens." She wiped her tears away.
"Did you and Edward make up yet?" Alice broke the silence that followed.
"Somewhat." I looked at Edward as he disappeared through the doors of the bathroom.
EPOV
I watched Jasper carefully; I've seen him be overprotective for Alice, and it wasn't pretty when something bad happened to her or about her.
"He came here," He stated simply. Everything clicked in my head just by hearing that little sentence.
"He what?" My voice was rising.
"He came here, threatening them both. Was going to kill them too if that doorknob didn't shock him." He was now pacing, speaking in a hurried fashion. "Bella tried to sell herself to him in order to save Alice." My eyes widened; my jaw dropped, "Yeah, I know, but he didn't want Bella only. He wanted to hurt both of them." His chatter was becoming a blur, but I could hear him clearly as I strained. "He's pretty sneaky, trying to hurt Captain Swan and Dr. Cullen by hurting their own flesh and blood. In other words, you, Alice, Bella, and Emmett are the main targets of this game. Rose and I are just bugs that he can dispose of quickly. I'm not going to give him my Alice. I'm as sure as hell that he might try to use any of us as bait." I digested what he was staying; then a horrible thought came to mind.
"What if…" I had Jasper's attention in a flash, "What if…the entire ship is bait? The people on this ship, the ship itself, Charlie's honor as a captain…" I trailed off, the possibilities and combos were mind-blowing and ever so plausible. Jasper nodded, comprehending on everything I just said.
"Yes, yes." He looked up at me, "We better tell Charlie." I nodded curtly, opening the door to see Bella, Alice, and Rose all squished together on the bed. Their eyes snapped open to stare at us.
"So, everything alright?" Alice asked.
"Everything is going to be okay. Jasper and I are just going to grab some more blankets, pillows, and some clothes to last so we can stash out here." I swiftly thought of an appropriate excuse. "We're also going to check on Emmett for a little bit, so we might be back a little late."
"Be careful," Bella's head was turned the other way, so I couldn't see her face. At the sound of her voice, my heart warmed up.
She cares, I said to myself. Jasper grinned despite his tense pose at the door.
In the hallway, we climbed up to the Captain's cabin. Charlie wasn't there, so we checked the hospital bed where Emmett was at. Carlisle and Esme were sitting together on a sofa, a blanket wrapped snugly around them. Charlie's head was resting beside Emmett's cot. I tucked the blanket over the captain's back.
"Edward," Carlisle woke up, "How's it going?"
"Everything is well. I'll tell you more tomorrow, but for now, Jasper and I need to be heading back to Bella's room. We're staying there for the night for protection." Carlisle nodded in approval. "I have to tell Charlie something," I glanced at his snoring figure, "But I'm sure it can wait until tomorrow." Jasper was at the door, waiting for a surprise attack of some sort.
"Good night Edward."
"Good night." We shared a father-son look, and then Jasper and I hurried back to our rooms, picking out our clothes and stuffed our arms with pillows and blankets.
Rose opened the door for us to enter. I changed in the bathroom, and settled on the floor beside the bed, as close to Bella's side of the room as possible.
Jasper stationed himself near the door as the bodyguard, and I didn't even try to let him take the first sleeping shift; I knew that he would refuse. I shifted under the covers a little, stirring Bella.
"I'm sorry." Her voice was muffled from under the covers.
"For what?" I whispered, careful not to disturb the sleeping people.
"For being stupid," She admitted.
"It's alright…" An awkward silence rose into the atmosphere. "I'm sorry for telling you everything will be okay."
"It's nothing…" She was silent for a little bit, "I love you, Edward." My heart soared.
"I love you too Bella, now get some sleep."
"Alright, good night Edward." I started to hum her lullaby as sleep enveloped me in a blinding darkness.