Disclaimer:
The characters from the Twilight Series belong to the absolutely talented Stephenie Meyer. We hold no rights to them otherwise. DARN!
A/N:
Okay…..Let me do this first…HANNAH and IKE, STAY AWAY FROM MY FRIENDS!!
There, hopefully that will help a bit. Stay safe though everyone.
As I sit here writing this chapter, the wind is gusting at a mere 20 miles per hours. The remains of Gustav are saying hello as they pass through Michigan. Yes, I am kind of a weather freak. I wish I was still in North Carolina getting ready for Hannah. It is amazing to witness Mother Nature at work. I was captivated.
voldemortperfumes- you can stop biting your nails, Edward is on the way : )
Lilly Romanov- Wow, you actually know what it is like before a blizzard? We sometimes get a lot of snow here but I can't say I have ever been in a
blizzard…interesting…and Yes, I am going to look up that poem you suggested, thanks!
Anon e mouse- glad I could make you do a happy dance, that is sweet! LOL
Sweetiewriter4712- I will keep writing for sure if there are cookies involved! Oatmeal, Peanut Butter, Shortbread...
So many of you enjoyed the thought of a run away beach ball! Loved the comment from Screams-At-Midnight: KILLER BEACH BALL GO RAWR. LOL
You all make me smile, so in return for the wonderful reviews and encouragement I am posting this chapter early! Enough with the cliffhanger, let's find out what happens next……..
Previously:
"No Emmett, thank you but you have to stay here and keep everyone else safe. I promise I'll bring her back. I promised Bella…" Edward's voice drifted off and then returned quieter. "I promised her I would keep her safe. I crossed my heart."
And before anyone else could say anymore or insist on going with him, Edward was out the door running as fast as the wind would let him. We stood on the front porch watching him disappear into the pouring rain.
BPOV
Please, please, please. I picked the handset up and set it back in the cradle numerous times. The results were always the same…no dial tone…no help…no one knew I was here. But they had to figure it out. At any moment they would realize I was not with them. Edward would realize I was missing, but would they know where to look? Rose thought I was leaving the shop to be with Jasper and Edward. For all they know, I'm wandering out in the storm. It was no use. I may never see Edward Masen again. The storm was getting too strong and no one would be able to come find me until everything was done.
I slammed the silent handset down on the cradle of the phone. I wanted to break it to pieces but if for some chance the service started working again, I would need that phone. Stupid Bella, how could you forget your cell phone? Would it even work if I had it? I hung my head in defeat and started to cry. Oh Edward, I need you. I am so scared.
I lifted my head and through watery eyes, looked around the shop for some way to get out. I noticed something I had never thought about before while I was working here. All of the merchandise was on racks or tables that sat up above floor level. Nothing was displayed down low. Esme must have had trouble in the past with flooding or just wanted to avoid the possibility of losing anything in case of a flood. Hmmm.
There had to be a way out of here. Maybe the back door? I ran into the store room to check it. Pushing and pushing, I gave into defeat once more. It must be padlocked just like the front. How can this be happening to me? I leaned my back against the door and slid down to the floor. I wrapped my arms around my legs and my forehead dropped to my knees. The wind was howling outside and I could hear the rain beating against the building. Will the shop withstand the pounding that Mother Nature is about to give it? If everything began to crumble around me would I be able to make it out alive? Maybe the waters will flood the shop and I will drown inside of here! Oh god...Edward. I started to tremble and wrapped my arms tighter around myself.
I am not sure how long I was sitting like this but a very loud crash startled me and I screamed out loud, "NOoo! Please No!" My tremors turned into all out shakes as I could no longer calm my nerves.
"Ohm gosh, ohm gosh…" I pushed myself up so I could stand and almost collapsed back down to the floor. My legs were like rubber and didn't want to work.
I took a deep breath and headed out of the stock room to the front of the shop. Everything was so dark, the wind was so loud, and I was so nervous my teeth were even chattering. I felt my way along holding onto racks until I reached the doorway of the stock room. It was just as dark in the shop. A crack of space under the front door was letting in a mist of water and a cool breeze. The wind is cold. I found a towel under the counter and pushed it against the base of the door to keep the moisture out. Like that's going to be much help if the roof comes down. But then, if the roof comes down on me I won't be around long enough to even think about anything else. Except…my Edward.
A huge burst of wind hit the front of the shop and the towel was blown away from the base of the door. Even with the windows boarded up, the glass inside rattled and shook from the pressure. Bella, you can't just stand here, you have to go in the back room. There are no windows, it will be safer. How was I able to find common sense amongst all this fear? I had no choice. I had to try and fight this fear. I just had to see Edward again.
My hands raked through my hair as I moved toward the doorway to the back room. I heard a thump on the roof and looked up. The skylight! I need a ladder. There is a ladder in the back room. I can climb out onto the roof and find a way to slide down! I had to get out of this place, I had to get out, I…
Hysterics were setting in. I blindly raced to the back room bumping into things every few steps. I am going to be full of bruises. I found the step ladder and dragged it back out to the shop. It was pretty tall and a bit awkward to hold up while I fumbled with opening it.
There! See Bella, you can do this! Wind was crashing against the building again as torrents of rain pounded on the walls and roof. How much can this poor shop withstand?
I squeezed my eyes tight as I held onto the ladder with my foot resting on the first rung. What are you doing Bella! Stop, go back and find a safe place in the store room. Be safe! The thoughts in my mind spoke to me in Edward's voice. But I couldn't stay here; I had to be with him. I would do anything to be with Edward. I loved him more than life itself.
Carefully I climbed to the top of the ladder until I could touch the skylight. I released the lock and pushed up on the plexi-glass window. It opens! As I tried to push it all the way open a gust of wind pushed it back closed. I was not prepared for that.
"Dammit!" I grumbled out loud. The ladder wiggled beneath me but I caught my balance. "Okay Bella, you can do this."
I took a deep breath and pushed on the skylight with more pressure this time. I felt like I was having a fight with the wind. It was pressing back down on the window as I was pushing up. A burst of very strong wind slammed the window down against me almost smashing my fingers. The ladder rocked from my unbalanced body and tipped to the side taking me with it. Ahhh! I tried to jump clear and not get hit by the falling ladder but that didn't turn out as such a good idea. I actually fell into the wall shelves and hit my head. Souvenirs were sent flying in all directions. You klutz! I scolded myself and started to cry.
I made myself crawl to the back room. In spite of the increase of coldness in the shop, my head was pounding and I was starting to feel sweat on my forehead. I reached up to wipe it off before it dripped into my eyes and that's when I realized it wasn't sweat, I was bleeding. I had cracked my head pretty good on the shelf and blood was beginning to soak my hair. Oh Shit! I found a spot on the floor by the wall and placed my back against it. I curled up with my legs to my chest and rested my chin on my knees. Right back to the same position I was in earlier. Pressing one hand onto the gash in my head, I tried to stop the bleeding and make my headache go away. I should look for a towel but I just feel so tired. I have worn myself out from all the stress. I've probably been here less than an hour but it feels like so much longer.
I had no more strength to cry. I just let the tears stream quietly down my face. My head hurts, I miss Edward, and hell I even miss Emmett. The wind and the rain were relentless outside. They were loudly pounding on the walls. I closed my eyes and thought of the one thing that could keep me calm, those beautiful emerald green eyes. My Edward…
EMPOV
The shop was within walking distance from the house, but with these high winds and driving rain, it was going to take Edward twice as long to reach Bella. As fast as he could run, he was not getting anywhere fast. I watched him make his way as quickly as he possibly could. He was fighting Mother Nature. I was betting on Edward to win.
"I should have gone with him. I know Bella. She was freaking out from the moment she realized she was locked in. I just know it." I groaned.
"Emmett honey, Edward will get to her. He cares so much for Bella, it's tearing him apart that she's out there all alone. He will do everything possible to make her safe." Esme reassured me.
"I know he will. I just hope he makes it there safe himself." I said. "Look at the wind and the rain. It is picking up big time! It's got to be hard to even walk in this stuff."
"Once we get into the eye of the storm Edward and Bella will have time to make it back to the house." Carlisle explained. "It's going to be a few hours though before that will happen so they'll have to sit tight at the shop until then. They'll be okay."
"Emm, this is crazy!" Jasper said standing next to me on the porch. "Look at the lightning show!"
"Jazz you get away from that lightning!" Alice shouted from inside the doorway.
"I am fine Al. I'll be more careful this time." Jasper answered her shaking his head. "Whoa! Look at the stuff blowing around out there!"
"Where?" I stared down the street trying to figure out what he was looking at.
"Look towards the downtown area, where Edward went." Said Rose pointing. "That's what Jasper is talking about."
You could see things flying around in the heavy wind. It was hard to tell what it was though. I turned around to look the other way down the street. A few of the neighbors were standing on their porches just like we were. The rain was blowing at the back and side of the house so we were able to watch without getting very wet at all. This was just amazing!
"You should all get inside. It is not safe to be out there." Alice said loudly out the door. "Please Jazz. You could get hit by something."
"Like what Alice? The scary, killer beach ball?" I teased her.
"Okay, okay…I'll be right in." Jasper poked his lip out. He was such a storm nut. This will probably be the highlight of our summer for him. "What the…HEY Look Out!" He grabbed Rose's arm and pulled her down in a squat with him before I had a chance to figure out what he was talking about.
"What's going…" smack It hit me right between the eyes. "Shit! What the hell was that?" Laughter erupted all around me.
"Emm get down." Rose tugged on my arm as she giggled. "You're going to get hit again."
I squatted down just in time to see inflatable pool toys flying in our direction. Beach balls, water wings, and floats were sailing through the air on gusts of wind.
"Are you shittin me? Did I just get hit with…" I started.
"A beach ball!" They all chanted together finishing my sentence.
"No freakin way! That's just messed up." I grumbled. Jasper opened his mouth to say something and I cut him off before he had a chance. "Don't say it! Just don't even say it."
The coast appeared clear so I took Rose by the hand and quickly moved back into the house. Jasper followed behind us. The rain and wind were getting even stronger and we were starting to get wet. I looked down the street one more time before I closed the door. Edward, please find Bells and keep her safe. I turned and joined everyone in the candle lit media room. They were listening to a battery operated weather radio.
EPOV
I leapt off the porch at full force heading for downtown holding the keys to the shop tightly in my hand. The only thing on my mind was getting to Bella. No matter how hard the wind pushed at me I continued to push back. This was one hell of a workout! I had to put my arm up in front of my face to block the rain. In a seventy mile an hour wind, raindrops felt like needles on your skin. All around me leaves; branches and other flying projectiles were trying to take me out. I found myself slowing down to a determined walk so I could make sure I wasn't hit by anything.
It was such an eerie feeling. The streets were empty just like a ghost town. Sheets of rain rippled across the road like ribbons. The sky was darkening before my eyes. I needed to get to the shop before it was too dark to see. The sound of the wind was like a strange loud hum all around me, just a non-stop, steady sound. I looked up into the sky and saw the clouds moving so fast. They were actually moving in a circular pattern. Streaks of lightning lit up the clouds casting a sinister glow.
It was getting harder to move forward against the storm. The wet ground made my feet slip and the wind kept pushing me sideways. It is so hard to fight nature, but I was willing to fight whatever I had to until I made it to Bella.
As I rounded the corner a gust of high wind threw me off balance. I tripped over the stump of a newly destroyed tree and my arms cart wheeled as I tried to catch myself.
The wind helped to throw my momentum forward and I slammed against a metal cage filled with inflatable beach toys. It had been bolted to the front of a store. After hitting the cage I fell forward on my knees. Shite!
Shaking the wet hair from my face I realized I was no longer holding the keys for the shop. No, no, no! I must have dropped them when I hit the cage. I scrambled to my feet and looked through the metal grating. Damn! There they were lying amongst a pile of beach balls, and other water toys. I grabbed the door to the cage and shook it fiercely as I screamed.
The lock wasn't heavy duty but it still wouldn't come loose. I didn't have time to fight the wind and go back to the house for extra keys. I had to get these. Looking around I spotted a large rock in front of the store. It was about the size of a football. I quickly picked it up and smashed it numerous times against the lock. When I felt something hit off my shoe and drop to the ground I stopped. Pieces of the lock were lying by my feet. I tossed the rock to the side and yanked open the door of the cage.
A gust of wind, stronger than anything I had felt so far, ripped the door from my hand and slammed it shut again. The keys fell to the bottom of the cage. Oh no, I don't think so! I grabbed the door once more and pulled with all my strength. Bracing my back against the door to keep it from closing again, I began tossing the beach balls and toys out into the street. The wind was grabbing them playfully and hurling them along down the road. I sure hope no one is standing in their path. I spotted the keys and grabbed them quickly. Shoving them in the pocket of my pants and continued on. Only a few blocks more to go. Bella, I am almost there baby.
The wind was taking everything out of me. I could tell that it had increased from when I had left the house. It was getting colder and the rain was coming down heavier. The wind was causing it to fall straight down, sideways, one direction and then the other. I kept my gaze directed down at my feet as I pressed forward. Just one more block to go! WhenI heard a loud cracking noise it startled me. I looked up just in time to watch a rather large tree branch get carried away by the wind. If I was walking any faster it would have hit me. I checked around to see if it was clear from debris and pushed myself harder. It feels like I have been walking for a very long time.
I felt the front of my pant pocket just to be sure. The key is still there. It was almost completely dark and I moved up closer to the fronts of the buildings. It was hard to see but I could make out the front of Esme's shop just ahead of me. My heart started beating faster and as tired as I was, I found the strength to run the rest of the way there. It must have looked like I was running in slow motion to anyone who would have seen me. It felt like I was running through a pool filled with waist high water and not just running against the wind.
"Bella!" I shouted. A gust of wind carried the sound of my voice away with it.
I reached the front door and tried to look in through the small window. It was no use. The shop was completely dark inside. I pounded on the door to try and get her attention, just to see if she was okay, but I am not even sure she would have heard me with all the noise from the hurricane. Grabbing the keys out of my pocket, I flipped through them trying to figure out which one fit the padlock. Not that one…not that one…Shite! Something just had to go right…please! Don't tell me I have the wrong keys.
My hands were shaking badly, both from nerves and from the cold rain. It was the very next key that slid perfectly into the lock. I squeezed my eyes shut and said one word before I turned it…Please.
I felt the lock drop open in my hand. As fast as I could move, I pulled out the lock dropping it on the ground and pushed my way through the door. Quite opposite of all the noise outside, it was deathly quiet in here. I tried to let my eyes adjust to the darkness. With the windows boarded up, it was so very dark in here.
"Bella?" I called as I walked carefully forward. I let my feet drag as I walked so as not to trip on anything. "Bella?" She just had to be here. What if she wasn't? What if Alice was mistaken and Bella was lost outside in the storm? My heart was pounding so hard it hurt my chest.
After another step, I felt my foot hit something hard. I bent down to get a closer look and realized it was a ladder. Why was a ladder here on the floor? I looked up and noticed the skylight. Oh no…would she have tried to go out that way? Did she? I had to finish looking in here before I went outside again. I checked the dressing rooms…nothing, behind the counter…nothing. My legs were shaking I was getting so nervous. Bella, where are you!
All that was left was the back room. There were no windows there. It would have been a safe place to go and it was where I headed next. My eyes were more adjusted to the dark and I moved as fast as possible through the racks of clothes in my way.
"Bella please…are you here?" It came out in a pained moan.
"Edw…Edward, help me." Bella whimpered near by.
I heard her start to cry and ran directly for the sound. Not caring that I ripped my shirt on one of the racks. Not caring that I was moving so fast it was hard to see and I stumbled down to my knees. I began to crawl the rest of the way until I reached her. I found my Bella and nothing was going to hurt her now. Tears were running down my cheeks, I was so relieved. I stopped beside her and pulled her into my arms.
"Edward is it really you or am I dreaming?" Her words came out in a whisper. She nuzzled against my chest.
"It's really me sweetheart. I'm here with you and I am not going anywhere." I told her. I reached a hand up and stroked her hair. It felt wet, and sticky.
"My head is bleeding. I fell off the ladder trying to get out of here. It hurts." She said.
I pulled her carefully away from myself so I could look at her better. Her cheeks were tear streaked, her eyes were red, and part of her hair was coated with blood. I reached behind her back and under her legs then picked her up into my arms as I stood up from the floor.
"Oh Bella," I whispered in her ear. "I am so sorry. This should have never happened to you. I should have been here…"
"Stop Edward…" She cut me off. "Don't you dare blame yourself. You had no way to know I would get locked in here. That was no ones fault. And it's my own clumsy fault that I fell off that stupid ladder. I'm so glad you're here. I was scared I would be all alone."
"As long as I am in your life, you will never be alone." I told her.
I stared into her beautiful brown eyes as my lips met hers. I kissed her softly at first until she wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled her mouth tighter against mine.
"Ow," she whimpered quietly.
"Bella my love, we are going to be here for a while. Let's get your head fixed up and then see what's around here to help us get more comfortable." I carefully set her down so her feet could touch the floor.
A/N:
What a struggle! Were you sitting on the edge of your seats? Hello?? Why are you on the floor? Its safe now, Edward made it. Get up and sit back in your chairs. LOL!
I am going to try and get the next chapter out by Wednesday. I will try very, very hard cause I don't want to leave you hanging until I return from Forks. Yes, I am going to Forks next weekend to meet up with all the crazy TMs. It should be very interesting. If I happen to find one of the Cullen boys wandering around in the forest, I will bring him home and invite all my loyal Review Groupies over so we can all drool together. LOL (wouldn't that be nice! Edward, Emmett, or Jasper…does it really matter which one it is? I would probably have to tie all your hands behind your backs so you wouldn't tear him to pieces trying to get your hands all over him! LOL)
Sooo…back to reality. Here's your chapter early…hope you enjoyed it and throw me some feedback : ) Pardon any grammatical errors. I was trying to finish quickly.