Carlisle was waiting for Emmett. They placed their prisoner in a small room without any windows. Jasper took control of the conversation, the thought of knowing what they had to do sickened Carlisle's stomach but Emmett had his youthful zeal and Jasper had much practice in such encounters, questioning enemy soldiers when he was but a human…..
…. "What are you saying Edward?" He knew better than to ask that of me.
"I want you to go away. Just for a few weeks until we get this all sorted."
"No, no way. I'm staying right here with you."
"Bella you've seen for yourself these people can be anyone, anywhere. I can't keep you safe not like this."
"You've found four of them. How many more could there be?"
"Bella you're not listening to me. They know too much about you already. I need to hide you, somewhere they'd never look for you."
"I'm not going anywhere without you. You promised you'd never leave me."
"Some promises you just can't keep no matter how hard you try."
"Damn it Edward. Stop treating me like a child. I'm eighteen I can look after myself."
"You are going away and that's final. I'll have Alice pack some of your things for you…"
"No!"
"Bella please."
"I said no Edward and that's final."
"Bella please, listen to me."
"No you listen to me. I'm not your kid sister and I'm not your daughter or your wife. You can't order me around. I have a mind of my own and I won't be dictated to."
"Now you listen to me. I care about you too much to sit back and watch you die, I'd rather you hated me for the rest of your life than to know that I had failed you. This is the only way I know to protect you. Now stop being so stubborn and get in the car. You're going and that's final." Reluctantly I got in the passenger side of Edwards car, but before he could get into the drivers seat I had locked the doors, slid into the drivers seat and was speeding off down the driveway.
"Damn it."
"Edward, leave her." Alice insisted, holding him back by the arm.
"Stay out of this." Edward warned her.
"I will not. Bella is quite right Edward. You need to give her a little credit. She's a strong woman and you are being very dictatorial. I don't blame Bella one bit for acting out like that."
"She doesn't understand the danger she is in…"
"Doesn't she… or is it your fear of not being in control that has you worried?"
"You're out of line Alice."
"Am I?"
"Give me your keys." Edward insisted.
"No."
"Give them to me."
"Let her calm down, when she's ready I'll sense it. Then you can go talk to her." Reluctantly Edward backed down,
"Keep an eye on her will you. I don't want anything sneaking up on us."
"I always do." Edward went inside to calm down. He sat at his piano and played the Bella's song over and over again. Alice was about to ask him to play something else when her visions struck. Edward stopped playing mid note, he stared at Alice, seeing her vision in real time. When it was over he slammed his fist into the piano, breaking several keys. "Edward, I'm so sorry." Alice looked terrible, even paler than usual.
"Carlisle." Edward called out in a rage.
"Go. I'll bring him." With that Edward was gone.
*****Bella was crying, her heart threatening to stop the sadness that had enveloped her once before was threatening to take over once again. How could Edward send her way like that? It didn't matter, she wasn't going to let him send her anywhere. But how could he be so careless. Is this how it was always going to be? Send away the helpless liability? Bella was crying heavily as she navigated the steep hills and narrow roads. Edward's car was much faster and lighter than hers and she had to be careful to compensate for the difference. She didn't know where she was heading, just that the speed and distance felt good. She'd turn back when she was ready.
There was a storm raging outside, Bella found the windscreen wipers and turned them on. Wiping the tears from her eyes she turned the radio on. It was tuned to the classical station, Claire de Lune was playing.. "Great" Bella tried to change the station. While she was searching through the channels she did notice the passenger car coming the other way, as she veered onto the wrong side of the road Bella looked up and realized her mistake. She turned the wheel a little too far.. and missed the other car by half an inch. Her heart was racing, maybe it was time to turn around and go back home. "No." she told herself, hold your ground. You can't go running back to him now. Her cell phone rang, Edwards number was displayed… she let it ring. It rang twice more and then stopped. Was that all, was that as hard as he was going to try? The silver Volvo pulled itself up and over the next hill, the roads were wet and it wasn't easy. As she crossed the apex, she looked down upon the steep decent. There was debris all over the road. Bella tried to brake to slow the car down but it didn't work. The car slid down the hill like a toboggan down a slope. She held the wheel tight and braced herself for the impact. Half way down the hill Edwards Volvo hit a tree that had fallen over the road and spun around several times before coming to rest, wedge in against anther tree further down. The drivers' side door was pinned in. Her head hurt and as Bella moved to unbuckle her seat belt she noticed two things; the first was that she was almost certain that she had broken her arm and left wrist, the second was that her seatbelt was stuck. "Great" as she reached for the phone to call Edward, Bella's sight became fixated on the large supply truck which had just appeared over the hill, and was coming straight for her. She fought through the pain to free herself from the wreck. The truck drew closer and closer, Bella realized there was no time. She stopped fighting and prepared herself for the inevitable. If she was going to die, she would die honorably.
*****Edward had never ran so hard in all his life. The trees swayed as he swished past them. He had recognized the bend in Alice's vision and knew exactly where Bella would be. Every second was agonizing, his lungs burned. He dug deep within himself to find that extra bit of speed necessary to make it to her in time. As he made it to the top of a nearby hill, he could see his silver Volvo lying at the bottom of the decent. Bella was trapped in the passenger seat. The airbag had gone off in the accident, blood poured from her head wound. Her heart was pounding, working way too fast, and her breaths were labored and random. Bella was in distress. Edward looked sideways and saw the truck quickly approaching. He would never make it in time. He closed his eyes to concentrate. He felt the wind on his skin as he listened carefully for the truck. 'collision'. Edward had made it just in time to push the front of the truck sideways, causing it to miss the Volvo by only a matter of millimeters. The truck came to a stop nearby wedge against a tree. The driver, as far as Edward could ascertain, was unconscious but uninjured.
"Bella" he called, making his way to the passenger side of the vehicle and climbing through. Bella looked up at him, but her vision was blurry and she was loosing consciousness. Edward put pressure on her head wound and held another hand to her heart. He was loosing her. "Hold on Bella, please hold on." Edward kissed her forehead, "Carlisle" he screamed, knowing he was far from them. "Stay with me Bella. Carlisle" he screamed again, "God damn it Carlisle where are you?"
"I'm here son." Carlisle placed a hand on Edwards shoulder. Carlisle had raced to the scene much like Edward. Emmett, Jasper and Alice were close behind in the jeep. "Don't move her."
"Listen, her heart and lungs."
"I think she has a collapsed lung." Carlisle looked through his kit. "This might hurt a little." He apologized before checking her over from head to toe. "Pass me your jumper. Make it into a doughnut for me." Carlisle motioned the action, "Place it around her neck." Bella let out a moan as Carlisle repositioned her. For a second she stopped breathing,
"Bella." Edward screamed, Carlisle gave her a shot of adrenalin and her heart started beating again.
"We have to get her to a hospital. NOW!"
"Ambulance is on it's way." Alice informed them as she came to help.
"I don't think there are any spinal injuries."
"You don't think?"
"Without any accurate means to tell I can only guess, but it's her lungs that bother me." Edward stared Carlisle down, he felt so helpless. "Emmett, Jasper, I need you to help me lift her out of the car. Keep her as still as you can. Alice, the blanket from the jeep, go place it on the ground for me."
"What about me?"
"Keep her neck still. Just in case." The three of them lifted Bella out of the car and onto the ground. She dozed in and out of consciousness, but never aware enough to know what was happening. As they lifted her out Carlisle noticed the gash in her abdomen, blood once tunicae by her humped over body now flowed freely from the wound.
"Put pressure on the wound." He told Emmett.
"Look away." Carlisle told Edward as he pulled out a scalpel. Edward refused at first, but decided to take his advice. As the blade pierced Bella's lung Alice too turned away. Carlisle placed a small tube in the wound and Bella's lung started to inflate properly again, she gasped for air, Edward stroked her head to comfort her.
"Where's that ambulance?" Edward cried.
"It's on its way." Alice comforted him.
"She's not out of the woods yet but she'll be okay." Edward said nothing, he just stared at Bella. He couldn't believe he was going through this again, not after Phoenix. It was almost too much to bare. Carlisle immobilized her arm and wrist, placed a pressure bandage on her wound and monitored her breathing and heart rate. Emmett went to check on the other driver,
"He'll be fine." He assured them, "just a few scratches."
"This is my fault."
"You can't blame yourself for this, it was an accident."
"She wouldn't have been driving if it wasn't for me."
"Edward no." Alice implored him to listen, "No one caused this, it was just fate."
"Instead of protecting her I just place her in more harm…"
"Bella's a strong girl Edward, she'll be all right."
"Until the next time." The ambulance was heard coming over the hill. Carlisle went to meet them. Edward didn't leave Bella's side.
*****Charlie had come with the ambulance, he's almost fainted when he realized it was Bella that was injured, and when he saw the horrific sight of a makeshift tube in her lung, splinted arms and a gushing wound on her abdomen he stopped being a policeman and became a father. "What have you done" He screamed at Edward, Edward ignored him which only made matters worse. "Answer me god damn it."
"Edward had nothing to do with this." Carlisle tried to console him but he wouldn't listen.
"Bella honey, Bella it's dad."
"Dad.." she whispered unaware of her surroundings, "I don't want to have fish tonight okay."
"Shh.. don't worry about that now. Save your strength." Charlie looked at the Volvo, it was totaled. "What the hell happened here?"
Jasper had to get up and walk away, Alice followed him. Charlie and Edwards pain was so strong it was threatening to overwhelm him.
"It looks worse than it is…"
"What are you doing here Carlisle? How did you get here so fast?"
"Bella was on the phone to Alice when it happened she heard the whole thing."
"But why? Where's her truck?" Charlie looked to Edward for the answer, Edward sat motionless, Emmett answered for him.
"Bella's truck was running a little rough, I said I'd take a look at it for her but she said she had somewhere to be so Edward let her borrow his car."
"What were you thinking, that thing is a speed trap. Bella isn't use to that kind of power."
"He meant no harm." Carlisle added again, trying to console Charlie, "Let's get Bella to hospital. We can argue about this later." The ambulance officers brought out the stretcher. Emmett and Edward helped lift Bella on and then the paramedics placed her in the ambulance. Edward went to ride with her,
"Where do you think you're going?" Charlie asked,
"With Bella."
"I think you've done quite enough." Charlie threw his keys to the deputy. Edward began to loose himself, his rage was escalating, his body tensed, Carlisle recognized the change and grabbed his hand, "Easy" he whispered to his son. "Calm down" a deep growl started to rise in Edwards throat. Emmett stepped closer, Jasper moved behind Charlie, just incase he needed to be thrown out of the way. "Edward please." Carlisle insisted.
"Common buddy." Emmett said, placing a very firm hand on Edwards shoulder, Carlisle placing his on the other as they motioned him away. "I'll drive you."
"Alice." Carlisle added,
"I'm on it." Alice grabbed Carlisle's belongings, making sure nothing was left behind for anyone to find. Carlisle rode with Bella and Charlie. Edward, Alice, Jasper and Emmett followed in the jeep, a second ambulance followed behind with the truck driver inside. The deputy stayed behind at the site to take his notes and assess the scene. Things did not look good.
*****Something close to evil was taking hold of Edward, he was not himself. The pain and guilt was consuming him, changing him, but into what nobody knew for sure. Edward was disappearing before their eyes, and there was nothing they could do about it. Edward grew colder and colder as the followed slowly in Emmett's jeep. Alice was trying to get a glimpse of the future, some sign that Bella was going to be all right. "Anything?" Jasper asked,
"Nothing. I can't see anything." Jasper held her close. Alice was hurting just as much as Edward. She would never forgive herself for telling Edward not to follow her. 'if only he'd been there sooner. Edward shifted uneasily in his seat. 'Damn it' Alice thought to herself, she forgot that Edward could hear her thoughts. Obviously he felt the same way and he wasn't going to let her off the hook any time soon.
"Maybe you're too close?" Emmett suggested, as he drove. "Bella's a tough girl. I'm sure she'll be fine."
"Stop the car." Edward insisted, not specifically talking to anyone.
"What?" Emmett asked confused,
"Stop the car NOW!" Edward demanded, the growl rising from his throat again.
"Think about what you're doing Edward." Alice didn't know what her brother was thinking, but she was scared that he was loosing his mind, that he may do something drastic. Edward opened the car door and went to jump out. Emmett slammed on the brakes.
"Not cool man."
"Edward please." Alice pleaded, grabbing his wrist. Edward gabbed her hand and twisted it till she loosened her grip, then, still holding her hand he spun her around till she was facing him, her hand twisted in his grasp, there eyes locked on each other.
"Edward." Emmett warned, Jasper moved into position.
"Edward please. Don't do this." Alice pleaded again, but Edward had lost all sense of right and wrong, he was running on pure emotion, on grief. He was capable of anything. Edward's growl grew louder, stronger, he pulled Alice closer to him, her neck exposed.
"Edward." Emmett warned again, preparing to choose between his brother and sister.
"Bella needs you Edward. We understand you're hurting but we are hurting too. Release Alice and lets talk about this." Edward shifted his gaze from Alice to Jasper, he said nothing.
'You're right, It's all my fault. I'm sorry Edward, you'll never know how sorry I truly am. Take my life if it will help but I know you too well Edward. You'll never forgive yourself' Alice thought, knowing Edward would hear her. Edward growled again. He picked Alice up off the ground, her legs dangling in the air, and threw her across the forest. Alice crashed into a tree and then fell to the forest floor. She moaned in shock and pain, winded and sore but not damaged. Jasper roared and went to defend his love. "Jasper NO!" She called out. Edward turned away and went to run through the forest. Emmett assessed that Alice was okay, Jasper was now by her side helping her up, and prepared to follow his brother.
"That was not cool at all." Emmett scolded him, Edward just ignored him as he walked passed and into the woods.
"Great what now?" Emmett looked at Alice.
"Just give him a minute." The three of them stared into the forest where Edward had disappeared. Edward walked to the first clearing, he looked around he grabbed the closest tree, ripped it out of its foundations and threw it almost a hundred meters across the clearing. This was repeated several times till there were barely any trees still standing. He fell to his knees, hanging his head and holding it in his hands and screamed. The blood curdling roar that came out was so loud, so powerful that it rattled the entire mountain. The pain behind it was unmistakable.
Emmett looked at Alice and Jasper, the pain they felt from not knowing how to help their brother was immense. He was in so much agony, they didn't know if he would ever recover. After twenty minutes of listening to him cry out, Emmett decided to go to his side. He approached slowly and placed a hand on his shoulder, Edward was still crouched down in an almost fetal like position, he held it there until they were disturbed by the presence of another. Edward had not noticed her, but Emmett was not surprised.