Chapter Thirteen – Noble
My cheeks were wet as I felt for the handle of the worn door. I paused, in deep thought. 'You don't have to do this,' Edward's voice rebounded inside my mind like gas particles in a tin can. 'You can live, love, be free…just don't do this Bella.'
I smiled briefly, wondering exactly when I had become so obsessed with Edward that I heard his imaginary voice in my head, before flinging the door to my death open.
At least it could be considered noble, if stupid.
I walked down the familiar worn carpet, relishing the forgotten memories of my past, each one as vivid as the photos that passed me by, their happy faces frozen in time. I passed the kitchen counter. Mom and Charlie had spent a whole day painting it yellow. Mom said it would bring a bit of sunshine…My heart clenching, I leaned against the wall. Silent sobs racked my body, each one harder than the next.
Footsteps fell behind me; I twisted around, my eyes puffed up and red. He had short-cropped hair with intense green eyes and a hawkish nose; handsome enough, but there was something in his eyes that screamed of violence and anger.
I shuddered inwardly, scraping my tears off. If I was going to do this, I was definitely not going to do it looking like a weak little crybaby. "Hello, Bella, your cooperation pleases me. Do come." He led me to the living room, allowing me to go first as if he was a gentleman.
"Captain, if we're going to do this I'd like to get it over with as soon as possible, without any games. So where's Charlie?" My voice held a dangerous edge to it.
"You were always impatient." He opened the door, chuckling.
Light flooded the room, illuminating the bound man in front of me. I gasped, running up to the bruised and bloodied man that was my father.
"Charlie…Charlie are you all right? What did they do to you?" I whispered, holding him in my hands. There was no reply other than a tightening of his fists and a clenching of his jaw.
"You…" I had no words for the evil man in front me; I stood up, my vision turning red. I swung a punch with all my strength, thinking only of Charlie.
A sharp needle entered my shoulder and I fell to my knees, conscious of only pain.
"A new invention, from yours truly may I add. Made especially for you and this situation. Those flames racing through your veins, that burning sensation you're getting… It's all because of me. And you will do what I say, because this one―" He tapped the syringe in his hand playfully. "―Is the antidote. Got it?" He dropped it within arms reach, so tantalizingly tempting, from my immobile, pain-racked body.
"And you know the best part, my last hurrah. It's the fact that there's only one antidote and how I injected the same poison into you dear old dad as well. At least he'll die painfully." Kicking my father's inert form he laughed, reveling in the cruelty. Then, as if possessed by the devil himself, he took a swab from his pocket and rubbed it on my inside cheek, before depositing it safely inside his jacket.
"Your DNA will definitely increase my sales, my beauty. Just imagine it: invincible mercenaries on sale for the highest price. I'll be a millionaire, and all because of you, my dear."
He checked his watch, still grinning. "He doesn't have that long―oh just about five minutes or so. You can enjoy watching him die, I suppose." He sauntered out of the house whistling, a sadistic smile on his face.
The crystal clear liquid tempted me into visions of just touching that syringe once, feeling the cool liquid quench the fire inside my body. I stretched my fingers out, forcing myself to get there, when the fire reached its strongest and I screamed involuntary. My fingers never reached the goal.
My father cried out in agony and my brain was seared by the sound of his pain. I was given new determination; I had to get that syringe. Stretching out just a few more inches, I touched the glass of the cure. Grabbing it, I forced myself upwards, ignoring the wounds that had started to appear.
Crawling to Charlie, I grabbed his feverish shoulder and slammed the needle in, my vision slowly darkening.
I heard Edward scream my name as I slid down, my adrenaline spent and my wounds appearing. I felt strangely at peace as the energy left my body and my thoughts quieted.
My eyes opened briefly to the wondrous sight of Edward repeating my name, his brow furrowed in worry and anger and then darkness.