Disclaimer: I do not own anything Twilight; all rights go to Stephanie Meyer.
A/N Hello! I will be posting a new chapter in She's my Sunshine, and Paint Strokes in a couple of days. SO sorry about taking forever with these stories! But I am working on them, soo please don't be angry(: Love you guys!
Also, a shout out to my new beta, PenguinCullen06! Thank you! :D
Chapter Eighteen, Here We Go Again.
Previously…
"I'm home!" I called out when I walked in the door to the house. The Cullen's had just dropped me off.
There was no answer, which was weird because she should already be home.
Maybe she is with Carlisle?
I shrugged, not thinking too much on it, taking my book bag upstairs. As I walked up the stairs I slipped on something wet.
What in the world?
I landed on my behind, landing in whatever it was. I brought my hand in front of me so I could see what it is was that had caused me to fall. Expecting to see nothing, it felt as if the world had stopped when I saw it.
Blood…
"AAAAHHHH!" I screamed out, my lungs burning from the force.
WHERE IS ESME!?
Esme's POV:
"Hmmhmmmhmmhh" I hummed happily as I carried in groceries to the kitchen. Walking here felt nice and peaceful, I never wanted to drive. I feel like driving makes you miss all of the beautiful scenery, the colors, and the outstanding green here. I quickly put the groceries away and went upstairs to get my running shoes. It was my favorite thing to do here, aside from spending time with loved ones; it was my me time.
I pulled my hair up and tied my shoes, feeling the excitement building for my run.
"Esme, long time no see."
I knew the voice, the haunting voice that visits me in my sleep. I slowly turned around, trying to convince myself that is was all in my mind. He stepped out of the bathroom, he was only a few feet away from me.
I didn't stop to think, I just ran to the hallway.
"Not so fast!" He yelled, thrusting his arms to me.
"AAH!" I cried out, as a searing pain cut through my bicep. But I didn't stop, I just ran down the stairs, grabbed my arms and held it tightly to my chest.
Don't leave a blood trail, don't leave a blood trail! My mind screamed at me, screaming prior learned lessons.
When I got outside I had half a mind to run across the street to Carlisle.
Don't bring them into this! Don't let him hurt anyone else…
I had stopped momentarily and I saw him coming out the front door, shutting it behind him. He noticed that I was frozen on the side walk.
I won't let him hurt anyone else.
I ran in the opposite direction as everyone, I ran to where I knew not very many people where. I ran away from my loved ones. I had no idea how long I had ran, but the pain in my arm was beginning to come unbearable. I thought of Alice, Carlisle, Carmen, all of the kids I have come to love as my own. I didn't know where I was but I realized I was running down the alley, sweat beads all over my body, causing my hair to stick to my face. He was right behind me, I couldn't stop. I knew he would catch me; it was just a matter of time. I knew he would be brutal, he was in this for the fun, the chase, for the fear he was building in me. I was trying to find a way to survive this, because there is no escaping. I ran into a dead end, ending any hope I had managed to grasp on to for dear life.
I heard his sadistic laugh, "Time's up."
I knew, he would take his sweet time, draw out the pain. I wouldn't take back this pain I was about to face, I wouldn't give up the last five months for anything. But I did wish it could have ended differently. That I could have said goodbye one last time, cherish one last kiss from him, give my best friend a hug, tell my family I love them. But I couldn't, because this was the end. I turned to face the man behind me; I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of me fighting back.
I closed my eyes to try and stop the tears, "I'm sorry." I whispered quietly.
I opened my eyes and looked my hunter straight in the eyes, "He'll find you." I promised, and the hunter laughed, "Not soon enough."
His body came closer and it blocked out what little light that was shining in this deepening black of night. I love you, I chanted in my mind over and over, in an attempt to down out my own screams.
Alice's POV:
Blood, blood was all over the stairs.
How did I not notice this when I first walked through the door?
BANG
The front door burst open, causing my heart to jump. I spun around to see agent Todd. He ran over to, taking in the surroundings. I could see his lips moving, but I couldn't hear; I couldn't speak or move, I felt like I was out of my body looking onto the scene. Todd pulled out his phone and speaking quickly into it. All I could see was the blood.
"ALICE!" Someone yelled, pulling me out of my comatose state. I looked to my side to where the voice had come from and saw Carlisle.
He began checking me, as if to see if I was hurt. I realized there were a few officers and other men I didn't know in the room. Edward and Emmett were standing a few feet away in the kitchen talking to Todd. They had tears in their eyes as they looked over at me. Nothing was truly registering yet, I felt numb and lost. Suddenly I was being squished under multiple arms.
"I'm going to miss you…Alice." Edward's voice whispered in my ear.
"I know you aren't allowed to call us or talk to us, but just know that if anything ever happens I don't care what rules you break, call me!" Emmett whispered.
Miss me….call them…. Then it hit me, I was being relocated. As the realization came everything else hit me. Esme's…gone and there is blood everywhere, and now I have to leave; leave all of my friends, my family.
I began to sob in the boy's arms, trying to cherish this moment together; but as much as I hate to think it, it may be the last.
~000~
Very quickly all of my things were packed and I was being shuffled into a van. I had already gotten to say goodbye to the Cullens, but those were the only people I was allowed to say goodbye to. No Rose or Jasper, not Bella either. It all only took about an hour to get ready to leave Forks; I couldn't stop crying the whole time. A couple witness protection officers tried talking to me, but I wasn't in the mood for hearing anything. I wanted Esme and my friends; I wanted my family. Edward and Emmett helped me pull all of my "I love you" notes from my walls. We gathered any photos of us together that we had and spent the rest of the time packing me up, spending the last hour together. But none of that hurt as much as when I was driven down the road away from all of them, away from home, and I saw them. Jasper and Rose walking towards my house, not having even the slightest clue that me and everything in that house was gone; and no one would be able to explain it to them, ever. By the time I saw them walking, I had thought I was all out of tears, but I was wrong.
Edward's POV:
My best friend is gone. She is being taken to somewhere I will never know, and it's highly possible that I will never see her again.
I sat on the front porch with Aro, the poor dog didn't understand why I was so sad but he was trying his best to cheer me up with licking my face nonstop.
"I don't think these tears are going away boy." I whispered to him, patting him gently on the head, "But thank you for trying."
"HEY EDWARD!" I heard Jasper and Rose's voice ring out together. I looked up to see them both walking towards me.
They didn't know, and they can never know.
I quickly jumped to my feet and pulled Aro inside with me.
I have to avoid them…they are going to want answers, answers that I can't give them.
I could just imagine their confused faces, and was thanking God that I couldn't hear their thoughts through the door. I began to run through the house, quietly looking for Emmett. I found him in the kitchen, sitting beside the fridge with bags of chips and cereal boxes around him. He had one hand stuffing food into his mouth and the other holding something.
"Em…" I called out softly.
He looked up to me, and for the first time my giant, strong, fearless brother looked broken, he looked dead. "I just realized something…not only did we lose Mary…I mean Alice, but we also lost Jasper…and Rosie." Tears streamed down his cheeks and he frantically tried to wipe them away. As he did, I saw the thing in his hand; it was a photo of the six of us.
"I just realized that too." I sat down across from him, grabbing the box of Fruit Loops, "It's just us now."
Emmett sighed quietly, "It's like mom and dad dying all over again."
Alice's POV:
Tall mountains surrounded us as we drove into North Carolina. Apparently I will be staying with a couple who happen to be cops. I've been reassured that they are nice, wonderful people that will protect me. I didn't care, I don't care, and I won't let myself care. Never ever again will I get close to people, not while I am running away from Charles.
It was late when we got to the house with the police couple, they didn't say much, just leading me to my room telling me to sleep and promising we would talk in the morning. I laid down, not expecting sleep to come, but it did.
~000~
I tossed and turned, trying to tear away the covers.
"ESME! ESME!" I cried out, trying to reach for her, trying to save her, "RUN! KEEP RUNNING!"
Two strong hands grabbed me and shook me slightly. "Alice!?"
I woke up to see the couple standing there. The woman had shaken me awake.
"Do you need something to drink or anything?" She asked me gently.
I shook my head, "No, but could you tell me your names?" I felt a little strange sleeping in a house of strangers. Knowing their names won't hurt, right?
She smiled kindly at me, "My name's Tia, and my husband Benjamin."
Benjamin stuck his hand out to me, "I promise you, no matter what happens to Esme, we will keep you safe."
I shook his hand as I tried to believe his words. "I hope you are right."
~000~
Ugh, school! You'd think that if you were on the run you would be allowed to skip school…
I groaned and complained in my thoughts as I walked out to the parking lot. Tia was picking me up. I spotted her green Mazda and jumped into the passenger seat.
"How was school?" She asked me kindly.
"Terrible, like yesterday and the day before and the day before that." I answered.
I've been with them for two weeks, and as nice as they were I wasn't being nice; but that was probably from the serious lack of sleep I was getting.
She nodded her head, "I am praying for the day it gets better for you."
I wanted to scream at her and tell her it wasn't ever going to get better…especially when we still haven't heard anything about Esme.
We rode the rest of the way back to Tia's house in silence. I think they understood why I couldn't grow to like them, at least I hoped they understood. When we got back to their house I went straight up the stairs to my room and threw myself on the bed. I couldn't hold back the tears, everything hurt. I had no idea if Esme was still alive, I didn't know what everyone was thinking in Forks, and I felt so terribly alone. I dug into my pockets looking for my iPod and headphones. Trying to calm myself with music, I hit the shuffle button.
"There's no one in town I know
You gave us some place to go.
I never said thank you for that.
I thought I might get one more chance.
What would you think of me now,
so lucky, so strong, so proud?
I never said thank you for that,
now I'll never have a chance.
May angels lead you in.
Hear you me my friends.
On sleepless roads the sleepless go.
May angels lead you in.
So what would you think of me now,
so lucky, so strong, so proud?
I never said thank you for that,
now I'll never have a chance.
May angels lead you in.
Hear you me my friends.
On sleepless roads the sleepless go.
May angels lead you in.
May angels lead you in.
May angels lead you in.
And if you were with me tonight,
I'd sing to you just one more time.
A song for a heart so big,
god wouldn't let it live.
May angels lead you in.
Hear you me my friends.
On sleepless roads the sleepless go.
May angels lead you in.
May angels lead you in.
Hear you me my friends.
On sleepless roads the sleepless go.
May angels lead you in.
May angels lead you in."
(Hear You Me, by Jimmy Eat World.)
I sobbed into my pillow as I listened to the lyrics.
I miss Esme….Edward….Jazz…Em…Rose…Carlisle…and even Bella. Why, why did this happen? Why do I have to be here alone? How long do I have to stay away from them? Is Esme even alive? Will they move on and forget about me?
The thoughts broke my heart, causing my sobs to grow stronger and louder. I felt a pair of arms wrap around me.
"I know I am not Esme or your friends, but I am willing to be here for you…Ben and I know what it's like, we were taken away from family too. I know you're afraid of losing people, but Alice, you cannot go on like this." Tia whispered into my ear, "I can't promise you that things will be alright, but Ben and I do promise that we will do everything in our power to protect you and bring you back to your friends. You need to hold on to the hope that you will see Esme and the rest again, you have to; or else you'll go insane."
I turned into her arms, praying she was right. I wanted to ask her if she ever got to see her friends again, but I was afraid of the answer.
Someday, I promise all of you…we will see each other again.
A/N Please review! Let me know you're guys thoughts(: I love hearing from you! Thanks to all of you (truly, thank you!) who have been following this story and those who are new to it. You guys give me inspiration and courage! A while ago I said that I had to catch Jasper's story up to this on, and this is why. Even though I am kind of lacking on that, (something I will be changing very soon!) I am working on them. Jasper's story will be telling you what is going on with everyone else and showing you how he is dealing with Alice being gone. I will be adding Rosalie's POV here and there in his story too. (: