Chapter 5

Bella's dream sequence

I found myself walking through the dark cold forest. I was searching for something…someone. I wasn't sure why, but I felt as if time were running out as if something horrible would happen if I didn't find what I was looking for. Just then I heard the sound of something moving in the brush behind me. I glanced back anxiously squinting as I peered into the darkness. I could see nothing. I turned back and continued walking, quickening my pace slightly. Suddenly I heard a howl off in the distance; my heart froze at the sound. I forged ahead I was getting closer. As I continued I once again heard movement behind me. I stopped and glanced back once again. There was nothing there but I could not help but to feel as if I were being followed. I turned back to my path and began to run. As I continued I could hear what sounded like a herd of elk running through the trees behind me. I could feel my heart beginning to pound in my chest. They were coming. They were coming and I knew I could not out run them. I flew through the trees as fast as my human legs would allow, tears began to stream down my face.

"Not like this," I thought to myself frantically, "please god; don't let it end like this."

The howling grew louder as I continued to run and seemed like it was getting closer. My heart grew hopeful at the sound, I was almost there. I could still hear the movement behind me I glanced back as I continued to run. Without warning I ran right into something hard. I was knocked off my feet and lay upon the ground dazed for a moment. I sat up slowly and attempted to get to my feet. But as I tried to stand I became dizzy and my vision was hazy. I looked up and saw a blurry outline of a boy with russet skin standing over me. I closed my eyes tightly in an attempt to clear my vision. When I opened them up again I could see the boy was now kneeling beside me. He rested his hand gently upon the side of my neck. His skin was so hot it felt as if it were burning my own.

"They are coming," I said, "We have to get out of here." I could still hear the feet pounding on the ground in the distance it was getting louder. I looked backward. My vision was clearer now and I could see them vividly, their white faces glistening in the moonlight, their black eyes fixed on me. I turned back to the boy, I recognized him now. He was standing again and looking down at me. His expression was cold but at the same time seemed full of unbearable pain. He slowly began to back away from me.

"Please," I pleaded, "don't leave me." He kept silent and continued to back away.

"Jacob," I pleaded.

Suddenly I was pulled forcefully upward.

"No," I cried, "no." The cold hands felt like icy steel on my skin. The fingers tightened like a vice on my arm. I gazed at my friend desperately. His eyes looked watery and red as if he had been crying.

"You want this," Jacob said, "You chose this."

"No," I screamed at the top of my lungs.

"They won't save you," I heard a whisper from the darkness behind me, "listen." I heard the howling again it seemed now to be getting further away as if the wolves had passed right by me and continued their chase.

"He doesn't want to save you," the voice whispered. The icy hands gripped my arms tighter causing a surge of pain through my body. I looked back up at Jake; he turned from me and disappeared into the forest.

"No…please," I began to weep. My pleas were met with sinister laughter.

"No," I screamed, "JAKE!"

End dream sequence

I sat up in my bed screaming. I could feel the sweat pouring down my forehead and I was nearly out of breath. I was startled when my dad burst into my room and came running to my bed side.

"Its okay," he sighed as he pulled me into a tight and comforting hug, "its okay sweetie it was just a bad dream." I rested my head upon his shoulder and began to cry. He kissed my forehead lightly and then began to rock me in his arms.

"Just relax baby girl," he whispered. I quieted down in the comfort of my fathers arms.

"Are you okay," he asked gently. I nodded my head as I wiped the tears from my cheeks.

"Do you want to talk about it," he asked. I pulled back from him with my eyes still watering. I shrugged slightly

"Not really," I whispered. He gazed at me with a worried expression.

"Okay," he sighed, "lay down…try to get some rest." He leaned toward me and kissed me on the forehead again.

"I'm here if you change your mind," he said. He then stood and headed toward the door of my room.

"Hey dad," I called out. He turned back to me just as he laid his hand on the door knob.

"Yeah," he whispered.

"Thanks," I replied, "I'm sorry I woke you up."

"It's alright kid," he whispered, "good night."

"Night," I replied. I lay my head upon my pillow and stared up at the ceiling for a long moment. I could feel tears welling up behind my eyes again. I kept replaying the dream in my mind, I could still see Jacob's face, looking at me as if I were already dead and then turning his back on me completely.

"You want this….you chose this," his words from my dream echoed through my mind. I sighed heavily as I tried to forget about my terrifying nightmare. I closed my eyes tightly in an attempt to fall asleep. Suddenly I felt a cold hand on my shoulder. I quickly sat up and nearly fell out of bed in the process. A pair of cold arms caught me and pulled me back onto the mattress.

"Are you okay," a familiar voice whispered. I looked up to see Edward's concerned face. I sighed heavily.

"You scared me," I whispered. He frowned.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, "I didn't mean to."

"It's alright," I whispered. I leaned up against the head board and gazed down upon the fluffy blanket.

"What were you dreaming about," he asked curiously. I shrugged trying to avoid his gaze.

"Nothing," I replied softly, "just a stupid nightmare." I looked up at him.

"How long were you here," I asked.

"Long enough to hear you screaming," he whispered back. I averted my eyes from his.

"Charlie came running so I ducked out of sight," he continued. I didn't reply to Edward. My mind was still consumed by the terrible nightmare. I could not stop replaying what Jacob had done in the dream; all I kept seeing was his cold expression and the look of pain he displayed as he gazed at me. Edward took my hand in his and squeezed it gently.

"I missed you today," he whispered. I smiled weakly and continued gazing down upon my comforter.

"Are you sure you are okay," he asked again, "you look like you want to cry." I shook my head and began to chew at my bottom lip as I fought back my tears.

"I'm fine," I lied, "everything is fine…I'm just…stressed I guess." I looked away from him again. He nodded slightly.

"Okay," he replied quietly. He leaned forward and kissed me on the cheek. He stood slowly.

"I'm going to go so you can get some sleep," he whispered, "I will see you tomorrow." He smiled warmly at me.

"I love you Bella." I gazed up at him. He gently ran his fingers through my hair.

"I love you too," I replied. I watched as he crawled out the window and disappeared. The moment he vanished from sight I let the tears I had been holding in wash over my face.

Edward

I stayed outside Bella's window for a few moments longer to make sure she fell back to sleep. It concerned me that she was having nightmares and I wanted to be sure she was getting enough rest. To my disappointment I instead heard her crying uncontrollably into her pillow. I could not understand why she made it seem like everything was fine when I had asked her what was wrong. Why she felt the need to fight back her tears while I was there. I felt helpless hearing her crying and not being allowed to console her. I wished I could hear her thoughts just to have some idea what was causing her pain. After nearly an hour she began to settle down so I decided to head home. As I jumped down from the roof I was met by a fierce growling coming from the woods directly across from Bella's house. I searched the trees and came upon the wolf hidden just beyond the shadows. It was Jacob, I could hear his thoughts. He was warning me away from the house. I raised my hands up as if calling a truce.

"It's okay," I called out to him, "I haven't done anything." The growling continued.

"She is upset," I continued, "but she won't tell my why."

"Why was she screaming," Jacobs thoughts were fierce, "what did you do?" I shook my head slightly as I continued to hold up my hands.

"She had a nightmare," I replied, "I don't know any more then that, she wouldn't tell me anything." The growling quieted down.

"I thank you for watching over her," I replied, "for keeping her protected."

"I don't want you gratitude," Jacob responded, "I am protecting her from you."

I nodded quietly.

"I understand that you feel that way," I replied, "but there are far worse things then me out there." Just then Jacob stepped forward from the trees in human form with his arms crossed. He glared at me with a look of pure hatred.

"As far as I'm concerned," he hissed, "you are all the same…filthy blood sucking scum. You don't belong here and you don't belong with her."

"Despite what you think," I replied, "I would never hurt Bella…and I would never let anything happen to her."

"No, you won't hurt her," Jacob replied, "because if you try I will tear you apart myself."

1 week later

Jacob

I slowly walked along the beach of La Push. The sun warmed my skin and the cool water felt good on my bare feet. I closed my eyes and breathed in the salty air. I had been away from home for a week. I avoided the pack, I wanted to be alone. I had been ignoring their calls up until this point and if Sam had not ordered me to return this morning I wouldn't have come back at all. As much as I wanted to stay away, I could not ignore the orders of the alpha.

As I walked along the beach I couldn't help but to think about Bella. I felt consumed by her. No matter what I did or where I went I was reminded of her and every memory felt like a knife in my heart. The pain in my chest remained just as strong as it had been the day I said goodbye to her. I kept replaying the events of that day in my mind over and over again. The choice to let her go was the hardest one I'd ever had to make. I'll never forget the hopeless feeling in the pit of my stomach as I walked away from her. I felt as if everything that mattered to me was lost, that my whole world was falling apart with every step that I took. Everything inside me screamed at me to go back, to fight for her, to win her back but I forced myself to keep going. She was where she wanted to be now and there was nothing I could do to change that. I chose to end our friendship but the bond between us seemed impossible to break. It was almost as if I were drawn to her by some invisible force. A force stronger then anything I had ever felt before. It was even stronger then my loyalty to the pack.

My thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the sound of howling in the distance. I glanced around at my surroundings, scanning the beach for signs of Sam and the others. I spotted them at the top of a cliff in the distance. The pack, in wolf form, stood glaring down at me with Sam positioned in the front. I stopped walking and gazed back up at my brothers. Suddenly they turned and ran back down the cliff disappearing from sight. Within seconds they were running down the sandy beach headed in my direction. When they reached me they all sat on their haunches and Sam made his way to the front once more. He stood before me and stared me straight in the eye. I averted my gaze quickly. He phased then and each member of the pack did the same.

"Good to have you back Jacob," Sam said unemotionally. I nodded slightly, still keeping my eyes on the sand.

"So what's going on," Sam questioned, "why haven't you been answering us." I glanced up at Sam briefly but kept my silence. The others stood behind him with their arms crossed glaring in my direction. Sam smirked slightly and shook his head. He glanced back toward the others and waved them away.

"Why don't you boys head over to Emily's," he said, "Jake and I will meet you there later. The others nodded in unison, phased one by one, and then took off running down the beach.

"Come on Jacob," Sam said as he patted me on the shoulder, "we need to talk."

"You know Emily was beside herself worrying about you," Sam continued, "and your father too."

"I'm sorry I didn't answer," I replied, "I just…I didn't want to…I couldn't leave…" Sam nodded.

"We are family Jake," he went on, "everyone in this pack is your brother now, you can't just abandon your family for some girl." I looked up at him in anger.

"Bella is my family too," I replied.

"No Jacob," Sam said sternly, "she isn't, she doesn't want you, she chose Cullen, remember."

"She doesn't know what she is doing," I yelled, "he is going to hurt her and I have to be there to protect her."

"She chose this Jake," Sam replied, "she wants to be one of them, she isn't worth protecting anymore." I could feel my anger boiling up inside with Sam's heartless words. I tried with all my strength to keep it controlled, the last thing I wanted to do was challenge the alpha. Sam glared at me, I kept my eyes down.

"She is not worth it Jake," Sam continued, "Do you really want to turn your back on this pack for some bloodsucking wannabe?" I blew up in that moment. Sam's words threw me over the edge. I phased quickly. I growled furiously in Sam's direction and glared at him. Sam stood motionless in human form glaring right back at me.

"Think about what you are doing," Sam replied, "do you really want to challenge me." He stared at me straight in the eye. I continued to glare back at him bearing my teeth now. Sam just continued to stand still.

"It's worse then I thought," he sighed, "you have already imprinted."

To be continued…