A/N:I own nothing.
Sixteen
APOV-
I knew my brother would mistake our gasps to mean Bella was dead, but I couldn't control it. I was too relieved to do anything else. She wasn't dead…yet. She was looking around frantically, tears blurring her visions no doubt, and gasping terribly for breath. I knew it wouldn't be long, and I knew what had to be done. I quickly kneeled beside her, and grabbed onto her hand.
"Bella?" I whispered, praying she was coherent enough to hear me now. She had to be, I couldn't do this without knowing she understood completely what was to happen. Within seconds, she turned her head slightly to better see me, and tried to smile. "Alice." It was barely there, but I heard it. My name, she knew me. This was looking good.
"Bella, listen to me, okay? Listen very carefully." I instructed, and then waited for her reply. I was vaguely aware of Edward standing over us, telling me to stop, but I ignored him. I made a promise to my best friend, and I intended to keep it. Whether or not my brother approved. That last thought was directed at him, and it shut him up quickly. Good.
"Alice, I…wrecked…the car." Bella gasped quietly. I couldn't help but chuckle. Leave it to Bella to worry about replaceable items on her death bed. Literally. "Bella, honey, the car is not important. You, you are important. Do you know what's happening?" I asked, leaning into her so she didn't have to strain so hard to speak. She nodded slowly, and winched from the pain.
"I'm dying." She responded tears filling her eyes again. Oh, how I wished I could cry with her. I desperately wished I could, this was my fault. I heard Edward growl behind me, but I ignored him. "Tell Edward I …love him." She whispered again. I whimpered, and hung my head over her limp body.
"No, you tell him yourself in about three days, okay?" I stated, trying my best to smile at her. She looked confused, and then realization dawned on her. "No, Alice, the baby." She whispered frantically. I swear, when Bella is doing better, I will kill that damn dog myself! "Bella, that baby is going to die with you." I explained, trying not to snap. I mean, honestly, she could be so…frustrating sometimes!
"She's probably already dead. It…it doesn't matter. You can't do…do this. Edward…can't live…" She trailed off, her voice weaker than before. I had to do this. Now, before it was too late. I kissed her hand as her eyes began to flutter, and stood up. "Edward, you have about five seconds to do this. If you don't, or won't I will do it. And if you try to stop me so help me, I will kill you." I growled, showing him in my mind the variable visions I'd had over the course of the last few weeks. He flinched only once, which I was surprised at, but knelt by Bella just the same.
"What if she doesn't forgive me?" he whispered, looking so miserable. "She will. I promise." I lied. It's not that she wouldn't forgive him…she wouldn't remember him. Not at first anyways. I had done very well to keep that from him; even now I didn't let him know it. It would kill him, and change his mind. It would only take a day…if even that long before she remembered us all. But all he would hear was she wouldn't remember him. I motioned for the others to follow me, to give Edward some privacy; I knew he was strong enough for this. I'd seen it already, remember?
"Emmett, you go back to the house, and set up their room okay? Jasper, I need you to call Carlisle from the hospital, explain what's happened, and get Esme home. She doesn't need to be here for this. Rose, can you hurry and get my car please? We can't risk running all the way back with Bella screaming. I'll stay with Edward, and we'll meet you all back at the house." I instructed quietly. Within moments, we were alone, and Edward was leaning in for the first bite. He hesitated only a second at her neck, and then bit down, softly at first, then harder.
By the time he reached her second wrist, Rosalie was back with my car, and had disappeared again. He'd just finished her last ankle, when the first scream tore from Bella's throat. We hurried into the car, and I drove as fast I dared back to the house. Wouldn't due to wreck another car tonight, surely Bella's luck would run out before the change was complete. She screamed the entire way home, but once inside, she just stopped. Her body still trembled, she'd whimper quietly, but no more screams. It was like a switch had been turned off inside of her.