Disclaimer: Stephenie Meyer owns the characters, I just have fun with them.
A/N: Okay first of all it's been monthsand I'm sorry!!! I let life get waaaaaay too ahead of me for a while and I had this chapter half done for ages and couldn't find the inspiration to finish it. Secondly, it's nearly 2:00 am and I've been writing for four hours, and I need sleep cause I work in the morning so I'm going to try and keep this short. Thank you to everyone who has reviewed and PM-d me because I read them all and I try to reply but sometimes I forget, but I have definitely read them all and can't thank you guys enough :) Special notes go out to anyone who got the song at the end of the last chapter (Sunshine - All-American Rejects) and to Sovoyita for being from the country within a country and to RosetteCullen for being the author of Paging Dr. Cullen...because there is a serious lack of good sexy Carlisle on here ;) (hoping I got the names right, sorry if I didn't!)
Now, on to the story, this is 'the' chapter aka the climax/where you find out who the bad guy 'really' is, which means the poll is over and here are the results:
Phil - 18
Mike - 8
James - 7
Random Other Character - 6
Ricardo - 4
Laurent - 3
Nick - 1
So, some of you are right ;) but who? You'll have to wait and see, and I'm going to warn you guys I kind of drag out the 'who-dunnit' part because I like the suspense.
Warning: The rating goes up to "M" for this chapterbecause of the content (I toned it down but it's implied) and for swearing which is way OOC for Edward, but he's got a reason for it.
Okay, almost done! There are three more chapters in this story, I can't promise when you'll get the next one but in the next few weeks I'd say since its summer and I have much more time that I used to. Also, like I mentioned it's almost 2 so I haven't double-checked the second half of this because I knew if I waited until tomorrow you guys wouldn't get this for another week, so bear with it and if you see anything big put it in a review/pm me and I'll edit it. This is a long chapter, it flashes back to the first couple chapters so you can see the progress that Bella has made since Edward came/left etc. Okay, enough of my babbling, I'm going to do a quick re-cap below because I know it's been a while. Anyways, thank you all for sticking with me I hope this lives up to your expectations ! free-your-mind-dreamer/fymd-mk :)
RECAP: We found out last chapter that Phil is actually a secret agent and that Laurent has been arrested for the crimes against Bella. Edward, finding that Bella is now safe, and under the impression that she was only in harms way because of him, has left her after just saying that he wanted to be with her forever, he would find a way.
It All Falls Down (Track's End?)
BPOV
"Bella…Bella, honey are you alright?"
That's how it started, one by one. As soon as I woke that morning each and every one of them paid me a visit, with their sympathetic smiles, their open arms, their nodding heads…just waiting for me to let it all out.
"I know how you feel Bella, but don't worry, it will get better…"
No, no it won't. I wanted to scream and throw everything in arms length at them; you don't know how I feel. None of them had any idea what it was like. They were all perfect; they were born into perfect families with perfect siblings and perfect parents and grew up around perfect friends to find perfect boyfriends and girlfriends who would turn into the perfect wives and husbands and they could all make more perfect children and begin the cycle again.
And where did I fit in? Oh, that's right; I didn't because the cycle doesn't have room for the misfits, for the ones with a little more brain and a little less submissive attitude. Not that any of this mattered. Because after a decade and a half of searching, of suffering, of trying to shove my piece of the puzzle into a spot that just didn't fit…I found myself. He was about six foot two with soft green eyes, messy bronze hair, and the quirkiest crooked smile that made a puddle out of me.
And then he looked my way and hit me like a train. Nothing mattered except for him, everything I had ever known, ever believed in, it all just disappeared as everything became rooted to him, rooted in him. Then, by some luck, he turned to me and told me he loved me, that I was his life, and that everything that was everything to him, was all based on me. But it wasn't destined to last, no, what comes around goes around, what goes up, comes right back down…
Really, its simple physics: the force exerted on an object will be returned in equal force unless acted on by an external force. I gave him my heart, and when he pulled away, it fell to pieces.
I didn't let it get me down, no. This girl was a fighter; I'd seen my share of death and learned to laugh in its face. He broke me, but I deserved it. I fell for those lines, those words, his voice…but I knew the truth…I knew the real reason he left me. He realized what everyone eventually did, there was nothing redeeming about me at all…I just wasn't worth it…he had love to give, and he was damn beautiful for trying it on me, but it just couldn't work. Its physics, you know. He was lovely, I was not. He was simple, I was complicated. He was steady, I was out of control. He was perfect, I'm flawed… Two unequal forces, they just don't match!
Sometimes you have to learn to just accept it; you just can't fight what's right in front of you. And what's the best way to accept the truth, to forget that it ever happened. A clean break was what I needed because as far as I was concerned…Edward had never existed…
When I woke the day after the nightmare I knew that it was time to go back to my previous engagements. There was only a few days left, a few more exams to write, graduation, and prom (not that I planned to attend), it would be fairly easy to find my way back to the way I had been before. And in the fall, I could slip away to another college, somewhere far away where my family and friends couldn't find me. Somewhere where I could truly be alone…
And that's how I entered the trance; waking up, bidding my hellos and goodbyes, completing my work, coming home, and falling into a sleepless slumber. I adapted to loathe my family and friends again, to find the hatred I had buried of their saddened eyes faced in my direction, the pity in their stares, their poor attempts to empathize. It was worthless, and they knew it. But I could still be Bella, the Bella that smiled and laughed even when she was empty inside. It didn't matter if they knew it was a lie, it was much easier to smile and forget about the entire matter. This was how I had made it to today, to Prom, where my sisters were now throwing a fit trying to make me attend the frivolous event…
"Bell-ah!" Alice groaned, throwing herself dramatically onto her bed, "How can you not attend prom? It's the only event that you have to come too! I didn't force you to come to any football games, any pep rallies, any spring dances, any parties," she babbled on about everything I missed as I rolled my eyes with a smile.
"And therefore, proving my point, you have to come." She stomped her foot, placing a menacing hand on her hip and giving me the look, this was going to be a tough one.
"This family is a cult!" I complained, "And Ahhhh-liiiiice, are you even listening to me? It's not my fault; I just don't want to go! Don't you understand? Rose, make her understand!" I knew the outbursts were for nothing, but they helped the image that Bella was doing just fine, if she could complain about the family, she was still sane.
Rose made a clicking noise and a disgusted face, "We're your family, and therefore you can't call us a cult! Cults have people with ugly white robes, and they're bald, and…it's disgusting!"
I rolled my eyes and she laughed while Alice continued her assault.
"Calm down Bella, it's only a dance, and you'll look so beautiful in this dress!" She held up the white gown and matching strap-y heels and I nearly fainted.
"That's not a dress!"
This time, Alice rolled her eyes.
"Okay," Rosalie tried, "I will admit it's a tad over-the-top…"
"A little over the top? You stole it off some Disney princess!"
"Bella," Alice's tone changed, "Don't make me call Kate."
"You know what, why don't I just call her?!" I picked up the phone, dialled the number and waited.
"Ello?"
"Kaaaaate," I whined, "They're trying to make me wear this crazy dress with all these poofy parts and,"
"I saw the dress, it's really nice actually."
"Wait, wait…when did you see it? And how can you think it's nice? You hate dressing up!"
"Its prom Bella, you don't get a choice. And I think the dress is perfectly lovely."
"I hate you."
"I love you too, I'll see you there."
"You won't!" I slammed the phone and turned back to Rosalie and Alice.
"Bella," Alice tried again, "Is this rebellion towards the dance based on something else? On someone with a name that starts with E…?"
I couldn't help but wonder if she was attempting to be conspicuous or just plain stupid, "I have no idea what you're talking about."
"She's talking about Edward Bella!" Rosalie snapped, "The one that came here, made the Bella that no one has seen since we were kids come out, and then disappeared without a trace. Edward, Edward, Edward, you know, the one who broke your heart? What the hell happened to you Bella? You finally come out of your shell and because of some stupid boy you're going to throw everything away? I thought you were the strongest of us but really, you're the weakest, you say you've got all your emotions hidden but they're right on your face Bella, yet you won't even acknowledge anyone's pain but your own!"
"Rose…" Alice tried to stop her but she shook her head.
"I have no idea what you're talking about!" I hissed.
"Stop acting like some incompetent baby Bella! We're here to help you, because we're your family so let us fix you! He was just a boy; you don't let them get you down! You only think about yourself, did you know that? You don't see how no one can be happy around you because God forbid we offend Bella or that we bring up his name and make her cry! Well I'll say it over and over, Edward, Edward, Edward, Edward, EDWARD!" Rosalie screamed, nearly on the verge of tears herself.
"I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT!" I yelled back, "I am not going to this dance because I am nota part of this family. You guys are free to do whatever you want with Jasper and Emmett but leave me out of it because I want nothing to do with your pity or that of the Mike's and Tyler' of the world!"
"Did I here Mike Newton?" Renee popped into the room with a smile, "Bella! You're not dressed yet? Why aren't you dressed! The dance is soon! I'll call Mrs. Newton, I'm sure Mike could pick you up on his way…?"
"No…please don't. I don't want to go to the dance; I really, really do not want to go. Please," I tried to keep my voice from cracking, "Please don't make me go."
All three of them looked at me, pity on their faces, and I turned away.
"Okay." Alice announced softly, standing up and pulling her dress, "We'll leave you be."
"Thank you." I whispered as both her and Rose hugged me quickly.
"Have fun."
"Bye Bella!" Emmett yelled from downstairs.
"Bye Emmett."
"Bella," my mom was beside me, "Phil and I are going out, but if you want me to stay…"
"No, it's alright."
"Okay, love you honey, I'll see you later."
Once everyone was gone, I headed to the computer first.
Hey Bells
Your room is all ready when you're ready to move in. Are you sure you want to live with me? How are Phil and Renee with the whole 'living with dad' excuse? You probably haven't even told them yet. Well, if you change your mind, I'll understand.
Love Dad
I still hadn't told Renee or Phil about my plans, but I figured it was something that could be done on my way out of the house. It wasn't as if she couldn't drive down the street and try to force me to come back with her.
Hey Dad
Thank you, thank you, thank you! There's a reason we're so much alike! No, I haven't told Renee or Phil yet, but can you blame me? You know how they'll react. I'm thinking a nice note once I'm already gone will suffice, but don't worry, I'll have it covered. Most of my things are at your place already but I'll get Emmett and Jasper to help me move the rest and I can always come back for anything I need. I'll call you soon so you can be there when I figure out a date.
Love Bella
I turned off the computer with a sigh and walked past the mirror, being careful to avoid a glance in that direction, and sat on my bed. I noticed one of my books had fallen onto the floor and reached to pick it up but upon noting it was Sense and Sensibility dropped it as if it were on fire.
'No' I reminded myself, back to reality. I lay on the bed, trying to keep a clear mind, but found it too difficult so I began to wander aimlessly around my room, throwing things into some of the boxes I had scattered around while sorting through the mess in my closet. But still, time crawled slowly and the urge to reach the mirror won.
I had a teacher once, I can't recall her name, but I was reminded of a conversation she had told us as children about what it meant to be beautiful. Only one part had stuck with me, she had come around, patting heads and smiling, "All of you are beautiful, just perfectly beautiful, and when you look in the mirror that's not what you see. Everyone, each and every one of you is perfectly beautiful so the problem is not you at all, quite simply the beauty is there, except, the mirror is in the way…"
'He called you beautiful' somewhere far in the depths of my mind, someone was whispering, 'He called you beautiful, he said you were perfect, he said that he loved you'…I recoiled away from the voice, fumbling with my music, because if I started to sing that would occupy my mind for the time being…
I've been coming out of my cage, And I've been doing just fine
Gotta gotta gotta be down, Because I want it all
'He wanted you, and you still want him.' Stop it! He didn't…there was no he there was no one except for me, myself, and I.
It started out with a kiss, How did it end up like this?
It was only a kiss, It was only a kiss
'Do you miss him? Do you miss the way he kissed you, how he called your name, how he stared at you like there was nothing else in the world but you?' There was no stopping it now; I struggled against the wave that threatened to crash my trance.
'Does anyone know? Does anyone know how much you loved him? How much he loved you?' He never loved me…I winced, and I never loved him!
'But look at what you've done now; you're all alone, all by yourself…'
I struggled to lock the door before I fell to the floor and cried. Burying my head in my hands I fought to keep the images from resurfacing, but they came.
*****
I heard the front door slam followed by my mother, presumably drunk, stumble into the kitchen. Dad heard it too, and he ran downstairs to 'greet' her.
"Where have you been Renee?! It's three in the morning!" Charlie was hissing at her, trying not to wake me.
"Why are you whispering?" Renee practically screamed.
"Because, Renee," he practically spat her name, "Our eleven year old daughter is upstairs sleeping!" I was almost positive Charlie was rolling his eyes at her.
"Well it's morning so she should get up! Bella, it's time to get ready for school!" It was evident that Renee was intoxicated at this point.
"Were you with him Renee? Were you out with Phil?" My father's anger was seeping through his composed voice.
Anywhere but here, I wanted to be anywhere but here. Renee was screaming as I flew to the staircase, clutching the railing as I watched the scene below unfold. Renee continued swearing at Charlie and at the man who appeared in the doorway, who I recognized as Phil. I tried to close my eyes, but I couldn't look away. I could hear the choking from in my chest and I hugged myself together, trying to keep it together, because there was nothing I could do.
The men were closer and closer now, merely inches apart, I flinched away from their harsh words, but I saw the first hit, as Charlie's fist found Phil's jaw. Renee kept screaming, everyone was yelling, and somewhere, far away, someone called my name as everything became a messy blur…
*****
"So, you think you're pretty now do you Bella?" the voice came from the right side, definitely that of a girl.
"Well I'm sure we can bring her back to reality." A hand grabbed at my hair and pulled tight.
I screamed and sure enough a hand tightened around my mouth, "You will not scream." The voice commanded
I bit his fingers, he yelped and I tried to kick but I was pinned against the locker.
"No, no, no." I heard them taunt, a wicked laugh escaping her lips, "Into the locker with you."
I tried to scream, tried to move, but it was no use.
"Such a pretty blue dress, its such a waste on someone as hideous as you." His voice spoke the truth, I agreed with him…
"Into the locker?" the boy asked, there were more than two people, from what I could see in the dark, maybe a handful but I couldn't be sure.
"Into the locker." The more predominant male voice, the leader, spoke.
The door opened and I was shoved inside, hitting my head hard on the shelf. I screamed, loudly, and the boy swore. I pushed against the door, begging them not to lock me in, I was completely claustrophobic… They all laughed, yelling back at me, and I heard the lock snap as I let out one last scream. I tried to move but every piece of my body collided with the walls of the locker. My heart was beating in my stomach and up through my throat as my chest heaved rapidly. I was struggling to breathe, because I couldn't stay calm and knew I was hyperventilating.
'It's going to be alright Bella' I screamed again, trying to push my entire body against the door but it still wasn't working, I was going to die…or something worse, but I couldn't think of it yet, my mind was everywhere. 'Stay with me, my Bella' someone called, maybe it was Emmett? Was Emmett coming to get me? I could hear people screaming my name and I tried to yell back, I'm right here! I'm not fine! But it was too late…I dreamed of lying at home, sleeping soundly at Charlie's…and falling asleep with someone's arms wrapped around me…
******
'You're all alone, just like you've always been.'
The walls were closing in on me and I quickly shut off the radio and ran to the mirror tugging at the contacts, barely making it to the bathroom without falling. Get…out…of…my…head… I scrubbed at the makeup as the tears began pouring, struggling to tie my hair up. Click, click, click. I kicked the door finally succeeding in locking myself in my room. Dressed in my normal attire I hid under the covers of my bed, preparing for the wrath.
Alone, alone, alone… The words echoed in my head. I saw Charlie and Renee arguing, I saw Phil coming, I saw… I screamed and covered my head with a pillow. I saw Emmett and Rose dancing and Alice in Jasper's arms. I saw Mike and Jessica and Angela and Ben. There was black and red and a light, but it was so far away. I tried to reach for it, tried to grab it, but it kept moving farther away from me.
'Please' I begged the light. The voices were screaming. I saw the locker, I saw the boys pushing me, I saw the girls laughing, I heard their taunts. I heard the click of the lock and my voice screaming for someone, anyone, to help me. It was the younger me, frightened, screaming, crying. I reached for her, to comfort her, but she too disappeared.
It was back to Charlie and Phil. I heard Renee's screams, mixed with my own. I had to warn them, I had to warn him, I had to stop it… The light was still there, I pleaded with it to take me to a quiet place, a safe place. The walls were closing in again. I was banging and kicking and thrashing and they were all laughing, everyone was always laughing at me.
'It's getting worse' I was attempting to clear my thoughts, to think clearly for ever a second. Trying to remember when people were coming back, people that I wouldn't let see me like this; they could never know what they did to me. But I was slipping past the edge, farther then I'd ever gone before. Faster and faster I couldn't catch myself, couldn't regain control, couldn't think.
Charlie and Phil were moving closer, the locker door was closing, the walls were swallowing me, I was falling off the cliff, down the hole, farther into the darkness and away from the light…
I screamed his name, begging for him to save me, but it was too late to stop it now. There had to be a way to stop it, to forget everything. Somehow I managed to escape from the room and stumble down the stairs to the cabinet.
"Yes," I hissed, reaching for the bottle.
I didn't have to remember anything at all. I took a quick swig and swallowed, it was far too late to really stop it now.
EPOV
"Edward!" Ricardo burst into my room, knocking over a table in the process.
"You could knock."
He rolled his eyes, "I could, but where would that get me?"
I threw a lamp in his direction, Ricardo simply blinked and the object disappeared.
"Show off." I muttered.
"Have you looked at yourself lately Edward?" To prove his point Ricardo approached me, mirror in hand.
I grabbed it and threw it across the room; it shattered instantly, sending pieces of glass flying towards Ricardo.
He rolled his eyes and muttered something about immature hormonal teenagers.
"Can you get to the point Ricardo?"
He sat beside me on the bed and stared me in the eyes, I expected a heart-to-heart conversation was about to ensue, so I braced myself for a retreat.
Instead, he slapped me. Just like a five year old girl, he slapped me right across the face.
"What the fuck are you doing?" I yelled, flinching away from his hand.
"What the fuck am I doing?" Ricardo stormed about the room, hitting chairs and vases alike, "How about what the fuck are you doing? You love that girl and you left her for dead!"
"I don't love her." I stated matter-of-factly. It was a straight lie, but he didn't have to know that.
Ricardo snorted, "Grow a pair Edward, you're like a son to me, you know that! But I refuse to stand here and watch while you mope like a child and give up your only chance at a future, at love."
"I'm dead Ricardo, have you forgotten that fact?"
"Love knows no boundaries; it cannot be restricted by time or death."
I raised an eyebrow in his direction, "Seriously? Write me a fucking romance story with that shit."
"Watch your mouth!"
"Coming from you?"
"This is precisely what I'm talking about Edward! She loves you, she needs you and believe it or not, you need her just as much, more than you know."
He may have been on to something there, whether I chose to acknowledge that fact was an entirely different story.
"So let's say," I began my proposition, pacing my room alongside him, "That perhaps I do love her and do need her, and possibly that she is the true reason for my existence. What then?"
"You tell her precisely that."
"I'm dead, I'm an angel, this is impossible. That is, aside from the fact that the very association with me puts her life at risk."
"Like I said Edward, love knows no boundaries. Have you ever stopped and thought about the very reason why we are angels? Everything happens for a reason that's the first lesson you learn in your GA training!"
"So me endangering Bella's life on a daily basis occurs for what purpose?"
He sighed, covering his face with one hand, "You are the most stubborn person I have ever had to deal with! You are not endangering her life! You're living in a deluded fantasy world!"
"No Ricardo! You're the one living in a fantasy world! Bella is safe without me, I can admire her from afar and perhaps one day, when she passes on, she will consider me."
"Are you that blind Edward? Can you not see all the damage you have done to her by leaving?"
Ricardo and I were face to face, both fighting to keep our voices down, but neither one succeeding.
I turned away, "I refuse to discuss this matter any further."
"She's not safe without you Edward; she's a menace to herself. You don't know how good you've got it Edward, she loves you, she's right there for the taking and you're going to give her away! Take it from someone who lost that opportunity, you will regret this for the rest of your existence, I can assure you of that." His voice was soft and I knew that this was a very touchy subject for him, the life that he gave up to save the one he loved. We never discussed it, but in order for him to leave me alone I would have to break the faith he had in me.
I turned to him and squared my shoulders, "Is that what it is Ricardo? Living through me perhaps? You gave up your life and saved your pretty little lady and you let her go off with someone else! That is not my problem! That's yours. You regret what you did, I don't. I refuse to be some pawn in your matchmaking game any longer, just because you didn't get your chance at happily ever after doesn't mean you have to force me into one, completely disregarding the safety of the involved human!"
He froze and flinched as if I had hit him, but I wasn't finished yet.
"You don't think I know Ricardo? You sacrificed yourself for some girl who never gave you the time of day. Why did you do that? Just so you could hold it above everyone's head for the rest of eternity? Oh, perfect Ricardo! You're no better than me. You're still hung up on this girl when there are hundreds of others you could've had! But no, you're just going to live out your existence alone because you couldn't accept that you weren't good enough for her. Well excuse me if I don't want to do the same."
I wasn't sure if he'd buy it, it sounded completely preposterous to me, and most of it hadn't even made complete sense! I half expected him to burst you laughing, he knew me, and he knew that was completely out of line.
"Edward…" he reached out to grab me but I turned away.
"Not every son wants to follow in their father's footsteps. But wait! You're not really my father, so why don't you just leave me alone."
He whistled, "That was low Edward."
I didn't respond.
He shrugged, I instantly regretted what I'd said, but I couldn't take it back.
"Whenever you snap out of this trance Edward, read these." He placed a file folder on my desk. I still did not respond.
"And believe it or not Edward, I'm not perfect. Do I want you to make the same mistakes I did? Of course not. Doesn't every father want that for his son? But you're right; I'm not your father. I thought you were different, that you could've been great, but you're just like the rest of them. I mean could you imagine how horrible things would be if we always told others how we felt? Life would be intolerably bearable." With that last line, he left.
I stared at the file folder, wondering if it was worth reading.
Curiosity got the better of me and I took a seat, there were pages of documents, I started from the beginning "Ricardo Jonathon Robertson".
BPOV
I stared in the mirror and giggled, my teacher was right, it was in the way. I snatched it from the wall and threw it to the floor. It shattered and I laughed harder it was such a wonderful feeling.
That was when I noticed the dress, still hanging on the inside of my closet.
"That's such a beautiful dress!" I walked over to it and grabbed the fabric, it was so soft.
"It'd be such a waste not to wear it! It's just so pretty! I can be a princess!"
I put the bottle down for a moment, enough to stumble out of my clothes and put the giant ball gown on, Alice had truly outdone herself this time, but I loved it. It was a soft yellow and straight out of a Disney classic.
"All hair Princess Bella!" I giggled again, grabbing the heels to match. I began to dance around the room, stopping when I saw a picture of all my friends on my desk.
I picked it up and stared at it, it took a few moments before the picture stopped being so darn fuzzy.
"There's Ahhhhlice and Rosalie and Emmmmett and Jasper. Jasper! Jas-per! Per is like purr, Jaspuuuuurrrr!" I laughed again, "And Vikki and James and Kaaaaate and Nick and Irinahhhh and Laurent!" My brows furrowed together, there was something bad about that last one, and then I remembered.
"He's in jail!" I couldn't for the life of me remember what he'd done to get there but I figured I could go and find out. "I'll be he's lonely in there!" Therefore, he wouldn't mind me visiting, in fact I'd bet he'd love a visit!
And so I set off, not bothering to grab my phone or purse, I was just heading down to the station. Bottle in hand I began to skip towards the station. I arrived in a few moments and banged on the door.
"Heyyy-looow!"
Mark appeared at the door, "Bella? What are you doing here?"
"Let me in puh-lease!" I pouted, trying to do a puppy face, but only succeeded in falling over.
"Jesus Bella!" Mike opened the door and helped me inside, "Are you drunk?" he spotted the bottle so I hid it behind my back with a giggle.
"No silly! I came to see Laurent!"
He shook his head furiously, "Oh no, not a good idea. I'm going to call Charlie." He hesitated for a minute, the phone was in the other room, he didn't want to leave me alone.
"I'll be a good girl, I'll stay right here!" I announced, sitting firmly in the seat.
He didn't look convinced but he left anyway, "I'll be right back!" he warned.
I snorted; I was drunk, not stupid. I moved from his desk to Charlie's and reached in the second drawer for his keys.
Humming softly to myself I locked Mark in the other room, to which he banged and screamed but I just laughed, and then headed towards the cell holding Laurent.
"Laurent!" I yelled upon seeing one of my friends.
He screamed and I frowned, that wasn't much of a hello.
"You shouldn't be here Bella! He'll find you! And he'll hurt you!"
"Don't be such a sourpuss, who'll find me?"
"HIM!" He screamed, cowering in the corner.
I shook my head and pointed to the bottle, "I have no idea what you're talking about but I can assure you, I won't remember in the morning."
He looked nervously from side to side, as if unsure we were really alone, "I can't tell you! It's not me Bella; you know I would never ever hurt you! But, if I tell them who he really is he'll hurt her and as much as you're my friend Bella, I can't let him hurt Irina."
My brain was hurting from all this talk but I tried really hard to focus, "What do you mean he'll hurt Irina? Who will?"
"Do you remember a couple months ago? There was a minor crash? I was in the car! But someone else, the driver, he hit his head, really hard. And then, slowly he started acting really weird! Slowly, but surely he went as mad as a bat!"
"I don't think that's the correct phrase, isn't it as mad as a hatter? Or mad as a fox?"
"Mad as all of those! And you, you were just so easy he said! No one was there to protect you! He made me help him; I didn't have a choice he swore he'd hurt my Irina! Don't you get it Bella? Don't you understand? Please," He was on his knees, begging me, "Please understand!"
"Sure thing!" I giggled, "Well it was nice talking to you but I really want to get some fresh air before Charlie comes and finds me! I'm thinking of going to the train tracks and watching the train!" I squealed and jumped up and down, "Bye bye Laurent!"
"Don't go Bella!" He tried to reach for me from between the bars, "He'll get you! He'll get you!"
"Silly, silly, silly." I laughed, heading outside and steering myself in the direction of the train tracks. My feet hurt badly thought, so I took of my heels and began to run, carrying the shoes in one hand the bottle in the other.
I ran home quickly, ran inside, grabbed my keys, and dived into my truck. I drove to the train tracks, speeding down the streets, and gave a jump for joy when I realized I hadn't in fact missed the train. My joy however ended quickly when I realized that I had been carrying around an empty bottle for far too long without knowing! I exited the truck and smashed it against the ground, laughing when the fragments sparkled in the moonlight. My head was slowly becoming less fuzzy but I didn't want to remember just yet so I started to spin.
"A Pretty dress, a pretty girl, and such a pretty night!" I sang while I spun round and round with a laugh.
"If only there was a pretty boy to go with it!" I frowned, that was nonsense, I didn't need a boy!
"Hear that Edward! I don't need you! Sure, I love you and all, but I'm fine by myself!" I giggled again; shouting to the sky was so much fun.
"I wouldn't be so sure of that if I were you." I screamed and spun around before seeing who it was.
"It's just you!" I sighed, relieved, "I thought you were some creepy-deeky stalker dude come to finish me off!" I giggled, "Boy am I silly."
He cocked an eyebrow, untying his tie before resting his hands on the side of his dress pants, "Who says I'm not some creepy-deeky stalker dude come to finish you off?"
I frowned, "Because you're you! And you have a girlfriend! Who is probably looking for you at prom, why aren't you there?"
"Because I'm here, to finish you off."
"Don't be silly," I laughed, "Did Charlie send you? He's probably out looking for me."
He frowned, "That will be a problem, this will have to be quick then, I'm done with games and I'll have to go let Laurent out after I'm finished here."
I stopped laughing; he wasn't being serious, was he?
"I'm being completely serious Bella." He came towards me and hit me, hard.
"What?" I stepped away from him but he grabbed me fiercely.
"I intend to hit you around then tie you to the tracks and watch as the train hits you and no one will here you scream. It worked out wonderfully that you came here all by yourself, I didn't have to drag you at all."
I stood there in his grasp, completely flabbergasted as he punched me in the stomach, causing me to fall over and gasp, "Why are you doing this? Why to me?"
His foot found my chest and I screamed, but he was right, the train tracks were on the outskirts of town, a good fifteen/twenty minutes for citizens obeying the traffic laws, no one would find me.
"Why? Well," He laughed as he grabbed a piece of glass from the ground and drew a bloody line across my arm, "Because I can, and because you're you! No one here to protect you!"
"Edward!" I hissed trying to kick him but failing miserably.
He laughed again, "He's long gone sweetheart, it's just you me and the train, you've met your tracks end!"
"You're a sick bastard!"
He pulled my face up to his and kissed me, I bit his lip and he threw me to the ground, enraged. Picking up the glass he cut across my cheek, laughing as he did so. I struggled in his arms but I was weak and exhausted.
"I know darling, but it's what I love."
"I can't believe it's been you all along."
He laughed, "I know right? I made Laurent do all my dirty work! After I showed him all the videos I'd made while stalking Irina and showed him my plan to do to her what I'm about to do to you he agreed without a second thought to help!" He grinned and I realized just how wrong we all had been, "Every time, it was me! Can you believe how perfectly it all worked out! I almost can't believe how lucky I am!" He lifted me up once more to tear at my dress.
I flinched and he just continued to laugh. He threw me to the side once again before going to his truck and removing some rope. I struggled to get up but he was back in an instant, dragging me to the tracks.
"You're sick! Twisted! You'll never get away with this James!"
He looked down at me with a grin as he covered my body in the rope, tying me to the track, "Oh won't I?"
EPOV
Once in heaven Ricardo was informed that Cecilia Grace White, the girl that he had admired from a far during his life, was in fact the girl he would've married, the only girl he would've loved. Upon learning this fact after his death, at the age of 18…
Ricardo was only 18 when he died? I pondered this fact for a moment, considering that the bodily appearance he had chosen was that of a 40 year old man!
Ricardo questioned who Cecilia would marry since the angel's mistake had cost him his life. He was notified that she would be forced to marry an associate of her father and he would beat her until the day she died. She would not live a happy life since her love had died, regardless of the fact that she had not been able to love him yet. Ricardo was extremely troubled by this news and asked that since he had been removed, was there no one else that she could love? That would love her? Could they not 'adjust' the system with someone else who was a 'mistake'? Surely he was not the only one.
This was a serious task, Ricardo was expected to wait for Cecilia in heaven until her death, but he could not bear to see her in pain. He demanded the adjustment occur, knowing that this would leave him without anyone to love, although there were many others in heaven for him to acquaintance himself with, however he denied, he only asked that Cecilia be spared because of another's mistake, not even his own. His request was fulfilled and Ricardo immediately was inducted into GA training.
I stopped reading after that, I felt sick to my stomach. Ricardo had sacrificed all happiness; all change of spending eternity with someone who loved him, for a girl he never even spent a moment with! He loved her enough to die for her without ever holding her in his arms. And here I was, complaining about the situation I had, when I could wait for Bella, and already having experienced those days with her by my side! I made a note to apologize to Ricardo immediately after I read the last two pages.
Edward Anthony Masen
Born: June 20, 1901
Child of: Elizabeth and Edward Masen
Gender: Male
Love Status: Isabella Marie Swan, born September 13, 1901
EDIT:Isabella was not born on September 13, 1901. Error in her future, she would not have survived, irreversible. Isabella Marie Swan will be born September 13, 1987. No other match found for Edward Anthony Masen. Tragic accident will occur May 17, 1918 taking both Edward Senior and Edward Junior. Irreversible suicide will take Elizabeth Masen. Edward Junior will become a GA to spare his mother. He will be a GA for Isabella Marie Swan. Suitable match; allowed to continue. Ricardo will oversee this special case.
Isabella Marie Swan
Born: September 13, 1901
Child of: Renee and Charlie Swan
Gender: Female
Love Status: Edward Anthony Masen, born June 20, 1901
EDIT:Isabella was not born on September 13, 1901. Error in her future, she would not have survived, irreversible. Isabella Marie Swan will be born September 13, 1987. Isabella is a Dark Beat as well as having a PM. Edward Anthony Masen will be allowed to save her. This is a suitable match; allowed to continue. Ricardo will oversee this special case.
"Oh God…" I stumbled backwards in my seat. What had I done? Bella and I were supposed to be together we were meant to be together, it was written that we were together!
Ricardo was right, I was a selfish child. He had given up everything for his love and I had a chance to be with mine and I was throwing it all away! I turned around and headed for the door, I had to talk to Ricardo.
"Edward!" Well, that was quick.
"Ricardo, listen, I read the files, I am so sorry. I had no idea of everything you've done, of everything you gave up for her and you're right I've been completely oblivious to anyone but myself! Bella needs me, and I love her! I'm so sorry…"
"Edward there's no time; you have to listen to me!" Ricardo interrupted, waving his hands frantically.
"No you have to listen to me please! I was completely out of line, I didn't mean it…"
"I know Edward, but really you have to stop…"
"No no," I waved my hand in front of his face, "Let me finish. I wish I could take back everything I said, I consider you my father, I do and I hope that you can find it to forgive me and think of me as a son again, if I haven't broken your trust…"
"Already done Edward, of course I forgive you. But, honestly, there is no time! We can discuss this later!"
"Of course, I have many questions to ask, like what factors influenced you to come to that decision? But firstly, I need to know how Bella's doing."
Ricardo sighed, slamming his hand on the table, "That's what I've been trying to say! Laurent wasn't the guy!"
I froze, "What do you mean Laurent wasn't the guy?"
Ricardo waved his hands to the screen and showed me Bella and James, him beating her, pushing her, ripping at her dress, tying her to a train?!"
"Ricardo!" I screamed, pushing him out of the way.
"Edward, wait!"
"No time!" I disappeared in an instant, on my way to her side.
BPOV
I felt sick, sick to my stomach, and it wasn't just from the alcohol.
James was still above me, grabbing at my body, hitting and cutting and laughing while I lay still, stuck to the track.
I gave up trying to escape; it was too late for me now. And as the tears rolled down my cheeks I realized that it really was the end for me, the one thing I'd wanted to come so quickly was here and now, I wanted, needed more time.
"How are you feeling Bella? Feeling beautiful now?"
I didn't respond and he grabbed my chin, pulling my jaw apart. I screamed and he laughed.
"You will answer when I speak to you."
"Bite me!" And so he did, breaking the skin on my shoulder.
"Lovely." He smiled, "Too bad you're going to die," the tracks started to shake and I knew it was only a minute before the train arrived.
He kissed me again and I tried to turn my head, "Much better than with Edward, no?"
I spat and he slapped me.
"You will never compare yourself to him!"
"I don't care sweetheart, because I'm the one who's got you now, not him!" With one last kiss James hopped of the tracks, "I'm going to enjoy this!" He sounded like a child on Christmas morning and I started to sob again.
"Edward," I whispered to the air, not knowing if he was out there, or if it was all just a dream, "I love you, and I'll see you soon." I closed my eyes and braced myself for impact.
"What the fuck?" I heard James scream followed by a loud thump to the ground.
"Bella, Bella love, open your eyes."
I frowned, "That was too quick? Isn't it supposed to hurt?" I opened my eyes and there he was, Edward, trying to untie the ropes. He undid my wrist and worked on the other side.
"I know you're tired love, but can you try and help me untie you?"
"Is it really you?"
"Yes." Second arm done, he was working on the legs.
I leaned up towards him and touched his arm, "Am I dead?"
"No, I'm trying to prevent that, love."
"You shouldn't. Maybe if I die we can be together."
He stopped and held my gaze for a moment, "Don't say that, I love you, the alive you."
He finished my first leg and worked on the other while I could see a bright light in the distance.
"I see a light."
Edward's hands moved faster and I managed to push myself off of his back, and stand wearily. My foot was still caught but it was only a matter of moments before Edward would release me.
I didn't want him too, because as soon as I was safe, he would disappear.
"I want to die."
Edward froze; his hands stopped moving, "Take it back!" He hissed, standing beside me and grabbing my face in his hands.
"I want to die." I repeated, firmer this time.
"Take it back!" He yelled, "I can't save you unless you take it back."
"I don't want you to save me; I want to be with you."
"I love you, we will make it work!" He pleaded with me but I shook my head.
"If you love me, you'll let me die, I want to die." The train rounded the bend and Edward made one last plea.
"Please, take it back."
"I'll see you soon." I whispered, the light nearly blinding me.
He took me in his arms; my foot still tied to the track, and held me against his chest, "I'll be waiting."
"Kiss me?"
And so he did.
It's not too much of a cliffy is it? Did it live up to the hype? Were you satisfied by the 'killer'? Was Edward/Ricardo relationship too OOC? Drop me a review, I'm dying to know what you guys thought! Sorry again about the insane wait, I won't do that again! And drunk Bella, what did you think? lol, I had no idea how to write her so I based if off of some of my friends I've witnessed drunk, haven't experienced it, so I'm not sure about the accuracy of it. anyways, until next time -- mk :)