Chapter 15 - The plan.

Bella POV

The final train before Chicago. It was time to cook up some kind of a plan. "So, what are we actually going to do when we get there?" I asked. "Just getting here has turned into a challenge so much I bet none of us have a plan for what happens next."

Jacob thought for a moment. "Well, I say we go straight to his house, drag him down to the hospital and throw him in with the infected. Easy?" His grin was not reciprocated. "Aww man." He said playfully.

"This Cullen boy, you need to get him to the hospital, you say?" I felt sure I had already explained this to Harker, but I guess it couldn't hurt to run through it again.

I sighed. "Yes. He has to contract the Spanish Flu, he has to be treated by Carlisle, and he has to be turned by him." I paused a moment, realising we had missed something. "It's not just Edward! His mother was there too. She begged Carlisle to change him. Maybe without her, this whole thing won't work?"

Silence for a moment, then Jacob spoke, softly. "We have to get her to go first. She has to be Edwards lure." I could see the pain in his face at this suggestion. He had formed a bond with Elisabeth very quickly. I think her strong maternal instincts had rubbed off on him. "Then he will follow."

"Very well." Said Harker. We shall talk her into visiting this hospital, and that should set in motion the events of your timeline. However, we still must consider those two. His parting shot was dead on, and by my thinking the sun will have about set when we pull in to Chicago. Just how far does this chap live from the station?"

I looked at Jacob, who looked back at me. Concern spread across his wide brow. He thought a moment. "Uh, far enough. Like, a good walk. Maybe an hour. Could we get a cab?"

"And risk the life of the cab driver too?" Harker was never anything but serious.

"Nah, you're right." Jacob racked his brain, as did I.

"You know I think our only option shall be a mislead. I have a bit of an idea coming to me, but for it to work we shall have to get busy, and hope for a huge slice of luck."

I gave a nod and a big smile. "Ok, let's get started."

oOo

The train chugged along the track at a fair pace. Countryside had been replaced by small buildings. We were not far out of Chicago now. And my fear was peaking thanks to the lengthening shadows. The sky was beginning to burn. Clouds were becoming a light shade of pink and that shade was slowly becoming deeper. I looked up at Jacob, who had a slightly self satisfied look on his face. Harker had left us a moment earlier to visit the bathroom, advising us that he would be a while, but we had finished our work so we all felt we could rest. The afternoon had been long and tiresome, bartering with other passengers, but we had done a good job, and confidence was high.

"Do you really think this will work?" I asked.

"Not a chance in hell!" Jacob smiled at me. "But what choice do we have. We need to make it work, or die tryin."

"Thank you." I said, suddenly overcome with emotion. "For sticking with me. This whole thing just keeps getting harder."

"Ah, aint no thing." I loved his attitude. Always so positive. "Anyways, I didn't want to go home by myself, and that alternate future business? Come on!"

"Jake, you are amazing."

"Yeah, well, we all try our best." His smile was dazzling.

"You know if we get home..."

"When." He interrupted. I smiled.

"When we get home, I'm going to try harder. I want to be normal." He sniggered and I shot him a look. "I think the main thing I need to do is not try and remember him, nor try and forget him, I need to simply live with what I have. Memories. And move on. Live my life."

He smiled his dazzling smile again. "You know, I think you might just be ready to settle down. Know any awesome, great looking guys?" He tugged at his own lapels.

I smiled a shy smile. He took my hand in his and I lost myself in his deep brown eyes. We had to make this work. We had to.

Just then Harker appeared to spoil the mood. He took a seat beside me, Jacob opposite me. Outside the window lights had begun to blink into life. It was not yet night but dusk was closing in. Harker ran his hands over our work and nodded. "We are all clear?" He asked. We both nodded. "Very well. We each know the plan. And I have the relevant addresses."

"How long?" I asked.

"Not long." Jacob said, his game face now well and truly set. "Buildings are getting bigger."

"Last time we came this way." I said "I was so excited. To see him. Now it's all dread."

"Save your adrenaline dear." Said Harker "For I feel you shall need it."

The train began to slow and the lights of the station were bright in the cabin. This was it. Go time. We would have to do this with some perfect timing.

We climbed down onto the platform where the three of us found a seat, just out in the open and directly under a lamp. The pool of orange light was somehow comforting. It did not take long for the passing crowd to disperse and when it did a chill began to cover the platform. Then there was a faint clip clop of high heels. The walk was slow, deliberate. She approached slowly from behind and then all of a sudden he was there, in the pool of light, just a few feet from the bench. Almost instantly she was there too, covering the rear, eyes burning with the desire to kill.

So this was it, then.