AN: I got a review saying Bella is recovering too fast. And I agree. So it's time to throw a proverbial wrench in the woodwork. Muahahaha Drama!

Chapter 10

We were at the top of the stairway and I was mentally preparing myself for the concerned faces I'd meet below. Could I do this? What if this only made everything worse and then Edward changed his mind. What if this only makes him realize that he doesn't want to be with me like this after all.

"You aright? You can do this Bella. You're strong and I know you're ready, even if you don't fully believe in yourself, I do." Edward said encouraging me. His cool hand rested on my shoulder and slid down to my lower back.

The instant I felt his hand grazing around my waist, I was hit full force with the image of Jason and his henchmen roughly pulling me closer as they violently thrusted into me. I knew these were only memories, but Edward was still more than I thought, more than I tried to convince myself that I could handle.

"GET OFF ME!" I scream, beg and fight against him. Wrenching out of his grasp that sent bolts of terror down my being, I run for my life down the stairs and try to escape through the door. Seven figures whose nature was to kill versus one broken soul were huge obstacles to overcome, but I had to get out. I had to find some sense of tranquility and normalcy. Staying in this house could be just as stupid as going back to that abandoned warehouse.

Somehow, as if my brain is on autopilot, I grab what I later find to be Edward's Volvo keys. The door is already open, and I know this has to be some sort of cruel trap but I can't take a step backwards. Out of the corner of my eye I see Jasper trying to calm me. I only see his effort instead of feeling it because he harbors such a strong look of concentration. I'm past the point of calming or consolation. Emmett took small steps forward in an attempt to be less threatening but it still frightened me tremendously.

"Let her go. When you see what you need to see, when you find you, come back to me. You know I'm here Bella, whenever you need me. I'll wait for you." Edward spoke, giving me his understanding. I wanted to say that I'd always need him and I wasn't leaving him. But I couldn't remember how it was before, all I could see was this terrified shell that I became.

I didn't answer and the pain showed brightly upon Edward's face. I didn't even have to turn to see his face to know it was there. Tears broke free from my eyes and I ran out the door to the Volvo. Starting the car, I steal what could possibly be the final glance of Edward's face. The final glance of something I didn't deserve. Of something that I loved so terribly and still do, but something that instilled a newfound fear in me. Speeding forward I remember long ago when Edward gave that metaphoric line about our relationship.

So the lamb runs away from the lion.

((AN: Gasp! Did Bella just leave Edward? Did Edward just let Bella leave him? Why yes, yes she did and yes he did. Oh, what a tangled web…..Did you think about David Cook about half way through the chapter and wonder why? I drew some inspiration from his song "Come back to me."

And I made it short because anymore would have ruined the mood. Are you depressed now? I am. But I know what will make you happier, reviewing. Doctor's orders. :D ))

P.S. I kinda hate Rosalie. So she will be no factor in helping Bella recover. Sorry. In fact, she may as well not even exist in this story, aside from a couple comments from her possibly, you will not even notice her. In fact, I might just mysteriously kill her off in the last sentence of the last chapter just for fun…cause I'm demented like that. Alright, I lied….I like Emmett way too much to do that. And now I'm rambling and sounding crazy…I need sleep, so when I wake up I hope I wake up to a million reviews. Or at least 10? Adios!