Chapter 3

Bella was having one of her dreams again, screaming in her sleep.

Charlie comes in and turns on the light and hurries to her side, gently shaking her awake.

"You're alright, 're okay." he tells her.

Her eyes open, tears streaming down her cheeks. He doesn't quite know what to do, so hands her a glass of water from her bedside table. She sits up, sips. He pulls the dreamcatcher from her bedpost.

"This thing's not working very well." Charlie commented.

"It's... not as bad as it was." she tries to tell him.

"Yeah right." Charlie said, "I know what it's like, you know. When your mom left me. I had a hell of a time. Imagined doing all kinds of crazy things, just to stop the pain." he tells her but she avoided his look.
"But hanging out with Jacob seems to help get your mind off... things."

"He's been keeping me afloat." Bella tells him.

"That's good. He's a good guy." Charlie said.

Bella drives along the La Push cliffs. Jacob rides shotgun. He studies a grease-blackened motorcycle crankshaft, "We got lucky at the dump. You know how much a new crankshaft goes for?"

"Sure, I spend all my free time on crankshaft-dot-com." she said sarcastically.

"I think that's a porn site." he mentions, "These bikes are gonna be rolling soon. Where should we ride first?"

"Someplace sunny." she said.

"Like there's any place sunny around here." Jacob commented.

"I know a place above the cloud line -" Bella started but she stopped, instantly regretting it.

"Where is it?" Jacob asked.

"Actually, it's... too hard to get to." she decided to say.

He brings his easy smile and optimism to the rescue, "So we'll find our sunny spot, right?

She smiles, grateful. Then she looks out the window at the cliffs... and notices - Four men standing on the rocky ledge of the cliff. It was Sam, Jared, Paul, and a fourth person. They wear nothing but cut-off shorts. They push each other, rough-housing.

"Isn't that... Sam Uley?" Bella asked.

"And his cult." Jacob said bitterly.

Suddenly, two of the guys throw a struggling Jared over the cliff! Bella slams on the brakes and jumps out of the truck once it stops, Jacob right behind her.

"Oh my God! Stop them! -" she said concerned as she runs towards them but Jacob laughs at her..

"They're not really fighting, Bella. They're cliff diving." Jacob told her.

"What, on purpose?" she asked.

"Scary as hell, but a total rush." he told her as they watched one of them take a running start and flings himself into the air, twisting and cartwheeling down.

Bella is intrigued, sees the potential for adrenaline - for Edward.

"Most of us jump from lower down." he continued.

"Think I could?" she asked.

"Man, first motorcycles, now cliff diving?" he said.

"You said it was a rush." she told him.

"Maybe on a warmer day. And not from the top. We'll leave the showing off to Sam and his disciples." Jacob said with a bitter tone again.

She looks at him. "You don't like them."

"They think they run this place. Acting all bad ass, calling themselves 'protectors'."

"What are they protecting?" she asked.

"The tribe, the land, their right to be jerks. Embry used to call them hall monitors on steroids; now look at him." he said as Bella looks closer. Realising that the fourth guy is Embry, hair now
shorn, thin frame filled out, laid back expression gone. It
pains Jacob to see him.

"That's Embry? I didn't recognize him. What happened to him?" Bella asked.

"He missed some school - then, out of nowhere, he's following Sam around. Same thing happened with Paul and Jared. They weren't even friends, now Sam owns them." he pauses for a moment, "Sam keeps giving me this look, like he's waiting for me or something; it's kinda freaking me out." he told her.

"Maybe you should just avoid them." Bella suggested.

"I try but…" he paused, "Maybe your sister can help with that. She is pretty close friends with Sam"

Bella shook her head, "I'm not sure. She is in Alaska studying. She hasn't returned my calls."

"Oh, maybe not than" Jacob said.

She sees he's unnerved, instinctively hugs him reassuringly, "Hey. If it gets worse, we'll go to my Dad. Or you can come stay with us." she told him.

"Thanks." he said while holding her, "If this is how you're going to react, I'll freak out more often."

Bella realizes she crossed a line and covers, playfully shoving him. As they head to the truck, Bella looks back - but now Sam is looking directly at her. Then he turns and dives over the edge, cutting a clean line into the water.

Bella and Jacob's faces were just inches apart.

"You look scared." Jacob stated.

"I'm not." Bella replied but she is lying. She sits on the now completed motorcycle as Jacob stands next to her, holding the bike up.

The bike is aimed down a dirt road. Jacob runs through the instructions:

"Brake?" she taps it, "Clutch" she squeezes that, "Right. Gas?" she grips it, "You ready? He asks.

Bella nods as Jacob grins and kick starts the bike, "Slowly... release the clutch." she does and the bike moves forward an inch. Jacob steps back cautiously and she moves forward another inch.

"Stop." She hears Edward's voice in her head. She turns to find the apparition of Edward standing next to her. Her hand slips off the clutch, the bike bucks and falls on top of her. Jacob quickly lifts it off her as the apparition of Edward disappears.

"You okay? Bruises, breaks - ?" Jacob asks her.

"I'm going again." she tells him.

"I'm not sure that's a good -" Jacob tries to tell her but Bella quickly rises and hops back on.

"Guess we're going again. Now what are you going to do with the clutch?" he questions her.

"Release it. Slowly." she said as Jacob nods and kick starts the bike again.

She releases the clutch and moves forward. Slowly at first - Edward reappears at her side, glowering.

She keeps going, a little faster. Edward appears on her left now; she passes him. He reappears ahead; she passes.
She gathers speed... and for a moment, experiences pure freedom, exhilaration... then she sees Ellie this time standing at the curve in the road ahead, and realizes -

"I don't - how do I turn!?" Bella calls out.

"Bank it! Bank - hit the brake!" Jacob yells out and races towards her.

She reaches the turn, doesn't bank, goes straight... and flies right into a wall of trees.

As she lies on the ground dazed, Jacob hurries up. "What, are you training for the X-games?" he asked her sarcastically.

She looks around for Edward but he's gone, "I want to go again." she tells him.

"Forget it. I'm revoking your motorcycle privileges. Man, look at your head." he said as the blood drips down her forehead. He pulls off his shirt to mop it up as she shrinks away.

"God, I'm sorry." She apologises.

"You're apologizing for bleeding?" he asks.

"It doesn't... bother you?" she asked.

"It's just blood, Bella." he said.

He bends over her, carefully tending her head. She finds herself looking at him. His dark eyes, his bare chest and smooth skin. He glances at her.

"What are you staring at?" he asks her as he noticed her looks.

"Just, you're actually... good looking." she stuttered.

He's surprised; there's a moment between them. He smiles, "How hard did you hit your head?" he jokes.

"Oh I - yeah." she said as he offers her a hand, helps her up. She holds onto it,
alarmed.

"Jake, you're hot." she notices.

"Upgraded from good looking?" he jokes.

"No, temperature hot." she said as she puts a hand to his forehead, "You're burning up."

"I feel fine." he said brushing it off.

He takes her hand from his forehead. Holds it but she tries to pull it away.

"What? I can't hold your hand?" he questioned.

"It just... means something else to you than it does to me." Bella told him.

"One, that's my problem. But two... we have fun, you think I'm hot -"

"Good looking." Bella interrupted him.

"I know you like me." he told her.

"More than anyone. But... that's all."

"Because of Cullen?" he asked. The name stings her. He takes both her hands now.
"Look, I know what he did to you. I can see it in your face every time his name comes up. But you need to know - I would never, ever do that to you. I promise I will never hurt you. You can count on me."

"I already do. You don't know how much. You're my best friend but... I don't think my feelings will change." she told him.

He takes this in, it's hard. A wave of something sweeps over him. He sits back. Closes his eyes, takes a breath.

"I'm sorry. I should've said something right from the start -"

He interrupts her, "No. That's not - I just feel… weird."

"I told you, you have a fever. Probably that flu everyone has." she tried to tell him again.

"It doesn't... feel like flu. I don't know what it is." he said, rattled and Bella was concerned for him.

Bella does homework. Charlie watches a game. She's on edge. Anxious. She had her phone to her ear waiting for someone to pick up. But their phone went to voicemail.

"Hey Jake. Just checking to see how you're doing. And to say I'm sorry, about, you know... how I feel and… hope the flu passes fast. Call me." she left her message and hung up.

She paused for a moment, and went to dial another number, this time someone picked up.

"Ellie" I'm so glad you picked up" she said.

-break-

"Hi Bella, Are you ok?" she asked as she looked at Emmett who remained quiet..

"Yeah, I'm good. Just needed to hear your voice. How is your photography going?" Bella asked.

"Going great. I am flying through the course. Teacher says I'm a natural. Got some great pics" Ellie explained.

"See. I told you." There was a pause.

"Bella! What is wrong? I can hear it in you voice" she told Bella.

Bella sighed on the other end of the phone, and paused as she made her was out of the room her Father was in, "I'm worried about Jacob. And your pretty much the only person I can talk to"

"What happened?" she asked.

"I know you are good friends with Sam…

Emmett gave Ellie a look but she just rolled her eyes, "Yeah. And what has that got to do with anything?"

"Well him and his crew have been not so nice to Jacob. They keep… I dunno. It's weird and hard to explain….. Don't tell Dad this, but Jacob and I did up some motorcycles… And we were driving them. I took a tumble, but I am fine. But Jacob was making sure I was alright and I felt his skin. He was burning up, like he was sick with a fever"

Ellie pinched the bridge of her nose, trying to act pissed, "Um…. you were riding motorbikes, what were you thinking Bella.?"

"Seriously, that's what you take from that" Bella asked.

"I'll deal with that later. With Sam and his crew, you just have to let things take his course. Jacob will get better in his own time. You just need to give him space" Ellie explained.

"But Sam and his gang want him to join them. They are into drugs and all. How else do they get that big, that quick" Bella said.

Ellie stopped herself from laughing, "Bella, do you think I would be friends with guys who did drugs?" She asked as Emmett glared at her. "Just let things take their course. Don't worry so much"

"But I can't help it."

"Please just do it for me" she asked.

"Fine. I better go. Thanks for the chat."

"No worries. Get some rest and give Jacob space. You will be surprised. Bye sis" she said as she hung up the phone.

She looks at Emmett, "Don't give me that look. You know I was friends with Sam before all of this"

"The mut you mean. I still don't like it" he said as she sat down next to him on the edge of the couch, "So what is Bella so concerned about?" he asked as he moved to sit next to her.

"She thinks Sam and his… pack are into drugs. They have been waiting for Jacob to turn. It was inevitable with him being the grandson of the Chief. From what Bella said, he is going through the change. He will be one of Sam's pack" she explained, not too worried. Knowing the history and all. But she was still a little concerned on how Bella was handling other matters.

"So a mut we have to deal with" Emmett said distracting Ellie as he knew what was on her mind.

Ellie laughed at him, "You are just looking for a fight, aren't you?" she asked him.

Emmett grinned evilly, "You know it." he said as he jumped on Ellie kissing her lips and then attacking her neck.

-In Forks-

Bella tries to navigate her way to the meadow. She refers to a map, a compass.

Bella tries a trail; it doesn't look familiar. Backtracks and tries another.
Tries another.

**FLASHBACK**

Edward and Bella lie in the grass surrounded by flowers, sunlight dappling them. They look
lovingly into one another's eyes...

**FLASHBACK END**

Bella steps into the clearing, hopeful... but her face falls. In contrast to the warmth of her memory, the meadow is cold, gloomy, cloudy. And no Edward. She closes her eyes, trying to force Edward here.
Nothing. Her eyes open on the empty, overcast meadow.

Bella sinks to her knees. Tears threatening. But then she hears a rustling noise. She turns toward it, peers into the woods.

Another rustling noise comes from another part of the woods.
She spins toward it - nothing. Then she turns and jumps when she finds Laurent standing ten yards away.-

"Laurent?" she asks, not sure if he is actually there or not.

"Bella." he replies.

She beams, realizing he's realm "Laurent!"

"I must admit, I didn't expect to find you here." he mentioned.

"I live here. But you - I thought you were in Alaska with Carlisle's friend." she asked.

"Tanya, I was. It was kind of him to arrange, given my association with James and Victoria, 'The Enemy.'"

"You tried to help us." She reminded him.

Laurent begins to stroll in a slow arc around her, his eyes assessing her as, "I went to visit the Cullens, but their house is empty. I'm surprised they left you behind. Weren't you sort of a pet of theirs?"

Bella's smile falters, fear beginning to dawn on her, "Um... something like that."

"What about your sister? Her blood smelled exquisite"

"She is away studying"

"Do the Cullens visit often?" he asks.

Suddenly, Edward's apparition appears between them, "Lie." he said.

"Absolutely. All the time." Bella said to Laurent.

"Lie better." he said.

"I'll tell them you stopped by." she said.

Edward fades and Bella tries to look relaxed.

"Will they be able to reach you in Alaska?" she asked.

"I don't think so. Tanya's 'vegetarian' family was pleasant enough. But the dietary restrictions were difficult - living on nothing but animals." He said.

Suddenly, he's standing inches from her. She now sees his eyes. Dark blood-red.

"Tell me Bella. Do you ever feel compelled to... cheat?" Laurent asked her.

Bella involuntarily takes a step away from him as he continued, "But that's not why I left. I came back here as a favor to Victoria."

"... You're still friends." she asked.

Laurent shrugged, "More or less. She asked me to get the lay of the land with the Cullens. Because, well... I'm afraid Victoria is quite put out with you."

"That's... too bad." Bella mentioned.

"Yes. She feels it's only fair to kill Edward's mate, given he killed hers. Eye for an eye, mate for a mate." he explained, toying with her.

And now Bella knows. Terror overwhelms her. Edward appears, "Threaten him."

"Edward will know who did it. Him and Ellie will come after both of you."

"Interesting…. Are you implying that your sister is now a vampire?" he asked but she said nothing. "I believe she will come after us. But I don't think he will. I After all, how much could you mean to him if he left you here unprotected?" he paused, "Victoria sent me here for information. She won't be happy about my killing you."

"No, Laurent…" she said trying to convince him

Laurent gave her a sincere look, "No, no, no. Don't be upset. I'm doing you a kindness. Victoria plans on killing you slowly, painfully - whereas I'll make it very quick…" he inhaled, "And you smell so... mouth watering."

He faces her, taking in her scent, bloodlust building. Her eyes dart around, escape is impossible. The only thing she sees is the apparition of Edward, looking at her with alarm...
"Edward. I love you." she whispered.

Laurent is milliseconds from biting - then abruptly, his expression changes. He sees something in the forest behind Bella - and it terrifies him.

"I... don't believe it." he said as he stepped back.

Bella's confused as she realizes he's no longer focused on her... she follows his eyes, slowly
turning... to find behind her - An enormous black wolf skulking out of the darkness of the
woods. It stalks towards them, a low disturbing growl in its throat, sharp teeth gleaming.

Bella is trapped between the two killers. Edward whispers in her ear, "Don't. Move."

The wolf slinks closer to Bella, a mere twenty feet from where she stands, then four more wolves soundlessly emerge from the trees, flanking the black wolf. They're the size of small horses, all of different hues: dark silver, chocolate, ash and russet-brown. Their hackles are up, lips curling, bodies crouched, ready to spring.

Bella is frozen with fear as they come toward her. The russet-brown wolf is the closest and looks directly at her. Laurent continues to retreat - then suddenly, almost simultaneously - Laurent bolts across the meadow.

The wolves spring toward Bella - and leap right over her in pursuit of Laurent! Their thunderous snarls and snaps shake her as the pack sprint after the vampire, surrounding him before he reaches the treeline -

Laurent swings at the dark silver wolf, smacking the wolf halfway across the meadow. Another wolf lunges at Laurent he kicks it and it sails into a tree, splintering it.

The two wolves recover, lurch back to the pack which closes in on Laurent. It's impossible to know who will prevail - Bella doesn't stay to find out. She races into the woods -

Bella runs frantically, tearing down the hillside, tripping, quickly picking herself up - running, running - She dashes out of the treeline and to her truck parked on the shoulder. She jumps in and peels out.

End of chapter 3.