CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR – WORTH FIGHTING FOR
EDWARD POV
I heard a click and considering Harding's claw was still clamped over my face I thought that was it, my life was over.
"Get the fuck away from him!" Came an angel's voice.
My eyes snapped open to see Bella standing behind Harding with sandy's handgun to his head. Harding's froze and turned around to face her but kept the claw on my face. I wanted to shout out to her to tell her to run but I couldn't open my mouth with this fucking claw thing that was in the way. I could only pray that Jasper knew what I was thinking and told her what I wanted to.
"Kick his fucking ass Bella" Jasper cheered on the floor still bound.
Dickhead! I mentally cursed at him.
"You won't do much damage with that little toy sweetheart" Harding smiled.
"Probably not, but I think this might put a pretty big hole in you once I ram it up your ass" She said pulling out a flag grenade from her pocket.
Where the fuck did she get that from?
Harding's froze in place, I didn't even know if she even knew how to use one so all I could do was hope that she did.
"Do it" Harding smirked at her.
"Bryans and Conner's are dead so don't think that they will put your ass back together again after I blow it the fuck up" She spat.
Was it weird that I was actually getting quiet turned on right now by her demeanour? Fuck sake Edward what's wrong with you! I shouted at myself.
Harding's froze again at her words as he reconsidered her request.
"I'll snap that pretty little mouth of yours in to even before you pull the pin out" He glared at her.
Her hand was clenched around the grenade and she tucked her index finger into the loop and pulled the pin out.
"I guess not, now fucking move!" she spat back.
If it wasn't for this claw around my face I would have had the biggest grin ever. I have never seen this side of Bella before, I was so proud of her in this moment. Proud that she was standing her ground and fighting back. She was fighting not just for herself but for me, for us. My only worry now was the grenade as long as she held onto the clasp it wouldn't detonate so again I could only pray that she didn't have butter fingers.
Harding slowly but surely removed the claw from my face. My body still felt like jelly so once again I fell forward onto the concrete.
"Get out!" She ordered.
Harding took a step forward and walked through the gate as Bella backed away. I pushed myself up but my head was still spinning and unconsciousness was still waiting to take over. I slumped back down and used all the willpower and energy I had left not to let the darkness take me over. It wasn't until now that I was aware of a sharp pain that intensified in the left side of my back. Whatever it was fucking hurt and felt wet, I couldn't remember landing in any liquid.
"In!" Bella ordered.
My head felt heavy again as I tried to lift it up to see what was happening. Harding walking into a another holding cell as Bella backed up against the far wall and hit the switch with her elbow causing the gate to slide across trapping him. Within seconds she was running towards me back through this gate.
She dropped to her knees beside me and dropped the gun she was holding.
"Edward are you alright? Can you move?"
"Give me that and help Jasper" I said holding my hand out.
I clasped my hand around hers and held the clasp down on the grenade as she carefully slid her hand out from underneath it. When the grenade was securely in my hand she crawled the short distance to Jasper a began clawing at the rope on his hands and feet. When he was untied they both made their way back to me.
"Grab his arm" Jasper said taking one of my arms.
Bella grabbed my other arm then they both pulled me up. I let out a growl as the pain in my side intensified. As I looked down to the ground I noticed a pool of blood from where I was lying.
"Shit Edward!" Jasper gasped.
I managed to look behind me and noticed a flat piece of metal shelving sticking out of the wall that was dripping with blood, not just any blood my blood. I must have hit it when Harding's threw me against the wall but it was that sudden I didn't even feel it. Judging by the size of the metal piece I could only imagine the size of the whole I now have in the side of my back was big. No fucking wonder I was about to fall unconscious with the amount of blood I had lost, and here's me thinking it was down to my head injury.
"Oh god Edward" Bella panicked beside me.
"I'm alright love" I whispered to try and calm her.
I could almost see the tears starting to escape her eyes.
"Bella look at me" I asked and then she did.
"I'm alright" I said again to make sure she believed me.
Even though I didn't believe my owns words I had to make sure she did because I couldn't have her falling apart over me now, we had come so far and all this was nearly over.
"Let's go" I said.
"Hang on, give me that first" Jasper said holding his hand out for the grenade.
"No, I'm not done with it yet" I said looking at Harding behind the holding cell.
"Edward you can't expect to throw that and run away in your position can you?" Jasper said.
He had a point and a pretty big one at that. I didn't even have the energy to hold myself up let alone run. I carefully passed it to him then wrapped my arms around both Jasper and Bella's shoulders then they walked me out of the holding cell. They walked me back past all the mountain or crap that we passed earlier then Jasper sat me down on the stairs.
"Back in a minuet" He said taking off.
I rested my head on the side of the wall then Bella came into view.
"Edward" She whispered stroking my face.
I used all my strength to pull my hand up and I stroked her face.
"I love you Bella"
"I love you too" She whispered as the tears fell down her beautiful face.
"Close your eyes" I whispered.
She paused for a moment but did as instructed. I pulled myself forward and placed both hands over her ears ready for the explosion I knew that was coming. I pressed my lips to hers and flinched when the bang echoed around the room. I kissed her with all the love I had inside me then quickly pulled away from her to spit the fountain of blood I felt coming up.
"Jasper!" Bella shouted as tears streamed down her face.
My arms dropped from her sweet face as my body slumped to the side.
"Quick get him up!" Jasper growled.
I felt my body being pulled back to the centre and I felt myself being lifted up. My head dangled down as they both pulled me up the stairs. I kept my eyes open and kept telling myself not to give up, I kept telling myself that I needed to stay awake but the more I told myself the more tired I became. The only things I could see were the floor and Jasper and Bella's feet but even that became disorientated. I couldn't hold my eyes open anymore as the muscles in my eyelids stopped working all together. The last tortured thing I heard was Bella cries for me as my body completely gave out.
...xxXXxx...
"How long!" Came my angel's voice.
I felt myself smile at her voice, I tried to look around for her but I couldn't move. I knew I was lying down but on what I didn't no. I knew I wasn't alone because I felt someone stroke my hair.
"Not much longer" Another familiar voice said.
"Hold on Edward please hold on" My angel whispered.
I heard the pain and anguish in her voice and it saddened me. All I wanted to do was comfort her. I tried to speak but before I could everything went quiet.
...xxXXxx...
"Edward can you hear me?" Came a voice I didn't recognise.
I heard new voices and bright lights that shone through my eyelids.
"I need a defibrillator on standby!" Someone shouted.
Huh? What the fuck did that mean and where the fuck was I? I couldn't even begin to process those questioned because one again everything went quiet.
...xxXXxx...
I followed the sound of a beep as I lay here in the darkness. It was quiet almost like a hum but the more I lay here the louder it became. It soothed me at the start but now it was fucking annoying. I was so focus on this beeping sound I couldn't hear or concentrate of any other noise. I tried to lift my hand but it felt like I was glued down. I started small so I began to lift just one finger. I felt my index finger twitch and the feeling of having control of body again made me smile in the darkness.
I wiggled my index finger then the feeling of control spread to my middle finger then eventually I could flex my whole hand. I was grateful that the dizziness was gone because now maybe I could concentrate on opening my eyes. My eyelids slowly fluttered open my vision was blurry and all I could see was bright lights with squiggly outlines. My eyelids became heavy and closed again on their own accord.
The only thing I was aware of was myself, I knew I wasn't dead but I didn't know where I was, what time it was or how I got wherever I was. The last real thing I remember was the taste of my angel's lips to mine. The images of my Bella filled my mind and again I smiled in the darkness. It was this thought that gave me the strength to open my eyes again. My eye lids fluttered open again but they felt like they had weights pushing them closed. I fought the urge to close them and blinked a few times instead.
The longer I kept my eyes open the clearer my vision became. On the final blink the outline of a curtain came into view. I tried to lift my hand to rub my eyes but it stopped in midair because it was restricted by wires. The feeling of control began to filter through out of all my body all the way to the top of my head to the tips of my toes. I tried to speak but my throat was red raw I couldn't even get anything out. I lifted my head and scanned the room I was in. I knew from my attire and the instruments that was in the room that I was in a hospital. All I wanted to do was to see my Bella, to feel her, to touch her once again. What the fuck had happened after I passed out? Did Bella and Jasper get out unhurt? Was she lying in a hospital bed like me or worst dead?
Just then the door opened which made my heart jump in excitement but it disappeared quicker then it came.
"Mr Cullen, your awake" A man in a white doctor's jacket greeted me.
He must have been in late forties with black hair and a goatee. I tried to speak again but yet again nothing came out.
"Here" He said handing me a glass of water from the side.
I took it too eagerly and chugged it back letting out a cough when I was finished. The liquid felt nice against the roughness of my throat even though the water was at room temperature. I passed the glass back to him and he adjusted my bed to the sitting position.
"First of all my names Dr. Jenkins and Mr Cullen I suppose you have a lot of questions for me?"
"Yeah where's Bella?" I asked point blank.
"Mr Cullen if you would like"
"Where's Bella" I spat before he could change the subject.
"Mr Cullen please remain calm and"
"Answer me" I demanded.
I knew that something was wrong because he was avoiding my question.
"Tell me!" I growled at him.
If it wasn't for these fucking needles and wires sticking out of my arms I would have fucking lunged for his throat.
"She's dead" He whispered.
As soon as the statement left his lips my heart rate monitor began to beep widely out of control. This wasn't happening, she can't be dead, he was lying, I was dreaming, this wasn't real I kept repeating to myself.
"But don't threat Mr Cullen all is not lost" He grinned and started moving around the room.
Grinned fucking grinned? Does he wish to keep his mother fucking balls?
"I mean you still have your health after all" He said pulling the curtains across.
Something felt wrong, really wrong. What the fuck was happening?
"And lucky you, you have some visitors" He grinned opening the door.
"No, no, no, no, no!" I chanted over and over again as Conner's, Harding and Bryans all entered the room.
I shook my head and blinked a few times to make sure that my eyes weren't playing tricks on me.
"Glad to see your awake" Harding smirked.
"You're dead" I spat shaking my head.
"No Edward everybody you love is dead" Bryans corrected me.
"Everything you touch dies your cousin, your brother and now your girlfriend. You're a useless lowlife who brings nothing but pain and suffering to others" Conner's smiled.
"No" I whispered shaking my head.
"Yes" Conner's spat.
I squeezed my eyes shut and brought my hands to my head and began pulling at my hair. This was not happening they were all dead.
"No!" I shouted over and over again.
"Edward" a voice called my name.
"No!" I shouted again.
"Edward wake up" the voice pleaded with me again.
I recognised the voice and I knew it belonged to my Bella but I didn't want to open my eyes because I knew that Conner's, Harding and Bryans would kill me so all I wanted to do was stay here and hear my angels voice.
"No!"
"Edward please wake up love"
"Bella" I chanted over and over again.
"I'm here, please wake up" She pleaded with me.
I felt the desperateness in her voice and it saddened me. All I wanted in life was to make Bella happy so on her request my eyes fluttered open. I thought I was in heaven because an angel looked down upon me.
"Bella"
"Yes Edward it's me" She said lowering her face to mine.
The scent of strawberries swirled up my nose and I knew straight away that I was home. I lifted my hand up to cup her cheek and pulled her to me pressing my lips to hers. The explosion of flavour burst inside my mouth as electric volts surged through out my veins. I brushed my tongue against the bottom of hers and I was almost begging her to allow me entry to her tongue. She allowed access all too quickly then I massaged my tongue with hers and savoured the flavour before I had to pull back for air. I rested my head on her forehead to let the heavy panting subside then pulled away just enough to look at her face one more time.
"So beautiful" I whispered "Come here" I said pulling her on the bed properly.
"Visitors are not allowed on the bed" She protested.
"Fuck it" I smiled pulling her to the side of me so she was now lying down next to me.
The wound on her head was neatly stitched up and she now wore different clothes then what I last remembered her in. I knew answers were in order but I wanted to just hold her like this for a while, the questions could come later.
I didn't know how long I held her for but in this moment I have never felt so complete and content. Bella must have fallen asleep in my arms because I heard light snoring echo off my chest. I kissed the top of her head and stroked my fingers up and down her arm as I scanned the hospital room I was in. It was completely different from the one I must have only dreamed about because here she was, my love in my arms with no teachers in sight.
I heard the door open and I immediately tightened my grip around Bella's arm. I half expected Conner's, Harding's and Bryans to step in but I just shook my thoughts away and told myself that it was just a dream. A doctor in a white lab coat walked in holding a clipboard, I was relieved that his name tag said Dr. Towers instead of Dr. Jenkins.
"Ah Mr Cullen your finally awake and here's me thinking that you would be asleep for at least another couple of days" He smiled.
Defiantly a lot nicer than my dream doctor, ok that sounded gay so let me rephrase that, a lot nicer than the doctor that was in my dream. Nope still sounds gay.
"What do you mean? How long have I been asleep?" I asked.
He pulled up a chair next to the bed and sat down on it and began reading his notes.
"Mr Cullen you have been in a mild coma for the last five days" he informed me.
Five days! What the fuck it only felt like yesterday that I was in the schools basement.
"Mr Cullen you were brought in five days ago with severe blood loss and went into cardiac arrest twice. You must have something worth fighting for because it's a miracle that you are alive"
I pulled Bella even closer to me and kissed the top of her head again.
"I have" I smiled.
"Well Mr Cullen"
"Edward" I corrected him.
"Edward, I'll leave you to rest for now and I'll be back later today with more answers for you"
"Thank you"
He stood up and left the room closing the door behind him. Considering that I had being asleep for five days you would think that I would be all slept out but my eyes began to droop. I didn't fight against them this time because I had no reason to fight them. I was alive, my Bella was alive and safe in my arms and this whole thing was finally over. All that was left now was to fill in the blanks but that could wait till later. I closed my eyes and drifted into a peaceful slumber.
"Rise and Shine dick breath" A familiar voice laughed.
I brushed my arm passed the mattress and the bed felt empty to the side of me. My eyes snapped open to see Jasper standing at the foot of my bed.
"Where's Bella?"
"Hang on, your one and only brother comes to see you and you're asking for your bird"
"Hi jasper" I said rolling my eyes.
"Thank you and she's in the canteen" he informed me.
"What time is it?"
"Past five" He said glancing at his watch.
I began to sit up and winched as the pain in the back of my side flexed. It didn't hurt that much it was just a constant throb that sent shooting pains through it whenever I made sharp movements.
"What happened" I asked.
"Harding through you into a piece of metal shelving"
"Not this dickhead, I mean what happened after?"
"Oh um, I went back and finished Harding off and when I came back you were coughing up blood and shit then me and Bella got you out and took Tyler's car and brought you to hospital in Port Angeles"
"But that's an hour's drive away"
"Actually it took less than thirty minutes because I floored the gas and ploughed through any fucker in my way"
"Were there any survivors?".
"Yeah" He said looking at his watch "Sorry bro James is waiting for me, we got to hit the road if we"
"Wait what?"
"I know I'm sorry but I have been here all day and I have to get back and"
"No what, did you just say James?"
"Yeah, were kind of friends"
"What!" I shouted.
"I'm sorry bro I didn't want to tell you any of this until you were out there's a lot happened and well it's just best for you to see for yourself" He said.
"Alright" I said shaking my head.
"Love you bro" He said walking to the door.
Love you bro? What the fuck was up with that he has never said shit like that to me before.
"Love you to" I replied a bit confused.
"Oh and Edward, thanks for saving my ass back at school" He smiled.
"Same here" I smiled back then he left.
What the fuck was going on? Five days ago Jasper was killing the Razor Heads for fun now he is best friends with their fucking leader. I need answers and I knew the only person that was going to give me them was Bella.
I waited impatiently for her return because I had a million and one questions for her. I just hope she could forgive me for unleashing them on her. I waited for about ten minutes before the door slowly opened and revealed a flow of long chocolate hair.
"Hey" She smiled which made me smile in delight. "Did Jasper wake you, I told him not to"
"It's alright love" I said signalling her to come over to me.
She climbed on the bed and dangled her legs over the edge as I held her hands in mine.
"How you feeling?" She asked.
"Never better" I smiled back.
I wasn't lying because I felt on top of the world every time Bella was with me.
"How are you doing?" I asked.
"Better now" she paused "I suppose you want some answers"
"If you wouldn't mind" I smirked.
As she was about to start talking the door opened again. Dr. Towers walked in but my face soon dropped when two police officers walked in right behind him.
"Edward Cullen" One of the guards spoke.
I just remained silent clenching Bella's hands because I knew why they were here for. I guess they took my silence for a yes because they began walking over to me.
"You are under arrest"