A/N - Sorry for the delay in uploading this chapter; hope you all enjoy! And thank you, everyone, for taking the time to read my story once again - much appreciated.
Chapter 63 - Choice
Bella's POV
"So, you really enjoyed yourself last night Bells?"
Really enjoyed myself…
Oh, definitely…
"Bells?"
I turned to face Charlie, who was glancing at me.
"The ball?"
Oh, of course… the ball...
"Yeah, it was good fun" I replied, though it was so much more fun after…
I felt my cheeks flame. Get a grip Bella…
"How was your night?" I asked, as I fidgeted slightly in my seat.
Charlie whistled, "Oh, you know…the usual…."
I found myself smiling, "You mean, beer, pizza and TV… in the order?" I joked, as Charlie smiled too.
"Yup, in that order" he answered, as we slowed down at a junction.
"Though I did get called into the station the early hours of this morning" he continued, as I turned to face him again.
"How come?" I asked a slight trace of concern in my voice.
Please… no more missing people…
"Oh, it was nothing really, just a break in… probably some kids having too much to drink at the ball, looking for trouble…"
A break in?
"Where did they break into?" I found myself asking; as Charlie pressed his foot on the gas peddle again.
"Believe it or not, the station itself" he answered, shaking his head slightly, "you'd think they'd find a better place to break into, which is why it must be kids…."
I nodded as the car continued to speed up the road.
Why would kids want to break into a police station, of all places?
"Was anything taken" I asked, as Charlie shrugged slightly.
"The office was in a bit of a mess, I was going to stick around to help clear up but I'd pulled a double shift yesterday so I was told to go home, I doubt anything was taken…."
I found myself relaxing into the seat.
Reuben, with his riddles and rhymes liked to amuse himself, but breaking into a police station didn't really sound like his preference.
"Carlisle said you both looked beautiful last night Bella, I wish I had seen you"
I smiled, "I think Carlisle is slightly bias, but don't worry, Esme took photos... and I mean, lots of photos… I'm sure half of the film was for you".
Charlie stopped at another junction, as he turned to face me. "That was really nice of her Bella, I must invite her and Carlisle over for dinner one evening…."
Dinner.
"Dad, I don't think either of us are culinary experts…."
Charlie laughed, "True… okay, maybe we should all go out for dinner one evening? I'd like to get to know them better and Alice of course. I know very little about them…"
I nodded.
This was going to be interesting….
"Nearly there Bells, sorry about the small detour, I just thought it made sense to stop by on our way back"
I lent my head back against the rest.
"Its okay, I'd like to see Jake, if he's around… what sort of trouble have they had there anyway?" I asked, as Charlie turned the car onto the track that led up to the reservation.
"No idea, just had a call from one of Billy's friends, he didn't leave his name, but he just asked if I could stop by, something about an animal attack"
"Animal attack?" I questioned, as Charlie brought the car to a steady holt.
"Yeah, there's been trouble with grizzlies in this area recently, although he assured me there weren't any injuries"
We both got out of the car and walked towards the reservation.
Alice's POV
"Can someone give me some shades?"
Three pairs of eyes rested on Emmet. Rosalie arched an eyebrow.
"Why do you need shades?" she asked, as I tiled my head to one side. I always did this when I was thinking…
"Because" Emmet continued, "of Alice and her 'beam'… seriously, if she smiles any wider, I'll need to wear a sun visor permanently…."
Emmet ducked as I threw a pillow at him.
"Now, now children" Jasper interjected, as I threw a cushion at him too.
Jasper and Emmet both started to laugh as Rosalie turned to face me.
"You are beaming" she retorted, adding a wink for good measure.
"I can throw one of these at you too" I replied, as Rosalie started to laugh.
"I'm just…. Happy…in high spirits….." I continued, as Emmet smiled.
"And elated?" he asked, as Jasper interrupted, "don't forget jubilant Emmet, I am definitely sensing that…" Rosalie, not content to be left out, joined in "and captivated, she definitely, definitely looks captivated…."
"Okay, okay… so I am all of the above, so shoot me!" I replied.
As soon as those words left my lips, an agonizing burn gripped at my temple, as I felt myself convulse and then fall to the floor.
"Alice!"
Jasper was immediately by my side, as his hands found my shoulders.
"Alice" he repeated, as my head fell down…
I felt… sick… as the twinge seemed to grip at my mind…
"Is she having a vision?" I heard Emmet question, as Rosalie fled from the room.
If this was a vision, it was like no other I had ever experienced before as my head involuntarily twitched, followed by a short spasm…
"Alice, try and focus…." Jasper whispered, as I closed my eyes tightly shut, the movement causing the sting to subside a little…
"Focus, Alice… and relax…." He continued, as I felt traces of comfort envelope the deep throb that was beating all around my head…
And then I saw it…
Broken, and a little divided…
But definitely Charlie…
And Bella.
I felt myself convulse again, as Edward's soft voice infiltrated my vision…
"Adjust your focus, Alice… find the focal point, and tell me what you see in your mind…."
What did I see? What else could I pinpoint…?
"Charlie and Bella" I managed to whisper, as the vision became a little clearer.
Who were they talking to? Where were they? Why did Bella look so… uncomfortable?
"Where are they Alice, concentrate…" Edward asked gently, as my eyes remained tightly closed, the pressure now subsiding a little more…
"The reservation" I replied, as a tingle shot through my entire body…
Trouble… they were in…
"Trouble" I whispered, as my eyes then shot open…
"We need to go there, now… Charlie and Bella are in trouble" I almost screamed, as I jumped to my feet, a deep routed fear running around me, colliding with alarm and apprehension… "We have to go" I cried out again, as Edward turned to Emmet, Jasper and Rosalie.
"Get Carlisle and Esme… now…."
Reuben's POV
This was too easy.
Really, I mean… far, far too easy. So easy, it was almost boring.
At least I could now add breaking and entering on my list of convictions…ah, but wait! I hadn't actually being caught!
Well, of course I hadn't. Those humans, with their silly presumptions… thinking it was a child who had smashed the window, and climbed in…
Taking this…
How dense the human race was. They never ask questions!
Ever.
The father, in particular…
So easy to lure him, here.
Now.
And with his daughter too…
I admit, I wasn't expecting this. But… the game must go on…
And now, Jake…the slow witted wolf…
This was going to be hard.
Who do I choose?
The wolf? Always in the way. I gave him the chance to run…
Or the father? Charlie… the police officer… sworn to protect the innocent and uphold the law… how tiresome.
Or… Bella? Not part of my original plan, yet here she was, ready and waiting… perhaps fate wanted me to extinguish her life-force now, and not later?
Oh, and who do we have here…
Sam… yes that was his name… Sam… the wolf pack leader… now that, surely, would mean more points awarded to me for his demise…
Decision, decisions…
Which one do I pick?
Jake…
Sam…
Charlie…
Bella…
Which
One
Do
I
Choose…
Bella's POV
"There must be some misunderstanding" Sam repeated, as Charlie shifted on his feet.
"Are you certain, absolutely certain, the call came from someone here?" he continued, as Charlie rubbed his forehead.
"Honestly? No, look Sam… maybe some kids have been playing a joke on me, probably the same ones who broke into the station last night…."
Jake shrugged his broad shoulders, "Nobody called you from here Charlie, it must be kids…."
I watched as Chalie, Jake and Sam continued their conversation.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
"Hey, Bella, you okay?"
I looked up to find Jake standing by my side.
"What? Oh… yeah. Just a little tired…." I replied, as I pretended to stifle a yawn.
Jake smiled, "Late night eh?" he asked, winking.
"Something like that" I mumbled, as Sam stepped beside Jake.
"Jake, we need to go…." He whispered, as Charlie nodded.
"Sorry for the intrusion, I'll get to the bottom if this, those…."
Whatever Charlie was saying was lost on me, as I focused on Sam and Jake.
Both seemed tense…
Something was very wrong.
Reuben…
"He's here, isn't he" I asked, as Jake glanced from Sam back to me.
"You both need to go home, now…" he almost hissed, as I took a step back.
"What's going on?" Charlie asked, as I pulled at his arm.
"Dad, we need to go home" I stated, as Charlie turned and looked at me.
"Have I missed something here?" he asked, as Sam and Jake both stepped forward towards us both, as their heavy footsteps hit the ground.
The next sound I heard was a rather unique phenomenon…
A very short, but extremely loud, sound impulse…
A single gunshot…