Chapter 92 - End Game
I knew it was Reuben before I turned.
"Hello Reuben"
My voice was temperate.
"Bella"
Antara seemed to lose consciousness as I turned to face him.
He smiled and pointed to Antara's crumpled body.
"She put up quite a struggle but in the end…" his voice trailed off as my eyes rested on his.
He thinks she's dead…
"It's always the loud, cocky sarcastic ones that prove to be the weakest I've found"
He continued to point before moving to place both arms behind his back.
"You should thank me. She really was most annoying"
I continued to watch as he started to smile.
"So here we are again Bella, just you and II. as it always seem's t o be. Not very good at protecting you are they? The Cullen's I mean… especially Alice…."
Now it was my turn to smile.
"I don't need protecting" I answered as he started to laugh, the deep rumble echoing around the forest.
"Perhaps… we could test that theory if yours?" he asked as I found myself shrugging.
"Bella Swan! How nonchalant you have become… I like it… in fact… one might even say its turning me on"
Before he could continue I was standing inches from him. The sudden movement had seemingly shocked him as much as it had me.
"Care to dance?" he asked mockingly as he held out his hand before quickly retrieving it. "Ah, but I forget…. One touch and you seem… to know me…."
I shook my head, "Reuben… I don't need to touch you to know that you're a psychotic, dangerous murderer…"
Reuben's arms quickly moved from behind his back as he started to clap mockingly.
"At last… someone sees me for what I really am… though you did forget poetic, clever and charming" he finished as I sensed movement in the distance.
"Would that be the cavalry?" he asked, "They can't stay away, can they?"
He turned to move but I was quicker.
So much quicker….
My hand reached out and grasped at his neck. The look of visible shock on his face was enough to make me laugh.
"I told you before" I spat, my eyes narrowing… "I don't need protecting" and then it happened….
Before my brain could engage in any kind of chemical activity, Reuben was being tossed across the air. Before he landed, I was there again, catching him… before hurling him once more this time with more force….
It was all too much…
The weeks of physical and mental torture…
The killings and the sadistic poems…
The way he had haunted my dreams…
The way he had played his games…
The way he had hurt Alice all those years ago…
It was all too much…
It was time to make him pay…
"It's over Reuben"
I expected my voice to be full of emotion, perhaps even relief. Instead those three words seemed tired and weary as they escaped my lips.
"Bella"
I peered down at him as he whispered my name, my silhouette casting a shadow against him as the moon appeared from behind an inky cloud. I shifted my stance a little, as my shadow moved again, this time covering his pale, bloodied face. My silhouette seemed to dance with one simple movement, almost having a life of its own… basking in victory…
A victory I found myself unable to celebrate.
Reuben blinked a few times, trying to focus on me. As I felt a small trickle of blood cascade down my cheek, I watched as he coughed, and then coughed again, blood pouring from the side of his mouth. I felt my stomach tie in several knots…so much had happened, and now it was finally over….
Reuben was finally over.
As if reading my mind, Reuben smiled… "This chapter, perhaps"
Blood was still dripping from his mouth as he wiped a shaking hand across it.
"The story is over" I replied, as I took a small step forward. A part of me expected Reuben to flinch after what I had just done to him. Instead he shrugged his shoulders, and then grimaced. Clearly his collar bone was taking time to heal…
"Perhaps" he concluded, as he pushed himself up against the tree bark, his broken arm still laying limp at his side. "And what now, Bella…. are you going to feed me to the wolves? Or perhaps you'll let Alice strike her revenge on me… though revenge is such a strong word… her life was so empty and full of pain before me Bella… Just please, don't leave me alone with that bitch Antara… a fate worse that death…"
A part of me wanted to interrupt him, yet I remained silent as he swallowed hard, his eye moving to the gaping wound on his knee and then back to me.
"Or perhaps you'll end this yourself?"
I didn't answer him as my senses started to prickle. Alice would soon be here.
"I create chaos and destruction wherever I go Bella. I carve them into tiny pieces, scattering them around me… and when I walk, I hear them crunch under my feet…end this…."
Automatically I found myself crouching in front of him.
"Who are you?" I found myself asking, as he started to blink again….
"Focus, I always lose my focus…" he muttered, as I took hold of his broken collar bone, squeezing it between my long, pale fingers.
"Who are you?" I asked again, as he flinched below me.
Slowly his mouth opened, "I am whatever sane part of Reuben there is left, Bella. And I ask you again, end this…"
I found myself unable to move.
End this, Bella...
"If I were to end this, I am no better than you are" I whispered, as I released my hold on Reuben's slumped and weak body. Standing quickly, I peered down at him.
"She left me…. You will never know how it feels when the one you love leaves you"
He wasn't looking at me anymore. I continued to watch as his eyes became wistful, his memories now overtaking any sane thoughts he may have left… "All I wanted was her love" he continued, as he smiled…
"Nothing lasts forever" he finished, as his eyes shot open. Taking a deep breath he looked at me again, his eyes more scarlet than I had even seen them before.
"I made Alice what she was, Bella. I have killed hundreds… I may be wounded badly, but in time I will heal…and I will continue to cheat death and kill unless you stop this now…"
I found myself laughing.
"Reuben, are you pleading?" I asked in mock earnest. My reply seemed to trigger something deep inside his subconscious as he hissed, shifting to move….but his broken legs failed him.
"Welcome back, Reuben" I replied as he slouched back once more.
"I hate it when that happens" he replied, as I turned to watch Alice appear.
She took my hand in hers, peering down at Reuben.
"When what happens" she replied quietly, as Reuben glanced up at her.
"Ah, Alice. I wondered whether you would appear for my death" he replied as Alice crouched down like I had done moments earlier .earlier.
"When what happens" she repeated, as she placed a small, palidpallid hand on the open wound on ReubensReuben's knee. Tensing her fingers I watched as she dug them deep into his wound.
"When what happens" she repeated as Reuben arched his back.
"When that voice tries to take over" he spat, moving away from Alice's grip.
"Voice?" she quieredqueried calmly as she removed her fingers, wiping them along the side of Reuben's leg.
"Did I say voice? I should have said voices…." Again his voice trailed off as Alice stood up, linking her arm through mine.
"Such a sorry state to be in" she continued as Reuben started to laugh.
"You'd know all about that, wouldn't you Mary… Mary and the rehabilitation clinic… Mary and the psychiatric ward…."
Alice flinched slightly before regaining her composure.
"My name is Alice"
"Now, perhaps… but then…." He smiled and then winched as he felt my right foot come into contact with his broken knee cap.
"Bella"
I looked at Alice, expecting some form of mild scolding. Instead she pointed towards the area I had just kicked.
"If you want it to count" she replied, "make it count" she continued as she quickly lashed out with her own foot. I watched as it came into contact with Reuben's already badly broken knee.
"You…"
Whatever Reuben was about to say was lost as a high pitched scream escaped his lips.
"I'm sorry" Alice replied sweetly, "but I know all about being psychotic, remember?"
This time I pulled Alice back slowly, and she turned her head slightly to look at me.
What are we going to do?
My subconscious question found Alice immediately as she scrunched her eyebrows slightly before slowly smiling…
"Alice?"
Reuben continued to squirm below us as his pale fingers gripped at his now shattered knee cap, dark red blood oozing from the fresh wound.
"We don't have to do anything Bella" she replied, as I found myself frowning slightly.
"Alice?"
"Ah, always the same Alice…. a coward…."
Reuben and I spoke at the same time as Alice glanced from me back to Reuben, her eyes flashing.
"I'm no coward" she hissed as Reuben struggled to sit up.
"No? Then finish me off" he spat as Alice started to smile again.
"What, and spoil the fun they have in store for you?" she replied, her voice soft.
They?
Who were….
"They?" Reuben queried,queried his brow furrowing.
"They" Alice replied, as she took my hand in hers.
"You're going to throw me to the wolf pack?" Reuben questioned as Alice started to laugh.
"Why, are you afraid?" she asked, as she tilted her head to one side, waiting for his answer. Reuben scoffed.
"Of those mongrels? Hardly"
"YourYou're going to wish we did throw you to the wolves" she continued gently as she tapped one fingertip against her forehead.
"But no…." she continued, still tapping slightly, "I see you in quite a different place entirely…."
"Hell?" he asked, his eyes blazing, "because if so, don't waste your visions Alice… I've lived in hell all my life.."
"Oh, this is a different kind of hell all together" Alice interrupted, as she turned to look at me. Before I could make any reply, Edward and Jasper appeared at her side.
"Bella… Alice…." Jasper was the first to speak, as his eyes switched from us down to Reuben. I watched as he took a step forward and then two steps back. Not in fear… Jasper was anything but afraid… but he did seem in pain… he could obviously sense Reuben's pain….
"When will they arrive?" Edward's voice was level.
I looked from Jasper to Edward.
"When who will arrive?" I asked steadily as Edward quickly moved, returning with a still unconscious Antara in his arms.
Alice smiled. "Soon Edward… In fact, I'd say…round about…"
Before she could finish a soft voice, almost in melody, floated behind me.
"Round about now, Alice"
A/N - Okaaaay, so I said this would be the last chapter but I lied... one more to go (this time I promise) :) x