"This fire rising through my being
Burning I'm not used to seeing you

I'm alive, I'm alive

I can feel you all around me
Thickening the air I'm breathing
Holding on to what I'm feeling
Savoring this heart that's healing"

- All Around Me, by: Flyleaf

Hourglass:
Chapter 12

-Rosalie POV-

I'm floating into an abyss…

Nothing is harsh, or cruel, or mean in any way. Everything feels accepting and warm, like how I imagine tropical ocean water would comfort me as I sink into it.

I feel weightless, no pain. I'm not afraid of anything and I love who I am, unconditionally.

Nothing can hurt me here.

For so long, this is how I've yearned for my life to be. I've waited for the day when I wouldn't have to dread someone's arrival, or feel the vast trickles of fear creeping up my spine as I look into the dead cold eyes of the person who always seems to want to hurt me most.

But who wants to hurt me? Why would they want to hurt me?

I can't remember.

Visions of my past anguish threaten to creep up on me, but I push them away. Allowing myself to float and drift in my happy place.

Time stands still here. Everything changes at its own pace instead of the tick-tock of a clock. The sun never goes down, and it's warm rays make everything seem bright and cheerful.

Suddenly, I feel a presence to my left side and an even warmer sensation in my hand. I squeeze it slightly, hoping to figure out what it is that can make me feel even safer, praying I can hold onto it forever.

There's a beautiful rose aura there and immediately I know it's my best friend, Bella. I smile at the swirling colors.

Unfortunately, as they often say, with the good sometimes comes the bad. The painless feeling slowly trickles away and my heart starts to race as I remember the fearful phone call I placed to her the last time I was awake.

The last time I remember anything.

When was that? Did she find me? Or did he find me and kill me?

Maybe I was just in heaven, but am now being banished to hell for lying to everyone about what he's been doing to me. Who is he? Who am I so afraid of?

Please, God, don't let me go to hell!

Suddenly, my fear spikes as I see the face that matches those cold, dead eyes I'm so afraid of. Everything comes crashing back to me, the beatings, the rape and him trying to kill me.

I know who I'm afraid of, and I know what he's done to me.

Royce King.

I gasp and choke on something that is crammed in my throat and I try to thrash on whatever surface I'm laying on, but my limbs are heavy and numb. I feel lethargic and delayed, like I'm responding to everything five seconds later than it's happening.

I glance to my left and see Bella passed out with her head resting by our joined hands. Her face is puffy and has red blotches on it, I assume from crying. When I look around the room I also spot a man with a large build and a concerned expression. He's staring straight at me.

Fear grips my heart; I'm scared that Royce has sent him to finish me off. My eyes look around frantically, praying there's a button I can squeeze to call for a nurse, but I don't find one.

He notices my discomfort and stands to calm me, but it only frightens me more.

"Don't be scared, I'm the medic that brought you in. I've been sitting with Bella all night, waiting for you to wake up. My name is Emmett, and I promise you that I won't hurt you." His voice is warm, and he looks honest, but I'm still unsure.

I nod slightly, letting him know I understand him, but I'm sure he can still see the trepidation on my face.

"I'll get the doctor," he says and quickly leaves the room.

I feel Bella shift next to me and I look over at her, realizing the loud, erratic beeping on the heart monitor must have woke her up.

"Rosalie!" she exclaims. "You're awake." Tears flood her eyes and she cradles my hand softly against her cheek with a warm smile on her face.

"You came back to us," she whispers between heavy sobs.

Author's Note:

I'm sorry that this is a week overdue. Life has been hellish, and I know you don't want any excuses, but for now—Hourglass will be updated bi-weekly. The only reason I'm doing this is because I don't have it on permanent assignment yet, and because my slacker tendencies—and time— get the best of me. Which makes it too hard to update every week. When I find 2 permanent betas, I will begin to post this weekly again, God willing and the creek don't rise.

Also, I will try to fatten the next few chapters up for you, for putting up with my B.S. I truly am sorry for the delay in the updating schedule. I get peeved when authors do it, so I understand if you decide to wait until this is completed for you to continue reading.

Thank you for reading and I hope you continue to do so.

Until next time.

xxoo,

Missy