Edward has some words to share.
How do people do it? When a loved one is missing, how does their life go on? Stepping in their shoes, I have no clue.
Bella. Missing.
Two words I never expected to utter. Two words I never thought possible. Two words...
Consumed by regret, anger and disbelief, I feel my chest tighten and my hands clench. I can't think. I don't feel. I just act. And all I can do is pull my fist back and force it as hard as possible into the wall of our foyer. As my hand goes through the sheetrock, dust and particles fall to the floor. Removing it from the wall, the pain I feel for Bella is still present but temporarily trumped by the throbbing in my hand. Clenching it and releasing a few times, I inspect the wounds on my knuckles, but it doesn't bring relief from the agony over my missing her.
My Bella.
My beautiful Bella.
Where are you? What happened to you? How do I find you?
My shoulders hunch over as realization comes full tilt. I am standing in my house and I don't know if—when—I don't know when Bella will come walking through our front door.
Overwhelmed by the situation, I collapse against the wall and slump to the floor. Anger shoots through my veins and without thinking, both fists slam against the floor, causing further pain to my right wrist. Emotions swirl through my brain and the tears begin to fall.
Edward!
"Bella?" I hear her voice. She's here, but all I see is blackness.
Edward. Wake up, Edward.
Blinking my eyes several times, I see Jasper standing over me. Concern covers his face. Alice stands slightly behind him with one arm covering her stomach while the other hand is near her mouth.
"Edward, are you alright?" Jasper asks.
How dare he ask me that! "Alright? You want to know if I'm alright? How the hell could I be alright? Bella is fuckin' missing!" Jumping to my feet, I want to show my aggression.
"Dude, I know you're not alright. And I know Bella is missing. But we show up and your front door is wide open, you are slumped in the corner passed out with a huge hole in your wall above you. I think I have a right to ask if you are alright. Did someone do this to you?"
"Oh." Glancing around, I look for a clock, a watch, anything to tell me what time it is.
"What are you doing?" Jasper asks.
"What time is it?" He looks at my wrist. I glance down only to realize I am wearing a watch. Our watch. The watch she gave me... "Oh."
It hurts so much. Where are you?
It's 1:45 AM and she's been missing for nearly six hours. Six hours. I raise my wrists again ready to slam them against the floor but am halted in the process when Jasper grabs my hands.
"Oh no you don't. I know you're angry, but you can't keep hurting yourself. This isn't healthy for you nor for Bella." I blanch at the sound of him saying her name because it hurts so much. "Edward. Look at me." I see him, but I notice Alice still in the background. She seems distraught, her eyes are red and her arms are crossed over her stomach. Looking back at Jasper, I try to focus on him, although my mind slips on occasion. "I need you to tell us what's going on. All we know is that you called us two hours ago and all you said is 'He took her'. We didn't know what was going on, but you told us you couldn't think straight and that the police were coming to talk to you. Then you called us about a half hour ago, telling us to meet you here. Emmett and Rosalie are just as freaked out by what's going on. They should be here any minute. I know it may be difficult to tell us what happened, but we are here for you. Tell us how we can help."
I don't even know what to think so I have no idea how they can help me. I don't even remember calling him. But knowing he and Alice are here, and Emmett and Rosalie are on their way, means the world to me.
Taking a deep breath, I fill them in on how the night started. Knowing they are friends, and since they already know about our fantasy date ideas, I don't hold back. Included in the story is our date night, but I also tell him my apprehensions of the evening. Something didn't sit well in my gut, but I couldn't place it. And then she disappeared.
I was frantic when Aro and I both realized what we assumed happened. I had no idea where to look for her, no idea where they went. But deep down, I knew Jacob had my Bella. Looking to Aro for direction because I couldn't think straight, he said one word, "Go!"
And I did, I took off running from the bathroom hallway through the bar, out the doors into the hotel lobby and through the front door. As soon as I stepped outside, I screamed Bella's name. I looked to my left, my right, far off in the distance. The hotel parking lot was huge and there were so many cars. I tried to recognize movement of any kind. Out of the corner of my eye, I could tell someone was getting into a car to my right. When I glanced over, it was just an old lady. I tried to listen for someone screaming. But all I could hear was the sounds of cars driving by, the hotel front doors opening and closing, and the sound of my heavy breathing from running.
Standing in front of the hotel, I realized my efforts were futile causing my hands to pull at my hair. Helpless, and unsure what to do, I knew I needed to call the police. But there was a reason for me standing there in that moment. As I reluctantly turned to go back inside, my eyes caught sight of a tan sedan. The car was swerving slightly. And inside the passenger seat sat my Bella. The moment my eyes locked on hers, I saw her head turn slightly towards the driver, but her face was immediately forced into the window. I realized the driver must have punched her. I screamed her name again while running into the street trying to catch them. But all the while knowing I wouldn't, couldn't run as fast as he could drive.
As they drove off, I could hear sirens in the background. They showed up and the scene became chaotic. Questions, questions and more questions followed by even more questions.
How do I know the person missing?
Who do you think abducted her?
Any reason to believe why he chose her?
Because he is a sick fuck of a man, that's why. And that's exactly what I told the police.
Eventually, Aro and I came face to face again. And as soon as I saw him, all I could do is say a few words, "I don't get it. Why her, why me? Why did he do this?"
Aro just shook his head, "I don't know."
While my guilt was placed on allowing this night to even occur in the first place, Aro's guilt was on even suggesting Jacob. We stood in silence as the cops around us did their thing.
Aro broke our silence, "Edward, I am so sorry! I had no idea he was capable of something like this."
"Like what? Just say it. Like kidnapping my wife?" By this point, I was angry. And he took my anger for all it was worth.
"Yes. I had no idea he was capable of kidnapping anyone, let alone your wife. In the past couple of months, he became a friend to me, I thought I could trust him."
"Yeah, well you thought wrong." I realize I am directing my anger at the wrong person, but I don't give a damn. I need my Bella back.
"Look buddy." At Aro's words, my eyes snap to his. Dare he say what he really wants? "I hardly know you and I trust you. And like you, Jacob had never done anything for me to doubt him and his loyalty and friendship. I really have no idea what got into him."
"Well, that makes two of us."
How could we be so stupid to invite a guy we don't even know into our lives. I know he did it. I just don't know why.
"Eventually the police said their investigation was in full swing, and they had a few leads to check out. They suggested I come back home while they followed up on their leads."
After a moment, Jasper finally spoke. "Wow, I don't even know what to say, Edward." Alice sat next to him, sniffling, trying to hold back her emotions.
Needing a moment, I decide to go to my bedroom. I assume it will allow Alice a few minutes to regroup, Jasper to be there for her, and for me? Well, I don't even know why I want to walk into our room. I just want to be alone.
Realizing I walked into our closet and stood facing Bella's clothes, I determine I need to get a grip. My temporary blackout spells will not help us any. Walking into the bathroom, I look at my face. In just a few hours, it seems I've aged ten years. As I look at the various wrinkles and age lines on my face, my hands turn on the water.
Leaning over the sink I am fully prepared to splash water on my face but am stopped in my tracks. On the sink is a test.
A pregnancy test.
A/N: Thanks for reading and reviewing. I appreciate your support with this story.