Something Meaningful
Chapter 5
Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight. I'm just borrowing the characters.
A/N: So, are you ready for the adventures that lie ahead for our two Heroines? As always, your reviews and story alerts are appreciated!
BPOV
Although I knew that we could possibly be in danger since we didn't know who or what was outside trying to force its way in, I could not remember ever feeling so safe than in my current moment in the arms of my vampire… My vampire? When did Rosalie become my 'anything'?
Yet I knew somehow deep inside that a connection exists between us. I've felt it since the first time our eyes met in the cafeteria. I hope she feels it too. Could she possibly ever return my feelings? I can't help but wonder if we never had fallen through the ground if we ever would have gotten even this far in our relationship… relationship? What kind of relationship do we really have, other than, both of us being trapped in some underground cave with who knows what out there?
I closed my eyes leaning in closer to Rosalie's cheek; breathing in her particular honeydew scent. Her breath hitched in response to our physical closeness. I wanted to preserve this intimate moment for as long as I could. I relaxed my body into hers. She didn't push me away; instead, she allowed herself to relax her body into mine, as well. Rosalie's arms embraced me tighter as her rose colored lips caressed my ear whispering, "It's going to be ok, Bella. I won't let anything happen to you."
Suddenly, a huge blast could be heard… I felt terrified; my heart racing inside my chest. I grabbed on tighter to Rosalie. Her attention was focused on the grunting noises and foul smell emanating from our visitors. From where we were hidden, we could not see who or what had entered our area. I could hear the grunting sounds alternating pitch and tone. It was almost as if it was a language, albeit foreign to me, being 'spoken' by the intruders.
I was about to whisper to Rosalie regarding my language theory when I caught a whiff of the foul smell; intensifying as if it were getting closer. It was almost tangible to the touch. Rosalie and I stared into each other's eyes intently… no words were needed, as we both knew that one of the intruders was getting nearer to us.
Instinctively, I tried to hold my breath in, trying to make as little noise or movement as possible. Then my eyes widened in terror… just off to the side of where we were hidden from view, I saw 'It'. The 'Creature' was walking on two legs, had two arms extended at its sides, and one ugly looking head moving side to side searching the area. It had some kind of device in its hand it was using to survey the area.
I can only describe it as some form of a Reptilian Humanoid standing 7 feet tall; a kind of green scaly 'Lizard Man' is what comes to mind. As incredulous as this all seems, I have to remind myself that up until just recently I didn't even know that vampires existed, much less, monstrous looking Humanoids with scaly skin and foul smell.
Before I had time to process everything going on… I heard a man's voice, speaking English, "Yes sir… the team is still searching for the possible intruders… the Reps just blasted through the boulder that was blocking off an area of the North sector … I'm sorry sir? Could you repeat that, sir, the radio is breaking up… new orders, sir? But sir, we haven't had time to do a thorough check yet of the North sector… Yes sir, my team is on our way. Roger out."
Within the next minute, we overheard the man, called by others in his group 'Sergeant', ordering his team to leave the area and return to headquarters due to a security breach at the main station. The reptilian Humanoids followed the Sergeant and his men.
After a short while when we felt that they were really gone… Rosalie motioned with her hand for us to get out of the hidden hole in the wall. She stepped out first, looked around, and then extended her arms out to me to help me out of the hole. I turned to her, asking, "Where in the world did we end up? The Twilight Zone?" keeping my voice low in case those Humanoids could hear us from a far.
Rosalie frowned, as she responded, "I have a bad feeling about this place… it seems as though the Military is utilizing secret underground bases and is involved with Humanoid Species. What could they be up to? Bella, we have to get out of here… soon."
While Rosalie was talking, I was having a difficult time concentrating on what she was saying. I kept getting distracted, feeling dizzy and irritable, scratching my left forearm where the wolf had bitten me. It was really itching for some reason. I looked down at my arm noticing that the wound area was a reddish color and there was swelling in the area around the bite marks.
Rosalie must have noticed that there was something wrong with me when she called out my name, "Bella? How are you feeling? You don't look so good." She stepped closer to me and placed her hand on my forehead. "You are burning hot!" she said. "Even with my cold hand I can tell that your body temperature is higher than normal; you are sweating profusely."
Oh no, I thought… "Rosalie, maybe my wound from the wolf bite is infected." Suddenly, I felt real weak and confused; feeling my knees buckle under me…
Rosalie reached out grabbing me before I could hit the ground. She gently placed me down on the ground. "Bella, I need you to listen to me very carefully. I am going to call out some symptoms and I need you to let me know if you are having any of the symptoms I name, ok?" I nodded that I understood .
"Bella, are you feeling dizzy, confused, irritable, itching at the bite area, achy, weakness, or a headache? Rosalie questioned. "Any of those symptoms?"
"Yes, all of them," I answered honestly. "What does it mean, Rosalie?"
Rosalie's skin tone appeared to turn paler than it already displays. She slumped her shoulders as she walked away from me. Running her fingers through her hair as she shook her head back and forth, Rosalie berated herself, "How stupid and ignorant can I be to not have realized this before?"
"Rosalie? You're scaring me. What is it?"
When Rosalie finally looked back at me, her eyes looked dead, an empty shell, as if all life had been extinguished out of her. When she spoke, her voice was so low that I could hardly understand what she was saying, "Bella, the wolf that bit you was foaming at the mouth and its erratic movements suggest delirium."
"What are you trying to say, Rosalie?" fear welling up in me as my own suspicions were starting to creep up in my mind.
Her eyes met mine, anger then sadness emanating from them this time, as she said, "The wolf was rabid, Bella. You show the symptoms of initial onset of the rabies virus."
"What? No! It can't be. I...I can't have rabies." I was really starting to get nauseous now. My head was spinning out of control. It was just all too much for me to handle; on top of being trapped in some Government/Military underground cave/base with a vampire, reptilian humanoids, and who knows what else exists in this insane world I've landed in.
What the heck has happened to me? Where did the normalcy of my life go? I've lost track of time but wasn't I just attending my first day at school in Forks? Somewhere in the span of 24-48 hours, I have found myself in another Parallel Reality where monsters and government conspiracy theories are real. Maybe… just maybe this is all a dream… no nightmare more like it. If I just pinch myself hard enough maybe I will wake up - "Ouch! darn it… wake up, Bella!" I start screaming at myself.
Rosalie rushes over to me when she sees me in distress. She sits down beside me taking me into her arms, placing her cheek against mine, rocking me side to side, and trying to soothe me. "Oh Bella, I'm so sorry. I should have gotten to you sooner before the wolf had a chance to bite you." She uses her finger to wipe away my wayward tears that have started to cascade down my face. She tenderly caresses my cheek with her hand as she sings a soft lullaby. Her voice is soothing to my dying soul and I welcome the darkness of sleep.
After some time had passed, I startled awake feeling disoriented. Rosalie was still holding me as we lay together in a corner of the room. "It's ok. I've got you," she said softly. I was still feeling not quite like myself and still getting used to this sweet side of Rosalie which she had never shown me before.
"Rosalie, what am I going to do to combat the rabies?" My voice tinged with anxiousness.
"I've been thinking it through while you were asleep. I have a plan," she says. "I am going to find a way out of here and get you to the hospital so you can be treated properly."
"But Rosalie, what if we can't find our way out in time? My symptoms are already progressing. Soon, I will go mad and you will have to put me down as I will become a rabid human."
"No Bella, it won't come to that. I am confident that I will be able to find a way out of this place."
"Rosalie? What about if you turn me into a vampire, like you? Wouldn't - "
Rosalie jumped up, tearing herself away from my arms with a furious look on her face. "Absolutely not! I will not sacrifice the purity of your human life for the abomination of a vampire existence…" She paced back and forth, running her fingers through her hair in exasperation.
"Bella, I can't believe you would choose to give up your humanity so easily… I wasn't given a choice to keep my humanity… someone else took that choice away from me and chose this vampire existence for me."
"Rosalie, why are you so against living a vampire existence? You are one of the most caring people I have come to know."
"You don't know me, Bella! I have killed humans for revenge."
"I may not know your past or who you have been but my heart knows your heart. Rosalie, I trust you like I have never trusted anyone… and believe me when I say that I don't trust easily. In the time that we have been together in this god forsaken cave, I have seen you change from a cold, distant, rude stranger to a warm, sweet friend. And although we haven't known each other long, I have come to consider you a friend."
"Oh Bella… I have come to see you as a friend, as well. It's just the thought of you losing your vibrant life as a human to this frozen, stale existence I lead… makes… makes me crazy inside…" Rosalie looks away momentarily, pausing.
Then sighs and turns back to face me; her eyes locking with mine. "Perhaps, it is because I have grown so fond of you." She says smiling as she walks back to where I am sitting. She sits down beside me, placing her arm around my shoulders pulling me in close to her where our heads rest against one another's.
As I sit against Rosalie, I feel a warmth course through my body. I lift my head gently, turning my face slightly toward her, allowing my eyes to gaze at her beautiful face. She turns toward me meeting my gaze. My eyes lower toward her lips noting their exquisite rose color. Rosalie leans forward, placing a gentle kiss on my cheek next to my lips. I close my eyes, savoring the feeling of electrical waves overtaking my senses. She envelopes me in her arms pulling me into her body as she kisses my forehead.
As I am lying in Rosalie's arms, it occurs to me that I have never felt so loved and protected. And so I allow myself to forget, just for a moment, that the clock is ticking… the seconds marking the time I have left of my sanity...