First, I would like to apologize for my long leave of abscense. Life got in the way and by the time I remembered this fic, I was unable to remember my email or my password. Please forgive me. Now then, in order to make sure something like this doesn't happen again, I've written down my email. Please review.
They'd left the lights on so Bella could witness the damage: light that allowed her to see just how damaged Seth's eyes looked with every blink he made. The two of them were separated by the glass, unable to hear each other, unable to touch. The Black Paradigm had freed her from the chair for the night but Bella couldn't do anything to help Seth. How many hours had she spent, screaming for help? How many times had she pounded against the glass, telling Seth everything would be alright? And how many times had she tried to force herself to sleep, knowing she would need the energy for whatever hell the Black Paradigm had in store for her, only to cringe at Seth's frantic whimpers.
It was impossible to sleep. Impossible to do anything but sit here, slumped against a wall, listening to Seth cry and knowing full well there was nothing Bella could do to help him.
"Did you have a good night's rest," Min-Yung's voice, calm, polite, drifted through the haze and Bella blinked, rousing herself. She looked up to see Min-Yung dressed in a light blue business suit; the skirt fitting well with the curvature of her hips, the jacket and white blouse low enough to glimpse cleavage as the Korean woman pulled down on her clothing, as if to straight out wrinkles. Tucked under one arm was a black Dell laptop, its power button glowering a cheery bright blue.
"Don't hurt him," Bella whispered. "Please, Seth is innocent."
Min-Yung walked over to the chair, crossing her legs as she set the laptop on her lap. "Innocent depends on who you speak too," Min-Yung huffed as she opened the machine. The laptop was turned towards her: a Youtube video, displayed full screen. Bella could make out a few of the people who ran the streets, people that weren't hidden behind the occasional glimpse of a brown drape that fluttered into the view of the camera: in one shot, before a Black Paradigm member brought him down with a blow to the head. Even a Youtube video did nothing to lessen the horror of bright red blood spraying outward, of his cries as he tried to crawl away from his killer: what appeared to be a fourteen year old boy.
What happened next was a blur- so fast, that Bella might have missed it if it weren't for the sparkling of his skin catching the camera: a blood splattered Edward grabbing the young boy and snapping his neck. It cracked and Bella whimpered as the boy fell to the ground lifeless. Bella saw how the camera zoomed in on Edward's face; her former boyfriend was grinning, pressing one bloody fingertip to his mouth, lapping at it. The laptop slammed shut.
"That video was taken day before yesterday- a 48 hour video of the battle that's been taking place in Fork's streets. It's gone viral. I do believe that young soldier would consider that thing far from innocent."
Bella licked her lips, wincing at how chapped they had become. "But," she whispered, "not everyone is bad. The La Push wolves, they're good people. So are," here she paused. What could Bella say? Certainly not all the Cullens…not with Edward's face, the pure ecstasy he showed, frozen in her memory. "Most ," Bella corrected herself, " are good. They're just like you and me, people-"
"They are not people!"
Bella blinked at the scream, at how the words seemed to be ripped out of Min-Yung's chest. The woman's peaceful façade was gone, replaced with a look resembling pure hatred. Min-Yung clutched the computer to her chest, her knuckles almost white. "They will never be people," Min-Yung snarled. "They are not worthy of being considered sentient beings. They are things, Isabella Swan. Monsters, demons,but never people. They will never be like us. "
Bella forced herself to rise to her feet; her legs were trembling. "So, because a few vampires are evil, that means that everything is? Where's the logic in that?"
Min-Yung rose to her feet, her chin raised. "As much logic as there is in those things killing innocent women and children. In killing people who had hopes and dreams, people who had families and only wanted to live. You want to advocate their rights? Go ahead, advocate them and watch what happens to you."
Seth! Bella spun around to the scientists entering the room: five men and one woman, their white coats pristine in the bright light. Seth was stirring, bloodshot eyes opening as one scientist pulled out a syringe. Bella could see the melted silver inside, watching how the long needle was jammed into the delicate skin, just above the collarbone. "S-stop," Seth whimpered as he tried to move his arms; it was a weak struggle.
Bella balled her hands into fists. This wasn't right! Seth had done nothing! Her vision was blurring, the tears that threatening to run down her cheeks even as she spun around again. Bella wouldn't stand for this; not against someone as innocent and loveable as Seth. She charged forward , swinging her fist.
Bella Swan was by no means a fighter- even when she threw the wild punch she realized her fatal mistake. The arc was too wide.
Min-Yung thrust the computer up even as Bella's fist made contact with and Bella yelped at the flare of pain. Min- Yung swung the computer to the left, catching Bella by her face. The machine cracked as Bella tumbled to the ground, pain exploding before her very eyes. "Well would you look at that," Min- Yung purred, "you really do have a hard head."
Bella could taste blood in her mouth and she raised her fingers to her mouth: the bottom one was split. Seth was screaming now and Bella was grateful she was on the ground so she didn't have to see him writhe in pain. Tears were running down her cheeks and now Bella could taste the saltiness of them; salt and iron, an odd combination.
"You're crying? O, little girl," Min-Yung smiled. "I will give you something to really cry about."