Ch. 2- River of Darkness

The day wasn't going like I had thought it would. All day I had not seen Edward or any of the other Cullen's.

It wasn't until school ended that I saw Edward waiting for me near my truck but there was something in the way he looked at me. I tightened my jacket, almost as if his aloofness had added to the lowering temperature of the day.

"Take a walk with me," he asked as I got closer to him.

I hesitated but reluctantly followed Edward into the woods near the school, the same woods where I found out what he was. After a few miles Edward stopped and turned to face me.

I had never seen him so rigid and cold before. For once he truly looked like the vampires I had seen in pictures in Carlisle's study; frozen, distant but still with some sense of composure.

"Jasper's gone and so is Alice," Edward said to me. "The rest of my family is leaving too."

I nodded. I had known that this day would eventually come. I just hadn't expected it to be this soon.

"I'll go pack my things. I'll leave a note for Charlie."

"Bella, you're not coming."

"What, of course I'm coming."

"No you're not," Edward said more forceful.

"What happened with Jasper or with us was nothing. You don't have to go."

"That's exactly why I have to go. There have been too many close calls Bella. I'm putting an end to it."

"You mean you're putting an end to us."

"It's the only way I can keep you safe."

"I don't want to be safe," I said my voice on the verge of breaking, "I want to be with you. If you don't want to be with me then do it, kill me. I don't want any life without you."

"Bella, it's easier this way. You have to believe that."

"Easier for whom? Did last night not mean anything to you?"

Edward took a deep and unnecessary breath and looked at me with a cold glare. "No, it didn't."

It felt like I had been punched; the air taken right out of me. "That changes everything," my voice an audible whisper.

"If I could just ask one thing of you: don't do anything reckless or stupid. It wouldn't be fair to Charlie. And I'll do one thing in return. I swear there will be no trace that I was ever here. We can live our lives the way we were meant to before we met."

I closed my eyes wishing he had never said that, hoping that just maybe when I opened them this would be some foul trick but instead all I saw was a impenetrable forest of trees with Edward nowhere to be seen.

This was not happening and even if it was nothing else mattered. I forced my legs to move forward. One foot in front of the other and pretty soon I was picking up stride.

As far as I was concerned time was gone. The forest seemed unchanging and with nightfall even more so. I could not remember the direction I had come from or where I was going. Out in the distance I could hear the voices of people but they only gave me the strength to push forward.

"Bella," I heard someone call out, "Bella Swan!"

My feet, tired from the amount of endless walking finally felt as if they were going to fall from under me. It was as if hearing my name had awakened me from the trance I was in.

Not being able to go any further I walked to a nearby tree and sat against it my back suddenly grateful for the support.

"Bella," the same voice called out, only closer.

I didn't answer. I didn't think I could. Instead I looked up toward the vast canopy of trees and into a clearing where the trees split and clouds weren't covering. There in that spot I could see the vast array of stars.

I swear there will be no trace that I was ever here, he had said to me.

I shook my head. Now those words seemed crazy. Even if he had managed to erase any trace of being in my life he would still be out there, somewhere. You couldn't look up at the night sky and only see one star and even if you did for a moment, the light of another would appear. I closed my eyes and wrapped my arms around my legs and began to rock myself back and forth.

In the woods around me I could hear the sound of rustling, an animal, some kind of bear. I didn't care. Aside from my body feeling tired all I felt was deaden to everything around me.

Nothing mattered. Not anymore. All that was left was an eerie silent which I was perfectly content with. Not even the rustling noises that I'd heard seconds ago were making a sound.

"Bella can you hear me? Are you hurt?"

I forced myself to open my eyes. In front of me stood a dark skinned man in nothing but a pair of shorts with wide shoulders and abs that looked as if they could have been painted on.

A second guy came out of the woods, also wearing only a pair of shorts.

"Go tell Charlie we've found her."

The kid nodded and took off the way he came.

"My name's Sam Uley, I'm a friend of your dad's."

Sam could see that I was shivering despite the jacket I was wearing.

"Let's get you home," he said reaching down as if to pick me up.

I stood quickly. "I can walk on my own thanks," I replied sharply however my body wasn't being cooperating.

Sam was quick to offer his hands for support. "We'll go as slow as you need but it's probably a lot faster if you just let me carry you."

"Forget it."

"Are you sure, it's a long walk."

"If I get tired I'll let you know."

Sam shook his head. "They weren't kidding, you are feisty. Feisty and determined."

"Whose they?" I asked as we started our walk.

"Charlie, Billy, Jacob."

"You're friends with Jacob?"

I shook my head, of course he was. Same was one of the Res. kids.

"Sort of, it's complicated. Let's just say I'm waiting for that kid to grow up."

Before I could ask what he'd meant by that Sam was all ready changing the subject. "So what were you doing all the way out here anyways?"

"I don't even know where here is."

"We're five miles out from Jacob's house."

I looked around. It was pitch black and only now was I beginning to feel disoriented from my surroundings. I could not understand how I had come so far from the woods near the school.

"Mind telling me what happened? You've had Charlie worried." I remained silent for a moment. "It's because of them isn't it, the Cullen's?"

Hearing their name stopped me in my tracks. I had not heard the name in hours and now that it was out in the open suddenly my afternoon came flooding back like a tidal wave I couldn't swim away from.

I could feel Sam tighten his arms around my waist. Despite the darkness Sam could clearly see he had hit a nerve. By the way he mentioned the name he seemed torn between being thrilled that they were gone and also a kind of sadness for me.

"I'm sorry," said Sam, "You have my word I won't mention them again. Come on I'll give you a lift," Sam said not waiting for permission this time to swoop me in his arms.

My exhaustion was overwhelming that there was no point in fighting him.