Sorry for the delays in writing! Ahhh I wish there were more hours in the day! :)
Esme didn't realize that the wooden-paneled ceiling above her was actually a hatch. She looked over her shoulder for a moment expecting Aro to burst into the room at any minute, but screamed when the hatch above her was lifted. The smell of fresh sea air filled her nostrils and entered her lungs. It would have been a refreshing change from the musty smell of death of fish but her senses didn't focus on the smell for long.
Esme felt her stomach churn, partially expecting to see Carlisle. When it was Aro that stood menacingly above her she felt like everything was over; as if she had lost. Esme's eyes traveled to the shiny hook in his right hand and the fear poured back into her veins. She knew it was the instrument that lead to the untimely death of her friends and hoped Carlisle hadn't yet come into contact with the mad fisherman.
"Happy Fourth of July Esme!" Aro's voice bellowed in the night. It was anything but a greeting. He was taunting her; waiting for his moment to give the final blow.
Does he know Carlisle is here? she wondered. He must. Is Carlisle still alive?
Esme put up her hands. Aro stood there so menacingly in the dim lighting. His silhouette was a terrifying outline of the monster that lingered inside. Esme knew that Aro was about to kill her. She looked down, barely able to move in her misplaced footing in the endless pile of ice. A part of her realized she would soon be joining Emmett and Rosalie; preserved forever in the icy grave. No one would know what happened to them.
She had nowhere to go and put her hands up defensively, wanting to call out 'please' or 'stop' but her fear prevented her from doing that; it paralyzed her in place. A moment later, something connected hard with the fisherman's face and he flew backwards away from her. It took Esme a moment to realize what had happened. There were heavy footsteps from somewhere above and she waited for what felt like hours.
Esme let her mouth drop open and screamed when Carlisle jumped down from somewhere above.
"Come on Esme." He reached a hand down toward her and his eyes pleaded with her to trust him. Esme didn't hesitate. She linked her hand with Carlisle's and he pulled her up and out of the ice box. She was about to wrap her arms around him but Carlisle was blindsided and immediately knocked down hard to the side. He cupped the side of his head as his body hit the ground.
Aro stood above him for a second before returning his attention to Esme. He reached out and grabbed her forcefully by the arm before she had time to think.
"Please, it was an accident," Esme begged him.
"I know all about accidents," he shot back more fiercely, "And let me give you some advice. When you leave a man for dead, make sure he's really dead!" Aro raised his arm high above his head and got ready to plunge the hook down toward Esme. Again, she prepared for it - death. She just prayed it would be over quickly and as painlessly as possible.
Carlisle sprung up from the ground, reaching for a low hanging rope that was attached to the sails. He looped it around Aro's wrist, who turned to react, but couldn't swing the hook forward because of the restrictions from the rope.
"Carlisle!" Esme turned Aro's attention back on her and Carlisle hurried over, reaching for a button that would send the rope and its contents upward. When he slammed his hand against it, Aro's body shot up towards the crow's nest and the tops of the sails.
The two of them watched in horror as he sent a piercing scream into the air. At the very top, the hand that was linked to the rope was severed and a moment later his body detached, plunging off the boat and into the water. Carlisle winced and Esme looked away, pushing her face into Carlisle's chest. With the sound of the splash the two of them realized that the nightmare was over. Aro was gone, they were safe and Carlisle would be able to get the boat back to the docks safely.
...
Carlisle stood on the dock with his arms wrapped around Esme. The two of them were wrapped in a blanket given to them by the police as a number of officers scanned the crime scene. She shivered and tightened her arms around him as he explained the misunderstanding from earlier in the night. Esme wanted to pour her heart out to him and apologize for not letting him explain, and for more or less accusing him of being behind everything. First, she allowed him to explain himself even though she knew he didn't need to.
"The guilt was killing me," Carlisle said softly. Esme pulled back to look him in the eye, "That's why I went to see Missy. I felt terrible about everything that had happened." He sighed and looked down. "And I wanted you back. I didn't want to lose you. I'm sorry."
Esme reached a hand up and touched his face gently.
"I love you, Esme." Carlisle swallowed hard, "Nobody gets me the way you do."
"I understand your pain." She tried to smile at him as he nodded, and then cuddled herself against the warmth of his body. Just as she closed her eyes a police officer came up to the two of them.
"I have to ask," the officer began, "Do you have any idea why this man would want you dead?"
Esme's eyes opened and she stared up at Carlisle. The two of them both looked to the officer and at the same time said, "No." The man nodded once and then Esme went on, "Did they find him; Aro?"
Before the man could answer, someone shouted from out by the water. "Hey Chief I think we have something here!"
Carlisle towed Esme by the hand toward the dock behind the policeman and the three of them glanced in the direction of a large dragging net that they had been using to try to locate Aro's body. Near the top was his hand. It was still clinging to the large fishing hook and was stuck in the netting.
"Well," the officer said turning back to the, "The rest of the body will turn up." He smiled, "They usually do."