Chapter Fifty Six

Bella

The phone dropped from my numb fingers as he finished talking and cut me off but I could still hear my dad screaming inside my head. I have no idea how long Carlisle had been calling my name but eventually Alice shook my arm,

"Bella, Bella, come on snap out of it."

I turned shocked eyes on her,

"That was him wasn't it? The Major's got my dad. He's torturing him to get to me. I have to go, if I don't he'll kill Charlie won't he?"

Carlisle put a comforting arm around me but I shrugged it off,

"Carlisle I know you mean well but I need you to tell me the truth, I can take it."

He led me to the couch and Esme took me from him sitting me down and putting an arm around my shaking shoulders,

"She's right Carlisle, she has a right to know the truth."

"Very well, yes Bella that was The Major and he's got Charlie. He's using your father to get you to come to him but either way he'll kill your father. He doesn't leave witnesses, as soon as you arrive Charlie is no longer any use to him."

"And if I don't go?"

"Then he'll continue to torture him until either you appear or Charlie dies but you cannot go to him. The Major wants you so he can kill you Bella."

I thought about this, much as I wanted to live I couldn't let this crazy vampire torture my dad to death. If I appeared as requested he would still kill Charlie but it would be a quicker less painful death. The Cullens didn't want me to go and if I did I knew they would insist on accompanying me. That way we would all die, I had no doubt The Major was hoping they wouldn't let me go alone. Well I may be willing to walk into my own death but I wouldn't be responsible for theirs too. So long as they stayed here in New York they were safe. I would have to find a way to sneak off, giving myself enough time to reach Forks well ahead of them. That wasn't going to be easy but there had to be a way, I just needed time to think.

I went to bed early telling them I was exhausted after everything that had happened and I heard Esme telling Carlisle the best thing for me would to sleep and escape from the horrors for a while. He rang Darius to see if there was anything they could do to save Charlie but all Darius could tell them was that they were holding my dad somewhere in the mountain range above Forks. I did hear him say something about wolves and the Quileutes too but I didn't understand the connection. I had a shower but instead of getting into bed I pulled a chair close to the door and sat down to eavesdrop hoping I would hear something that might help. At first they just discussed poor Charlie who was a victim of circumstance but then Emmett asked Carlisle if there was anything they could do to help save him.

"No son, The Major will kill him whatever we do and we cannot allow Bella to walk willingly into his clutches. I need you all to be vigilant, stay with her, don't give her any opportunity to slip away or she might try to get back to Forks."

"What if we go and leave her here with Esme?"

"Alice we have no chance of beating The Major and that's the only way to save Charlie."

"How long do you think he'll wait?"

"Not long, The Major isn't known for his patience. We have to make sure Bella doesn't try anything heroic."

"Well that's easy enough. After all how could she sneak away from us. The only way to Forks would be Darius' plane any other form of transport would be too slow."

Of course they were right, I had no way of getting back to Forks in time to save my dad...unless. I went through to the bathroom turning the taps on and sat on the toilet to think. If The Major wanted me he would have to come up with a way to transport me to him. I had no idea how to contact him but he had rung Carlisle, the trouble was trying to get hold of Carlisle's cell phone. And that would be impossible with them so vigilant for any such action from me.

Then it occurred to me, how did he know Carlisle's cell phone number? He might have got it from Aro of course but just maybe he'd used Charlie's phone to ring. I knew my dad had Carlisle's number in his contact list from his time in Forks and because I had been going out with Edward. Crossing my fingers I was right I started to write a text message. I couldn't chance anyone hearing a voice but I thought I could text silently enough. Reading what I'd written I took a deep breath and hit send. If The Major wanted me in Forks then he'd have to find a way of getting me there.

Turning off the message notification chime I went back to my room but this time I dressed and then climbed into bed in case anyone decided to check on me and waited for a reply. Outside it was noisy, helicopters flying overheard, sirens, and car horns, all drifted in through the open window and I hoped they would drown out the sound of my heart beating or someone would realize I was missing too quickly. I wasn't left waiting long, the message was short and sweet. A number and three words "Get here soon." I assumed whoever would answer at the number he had given me could arrange for my transport so I composed another text and sent it off. This time my wait was a little longer but the message wasn't exactly what I had hoped for, I was to reply with my present address and wait for instructions which I did.

I was almost asleep I was so exhausted when the instructions came through. All I had to do was get to the service entrance of the building, everything else would be arranged for me. Was this a trap? I didn't think so, The Major wanted me and maybe if he got me he would leave the Cullens alone, at least long enough for Aro to call him off permanently. I'd seen a sign at the back of the garage when we arrived saying service entrance but I had to get out of the penthouse without alerting anyone and they all had vampire hearing so it wouldn't be easy. There was no time limit so I assumed someone would be waiting for me until I arrived.

I feigned restless sleep for a while then got up to use the bathroom again. I slipped my shoes on quickly and then I slid the window open very slowly. I could hear voices in the lounge, Carlisle worrying about me and Esme telling him that it was only to be expected I would have trouble sleeping. Looking out I could see the fire escape but it was a distance away and I wasn't sure I could reach it. However by standing on the sill I could just do so.

My bedroom would have been easier but it was closer to the lounge and there was no way of drowning out the sound of the French doors being opened wider. I closed my eyes, said a quick prayer, and jumped landing on the fire escape just as another helicopter went overhead its rotors drowning out any sound I made as I landed. It hovered over the roof of our building before landing and the increased noise should be enough to hide the fact I was gone.

I went down three floors before finding a window slightly open and peered in. An elderly couple lay asleep, the woman snoring loudly and I crept in and tip toed to the door relieved to find the key card on the dresser. Once out into the corridor I used the elevator to reach the garage and then followed the signs to the service entrance. A delivery was in progress and no one took any notice of me as I walked confidently out into the street to find a black truck idling at the curb.

I had no idea if this was my transport until the back door slid open and someone whispered my name. I took a deep breath hoping whoever was inside would get me to Forks and not just kill me and dump my body as I climbed in and the door slid shut once more, the van pulling out into the night time traffic and my companion dressed all in black and wearing a mask nodded. All I could tell was that he was a vampire, his cold touch alerting me to that as he guided me to a mattress on the floor of the van and I hoped I wouldn't be going all the way like this, it made me extremely nervous, more nervous than the thought of meeting The Major.