Bella
Going to school with Edward was becoming a little easier by the day. We easily went to our respective classes expecting the glances and gossip, and when it was a class we shared, we'd at least have each other to laugh with. A win win.
Although unexpected sounds still startled me, I could feel myself slowly lose the edge that came with being a lab rat: the constant paranoia.
The incessant searching my eyes did for threats now slowed to only a few glances per class period. The automatic scans my mind made with people never stopped, but I paid it less mind with each passing day. Though I immediately saw the details in a person's stature, I forced myself to not deem them 'threats. ' After five days of this change in mindset, I finally made a small breakthrough. I stopped jumping at Carlisle and Esme's presence.
After school on a Friday, I walked leisurely to my locker, and halted in my tracks when I smelled the scent of apples in the air, towards the west. I let my instincts point towards it, knowing exactly who it was. I saw Edward standing at his open locker with Jasper.
Edward had pulled his wallet from his pants and tried to give Jasper multiple bills while saying something to him I couldn't hear.
Is he giving him money?
I instantly became fearful, the paranoia came back full-fledged.
What is Edward paying Jasper to do? And does it concern me?
My mind suspected the worst, that Edward's kindness was simply a ruse to take me back to Volt.
I was instantly relieved when Jasper pushed the money back at him and shook his head.
I approached closer, where my ears could finally detect their conversation.
"Thanks again, man. I owe you one," I heard Edward say, with a smile. Jasper shook his head at him, sending ringlets of blonde curls bouncing everywhere.
"Afternoon, Bella." He greeted me innocently, making me feel silly that I'd suspected anything ominous between the two. "I'll see you later. Lesson starts at 3, right?" Edward nodded. In response.
"Yeah, man. Thank you."
"No music lessons today?" I asked him with a tilt of my head. He shook his head.
"Jasper is taking it for me. I want to show you something, instead." Edward said with a grin.
He tried to pay off his shift? What is he trying to show me? When reluctance clouded my expression, Edward continued on.
"It's a place only I know. I think you'd like it." I was flustered, that wasn't the answer I was expecting.
A secret place?
"Come on. It's best enjoyed under the sun. I know you like sun." He teased. I nodded, still feeling uncertain about inconveniencing Edward in this way.
"But your lesson?"
"Don't worry about it." He winked at me, as he pulled me towards the parking lot by the wrist.
A half hour drive later, and Edward had parked on the side of the road, off of the freeway. I stepped out of the car, and took a look at the surroundings.
There doesn't seem to be anything noteworthy here...
"It's further up," he said, motioning towards the mountain. "Shall I lead the way?" I nodded and we hopped the guardrail to begin our trek. Though the weather was cloudy, the walk was peaceful. It didn't stop me from straining my ears for the sounds of people following us, though. The trail was a winding one, Edward seemed confident though, so I pushed aside any concerns I had.
Anytime I heard a snap of twigs, the crackling rustle of leaves in the wind, I whirled towards it, feeling venom flood my mouth as I secured my footing and clenched my fists. Edward caught me a couple of times, and didn't say anything. On the third time, he put a hand on my shoulder, a soft look in his eyes.
"How about you lead the way, and I'll stay right behind you? It's a straight shot up from here," he offered. I hesitated, and he murmured,
"I wouldn't let anything get to you. You know that." His hand on my shoulder pulled me closer to him, and pressed his lips to my forehead once. The transfer of heat from his lips to my forehead was enough to send my heart racing and the spot on my forehead to nearly glow with the tangible heat.
It almost made me forget what I was afraid, of.
"They'd have to get past me, first." He murmured against my hair, before he let me go.
"Okay." I conceded, lamely, unable to think properly when I was this close to him, with my mouth full of venom and my mind blank.
You become so numb minded when you're near Edward,
I shook my head, feeling a mix of excitement and shame each time I was near Edward. I continued up the path, and noticed sunlight began streaming through the trees; a golden color that brightened the greenery around us. My pace quickened unconsciously, beckonedby the beauty that lay ahead of us.
I've never seen such vibrant greens... all I'd ever known were the dull grey of the walls... the sharp white of fluorescent lighting...
The trees had parted way to a clearing, so wide in size I couldn't decipher where it ended and began. It was so beautiful, it took my breath away.The sky was a shocking cerulean against soft white clouds. I felt my feet unconsciously carry me towards the center of the clearing, and was barely cognizant of the soft steps Edward took.
A creek bubbled somewhere in the distance, birds chirped. A soft breeze carried across the field and sent warmth and Edward's scent in my direction. I found myself parting my lips, savoring the delicate taste in the air.
He smiled, unknowingly.
"I take it you like it?" I nodded, gratefully.
"This is incredible." I managed to emit. He grinned boyishly, pulled a large quilt out of his backpack, and spread it out on the clearing.
We sat, cross-legged on the quilt in a comfortable silence. I breathed in the many delicate smells that surrounded us, wildflower, pinecones, Edward...
The sun was comfortably warm against my skin and I closed my eyes, feeling the sunlight against my face and the soft blades of fresh grass between my fingers. What luxury.
"No burning?" I cracked open a single eye to see Edward grinning mischievously at his own joke. I felt a single chuckle escape me.
"No, no burning." I reassured him, with a dampened smile. I closed my eyes again, as if speaking to the sun. "Vampire skin didn't fare well with the sun. There was a sensitivity to it that we don't seem to have. Personally, I like the warmth."
I was startled to feel his fingertips tracing the puckered marks on my arms, and I opened my eyes. They moved down, towards the thin rings of scars that had permanently stamped my wrists. They were identical to the shape of the restraints Volt used and for a moment, I was brought back to each time I struggled against the metal cuffs, screaming in pain, shaking in fear.
His eyes reflected a sadness I'd never seen in them before.
"They hurt you so badly, there." I noticed he didn't say the word Volt. I nodded curtly.
"Yes." I admitted. The wind brushed my face, as if to sympathize. His hand covered mine against the grass and I felt my face warm in a blush at the amorous contact.
"When Carlisle and Esme adopted me, I was in bad shape, too." He showed me his knuckles, where I saw layers of scarring I'd never noticed before on his graceful hands. "I have scars everywhere. I just don't remember how I got them." I nodded numbly.
Interesting how we both seemed to have commonalities in our past but I turned out so differently.
Being with Edward so often must've been rubbed the best of his personality off on me, I felt a strange spark of optimism following my usual cynicism, a belief that things could've been worse. It offered me a life raft to hang onto, in a ocean that was trying to sink me.
I may have come out with scars, but at least I'm alive.
I couldn't say as much for the others.
"Many of the half breeds didn't survive." I said, mostly to myself. "The ones that ran were found within 24 hours usually." Edward listened intently, nodding with a pensive expression.
"Was there anyone who ever survived after running?" He asked, the green in his eyes were so hopeful, I knew he longed for me to say yes. I drew in a breath to tell him no, but his question brought back an old memory to my head, it was as if he'd opened a box that was hidden away, and hadn't been opened in years.
"Actually, there were a couple that managed to successfully run, back when I was a kid." I barely remember them, I struggled to recall any details of their faces but nothing came to mind. "Two boys, they were fast enough to outrun Demetri and his Trackers. They must've found a way to get rid of the tracing chip, too." Edward sat up, now, with a sudden realization. His breath drew in slightly at the abrupt movement, with guilt I knew his ribs from Demetri's blow had still not healed.
"So, there are half breeds amongst us? And I just don't know it?" He asked, the sun cast a bronze halo on his hair, only adding to his innocence.
"Yeah. I suppose so. Two of them, that I know of, anyway." I said. An awkward silence ensued when I knew Edward had more questions for me. I could practically feel it building up within him.
"Tell me how you escaped." He murmured, his voice sounded like honey, his eyes were a liquid peridot in the sunlight. I heard the buzzing of insects in the quiet as I chose my words carefully.
"It's a long story." I murmured, finding myself looking away from his eyes.
Edward leaned back into the quilt, stretched his arms overhead, and crossed them leisurely behind his head, indicating he had time.
"I'm listening." He said obediently.
I shuddered in a breath before I started.
Bella, Volturi Laboratories.
Weeks passed since my confrontation with Aro, since he had tried to smother my curiosity of the outside world.
"You will destroy everything you touch," the snide quote repeated itself ceaselessly, only adding to my desperation as I contemplated my escape.
I knew Volt's laboratory was a tall building; only when I was changed could I hear the echoes of sounds reverberating against the many floors. I used my hearing like a sonar system, and did my best to map out the building based on the vibrations that I could hear against different materials. I crossed out each option based on logic, then efficiency.
Digging was out of the question.
None of the walls were adorned with windows; jumping was not an option.
Faking a death would be too hard given they knew my vitals at nearly all times.
Disguise might've been my only option, if I was let out of my room first.
I waited until the night crew clocked in on the fourth night of the week, when the crews changed shifts midway. I hoped the small detail would offer the guards watching the security cameras attention to other matters as more employees were entering and leaving.
Today was my shower day and I knew at 10 pm, I would be escorted to the showers. It was the only time I'd be let outside of my prison for the week.
The door buzzed open ritualistically at 10pm, and I obediently walked outside with my hand cuffs up for the guard who would be my escort to see. He nodded his acknowledgement once he saw I was secured in my cuffs and I relaxed my wrists.
My mind scanned my escorter. He was young, a smaller statured man, in his 20s. He wore his cap low on his visage, but I could still see the youth in his face. The khaki long-sleeved uniform exposed only a sliver of the silver bodysuit he wore beneath for his protection against us. I caught a glimpse of silver near his ankles, too.
A full bodysilver suit, then.
That will make things more difficult.
In his right hand he carried a syringe with black fluid.
Though escape attempts were rare, they were prepared for an attack from us at any given time...
I knew he'd been briefed not to speak to me, or any half breeds. Volt wouldn't have given us an opportunity to outsmart them, or to learn about the building we resided in.
I rehearsed the plan I'd created religiously, over and over in my head. My heart was pounding in my chest and my palms began to sweat as we neared the shower rooms.
You only have one chance. I waited to turn the last corner, where I feigned a trip on the wall right outside of the shower room. I made certain to make a scene with it, letting my cuffs hit the ground with enough sound to alert the guard I'd fallen.
"Owww," I groaned, holding my ankle, I squeezed my eyes shut as if I were in pain. Though he was briefed not to speak to me unnecessarily, I turned to the guard with the most pained expression I could manage. I made sure to make eye contact with him, humans were susceptible to being easily swayed this way.
Please let this work.
"It's broken. Do you think you could help me up and into the shower?" He appeared stunned, he'd never looked at me in the eyes before. His flickering eyes delete yes his inner debate between protocols and morals. His Adam's apple bobbed as he swallowed, hard.
"Please?" I added, with a desperate look on my face, still clutching my ankle. I heard his heart beat irrationally quick his chest and I knew the decision he'd made before he said it.
"S-sure," he'd stuttered.
Thank you. Thank god.
He put the capped syringe into his pocket and he pulled my arm over his neck, helping me stagger the last few steps into the shower room. I remember vividly how goosebumps appeared on his neck where my cold skin made contact with his.
The silver suit he wore had its effect on me nearly immediately. I felt weakened and worried how well I could execute my plans with my strength alone. I was having trouble even remembering the meticulous plan I'd cemented into my mind.
Change as quickly as you can, the moment he lets go of youand you're no longer touching silver.
As soon as we passed the door out of the hallway and into the showers, I knew it was time. The security cameras lacked visual in the narrow entryway, I only had seconds.
I loosened my grip on him and purposely feigned a faint, falling to the floor as limply as I could. In the half second it took for gravity to pull me to the ground, I closed my eyes.
Change like your life depends on it! I begged my inner self.
It most certainly did.
The desperation must've expedited the speed of my change. Once I recoiled against the ground, I'd already opened my eyes as a monster.
Tingling venom instantly flooded my mouth as my teeth grew in, too large for the small space it tried to fit into.
The dim lighting of the shower room multiplied in brightness around me, and in my blood tinted vision, I could see my fingernails had already grown into the daggers that I'd need.
By the time I was fully changed, my hair was only settling back against the floor in the two seconds that I was out of his grasp. The guard's jaw dropped in surprise, the fear on him smelled so potent I could taste it in the air.
His reflexes had only begun to reach for the syringe in his pocket, as my hand reached for his head, the only part of the suit that didn't protect him.
My hand went straight through his forehead, through the multiple layers of skull, tendons, brain, as if he were made of a soft dough. A sickening cracking sound ensued and my entire hand was submerged in his head within seconds. His eyes widened and his hand holding the syringe released its grip before he could begin to swing for a momentum to stick me with it.
The smell and feeling of blood, of warmth, of life covering my hands made me nearly lose sight of my mission. The bloodlust was dizzying. I held onto the only motivation I had, to bring me back to myself.
You will destroy everything you touch.
I gasped and felt my altered state falter.
I snapped out of it, pulled my hand out of the crevice in his skull and opened my eyes. I was back to my human self as the body fell to the ground. I nearly vomited at the sight of the guard, the mess I'd made. His body made a sickening sound as it dropped to the floor to never move again.
My god what have you done.
My hand shook as I stared at the dripping crimson that covered my entire hand, the brain matter that was under my finger nails and between my fingers. I swallowed back bile and wasted no time in wiping my hand against my shift once before stripping him. I panted as I hurriedly buckled myself into his pants.
You don't have time to mourn what you've done. You only have a few minutes.
I just as quickly changed into the top half of the uniform, sans the silver suit. I felt my vision swim, once.
I'm still exhausted from touching the silver, forcing myself to change...
Nonetheless I kept moving. I checked that the access badge was over my neck and pulled the cap down low, over my face. The guard's body lay pathetically in his own pool of blood, covered only by his thin silver suit. I continued to tie my shoes. As soon as his boots were on my feet, I exited the bathroom and began immediately looking for an exit at the fastest walk I could manage.
They could still be watching on the cameras. Do not give them a reason to notice you. Do not run.
I chanted against every instinct I had within me to break out into a sprint. My instincts made my way to the south end of the hall, where I had heard a working elevator in the past.
I found it.
My exit. I pushed the button with my blood stained hand, my maroon fingers shook in their urgency.
"Come on..." I stepped inside and I pressed the button to the lobby, multiple times in my frenzy. Nothing happened. I scanned the access badge against a keypad, and held my breath. With a low humming noise, the elevator began its descent and I let out a sigh of relief.
It was abruptly interrupted by the blaring of sirens overhead. The small space glowed bright red in time with each wail of the siren.
How did they know I was in here? Did they see me on the cameras?
It was clear I didn't have much time. That only meant I had to use any and every defense mechanism I could... I blew air from lips, trying to take a deep breath to calm myself.
This is life or death. The difference between living out the rest of my life in VOLT and never knowing what freedom is.
Do whatever you have to, to survive...
I closed my eyes and listened to the automated female voice speaking over the elevator counting the floors as I concentrated on waking the other side despite my exhaustion.
Ten, nine... I felt the hair on the back of my neck stand as I felt the monster in me slowly stir awake.
Eight, seven, My fingers twitched as my fingernails extended past my fingertips, into deadly almond points.
Four three. My jaws expanded and I snapped them open and closed with a growl as my inscisors grew in, shifting my teeth forward and into sharp points. I felt my nose wrinkle as I snarled, an animal sound. I was desperately trying to hold onto this animal side.
I barely heard "one" as the room turned blood red and I saw 3 targets in front of me, all blocking me from exiting the elevator.
I automatically assessed the statures of the guards armed with silver jackets.
6'2. 5'9, 5'11 and 3 quarters. The tallest one held a syringe.
I would take the smallest one on the end down first.
Throw him into the target with the syringe.
I roared at them; an animal sound the last part of me that remained didn't recognize, and my elongated hand that was illuminated by the neon red sirens, was reaching for the guard's throat with claw-like fingers.
I closed my fingers around the thin bones in his neck with a deafening force, feeling the brittle snapping of bones in my hand. I squeezed the neck with all of my strength and threw the man's body against the other guards with all the strength I had.
I watched them fly back against the glass entrance, shattering the doors clean off of the building. Out of my peripheral vision, I saw a mass of other guards all wearing silver, swarming in towards me. I turned on the spot and bolted out of the building. The glass that crunched under my boots sounded like ice, and the bodies I trampled over didn't even twitch as I ran into the darkness of the night sky.
It was the last memory I had before the red took over and my world turned black.
Edward's eyes were wide as I finished my sentence.
"I told you I'm a killer." I said weakly. The bright chattering of the birds and the warmth of the sun were starkly out of place with the darkness of my story.
"I'm not concerned about that." Edward said plainly. "They imprisoned you, hurt you... who knows what they would've done to you if you'd stayed?" He pointed out.
I shrugged.
"What happened afterwards?" His voice was soft, it was a suggestion. The memory floated up, like a bubble of oxygen in water.
Bella, storm drain.
I gasped when I woke, tensing my body and putting my fists up to shield my face for the blow that I knew would come. I felt nothing; heard nothing. I reluctantly opened my eyes. I was in a large tunnel with pipes running through. I could hear a rushing sound of vehicles passing over head and noted the small patch of dim light that was streaming in from a thin opening. I must be underground.
I looked down at myself, trying to recollect what happened, but I couldnt remember anything after the elevator door opened.
I remembered the sirens wailing as I hit the ground floor. The guards standing at the door. One of them had a needle—did he managed to stick it in me? I patted down my body, the most obvious spots. I felt no pain on my body, only a lump forming on the side of my head. I gulped for the sheer fear knowing I was so close.
Demetri. He would find me, flay me alive. I had to keep moving.
Edward
I stared blatantly at Bella after she finished her story, this incredible girl with so much fight in her, even if she wouldn't let anyone see it. The scars on her body didn't take away from her, it only added to her strength, the testament of her willpower.
"You're incredible." I murmured. "I don't know how else to tell you that."
"I'm a monster." She said, her eyes were downcast. I brought a finger under her chin and tilted her face up to mine.
"You're a legend." I corrected her. "No one else was brave enough to leave. You were." I saw a faint hint of a smile.
"Brave." She said the word as if she were tasting it on her tongue. "I've never been called that before." Her lips curved up, into a shy smile. That moment that she had smiled, was probably the first time I'd ever seen her with her head held high, in a short lapse of confidence.
I'd never seen her more beautiful.
I was fixated, I couldn't stop staring. She must've noticed, her eyes were as large as saucers, her lips parted as she leaned towards me.
I couldn't help myself, I closed the space between us and pressed my lips to hers hungrily, with a resolution. Initially, she had frozen under my touch.
Please, please see how much you mean to me.
In that moment, as if my prayers were granted, I felt her respond, and graze her lips in response to mine for the first time.
The accustomed magnetism associated with her touch was everpresent and invoked a strong reaction from me. I found myself dizzy against her touch, as she molded her lips to mine, once, twice. I sighed at the pleasure it gave me. My hand had a life of its own, it found it's way into her hair, and I found myself amazed at its softness.
Bella's hand trailed up my arm and settled on my chest. I could feel the coolness of her skin through mLy shirt and I shivered from the many new sensations rippling through me at once. Only one thought remained in my mind.
I was determined to see the smile again, no matter what it takes.
We stayed that way until the air became cooler, and we looked at the sky. The blue had faded to orange, and the sun had dropped low in the sky. Even the breeze had dropped some degrees. I stood, and extended a hand towards Bella.
Finally, I understood a little more about her.
"Let's go home." I said with a smilethat I couldn't contain.